Oakton Outlook 2009-2010 Issue 8 by Laura Murphy

oakton high school volume 44, issue 8

N COUGAR

S OAKTON

COUGARS

OAKTON C

OUGARS O

look

out

AKTON CO

UGARS OA

true KTON COU

GARS OAK

what are Oakton’s

schoolcolors? students discuss their perspectives on race

TON COUG

ARS OAKT

ON COUGA

The yearbook staff was going to design an awesome full-page ad to go here. But they were too busy making an awesome yearbook and did not have time. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you hate when you get busy? Speaking of busy, in the time it took you to read this, you could have made your way to Room 196 to check and make sure you bought a yearbook. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel dumb. Your friends did it, too.

out

look

05 Class Elections

IN-DEPTH

21 Facing Race

Oakton is known as a predominantly white school, but many races and ethnicities flourish here, as seen by looking at faces in the halls. See the perspectives of different cultures.

The “vote for me” signs line the walls of the school, and the Facebook group invitations have been sent. But who are the individuals running for school government positions?

A&E

09 Smokmusic/NSmith Productions They probably pop up on your newsfeed every time you log onto Facebook. Whether it’s a video, an album of pictures or song lyrics, Sagar Moktan and Nathan Smith always seem to be paired together. Both students are collaborating and pursuing art careers.

29 Bucket List

Now that we’re nearing the end of the year, it’s possible to look back on past decisions. What do you wish you had done over the past year, or hope you will do before high school ends?

31 So Much to Touch As Apple touts the creation of hundreds of apps, it’s impossible to keep up with which are worth downloading and which are not. View a list of the most useful apps.

13 Polly Want a Cracker Many students have dogs and cats, typical household pets. Some students, however, have purchased exotic pets that draw more attention than the average golden retriever. Take a look at what kind of pets your fellow classmates have.

VOICE

15 Tuxedo or Jersey For more than just one year, the date of Prom has overlapped with at least one sporting event. Hear the warning that one affected athlete is heeding for younger athletes.

18 AP Week

Considering it’s AP testing week and all of us are freaking out in fear of our exams, we deemed it appropriate for a staffer to share their opinion regarding how many tests is too many.

35 Cream of the Crop

Despite tasting good, Dairy Queen and McDonald’s sundaes can get old. And for those with a sweet tooth, finding an alternative to DQ treats seems to be a task. Try local shops for different kinds of ice cream, gelato or even frozen yogurt.

SPORTS

38 Bigger is Better At each season’s sports meeting, Rupp reminds us of the dangers of steroids and performance enhancers. It seems redundant; don’t do things that give you an unfair athletic advantage. But what if you ignore Rupp’s advice and take steroids?

may 06 2010

FEATURE

outlook news

NEWS

May 6, 2010

editors’

letter Year winds down as AP exams are administered, class elections voted on Between the two of us, we will have taken 14 AP exams before graduating high school. That’s 42 hours of testing and hundreds of hours of studying. 14 Barron’s review books later, and we know too well the stress of this time of year. Put simply, we understand the stress you’re probably feeling. Pretty much everyone will take at least one AP class before leaving Oakton, so the first two weeks of May always mean that the Auxiliary Gym is filled with stressed students, and classes are a little smaller than usual. It doesn’t help that there’s something wrong with the air conditioning in the Auxiliary Gym, either. Of course the week of AP exams the weather would decide to go haywire and the AC would decide to explode. Considering we’re already sweating from anxiety, sweating from heat only makes us more uncomfortable during exams. And don’t deem yourself safe if you’re sitting near a fan, because though you may be cooler, have fun chasing your test as it flies up in the air. But we’re AP students, and we’re trained to handle anything, even extreme environmental conditions, right? Speaking of AP exam conditions, opinions regarding the general courses as well as tests can be found on pages 16 and 18. After these rough couple of weeks, we all will be able to say we survived an AP course, either for the first time or for the 5th time. Either way, we’ll all have something to celebrate. Whether you celebrate by burning your AP binders immediately after the test or checking out the ice cream parlors on page 35, everyone

deserves to take a load off. Speaking of celebrating, we’re entering Prom season. But before all the girls freak out regarding their dresses, hair and nail appointments, dinner reservations, and most obviously, dates, we still have other choices to make. And we’re not talking about Prom Court; we’re talking about class elections. As you can see from the posters plastered on nearly all available wall space in the school, which is probably bordering on a fire hazard, student elections are coming up. For the sake of the candidates, avoid drawing mustaches on their ever-socarefully designed and placed posters. To get to know the people whose faces line the halls, see page 5 for a profile on each of the candidates, so you can vote for the one who will do the best job for Oakton. Counting from today, there are merely 35 school days left in the school year, and 30 days until graduation for seniors. With these upcoming dates in mind, we can, in a cliché-manner, look back. Especially as seniors, we came in with many assumptions of what we’d do, but maybe we haven’t gotten to any of them quite yet. For everything we don’t get to in the next 30 days, we’ve compiled a ‘bucket list’ to help out the underclassmen on page 29. Despite these couple of weeks encompassing a lot of stress, the tension will be relieved in due time. We personally give you permission to take a chill pill (not permanently) after the exams are over. Good luck on your remaining tests. Go Cougars!

From,

From, may 06 2010

Alex Straton Co-Editor in Chief

outlook news

Erica Wohlleben Co-Editor in Chief

Outlook Staff Editors in Chief Alex Straton Erica Wohlleben

In-Depth Editor Charlotte Dobry Sports Editors Alex Buscemi Daphne Martschenko

News Editors Michelle Chu Elise Werner

Business Managers

Opinions Editor Zoe Mitchell

Sarah Crain Philip Tam

Community Editors Tesla Jensen Katie Smith

Design Editor Sarah Kashanian

Online Editor Koorosh Massoudi Ads Sarah Crain Philip Tam

Copy Editor Vipin Reddy Photo Editor Daniel Chait Adviser Chad Rummel

Staff Lisa Baumgartner Alex Belden Owen Chesser Nikki Clemons Spencer Conley Conner Dick Charlotte Dobry Drew Harrington Morgan Harwood Kyle Hughes Matt Johnson Callum Kelton Jackson Lizardo Allen Luethke

Jordan Nieusma Michelle Oh Christopher Papas Julia Picciotto Pasquale Prezioso Sonya Price Shannon Ragan Andrew Reed Shayda Shahbazi Becky Singerman Matt Steele Nick Ward Matt Woodhouse Dorothy Yen

Editorial Policy The Outlook is an open forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials reflect the collective opinion of the Outlook staff. Signed editorials represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Outlook or Oakton High School. Reader opinions are important to the Outlook and contributions are welcome. Make your voice heard by sending us a line about what’s on your mind. Letters to the editor may be may be sent via email to editors@oaktonoutlook.com or dropped off in Chad Rummel’s box in the main office or in room 196. The Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and content provided the meaning remains unchanged.

Fast

Facts

Taylor Smith, Stephen Axelson, Nathan Ong and Maddie Farmer promoted their race, A Walk for Water, at the Fairfax Festival. The festival was held in order to raise awareness and money to build wells for African children. They set up a table where they promoted their cause and accepted other donations. “It is the greatest feeling,” Axelson said. “Picture these 10-year-old girls, tired and exhausted. Now imagine how building a well would change their lives.”

• At the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Louisville, Kentucky 15 students from competed against others across the world. Seniors were able to attend Senior Management institutions where they learned about college prep and other pertinent information. The underclassmen attended Chapter Management Institutions where they learned about how to run local chapters and leadership. Senior Kunjisha Ahuja placed in the top ten for the Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan and had the highest score on the testing section of the event. The ICDC is an international competition and was well attended. “There were over 14,000 people there from not only the United States but around the world,” said junior Amanda Askari. outlook news

may 06 2010

reshman Maddie Farmer and sophomores 8:30 a.m. The second race is a 5K, about three Stephen Axelson, Nathan Ong and Taylor miles, and will start at 9:00 a.m. Smith have organized two races to be held “We are suggesting donating $30, which inon Sunday, May 16 at Fairfax Corner that will ben- cludes the 5K race, a t-shirt, live music, breakfast efit the fight for clean water in Africa by donating brunch and arts and crafts,” said Smith. “For the money to the organization Africare. 1K, which also includes [the same], we suggest “We named the race ‘A Walk for Water,” Smith $20.” said. “African girls have to walk three to seven Axelson got the idea to have the races from an miles a day to get water that isn’t clean or on a Eagle Scout project. He then found assistants to constant flow.” help coordinate the plans for the races, including The focus for these races is Farmer. to have participants experience “My sister went to Senegal what African children feel as over Spring Break,” Farmer said. they walk the many miles in “When she got back she showed Africare has collected search of clean water. Another me pictures from the African vilover $4 billion to help focus is raising money in order lage; it looked a lot different from Africa to benefit the cause and aid the us and I wanted to help.” people in Africa. To raise additional money, the The races begin at the “Three miles is the distance group set up a booth at the FairCoastal Flats in Fairfax an African girl walks for water fax County Fair asking for donaevery day,” Axelson said. “Our tions to cover the cost of security, Corner at 8:30 am purpose is to have kids realize food and other necessities needed For more info visit walk- for these races to happen. what they take for granted and give the idea that they should “We handed out flyers and 4water.org pay more attention to the talked to the people about our cause.” race,” Smith said. “We are on a At the races entertainment will be provided by tight budget, and we want as much money as posthe Sounds of Grey band in addition to two chorus sible to go towards Africa.” students, sophomores Emma Mankin and Sarah If a person does not want to run the races, but Smith. is still interested in aiding the cause for Africa, they “I feel honored to be able to contribute to such can still donate to the organization. Donations a cause,” Smith said. “It’s my duty to do this can be made through logging onto walk4water.org because we should all look out for each other. I’m and clicking the registration tab. just happy that I was given the opportunity to con“One can certainly donate and [choose] not to tribute in a way that comes easily to me.” run,” Smith said. “We have many people doing Both of the benefit races will begin in front of that, and every little bit really makes a big differthe Coastal Flats restaurant in Farfax Corner. The ence in the amount we raise for this great cause.” first race is a 1K, about half a mile, and starts at by Alex Belden and Sonya Price

• Junior Dan Nguyen’s drawing entitled, “Poetry of Sticks,” received a Gold Key at the Regional level and a Silver Medal at the National level in the Scholastic Art Competition on April 15. “She won a Regional Gold Key Award for an amazing drawing of a stick.” said art teacher, Margaret Sharkoffmadrid. “She did an absolutely wonderful job.” Over 165,000 works were submitted at the regional level. The top 8,000 winners, including Nguyen, were sent to nationals. The official awards are going to be given out on June 9 in New York at Carnegie Hall.

Students organize a race to help fund the building of two wells for children in Africa.

news

briefs

A step in the right direction

news

briefs

• Finance students from Cheryl Edward’s class took a National Financial Capability Challenge on Tuesday, April 6. The Oakton representatives competed against 76,000 other students from across the country. Teacher’s began to prepare the students in March about the primary information in Finance outside and inside the school before they took the challenge. Freshman Imren Johar, junior Nicholas Apelquist, and seniors Katelyn Corridon and Jonathan Hart received perfect scorers on their exams. “[The Test] wasn’t too difficult,” said senior Katelyn Corridon. “After taking finance, AP Calculus, and just some general common sense, it was pretty easy to get a good score. It was pretty exciting to get 100%. I knew that I did well, but it was exciting to see that I didn’t even miss one. Those who achieved high scores received recognition for their work from the Department of Treasury.

tarting next fall, Economics and Personal “I used to teach [Economics],” Banbury said. Finance, a new fine, practical and technical “It’s a hard class, but I think it’s worthwhile. It’s a art credit class, will be offered to students of good blend of a humanities class and a math class all grades statewide. blended into one.” While AP Economics will still be in place as an Besides the personal advantages for students, optional elective, the semester classes of Current the class has also been introduced, in part, accordEvents and regular Economics will be removed. ing to Banbury, as “a response to the economic The previous plan, which required students to crisis of the last couple of years.” take this new class as a credit for graduation, has “[I hope] that [students] will be financially been delayed. Therefore Economics and Personal literate,” Duperrouzel said. “It’s a class we wish Finance will not be mandatory when introduced in the current members of our federal government September. would have taken, because obviously they are not “The first [time] I heard about [the class] was financially literate.” last year,” said Principal However, if John Banbury. “Since then, the class eventually We’re really excited and it moved pretty quickly, and I becomes mandatory, it we think it’s going to be a think that’s why they backed will mean that upcomgreat class. We wish the down from requiring it for ing freshmen students this year’s class.They weren’t will have to give up one class were mandatory much ready.” of their electives during sooner. Since then, the state has their high school camade plans for the course’s reer, rearranging their curriculum, though it has not felt it appropriate to schedules in order to take it before graduation. announce its teachers at this time. Economics and Though this does pose as a future concern, the Personal Finance is designed to focus on giving time the class becomes mandatory is still unsure, basic financial knowledge to students before they according to Duperrouzel. Current seventh graders move on to post-graduate plans. in middle schools may be the first to have this class “We’re going to have a lot of guest speakers as a graduation requirement, but the plans are still come to the class,” said Peter Duperrouzel, Direcnot set in stone. The class is still a possibility, not a tor of Student Services. certain schedule option. These visitors, he said, will be members of the “We’re really excited and we think it’s going business arena who will meet to discuss course top- to be a great class. We wish the class were manics with the class such as writing checks, handling datory much sooner,” Duperrouzel said. “It’s a banks accounts and credit cards, and entrepreneurvery practical class, and students will use what ship. This kind of “real-world” education will be they’ve learned in this class throughout their whole introduced in order to better prepare students for lives.” when they must manage finances on their own. by Julia Picciotto

“

”

How would you feel if the class were required?

freshman

“I think that, while I personally don’t think I need it, I think it’ll be helpful to students. It’ll prepare them for the real world.”

renee

daniels

“It’s a good idea, because if you end up taking care of [economics] before college, then if you need to do it during college, you know how to do it.”

griffis

o’dell

junior

elanor

“Pretty much, this class is pointless because we should have learned that in eighth grade civics.”

freshman

ray

outlook news

Economics and Personal Finance will replace Current Events and Economics and become a new course option for students.

james

may 6 2010

• Nine tardies or three unexcused absences will no longer equal an automatic fail, a previously accepted county policy. Class failures will not be based on attendance, but rather on the performance of students. If the student does not attend school on the day of an assessment, and the absence is considered to be unexcused, they will receive a zero on that assessment. “I think it’s a good idea, because students should be disciplined,” said assistant principal Chip Comstock. “If the student is late to class, the student’s grade would be impacted anyway.”

Economics class added to curriculum

garces

sophomore

“It’s a good class to prepare. It prepares you for what goes on after college and how to manage money.”

Middle Ground

kadie

robin

steven

brigham

mentzer

harris

“

Less is More

junior

I am taking four AP classes and 1 Honors class: AP BC Calc, AP Chem, AP Lang, AP US, and Honors Physics. I’m not doing as well as I would like to do in my classes but it helps to have the 1.0 boost. I have a C+ in two of my classes and B’s in the rest. I take AP classes because you get better teachers, you learn more, and partially because my parents force me. I want to go to UVA. I’m trying to build up my resume with my AP’s.

”

“

Supervisor of AP’s

AP classes are necessary in order to provide students with an appropriate challenge. Ninety-five percent of students go on to college. We should give them the opportunity to [experience an AP class] in the high school environment before they go on to college. In an AP class, a student is able to engage with content commensurate with a college level course. Everyone should take an AP course in an area of their strength.

”

“

junior

I took three AP classes; the course load was unbearable because I procrastinated. I didn’t do the work for AP Bio and Lang because I don’t care for the subject[s]; my parents wanted me to take them. I wasn’t mature enough to take the responsibility; but I regret enrolling and dropping because for my first quarter grades I had an F in science and English. Afterwards, I worked hard to improve my grades, and now I have A’s/B’s. by Shayda Shahbazi

”

Marketing students participate in Travel Week

ourism and traveling are subjects that are generally at the bottom of a student’s mind. However, Travel Week helps bring attention to the tourism industry. The week, which starts on May 8, was created to raise awareness of the benefits of tourism. “I believe Travel Week is not only important for the school, but for the whole

courtesy of Pat Edwards

Posters will describe various sites local to the community. These posters will be hung throughout the school during Travel Week to raise more awareness and contribute to the Pineapple X Express game.

nation,” said hotel marketing instructor Pat Edwards. “The week will help us promote Fairfax County and Washington D.C.” During marketing classes, students created posters for a game named the Pineapple X Express. The purpose of the game is to provide information on popular local places. “I was assigned to make a poster for Reston Town Center,” said senior Vianska Matheu. “[Making posters] helps show us what’s happening within our community.” The Pineapple X Express game will be a scavenger hunt where various pictures of pineapples will be hidden around the schools. The posters will provide answers to the questions of the game. “Students who participate will all receive munchies, which are food rewards, and the grand prize winner will receive a bigger prize,” Edwards said. Besides making posters and participating in the game, students can participate in Travel Week by wearing red on National Rally Day, May 11, to raise awareness for travel. “I think it’s important to participate in Travel Week because it’s a creative way to learn about tourism and marketing,” said freshman Robert Panozo. by Michelle Oh

• Seniors will be going to an annual field trip to Capitol Hill on May 19. The trip was originally supposed to be during February, but it was cancelled due to all the snow. Seniors will be taking the metro to Capitol Hill and will have a lot of freedom to make what they want of the trip. Some questioned the value in having the field trip so late in the year and after the AP exams; however, a lot of students that will be attending the field trip still see that value in the trip. “I’m actually happy the trip got delayed and rescheduled, because the weather is going to be a lot nicer to run around Capitol Hill in,” said Senior Justin Kim. • On May 21, the class of 2011’s “Midnight in Paris” themed prom will be held in the McLean Hilton in Tyson’s Corner. Individual tickets will be sold for $60 in each lunch, starting May 13 up until the day of Prom.

outlook news

may 6 2010

The More the Better

• Junior Ian Lindsay placed fifth in the category of dramatic interpretation at the Virginia State High School League Forensics Tournament, on April 17, for his 10 minute composition of a dramatic interpretation of Brian Greene’s “Icarus on the Edge of Time.” The top 12 performers competed at George Mason University. “It’s an accomplishment and it’s not easy [to place]. There’s some level of pride because there are many kids who do [compete] and not many do well,” Lindsay said. “It takes a lot of time, practice, and natural talent.”

As the year comes to a close, students need to make final decisions on what classes to enroll in. Signing up for an AP class requires hard work, dedication and commitment. While AP’s may be a perfect match for some, others find them to be stressful and difficult.

briefs

news

AP course selection

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SGA president

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SGA v.p.

class president

“As SGA president, I want to do everything that I can in order to make everyone at Oakton have their best year ever.”

“I am one of the most spirited people at Oakton [and] I will let my spirit and projecting voice speak for me.”

“Planning Down for Dao taught me a lot about event planning [and] I would build our class unity.”

“School spirit is important to me and creates a more productive environment at Oakton.”

“I would make a good candidate because I am very organized and reliable, and I always get the job done.”

jeffrey

sara

sam

emma

kyle

monica

francesca

alex

kristi

jilian

• Band members recently went to Myrtle Beach and competed at a competition on Friday, April 23. During this annual event, band students from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania competed against each other and were rewarded for their work. “Myrtle was great,” said sophomore Max Stabile. “We did well at buck rouse delgado iacovino abed the competition and won class v.p. class v.p. class president class president class president superior ratings in all the band [categories]. “I guarantee “As V.P. I want to “My goal as Presi- “As president, I “I’ll be the We worked hard, but we you’ll have the hold more events dent will be to will collaborate president you can still had fun. Our director, best school year like Down for create a welcomwith the other always come up to Cheryl Newton, pushed of your life in Dao as well as ing vibe within electd officials to and suggest someus all year until we couldn’t 2011. How can I raise money for our class.” make spirit events thing to make our take it, but winning made guarantee that? senior privileges and our school a school better.” it all worth it.” Vote for me to and graduation.” priority.” While there was the stress find out.” of the competition, members were able to relax for the three days that they were not competing. To relax, students participated in activities such as playing volleyball, walking on the boardwalk carrigan goulding revel ramsey ten-kate and relaxing on the beach . “We were able to spend class v.p. class v.p. class v.p. class president class president some time at the beach,” “My experience in “Some things that “From planning “One idea I have “I promise to said junior Katherine Germany for eight I would make an Prom to school is creating a Prom make our class Black. “It was nice. A lot of years gives me a effort in doing activities and fun events and need Committee Club us played volleyball during events, I will make distinct advantage would be making my priority such in which [any] the day and in the afternoon the lunch lines your years here at at representing as: fundraising, student can join we went out and did things the diverse groups healthier and to [give] ideas and prom, calss events Oakton memolike go to the boardwalk within Oakton.” have open library help [plan] prom.” and school spirit.” rable.” at the beach. Overall, it hours.” was a fun and rewarding experience.” outlook news

may 6 2010

You may have heard the news and seen the signs - this year’s student elections are beginning. Everyone who wins their position will have the opportunity to shape the next school year, so here’s a quick look at what they are bringing to the table.

Student elections begin for the 2010-2011 school year

briefs

Candidates for the election of 2010

news

• The following Latin students earned gold medals on the National Latin Exam: Ray Daniels (Latin IVPoetry), Adrian Mead (Latin II), Elizabeth Himes (Latin II), Robin Parrish (Latin II), Tony Lee (Latin I), Brooks Henne (Latin I), and Kristi Carrigan (Latin I). The exam required general knowledge of the Latin language and the reading of a passage in Latin. Only the top percent of the highest scores received the honor of a gold medal.

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g g l i n g Act u A J

Advice from the Experts Jon Hart

Seniors describe the balancing act between after school jobs, social life and academics.

cutout

Jon hosting

can be applied to their everyday life as well as to their future. “After getting a job my time management improved tremendously and I learned to plan ahead,” Hart said. “Working on a schedule is tedious and annoying and now if I want to make plans with friends on a Friday night I have check the schedule, see if I’m on, possibly trade shifts with someone, and then get the manager to sign off on it. It gets old fast, but when you get a job, you get a responsibility and it is much harder to do things on a whim.” Oakton students have jobs ranging from hosting positions to working in animal clinics. Applying for these jobs is not as hard as it may appear. All it takes is time, patience and effort. “Since I live in Reston when I decided to look for a job I basically went to Reston Town Center and walked around grabbing different job applications,” Kortan said. “Clyde’s was really open to interviewing me, and my family and I ate their all the time so I already knew a lot about it.” Money is not the only thing these students take away from their after school jobs. Each student learns valuable lessons that they can directly use to improve their everyday life and even their future. “Working in so many clinics, with different doctors, people, atmospheres and methods of medicine, the most valuable thing I can take with me is to remember what my priorities are as a veterinarian,” Marquez said. “Many times, the business aspect can outshine the care an animal receives, but watching the works of the veterinary field from a perspective outside a doctor’s view will always be able to remind myself what’s really the objective in my profession. This knowledge will help me be successful.”

jane waiting cutout

“Get a job, work experience never hurt and making money is never a bad thing.”

Jane Kortan

“Don’t let them make you work all the time; you have more say than you think you do.”

Rachel Marquez

“Don’t get a high stress job or high commitment job, enjoy high school, get good grades and you’ll be successful”

By Tesla Jensen

outlook feature

april 69 2010 2010 may

have to be given up. Senior Jane Kortan, who works at Clyde’s in Reston Town Center, knows all about sacrificing free time for a job. “I mainly miss hanging out with my friends on the weekend,” Kortan said. “I never get to do that. I also never went to a football or basketball game this year and last year I worked on prom and had to serve all my friends.” Not only do after school jobs prevent students from enjoying a normal high school social life, they also heavily impact a student’s academic schedule and overall performance. Although the year is coming to a close and senioritos is now full blown for senior Jon Hart, he still remembers how difficult juggling his schoolwork and his job at Glory Days Grill in the Pan Am Shopping Center was for him. “My school work was greatly affected by working,” Hart said. “I didn’t have as much time to study anymore, so I had to be more scheduled and organized in each of my classes and even after all that it was still a struggle to get assignments done on time because I was usually too tired to study or work on my Looking for a Job? homework.” So why do all these students continue to work when there are so • Nurse Assistant Training many sacrifices to be made? The - Must be 17 and have passed the 8th grade english reading test answer is different for every indi- Cost: $1,000 (books and stethascope) vidual. Some work for money, some - CPR and First Aid training included work for the experience and others - Bus and metro accessible location work because it is what they love. “I enjoy my work completely,” • Day Camp Counselor - Work with children at one of Marquez said. “I started working these Fairfax County park authority because I wanted the experience sites: Burk Lake, Frying Pan Park, and money for college, but it turns Lake Fairfax Parks and Colvin Run Mill out I am really good at what I do - 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and I gradually worked my way up to receiving job offers that were too • Woody’s Golf Range - Looking for students to work on our great to turn down. I have made jungle theme mini golf course as “adcommitments, and because my venture guides” commitments work towards helping animals it’s all the more worth it.” • For more information, Working forces students to grow see the job bulliten board outside of the guidane office up and embeds a sense of responsibility in them. After school jobs teach students valuable lessons that

Smarquez with animal

lowly walking through the halls you glaze past familiar faces. A quick glance can tell you a lot about a person. It can tell you what grade they are in, what interests them or even how cleanly they are. But have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk a day in their shoes? Have you ever thought “What does this person have to deal with?” If you take a second, you will find that Oakton students have much more on their plate then simply schoolwork. “I currently work three jobs,” said senior Rachel Marquez. “I work at a full service animal clinic in Reston that treats small-companion animals and exotic animals, a Pet Home Care business that visits residents in Fairfax County and a holistic clinic and rehabilitation center in Vienna that treats small-companion animals, exotics and wild life.” Students like Marquez are not rare at Oakton. The school is practically dripping with students who have multiple activities and jobs they perform on a daily basis. In order for these students to participate in their after school activities certain luxuries

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It's no surprise that Honors Test Prep is the SAT prep program of choice for top Oakton students. Outstanding test results (Ask for our list of parent references.) All instructors have scored 800 on the exam sections they teach Detailed written critiques of each student's writing exercises Locations in McLean and Falls Church Small classes Visit honorstestprep.com to review our complete '09-'10 course schedule and learn about our SAT Course, SAT Essay Workshop, and PSAT/SAT Course. 703-237-2665

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COUGAR CRITTERS

Oakton students show off their unusual pets

by Katie Smith

with owner Austin Mayhugh, senior

to when it was younger.” How does the snake get along with

A your other pets?

“The snake doesn’t really cause any problems... My cats will go after the snake sometimes, though.

Chris-O the talking parrot with owner Laura Gardener, senior

A“Chris-O has been around for my & A“The parrot gets along with my

entire life... He’s about 30 years old, which actually isn’t that old for a parrot.”

dog — they like to play around with each other. He hates my mom, though, since he sees her as competition for my dad’s attention. He’ll snap at her if she gets too close.”

What sort of things can Chris-O say?

A “He can say basic words like

‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’, and he knows our names. He also likes to whistle a lot.”

with owner Amelia Smith, senior

Ope the one-eyed cat

Q &

How does the parrot get along with your family members?

How’d you end up with a one-eyed cat?

A “We got Ope from a rescue

perfect eye’; the group that rescued him named him.”

organization. He was badly mangled when he was res& cued, and his eye was infected, so it had to be removed.”

How did the cat get its name?

A “Ope is an acronym of ‘one Is Ope different than other cats?

A“Other than the fact he’s short an eye, not at all. He behaves just like any other cat.”

with owner Freesia Jackson, senior

Q &

Why a chinchilla?

Sassy the chinchilla

“I’d always wanted a hedgehog,

A “Chinchillas are ‘allergic’ to

A so I went to visit a hedgehog

breeder. He had chinchillas as well, and they were obviously & softer… I had another chinchilla prior to Sassy, but it died.”

What’s the most interesting thing about your chinchilla?

water: they can drink it, but their fur falls out if it gets wet.” What does she eat?

A “She likes dandelions a lot. She also likes to eat paper.” outlook feature

april 69 2010 2010 may

How long have you had your parrot? How old is he?

eats rats. It doesn’t eat live A “It ones anymore, though it used

Q &

What’s it like having a snake?

“Rocky kind of just sits around... He only has to be fed once a month. After he gets to be a certain length, he’ll shed his skin.

What does the Rocky eat?

Rocky the boa

nathan smith

‘We Gonna Make It’ Two students pursuing competitive careers collaborate and build their craft

may 6 2010

The Collaboration

unior Sagar Moktan raps. Senior Nathan Smith films and photographs. They’re two students with vastly different talents that they hope to one day make into careers. And in pursuit of that dream they found each other, and a collaboration began. “It started from a photoshoot. Sagar wanted to have a few photos taken, and the response to them was very positive,” Nathan said. “Sagar’s kinda been my guinea pig ever since. Whenever I want to try out something, new he is always willing to work with me and see how it turns out.” The two work together not only to get exposure on Youtube and Facebook, but also to develop their craft. “Right now, I’m just doing whatever I can do to get better and learn more about the industry,” Sagar said. “I’m doing something with my music almost every day. Writing,

outlook feature

recording, videos: I want to get as good as I can get.” Nathan, who one day wants to make a name for himself in the film industry, thinks that the skills at expanding on while working with Sagar and other Oakton musicians will lend themselves to easily complementing the skills he needs to make movies. “Oakton doesn’t really have a community of kids that have a serious interest in film,” he said. “But Sagar is kind of like me in that he takes this really seriously, and he works really hard at it. Making music videos is probably not what I want to do with my life, but I think it is helping me become a better film maker.” Other than a passion for pursuing their careers, Sagar and Nathan also share a love for music that makes their collaborations more enjoyable. “I like working with Sagar because I really like hip-hop,” Nathan said. “I like being a

Name: Nathan Smith Grade: 11 Intended Industry: Film Website:

www.youtube.com/nsmith345

Photo of junior Sagar Moktan resulting from one of many photo shoots with Nathan Smith. The two started working together to create not only professional-looking photos, but also music videos featuring Sagar’s raps.

part of it by making the music videos and taking pictures.” Even though Nathan works for paying adults on occasion, he said he does not charge fellow students a high fee for his time because he wants to help. “I don’t want to charge other kids a lot because, you know, I’m a kid and I understand they don’t have a lot of money,” he said. Independently, the two are planning on continuing to educate themselves in their respective fields. Nathan will be attending the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University next fall and Sagar hopes to be accepted into the Berklee School of Music once he is a senior next year. The last line of Sagar’s song “Path to My Dreams” states the hopes of both him and Nathan as they pursue their careers: “We gonna make it.” by Erica Wohlleben

Name: Sagar Moktan Grade: 11 Intended Industry: Music Website: www.youtube.com/smokmusik

e walked to the front door; got our hands X’d and a red and white checkered wristband slipped over our wrists to signify that we were playing that night. We then got the band parents to drive around back to the “band waiting area”. We met up with Irresponsible and Kid Architect and then brought our stuff in. The percussion equipment was the hardest to maneuver around the various dumpsters, then around a puddle, through one door, through another door, up three steps and then onto the stage. After many trips back and forth, we had everything set up onstage and now it was just a waiting game. We then went to what was called the “green room” and just hung out. It was a room with RED walls, two couches, a leather chair, a fridge and a private bathroom. Everything an aspiring young band would need is at Jammin Java. We chilled out in the room until this guy told us we couldn’t be in there, and then we just gravitated onto the stage. As soon as we got up, there was a small but existent crowd of our friends and family right in front of the stage. It was pretty cool for people to see us out of the school environment and staffer doing something we love. As they plugged into the PA system and I sat down upon my throne behind the kit, the crowd whooped and the chatter began to die down. We opened with “Dark”, and it was sick. Looking out into the sea of faces and seeing anticipation and awe is just so cool. We were no longer just four people, but one unit: one single entity. We were connected with this flow of energy, and if one person messed up, we all recovered each other. That’s really what made “Dark” so cool: the connections between us, the band, and the connections with them, the audience. After hitting the last cymbal for Dark, we adjusted stuff, and Jorey talked the crowd up a bit. He introduced us as a band, and then as individuals. After putting the drop clutch on, I adjusted the hi-hat and got prepared for the crazed ball of yarn that was ‘Sophisticated Labrador’. Larson played the opening riff, and I soon joined in on the drums, working in double bass and keeping the beat on the snare. After we played, I started to sweat; and I realized the heat present on the stage. Later, Jorey played a cover of ‘Lullabies’ by All Time Low. Subsequent to Lullabies, we played Sympathy. The song kind of kicked the crowd into a false sense of security and told them that the feelings they were feeling were smooth and surreal. We then played our “hit single,” ‘Contradiction’. The crowd seemed to love that one, and we received fantastic applause. After our set, we rushed offstage to clapping.

Sounds of Gray plays live at Jammin’ Java

Students can survive multiple AP Tests in one day

may 6 2010

elise

outlook voice

andy

reed

julia santoli

ooking at the exam, feeling overworked and stressed, only one thought is running through my head: okay, time to get this one done with. That’s not exactly the attitude one wants to have toward an AP exam that could provide the option of opting out of a college course, but after already taking one test in the morning, it’s hard to sit down again for over two hours with no more than an hour-long break in between. I have been taking AP tests for three years now, and this is the first year where I have multiple tests scheduled for the same day. At first I was upset. I didn’t know how I could possibly take two exams in one day without doing poorly on one. The lengths of each test make them hard enough to sit through, and I am usually tired and ready to leave after taking just one. With two scheduled right after each other, there is a chance that my performance might fall on the second werner news editor exam. Another problem that might arise is that having several tests on the same day means I have to study for each one, which can be stressful and could perhaps impair my ability to retain as much information as I would otherwise be able to. However, I am now okay, in some regards, with the fact that I will be taking two tests on one day. The subject matter for the exams is related, so it’s not like I have to switch from thinking about one thing to something totally unrelated. Also, with the six exams I am taking, I will only have four days of testing. This is good because now I will be able to go to more of my other classes, which will be continuing despite the absence of many AP students. Also, there is about an hour long break in between the tests, during which time some of my teachers are ordering pizza and opening their room up in case students want to relax before the next exam. However, having multiple AP exams on one day is not something one can look forward to and not something that can be changed. So, my heart goes out to all those in a similar situation as me. Or worse.

Limiting AP classes allows students to have a social life

april 07 2010

outlook voice

michelle oh

Restrictions on AP Tests limit students potential education

julia

michelle

Pro

hen we think of AP classes, what usually comes to mind is rigorous material, heavy workloads and endless studying paced before the big exams--what we don’t often think about is that we have to choose these courses. It’s a choice for anyone to challenge themselves, and placing a limit on how many college level courses per capita is not the solution to grade-focused hysteria. The classes are available for those who need a challenge or want to focus on a specific area of study. Some schools have implemented a system for how many AP’s students take, depending on their high school year. Often the limit is set at three classes for senior year, a minimum for many senior cougars. Even though the restriction can help manage class sizes and limit personal stress, these steps are not only controversial at a competitive school like ours, but unnecessary. Students should be able to choose what kind of curriculum they want to study-if it takes higher level courses to push them, they should be able to sign up. Even now there are students who, despite enrollment in a tougher course, pass with few worries. Why, then, should they sit through easier ones to meet the standard? Some argue that there are students who are pressured by parents or peers to get a competitive edge for college applications. While that’s sadly picciotto staffer true, it doesn’t mean the school should have to regulate everyone, especially those who are capable of handling their own schedules. The AP class has merely become an item on a long list leading up to graduation. “Easy” AP’s are sought out as we sign up for heavier schedules and, while that’s good academically, it isn’t well-guided. An AP class is all fine and dandy, but we should think of it as a focus rather than a credit. In college, no matter what class you take, it will be an AP class; in “real life”, no matter what classes you’ve taken in the past, you will be expected to be productive. And so this drive to out-do one another takes a physical toll on us and strips us of the basic motivation to strengthen our talents, something far more essential in the workforce than a transcript. A school limiting your class choices may seem a good idea for those exasperated with rising competitiveness, but the plan means that we may not be making healthy decisions on our own.

Con

on’t bite off more than you can chew. It is a ye old saying that many people have not been following lately. With the pressures of getting into college and the competition level skyrocketing, it seems logical that students take as many AP classes as possible. While, AP classes are meant to push students, there is a limit to that push. Although these classes are not really at the level of college courses, the difficulty level of the classes is appparent. It is nice to prove to people and to yourself that you can take a hard class, but the main reason for taking these classes is to prove to colleges that you can learn at a higher level. If there is no limit to taking these courses, then it can really push students off the edge. By restricting the number of AP courses, students’ lives can be opened up. Three AP classes are plenty and it will still impress without pushing the limit. It would reduce the likeliness of students staying up late or pulling all nighters. They would not need to expect a quiz or a test every single day. We become healthier when the class selection for AP courses are limited, because students can actually have lives and participate in things other than studying. Hard classes are nice, but even students who take five AP classes per year and apply to the most elite schools can still be rejected. If the definition of a student’s life is only studying and doing homework, schools will simply shrug. A student must maintain a life. Studying and good grades are factors of college admission, but staffer activities are equally important. Taking AP classes is a great way of getting a head start, but some people are not ready for it. Some classes are even dubbed “suicide classes.” Taking four to six of these AP’s without acknowledging one’s limits takes a mental toll on the student. This is high school, not college, and taking a college schedule is quite ridiculous, especially for our age. Classes should be limited because the limitation will help students spend more time preparing for other classes. It’s nice to leave school early, but when you’re taking more than three AP classes, you miss more days. Restricting AP classes to three classes would be extremely beneficial for students because it isn’t getting rid of these classes but it is a way to balance a student’s life. More importantly, as students, we are forgetting the whole reason why we come to school. We come to learn about things that interest us; that is why we choose our own schedule. We should learn about things we want to learn. We should not learn in an environment full of anxiety and pressure.

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My favorite teacher in high school once told me that good students make good schools more than good schools make good students. At the time, I wondered whether he was nuts. Was he that self-deprecating, that humble? Wasn’t it his job to make good students? Wasn’t my high school a terrific school because of people like Mr. Broverman? Well, Mr. Broverman was right: good students do make good schools. And that’s why grades matter. Granted, the relationship works the other way as well. Good colleges do make students better. But, fundamentally, what makes a great college great is not the sum total of ivy on the walls, the degrees and honors of its faculty and the dollars in its endowment. It is the character and caliber of the student body. By and large, students are measured by grades. That’s why grades matter. High

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Questions and Answers with.... Pat Full

athletics director

How and when is prom scheduled?

A The administrator in charge of the class that’s hosting

Student-Athletes should be able to attend their prom

Why is the prom consistently held on a Friday?

Simply because of cost. There is a significant difference between Friday and Saturday as far as cost, up to $20,000 to $30,000 difference. Normally, hotels like to have weddings on Saturday because they make extra money with things like open bar, which they can’t do for high school events. When are athletic events scheduled by?

A We try to get schedules out at least one season before &

hand but usually even earlier. It’s at least one season, maybe two seasons in advance, so it’s not always in place by the time the administrators make the decision [on prom]. That’s what makes it tough. Our current administrators are looking at next year’s prom now, yet there looking on this year’s tentative dates for the athletics championships because they’re always around the same date, but the schedules always can change. We won’t have next year’s athletic schedule for the spring until the fall.

matt

Can students-athletes change decisions made by the prom committee about the date?

For this current year no, but maybe they can let their concerns be known to the administrators or even the class sponsors for the next group that’s going to be sponsoring the prom. The juniors sponsor the prom for the senior class, so those would be the sponsors [students]would talk to just to kind of remind them of their schedule and see if they can find a date that will work. What are the consequences for student athletes who choose to go to prom over a sporting & event?

april 07 2010

outlook voice

reshmen athletes, If you want to avoid the debacle that has plagued upperclassmen for the past six years, you must act now! For the past six years, Prom has been held on a Friday night in late May, the heart of the athletic championship season. Since I was a freshman, I have heard stories of athletes having to forgo Prom to compete in State and Regional competitions for their team. This year, there are six different athletic competitions scheduled on the date of Prom: Boys’ and Girls’ Outdoor Track Districts, Baseball Regionals, Softball Regionals, Boys’ Soccer Regionals and Girls’ Soccer Regionals. All told, that is roughly 150 athletes who will be unable to attend the dance. With Prom scheduling made two years in advance, it woodhouse is up to you to act now! Demand that your Prom in 2013 be staffer moved to another date. Otherwise, you will be forced into the same predicament as this year’s seniors and juniors. You must pressure your class officers to work with the administration to move the date of your Senior Prom in 2013 from a Friday to a Saturday when there are no school-affiliated athletic events. Chantilly has managed to fix the issue of sports conflicting with Prom by moving their Prom up to May 15th, a Saturday, before the District and Regional competitions and after the regular season has ended. Is it absolutely necessary that Prom be towards the end of May? It seems rather unimportant what exact weekend in May the event is held on. If you move Oakton’s Prom to a Saturday towards the middle of May, you will be able to enjoy Prom with all of your friends, athletes and non-athletes alike. While your Senior Prom probably seems distant, you must demand a change now in order to ensure that a proper date is selected for Prom in 2013, such that no one is forced to make a choice between his or her team and his or her Senior Prom. A concerned senior, Matt Woodhouse

it [makes the final decision on scheduling.] We usually schedule prom up to a year in advanced and sometimes more. The more [in] advanced you can [schedule the prom] the better deal on the price you can get. There is also the issue with the availability for dates because in this area ballrooms fill up quite quickly. We try to look for somewhere close to the community to help offset the travel issues and concerns. The hard part in scheduling [the prom] is that athletics never has its schedule that far in advance so we never really know when to schedule it. At the end of the school year there’s almost always events every Friday and Saturday starting in May that go through until the end of June.

photo illustration by sarah kashanian

That’s an individual coach decision but for some of the varying things like playing time, if they were continued to advance through the season, obviously could forfeit awards or possibilities like that; depending on the coaches, they might not be invited back to be members of the team. Really, it’s an individual sport decision and coach decisions but those are some of the things that have happened in the past.

New parent teen driving program is unwanted and unnecessary for drivers

Student's would benefit from more experience behind the wheel, not added classroom time

outlook voice

april 9 2010

irginia always has to overdo it. The Virginia Department of Education is enacting a new policy that requires the completion of a 90 minute parent-teen driving program in addition to current requirements. In order to get a license in Virginia, teenagers currently need 45 hours nina wagner driving with a licensed parent reiterating specifics students have heard many times or guardian, 36 hours of classroom Driver’s Education before. instruction, as well as 14 hours in a Behind the Wheel Such a program would only be overkill. If VDOA program. feels that students are not receiving the necessary Adding an extra 90 minutes to the aforementioned driving education, instead of enacting new programs instruction is not going to dramatically affect the to help educate teenage drivers, they should initiate education received by student drivers. reforms for what they currently have. With 36 hours A parent-teen driving program is unnecessary. of class time, there has to be enough time to cover Parents do not need the instructional time, students do. these points directly to students, without the needing to Such a program, although in theory incorporates require parents and guardians. parents further into the student-driver education Behind the Wheel programs should be strict at process, will really have limited effects. collecting a record affirming students have completed If parents want to be involved with their child’s all of the 45 driving hours. If the VDOA wants parents driving education process, they will be. If they do not, more involved in the student-driver process, they should forcing them to attend a 90 minute session only wastes be more meticulous over the collection of behind the money and time on the parts of the parents and the wheel hours. instructor. Most private Behind the Wheel companies do Parents already have their license. They don’t need not take any record or indication that students have the education. completed the necessary prerequisite Parents are already expected hours before signing off on their The Staff Editorial is to spend 45 hours with their child license. Students are able to become behind the wheel, which is plenty the official opinion of registered drivers after only completing of time for students and parents to the Outlook Behind the Wheel. This is the type of experience the horrors of their teen incompetence that results in students driving, as well as the process of who are unprepared for the road, simply students driving, without the unnecessary classroom because they don’t complete enough experience on the time. road before hand. Either way, it is possible for students to receive all Teenagers are the most risky drivers, but with the training needed with the current drivers education experience on the road they eventually improve their program. The main way for students to become better skills. Accidents are inevitable with inexperienced drivers is through experience, not extra classroom time. drivers, and cannot be completely avoided no matter Students already have so many classes and hours that how many classes students are meant to sit through, they are required to get in order to finally get their only through time spent on the road. license, another 90 minutes will only waste their time

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faces oakton of

For many of us, matters of race are matters of the past, buried deep within the glossy pages of textbooks and far removed from the present.

Connor Sullivan, 10 White

Alex Le, 11 Asian

Rachita Singh, 11 Asian

Alan Zhao, 12 Asian

The truth, however, is that for all our diversity, we are still a nation greatly impacted by our differences. In this issue, In-Depth offers a variety of perspectives on the impacts of race in society today. Copy editor Vipin Reddy and staffers Dorothy Yen and Chris Papas sat down with a panel of students representing a variety of the races present at Oakton to talk about the impact of their racial roots in daily life.

Adria Davis, 10 Black

Students of various cultures discussed the ways in which their race and heritage have affected their outlook on life and relationships with fellow students.

may april 69 2010 2010

Caitlin Weirick, 11 Half Asian, Half White

outlook in-depth outlook in-depth

Kevin Sol, 11 Hispanic

FCPS 2008-2009

by the numbers

statistics from http://commweb.fcps.edu/schoolprofile/. percentages have been ronded to 1 decimal place.

Oakton is just one of 26 high schools in the county, each with a slightly different population of students. While some schools in the county are similar in their demographic make-ups, others stand out as unique in their student bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s composition.

4.1%

KEY:

13.1%

Asian/Pacific Islander

White

Black Other

9.8%

herndon

Hispanic

high school 19.6%

53.5%

4.6% 20.6%

oakton

high school

6.6%

thomas jefferson

4.7%

high school

47.3%

6.7% 1.8%

63.1%

2.8%

7.0%

FCPS reports that:

11.0%

south lakes

46.3%

18.8%

high school

African American: 10.5% American Indian: 0.2% Asian American: 18.5% Hispanic: 18.1% Multiracial: 6% White: 46.2%

17.0%

5.5%

11.9%

3.3% 6.9%

james madison may 6 2010

high school

72.4%

outlook in-depth

41.5%

The following is a transcript of the Outlook’s Symposium on Race held on April 28th.

How do you deal with them, because every race has stereotypes that are associated with it. So how do you deal with them? Are they right? Are they wrong?

Outlook: We’ll start off with the broad question of, how has race affected your life?

CW: Because I break it. I’m not a part of any of them. I am Asian, but I’m not, like, play the piano 24/7. I don’t play an instrument. I’m not quiet. People don’t’ know I’m Asian. And so, again, that’s against me, because they don’t even know what I am. I don’t have straight black hair, I don’t look white. I am part white, but no one knows, so I just break every… And I can’t speak my language. That’s also another bad thing. Or, not bad thing, but a…

KS: It’s a lot easier to get into college for me. Alex Le: It’s harder for me… ‘Cause I’m Asian. KS: I can fill in that bubble saying that English was my second language, and just, you know… CW: Get in anywhere. KS: Yeah. All the mail I get is usually, unless it’s bills, it’s usually in two languages. My parents prefer having an English and Spanish thing, and they always have to read the Spanish. It kind of bothers me, but it’s whatever, I guess. I mean, they speak both languages. AL: Race has taught me a lot of things about perspective, objectivity. Perspective in that stereotypes are, in a joking way, they are all very true, I find. My favorite one’s are black stereotypes. Black names I really like. But there’s a perspective that goes with it because, I don’t know. Like, my dad talks a lot about black people because he works in D.C. And the type of balck people he’s exposed to are not the same type of black people I’m exposed to. So there are different judgements on the same people. It’s perspective and not being too quick to judge. Outlook: So that brings up a good point which we might as well broach now. Stereotypes.

Adria Davis: Yeah. I mean, like you hear them, and sometimes I guess they’re kind of true, but then, that’s one group of people. Not everyone’s walking around with Quanisha or… AL: Latifah. AD: Yeah, Latifah or something like that. AL: Shanaynay. AD: So that’s not really everyone. Not just white, blacks, but Asians too. Not everyone is named Ni-Knong Lin. You just have to get over that fact that not everyone is the same type of person that you think they are.

“If I’m not Indian, I don’t know what I am.” Rachita Singh, Junior

Outlook: A stereotype of being Asian. CW: A stereotype, yes. Outlook: How else do the rest of you defy the stereotypes of your races and your cultures? AL: I don’t try to defy it and I don’t try to prove it. I just kind of try to be me. A lot of the things I do go into the stereotypical Asian phenomenon. I do play the piano, I don’t have the worst grades, and I can speak my own language. I think the big part of it is because of my parents; they’re first generation Asians and I think that’s where the stereotype comes from. They’re the epitomy of your generic Asian person. Grades come first, sports don’t matter extracurriculars don’t matter, and if I have time to hang out, why not go a head start on next week’s physics chapter? But being born and brought up here, I mix and blend my school culture and home

Outlook: How much stock do you put into maintaining your culture and having it be a part of your life? Rachita Singh: I put a lot into it because if I’m not Indian, I don’t know what I am. It basically defines most of who I am. It guides me in my studies because I’m Indian and I have to have this GPA. The type of music I listen to, most of it is Indian, stuff like that. So I put a lot into it. But I don’t put a lot into religion-based. I’m not religious at all, which is kind of opposite of the way Indian people usally are. So I guess I put a lot of stock into the good parts of it, that I believe in, and those are the kind of things I’ll teach my kids and stuff. But as for religion and whatever, it’s not that important to me, so I’m not going to continue on with that. Outlook: When you’re born and your parents are bringing you up, your views are very much affected. It’s your first exposure to the world. So how have your outlook in-depth

may 6 2010

Caitlin Weirick: Oh yeah, it is.

Outlook: How?

Outlook: Do the rest of you agree with him?

Kevin Sol: It’s easier to get into college for me.

CW: I break every stereotype.

life. I guess I kind of exemplify the stereotype, but I don’t see it as a barrier and I don’t see it as something I have to accomplish or live up to. It’s just kind of there.

Taken from the National Census Bureau

National Percentage of Foreign-Born Citizens by Re53.6%

60 50 40 26.8%

30 20

13.1%

4.3%

2.2% Europe

Asia

North America

Other

parents affected your views on race and the world in general? AD: Well, my parents, both of them are college educated. My dad has his masters and stuff, so they’re educated. So I never grew up in the ghetto. I always grew up… AL: I’m sorry. That’s just funny. Please. That’s exactly why you asked that question. AD: So, when I see people on the down, like my people that are just on the streets… (AL Laughs) AD: You’re ruining this for me! I’m serious. But, I mean, I’m not used to it, so it’s kind of different for me. But I grew up well. Outlook: Anybody else? CS: I never really thought much about one race being better than the other. All my schools have been really diverse. So, for me, it’s just been natural to have every race. My view’s just that everyone’s even.

may 6 2010

AL: I have had influence from my grandparents and from my parents. My parents lived the traditional rags-to-riches story of the American Dream. They escaped from the Vietnam War, came over on a boat. They’re good, decent, educated people. They had me and my sister, and they’re living well right now. They

outlook in-depth

Latin America have the perspective that anybody can come over here and, as long as you work hard, you can make something out of yourself because they lived it. So they don’t really have the all Asian people must be smart. But my grandparents, they came over here when they were around 60 or 70, they got sponsored over by my parents, and their view, they hate black people simply because their view of America is that, because they’ve never lived in America. They physically live here, but they’ve never gone to any schools here, they’ve been associated outside… Outlook: They’ve never assimilated. AL: Right. So they think America is just white. They don’t understand the concept of opportunity in America. They don’t really understand the concept of mixture in America. They think that Vietnam is just Vietnamese people, India is just Indians, and America is just white people. Other people just happen to come in and live there. I remember it was a big deal when Obama became president; my grandma, my dad’s mom, was infuriated for some reason, just because he was black. She said that he didn’t represent ideal America, just because he was black. She’s very smart. She understands policies, political policies, but she’s very ignorant and stubborn

and she wouldn’t get past that. So, that doesn’t influence me, I don’t hate black people at all, but it’s perspective, going back to that. For me, I found through my grandparents and my parents, what people tell you and what you learn from yourself. My parent’s went through high school here, they had jobs here and everything. My grandparents just live here. They just hear things from people, so they don’t understand, they don’t really understand at all, what America is. CW: My grandparent’s came over here from China and they had my mom and aunts and stuff. And they just kept to themselves. They don’t speak enough English. They can get by; they’ve gotten by all their lives, but you can’t have a big conversation with them that goes into intense detail, because they just don’t know the langauge enough. So they stick to their kind. My grandfather worked in a Chinese restaurant and so did my grandmother. So they just stuck to their things. I don’ think they care about race. I think that they just don’t know. They just weren’t, I don’t know… Outlook: Exposed? CW: Exposed enough. They’re on a street with mostly white people, so they just couldn’t speak English well enough. They put their kids through school, and all their kids went to some sort of college, and stuff like that. They just couldn’t speak the language enough, so they stick to their kind. Outlook: How do you think our generation’s views on race are different than those of our parents and grandparents and even generations past that? KS: I think now, we can understand that, no matter what race you are, everybody’s equal. But for our parents, like in the country where my dad came from, El Salvador, there was a law that it was illegal to be black. It was just illegal to be black. You could not be in that country. But El Salvador, and right next to it is Honduras, and that’s where

RS: Me especially—and people I know—we’re more open-minded towards other races. My parents, they both were born in India and spent most of their lives there so I think they associate other

50.5%

50 40

30.5%

30 20

9.9%

7.4%

1.3% Europe

0.4%

Asia North America Oceania

Africa

races with stereotypes sometimes. They’re more reserved about other races because of what they hear. I’ve gone to school here so obviously I know that stereotypes aren’t always true and I have a lot more multi-racial friends than my parents do. They can only really connect with other Indian people. What my parents view of race hasn’t been an influence on me. When my parents went to school, they were only surrounded by one race. And when I go to school, the friends I make aren’t dependent on what race they are.

KS: I wouldn’t say I have a crowd because I talk to people here and there—I don’t like being in a clique. But I just don’t really see myself talking to a lot of Hispanic kids. I mean, I talk to them but not all of them. And I sometimes really don’t feel much of a connection. I fit in with any race. I don’t really mind at all so I don’t really see myself connecting that much with other Hispanics. It’s just me, I guess. Sooner or later, we’re all going to mix; we’re all going to be the same sort of bronze color.

CW: Because I’m half white half Chinese, I do have a group of literally all Asian friends and I have another group of all other races. So I do go back and forth and I usually don’t combine them, just because they don’t associate with each other. I don’t have any preference between the two; I just do separate them sometimes.

AL: It’s just because people relate to their own kind. From that, it’s because you want to be associated with your own type of people. And you relate to each other better and from there, that’s where the other feelings come from. Race is always going to be an issue because people like to be with their same kind. I think that generations after us—assuming that they’re all grown up and exposed to the same environment as us—they are going to understand equality. They’re not going to be racist, but I think race as a subject will still exist.

CS: And also just growing up in America where the environment we live in people are more equal— or at least around here people are more equal because of what we’re exposed to—but I mean growing up in a different country, whatever the country’s environment is like is what your views will be like. Outlook: Do you believe we’re heading towards some sort of post-racial society where race won’t matter anymore?

Latin America

For the entire interview transcript as well as a recording, go to oaktonoutlook.com

may 6 2010

AL: Society has a big impact on what your judgment is. In a way, my parents’ views really did have an effect, now that I think of it. Growing up, [my parents’] only friends were Asian. And they said with those Asian people, all they would do is study. School, study, school, study, and that’s it. And having heard that—I’m a teenager, I’m 17, but I’m not rebellious—but just because they pounded [that mentality] in my head—that they really wanted me to be friends with more Asians, I kind of thought that was ludicrous in a way. I have very little Asian friends—a lot of white kids and a lot of other races—I’m not sure why. But a big part of this is because of my parents. Just because they told me that they’d rather have me friends with all Asians is what I tried to go against.

outlook in-depth

Outlook: How does race affect your intimate relationships? How do you think our generation’s views on race have differed from our parent’s?

Percentage of Foreign-Born Fairfax County Citizens by Region Taken from the National Census Bureau

my mom’s from. And so, a major percentage of the Afro-Central American people immigrated from [El Salvador] to Honduras. My mom grew up with a mixture of mestizo and Afro-Carribean and Anglo-Spanish. So she grew up with all this, and so she doesn’t have those same views that my grandparents do or their parents. I mean, I’ve talked to my dad about that too, and he said that people did have that predjudiced view in El Salvador because of this law and what they were accustomed to living. They don’t see any AfroCarribean people, but my mom, she had friends of that culture, of that descent, as well as friends from all over pretty much. And so, I guess, some people would understand that some people before us would have the same views, but some would probably have a bit more prejudiced view.

movies to look out for

Robin Hood May 14 Russell Crowe plays Robin Hood in a movie that shows the background story of the infamous thief.

Letters to Juliet May 14 Amanda Seyfried finds an unanswered letter to Juliet in Rome and goes on a quest to find the person who wrote it.

Sex and the City 2 May 27 Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, the four friends return again and travel to India.

Prince of Persia May 28 Based on the video game, Jake Gyllenhal stars as a prince who has to stop an evil ruler from releasing a sandstorm that could end the world.

may 6 2010

Get Him to the Greek June 4 A comedy about an out-of-control rock star (Russell Brand) and his record-intern-of-anescort (Jonah Hill).

outlook a&e

Movie F Nightmare On

reddy Krueger is the stuff of legends— he’s a looming, mysterious man with a face that’s horribly burnt and a hand equipped with five deadly knives. He’s a boogeyman. He’s a nightmare. He’s a pedophile? Yes, the infamous, dangerous, psycho Freddy Krueger is now also a pedophile, a new trait for the well-known child killer. This twist to the age-old tale makes Freddy Krueger at least ten times as creepy. Krueger’s creepiness was not enough to save the movie, however, as the plot was generally predictable and the

Elm Street

CD I

f you’ve ever played Guitar Hero, watched MTV or walked up the Cougar Path while “Welcome to the Jungle” played, chances are, you know who Slash is. After his break up with legendary band Guns n’ Roses, and, more recently, his break up with Velvet Revolver, the guitar god is back in the spotlight with his first solo to date. However, instead of creating an entirely instrumental album like many guitarists do, Slash collaborated with some big names like Fergie, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and Adam Levine. The album offers an incredibly refresh-

Slash “Slash”

acting mediocre. The graphics were intensely vivid, and, I admit, I was impressed by Krueger’s ingenuity when it came to slaughter. There was plenty of gore and violence, but the body count was hardly enough to distract from the fact that the movie was painfully predictable, both in plot and in script. A character is unable to sleep, gets haunted and chased by Krueger, gets cut up, and then dies. Now imagine this happening three consecutive times before the climax. It got pretty old pretty fast. The murders were far from scary, the plot was hackneyed, and the gore was plentiful, making the movie generally average. by Nikki Clemons ing dose of classic rock riffs infused with an undeniable swagger, providing a nostalgic listen - returning to the glory days of hard rock. Guitar solos abound as Slash shows off his chops, proving his place with the greats. On top of all this is the intriguing factor of having not only rock vocalists, but pop vocalists bringing their talents to the album, shattering all preconceptions. “Beautiful Dangerous,” a collaboration with Fergie, makes it hard to believe that the person belting away over distorted guitars also sang “My Humps.” But that’s what this album is; it’s not necessarily ground-breaking or original, but instead, is a refreshing taste of rock in today’s auto-tuned music scene and is a way to hear some of your favorite artists performing outside their typical genre. by Allen Luethke

Adventure Time with Finn and Jake

n 2006, an animated short was nominated for an Annie Award. Two years later, the short, “Adventure Time,” was greenlighted to become a series on Cartoon Network. The show revolves around the 12-year-old protagonist, Finn, and his 28-year-old shape-shifting dog, Jake, who lives in a strange land inhabited by candy creatures and reality-bending gnomes. There essentially is no plot to the show—one of the only constants is Finn’s amusing nemesis, the Ice King. What makes the show so enjoyable is how completely random it is. New characters are constantly introduced,

Name: Michael Hale Position: Technology Support Specialist

Favorite Genre:

Top Three Artists: Top Five Tracks: 1) “Goodnight” by Night Ranger 2) “Model Homes” by In-Flight Safety 3) “Don’t Fight It” by The Panics 4) “FM” by Steely Dan 5) “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John

n the wake of their 2008 album “Oracular Spectacular,” MGMT was left with a tough decision. Hit singles like “Kids” and “Electric Feel” gave the band much more hype and exposure than anticipated and as a result a lot of pressure on how to follow up the album. Their second album “Congratulations,” the result of the pressure, makes it completely clear how the band intends to continue their career: sticking to what they want to do. “Congratulations” shows more

MGMT “Congratulations”

Classic Rock and 70s/80s Pop Steely Dan, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon

focus and thought than its predecessor. The lyrics are more intricate and offer much more to dissect, and the instrumentations are much more complex and layered. Gone are the dance floor hits that brought the band its popularity; and as a result, the album seems a bit dissapointing during the first listen. However, in place of the hits are much more durable songs for the listener to explore in repeated listens. MGMT made a bold decision in betraying the songs that made them popular, but “Congratulations” shows that the band has a more promising and long-lasting career in mind. by Kyle Hughes

outlook a&e

may 6 2010

from Lumpy Space Princesses to talking piñatas to manly minotaurs. The chronology is sporadic, and the conflicts that the characters face in each episode are always unrelated to those of previous episodes. The dialogue is often childish and ridiculous, with the occasional sexual innuendo thrown in for good measure. If you watch the show long enough, you start to wonder if it was created for children at all or if it was meant for teenagers looking for ludicrous, nonsensical amusement. Some won’t like the show because it can be absurd, it’s hard not to enjoy with catch phrases like “algebraic!” and “slammacow!” Teens looking for a show that is laughably random and that doesn’t take much concentration to comprehend can consider this worth the watch. by Shannon Ragan

Playing

Now

COUGAR CARIC A TURES

2 12

The class of 2013 face the hardest tests of all

he Mayan calendar shows that the end of the world is on Dec. 21, 2012, when one 5,126-year cycle ends, and a new one begins. The recent volcanic ash that rained from the fiery skies above Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull and left planes hot on the tarmac, as well as the Snowpocalypse in February, were just signs that Earth is, indeed, screwed. With all these warnings about the definite end of the planet, what are humans doing about it? Nothing. Just as the recycling was handled, the course of action chosen was just to sit idly by and let it happen. Oakton knows that better than other schools, seeing as how the recycling program is non-existent. We do have recycling bins, but the “recycled” products just go into the trash. “I think of the recycling bins as more of a recyclable container for trash,” said Chip Comstock. Another sign that the world is in peril is the oil spill declared “a spill of national significance” in the Gulf of Mexico. President Obama says that “every available resource” of government will be deployed to help contain the Gulf Coast oil leak.” This is just showing that humans are poisoning the Earth, and are going to sit in the furnace and burn. In order to fix the oil leak, British Petroleum is dropping a giant box of rust into the center of the Gulf, right in the center of the spill, in order to suck out the oil. The

may 6 2010

outlook a&e

four-story, 100 ton, metal container will be lowered onto the broken pipe in order to try and stop the leak. The most difficult part is that the broken pipe is 5,000 feet underwater; a place impossible to reach for humans. BP has not yet released the amount of money they have spent on this problem, but it’s definitely not cheap. “Survival classes will be added onto the school curriculum, in order to educate our youth about how to survive the onslaught of environmental retaliation,” said John Banbury. “So far, the classes we have in mind are foraging, a basic survival skills class, improvised weapons training and I am currently working on adding a cougar hunting course to the curriculum. I feel as though when the world ends, the animals will come after us first, and we should be armed with the knowledge and gunpowder to fend them off.” A giant space balloon that crashed into the ground on April 29 in Alice Springs, Australia, came untethered from its mooring and fell 1,600 feet to the ground. This is just another example of how the world is crashing down, literally. Other than the earthquake in Haiti, the tidal wave in Hawaii, the volcano exploding in Iceland and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the world is just fine. by Andy Reed

the Oakton Outlook satire page

How to Endure the End Don’t forget about the basics. A helmet may be your best tool when molten rock is falling from the sky.

In every good apocolyptic movie, the lead character has a dog. So why not trust the proffesionals and bring along a companion/potential food source? Lastly, if you’re in a position to do so, Justin Bieber is a good thing to bring along. Bieber offers entertainment, bait, human shield and, like the dog, nourishment.

The Bucket List

Sully Malik 12th Grade Cheeseteak Challenge

What students want to do before they graduate

“I want to initiate a student portfolio that the students would have to complete each year, as a way to show their progress and best pieces of work from their highschool career. It would be a great way to build resumes and make college applications smoother.” SuAnna

Neuman

“I’d like to see education de-institutionalized. It would allow the teachers to create courses that might cover their subjects better, rather than teaching to SOL standards.”

“The Sonic Challenge seems like it could be pretty cool. I mean, I’m only a sophomore right now, and I doubt any of my older friends would want to drive me all the way to Fredericksburg, but hopefully before I graduate I’ll make it down there and back.” So, what exactly is the Sonic Challenge? Similar to the Philly Cheesesteak challenge, the sonic challenge is when a student stays in school until the lunch block, then leave as quickly as possible at 10:53 and drives to Fredericksburg. They then order some greasy, fattening and delicious burgers, grab a couple slushes, and try to make it back to school before the bell for 7th period. by Allen Luethke and Matt Johnson outlook a&e

may 06 2010

Blankenship

Clarke

Joseph

“I’ve wanted to get a tattoo of ‘time in a bottle,’ with wings on it since I was fourteen. It’s basically my rendition of getting only one chance in life. Even though it might be cliche or cheesy, I still feel connected to that idea. It’s my justification for everything I do and the way I am.” Andrew Kelly 10th Grade Sonic Challenge

What teachers want to do before they retire

“Students would perform better in a less structured environment, one that requires them to get things done on their own time and in their own way. I’d like to see school decreased to one day a week, and then let the students learn what they need to learn on their own. This way students could go to the gym, workout, and then open up their laptops right there and get their work done.”

Alex Le 11th Grade Tattoo

Beth

Let’s face it: we’re all going to graduate, kick the bucket if you will. Many students will look back fondly on their high school years, remembering them as the glory days of old. But, even more students are going to look back and think, “where did the time go?” There are so many things to accomplish, to see, to experience, that it’s impossible to do them all. Yet, we should still make the most of the time we have. We should still try to do that one big thing before graduation, just so everyone, not only a select few, can reflect back on their high school years with a smile and warmth in their hearts. Whether it be driving to Philadelphia to grab that cheesesteak before school ends, finally asking that special someone to prom or pulling some atrocious prank on Hutch, we all have something we want to do, but have just simply never done for any number of reasons. So in honor of those dreams, we have made this bucket list highlighting a few classic desires that seem to be shared by the students universally. We even talked to a few teachers as well, just to show that the desire to do great things never kicks the bucket.

“I’ve heard about the Philly Cheesesteak challenge since freshman year, and I’ve always thought it sounded like a lot of fun. This year, after all the AP exams are over and my work load eases up, I think I’m going to try it.” So, what is the Philly Cheesesteak challenge? The Philly Cheesesteak challenge is when you arrive at school, wait for the first period bell, then immediately get in your car and drive to Philadelphia, sit down at a restaurant and eat a cheesesteak, and then drive back to school – all before the final bell rings.

-Oakton HighProm 2010

“Midnight in Paris”

May 21st, 2010

McLean Hilton Tyson’s Corner, VA

Individual Tickets: $ 60.00

On Sale May 13 - 21, 2010 (A, B, C, and D Lunches)

Sponsored by the Oakton Class of 2011

Cougars! Remember to Vote for your SGA Representatives on

May 14th

Dragon Dictation

You can control your computer’s iTunes choices from the iTouch or iPhone. Transforming into a remote, this app gives you iTunes power from a distance.

Using voice recognition, rather than typing an e-mail or text messaging on your iPhone, Dragon Dictation lets you speak as it processes what you’re saying into a message. No more finger aches from typing.

Bump

People are always asking for each other’s numbers, and rather than wasting time fumbling to type in numbers, this app allows the motion of a hand bump with another iTouch or iPhone to transfer contacts.

iTrans DC Metro

Celebrity Gossip

The Onion

iHomework

VTechMobile

Trapster

SAT Headline News and Test Preparation

For celebrity gossip junkies, get your fix from Perez Hilton and other celebrity sites as an alternative to the usual news source.

With Hokies fans in our area going to Virginia Tech this year, use this app for maps, events, stories, sports, jobs and housing in Blacksburg. Search your university to see if it has an app.

For a dose of satiricial news, lose CNN and download The Onion, an app that corresponds to the print edition.

We all know where common local speed traps are, but what if you’re in another place? Trapster uses your current location to inform you of police hiding locations and traps.

MyGPA Calculator Let’s face it, calculating a GPA is not as easy as teachers make it out to seem. Know your GPA before your parents get on you about it.

We all use the Metro, and we all get confused on the Metro. To limit the confusion, the iTrans DC Metro app gives directions and updates regarding Metro conditions so you can know what’s going on on the go.

Ditch the old paper assignment tab. Enter homework, grades, teacher contacts and schedule information to organize yourself.

For high school students, the SATs constantly hover over our heads. Words of the day and tips can better prepare you.

2010 World Cup Schedule

With calendars and team profiles, be in the loop when everyone’s talking about the South African World Cup this summer.

Red Box

G-Park

Shazam

myStarbucks

The Red Box app locates the nearest red box, finds out what movies are available and where. It also has general information about Red Box movies.

Hear a song that you like, but don’t know the artist? Instead of finding the song on the Internet later, Shazam listens to the music and tells you the song title and artist.

Don’t act like you haven’t forgotten where you’ve parked your car at least once. With the click of a button, store your car’s location to bring up later.

Perfect for Starbucks addicts, you can build your own drink, find the nearest starbucks or drive-thru, see nutrition facts and learn store opening and closing hours. by Alex Straton

outlook a&e

may 06 2010

Rather than download Doodlejump and other game applications or music, use your iTouch or iPhone for more practical, but still entertaining purposes.

Remote

t APP into more than music

We asked, Oakton answered..

Which do you prefer, CD’s or MP3’s?

36% CD’s

The Digital Debate: Mp3s are on the rise, as CDs are decreasing in popularity by Andy Reed and Becky Singerman

CD’s

Mp3’s

The Good

63% MP3 More portable and user friendly than their predecessors, the vinyl record and the tape, yet much less convenient than their descendants, the digital mp3 file, CDs have been left by the wayside.

And the winner is... Oakton voted, and we analyzed, the pros and cons of MP3’s against CD’s Digital files have gained popularity in recent years, and not without reason. Digital files are much cheaper,more efficient and more convenient than their archaic predecessor, the CD.

The Good

- Cars made in our lifetimes are CD compatible, only really new cars are mp3 compatible. - You never have to worry about getting a virus from a CD - Files are backed up on hard copy - You don’t have to worry about how many times you burn a song. - CD’s have artwork on the disk itself and in the liner notes. - CD’s come with lyrics directly from the artist, you can trust their accuracy. - CD’s play for you the artist’s complete artistic vision, not just a song or two that got radio play. - Local musician, Josh Abt (of Josh Abt and the Regulars, who played with Oakton’s own Sounds of Gray earlier this year) explained that “iTunes only gives you a check bi-monthly, but CD’s give you an instant profit,” an appealing idea for an artist.

- Much cheaper, especially if you’re only buying a song or two at a time. - “It’s easier to find what I want on iTunes. With a CD if you don’t like all of the songs than it’s a waste, with itunes I can get exactly what I like,” said sophomore, Rosni Neupane. - “Mp3s make for less clutter. You can fit more music in one place” said sophomore Michael Raiti. - It is cheaper for artists to distribute music digitally. For an artist on top of the charts it’s easy to host it on iTunes and just get lots of money. Smaller artists who have made a record but have no guarantee that it will sell can easily distribute easily will little risk. - As the buyer there is little risk in investing in a song or two on iTunes, chances are you already know you’ll like it, and if you don’t, it was very little money wasted. - Mp3 files can’t be scratched or damaged.

The Bad

- Though they are transportable, you could walk around with a discman, at least not if you wanted to hold it upside down or sideways. - Buying CD’s is a hassle, you can never be sure that the store will have what you are looking for. - CD’s are expensive. The average CD goes for about $15 while the average album on iTunes is $10, less if you are buying song by song. - CD’s are high risk investments. They are too expensive if you only end up liking a song or two.

- Mp3s don’t have any album artwork. - Mp3s don’t come with lyrics, often the ones found online are unreliable. - Car connections can be shaky. For people with the generation of cars made once tapes became obsolete but before Mp3s were the primary music medium, have to rely on instable connections using radio waves, which rarely work. - ITunes limits the number of times you can burn a song to a CD. - Mp3 files can easily be lost; it is difficult to replace an entire itunes library.

Headphones to listen to your MP3 or CD, whatever your preference $50 $80 $30 Hesh Slightly Stoopid V-Moda Bass Freq

may 06 2010

Decent bass, decent treble. Overall pretty decent headphones for $30. Meant for the person who breaks headphones frequently and wants a low cost pair to last him/her through the month.

Phenomenal bass, great treble. Especially good to listen to Slightly Stoopid or a ska variant. Aroundear headphone is combfortable. Meant for a music lover.

QUALITY

outlook a&e

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We all scream for ice cream Fun frozen treats to look out for in the Oakton area

Name: Pitango Gelato Location: Reston Town Center Specialty: Gelato Pitango is a small store off Democracy Drive in Reston Town Center. The design of the store is simple and slightly unconventional, and the atmosphere is relaxed. The staff is fun and friendly, and unlimited samples of gelati are allowed. They offer a large variety of flavors, ranging from spicy chocolate to mojito to white grapefruit. Atop each table is a shaker of pure organic cane sugar. Pitango also sells iced coffee, tea and more unique items such as their Caffe Freddo, a mix of espresso, gelato and milk. The prices for gelato run $4.85 for a regular size two-flavor and $6.50 for a large three-flavor cup.

Nielsen’s Frozen Custard has been a part of historic Church Street in Vienna for years. Upon entering the store the air is filled with the strong odor of cooking grease, but after a few minutes it’s easy to get used to. The interior is old-fashioned, consisting of wooden flooring and several round tables. Nielsen’s specialty is their frozen custard, but they also offer foods such as chicken strips and grinders (their signature sub sandwiches). Nielsen’s carries plain custard, concretes (their signature item, very similar to a McFlurry) and sundaes along with soda floats. A regular sundae is $4.75, a concrete is $5.80 and a single cone is $3.25.

Name: Maggie Moo Location: East Market at Fair Lakes Specialty: Ice cream Maggie Moo’s is a lesser known chain ice cream store. Their flavors include classics such as chocolate and french vanilla, but they specialize in unusual flavors like buttered popcorn, Cinamoo, pink champagne sorbet and the like. The store looks colorful, kid-friendly and inviting. A wide variety of other treats are also sold, such as ice cream cupcakes, Maggie O’s (ice cream-filled oreo cookies) and ice cream pizzas. Single cones go for $2.99 and ice cream pizzas sell for $24.45, but the ice cream pizzas have to be ordered two days in advance. By Shannon Ragan

Ice cream

Frozen custard

Ice cream is a hugely popular frozen dessert usually made of dairy products such as milk and cream.

Frozen custard is a super premium ice cream. It’s usually made fresh throughout the day with all natural ingredients, including eggs, which provide a creamy texture.

Gelato

Frozen yogurt

Gelato is the Italian variant on ice cream. It has a lower butterfat content. It typically has a less milky taste than ice cream.

Frozen yogurt is a healthier alternative to ice cream (being lower in fat). It has a more tart taste.

may 6 2010

Off of Market Street in Reston Town Center sits a small store called Iceberry. Iceberry sells all-natural, non-fat frozen yogurt. The store houses a fun, colorful design, the atmosphere is quiet, but the seating is very limited. The yogurt comes in original, honeydew melon, chocolate and strawberry flavors. Toppings range from Fruity Pebbles to mini chocolate chips to a variety of fresh fruits. Iceberry also offers many drinks resembling a Starbucks menu, such as frappes and mochas. More unique beverages like steamed milk, Italian soda and caramel apple cider are also sold. The portions are pretty large, but prices still run steep for a high schooler’s budget: A small is $3.50 plus $.95 per topping, $5.95 for a medium with three toppings and $9.45 for a large with three toppings.

Name: Nielsen’s Frozen Custard Location: Church Street, Vienna Specialty: Frozen custard

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Name: Iceberry Location: Reston Town Center Specialty: Frozen yogurt

counts

Lacrosse coach manages family and team

paige

ean Counts has been the girls lacrosse coach for more than five years and has led the team to two state championships in the last five seasons. Counts has won over 50 games at Oakton. She also has six children. Counts is the mother to Wiley (11), Casey (9), Cameron (6), Paige (5), Aubrey (3) and Kellan (1). She often brings her kids to practice in order to keep an eye on them, although seeing what they’re up to all the time can be difficult while she’s coaching the players. However, Counts doesn’t let this deter her focus. “After she had Kellan she was at practice the very next day,” said senior lacrosse player Lauren Burke “We were like, ‘Why are you here?’” Since she is concentrating on coaching the players on the team, some of the players decide to help out. “There are two injured players that hold the baby during practice,” said Counts. “They take care of them and help out, which is obviously nice because I am focused on the team and the practice.” The help that is given to Counts doesn’t end at school. Parents of kids on the team also try to help out whenever they can. “Because she’s had so many [kids] we’re pretty well organized about it,” says Burke. “Some of the parents cook her dinner and bring it to her house twice a week.”

Favorite Animal: Horse During practice, while their mom is coachFavorite TV ing one of the most successful girls lacrosse Show: Phineas and teams in the region, the kids are busy playing Ferb on the sides of the field, focusing on having Favorite Color: Purple fun. Favorite thing to do: Play “They run around the field and look for things to climb on,”Burke said. “The boys bug us a lot more than the girls. One time Wiley had a little baseball bat, and he kept hitting us with it.” During practices, the six of them do just about anything. “What don’t they do?” asked Counts. “I call it our big play pen because it’s all fenced in and they just run around all day.” Playing and coaching for a dominant team can get pretty stressful, but the players and the coach can depend on the kids to provide a bit of fun. “They’re comic relief,” says Burke. “When they do something funny, we laugh; and it kind of lightens the mood.” Since they are around the game so much, some of the kids are already showing some interest in possible playing the sport in the future “Cameron plays lacrosse; but she’s only six, so it’s not really serious.” Counts said. “They all seem to have a basic understanding of it.” by Callum Kelton and Conner Dick

Lacrosse Stats Win-Loss Records 2006: 15-3 2007: 18-1 2008: 12-5 2009: 5-9 2010: 5-2 Goals Scored 2006: 14.9 pts/gm 2007: 14.8 pts/gm 2008: 14.2 pts/gm 2009: 12.7 pts/gm 2010: 17.4 pts/gm Goals Allowed 2006: 5.6 pts/gm 2007: 6.7 pts/gm 2008: 7.9 pts/ gm 2009: 12.3 pts/gm 2010: 11.6 pts/gm Statistics from oaktonathletics.com

“It’s been a really up and down season, because we’ve had some hard games recently. Our last three games have been against the number one teams in the region, the state and the country. Now we have two games left and then the playoffs start.” - Jean Counts

sarah kashanian 1. Sitting on the grass, Cameron, Paige and Kellen play with their toys. The girls attend lacrosse practice every day. 2. Holding a plank, the girls work out as part of the team. They are often joined by siblings Wiley, Casey, Aubrey and Kellan. sarah kashanian

On the Scoreboard: Lacrosse Centreville: Won 12-4 Langley: Lost 7-14 Broad Run: Lost 11-13 Briar Woods: Won 13Herndon: Won 18-4

outlook sports

”

may 6 2010

Boys 4/14 4/21 4/23 4/27 10 4/29

Girls 4/15 Madison: Lost 12-15 4/17 Loudoun Valley: Lost 10-15 4/23 St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes: Lost 2-19 4/29 Herndon: Won 18-4

We’ve really come around a lot since the start of the season.We’ve really peaked at the right time.

nian

sarah kasha-

”

- Alex Yost, senior captain

Tennis looks towards strong post-season

Six Oakton athletes and coaches were questioned regarding current events in the sports world as well as the Oakton area

boys varsity baseball Brieneke Matthes sr. girls varsity soccer David Yun sr. boys varsity tennis Kelsey Clarke so. girls varsity lacrosse Connor Sullivan so. boys jv baseball

not at all

Tiger Woods is...

Ovechkin or Crosby?

In the NFL Cody Grimm will..

in big trouble

Ovechkin

succeed

not as common as other places

a scumbag

Ovechkin

be sick (in the good way)

maybe just on the football team

the best at golf

Crosby

do well

stupid

Ovechkin

be amazing

Ovechkin

dominate

not common

a good golf player

On the Scoreboard: Tennis Herndon: Won 6-3 Westfield: Lost 4-5 Centreville: Won 5-4 Chantilly: Lost 4-5 Robinson: Lost 1-8 Herndon: Won 6-3 Westfield: Lost 4-5

a closer look at... Cody Grimm. He is

Girls 4/09 4/14 4/16 4/20 4/23 4/27 4/30

Herndon: Won 9-0 Westfield: Won 9-0 Centreville: Won 8-1 Chantilly: Won 6-3 Robinson: Lost 1-8 Herndon: Won 9-0 Westfield: Won 9-0

only the second player from Oakton High School to get drafted to play in the NFL. Grimm went to Virginia Tech, where he played linebacker for a team that finished tenth in the nation for football last year. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the NFL draft, with the 210th overall pick. Cody making the NFL shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, as his dad Russ Grimm is a former NFL star who is an inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Grimm has reached the goal that many athletes at Oakton have: playing his sport on the professional level, and putting Oakton on the map.

I think we are going to be undefeated this year, because we have a really strong team.

”

-Adrianna Angulo, Sr. blanton

outlook sports

may 6 2010

Coach Justin Janis

How common do you think steroids are at Oakton?

Grimm

Cody

Person

Boys 4/09 4/14 4/16 4/20 4/23 4/27 4/30

This experience and being a cocaptain earned him the title of the number one spot on the team. All Yun needs to do now is help the younger players progress so they can assume leadership positions next year. “I think the younger players view me as a role model because I am the number one player on the team,” said Yun. Like all captains, Yun has one universal goal set up this year: win. “My biggest goal for this season is to win districts,” Yun said. If Yun did take his team to districts and win, he would go out with a solid end to a great career. by Conner Dick

”

Survey Says...

next year. “Next year, it will be bad because we will have lost a lot of our older players,” Yun said. With all the seniors leaving the team next year, Yun does his best to get the team to take advantage of what they have. “Having all these seniors on the team makes things really good,” said Yun. “It’s what makes our team stronger.” While a new gain of strength is a good change for this year, it’s not the only change for Yun since last year. “The biggest difference from last year is that I gained a lot more experience,” said Yun.

avid Yun, senior, is a captain on the Oakton boys tennis team. While Yun was a captain last year, there was only one senior on the team. This year, with the return of seven seniors, a more experienced team is in control. “The biggest difference from last year is [that] this year we are a much stronger team,” Yun said. Having a team full of seniors has its ups and downs, with the biggest problem being a dramatic loss in the number of senior team members for

Kicking into gear...

Prom Vs. Athletics Upperclassmen athletes give their opinions on Prom conflicting with several Championship season sporting events.

marisa

mahony

“I’ve had this situation before, so I think that I can better deal with it, but it is still a bad situation.”

soccer

hanna

“I care, but I will work around it.”

graves

softball

kathryn

berlin

“I am annoyed because I would really have liked to go to Prom my Senior year.”

track

andrew

hippe

“I like to focus on the now, not the future, so I am not really worried about it right now.”

soccer

steve

bezick baseball

padraic

flynn

“It is really unfortunate and I wish that the planners had more foresight. It is a great disappointment.” “I was rather emotionally disappointed and disturbed that the two events coincided”

track

The boys JV soccer team headed into the season with one of their best starts ever. This success is common among all the boys and girls soccer teams.

espite the usual difficulty in the beginning of the soccer season, Oakton’s soccer teams have started off very well. “We had some really hard teams to start out against,” said sophomore JV girls defender Lauren Jewell. The girls JV team did not start off as well as they had hoped. “We have slacked off in some of our games and it has really shown,” said sophomore girls’ JV midfielder Mira Tanenbaum. “Our record doesn’t show how good a team we are.” Nonetheless, the team is still optimistic. “My hopes are to win the rest of our games,” Jewell said. “We are playing really well right now, so I think that it will be a reality.” For some of the teams, early season inexperience and miscommunication have made for a bumpy start. All the teams, however, are working out whatever problems they have. “There are great individual players, but we’re just now starting to pull it together as a team,” said junior boys’ varsity defender Ben Webster. “We’ve struggled a little bit at playing as a team of 11 guys. We’re really starting to come together as a team now though.” Good communication among players has also helped out the boys JV team. “We have had good composure and we’ve been able to communicate well as a team so far,” said JV forward NaJee Cox. “We have done well as a team this year.” Other then good communication skills among players, another positive influence on the JV boys team is the hiring of a new head coach. “New coaching has helped this year. The way [our coach] has made us play improved us a lot,” said boys JV

mid-fielder Ben Mills. “Our mentality has changed a lot. We have moved more towards possession, not just kicking the ball up to our forwards and hoping for the best.” Both the varsity teams are looking forward to and hoping for success in the post-season. “We’re going to have to step up our game going into districts,” said senior girls’ varsity forward Marisa Mahony. “The Concorde district is one of the strongest in the northern region.”

Although the team is very young, this doesn’t seem to have had a detrimental impact. “When you step onto the field, you don’t distinguish your teammates by their grade,” Mahony said. “They are just another player and they all have a lot of talent, whatever grade they are in.” The teams’ youth leaves them with a promising future. “We have a lot of good sophomores and a strong junior class so we should be good next year,” said boys varsity defender Kevin Shavalay. “I’m definitely looking forward to next year.” by Jackson Lizardo

On the Scoreboard: Soccer may 6 2010

Girls 4/12 Washington & Lee Won 3-1 4/16 McLean Tied 0-0 4/20 Robinson Lost 0-2 4/22 South County Lost 1-2 4/30 Marshall Won 7-0

outlook sports

Boys 4/12 Washington & Lee Won 2-1 4/16 McLean Lost 2-4 4/20 Robinson Lost 0-4 4/22 South County Lost 3-0 4/28 Westfield Tied 0-0 4/30 Marshall Won 3-1

“

We are hoping to win districts and would like to make the state tournament again.

”

-Adelle Clinton, soph.

Blanton

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trolling into the weight room after class, Jacob* walks a little taller than most. Making his way to the bench press, he gives himself a quick glance in the mirror, flexing his bulging bicep under a rolled sleeve. As he slides on four 45-pound weights, Jacob basks in the satisfaction of knowing that his bar is stacked with almost twice the weight of the surrounding benches - that he’s bigger, better, and stronger than the guys next to him.

cougaROIDS: may 6, 2010

Students use steroids and supplements to get bigger

outlook sports

Pulling up the garage door of the school weight room, it’s easy to see that Jacob’s “bigger is better” mentality is a common one, evident in every guy gulping a bottle of Muscle Milk or wearing a t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off. That mentality is the pressure that pushes people to work harder in their workout and sculpt the bodies they want, but, like any pressure, it can cause some to look for simpler ways of getting those massive pecs and chiseled abs. For Jacob, it’s anabolic steroids. “I heard about how well steroids worked and started getting them from another student who also uses,” Jacob said. “I take steroids to enhance my size; to get bigger and be happy about being big. It gives you a lot of self-confidence knowing that you’re bigger than the other guy.” Aside from the new muscle mass, Jacob has also gotten a lot stronger. In only five months of taking steroids, he’s already seen massive gains in the weight room. “Over the past six months I’ve gained 100 pounds on my bench, and my squat is over 500 now,” Jacob said, “I plan on getting my bench up to 350 pretty soon.” Like most juicers, Jacob takes other supplements alongside steroids for an even higher increase in performance. This process of loading up on multiple supplements at once is called “stacking”. “I take one pill [of anabolic steroids] before a workout,” Jacob said. “I also take testosterone pills, creatine, and different protein supplements.” For Jacob, taking steroids has so far been a strictly off-season thing. He plans on quitting within the next few months. “Right from the beginning, I set myself certain goals for bench and squat,” Jacob said, “I plan on stopping once I reach those goals and maintaining my strength naturally. I was going to reach those goals no matter what: steroids are just helping me get there faster.” The obvious risks associated with taking steroids are the grotesque side-effects frequently exploited in steroid horror stories. We always hear about the kid who took steroids to get the girl or make the team and ended up killing his

Whether it be steroids, creatine, or good-old-fashioned, all-natural hard work, it seems that guys are always looking to get bigger. But why do they go to all this trouble? Sure, they want more poundage for sports or a toned bod to show off at the pool, but as it turns out, the real reason may lie a little deeper. No guy would ever admit it, but this burning desire to get bigger may actually be the result of deep-seeded insecurities about body image. Insecurities? Men don’t feel insecure (says the guy with a spray-on tan in a t-shirt five sizes too small before smashing an aluminum can on his head). Let’s just say that there’s a reason why the weight room mirror takes up two walls. “We’ve always seen women as having to deal with the pressure from society to look good,” said Psychology teacher Sue Anna

Clark. “Now, men face the same pressures from the media as women do. That’s why we see guys waxing and buffing more and more.” Looking at movies and music videos, or flipping through the pages of magazines like “Muscle and Fitness,” it’s easy to see why men would feel so inferior. We call this syndrome the Adonis Complex, named after the half-man, half-god of Greek mythology who was so hot that he won the love of Queen Aphrodite. Much like anorexia and bulimia, The Adonis Complex is a disease stemming from insecurities about body image. “In some cases, it can lead to body dysmorphia,” Clark said, “At that point what the person sees in the mirror is something totally different than what they are. Someone who is actually very muscular could see themselves as scrawny.”

Types of performance enhancers From Gatorade in sports bags to steroids in veins, many students look for extra help when packing on muscle. Creatine is the most commonly used performance enhancer in athletics. Creatine loads the body with the compound Creatine Phosphate which the muscles use to replenish energy. The increase in CP requires more water for the reaction in the muscles to take place, dehydrating the body.

Protein Supplements are a popular choice for students who need to repair muscle breakdown and body wear after an intense workout. The important nutrients protein supplements contain can be delivered to the body more efficiently if taken from pure proteins like meat.

Testosterone stimulates protein synthesis and accounts for greater muscular development. Though it’s legal to possess for medical concerns, athletes abuse this substance to enhance their performance. Gatorade is an electrolyte replenisher that refuels the body with calories and chloride, potassium and sodium. Gatorade is a pleasant-tasting drink for people who find water too bland. It helps the body replace nutrients lost during workouts or through sickness. Referred to as ‘roids,’ ‘rocket fuel’ and ‘juice,’ anabolic steroids are perhaps the quickest way to increase strength. The benefits, however, come at a high price: there can be serious psychological and physical side-effects. *Student’s name has been changed to protect his or her identity **Student in photo is not the subject of the story or a confirmed steroid user outlook sports

may 6, 2010

The Adonis Complex

to pack on some muscle faster is creatine. Creatine, unlike steroids, is legal and can be picked up at any nutritional store. The supplement claims to regenerate the energy in the muscle so users can recover faster. “To reproduce energy in the muscles, you need ADP [Adenosine Phosphate], CP [Creatine Phosphorous], and water,” Rupp said. “What Creatine does is overload your system with CP.” Though creatine isn’t known for having crazy ball-shrinking suicide side effects like there can be with steroids, creatine isn’t totally harmless. The high excess of CP it crams in the muscles actually causes more harm than good. “We need water for that reaction to occur and energy to produce,” Rupp explains, “To compensate for all the extra CP, the body dehydrates itself, putting a load on the liver and kidneys.” It turns out that the effectiveness of creatine may just be in the heads of its users. Maybe the most effective and efficient way to build the body without side effects doesn’t come in a bottle. “While taking [supplements], you eat better, sleep better, and work harder,” Rupp said, “What do you think is really working?” by Alex Buscemi and Spencer Conley

parents in a rage or blowing his brains out. While this is enough to scare off most kids from taking them, Jacob is largely unconcerned about the possible consequences. For him, it’s so far so good. “I haven’t developed backne or tits or anything,” Jacob laughed. “I just have a little bit of a temper but I can hold it — I’m not like an animal out of its cage. I can hold my composure.” Jacob has no worries — and why should he? He isn’t hurting anyone, he hasn’t had any disgusting side effects, and he looks and feels like a million bucks. Also, he plans on quitting soon. There’s no harm in continuing steroid use then, right? According to Athletic Trainer Paul Rupp: wrong. “When someone stops taking steroids, it can have serious physical and psychological effects,” Rupp said. “Physically, it will put a strain on their liver which could cause liver damage. Psychologically, their hormonal structure will be all out of whack. They have all this testosterone built up and feel unstoppable, stop taking it and rage will escalate. When something upsets the bull, it can be as simple as seeing red.” While steroid use is uncommon at Oakton, other performance-enhancing supplements are still widely used. A favorite of students looking

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