MAYFIELD C RIER
The
1 MAYFIELD CRIER December 15, 2017
M AY F I E L D S E N I O R S C H O O L S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R
December 15, 2017
Decorating Magic BY: VIENNA COPADO ‘20
Kris Kinds Brings the Joy of Giving to Mayfield
& EMILY WALLACE ‘20
Christmas…the biggest holiday at Mayfield. Strub Hall is decorated in lavish decor of red and green ornaments and bows. Covered in sparkling ornaments and ribbons the Christmas tree is the pride and joy of Mayfield. All the mesmerising decorations come together to reveal the spirit of how much the entire school loves Christmas. One thing to think about is how do all the decorations come together, and who does it?
Mrs. Lisa Hernandez led decorating this year, from making sure the decorations come out of storage to arranging everything together. “Decorating is a joint effort that involves many faculty and staff members,” she explained. Facilities staff help bring down all the ornaments, garland, and trees into the living room before Thanksgiving break. From there, they help set up the tree and Hernandez begins decorating with Mrs. Angelica Sanchez. Students also help with decorating the tree and garland adding their own personal touch. “Christmas at Mayfield isn’t just about the lights and ornaments,” said Hernandez; decorating is her way of showing her love to the students and community. “It’s a way that the entire school comes together to celebrate with one another. Christmas is time of joy at Mayfield; a time when we all focus on love and selflessness.” All in all, the decorations for Christmas is a process that takes time to create a magical and breathtaking scenery with each ornament put on with delicacy to make the perfect tree. Next time you look at Strub, remember to thank all those who helped make the magic of the holiday come alive.
D.A.C.A. the Halls BY: AOIFE C HOW ‘18
Colored lights illuminate campus, teenage laughter fills the hallways, and brightly packaged gifts seem to spill out from every corner and crevice. It’s Christmas time at Mayfield and almost no one is immune to the infectious joy that the holiday brings. Or, almost no one. For students with friends or family members who have ties to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the holidays are going to be a little different this season. The rescission of the program will be on the minds of many with Christmas around the corner. On September 5, 2017, the Trump administration announced that the program will be officially repealed starting March 5, 2018. The program, which was launched in June 2012,
Let it Shine!
serves approximately 800,000 “dreamers.” To receive the DACA benefits is not easy, and candidates must jump through numerous hoops to become a part of the program. According to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), recipients must have been brought to the United States before their 16th birthday as well as meeting numerous other guidelines. The USCIS will begin rejecting new requests and invalidating documents already issued, such as work permits, on March 5, 2018. Recipients of DACA will become eligible for deportation when the program is rescinded. When asked about the consequences of the rescission, Valentina Urteaga ‘18 said: “It affects a lot of different
Advent: The True Meaning of Christmas
BY: VIENNA COPADO ‘20 Winter, the first idea that comes to mind when thinking about winter is the Christmas season when nights are full of drinking hot chocolate and eating warm cookies with friends. The house decorated with the Christmas spirit of wreaths and ribbons. One thing we forget, however, is what winter is really about: Advent. Why is Advent so important?
Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year in the Church. The word “Advent” means “coming,” derived from the Latin word adventus. Advent is the time when we begin to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. This year, the first day of Advent began on December 3rd and ends on the 24th. During Advent, we not only focus on the arrival of Jesus, but on the improvement of ourselves. There are three main focuses
during the advent season; prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Advent wreaths are used to symbolize prayer and penance. The wreath has four candles, three purple candles and one rose. The purple candles which symbolize sacrifice, and the rose-colored candle that represents the arrival of Christ. Fasting is a way to prepare for the coming of Jesus through penance. Through penance, we recognize our sins and ask to be forgiven. Through fasting, we abstain from vices. Fasting is not only just for food, but also for our desires. Fasting from desires
people, I don’t know what they are going to do.” The rescission strikes too close to home for many as these Dreamers have friends and family here in the United States and even here at Mayfield. Angie Toriz ‘18 said: “My aunt from my mom’s side is a DACA recipient. She is 20 years old and has been here for 17 years [...] It will definitely be a big topic discussed at family gatherings and it will be really sad for the recipients to tell their family members that they can’t work or afford college anymore when they come home for the holidays. Overall, it’s going to have a very negative impact on the country, economically and socially.” With the holidays fast approaching, DACA will undoubtedly be a hot topic at the dinner table, whether or not people have personal ties. The rescission will herald a new era of immigration policy and allows one to remain chaste with morals of principle. When we are chaste ,we think about charitable acts. This connects to almsgiving. Almsgiving is the practice of generosity. Through almsgiving, we focus on giving towards others. During the Christmas season, so many of us are caught in the desire of having the latest material item that we forget what the season is truly about. Like fasting, almsgiving allows us to see the greater love of God than our desires. When we practice almsgiving, we focus on the satisfaction of giving to others rather than material needs.
this holiday season will be the first since the announcement of the decision. For Dreamers and their families the holidays will undoubtedly be a difficult time, clouded with uncertainties of the future. And as Christmas comes around at Mayfield, it is important to keep in mind that the holidays are a time for communities to come together, regardless of their backgrounds. On campus, Christmas is arguably the best part of the year, but with the shadow of DACA looming over, the school community should pay special attention to the inclusion of all students and families. As the festive trees and perfectly packaged presents decorate the halls, students should take special care to remember that the holidays are about more than just Kris Kinds and cookies, but about the sense of community they bring.
With the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we focus on the true meaning of Christmas. The arrival of the Savior who will come to renew our faith and love. We not only focus on Jesus but the improvement of our lives to accept Jesus and His love.
2 MAYFIELD CRIER December 2017
NOTE FROM THE EDITORS:
Editors-in-Chief ELIZABETH NAIL AND HANNAH RIVERA
It’s 7:15 am. I’m barely awake because I’ve had to wake up early for Mrs. Tighe’s math lab, and now I’m rushing to get to my locker and her classroom before 7:20. As I round the staircase leading intro Strub Hall I barely make it another step before my feet stop involuntarily. There’s a loud screeching sound that echoes up the wooden staircase, but it is quickly drowned out by Mr. Karl, on the piano, playing“Moon River”from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The foyer is awash in greens and reds and golds, from the garland twisting up the staircase to the huge Christmas tree that stands nearby, practically compelling me to start singing Christmas carols. Ask anyone at Mayfield what their favorite time of the year is and you’re likely to get the same answer: Christmas time. There is a certain kind of magic that fills Mayfield’s halls during the first few weeks of December, the kind of magic that makes you stop and wonder how in the world you got so lucky to go to a school that looks like a come-to-life mansion during the Holiday season. Claire Cruz ’18, a senior at Mayfield, smiled fondly when I asked about her favorite part of Christmas at Mayfield. “Seeing the joy on peoples faces when they see Mayfield at Christmas makes me remember what they used to tell us in middle school, you know, about the true meaning of Christmas?”Admittedly, I stared at her blankly before asking her exactly what she meant. “You know, the whole thing about how giving is better than receiving?” Cruz is right. Watching Mayfield transform into a pop-up Hallmark card and the students rushing to put their Kris Kind gifts in the class boxes puts a bright, sparkly Christmas light bulb above my head; the joy of Christmas time comes from the giving we do, especially when we give to those who have nothing to give us in return. In this issue of the Mayfield Crier, we focus on Mayfield’s involvement in organizations and issues in which we are able to give the most amazing gift of all: the gift of a voice. Aoife Chow ’18, a contributing writer for the Mayfield Crier, exemplifies the power the gift of a voice can have in a situation as important as immigration. “As Christmas comes around at Mayfield, it is important to keep in mind that the holidays are a time for communities to come together, regardless of their backgrounds,”she writes,“the school community should pay special attention to the inclusion of all students and families.” We’ve all heard the saying:“give and you shall receive,”and as Cruz pointed out, we’ve been told since childhood about the true meaning of Christmas. This isn’t new information, or even a remotely outdated idea. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of people for whom the holidays will only be a reminder of their situations, who won’t get to feel the magic that comes from seeing a school campus dressed up in red and green. This Holiday season, the Mayfield community needs to remember to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves, to help others who will have no way to give them something in return. We have a responsibility that comes with the privilege of a great education, a stable home life and great friends-the responsibility to act, with our privileges, in the best interest of others who don’t have them. So this Christmas season, remember just how much good you can do, and how much Christmas magic you can spread, just as Mayfield has for us.
Can We Prepare for Nuclear War? BY: EMILY WALLACE ‘20
Imagine you wake up one morning, turn on the news, and expect to hear about the local weather and traffic. Instead, nuclear threats, political opposition, and rising tensions between countries are the topics for the day. You can change the channel, but can you change the news? The relationship between North Korea and the United States has been poor for decades, but recent developments are particularly concerning. Naturally, people in the United States want to know details, and most importantly ,they want to know the next step. North Korea’s access to nuclear weapons is of concern. Since nuclear weapons were first developed in the 1940s, nine countries have developed them. With North Korea testing missiles over the past few years, the United States military intelligence suspects that North Korea is capable of making a large-scale The
nuclear bomb. Nuclear capability in a totalitarian, closed society such as North Korea only adds to the growing uncertainty over the country’s intentions on a global front, making it hard for the United States to define a national response to the growing conflict. Americans are left to decide whether to wait and watch, or to prepare for what may be an eventuality. “God is gonna take me or God is gonna spare me. I would do nothing special,”said Annie Pontrelli, Mayfield math teacher. Some citizens may not support preparing for the possibility of nuclear war; however, the United States government has provided resources to educate the masses. Government websites such as ready.gov provide information for preparation in the event of a nuclear attack. The site includes emergency supply lists, recommended food lists, procedures to follow before, during, and after an attack, places to
Is Mayfield Patriotic Enough? BY: CARMEN MASCARENHAS ‘18 Here’s a fun game: next time you find yourself bored in class or crawling up the hill, play Where’s Waldo. Except, instead of looking for a man in a red and white striped shirt, just look for anything red and white striped, like a flag. Possibly an American flag. It’s harder than you might think. Your quest for the flag will most likely lead you to Room 301 in Strub Hall, where Steve Bergen, Dean of Students and history teacher, teaches United States History. This classroom is the only one that hosts the stars and stripes, and the only place on campus where the Pledge of Allegiance is consistently said at the commencement of each class meeting. “I’m coming from a school named BellarmineJefferson,” Bergen says. “Jefferson for Thomas Jefferson. The time on the bell tower there is frozen at the time the Constitution was signed and on the other side was the time the Declaration of Independence was signed. The building is a replica of Independence Hall. It’s almost overly-patriotic.” The concept excessive patriotism isn’t one that is normally seen as a problem— if anything, it’s the lack of patriotism that people seek go for safety, and actions to avoid. Some recommendations for preparedness include purchasing dry ice to preserve food, how to maintain a shelter after an attack, and procedures to replace water and food supplies after an attack. Pontrelli noted that she would make an effort to clear her garbage in her shelter, but other suggestions would not be her primary concern. “I am a Costco queen,” said Pontrelli, making a point that she stocks her house with food and water year round, but not necessarily in preparation for a possible nuclear attack. She concluded that in the event of a nuclear attack, “I would only worry about whether my children are okay.” A similar response was elicited from John Duvall, social studies teacher at Mayfield Senior School. “I know what to do in the event of an earthquake, but I would not know what to do in the event of a nuclear attack,” said Duvall. At the present time, Duvall is not taking steps to prepare for the possibility of nuclear war, saying he is unsure
Mayfield Crier Editorial Staff
Co-Editors-in-Chief: Reporters: Elizabeth Nail ‘18 & Hannah Rivera ‘18 Sophia Alvarez ‘19 Kemi Ashing-Giwa ‘18 Vienna Copado ’20 Copy Editors: Sadie Gilliland ‘19 Melodey Soong ‘18 Dominque Jakowec ‘19 Olivia Mestas ‘18 Caitlin Lee ‘18
Laura Searcy ‘18 Sarah Smith ‘20 Melodey Soong ‘18 Isabella Tiner ‘21 Emily Wallace ‘20 Allison Zettlemoyer ‘18
out and condemn. The recent national controversy over professional athletes kneeling during the national anthem has sparked outrage amongst many, triggering an interesting debate: how do we exercise our right to protest while respecting the people who protect those rights? How do we measure the degree of patriotism?
Bergen admits that having his students do a flag salute at the beginning of each D block may not make any of them more patriotic. But the question remains whether or not Mayfield, as an educational institution in the United States of America, carries an obligation to advocate for patriotism and love of one’s country. “I’m not upset by the fact that Mayfield doesn’t say the pledge every day,” comments Kelly Michaels ‘19. “If anything, the fact that we don’t say it all the time gives it more meaning because it means that we’re saving it for the really important stuff. I’m not inclined to praise a country that has let me down a lot lately just for the sake of
whether effective strategies can be employed to protect people. “I would think North Korea understands that starting a nuclear war would be like committing suicide, “ added Duvall about the relationship between the United States and North Korea. While both Duvall and Pontrelli do not feel a sense of urgency to prepare for a possible nuclear war, the fact remains that the west coast of the United States is in geographic range of a nuclear weapon strike from North Korea. The state of Hawaii, even closer to North Korea and possibly more vulnerable, has taken precautions and has made an effort to ensure the safety of its inhabitants with emergency sirens. The Hawaiian state officials acknowledge that an unexpected attack would leave little time for people to seek shelter. Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency posted that, “...the threat of North Korea actually firing a nuclear missile at Hawaii is extremely small,” yet they caution that “Military experts estimate a missile from North Korea would take between 12-20 minutes to reach Hawaii.”
praising. I think it’s ignorant.” Article II of the California State Education code mandates that “in every public secondary school, there shall be conducted daily appropriate patriotic exercises.” It asserts that “the giving of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America shall satisfy such requirement,” which, in all honesty, doesn’t seem like that much of a hassle. Nevertheless, Mayfield, as a private institution, reserves the right to not enforce this code like its public counterparts. The fact that the Pledge of Allegiance, which is the suggested form of patriotic observance, is to the flag implies that there needs to be a flag to which we can pledge allegiance—a challenge for the Mayfield community, considering you can count the number of flags on campus on one hand. “I’m not sure just standing and doing the flag salute every day makes you patriotic,” Bergen says in response to the assertion that Mayfield isn’t patriotic enough. “I don’t know if there’s an accurate barometer for patriotism. If I just go to Church every Sunday, and stand, and sit, and kneel, and receive Communion, does that automatically make me a good Catholic? I don’t think so.” As a result, Hawaii has implemented alarm systems: “The warning sirens are used to alert the public to any emergency that may pose a threat to life or property... Besides natural hazards, the Emergency Alert System could be used for terrorist incidents or acts of war.” Test runs of Hawaii’s sirens have been running since March to ensure accuracy and to give residents a time to practice safety protocols. The official government website of Hawaii announces each siren test along with information about procedures to follow and a section dedicated entirely to Nuclear Threats. There is no doubt that Americans will have varied opinions on whether to prepare or not. Changing the news channel is one option, but changing the news is another. While you can ignore the reports or choose to prepare a survival plan, the nuclear issue in North Korea dominates the headlines, tensions continue to rise, and the situation evolves day to day. The question remains: to prepare, or not to prepare?
Contributing Writers & Photographers The Mayfield Crier is a forum Aoife Chow ‘18 for student expression, Monica DeZern ‘18 written by students for the benefit of the Carmen Mascarenhas ‘18 Mayfield Senior School community. Our Alexxa Riley ‘19 goal is to report relevant issues to the Faculty Advisor: best of our ability. Kimberly Gomez Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus Administrative Advisors: 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, California Steve Bergen, Toi Treister ‘82
OPINION
3 MAYFIELD CRIER December 2017
Self-Administration of Drugs on #Youtoo? Campus Rule Needs Doctoring B : L S ‘18 Y AURA EARCY
BY: ELIZABETH NAIL ‘18 Since arriving to Mayfield Nurse Cathy Cota has set up a miniature hospital in her secondfloor office, complete with two beds, a sofa, a sink, a wheelchair, crutches and cabinets full of all medical treatments imaginable. Before Cota came three years ago, Mayfield had no school nurse-just the then dean of students, Michelle Gergen, offering BandAids and pads from her office to any who needed them. With the improvements came the rule that Cota’s office is now the only place on campus where medication is allowed. Implemented this year: the only medical treatments students could carry were Epipens or inhalers, if they had allergies or asthma. All other drugs and equipment have been banned from student backpacks. For the most part, students have complied, but the practice has become increasingly difficult as the cold and flu season has begun. Interviewed girls, who asked to go unnamed, recited a veritable laundry list of the disallowed medications they carried, from nonprescription drugs like Advil ibuprofen, Advil Cold and Sinus, medicated cough drops, regular cough drops, hydrocortisone cream, and arnica gel for bruises, to prescribed drugs such as fluoxetine, an antidepressant. “I carry it all myself-an entire first aid kit,” said one such student, because she found it easy and more convenient than going to the nurse’s office. “I’m not going to take time out of an academic class to go get medication,” said the scholastically-driven student. Rule-abiding students expressed concern about the difficulties of apportioning the appropriate dosage for their ailments. One student recalled that, when suffering from a cold, she’d made sure to take the decongestant Sudafed before she left home, but it wore off by midday. Another,
who commonly experiences menstrual cramps, said that she used to take just one Advil tablet in the morning when undergoing such discomfort, but now must take two to more effectively curb the pain before arriving to school. The reluctance of students to visit the nurse’s office for painkillers and other medication is the result of caution that Cota exercises when it comes to potentially ill students. One senior, upon requesting cough medicine, found herself dismissed from school and sent home to rest. “Only when I’m direly direly sick will I go to [the nurse’s office],” said a different student, who asserted that she was more willing to suffer an ailment than risk leaving school. Echoed another girl, “I’m scared to try to get Advil from the nurse. I’m worried about being sent home even though I’m not sick.” The risk of all of this is that students will choose either to sit through class in pain, which is not a condition conducive to learning, or to self-medicate while breaking school policy. Though the latter could certainly seem more dangerous, all nine of the girls interviewed, among whom include students from three different grades, insist they were responsible with their choices, and made it clear that they took the potential hazards of drugs seriously. Nearly every girl carrying unallowed medication did so with her parents’ full knowledge. “Students carrying their own medications are preventing schools from being a drug-free place, and going against school policy,” Cota told the Crier in an interview. She acknowledged that “it’s probably a [rule] that doesn’t make sense to [the students].” In light of the former lack of medical staff at Mayfield, students are appreciative of Cota’s contribution to the wellbeing of the community. In one instance, a girl recovering from a recent surgery forgot to pick up her prescription drugs from the nurse’s office,
where she would go to take them multiple times during the school day. Cota drove all the way to her house to drop the medication off and ensure the student did not spend the evening in pain. “Sometimes it’s a little much, but she does a good job and she cares,” one student said. It is clear that Cota is tasked with many responsibilities as school nurse, and that it can be a difficult job making sure every student is safe and healthy. The Program Advisory on Medication Administration outlines recommended medical practices for school nurses from the California Department of Education. Section 605 of the Appendix B, citing section 49423 of the Education Code, states that: “a local education agency may allow a student to carry medication and to selfadminister the medication,” with the approval of the student’s authorized health care provider and the approval of the student’s parent or legal guardian. Schools “may describe circumstances under which self administration may be prohibited,” and “establish rules governing selfadministration in order to protect the health and safety both of the student and of the whole student body and staff.” While Mayfield’s rule banning all medication but insulin and Epipens is school policy, it is not a state-mandated law. Short of this, perhaps a compromise could be reached where students were allowed to carry nonprescription drugs, but would agree to selfadminister them under the eyes of the school nurse or another responsible adult, just to be safe. The whole encounter need not take more than five minutesstudents could drop in, inform Cota or a teacher what they were taking or applying and then do so, and then be off on their merry way. The upshot is that students would be interested in procedures that would be safe and expedient, and administering medication that best suits the student, while still keeping caution in mind. As Cota says, “Safety is not about convenience.”
In an Isolated World, Turn a Page BY: SOPHIA ALVAREZ ‘19 Mental health is defined as a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. The fear for people with mental health conditions lies in the belief that by discussing their mental health they will become labeled and face prejudice for having something that they cannot control. But what should these teenagers or even adults do when they feel like they have nothing left or no one to turn to? Assuming they are already seeking professional help, the answer may be in the fictional world. To feel like you’re not alone can mean everything to someone going through a dark time. Rather than go through it alone, one can read about heroes and heroines that may be going through similar issues. Author John Green has personally dealt with
mental illness and writes accurate depictions of people struggling with all sorts of mental illnesses. Students who have read Green’s work have said that the stories helped to not feel alone and to realize that they mattered. There are online resources that share actual experiences, but in the case of Green’s fiction, characters’ stories come alive. These characters do not have the stereotypical dark personality and their story does not always end in happiness. But sometimes happiness is hard to define for people who may think that something small like getting out of bed is a large achievement. Aza, from John Green’s most recent book Turtles All The Way Down, has severe anxiety and OCD which is generally associated with repetitive behavior, which is
“You could be a jean model,” a middle-aged man I had never seen before remarked, raising his eyebrows in appraisal, appreciation, of my seventh-grade figure. I’d do a creepy old man voice whenever I told the story, complete with a mocking face and an exaggerated, bow-legged saunter away at the end. It was a joke, the way I told it. The man was dumb and old, and no one had physically hurt me, and it almost sounded funny. In my tellings and retellings of this event, I have ignored how uncomfortable and self-conscious this man made me feel, how aware of my body and how scared. I chose not to mention how for the rest of the day I found myself eyeing men I saw suspiciously, unsure of who would say what next. I’ve never forgotten the feeling that encounter left with me, that no matter where I was, I wasn’t safe. In a November 2017 Buzzfeed article actor Harry Dreyfuss discusses his sexual assault as an 18-year-old by Kevin Spacey. He wrote that telling his story humorously “ensured that this was a story I could own.” His account rang true. “If I could laugh at it, then surely I was not a victim,” Dreyfuss wrote. First using Carrie Fisher’s line, “If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true, and that is unacceptable,” Dreyfuss ultimately concludes that “it was never funny.” But the world is changing. In a Crier interview with reporter Hannah Rivera ‘18, a female teacher at Mayfield discussed the damaging impacts of internalized misogyny. It exists in phrases frequently uttered, like “boys will be boys,” and in first hand experiences. “Our misogynist society is in the fabric of every part... of our world,” the teacher said. Products of this society, sexual harassment and assault are common experiences among women.
Mayfield students agree. Two seniors were followed for blocks by a man they did not know while walking to the hospital. A junior recalled a Metro ride during which an unfamiliar man approached her, telling her he liked “little girls wearing school uniforms.” A student told of an experience she had while biking, and a man’s shouting at her from the safety of a passing car. She ignored it and rode home, but the memory stuck with her. One was verbally harassed at a bike stop, another over the phone at a summer job, when a man called and yelled at her, demanding repeatedly to speak to a man. Isolated, these instances and my own may be written off as harmless, complimentary, innocuous or humorous, but they are not, even in separation, and together they weave an unflattering portrait of the world we share. The #MeToo movement has recently swept social media, including high profile figures such as Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence and America Ferrera. Originated by activist Tarana Burke, #MeToo gives women a platform to speak on their sexual harassment and assault experiences. I know I am not alone. My friends are not alone in their own stories, nor are our mothers and grandmothers. I don’t have an answer. Maybe the most any of us can do is to tell our story in a way that acknowledges the seriousness of what happened, to condemn harassment if we see it happen to someone else, to eventually erode the culture which has enabled so many to be harmed and so many men to grow powerful and successful anyway. When asked for advice for women moving on from misogynistic encounters and experiences, the Mayfield teacher advised the following: “[Hold] onto your hope and belief that we can raise a generation of men that can treat us differently.”
true with Aza, but it goes further than a general compulsion. Aza is disgusted with the bacteria inside of her; she can’t stop thinking about her stomach rumbling, contracting an infection, sweating too little or too much. She has a self-inflicted wound that she reopens in order to drain and sanitize it. It is her intrusive thoughts that are the hardest to deal with both for her and the reader. Aza struggles with an insistent urge to to put hand sanitizer in her mouth and sometimes the urge wins. These fictionals stories are often hard to read because the feelings hit too close to home. Every case of mental health is different from another. Non-fiction stories online lacks the personal touch that a novel provides. The internet, while great in many ways, can make it easier to isolate oneself and communicate online without showing or experiencing any emotions or being truthful. Characters like Aza and writers who open up about subjects that have become stigmatized have created outlets for isolated individuals to feel less alone.
4 MAYFIELD CRIER December2017
Features 15
Things You Didn’t Know About:
Samantha Pieper BY: CARMEN MASCARENHAS ‘18 Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner person? SP: All of the above person. What’s something that made you laugh today? SP: My dog What’s your spirit animal? SP: Panda. They get to eat and sleep all day, and occasionally fall off slides. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time? SP: Exercise, volunteer Who’s your role model? SP: Ms. Shaw ;-) Do you have a hidden talent? SP: public speaking (I was on a speech team scholarship in college) What’s your guilty pleasure? SP: After ice cream (churro and strawberry) What do you do when you’re bored? SP: Browse Pinterest What was the best conversation you had today? Why? SP: Haley (my pretty much adopted daughter) telling me about her zombie dream
She Loves a Parade!
BY:MELODEY SOONG ‘18
Most teenagers who go to the Tournament of Roses Parade are there to see the colorful floats. But Erin Csombor ‘19 is not your typical teenager. In fact, she’s been preparing for the big day since the beginning of November. Csombor fell in love with the drum set at the ripe age of seven, wanting to join drum corp and learn how to play like Ringo Starr in The Beatles, but only started three years ago. Despite the seemingly late start, Csombor has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. She’s been in the Advanced Instrumental Music Conservatory since her freshman year, always having to improvise her own rhythms and beats to hold the other instruments together as a collective unit. She even started her own Drum Corp club at Mayfield, bringing students together to make music. And her latest accomplishment? Being one of the six students playing the cymbals in the Pasadena City College Tournament of
Roses Honor Band. “The process of being part of a larger band, specifically for the Rose Parade, is not easy,” said Csombor. She rehearses at PCC every Sunday, and there will be a rehearsal every day of the week before the parade on New Year’s Day. Although there is a heavy schedule, the duty does not outweigh Csombor’s happiness. “I am just really excited to finally be in a marching band,” Csombor said, “and I can’t believe that out of all the marching bands, I
get to march in one for the Rose Parade!” Csombor advises prospective marching band members to “know your piece really well and focus on your technique when you practice,” in order to steer clear of nerves on audition day. Most importantly, “Be confident! You’ve done the practicing, so it’s time to show them all that you know!” Don’t forget to catch Erin Csombor in Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band on New Year’s Day!
DIY:
Christmas Wreath
BY: EMILY WALLACE ‘20
Gather materials from your backyard or a park: sticks, leaves, pine cones, and any items you would like to display on your wreath. Use acrylic or spray paint to coat your items You can purchase a plain wreath and attach the items, or you can glue the items together to form
What’s a sport you aren’t good at? SP: Volleyball What skill would you like to master? SP: Singing What’s the one place in the world where you want to be right now? SP: Italy
the shape of a wreath. Finish with a ribbon and let your eyes feast on your homemade Christmas creation!
Dinner with any three people, dead or alive? SP: Saint Theresa, Joe Biden, Zac Efron (he’s my age, ladies) Best advice anyone’s ever given you? SP: Throw the frog back in the pond. Best advice you’ve ever given? SP: Most things in life can be taken away from us. A degree cannot. According to someone else, “Probably the best is just to make decisions for myself and according to what I believe rather than other people. You’ve taught me to value and respect myself.”
Feeling extra crafty? Check out Pinterest’s Newspaper Snowflake for another Christmas craft. If over two hours of painful cutting, taping, hot glue gun burns, and intense concentration does not sound fun, then what does!? Disclaimer: While the Newspaper Snowflake makes a great gift or decoration, there is “some assembly required” to say the least. Kudos for anyone who takes on the “Snowflake Struggle.”
Spotlight on the Arts
5 MAYFIELD CRIER December 2017
Steel Magnolias: A Tale of Two Casts
BY: ISABELLA TINER ‘21 What do you do when you have a small cast, but a large Conservatory of enthusiastic actresses? When faced with this dilemma, Sam Robinson, Head of the Theatre Department, decided to split the cast into two! Mayfield’s production of Steel Magnolias this year had two separate casts. The comedy-drama, set in a beauty parlor in the South, features a small roster of ensemble characters. “It’s a story about friendship, it’s a story about family and how you get through hard times with humor and love,” said Robinson. The Theatre Conservatory has many dedicated actors who could perform in the play, prompting the decision to divide the cast. Each cast switched out with each production, giving the play a new and fresh performance each time. Steel Magnolia’s amazing casts, set and costume designs, and performances made it a provocative play for audiences to remember.
Puppets a Delight at Open House BY: ELIZABETH NAIL ‘18 Two tapestries flank a red board with a large rectangle cut out of it, edged in goldpainted flourishes; inside the window, a backdrop of forest; a small cloth chicken perches on a landing flush to the hole like a windowsill: a tiny stage. Who are the actors of this play? The puppets, a vast array of colorful fabric birds. Who are the puppeteers? The students of Visual Arts Conservatory, who outfitted the winged creatures with scraps of satin and calico and velvet to create characters like Joseph or an angel. The birds made their debut at the Mayfield Open House on December 3, performing in the studentwritten and -directed play about the Nativity. The inspiration for birds as instruments through which the production told the story of the birth of Jesus Christ came from Abigail Holtz ‘19. The puppets were “premade birds, which we attached
to puppeteering sticks… and added” distinguishing characteristics in order to identify the birds more strongly with their intended character. “We put on crowns for kings, sewed on rims around pigeons’ eyes, and made the owl angels,” said Gabby Magat ‘19, referencing the halos attached to the heads of the puppet owls to indicate their angelic representation. Theresia Kleeman, head of Visual Arts Conservatory, made contributions of her own to the play. She brought in musical instruments, like a toy piano, chimes, and a theremin, for students to play for instrumental backing. Ellie Parisi ‘18 played the theremin, which makes sounds based on the interference of the
player’s hands between two perpendicular antennae. Kleeman also “made the big egg with the birdified Jesus,” a golden ellipsoid that, when opened, reveals the baby Jesus covered in feathers, reclining against the bright blue inner shell. Emma Weidman ‘19, who served as a puppeteer for the show, enjoyed the experience. She said, “I had a lot of fun during Open House because I kept making [the puppets] do expressions, like Joseph and the angel.” The puppet show was also put on for lunch on December 14, for the Mayfield students who did not get to see the show during Open House. It was a wonderful, and wonderfully creative, success.
Vocal Warm Up BY: SADIE GILLILAND ‘19
With the Christmas season upon us, the heavenly sounds of the award-winning Mayfield Women’s Ensemble have been echoing throughout the campus in preparation for their annual Christmas concert, “Awaken the Sleeping World.” Marie Bland ‘19 says that she loves the pretty holiday songs and “the joy and spirit of both the environment and accomplishment of when we get a song right.” “It’s especially worth it to finally make Mr. Alvarez happy,” Bland adds. “It can be hard, but it always sounds good in the end.”
The festive concert was an exceptionally lovely experience for seniors in the choral group. “It was surreal to be standing there singing four years later with nearly double the size of the group that I joined as a freshman,” said Carmen Mascarenhas ‘18. “I am so proud of this group and, so grateful to have been a part of it these past four years.” The Women’s Ensemble also performed Christmas music for Mayfield’s annual Carol Night with many students, teachers, and alumnae attending to catch up and sing along in the holiday spirit.
Frosty the Higgs Boson
Christmas Favorites Survey BY: MELODEY S OONG ’18
BY: KEMI ASHING-GIWA ‘18
The Higgs boson. The elementary particle in the Standard Model that puts the “party” in “particle.” Without it, we couldn’t have Mass. The presence of the Higgs field, now confirmed by experimental investigation, explains why some fundamental particles have mass when, based on the symmetries controlling their interactions, they should really be massless. It also resolves several further long-standing conundrums, such as the reason for the short range of the weak force. What is the Higgs, fundamentally, and how does it work? It’s pretty difficult to visualize, so lots of people resort to metaphors usually involving cosmic molasses that pulls upon particles as they swim through it, but in the spirit of Christmas, I’ll describe it as a field in the dead of winter. A skier encounters minimal resistance, and glides easily across the freshly-fallen snow. A woman shuffles by on snowshoes, and is slowed. A man in heavy boots plods along, dragged down by the snow with every step. Santa, in his sleigh, flies over, free.
The Higgs field is the snowy landscape, but instead of countless snowflakes, it is composed of Higgs bosons. Particles that interact with the field have mass—like the skier, electrons hardly meet the field (they have hardly any mass— and it’s only approximately 1/1836 that of a proton). The quarks that make up these neutral neutrons and positive protons have a bit more mass and interact more strongly, just like the woman. W and Z bosons, which have thousands of times more mass, plod through like the man. Just like Santa and Rudolf, massless photons and gluons don’t interact at all. Fifty years ago, physicists had absolutely no idea why some particles have mass and why others did not. They came up with the idea of a Higgs and constructed accelerators of increasing size and power that could vaporize particles and sort through the resulting cosmic carnage. Deep within the dark tunnels of CERN, protons are shot along a track
at a speed approaching that of light. When they inevitably collide, the protons destroy each other, releasing a burst of energy. But mass is energy, and energy can’t be destroyed—an array of new particles pour out from the fireball as energy is spun back into minuscule specks of mass. A machine surrounds and tracks the debris, bending charged particles as they zip through layers of sensors. Do this a billion times, and suddenly, a Higgs boson appears. While the moment can’t be sensed directly, the Higgs itself is unstable, and splits into its own burst of particles. After trillions of collisions, these fragments accumulate, forming a statistically significant bump in a chart. A discovery has thus been made: a hint of the Higgs.
How Many Texts Does Mayfield Send in a Day? # OF DAILY TEXTS
Christmas Gift Ideas to Thrill the Whole Family BY: ELIZABETH NAIL ‘18 A blue paisley tie for your father. The paisley will make it unique and special from that periwinkle- and navy-striped tie you gifted him for his birthday.
STAFF/FACULTY
FRESHMEN
SOPHOMORES
JUNIORS
SENIORS
BY: ALLISON ZETTLEMOYER ‘18
Statistics show a fluctuating trend of average text messages ranging from 40.9-143.3. With the highest text average for Freshman and the lowest numbers for Sophomores and Faculty and Staff. Although the chart only presents regular texts such as iMessaging, students claim that there is a lower average of texts because students prefer to directly message through other social media anchors such as SnapChat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Is Mayfield Ready for the Big One?
BY: ALEXXA RILEY ‘19
Thankfully, earthquake seismologists and engineers are somewhat able to predict when and in what magnitude earthquakes occur. They were able to accurately predict that Mexico would suffer aftershocks up until September 24th. And although earthquakes can occur at any time, the myth of “earthquake weather” is false— earthquakes are dependent on the tectonic plates beneath our feet, not the heat from the sun. Earthquakes are scary, especially for us, but don’t pack your bags just yet! Out school is perfectly prepared to handle any future earthquakes. Angela Howell ‘76, Mayfield’s Director of Development, notes that earthquakes are a reality in Southern California. “We’re not worried that it’s going crumble because we’ve had retrofitting done. We’ve done work over the years,” says Howell. Every building at May-
field has met the strictest of codes so there is no need to worry or feel unsafe. Still, the school is planning on being proactive while looking towards the future of the school. “While we’re safe, we want to make sure that we do even more.” Student life, however, has not been affected by the potential dangers of an upcoming earthquake, In fact, when Isabella Mendoza ‘18 was asked if she felt unsafe at school, her reply was reassuring. “We constantly have drills to drill in [the action to] ‘get under your desk and protect your head,’ and all that stuff,” said Mendoza. Mayfield is a perfect example of a school that has taken all the steps to ensure safety upon its students and faculty. In response to the previous Mexico City and Los Angeles earthquakes, Mayfield will continue to strive towards safety and preparedness for all natural disasters, especially earthquakes.
When Mexico City suffered from a 7.1 magnitude earthquake last September that lasted for about twenty seconds, buildings tumbled, homes were ruined, and about 370 lives were lost. Just 12 hours later, Los Angeles was struck by a 3.6 magnitude earthquake. Although the earthquakes were close in time, the two are not related, according to Jonathan Stewart, UCLA earthquake expert. However, the recent earthquakes have been a wake up call for those in Los Angeles. How can we be prepared? How can we stay safe? Earthquake science and engineering is a hard topic to wrap your head around, but it is important to understand why and how earthquakes take place. Stewart claims that the Mexico earthquake “occurred in an ocean slab that is subduction, or passing beneath, the North American continent in Mexico.”
A box of your sister’s favorite cereal. She’s always complaining about how quickly it seems to be gone, so you can save her a trip to the store.
A life-sized plush whale from some inside joke you cracked with your best friend last week. You won’t remember the joke come February, but the present will haunt her memories forever.
A large 18-month calendar with pictures of goats in trees you saw in the checkout line for an animalloving teacher. Only they will be able to properly appreciate the majesty of the gift, unlike your mother, who nearly made you put it back on the shelf. Many small snowflakes to give to your mother, who always appreciates the little things. They might melt, but, as another one of her aphorisms goes, it’s the thought that counts.
COMMUNITY NEWS
7 MAYFIELD CRIER December 2017
Standing Desks: The Healthier Alternative BY: S ADIE GILLILAND ’19 In Dr. Laurie Kovalenko’s Block H Physics class, students reached their arms up and stretched their backs, aching from just one block of class that day. Despite how climbing flights of stairs to class got their hearts pumping, the juniors and seniors in the class groaned and complained on how sitting in the desks all day for five days a week put a strain of their muscles and emotional strength. Parents and teachers might disregard this as common teen angst, but sitting too long has been linked to worse mental health, muscle degeneration, and an inflexible spine due to the constant slouching. While some students run after school for sports, it may come as a surprise that exercise
hasn’t been linked to reversing the damage from sitting too long. Schools are increasingly recognizing this problem, such as Vallecito Elementary school in San Rafael, California, which has started training students to practice good posture by installing standing desks. “Children cannot learn unless they can move, period,” educators at Vallecito concluded from an internal survey. Their studies concluded that kids are 12% more engaged when standing, which is 45 minutes more learning per school day. Additionally, kids burn 15-35% more calories at a standing desk and avoid a rash of orthopedic injuries and disease caused by sitting too much. Vallecito runs class periods of only 15-20 minutes to create a movementrich environment for kids, not
to make them stand for 6 continuous hours. At Mayfield Senior, however, students can be hardly expected to stand for 80+ minutes for each class, but creating opportunities for movement might be beneficial for all. Mayfield Accounting Manager Alexis Gonzales, has been using a standing desk since 2014, and praised the practice. “I am a mom to a five year old and a three year old, so I do a lot of carrying,” said Gonzales. “I get hip and lower back pain, so standing helps.” Gonzales’ desk improves how she feels both mentally and physically, also functioning as a sit-down desk when needed. “Overall, I feel that it helps me think better,” Gonzales
shoulders, keeping your arms to your side, and your feet flat on the floor are just some efforts students can make to improve muscular and mental health while learning and working throughout the day. Not only can you make these little changes to improve production, you can encourage others to change their sitting habits for good.
Diversity Conference
Club Focus: Blankies Galore
BY: ALLISON ZETTLEMOYER ‘18
BY: EMILY WALLACE ‘20 The Blank ies Galore Club is mak ing its debut this year at Mayfield Senior School. With over thir tyfive ac tive members, club meetings are filled with creativity and fun. Club heads, Isabel Valenzuela ‘20 and Harlow Glenn ‘20, star ted the club as a way to share their sewing talents and, more impor tantly, to bring comfor t to sick babies. The members of Blank ies Galore sew handmade blankets and donate them to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Huntington Hospital. Isabel was inspired to star t the club since she was a patient at Huntington Hospital when she was a baby. Isabel has been sewing since she was six years old and enjoys mak ing blankets for family members. Harlow also
said. “I tend to get up and walk around if I am in deep thought. I can just stand here and analyze my data, look at my spreadsheet, and continue to crunch the numbers.” Short of replacing every desk on campus, there are some improvements one can make while sitting that may lessen back and neck pains. Avoiding leaning forward and relaxing the
sewed as a young girl and brushed up on her sk ill set with Isabel teaching her how to make the blankets. At club meetings, students of all grades have learned to pin and cut fabric and sew a straight line on a sewing machine. The club has decided that sof t flannel or cotton is the best material because it is sof t and holds warmth for the babies. The club has collec ted some fabric and members are excited to star t mak ing coz y blankets. Club members are excited to star t mak ing coz y blankets, showing their suppor t for the club by volunteering for the first fundraiser.
Students brought in coffee, cream and sugar, candles, markers, and also signed up to sell the items before school. As of November, the club raised just over $150.00 The proceeds will be used to buy materials such as fabric, thread, and pins. Donations are always welcome! Sewing is an appealing aspec t of the club, second only to the babies themselves! Valenzuela and Glenn describe the club as loving, giving, suppor tive and hopeful. One stitch at a time, the Blank ies Galore Club members create and donate to help babies and their families. Af ter all, who forgets their childhood “blank ie”?
In an exhausting and unforgettable expedition, Mayfield traveled to Anaheim to savour the multicultural and social justice endeavors at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. In conference sessions, large groups, orientation sessions, and activities, five Mayfield students and teachers described the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will be treasured forever. “So much so, that I find it hard to put into words the impact the conference had on me,” said Monica DeZern, ‘18. “Talking about the institutionalized and social issues faced in today’s society, I formed bonds with students from all over the country.” DeZern said she admired the community that involved every identifier, socioeconomic status, family structure, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and religion, to be gathered as one “to support and disentangle from the boxes they are put in.”
Embarking on this journey, said DeZern, allowed her to put on the shoes of a minority and understand the meaning behind the labels and to realize the corruption and insecurities society must do to label people. Though DeZern is considered a cisgender, straight, white female, she feels those labels don’t embody who she truly is as a human celebrating her own individuality and being able to see people on an equal playing field. DeZern said she is proud to be given the opportunity to be surrounded by over 1600 students and making friends from all over America. Though the crusade lasted only a couple days, the knowledge she carries will inspire us to change the ideals of America.
On the Job: Scooping Out Heaps of Independence BY: ALLISON ZETTLEMOYER ‘18
At two in the afternoon on a fall weekend, while most Mayfield Seniors are bent over last minute college apps or generating on five hours of sleep, Hannah Franco ‘18 is slaying Senior Year with a job at 21 Choices. Though most high schoolers would rather snooze in, catch a movie, or watch the latest Riverdale episode in bed, Franco has been taking weekend shifts serving frozen yogurt galore. Franco has mastered dicing a variety of sugary toppings such as m&ms, oreos, and sprinkles with a yogurt base. Besides being the mastermind behind many mixed yogurts, she has also restocked supplies. But how does she balance work and school? “It’s really hard and crazy,” Franco said, “especially switching between easy and hard days.” However, juggling work and school has allowed her to time
manage and has encouraged her to get on top of things which permits her to have time to relax or watch Netflix. By being the head of the La Familia club which meets once every three weeks, Mock Trial on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Choir on Mondays and Wednesdays on top of AP courses, you can say she’s virtually superhuman. Franco says driving to work and putting on a red apron and a 21 Choices cap makes her feel independent and free from family and school obligations. “I feel like an adult!” said Franco. She is reassured knowing that she is making money for herself without having to ask her parents for money. In the four months on the job, Franco could pay for one front row seat for Hamilton. With all those dollars in her bank account, Franco is proud to be working in an amusing and humorous environment.
“I have a cool boss.” Franco said, she recalling a time on her break when her boss asked her to take her phone out to film her pranking a co-worker. Besides working with such “awesome” people, seeing people she knows makes her happy. She enjoys receiving “OMG you work here!?” reactions and says it brightens up her day to tendto orders of her friends. But, why get a job in the first place? “I want to pay for senior activities and go out with friends since I have Senior privileges and I want to go to Coachella!” said Franco. “I also get free yogurt!” So if you want to liberate from your parents, gain more money in your bank account, and buy those $200 shoes you saw at the mall, go pick up a work permit at the front desk and get a job NOW. While you’re out stop by 21 Choices to have Franco serve you up some frozen yogurt!
CUB
8 MAYFIELD CRIER December 2017
Keeping Pace with X Country Star Audrey Suarez ’21 BY: ALEXXA RILEY ‘19 When did you become interested in running? I became interested in running when I ran my first mile in third grade at Mayfield Junior School. I remember running three laps around the school with our middle school coach timing it. Ever since I heard my first mile time, I’ve always been determined to improve each time I run. How do you balance this rigorous schedule? I practice with the Mayfield team six times a week. Our workouts consist of long runs, hill runs, speed work, and recovery days. Although this schedule really takes a toll on your body, I manage it by focusing on my goals and knowing that it takes hard work to achieve anything. If a future workout is stressing me out, I simply don’t think about it and take it one moment at a time. Who or what inspires you? My team inspires me. All the girls keep me motivated and wanting to get faster. As a team, we have made many goals that keep us determined. Some goals include taking it one moment at a time and being the team to beat. I think these are inspiring because we want to be a team to look up to. I believe our hard work is inspiring to each other and other people. What injuries have you encountered? I experience weird pains in my legs pretty often, but most only last for one or two days and are probably caused by a muscle being too sore. The only injury I had that lasted a little while was shin splints. I think the reason I don’t get injured for longer than a couple of days is
because I’m very cautious and if I feel a small pain I’ll ice and roll in the injured area immediately. What is your greatest r u n n i n g achievement? My greatest r u n n i n g achievement was going to the Junior Olympics last year and being ranked tenth in the nation for the 13 and 14 year old girls. What is your most common thought while running? I just try to trick myself and make it seem like i don’t have very long to go. Do you have any superstitions before races? Once I told myself I’d have lucky socks and I put them on and I did not PR [personal record] so ever since then I just thought it was best not to have any. On the other hand, it is good for some people’s confidence, but it doesn’t help me. What is your advice to students interested in pursuing running? It depends if you only want to do it for fun because you want to participate in a sport, or take it a little more seriously. I encourage everyone to do it for fun because it is something that you can always improve on even if you aren’t training very hard. For the ones who want to take it more seriously, I would warn them that running doesn’t necessarily get easier and no matter how much you run, you’ll never become “immune” to the pain. You simply learn how to deal with the pain better and push through it. This is why running is perfect for anyone as long as they are motivated.
ATHLETICS
Equestrian Team: Horse Power
Mayfield riders had a great day in the second IEL competition at Hansen Dam. Emma Guevara ’18 finished 7th in JV Equitation flat. Amelia Enzminger ’19 competed in the Varsity Medal & Jumpers with an 8th place in Jumpers. Claire Williamson ’20 competed in Varsity Jumpers with a 5th & 6th place finish. Jordan Brown ’20 competed in Freshman Jumpers, and Ellery Hotchkis ’21 competed in the JV Jumpers with a 10th-place finish. Hannah Attar ’21 competed in JV Jumpers with a 2nd- and 8th-place finish.
SPORTS
SHORTS
CROSS COUNTRY
This year’s very successful season has wrapped for Cross Country, at long last; the team placed second in the CIF finals. The State competition, which closed the season, saw the Mayfield team win fourth place out of the 23 best teams in California. In that same race, McKenna Smith ‘19 individually earned fifth and Audrey Suarez ‘21 came third. Congratulations to these speedy Cubs!`
TENNIS
Congratulations to Lauren Panajotovic ’19, who played singles in the CIF Regional Championships last Monday. Lauren made it through to the second round before she was overtaken by a nationallyranked player who just powered through the sets. Our doubles team of Ariana Saigh ’18 and Alexia Saigh ’20 also played, coming up against Division 1 players in the first round.
Water Polo in Her Future BY: ALLISON ZETTLEMOYER ‘18 With only less than six months till graduation, Senior Kathryn McCullough has signed to Marist College in Dutchess County, New York to have the opportunity to play on the winter season water polo team in 2018! While other seniors persevere through regular decision applications, McCullough feels “relief” to partake in the college who will make her wholesome during her college career. Why Marist College? “I picked Marist because their coach and the girls on the water polo team are really nice and supportive and they are also a very competitive team.” McCullough adds, “I really like how the campus is pretty isolated from the city and I also really enjoy their curriculum and the criminal justice major at the school.” Though she is excited to go to her dream college, McCullough says she can’t wait for all of her friends to get into
college so they can all celebrate! It’s a triumphant place for McCullough who began her water polo journey at age 10. “I wanted to try something different from competitive swimming,” McCullough says, “I started the sport feeling skeptical, but it didn’t take long for me to become completely enraptured by water polo.” Carrying the techniques from her youth, water polo became an attachment to her daily life. From club water polo weightlifting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., then having more practice to 9:00 p.m., you can say that Kathryn lives to swim Pounding her way with schoolwork in mornings and weekends, AP courses, and endless water polo practices, McCullough is seemingly supernatural. “It has become increasingly difficult to balance my school work with practice,” McCullough says. “The compromise I have found is shaving a couple hours
off of my sleep...but, this is always the worst case scenario.” “The contact sport allows me to brawl and wrestle in the water, fighting to claim victory and be the one that ends up on top,” McCullough says. “It takes pressure off of my own shoulders and disperses it between all my teammates.” Feeding off of their teammates’ energy and supporting one another helps them feel like one family. Whether if they lose or win, says McCullough,
they do it together and don’t leave a teammate behind because the team will be there to comfort and be the friend the individual needs. McCullough encourages fellow water polo swimmers to stick to it. “It will all be worth it when you are able to be apart of a team, knowing that you can impact the game,’ McCullough says, “it calls for mental toughness and a stubborn personality who refuses to quit.” For those who have shown interest
in a sport and are motivated to get better in order to evolve as a player, the athletic process is getting easier day-by-day. Her determination and unshattered faith empowers and inspires us to become fierce fighters and proud achievers like McCullough. Mayfield is proud of what McCullough has accomplished and we look forward to her to shine and slay at Marist College.