Back to School Issue by mihsislander

PAID

MERCER IS SCHOOL DIST 400

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

INSIDE 2

mihsislander.org

Volume VIII, Edition I

FEATURED

3 Summers Abroad Studying a

foreign language in an immersion setting is a daunting commitment, but for these students the decision was obvious.

4&5

Freshman Advice

Upperclassmen share their wisdom with the Class of 2022.

6 Fall Sports Preview The Sports Editors take a detailed look at the coming season.

7 Never Too Old for ‘Eighth

Grade’ Bo Burnham’s movie is far more relatable than most teen flicks out right now.

8 Letter From the President

SOCIAL MEDIA

SCHOOL MAP

A message from ASB President Jon Na.

PUBLICATION NOTICES Purpose | To provide news to the Mercer Island High School student body and members of the surrounding community in a manner that accurately reflects the readers’ interests. Ads | To print an ad in a future issue of The MIHS Islander, contact Business Manager Jake D’Souza at mihsislander@gmail.com for rates and information. Privacy | All electronic mail messages in connection with Mercer Island School District business which are sent or received by this account are subject to the Washington State Public Records Act and may be disclosed to third parties. Corrections | We pride ourselves on accurate, fact-based journalism. If you believe the Islander has gotten a fact or quote wrong, please contact us and we’ll print a correction in the next issue. Nondiscrimination Notification | The Mercer Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The Mercer Island School District offers classes in many College and Career Readiness Programs, admission to which is non-discriminatory. Lack of English-language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in these programs. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:

The MIHS Islander @themihsislander

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator; Harrassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Coordinator; Title IX Compliance Coordinator: Erin Battersby, Senior Director. (206) 230-6227, erin.battersby@mercerislandschools.org Section 504 & ADA Coordinator: Dr. Lindsay Myatich, Director. (206) 236-3326, lindsay.myatich@mercerislandschools.org

FEATURES 3

September 5, 2018

Anna Takes On Sparta Annika Bhananker copy editor

Summer is synonymous with relaxation and recreation, providing a much-needed respite from school and its exhausting pace. Like many teenagers, Anna Bolger spends her summer vacation having fun. However, for Bolger, “fun” means running through miles of gruelling terrain. The Spartan Race is “the world’s leading obstacle race

series,” hosting events across the globe. This is where 16-year-old Bolger developed her passion for racing. “Spartan is a lifestyle, and I believe that I have a better mindset for my life [because of it].” Despite being introduced to the sport only two years ago, Bolger, a sophomore at MIHS, was ranked second in the world in her age group last year. This summer, she competed in Portland and

Bolger hauls a barrel while competing in Oregon this past August.

Photo courtesy Anna Bolger

began training for the Spartan World Championship. Not a running enthusiast by nature, Bolger was drawn to Spartan Races for the people. “The Spartan community is exactly what brings me back to race again and again,” Bolger said. “The feeling of being on the course surrounded by thousands of other people that share the same mindset is incredible.” Spartan races are famously challenging. Although Bolger’s first race with Spartan was only two miles, she has now completed a trifecta by finishing a Super, Sprint and Beast. “The entry level race, a Sprint, is normally about four miles long, consisting of 22 obstacles,” Bolger explained. “The next step up is called a Super with a distance of about nine miles and roughly 27 obstacles. Finally, the Beast is 16 miles with 35 obstacles.” Bolger plans to finish four more trifectas in this year alone. Spartan racers must complete arduous tasks along the course, including overturning 200-pound tires and carrying a 40-pound bucket up ski slopes. Although Bolger struggles most with grip-intensive obstacles like monkey bars and the tire flip, she enjoys the physical challenges.

Language Students Go International Hannah Whobrey features editor

What better way to learn about a foreign country than being immersed in its native language? This year, several MIHS students took their summers abroad. “I got a free trip to China,” Andrew Lustig said. “I had done well in a language competition [managed by] the Confucius Institute, which is a national institution from the Chinese government to spread awareness about Chinese culture.” “I went to Nantes, France [for] a month long immersion program,” Hannah Lebow said. “I’ve always loved studying French; I wanted to be in a group of like-minded people.” “This summer, I was in Beijing,” Carina Williamson said. “I stayed at Beijing Union University, and learned about what life is like in China and what skills are needed for an international career.” Studying a foreign language in an immersion setting is a daunting commitment, but for these students, the decision was obvious. “Who would pass up the opportunity of being in France?” Lebow said. “I have been

studying French for the majority of my life; I can’t imagine not studying French.” Getting serious about language acquisition means assuming personal responsibility. “I realized that what we were learning in school probably wasn’t sufficient enough, because I had gone to China for the first time a couple years ago, and even though I had taken Chinese for two years, I was completely unintelligible!” Lustig said. “I realized either it’s settle for mediocrity in Chinese, or take advantage of it and be inspired to do something useful with the language.” Taking on a new language can also factor into ambitions that reach beyond high school. “I’m planning on majoring in Chinese, so I wanted to make sure I could live and work there,” Williamson said. “I love to see places in the world that are very different than my own.” For these students, the experience itself was predictably life-changing. “Once you got past the barrier, it’s pretty phenomenal, just talking with these people in Beijing,” Lustig said. “It really makes you understand the language more, not

in a way that’s in a textbook.” “I learned to have more confidence in myself and my ability to overcome challenges,” Williamson noted. “Other cultures have different norms, but that doesn’t make them better or worse.” “At the end of the day, I was so exhausted,” Lebow remembered. “It’s not just going through a regular day: your brain is constantly working twice as hard as it usually is, because you have to translate.” “As cliché as it sounds,

Bolger wriggles under barbed wire in Nevada last March.

Photo courtesy Anna Bolger

“Even when carrying a 40-pound sandbag on my back up and down a hill, or hauling a 5-gallon bucket of gravel up a double black diamond hill, I love the heavy carries,” she said. Beyond her love for the organization, Bolger sees her involvement with Spartan as an opportunity for growth. “I try to look at each obstacle I encounter on the course not as a punishment or a consequence, but as one more thing I can overcome,” Bolger said. Bolger incorporates this passion for Spartan into her everyday life. Many Spartans use a traditional Warrior Ethos to motivate them, which states, “I will always place the mission

first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit and I will never leave a fallen comrade.” “When it comes to school and life, I try to not get frustrated when I get stuck, but instead, try again until I succeed, just like on the race course,” Bolger said. Bolger encourages others to join the Spartan community at the next Seattle Race in Snohomish. She feels that despite the “grueling, painful and soul-sucking” nature of the races, the experience has been invaluable. “If you are afraid to get out on the course, just know that there are many people overcoming their own obstacles alongside you.”

when you really put yourself to something, you can improve so much in such a little amount of time.” Although their trips involved a lot of hard work, their adventures compensated for the effort. “We were in France during the World Cup, and they won!” Lebow said. “We were at Puy du Fou; they cleared out one of the theaters that could fit maybe two thousand people in it. It was hard to sleep that night when we got home, because people were honking their horns all night long.

Everyone was on a joy ride.” The students quickly found themselves slipping into a new everyday life while abroad. “Once I got into my routine of waking up early, grabbing a meat bun and a soy milk and heading to class, I found that I was very comfortable there,” Williamson said. Nevertheless, there were still noticeable differences. “It was strange drinking lukewarm water,” Lebow said. “When I came back, the first drink that I had was a lemonade, filled to the top with ice, and I could just feel how cold it was.” “Beijing really is nothing like you’ve ever seen,” Lustig said. “The first day, we were like ‘Wow! It’s so foggy, there are clouds everywhere!’ It’s all air pollution. For some people, it burned their lungs. I got used to it!” Upon their return, the students reflected on the new awareness that spending the summer abroad brought. “It takes time to adjust; China does not hold your hand,” Lustig said. “There’s no real guidebook.” “It was a coup de coeur: love at first sight!” Lebow affirmed. “I think if another country or another opportunity is a locked door, then a new language is a key.”

Photo courtesy Hannah Lebow Lebow enjoys Orangina, a popular soda in France, at the Nantes Bal des Pompiers.

There’s always room to

IMPROV

The Improv class, taught by Drama and English teacher Daniela Melgar, is a stress-free way to practice spontaneity and improvisation in a class setting. Students learn and play various Improv games in preparation for their annual Improv show, which provides examples of the students’ favorite games. Many Improv students found the class to be relaxing and refreshing. “It was a time where I wasn’t thinking about all the school work I had to do or the tests I had coming up,” said Chaz Carlson, a student who took Improv last year. “There was almost a 100 percent guarantee that every day somebody would make you laugh.”

MIHS

by the numbers

STEP 1:

have fun with electives!

1600 175 92 60 24

students

classes

teachers

years operating

sports

STEP 2:

know your school!

STEP 3:

join a club!

Well, if you aren’t in band then you’ve already broken my first piece of advice. But in all seriousness, make the time to get involved with what you love! Homework can feel overwhelming, especially if you take a lot of hard classes. But I guarantee you: it’s more possible than you think to make room for your passions and your friends. Explore ways to plan your life so that you can say “yes” to opportunities, instead of using work as an excuse to say “no.” In the end, you’ll be a lot happier when you surround yourself with the people and things that you love. If you don’t know what you want to get involved in, now is the perfect time to experiment. Volunteer, try a sport, join band! The world is your oyster if you make the time to crack it open. Also, never go for the chipotle bean burger in the lunch line. It’s not worth the risk.

BRANDON HILL drum major

MIHS COMPUTER CLUB meets

every week after school from 3:00 to 4:15. If you're interested in coding, this club is a great place to explore and learn more! Anybody is welcome, from total novices to experienced programmers. They work closely with outside organizations; TeamsCode organizes the biannual MIHS Programming Contest, and has gathered around 100 students from the PNW community for every event. They also use Hack Club's awesome workshops and programming resources. If you have any questions, feel free to email Chris Elliott at elliott77chris@gmail.com, or visit their website at micomputerclub.weebly.com.

a guide to your new school

STEP 4:

listen to advice!

ELLIE SULLA drill team captain My best advice for high school students is to follow this routine after school:

TAKE A NAP. 22 minutes is optimal.

ALWAYS MAKE A POST-NAP SNACK.

I am partial to salami, Brie, and crackers.

START HOMEWORK BEFORE ANY PRACTICES/ REHEARSALS. Assignments are easier to finish than to start.

Don’t forget that a 100% on a test may feel great, but nothing trumps the feeling of 9 hours of sleep.

FOUR STEPS TO SUCCESS

6 SPORTS

www.mihsislander.org

Fall Sports Preview

Sports Editors Ethan Preston and Maya Virdell take a look at the upcoming season.

BOYS GOLF

With a solid 6-4 record and third place finish in the 2017 season, Boys Golf prepares for this season with a talented roster. “The biggest strength that our team has is depth,” captain James Watson said. “Our quality of players from top to bottom can compete with every team.” Even though the majority of the roster may be occupied by underclassmen, the team will still go far because of their experience, according to Watson. Under the leadership of the team’s seniors, they hope to compete for a potential KingCo title.

First home match: Sept. 20 versus Liberty @ Twin Rivers

BOYS TENNIS

Taking a state championship title and achieving a record of 10-1 in the regular season last year, the Boys Tennis team stands as a strong contender for the state championship again for this year. This year’s group, who are a strongly disciplined team according to head coach Ryan Pang, will have advantage on the court both with talent and depth. “We lost some senior leadership and some top players,” Pang said. “But we are also gaining some new players and one returning from injury after missing the entire season last year.” With this new strength, the team is looking forward to a promising season.

First home match: Sept. 7 versus Newport @ MIHS

BOYS WATER POLO

Coming off last year’s North Division title and finishing third at state, Boys Water Polo makes another run for the state championship this year. Even though the team lost many talented seniors from last year, this year’s roster is already showing promise for the upcoming season. “We graduated a ton of talent and experience with our six seniors,” head coach Calvin White said. “We will be looking at some younger players to step up, sometimes youth can be unpredictable.” If the team manages to come together with chemistry and score the ball, then the team will have yet another accomplished season.

First home match: Sept. 6 versus Newport @ MICC

CROSS COUNTRY

After taking the past few years to develop a solid and deep roster, Cross Country is prepared to go all out this season with one of the best teams they have had in the past decade, according to captain Karsten Mullins. “Throughout the summer, many of our athletes have been training every day to prepare for the season,” captain Taylor Libman said. “The amount of grit, dedication, and goal orientation this team has is admirable.” With this much talent and depth, Cross Country hopes to make a run for the state competition this year.

First home meet: Oct. 8 versus Liberty & Lake Washington @ Luther Burbank

Photo by Annie Poole Cross Country runners hard at work during a summer practice in preparation for the upcoming season.

FOOTBALL

Football had a 7-4 record last season, which helped the team land a spot in the State Sweet 16, a prestigious feat according to head coach Ed Slezinger. Unfortunately, their shot at a state-title ended with a loss to O’Dea, the eventual state champons. “We will be young and exciting to watch,” Slezinger said.“Our team has all the right makeup for a repeat of our success from 2017. ” With a strong core of returning players and an experienced set of new coaches, the team will be more motivated than ever to make a run for the state championship.

First home game: Sept. 14 versus Newport @ MIHS

GIRLS SOCCER

Girls Soccer comes into the 2018 Season ready to put together another championship season, straight off their state-winning, one-loss year in 2017. “We have 16 returning seniors,” captain Gretchen Blohm said. “And because we all played together last year we know how everyone plays and that makes being a possession based team so easy.” Despite losing three valuable seniors last year, the team’s compatibility and chemistry from the returning players will help guide them toward making history again this year.

First home match: Sept. 8 versus Skyline @ MIHS

GIRLS SWIM & DIVE

Finishing with a record of 7-1, a fourth place finish at the KingCo competition, a third place finish at the SeaKing District competition, and a fourth place finish at the State competition, Mercer Island Girls Swim and Dive is getting ready to take on the Fall 2018 season. “This upcoming season we are looking to improve on our performance at state last year,” head coach Evan Moline said. “We have a lot of girls coming back from last season which will continue to allow us to have a great amount of depth on our roster.”

First home meet: Sept. 6 versus Liberty @ Mary Wayte

VOLLEYBALL

Having come close to a state title last year with a second place finish, Volleyball gets ready to make another run under new head coach Samantha Marziello. The team graduated many seniors from last year, so the roster will be young, but the leadership of Marziello should set them in the right direction. “There are a core group of leaders on the team, who very are good at leading and communicating on the court,” Marziello said. “And we also just have a group of young girls who have awesome attitudes and raw talent.” With another talented roster, it will be exciting to see the team take a shot at state again this year.

First home game: Sept. 12 versus Skyline @ MIHS

Lilly Pruchno and Claire Molina fight for the ball during Girls Soccer tryouts.

Photo by Annika Bhananker

A&E 7

September 5, 2018

Phoebe Bridgers: A Rising Female Artist the Music Industry Needs

walking into a Guitar Center with your dad and having the A&E editor person working at the Guitar Center only talk to your dad If you went to Bumbershoot, about what you want.” you probably saw more art“And then you think about ists than just J.Cole or SZA— the unfathomable ways that afwhether on side stages or in fect a woman of color,” Bridgpassing. ers said. “I’m a white girl and Three years ago, Phoebe it was hard.” Bridgers was one of the smallBridgers briefly touched on er names in the festival’s linethe harsh reality of up, performing being a young, in the mid-afterfemale artist noon Seattle sun working with (or rain). Now, producers twice a year out from her age. But her her debut album, confidence did “Stranger in the not falter; in fact, Alps,” Bridgshe left off with ers is headlining some empowshows and has ering advice for received praise aspiring female from John artists. Mayer and “You’re the Alessia Cara. reason you’re in “The biggest Photo by Annie Poole Photo courtesy phoebebridgers.bandcamp.com Photo by Annie Poole that room doing thing for me LEFT and RIGHT: Bridgers and her band attracted a large crowd at Sasquatch! while performing in the afternoon. MIDDLE: Bridgers’ highly praised debut album cover “Stranger in the Alps.” that thing, whatevis being able to In a male-dominated indus- cords. er it is,” Bridgers said. “Don’t grow and having actual fans / And that’s just how I feel / Alboygenius’s members, all at let a sound guy be mean to who actually like my music,” ways have and I always will.” try, Bridgers embraces other While Bridgers’ lyrics are rising female artists in her in- similar stages in their career, you, don’t even let someone Bridgers said. “Those shows were always fun but I had to surprisingly personal, she rare- die rock genre, such as Julien bonded over their experiences who runs some giant record ly finds it hard to sing them in Baker and Lucy Dacus. Male as women in the music indus- company be mean to you. win people over.” Them talking to you is the reaWhen I interviewed her at front of hundreds of people. In journalists often tell her that try. “What I always think about son they have their jobs.” Sasquatch! this year, she pos- fact, it is harder to share them she is part of this scene of feare the micro-ways it can afCheck out Bridgers on tour sessed the same candidness ex- with her close friends and fam- male artists on the rise. ily. “When I finished my al“And I’m like, well no, it’s fect you to be a woman in with Baker and Dacus at the pressed in her music. Bridgers tackles the dark underbelly of bum, my mom was like are you not a scene,” Bridgers said. music,” Bridgers said. “Like Moore Theater on Nov. 24. Annie Poole

relationships and coming-ofage moments with specific and tragic lyrics. In “Motion Sickness,” she sings about the common contradictions of emotions. “I hate you for what you did / and I miss you like a little kid.” Her song “Funeral” is about the death of a close friend. “Jesus Christ, I’m so blue all the time

okay?” Bridgers said. However, in the midst of the #MeToo era, Bridgers’s frankness is refreshing. She maintains a nonchalant attitude, a quiet confidence in an industry that constantly criticizes women. “I don’t really feel a responsibility to prove myself to other men playing,” Bridgers noted.

Her annoyance was visible. Multiple female artists gaining recognition should not be a new feat, it should be the norm. In fact, Bridgers, Baker and Dacus have recently formed a supergroup together called boygenius. All three artists have combined their similar styles to create an EP, coming out Nov. 9 on Matador Re-

“Eighth Grade” Captures the Awkward Essence of Adolescence ones than this movie as well. “Eighth Grade” can’t comA&E columnist pare to “The Breakfast Club” or “Sixteen Candles,” but it Bo Burnham’s “Eighth is nonetheless a big step toGrade” is a movie that you wards a more genuine depicowe it to yourself to see, estion of teenage life today. pecially if you are a freshThis film is arranged man. This film into a series of chronowill help you logical scenes set off by laugh about semi-inspirational vlogs those angsty that the main character, m i d d l e Kayla, films for her Youschool years Tube channel. These vidyou left beeos give us a bite-sized hind for high glimpse into her characschool. ter and help to juxtapose This movthe person she presents ie is indeherself as online from the pendently properson we watch struggle duced and has through adolescence. a unique premA couple movies have ise, which been made to examine is why it’s the relationship between surprising kids and their phones, but that it is moments like these make getting “Eighth Grade” feel like m a i n the first one to accurately stream portray the role they play praise. It in the average teenager’s has become a life today. small culturPhoto courtesy “Eighth Grade” takes al phenome@eighthgrademov on Instagram great care to maintain non, receiv- Elsie Fisher plays Kayla Day as she navigates the challenges of middle school. reality within the moving praise from everyone from the New back to at least the 80s. I’d ie. Burnham makes sure evYork Times to the Sundance even say there are a lot better ery app looks exactly how it Ben Capuano

Film Festival. “Eighth Grade” isn’t the first movie about some kid growing up in the eighth grade, believe it or not. Popular coming-of-age movies can be traced

should, and films the main character’s vlogs like actual YouTube videos. This movie even does a great job portraying what it’s actually like to take out earbuds. Some of the references feel a little bit dated though. It’s hard not to cringe a little when Kayla makes an OK sign and says “Gucci!” at the end of every video. But it’s hard to fault Burnham for trying to capture the incredibly fast moving web of memes and trends that most teenagers live in today—especially when his movie makes a genuine effort to capture the eighth grade experience in every other way. Although the movie may not follow a traditional plot line, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We get some pretty heartfelt scenes between Kayla and her single dad peppered throughout the movie. And Burnham is as committed to fleshing out his main set of characters as he is towards everything else. Just don’t go in expecting a plot as clean cut as anything shot in the 80s and you’ll be fine.

The music in “Eighth Grade” captured the film’s tone brilliantly though. The score wasn’t overbearing, like a bad Lifetime original movie, but it still retained a powerful synthwave soundtrack that can only be fully experienced in a theater setting. For a fan of this style, the movie’s ability to weave together music and emotion is an achievement in its own right. This movie was made with the goal of capturing every facet of the eighth grade experience, and it accomplished that goal while setting a new standard for the genre. But by chasing one thing so relentlessly this film somewhat falls apart as a traditional movie. Despite this, my overall impression of the movie remains positive. The care that went into some aspects of production make up for any inadequacies elsewhere. No matter what, “Eighth Grade” is a film you are going to have a strong opinion on—so you might as well see it anyway. Especially if that was the grade you were in last year!

Letter from the ASB President

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2F3dwarehouse.sketchup.com%2Fwarehouse%2Fgetpubliccontent%3FcontentId%3D2 db35157-5c87-4897-a60b-c2c74105d881&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2F3dwarehouse.sketchup.com%2Fmodel%2Fd9832c68a5faa04f950a49fbf0ca6b89%2F2d-silhouette-man-casual&docid=TlGn2SFDtnF_uM&tbnid=qfdLILnpiNjS5M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjr-biC0IPdAhWYIDQIHcM8BAUQMwjqASgCMAI..i&w=654&h=368&safe=strict&client=safari&bih=922&biw=1324&q=person%20silhouette&ved=0ahUKEwjr-biC0IPdAhWYIDQIHcM8BAUQMwjqASgCMAI&iact=mrc&uact=8

First of all, I want to say welcome back to school! When I was a summer camp counselor, the kids really liked to ask me questions. The question that I was prepared to answer was, “What do you enjoy the most about the high school?” Admittedly, they never asked me this question, but I thought about it enough that if they did, I would be ready. I always kept coming back to the same answer: the people at the high school. Have you ever done something in the past that you regret or consider embarrassing? This is just proof that you aren’t the same person you used to be. We’ve all changed, from freshman to senior year, and the ones responsible for the changes are the people around you. Specifically, the people you surround yourself with—peers, teachers, mentors, and platonic friends that you have no romantic interest in. I believe that people are like chameleons, constantly adapting to their surroundings, and the people around you are what allow you to make those adaptations. They say a person can be judged by the quality of their friends, and I have found this to ring especially true considering my own high school experience. I know this

Sincerely ,

sounds like something your aunt would forward to you on email or share with you on Facebook, but I promise there’s a moral to this. Essentially, these people are what cause you to adapt and there is nothing on the planet that impact you as much as they do. What we can learn from this is to truly appreciate the time we have with those around us and how we have grown because of them. I got so carried away by this that I almost forgot to bestow some advice upon the freshmen. The best advice I can give you is this: Never be afraid to ask for help or indulge someone else’s time. You are as important as you make yourself, and since high school is such a tight-knit family, when one person suffers, we all suffer. The reverse is also true: one person’s positive energy can infect others. Participate. Make friends. Be a part of this community. In conclusion, Mercer Island may not be the perfect school. Sure, other schools may have faster track teams, more water polo wins, a bigger auditorium, or more delicious lunch options. But Islanders, I can assure you, this school is one that’s better because you’re here. Thanks for reading and go MI!

Jon Na