Student Inscape March/April 2021

INSCAPE Student Edition Vol. 70 Issue 4 March•April 2021

3 Texas storm leaves millions without power 4 Racism in the Monarchy

6 Artapalooza is back!

Coping with change

W

hat was supposed to be a threeweek break has become a worldwide, year-long pandemic that we have all had to adapt to. The phrase ‘new normal’ has seemingly become the motto that expounds how much our world has changed. If there is one lesson this the pandemic has taught all of us, it is that change is inevitable in all areas of our lives. We have also seen how much change can affect us, which is why developing coping mechanisms to adapt to our ‘new normal’ is a necessity.

There are two common forms of coping; escape coping and control coping, both meaning exactly how they sound. Escape coping is entirely focused on avoiding changes.

Control coping is a bit healthier and instead of avoiding those changes, they are faced headon without a “victim mentality.” With control coping, there is a goal of seeking support for yourself and determining how you can be a positive light in the change. Typically, these coping mechanisms work in tandem, and there are many other steps that come into play while working through changes.

There are a few different phases that derive

from a reaction to change. The first phase is shock and confusion –– rightfully so. According to mindtools.com, the best way to overcome this stage is to seek-out reliable sources of support in order to make sense of a change. Following the initial shock, other emotional responses are inevitable. Whether these are positive,

“ We will all probably look back a few years from now and wonder how we pushed through this period of constant uncertainty and change.”

negative, or a combination of both responses all are valid. The key to mastering this phase is to understand how to properly manage those emotions. This comes with personal reflection

and acknowledgement of those feelings. The final step is to come to terms with the “new normal” and move forward (obviously easier said than done). This does not mean pretending that everything is okay, but rather accepting that change has happened and life will go on.

The pandemic has robbed us of a plethora of “normals,” and it is okay to be upset about that. Abrupt and drastic changes had to be made in our everyday lives, and it is difficult to manage periods of such great uncertainty.

However, it is remarkable how quickly and smoothly the transition into quarantine went.

If anything can be taken away from this, I hope it is the recognition of how far we have all come this year. Not enough is truly said about how difficult it is to live through change, especially a change as life-altering as Covid. We will all probably look back a few years from now and wonder how we pushed through this period of constant uncertainty and change. But the important thing is that we got through it, and that is something to be proud of. Take care of yourself, and remember that what you do and how you feel matters –– do not let that get lost amidst the chaos.

What’s inside this edition

2 Mac News

5 Feature

7 Opinion

9 Sports

3-4 News

6 Student Life

8 Science & Tech

10 A&E

Inscape staff Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Layout Editor Copy Editor Art Director Mac News Editor Mac News Editor News Editor News Editor Feature Editor Student Life Editor Sports Editor Columnist Science & Tech Editor Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Advisor Advisor

Colleen Rooney Bridget Gallagher Meghan McCann Molly McDermott Sofia Jasso Jo Gomez Moira Cosme Mairead O’Carroll Sydney Banks Aine McIntyre Mary Philip Brisa Torres Anna Fagan Janey Hynes Kenzie Williams Elizabeth McQuillan Eileen McInerney Kathleen Carter Angelica Topor Elena Fernandez Diana Burban Abigail Sheahan

Editorial Policy: The opinions expressed in this magazine are the views of the individual authors, and not of the Inscape staff or Mother McAuley High School. Inscape is an open forum that welcomes letters to editor, comments, and feedback from all readers. All letters to the editor must be signed in order to be printed.

1 table of contents and staff editorial

Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School 3737 W. 99th Street Chicago, IL 60655 (773)-881-6500 www.mothermcauley.org Principal Mrs. Eileen O’Reilly Vice Principal Mrs. Meg Gardner Director of Curriculum Instruction Mrs. Kimberly Turnbull

front cover design by Meagan Callahan sports reel by Molly McDermott

march/april 2021

Showing up for the showdown Mary Philip

photo provided by Julia McKee Janey Hynes, Bridget Murphy, and Julia McKee pose in front of Target with their care package supplies.

In a time of need for the community, the Mighty Mac soccer program has not failed to lead with help and compassion, making a difference on and off the field. In contribution to the PepsiCo Showdown Series, an annual soccer tournament, teams are encouraged to participate in ‘Random Acts of Kindness Week.”

McAuley seniors Janey Hynes, Julia McKee and Bridget Murphy took part in this celebration through an act where they shopped and purchased items for care packages at Target; the packages were personally delivered to the Ronald McDonald House to help struggling families during their healthcare journey.

“I came up with the idea with some help from my mom,” McKee said. “I have been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House since my grammar school days, and although COVID-19 doesn’t allow for many service interactions, I wanted to still find a way to help these families who are going through a difficult time in their lives.”

Determined to help, the trio of seniors made McKee’s idea a reality. The girls made a shopping trip at a local Target for essential toiletries and made a contactless delivery next-door, at the Ronald McDonald house. Of course, their successful effort to help could

not have been achieved without the support of their Mighty Mac teammates.

“It took a lot of effort, not only from me, Bridget, and Jane, but from the entire McAuley soccer program who donated $5 each to complete our act of kindness,” McKee said. “It gave me an incredible feeling knowing that our program could come together to help those in need.”

Although the overall participation in this service was a team effort, the leadership and willingness to help from these exceptional seniors has not gone unrecognized by teammates like junior Grace Philip.

“It is great to see the enthusiasm our seniors had to lead this service for the team,” Philip said. “It is an accurate reflection of the character they each have that makes a mark on our school and the soccer program.”

Thanks to the encouragement of the PepsiCo Showdown Series and ‘Act of Kindness Week’, other highschool teams, in addition to McAuley, can continue to truly make a difference on and off the field.

“One percent of PepsiCo Showdown players go on to play pro, but all 100 percent will become leaders in the game of life,” PepsiCo Showdown Series said.

“March” into Youth Art Month Jo Gomez March is that time of the year again: National Youth Art Month! This year’s theme is “Art Connects Us,” which focuses on the ways teenagers can still be brought together by art despite times of isolation. Youth Art Month (YAM) was formed in 1961 in order to highlight the difference art can make in an adolescent’s life. It is a contest where teenagers can enter their artwork with the hopes of being recognized as national winners who could have their art displayed at the annual convention of the National Art Education Association (NAEA).

“I’ve taken a couple of different art classes at McAuley and have loved them all,” Gianna Kmak 11 said. “Art really makes a difference in your life and you don’t even realize it until you make an effort to get involved, and I think that’s really important. Art is really a fun, healthy way to express yourself.”

At McAuley, the National Art Honors Society (NAHS) is getting involved by handing out flyers to homerooms, informing others on what Youth Art Month is about and how students, who aren’t involved in an art class, can still get involved outside of McAuley’s walls. NAEA is hosting a daily social media challenge in March, and students can

participate using the #NAEA+YAM hashtag on Twitter.

“It takes about 10 minutes of your day to complete a challenge, you should do it!”

Kmak said.

Any adolescent can do the daily social media challenge. It doesn’t matter if you lack natural artistic ability; there are zero restrictions and zero judgment. Each day of March had a new theme to submit, which ranged from art hung in one’s home, to pieces of photography. Doing a small thing such as this, invites teenagers to appreciate and give attention to the artwork they may see everyday without even realizing it.

In McAuley’s B-Wing on the first floor, there are bursts of colors and creativity in every direction. This hall was purposefully decorated and decked-out with a variety of artworks that showcase what Youth Art Month is all about at McAuley.

march/april 2021

graphic by Jo Gomez

mac news 2

Local Business: County Fair Aine McIntrye One year ago, COVID-19 wreaked havoc and panic among many in the area. The owner of the local grocery store, County Fair Foods, witnessed worried customers empty store shelves, unsure of the availability of basic food needs during a pandemic world.

Despite the widespread food and toilet paper shortages Tom Baffes, the president of County Fair Foods, managed to remain operational and provide essential supplies and food.

“We did have trouble, for example soups were very hard to come by during the first few months, you know it was funny, different categories would pop up during the year and they would be hard to get certain things.”

Baffes said. “The toilet paper thing was kind of interesting, you could not get national brands” so County Fair stocked its shelves with surplus single rolls from closed restaurants, “ we went through quite a bit for about a month, until other items started coming in slowly.”

In March and April of last year, many restaurants and food places closed to the public, more people were buying groceries to cook at home. Whether it was for families having dinner competitions or people looking for new menu ideas, County Fair Foods definitely provided its customers the ingredients for their culinary desires.

“It’s been about a year and week now since the coronavirus started, and the first two weeks of the pandemic we had record sales of which we will probably never match again in my lifetime.” Baffes said.

To ease customers’ fears of shopping in person Baffes said “At each door we put a self service sanitation station where the customers could clean their carts, and we placed sanitizer dispensers throughout the stores. We also put arrows in the store to keep everybody going in the same direction and that seemed to help the traffic flow, especially in the beginning, it seems to have calmed down now.”

Throughout the chaos of the year the workers maintained positive optimistic attitudes and were always encouraged by their peers and bosses. “The fact that we were so busy that first six months to a year everybody was working harder and had to put in more hours, we bonused our managers a couple times throughout the year and for the part-time employees we would give them gift guards for appreciation of their hard work and the fact that they were working under tougher conditions.”

“The whole year continued to be a record breaking year simply because people were not going out to dinner, staying home and cooking

more and I think they started to have fun with it,” Baffes said “and for us as far as business wise the COVID-19 was definitely a positive factor for us.”

photo by Aine McIntyre.

Pictured above: County Fair located at 10800 S Western Avenue in Chicago, IL

Texas winter storm leaves millions without power Elizabeth McQuillan Texans have been left struggling to survive after the worst winter storm in 30 years hit the state, cutting off power and resources for many homes.

The winter storm started on Feb 13, when parts of Texas experienced single digit temperatures, the lowest in over 3 decades.

People were left struggling without resources they needed to survive the weather.

Rolling blackouts began to occur the morning of Feb 13.

According to Direct Energy, rolling blackouts are “systematic, temporary power outages that help bring balance to the supply and demand of electricity in the market.”

They usually leave houses without power temporarily, then the power is restored and another area’s electricity is shut off. Some people in Texas were left without power for over three weeks during this crisis. By the morning of Feb. 16, over four million people in Texas were without power.

Incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning were reported as people tried to warm themselves in their cars. A mother and her young daughter died of poisoning after a car was running in the garage at their home,

trying to create heat because the power was out. There were also more than 550 vehicle crashes by Feb 16, because Texans aren’t used to driving in slippery snow.

Many parts of the state also received boilwater notice because town and city’ water systems and pipes had frozen over and broken, causing water leaks and disruptions around the state. Texans were told to try and conserve as much water as possible. The power outages, which led to burst pipes in unheated homes, were also hampering water plants. By the third day of the storm, over 13.5 million people throughout Texas experienced water disruptions, with nearly 800 water systems reporting issues like frozen or broken pipes.

The winter storm caused COVID-19 vaccine distributors to Texas to be halted, since none of the people that qualified for one would be able to leave their house to get it. Most grocery stores weren’t able to restock their shelves or send out more supplies to other stores until Feb 21, a week after the storm started. People were limited on essential food and supplies purchases including: milk, water, eggs, firewood and frozen pizzas.

“We’re looking at a food supply chain

problem like we’ve never seen before, even with COVID-19.” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said.

Over 15 million people were impacted by the water system disruptions. About 85,000 homes were still left without power by Feb 20.

Now over a month later, the power has been restored and water services are up and running again. However, there is still a long way to go. While the temperatures are

3 news

march/april 2021

Racism in the monarchy Following the controversial statements which accompanied Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “Tell All” Interview with Oprah Winfrey, much discussion has been centered on Markle’s experience within the Royal Family and the bias in their culture. The interview touched on the lies told about Markle over the years, questions over her child’s skin color, and, more unknown,and the status of their son’s royal title. The conversation prompted heated debates about the country’s heritage and whether Markle’s treatment in the Royal Family was inevitable.

In response to the interview, remembering the past of Britain and the royal family may aid in understanding why such events happened during Markle and Harry’s time with the monarch. The British dynasty has ruled for approximately 1200 years and now has 61 monarchs in England and Britain. However, despite the royal family’s long reign, there has only been one mixedrace royal. So unsurprisingly, when Markle revealed her engagement to Harry, there were both supportive and critical conversations regarding her role in the respected royal family. Harry described how difficult it is for

Mackenzie Williams

the royal family to maintain good relations with the press in order to keep their identities and images untainted. However, after the couple began to face criticism, he grew disappointed that his family never openly accepted the part race played in the treatment that his wife received.

“Over 70 members of parliament, female members of parliament, both conservative and labour, came out and called out the colonial undertones of articles and headlines written about Meghan,” Harry said. “Yet no one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts.”

They explained that even before the birth of their child, he would not receive a title which meant they would not be offered any protection or security. This can be seen as the monarchy changing convention to deny the first person of color born into the royal family a title. They before the birth of their son, there were many “concerns and conversations’’ about how dark their child’s skin would be and what that would mean and look like for the family. Despite Harry experiencing a lot of pain from his family’s actions, he was very clear about the love of his grandmother, the

Queen, and his extended family. The Royal Family’s reaction to this matter and restoring its relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remains to be seen after the Queen’s follow-up statement, but she said that “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be muched loved family members.”

pictured above: The Royal Fmaily standing outside Buckinham Palace in June 2012 photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Royal_family.

JPG#filelinks

Asian american hate crimes increase Eileen McInerney The Asian American community has recently dealt with more repercussions due to the spread of COVID-19. Data collected

by California State University’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism shows that there’s been an increase of almost 150% of these hate-fueled attacks against the Asian American community in the United States of America.

Attacks against the Asian American community have been occurring for years, but due to lack of historical accounts of them, society struggles with depicting or describing anti-Asian American racism. According to a 2019 article written by Jeremy Chan, between 1860 and 1890, approximately more than 300 Chinese people in the West were killed because white workers believed that Asian workers were stealing their jobs. Even after all these attacks and killings, Asians were not allowed to testify in Court. Information found at L.A. Public Library shows that in 1871 the Chinese Massacre occurred, where white rioters killed 10% of the Chinese population in what is now the city of Los Angeles. In the 19th century, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, which was the first law in the United States that stopped immigration solely based on race.

White nativists who spread xenophobic

propaganda stating that Chinese people were the cause for diseases spreading and economic instability in San Francisco. In return, the act was passed and created a 10 year ban on all Chinese migration. These moments in history are repeating as Coronavirus continues to spread, whether it is accounts of racist remarks or attacks.

Similarly to what has occurred in history, there’s been an increase in Asian American attacks and racism due to COVID-19 deriving from cases from Wuhan City in China. On February 20, a rally of an estimated 300 people came together at Los Angeles State Historic Park near Chinatown to protest against the rising violence towards the Asian American community. The organization Stand for Asians Solidarity put together the “Rally Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes and Racism”. Civil rights activist Amanda Nguyên made a video that went viral where she addressed recent attacks on the community. The definition of xenophobia is the dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries. The rise of xenophobia in 2020 and 2021 has been present in attacks against Asian-Americans, worsening due to COVID-19.

Statistics show that California accounts for 40% of all attacks, where a third of all

Asian Americans live. About 90% of those incidents do not rise to a level of prosecutable hate crimes. Organizations such as NAPABA (National Asian Pacific American Bar Association),Asia Society, and Stop AAPI Hate (Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate) have broken the silence about the recent racist and xenophobic crimes to create a safer environment for people of the Asian American community.

march/april 2021

pictured above: protestors gather in California

photo credit: Jason Leung-https:// unsplash.com/ photos/bf1YaGw-4wA

news 4

Student Podcasts Sydney Banks and Elena Fernandez Microphones on. Headphones up. Time to get working. During this unconventional school year, students had the opportunity to try new things in order to pass time. Some may have watched an endless amount of Netflix shows, others may have picked up more books or hobbies, such as knitting or yoga. But for one group of McAuley students, creating podcasts was their means of expressing their creativity during a difficult time.

“We [my co-hosts and I] think that it is funny that some people are just given a platform to speak about things that interest them, so we decided to do the same,” Nora Kelly 10 said.

Kelly, along with her two best friends Kelly Stevens and Hanna Duh from Marist High School, thought of the idea to create a podcast of their own, while listening to a podcast in her Theology class. The girls wanted to come together in a creative way and freely talk about what they see as important without the immense pressure to precisely plan a ‘perfect’ podcast.

“My co-hosts and I have a shared note and if we think of a random good idea to talk about, we write it down,” Kelly said. “Then, we record an episode about whatever topic we decide on, I edit it and then upload it the following Monday on Spotify. Sometimes it gets a little tedious and annoying because if you accidentally click out of the recording it deletes all the edits I’ve made, but the end result is almost always how I want it to be.”

Aiming for a more comedic goal, Kelly aspired to create a free-spirited show where the group gets together and shares their views, witty remarks and ideas with their audience. The whole idea of their podcast is to joke about the potential fame they could possibly receive as “irrelevant influencers.”

“We just like to give our honest opinion about whatever random topics interest us, and we plan on doing it as long as we find it fun to do. We don’t really have a message that we want to convey, we just want to make people smile,” Kelly said.

In a recent episode, Kelly and her friends discussed topics pertaining to music. Their lighthearted discussion describes how teenage girls ultimately make boy bands successful, citing ‘The Beatles’ as an example.

“Isn’t it kind of weird that the reason why the Beatles got as big as they were is because of teenage girls and how they definitely would not have been as successful as they were if it were not for teenage girls,” Kelly said.

“Teenage girls are what started it [Beatles fame] and then everybody was like, ‘oh they’re just delusional, teenage girls’, and then all of a sudden, everybody started liking them.”

left: Nora Kelly’s Irrelevant Influences Spotify Code

Kelly’s podcast is called “Irrelevant Influences” and is streaming on Spotify with new episodes airing on Mondays.

Noadiyah Jones, a senior, impulsively thought of the idea to start a podcast after being inspired by a friend who showed her how to create one through an app called Anchor. As someone who aspires to make a positive impact on society, Jones created her podcast, “NoNo’s World,” with the hope to spread a cheerful and enthusiastic message through the world.

“My podcast is about anything and everything, and the message that I am trying to convey is all about spreading positivity, light and love into a world that is already filled with enough negativity, darkness and hate,” Jones said.

As a young woman in this generation, Jones uses her platform as an opportunity to make a stand and to voice her beliefs, all while creating an environment that is safe and comfortable for any listener. In her latest episode, Jones talks about what motivated her to start her podcast.

“From the time I was eight years old and won an essay contest against nine, ten, eleven and twelve year olds, I’ve been speaking and dropping straight facts,” Jones said.

“But I love all things discussion. I’ve been speaking for just about my whole life and it’s something that I genuinely enjoy doing, so I figured it in translation. The idea that words, more specifically mine, are powerful and they mean something to someone. Knowing that I have the potential to save someone’s life, all because No-No spoke.”

5 feature

right: Noadiyah Jones’ NoNo’s World Spotify Code

Jones uses her podcast to spread an empowering message that everyone has the ability to make a difference by simply using their voice to speak out and speak up for what they believe in.

“Discovering that my voice is powerful is what keeps me going,” Jones said in a recent episode of her podcast. “If there’s one thing ‘No-No’ does, it’s speak.”

Jones’ “No-No’s World” is streaming on Spotify, Anchor, Google Podcasts, Breaker, PocketCasts and RadioPublic, with new episodes airing every Sunday.

“I love being able to talk to people. I love being able to talk with people. I love having the honor of being the friend that the group turns to for advice,” Jones said. “I plan on doing my podcast for as long as I have something valuable to say. As Maya Angelou once orated, ‘There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you.’”

march/april 2021

Artapalooza is back!

Meghan McCann The activities of Artapalooza will be spread across two days, May 5 and May 6, for double the fun! It will be hosted from 1:30-3:00 each day.

Artwork will be displayed in each of the B-wing classrooms, hall displays, chemistry lab displays and the Media Center. Students who did not exhibit their artworks from last year are encouraged to bring their past pieces of artwork in to have them exhibited this year.

“I am very excited to finally be able to show all the art that my classmates and I have been creating this year,” Isabelle Arquilla 12 said, “Artapalooza is always a great way for all the students to come together to see the artwork every year.”

The AP Art and Design work will be in the Media Center and Photography I, II and Digital Photography will be exhibited in room 112. Web Page Design, Digital Illustration/ Illustration, Animation, Art & Emerging

April Fool’s pranks gone wrong “I decided that I would try to prank one of my teachers into thinking that my tooth fell out. A couple minutes later, my tooth actually did fall out and when I raised my hand to tell her, she didn’t believe me, and I had to hold my bloody tooth in my hand .”

- Keira Ohse 9 “On the night of April Fool’s Day, my mom woke me up and told me it was time to go to school even though it was 7 o’clock at night. I threw a temper tantrum and I actually ended up getting grounded.”

- Elle King 10

“When I was really young, I wanted to trick my parents that my tooth fell out so I tried to cut a piece of soap to look like a tooth but I ended up cutting my finger really bad, big mistake!”

- Lena Bryan 12 -

“ I wanted to prank my brother so I tied a rubber band around the kitchen sink faucet, so that when he would try to use it, it would spray at him. Things didn’t go as planned because it ended up spraying my dad instead .”

- Maura Hanley 11

Technology, Technical Drawing and CAD will all be exhibited in room 111. The Studio Art Honors art work will be shown in the hall and in room 108. Room 109 will have work from Intro to Drawing, Advanced Drawing, Intro to Painting and Advanced Painting will also be in the hall. Ceramics, Sculpture, Clay Sculpture and Wheel Throwing will be in room 110 as well as in display cases.

Along with the artwork, there will also be activities for students and staff to partake in. Artist prints will be available, as well as a possibility to purchase water bottles. Equinox, the annual art and literary magazine, will also be sold. There will be a DJ, raffles prizes, and a multitude of food trucks with burritos, baked goods, shaved ice and much more!

“We are all super excited for artapalooza this year because we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to have it because of COVID-19,” Clare Condon 12 said, “I am

excited that my classmates and I get to show all of our hard work.”

pictured above: 2021 Artapalooza shirts. picture provided by Ms. Sheahan

Keeping students engaged Kathleen Carter

From hybrid learning to sporting events with no fan sections, this year has really tested the resilience of the school community.

Incoming freshmen had a unique first-year experience, while older students tried to remember the fun times they had in years past. Adapting to change was the theme of this year for everyone. Teachers juggled instructing students both virtually and in the classroom, while students balanced their classes and tackled a new school year with endless changes on top of the normal stress of managing classes. The “two week break” turned into a year in the blink of an eye and everyone had to adapt to a “new normal.”

Amidst all the changes, there were still many accomplishments. Athletes competed in their abnormal seasons and the theater department put together two productions.

Despite the troubling times, students were able to make the most of their year and some created memories to last a lifetime.

“I was very thankful we even had a season,” varsity tennis player Hannah Markiewicz said.

“Especially since it’s senior year, I would’ve hated to miss it. Overall, though it wasn’t much different from years past because we were still able to have a good team bond, spirits were still high when cheering for each other at games, and we rounded out the season with some of the best team-wide records in a very long time.”

Teachers also had their own challenges with the abnormal school year. They kept students engaged by utilizing breakout rooms on Google Meets and adjusting projects to ensure the success of all their students.

Their ability to adapt with the changes of

COVID-19 and their dedication to keep students engaged and excited about their coursework was a testament to the strength of the McAuley faculty.

“Keeping students engaged given the limitations is one of the many challenges,” Ms. Gallagher said. “To do this, I’ve tried to plan activities and lessons that investigate real world issues or problems so that students are learning by doing. They learn the content through an interesting phenomena and are excited to investigate it. I also try to give students as many opportunities to work with classmates as possible, to talk about the activity and school, but also just to socialize in general.”

With the dedication and resilience of both the teachers and the students, they were able to make the most out of the school year and create an unforgettable year. Whether they were learning virtually or in person, they powered through as a community and helped each other through it.

pictured above:

march/april 2021

Mrs. O’Hara teaching her 8th period Pr-Calculus class photo by Kathleen Carter

student life 6

Review Crew:

Judge Janey

afternoon tea

Janey Hynes

Aine McIntyre and Brisa Torres Brisa: I would like to thank Yelp for providing the idea to try afternoon tea;, I am forever indebted to you. Personally, I cannot thank you enough for bringing these mini sandwiches and cups of tea into my life.

Our venue of choice was Pekoe & Bean, a small cafe in Tinley Park. After being seated, we ordered two sets of the afternoon tea platters and two pots of tea. Between Aine, Angelica and I, we paid 22 dollars each. The atmosphere was refreshing. The brightly painted walls and huge windows made it feel like spring, something I think we all need after Chicago’s frigid temperatures this past winter. I also loved the art displayed along the walls and the mismatching chairs.We were then presented with delicate handpainted teapots. We ordered peach blossom tea and chai tea, which had a pleasant aroma of flowers and cinnamon. The tea was so amazing, especially with it’s fresh tea leaves that left such an intense flavor unlike watered-down teas from other places. My favorite was the chai tea; the spices smelled like freshly ground cinnamon and vanilla straight from the bean. I will for sure be ordering it again. These teas were a 10/10.

photo by Brisa Torres

After the teas were delivered, we were presented with our food. The food came in tiered plates, one with savory sandwiches and snacks, the second with scones and clotted cream and the last with desserts, such as cream puffs and macaroons.

My favorite sandwiches on the platter were the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches. I could probably eat a dozen of them. Although the chicken sandwich was decent, the texture was weirdly chunky. I give the first section a 7/10.

Anyone who knows me knows I love baked goods, and scones are no exception.

These scones paired perfectly with the clotted cream. The scones simply crumbled in my mouth and the airy cream made it even better. The hints of orange and apricot gave it an amazing blast of flavor that left me wanting more. This is simply a 10/10.

The last tier was the most extravagant one. With many dessert options, we were never left feeling unsatisfied. I had the eclairs and cream puffs. The decadent-filled pastries were stuffed with a light airy sweet cream that made the perfect pastry. The bitter

photo by Brisa Torres

tempered chocolate on the eclairs adds a crisp texture and cuts the sweetness perfectly. This is absolutely a 10/10. If you are looking for something fancy and fun to do, I completely, wholeheartedly recommend afternoon tea at Pekoe & Bean. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

Aine: Step back in time to a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, feeling like a visit to Grandma’s house Pekoe & Bean’s simple yet refined menu is the perfect place to catch up with old friends or make new ones. The wide selection of flavorful teas and sweet and savory edibles makes this tea room experience unforgettable.

Once our teapots were brought to the table, the first tea I tried was the peach tea. The instant the tea left the spout, my nose was overwhelmed with the scent of sweet peaches, I knew I was in for a treat.

I was right because that tea was divinely refreshing and it tasted like Spring. It was just what I needed to let go of those winter ‘blahs’. I rate this tea a 10/10. The other tea-pot was filled with chai tea. I’m a huge supporter of anything chai so I was excited for this one. I was definitely not disappointed, the chai had the perfect mix of spice and tea. The warming spices of ginger and cardamom were so fragrant and when combined with the energizing black tea, it left us wanting more than the pot we drank in a record 5 minutes. I give tea this a 10/10 as well.

The elegant three-tiered tray of snacks was delightful and worth every penny. The cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches made me feel like British royalty. I had not experienced the uniqueness of these sandwiches before, but their lightness paired perfectly with the tea. I rate these a 10/10. And let’s not forget the scones, talk about traditional English fare, the Queen herself would certainly approve of these. I sampled the plain scones, so fluffy and crumbly they melted in my mouth. I rate these treats a 10/10 any day. Pekoe & Bean treated us well and I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon tea experience.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The first time that I remember being asked this was around the age of four by my favorite waitress at ‘The Magic’ (now Bacon & Jam). My answer to this was obviously, ‘an astronaut making pancakes on the moon.’ My focus then shifted, and with the help of Hannah Montana, I decided the limelight was my passion. But as an incoming freshman, I was dead set on becoming an environmental lawyer.

And now, in all honesty, I’m not entirely sure what I want to do with my life.

So, whether it’s through my chronology of hypothetical future occupations or photo by Bridget through the pondering of your own, it’s Gallagher clear that the question of what we want to do with our lives seems as big and mysterious as Bigfoot or the ‘man upstairs.’

Ideas about our future endeavors are broad at first, then through various reality checks, newfound passions and existential crises, they dwindle down to a rough outline of our future. During high school, we stress and stress (and stress some more) about ACT scores, tests, final exams and college acceptances as if they are the end-all-be-all to deciding our entire futures. We are expected to have our lives figured out by the time we retire our kilts.

This pressure is further cemented by our elders. Adults tell us we’ll be happier when we have everything figured out, and to be fair, there is some truth in this. As a result, we often try to please the adults around us, thinking it will make us less anxious about the future. There’s a lot of reassurance in knowing what you want to do when you ‘grow up,’ but I also think there’s reassurance in the fact that you can change your mind about everything and anything.

A few years ago, my Uncle Roger asked me about my career goals, and when I said I didn’t know, to my surprise, he just shrugged and said, “Me neither.” Much like the little kid who dreamt of being a pirate or a ballerina, your growing self may never stop dreaming of future careers because when do we stop growing up? This question brings me to my next point: the question of what we want to be when we grow up implies that we must ‘grow up’ to achieve what we want to do or be. Of course, this could simply mean growing older, but in most cases, it is assumed that one day, we will be rid of all our childish wonder in exchange for khakis. I don’t think we need to see the world through bifocals in order to accomplish our dreams. The pressure to transition into adulthood as fast as possible weighs heavily on teenagers. But what’s the rush in growing up? I have my whole life to mature and develop, so why force that upon me right now?

My goal for this column was never to give advice or to claim my beliefs as absolute. I wanted to write something that would make you laugh or think, even if your thoughts were about my general sanity. Soon, I’ll close those gym doors (and not be able to get back in because they automatically lock) and become just another alumnae of McAuley. But if there’s any parting advice I can share with you all, it’s to hold on to that whimsical, magical and curious child-like wonder that is so often frowned upon by adults. ‘Growing up’ is a state of mind. There’s no contract that comes with adulthood. You may change the answer to this question a billion times, but if there’s anything that I can say for certain, it is that you will be okay now, next week, in ten years and probably forever. Your world won’t fall apart if you don’t get into a certain college or if you don’t know what you want to do. Plus, who knows what you’ll want to be tomorrow? As the old saying goes, “When one door closes, another opens.”

Writing this column has brought me an immense amount of joy and gratitude that’s incredibly hard to even put into words.

I thank you all for reading my words, even if you hated or disagreed with them. All I ever wanted was an acknowledgment that there is at least one other person reading the words I’ve written. If you have, thanks.

7 opinion

Peace out girl scouts, Just Janey

march/april 2021

Spring (Meteor) Showers Angelica Topor

Pointing the camera to the sky while using the SkyView Lite app can locate different celestial bodies. This is particularly helpful when locating the radiant point of a meteor shower.

It’s a bird...it’s a plane…it’s a meteor! In late April and early May, two major meteor showers, the Lyrids and the Eta Aquariids, can be viewed from all over the country.

Active from April 16 to 30, the Lyrids are one of the oldest known meteor showers and occurs once a year as debris from the Comet Thatcher falls, creating the meteors. This year, the Lyrids will peak in visibility overnight on April 21 and 22, with the best view being between midnight and early dawn.

The second major upcoming meteor shower, the Eta Aquariids are named after the brightest star in the constellation Aquarius, Eta Aquarii, and are produced as a result of debris from the Comet Halley. This shower will be from April 19 to May 28 and is expected to peak in visibility on May fifth and sixth in Chicago.

Although the Lyrids are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere, while the Eta Aquariids are most visible from the Southern Hemisphere, they can both be seen from many places all over the country. According to earthsky.org, which shows the best spots for stargazing and watching the night sky, the Afton Preserve in Dekalb County, Illinois is

one of the best places near Chicago to watch the meteor showers.

Still, the showers will be visible from all over, not just the best watch spots, but there are some steps to take when looking for the showers in order to ensure the best watching experience possible. Such steps include getting as far away from city lights as possible and also making sure to arrive at the watch destination 15-20 minutes prior to the start of the shower, in order to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. Additionally, mobile apps such as SkyView Lite can be used to help find the radiant of the meteor shower, which is the point at which the meteors seem to originate from.

With about 30 meteor showers visible to Earth each year, the Lyrids and Eta Aquariids are just two approaching showers to be viewed.

Earth Day Earth Day takes place annually on Apr 22 and promotes the global use of eco-friendly methods that help restore or maintain the earth’s ecosystem. Since its implementation in 1970, over a billion people across the globe have participated in the Earth Day events, creating organizations and campaigns that have left permanent, positive impacts on the environment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the isolation of families and communities led to the reduction of pollution, especially in businesses that produce air pollution through manufacturing. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the air quality has significantly improved in urban areas with automobile traffic, and water pollution has reduced in certain countries around the world.

However, an increase in online shopping purchases from retailers with high traffic, such as Walmart and Amazon, initiated a mass of product pollution. Due to more packaging being discarded, communities experienced a flow of plastic and styrofoam waste in their neighborhoods. With this new increase of pollution, earthday.org raised awareness surrounding the topic.

The organization emphasized the importance of taking action to prevent the issue of climate change from growing. Many household efforts can contribute to a decrease in local pollution. These efforts include

Sofia Jasso

composting scraps of fruit and vegetables, using recycling bins and purchasing non-toxic, eco-friendly products. Simple tasks like these help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that occur due to mass production. Greenhouse gas emissions are a leading factor of climate change, trapping heat in the air and causing extreme weather conditions. Recycling products that can be reused to create new products helps prevent the increase of greenhouse gas emissions.

Purchasing organic food also contributes to a healthier environment. Agricultural production remains a large factor in contributing to climate change. Organic

farming, however, conserves water, reduces soil erosion and uses less energy. It also reduces the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals that damage nearby ecosystems.

Through a combined worldwide effort to decrease harmful household practices, the celebration of Earth Day makes a positive impact on the earth’s environment and takes a step closer to defeating climate change.

“To be stewards of this planet, and to sustain a functional society and economy, natural resources must be used wisely and efficiently,” earthday.org stated. “We must also protect all ecological systems to ensure clean air, clean water, and food security for all.”

march/april 2021

graphic by Sofia Jasso

science & tech 8

Summer Olympics Moira Cosme

After four years of fans waiting in anticipation and Olympic athletes ready to compete, the world was ready for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, the outbreak of the coronavirus caused the games to be postponed for the first time in history and rescheduled for the Summer of 2021.

As summer quickly approaches, Olympic fans are curious and unsure about whether or not the games will happen on their scheduled dates. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan recently agreed for the 2021 olympics to be celebrated from July 23 to Aug. 8. Even though the games are taking place in 2021, they will still be celebrated as the 2020 Olympics.

The decision was made mainly under the consideration of protecting the health of the athletes and everyone else involved.

The Olympic staff will follow through with this by subjecting athletes to regular COVID testing and temperature checks. Athletes will also be prohibited from public transportation or visiting public places that have not been

approved by Olympic officials.

The coronavirus guidelines and regulations, however, are not the only additions to this year’s Olympic Games. There have been new sports added to the game for this summer, such as karate, sport climbing and surfing.

The Olympics will also offer new versions of sports already in the game such as three-onthree basketball and a new form of cycling called BMX freestyling. Lastly, baseball and softball are making a return to the Olympic Games just for this year after being eliminated from the 2012 lineup.

The changes will give the Olympics a different look, but that doesn’t lessen the anticipation of the event.

graphic by Moira Cosme

-

MLB helping businesses Anna Fagan

With the reopening of the baseball parks to 20% capacity, the thought of other things reopening lingers in the air now. With COVID numbers lowering in Chicago, other sports could be opening up soon creating even more business for the surrounding areas. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said on Twitter she was hopeful that if we keep COVID numbers down, many more businesses will be able to reopen completely, really helping their incomes which were lowered due to the lockdown last March.

“With the opening of the baseball parks and the businesses surrounding them, I am hopeful that we will be able to start opening places around here and still be safe,” sophomore Lily O’Connor said.

9 sports

Molly McDermott

Junior Nyla Walker led the Mighty Mac varsity basketball team through an unconventional season. They patiently waited for approval from the Illinois High School Association, and were granted a condensed four-week long season at the beginning of February. The Mighty Macs acclimated to the new protocols and embraced the opportunity to play.

“What I took away from this season is to appreciate the present moment and never take anything for granted,” Walker said. “There were so many times where that practice or that game could’ve been our last. Because of this, I took in every moment we were given and tried to enjoy everything that much more.”

After transferring to McAuley her sophomore year, Walker adjusted quickly and connected well with her new team. She earned her way onto the court, and was named to the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference AllConference Team for her contributions this season.

“My experience at McAuley has been amazing,” Walker said. “The school has a very family-like environment with everyone being so supportive of one another. This is displayed in class and in sports, which is amazing.”

Walker also plays for a club basketball team, the Example Academy. This program not only provides high level basketball training, but also an educational experience to develop life skills, and a platform for student athletes to be recruited and attain college scholarships.

“When I am a senior next year, I hope to grow more as a leader for my team,” Walker said. “I want to continue to learn more about myself and my identity for the next chapter of my life.”

photo provided by Nyla Walker

With the opening of Wrigley Field approaching on April 1, along with the opening of Guaranteed Rate Field on April 8, many bars, restaurants, and shops around the parks are excited about the upcoming business they will soon receive. Restaurants such as Budlong’s, Cork and Kerry, and Murphy’s Bleachers are set to reopen for opening day this year. This reopening will draw in fans who are attending the games, and others who want to watch the games. Adding to the excitement, the Sox and the Cubs are the first professional Chicago sport to allow fans in the stands; this should cause a surplus of sports fans gathering safely at the local businesses to catch some of the excitement.

“I am so excited that the Sox and Cubs are allowing fans back into the stadiums this year, my uncle owns a bar by Wrigley Field and he says he is excited for all of the coming business,” junior Natalie Swan said.

“Hopefully this means other businesses and events will start to reopen soon.”

With the reopening of the baseball parks

Play like a girl

march/april 2021

Fashion trends and the environment Elena Fernandez From mom jeans to flowy and flowery dresses, the “Y2K” movement and cottagecore have become more popular in the world of fashion in 2021. To keep up with these fashion trends, consumers have been delving into websites like Shein, Zaful or Fashion Nova for fashionable clothes at an affordable price. Although this seems harmless, this is an example of fast fashion.

The “Y2K” movement is a renewal of fashion trends from the early 2000s. Think Britney and Justin’s denim-on-denim outfit at an award ceremony, the velvet tracksuits, jumpsuits, and tiny purses. These were iconic trends and memorable fashion moments that are now being revived in 2021. People are also investing in clothes that resemble a ‘cottagecore’ aesthetic, which is a romanticized rendition of western agricultural life. Think of a flowery mansion in a rural setting. Clothes that resemble this kind of aesthetic include flowery shirts with puffed sleeves or dresses that flow freely all the way down to the ankles.

While cheap prices can seem great for fashion lovers, these clothes are made from cheap material and are mass produced in

factories with poor conditions and low pay for workers. These clothes tend to wear out quickly and are thrown away faster because the clothes are made from low-grade material.

To dispose of these clothes correctly, it takes a tremendous amount of energy and resources that wouldn’t be needed for clothes made from proper material.

According to Earth.org, “Among the environmental impacts of fast fashion include the depletion of non-renewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases and the use of massive amounts of water and energy.

The fashion industry is the second largest consumer industry of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans.”

People want to keep up with new trends, so they invest in fast fashion to get cute clothes at a cheap price. Meanwhile, they are all contributing to the negative effects of fast fashion, and the environment is forced to face the consequences.

graphic by Moira Cosme

2021 Oscar predictions Despite hard times in Hollywood, the show must go on! The 2021 Academy Awards will be held in person on April 25.

Many great movies are nominated, but which ones deserve to win?

Best Picture Will Win: “Nomadland” Should Win: “Minari” “Nomadland” is the favorite to win the most prestigious award of the night. The film follows Fern, played by Frances McDormand, who becomes a modern-day nomad after losing everything. It is a very well-made film, however it does not have much of a plot and is more about character development.

“Minari,” the story of a Korean family in 1980s Arkansas, is a more deserving winner.

It is a moving film about the challenges that come with achieving American dream.

Best Director Will Win: Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” Should Win: Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari” Chung’s direction is very personal.

His direction, along with the actors’

march/april 2021

Bridget Gallagher

performances, is what makes the film so heartwarming. However, Cholé Zhao is the favorite to win in the directing category.

If Zhao comes out on top, she will be only the second woman to win the award. The Academy needs a wake up call!

Best Actor Will Win: Chadwick Boseman Should Win: Chadwick Boseman The late actor gives an electrifying performance as a self-assertive and animated trumpeter in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” He won the Golden Globe and deserves to win the Oscar.

Best Actress Will Win: Carey Mulligan Should Win: Viola Davis Mulligan is great in the comedic thriller, “Promising Young Woman.” However, Davis is better in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Davis’ portrayal of the titular character is wildly entertaining. She asserts her dominance in every scene and demands the audience’s attention.

Best Supporting Actor Will Win: Daniel Kaluuya Should Win: Daniel Kaluuya Golden Globe winner Daniel Kaluuya seems like a lock for this award. In “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Kaluuya plays Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton. The British actor has an amazing screen presence, and does a great American accent too!

Best Supporting Actress Will Win: Yuh-Jung Youn Should Win: Yuh-Jung Youn or Maria Bakalova This category might just be the hardest to predict. All five nominees are good, but YuhJung Youn will go home with the gold. She is both witty and heartbreaking as the grandma in “Minari,” and she deserves to win. Unlike Youn’s character, Maria Bakalova is not heartbreaking, but hilarious. Bakalova also deserves to win for her outrageously funny portrayal as Borat’s daughter, Tutar.

a&e 10

Congrats to our SPAC Award winners!