Equinox
Art & Literary Magazine 2021
Each year, the English and Visual Arts departments collaborate to celebrate the creativity and vision of students of all grade levels. The first Equinox of each year occurs around March 20th. This year, it coincided with the one year mark of living in a pandemic. Just as vernal equinox prepares us for the welcoming warmth of Spring - as does this magazine remind us of the welcomed return of students and teachers to class. As we once again celebrate our departments’ collaboration, we are grateful for the students, teachers, staff, parents and families who collaborate daily to make McAuley a place where young women can learn to appreciate, understand and create unique, diverse, powerful art to document the hard times and celebrate the triumphs. Gratefully, Kathy Gordon Davis & Diana Burban ‘99
Cover Art by Sasha Anoshenko ‘21
Isabelle Arquilla ‘21
Sofija Labiak ‘21
Lizbet Perez ‘21
Olivia LaPage ‘21
Kiara Marini ‘23 Maeve O’Leary ‘21
Sasha Anoshenko ‘21
Hannah Pigott ‘21
“The Mother Tree” Dina Murray ‘21 I remember you coming to this world. A seed of a beautiful flower not yet ready to be revealed. I kept watch as you grew roots and started making your place in the garden of the world. I watered you in love and you bathed in the sunshine of wisdom. You grew up with a tall delicate stem, no flaws to be seen and grace as you swayed in life’s breeze. Little by little I could see the petals of your personality start to show. Kindness. Happiness. Intelligence. Hopefulness. You are not fully there yet but you are turning into a beautiful flower that will have to face a sometimes ugly life. Breezes can turn into tornadoes of insecurities and make you lose sight of your beauty. Light raindrops can turn into thunderstorms of doubt and rejection. I am the tree and I have tried to shelter you under my branches, but you are becoming too big. You need more light than what you can get under my branch and more water than what trickles off of my leaves. One day I may bend and break but you my little flower should always bend and take all your new elements in grace.
Emma Gipson ‘21
Paige Kairis ‘24
“Overthinking Everything” Ava Rosenthal ‘23 You shouldn’t do this, You shouldn’t do that. They’re gonna think this, They’re gonna think that. Speak up. Shut up. They love you. They hate you. Stop crying it’s not a big deal. It’s such a big deal. Ask your question. No they’ll think you’re stupid. You’re her best friend. No, she likes someone better. You’re so beautiful. Have you seen your nose? You’re so tall you could be a model. With those awkward skinny arms? No way. No one’s looking at you just walk down the hall. Everyone’s looking at you. Make yourself small. It can’t hurt you But what if it does? Just talk to him. Just go to the party. Just wear the outfit. Just eat the sandwich. Just be yourself. No. Leave. I’ll never leave. That’s not gonna happen, And you know that. I’ll still be overthinking everything.
Erin Bania ‘22
Anne Brazel ‘22
Clare Condon ‘21
Kyla Griggs ‘22
Sasha Anoshenko ‘21
Olivia LaPage ‘22
Esmeralda Escarpita ‘23 Aimee Vega ‘24
Meagan Callahan ‘23
“Waiting” Jada McCraw ‘22 I think I’m waiting For what I may never know Maybe...the return of the mulberry tree the neighbors cut down Maybe the whir of dad’s lawnmower Maybe the smell of dirt Maybe the yellow of moms day Lily’s No maybe..it’s the soft ache that means rain is on its way. Or the love that never was, to finally- be Or The feel of the warm summer breeze blowing my hair just so. But the issue is These things belong to last year’s summer These things can never be exactly as they were last summer. Moms day Lily’s won’t be the same brilliant yellow as I adored last year — for I have seen a more brilliant yellow. This summers love cannot be loved the same as last’s —for I have the knowledge of last year’s. If all these things can never be again why does my my heart punish me so Reminding me of last summer So I guess I am not waiting. I am simply wallowing in something that can never be and perhaps never was.
“They Say That Poppies Grow in Flanders Field” Bridget Stroner ‘23 They say that poppies grow in Flanders Field Marking the place of all the dead They say it’s the resting place for the fallen soldiers’ heads. They say it’s for the soldiers who bravely died; Among the fallen, they softly cried. The poppies stand, blood red against the field, Marking the graves of those who refused to yield. The small crimson flowers, they say they mark peace, But when I hear of the field, there is one thing I think. I imagine the deaths, and the tears that they brought I see all all the bloodshed that the Great War had wrought. I hear all the wailing, and feel all the pain, And I see all the corpses and the small shallow graves. Poor young souls, tortured and pained by the War, The men who survived are shaken to their core. War is not beauty nor pretty or rosy, War is not a time or a place to feel cozy. It is a time of pain, and a time of death, It is a time to wait and hold your breath. They say that poppies grow in Flanders Field, Marking the place of all the dead, They say it’s the resting place for the fallen soldiers’ heads. They say it’s for the soldiers who bravely died, Among the fallen they softly cried. I hear these things and softly say “But with their lives they sadly pay.”
Leilani Diaz ‘22
Grace Novick ‘22
Brooklyn Miller ‘22
Claire McCafferty ‘21 Lindsey Vidmar ‘21
Grace Rowan ‘21
“Foggy Glasses “ Maggie Luzin ‘24 I dream that eventually I can be in a room filled with classmates Not half of the room where we are all separated Like the melting icebergs at the South Pole Where the ice does not even know of the thousands of chunks that were once all connected I dream of sleepovers And hugs And warm summer nights Where the sky is our blanket And the moon our nightlight I dream of bustling hallways Of booming pep assemblies Of concerts, where you can hear the noise a mile away I dream of not having the fog of boredom and isolation cloud my glasses when I wear my mask I dream that we never hit that dreaded number Four-hundred thousand But for now I’ll take what I can get And although the fog is dark, grey, and full of nothingness When I get home I take off my mask Put it on the doorknob And the fog clears And strangely enough It all looks normal
Erin Gillfillan ‘22
“My Dreams” Malina Zolna ‘24 I dream of playing under the lights, Looking up and seeing the stars at night. I dream of getting announced before my game, Just like the professionals do the same. I dream of playing college softball Like the little girl inside of me has always wanted. But what if I’m not good enough? What if I can’t achieve what I have foreseen? Nothing will get in between me and my dream. I will go the extra mile, Persevere, and work hard. I will do everything To make sure I am standing in front of that crowd. But most of all, I just want to make that little girl proud.
Lindsey Hernandez ‘21
Ginny Brennan ‘22 Grace Rowan ‘21
Clare Condon ‘21
Lauren Linzmeier ‘21
Noemi Guevara ‘21
Matty Salgado ‘23
Esmeralda Escarpita ‘23
Untitled Katherine Koepke ‘22 I don’t know why I remember that car crash so well. It wasn’t as though it had been mine. It had been a crisp fall day, one where it still feels like fall, but the cold of winter is starting to seep in. The world was still, no wind to accompany the sun quietly shining in the sky, its rays gently grazing the land beneath it with its warmth. The sky was clear, a pale blue untouched by the shadows of clouds that would sweep over soon. The air smelled fresh and young, despite the cars speeding down the street in front of me and the parking lot of vehicles next to the Target across the street. A world of calm, until a car turned onto the street next to me. A few seconds later, a crash sounded behind me, jarring me from my stupor. It was short, only a loud bang and a dangling bumper barely hanging on, to signal what had happened. Jagged pieces of plastic littered the ground in front of the car it previously belonged to. The other car was at an angle on the side of the road, positioned in such a way where I couldn’t tell what exactly had happened. The eerie silence that followed made the hairs on my arms stand. The entire scenario felt slightly off to me, but I couldn’t put a finger on why. A man shakily got out of the slightly bumperless car, but I saw no more as my bus pulled to a stop in front of me. I boarded it, finally ready to get home after a long, almost uneventful day.
Dina Murray ‘21
Lizbet Perez ‘21
Ava Martin ‘23
Grace Rowan ‘21
Gianna Kmak ‘22
Erin Bania ‘22
Lindsey Vidmar ‘21
Alyssa Milton ‘22
Abby Poppish ‘22
Clare Condon ‘21
Olivia LaPage ‘21
Dorothy Reyes ‘23
Grace Rowan ‘21
Lindsey Vidmar ‘21
Sonnet Kathleen Carter 12 Sometimes I wonder if she knows her strength, or if she knows she deserves the whole world. Even when her dreams seem out of arm’s length, her mind is a beautiful storm unfurled. A twin flame that burns brighter than a match. Whose soul is warmer than a beach fire pit. An imagination that is unmatched. I thank God everyday that we do fit A platonic soulmate that saved my life, not knowing her presence was essential. We never once had a sizable strife; A friendship that has been more than special. She is needed more than the sun and moon; My greatest hope is that she will know soon.
Paige Kral ‘22
Wisp - Grace LaMantia ‘22
Leilani Diaz ‘22
Alyssa D. Smith ‘21
“I Dream” Sophia Rowan ‘24 I dream I dream of catching the twilight as it drops silently over the earth Of collecting all of the shattered glints of fallen moonlight Of grazing my flock of fluffy clouds in the meadows of night Of rising with the soft shy dawn as it blazes into glory Of climbing through the sun’s door into the heaven yonder Of sailing out on the bright blue sky, white tipped with clouds Of swirling in the wind like a galaxy shed from a tree Of serenading the evening with the hum of the cicadas in my music box Of rolling out the long blue shadows with the pin of time Of painting the clouds into twilight once more
Sasha Anoshenko ‘21
Niamh Glennon ‘21
Isabelle Arquilla ‘21
Olivia Villasenior ‘23 Hope Lukasik ‘22
2021 Art & Writing Awards Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Award recipients recognized by the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Center Kiara Marini 9 Digital Art ‘Plastic Food’ Honorable Mention Grace Rowan 12 Drawing & Illustration ‘Self Portrait’ Honorable Mention Painting ‘Blue Birds’ Honorable Mention Painting ‘Soup’ Gold Key Olivia LaPage 12 Photography ‘Self Worth’ Honorable Mention Sasha Anoshenko 12 Drawing & Illustration, ‘Nature Energized’ Gold Key Mixed Media ‘Finding Myself’ Silver Key
Scholastic Press Association of Chicago Annual McCormick Foundation Awards Molly McDermott ‘21 Excellent Sports Feature Story
Illinois High School Art Exhibition Virtual Experience Seniors Sasha Anoshenko, Isabelle Arquilla, Hannah Novak, Lizbet Perez, Grace Rowan and Lindsey Vidmar received over $833,000 in scholarship offers.
Illinois High School Association Journalism Competition Sectional Results * Sasha Anoshenko ‘21 Editorial Cartoon - 2nd place * Ainé McIntyre ‘22 News Writing - 3rd place Sports Writing - 4th place Elena Fernandez ‘22 Editorial Writing -5th place * Maria Nomikos ‘24 Broadcast News - 3rd place * Daniella Hall ‘23 Photography - 1st place - Sectional Champion
Mary Philip ‘22 Excellent Sports News Story
Moira Cosme ‘22 Copy Editing - 4th place Feature Writing - 4th place
Grace LaMantia ‘22 Excellent Original Drawing or Comic
Bridget Gallagher ‘21 Headline Writing - 4th place
Janey Hynes’ 21 Excellent Opinion Piece or Column
*Lily O’Connor ‘23 Infographics - 3rd place
Bridget Gallagher ‘21 & Colleen Rooney Excellent Opinion Piece or Column
Gabriella Martin ‘23 Newspaper Design - 4th place
Staff of Inscape Excellent Overall Newspaper
Alexa Sobrevilla ‘23 YB Layout - 4th place Janey Hynes ‘21 & Mary Philip ‘22 YB Theme - 2nd place *denotes state competitor
Lezli Paredes ‘23