Octagon 2018-19 Issue 2

THE

OCTAGON

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1668

@scdsoctagon

VOL.42 NO.2 • Sacramento Country Day School • 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento • October 30, 2018

Over half of seniors apply early to top universities

GETTING PERSONAL Senior Yelin Mao and college counselor Jane Bauman revise Mao’s personal statement. The Common App requires students to submit a 650-word-limit personal statement in response to one of seven prompts. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

E

veryone wants to get into the college of their dreams - and it seems like applying early decision (ED) or early action (EA) might be the easiest way in.

BY HÉLOÏSE SCHEP

And colleges are profiting off this mindset: The College Board states that approximately 450 colleges offer ED and/or EA plans.

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s State of College Admissions Report for 2017, colleges saw a 15 percent increase in ED applicants and a 16 percent increase in admits.

But numbers can be deceiving.

The two most prevailing “early plans” are ED and EA. While both require students to apply earlier than regular decision deadlines, there are key differences, college counselor Chris Kuipers said.

Students who apply ED/EA usually apply

on Nov. 1 and receive the college’s decision on Dec. 15. If accepted through EA, they can apply regular decision to other colleges, but ED plans are binding. A student who is accepted through ED must attend the college and withdraw all other applications.

On the other hand, EA plans aren’t binding.

Students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

And Country Day students are applying EA more and more.

Of 32 seniors polled on Oct. 11, five said they were applying ED to colleges, and 21 said they were applying EA. Of those 21 students, 11 said they are applying EA to one college, two to four colleges and one to five colleges.

Senior Kyra LaFitte is the one applying early to five colleges.

“I applied to those five so I can find out if I actually got in earlier,” LaFitte said. “If I don’t

get in, I can apply to my backup schools.”

Seniors Alex Rogawski and Nate Jakobs are both applying ED. Rogawski is applying ED to Brandeis and EA to the University of Minnesota, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Oregon, Florida University and the University of Maryland.

He said he is applying ED because Brandeis is his top school, and his GPA is slightly lower than that of most applicants.

“It’ll basically boost my chances, and I’m sure that I would go to the school if I got in anyways,” Rogawski said.

Jakobs is applying ED to Pomona College and EA to the University of Colorado Boulder and potentially the University of Oregon and Loyola Marymount University.

Unlike Rogawski, Jakobs said he chose to apply early to Pomona College because of his passion for baseball.

Jakobs said he will also have a letter of rec-

Administration aims to strengthen school’s public image via strategic plan

BY SANJANA ANAND After a year of both committee and all-school meetings, Country Day has released its strategic plan to the community and general public.

The strategic plan sets out guidelines and goals for the next five years. It covers a variety of areas, such as academics, community outreach, economic growth and physical expansion.

The planning committee, which includes head of school Lee Thomsen, head of high school Brooke Wells, teachers and administrators, works together to improve Country Day’s collaborative environment, according to head of community outreach committee Christy Vail.

Thomsen said the school tries to improve in three ways: “innovating students’ learning experiences,

partnering with the community and positioning Country Day as a valued school.” These rules set specific guidelines that improve the school’s environment.

Director of advancement Rachelle Doyle said the committee is separated into three groups based on the three rules. Each group is focused on a different aspect of the overall goal and understands the problems. In the past, the committee has solved finance problems, fixed spacing issues and started more community events.

Over the past year, parents, students, staff, alumni and consultants were contacted about their opinions on certain aspects of Country Day. They were asked about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the school, according to members of the commit-

tee.

“Everyone likes to know that we have a plan for the next five years,” Wells said.

“Instead of staying still, we continue to grow, so it is important to always have a general idea as to how our school will function.”

Director of finance Bill Petchauer said that the committee is trying to raise the profile of Country Day and portray itself as a center of learning and leadership for students and adults. Solutions are being proposed, such as allowing adults to come to school and give seminars about education. Marketing firms are currently being contacted about modifying Country Day’s visual identity as well, which includes changing the school’s logo.

Raising the profile of the school

PLAN page 3 >>

ommendation from the Pomona-Pitzer (combined team of Pomona and Pitzer College) baseball coach, Frank Pericolosi.

“As an athlete, that’ll help my chances and demonstrate that I have a little more interest for the school,” Jakobs said.

Like Rogawski, he also said he believed it would compensate for his lower grades and higher test scores.

But is their logic correct?

Director of college counseling Jane Bauman and college counselor Chris Kuipers didn’t fully agree with Rogawski.

“It’s a great thing to do if you know where you want to go and find the school that’s really a good fit for you,” she said.

But both agreed it isn’t for everyone.

Kuipers, who was also an admissions officer for Stanford, said that as colleges are admitting students, they’re building their class, and they want students to “fill up” certain spaces if they have special skills.

“Whether you have an athletic or a music talent, or if you have alumni legacy connection at a particular school, it can absolutely be advantageous to apply early because the college is locking you up,” he said.

“It will probably give you a boost.”

Another reason for students to apply early, Kuipers said, is if they are one of the “most qualified students” applying, although this benefit is marginal.

But in general, he said, the higher acceptance rate is not because colleges are lowering their standards. It’s because, despite recent raises in the number of ED and EA applicants, there are fewer people applying early than regular decision. And those who are applying are often those who have a “hook,” like a legacy connection.

“Colleges certainly are not lowering standards,” Kuipers said. “So if you aren’t particularly competitive for a particular college, your chances are not better.”

But what Kuipers said he is seeing more often are students who are thinking that there’s an extreme advantage to applying early.

Thus, they apply to their reach schools, where they might not have a hook.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Kuipers said. “But I tell students that, almost always, if they’re questionably competitive, it doesn’t matter when they apply - they’re probably not going to get in.”

“ED can be an advantage at the right school,

EARLY page 2 >>

Director of physical plant Jay Holman and maintence foreman Jason Norris rewire classrooms to install extra routers to speed up the school Wi-Fi. Read the full story on Wi-Fi at www.scdsoctagon.com. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

INSIDE News..........................1-3 Sports..........................4-5 Centerpoint..............6-7 A & E ..............................8-9 Editorial.......................10 Feature........................11 Backpage....................12

2 Early: Seniors weigh benefits of various application deadlines News • October 30, 2018

said, some colleges also offer other score, it would have been tough.”

“I’m not going to change the While students have mixed re- time and love I put into a letter forms of application: restrictive EA sults from early applications, the because of the due date,” Whited but students are throwing that pos- (REA) and ED II. sible advantage away for a school Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Boston colleges benefit immensely, Bau- said. man and Kuipers said.

However, Whited said students that’s going to be a roll of the dice College and Stanford offer REA. “ED is designed by colleges to occasionally ask her for letters late admissions-wise (by not applying It’s a nonbinding decision, but or ask her for letters while being in to) a better match for them.” colleges ask students to not to apply benefit colleges,” Kuipers said.

“They sell it to students through only their first year with her.

Furthermore, Kuipers said, if stu- elsewhere early. this vague promise, In the end, Kuipers said, the coldents apply early, they’re making “It’s something and maybe there’s a lege admissions process has become their decision in October of their that a small handlittle bit of an advan- a “frenzy feeding.” senior year. ful of schools could I think if tage, but from an ad“There’s this notion that this And in his experience, both on do,” Kuipers said. there’s missions office per- is your one shot, right?” Kuipers the college and the college-coun- “They’re forcing stueven the smallest spective, it’s to benefit said. seling side, students’ thoughts can dents to say, ‘You are glimmer of advan- the college.”

“You only apply to colleges one change dramatically from October my first choice.’”

First, according to time in your life. There’s no learnto May. Kuipers said he tage, people sort Bauman, the work- ing from mistakes.

Moreover, for a student who is on likes the REA process of feed on that.” load in applications “I think if there’s even the smallan “upward trend,” applying early because it doesn’t —Chris Kuipers is crushing for the est glimmer of advantage, people might actually hurt their changes. lock students in. admission officers, sort of feed into that.”

“Maybe they got off to a bit of a However, he also who have to read tens The irony of all admissions, Kuirocky start ninth grade,” Kuipers said it’s not a trend said. that will be common in other of thousands of letters, essays and pers said, is that the more people transcripts. If the colleges can start who jump at a chance and start “They start to hit their stride at schools. the end of 10th and into 11th, taking “They don’t have the clout to say, that process any earlier, Bauman to apply, the lower the acceptance rate is going to be, which their most rigorous classes in 12th ‘We are the only college you can ap- said, they will.

Second, colleges craft their class, makes it tougher to get in. grade.” ply EA to,’” Kuipers said.

“And then the next year, people If students are applying EA or But Bauman said she doesn’t love and when the decision is nonbinding, there’s so much guesswork. look at it and say, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s ED, their applications show only the the idea, as it limits students too Even at Harvard and Stanford, tougher to get in! I better take adgrades of their junior year because much. colleges view the applications in De“Say you’re applying to Stanford Kuipers said, the yield rates - the vantage of whatever small slice of number of people who choose to advantage I have and apply early,’” cember. restrictive early action, but you want However, if students wait until to apply to five other schools early attend the college - are not 100 per- he said. cent but rather in the 80s or 90s.

“And then that drives more peoregular decision, they also send in action, then you can’t,” she said.

Most schools have yield rates below ple to apply earlier, which decreases their first-semester grades of senior Some colleges also offer ED II, 50 percent. the acceptance rate.” year. which locks students in but extends So colleges need to accept two This is similar to what is being Thus, a student who actually the deadline to the regular decision or three students to yield one, but driven by the Common App, might stand a chance regular deci- date. they don’t want to overfill the class Kuipers said. The Common App sion with a strong first semester of Kuipers said he likes ED II bewhile still needing to fill up various allows you to, if you have the fisenior year could actually be at a cause it allows students to think extracurriculars, like nancial means, apply almost enddisadvantage applying the band or the basket- lessly to colleges. early.

“Back when I was applying, I reThey sell (ED) to students through this ball team, and accept Readiness to make a students from differ- member five or six was the average binding decision is also vague promise, and maybe there’s ent geographic and number of schools because we had an issue. a little bit of an advantage, but from an socio-economic back- to fill out a paper application every In the conversations grounds. admissions office perspective, it’s to benefit single time,” Kuipers said. he has with seniors, Kui“Admission offices However, the average number the college.” pers said, the sentiment like certainty as they’re —Kuipers building their class,” of colleges students apply to now from many is that they might be a dozen, especially with don’t know where they Kuipers said.

UCs, according to Kuipers. want to go to school.

“And so ED really “It gives them a lot of options,” their decision through.

Kuipers urges these students to works for them.”

Kuipers said.

“It gives seniors a little bit more apply regular decision - except if And while colleges profit from “But if everyone across the natime to reflect and do research, but they plan to go into engineering. students applying earlier, teachers tion is applying to more and more Many students are admitted early it also allows them - without rushing are at a major disadvantage. schools, app numbers are going up, to engineering programs, so if stu- the schedule - to still make a stateED, EA and REA deadlines tend which is going to drive selectivity dents need to wait and apply regular ment to a school that this is their to fall around Nov. 1, the end of the down, which is going to drive more decision to get their grades up, they first choice,” he said. first quarter, Bauman said. people to say, ‘Oh, I need to give mySome independent organizations could be at a slight disadvantage.

And this year, Kuipers said, a self more options because it’s harder are also offering their own version Furthermore, ED plans have been higher-than-average percentage of to get in.’ criticized as unfair to students from of the admissions process. seniors are applying early.

“It just feeds into itself.”

Senior Yanele Ledesma is applylow-income families, since they do “I have about 16 advisees this Fortunately, Kuipers said, at not have the opportunity to com- ing to colleges through QuestBridge, year, and 12 or 13 of them have a Nov. Country Day, students are well pare financial aid packages, Bau- a non-profit program that links stu- 1 deadline - one even has an Oct. 15 prepared, so the influx of applidents from low-income households deadline,” Kuipers man said. cants is not a huge Moreover, Bauman said that an- with educational and scholarship said. crisis. opportunities at some U.S. colleges other trend troubles her.

“Just five years I’m not “But at some othSome schools (such as Vanderbilt and universities. ago, writing load was er high schools, it’s going to The application is separate from spread out from OcUniversity) have their early applicastarting to really aftion deadline as Nov. 1 but don’t in- the Common App; to complete it, tober to December. change the time fect students,” Kuiform students of any merit aid until Ledesma said, she ranked colleges Now it really is all in and love I put into pers said. later - after students have already and completed essays. If the colleges October.” a letter because “Last year, there accept her, she will recieve a full ride applied.

This is especially of a due date.” was a lot of unpreBauman said she felt this was an there. tough, according to —Kellie Whited dictability with UC Her deadline for the general Kuipers, because the “exclusionary” practice because it admissions - and limits the type of student who could QuestBridge application (without counselors meet with that’s due to the ranking colleges) was Sept. 27. apply to the college. seniors in the fall and extraordinarily Her biggest struggle, she said, was don’t want to start their letters until For example, a student who was high numbers of applicants.” in the middle income range and planning her test dates. they’ve had that meeting.

So what should students do?

“I got them in on time, but the Ocwould benefit from merit aid would And the counselors are lucky if Kuipers said they should realize have to make their decision without tober SAT was way too late, and the they get through those meetings in the admission rate is a “meaningAugust one was just in time,” Ledes- September. knowing their aid. less” way of measuring the quality But to escape criticism and offer ma said.

“I think both (Bauman) and I of a school and shouldn’t dictate “If I had wanted to improve my spend, in terms of collecting the in- where or when they apply. more options to students, Kuipers formation and actually sitting down It’s simply a reflection of how and writing it and uploading it, four many students are applying to a parhours at least per letter,” Kuipers ticular school and how many they said. can afford to admit.

“That’s another full week of work “I see super smart students on top of other classes the teachers who can analyze and think critiare also doing.” cally about everything in my classBiology teacher Kellie Whited room who are just latched on to this one percentage, the acceptance peragreed.

A significant amount of time centage, which is just silly,” Kuipers goes into writing each letter of rec- said.

“There are over 3000 schools ommendation, she said, and when a majority of students have a letter out there, so most students would due on Nov. 1, it complicates finding be perfectly happy at hundreds of time to write letters and put the nec- schools that they probably never essary amount of effort into them. even heard of.”

The Octagon Information collected

by Héloïse Schep

(continued from page 1)

1999 Jason Hinojosa He applied early decision to West Point Military Acadamy.

1996 Chris Kuipers He did not apply early decision or early action.

He attended Amherst College.

1992 Patricia Jacobsen Although she doesn’t remember applying to New York University through an early admissions process, she was accepted early.

1990 Victoria Conner She applied early decision and was accepted to Mount Holyoke College.

1978 Glenn Mangold He did not apply early decision or early action.

He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1973 Sue Nellis She did not apply early decision or early action.

She attended Whittier College.

1972 Jane Bauman She did not apply early admission or early action. She attended UC Santa Cruz.

NC

PRI

E

LEG

OL

C IPIA

1967

Jane Batarseh She did not apply early admission or early action. She attended Principia College.

The Octagon

October 30, 2018 • News

3

Plan: New performing arts center to be built in ‘next several years’ (continued from page 1) will allow it to partner with companies so students can take classes not offered on campus, such as dancing, according to Thomsen.

“The biggest thing that I hope to accomplish within the next several years is to see if we can create a new performing arts center for our students, which will replace our current MP Room,” Thomsen said.

Thomsen hopes to use this new building for productions and plays put on by the drama department.

Senior Josh Friedman, who has been in the drama program since seventh grade, said he was excited about the new MP Room.

“Since lower school, I’ve been hearing promises about a new fine arts building; I’m super excited that it’s finally happening,” Friedman said.

“Our (current) MP Room is terrible for music and drama.

The light system is outdated and hard to use, and the backstage area is very small.”

Doyle said that on top of new infrastructure, the school is currently creating a service-learning curriculum through the whole school.

“Service learning is a program which offers time for students to reflect on their actions,” Thomsen said.

Lower and middle school students will be volunteer-

ing with different places that relate to their learning at school. According to Thomsen, there have been no finalizations about how frequently this will be happening.

Last year, the public purpose committee, which works with the service aspect of the school, submitted a proposal of guidelines about this service-learning program, and the program will be implemented in lower and middle school by next fall.

Wells said that the school is also working on the advancement of technology-related learning.

Five years ago, students started taking online computer science courses. Once more students started taking online computer science classes, the school hired teachers for those subjects. And earlier this year, a computer lab was installed to make it easier for students to learn and code, Wells said.

The learning committee is looking at adding more computer science classes in the high school and more electives in middle school to utilize the computer lab. Next year, a higher-level computer science course, AP Computer Science B, will be offered.

However, no decisions have been made about the teachers, Wells said.

Wells is also in charge of the scheduling committee.

The goal, he said, is to make

changes with the daily class schedule to incorporate class requests of all students. Wells said the final schedule will be finished later this year.

Friedman also addressed his opinions about the schedule.

“I know there has been quite an effort to change from a rotating schedule to a block schedule, and I really don’t want that,” he said.

“Some classes are required

to meet every day to pass the AP exam, such as AP U.S. History or AP Physics C, and with a block schedule, this is not happening.”

Friedman also said that he hopes long period won’t be taken away, as it adds more time for material to be covered about once a week per class.

In the lower school, the teaching and learning committee used research from

online studies to train teachers to better meet the needs of students, according to Vail.

A drill known as responsive classrooms was done with lower school teachers to help them understand the social and emotional state of students.

According to Vail, teachers are trained about the emotions of children after certain situations with the goal of helping teachers understand

the perspectives of students.

Although this drill has been done with only lower school teachers, the committee is hoping to do this drill with other teachers on campus as well.

The main guidelines of the strategic plan were finalized in May, and updates about its implementation are still being developed. A copy of the strategic plan can be found on the school’s website.

HARD AT WORK Sophomores Kaelan Swinmurn, Lili Brush, Ming Zhu and Connor Pederson work on their AP Computer Science Principles research projects in the computer science lab. As part of the strategic plan, the school is working on advancing technology, which included getting 18 new iMacs for the computer lab. PHOTO BY MEHDI LACOMBE

4

Sports • October 30, 2018

The Octagon

Coed soccer finishes second in league, loses first game of playoffs

T

BY SARINA RYE

he coed soccer team finished the season with a 6-3 record in league and a 9-6-1 overall record.

Although the team made it to the playoffs seeded sixth, it lost its first playoff game on Oct. 23 against Forest Lake, which was seeded third.

Coach Matt Vargo said the biggest challenges during the season were slow starts in games and lapses in communication.

However, he acknowledged that communication has also been the biggest improvement, along with defensive shape.

Sophomore Lili Brush agreed, noting the team’s progression over the season.

“We didn’t talk a lot at first, which made it harder for us to pass the ball well,” she said.

“When we did start talking more, everyone worked together much better.

By the end of the season, everyone who didn’t have the ball was talking a lot more and saying that they were open.”

V A R S I T Y V O L L E Y B A L L

Vargo pointed out many players who played especially well this season. “(Senior) Nate Jakobs (was) our leading scorer,” he said. “(Freshman) Arjin Claire had a lot of technical ability and passion for the game. (Senior) Abby LaComb had experience and composure on the ball.

(Senior) Jack Christian had a tireless work rate and great offensive skill. (Senior) Leo Eisner was our rock in the center of defense. (Freshman) Ethan Monasa provided a calming presence on the defensive back end. (Freshman) Jordan Lindsay had great boosts of energy and offensive skills.”

Vargo said the goal for next season is to make playoffs again.

However, Brush said that the team will be different.

“We’ll be missing a lot of our really good starters since all of the seniors will be leaving,” she said.

One of those seniors - Jakobs - said leaving the team is bittersweet.

“We had a great season, and it was nice to make playoffs my last season, but it’s never fun to end on a loss,” he said.

BEAST MODE Senior and team captain Jack Christian breaks through two Western Sierra Wolves during the last game of the regular season on Oct. 17. The Cavs won the game 4-1. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

The varsity volleyball team had a successful 2018 season, finishing with an 11-3 record and earning a spot in the playoffs.

With a large number of starters leaving the team last year upon graduation, there were some questions about what to expect heading into the season.

As players came together, practicing and bonding more, the team kicked it up a notch, winning eight of its last nine games - all in a dominating 3-0 fashion.

JV volleyball season filled with new positions, all-time firsts for players

BY ETHAN MONASA

SENIORS: “I was a little worried because we had never really played together. The majority of our starters had graduated last year.” —senior Bella Mathisen “When a bunch of girls are thrown together on the court, you can’t automatically play fantastic together because so much of volleyball is communication and working together.” —senior Tori VanVleck

COMPETITION: “I had some solid players returning, but I didn’t know how everyone would fit into the puzzle.” —coach Jason Kreps “At the beginning, we were a little off because some of us were new to the team. But as the season progressed, we practiced more and got used to playing with each other.” —junior Alyssa Valverde said.

“Even though there wasn’t the same experience this year, there was more drive and passion.” —Van Vleck

DETERMINATION: “I take every season as a new season because sometimes players come back, but there are always new players. I had some solid players returning, but I didn’t know how everyone would fit into the puzzle.” —Kreps

The JV volleyball team finished this season with a win at home, bringing its record to 7-2.

This year’s team consisted of 11 players: four freshmen, four sophomores and three juniors.

This season was the first year that juniors played on the JV team.

“It’s not that different (playing on the JV team),” junior Yumi Moon said.

“When we’re playing, we don’t think about what grade each person is in.”

According to coach Sarah Song, the team’s success was due to its dedication in practices and its improvement in the fundamentals of the game.

“I’m really proud of the team’s level of commitment and cooperation,” Song said.

“Practices were equally (as) enjoyable as our matches.”

Song also said that the team enjoyed playing together.

Moon noticed that too.

“Every player on the team was super helpful, and we all tried our best to encourage each other,” Moon said.

“Everyone was super nice.”

Freshman Sicily Schroeder agreed, adding

that team communication improved the most during the season.

“We were a very quiet team (at first),” Schroeder said.

Song agreed.

“As our players began gaining confidence and appropriately making a call for the ball, we played much better volleyball,” Song said.

She also added that the season was filled with numerous moments of celebration.

Several players hit their first overhand serve in a match, and others hit their first overhead shot in a game. In the final game of the season on Oct. 17 against Encina Preparatory High School, freshman Vanessa Escobar made 16 consecutive serves, according to Song.

There were also several points in the season when players got to play new positions.

Schroeder said she got to play setter, a position she didn’t usually play.

“I loved the new experience, and I’m glad I got to try it,” she said.

Like Schroeder, freshman Lilah Shorey was inspired by the camaraderie of the team.

“I love volleyball, and I had a great time, especially since I was surrounded by great people,” Shorey said.

“I think we grew so much over the season, and we had fun while doing it.”

“I’ve had a lot of club volleyball coaches that have coached for tons of seasons. Yet I’ve never seen a team more dedicated to a coach than the girls’ varsity team is to Jason.” —Van Vleck

SUCCESS: “We are peaking right now, which is where you want to be heading into the playoffs. I’m very proud of the girls for all they have accomplished. The experience of the seniors really showed throughout the season.” —Kreps “There was a lot of improvement throughout the season, especially with increased cohesiveness.” —senior Heidi Johnson

The Cavs made quick work of their first round playoff opponent, Stockton Christian, winning in three sets. They move onto the second round to face Stone Ridge Christian on Oct. 30. If they win, the Cavs will move onto the Div. 6 Section Championship.

QUOTES COLLECTED BY JACKSON CRAWFORD

SKY HIGH Sophomore Naomi Cohen finishes a hard hit at the net in the Sept. 7 game.

Cohen was one of three juniors on this year’s JV team. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

The Octagon

October 30, 2018 • Sports

5

Junior glides through figure skating levels in new hobby balance.”

Now that she’s not taking group classes, practicing is all up to Boerswant to be an Olympi- ma. And finding time to practice an,” junior Emma Boers- during the school week, according to Boersma, is “very tough.” ma said with a laugh.

“I usually wake up at 5:30 a.m., Even though Boersma was joking, she has spent the last drive to the rink, practice for half an year of her life learning one of the hour and then drive to school,” she most watched sports in the winter said.

“I do that almost every other Olympics: figure skating.

Unlike most professional figure morning.”

An added struggle for Boersskaters, Boersma has not been on ma is chamber music rehearsal at the ice since she was 3.

“It can be intimidating sometimes 7:30 a.m., which forces her to pracwhen you see these really cute, tiny tice less often than she would like.

3-year-olds that are better than you,” Boersma doesn’t have time after school to skate, as she is on the varBoersma said.

“But I learned that in figure skat- sity volleyball team, which has pracing, everyone just does their own tices or games every day.

Despite all the work and time figthing.”

Boersma started figure skating ure skating takes, Boersma said she enjoys it. last fall when she saw “Take this morna post about it on InsThat is so ing, for example,” tagram.

Boersma said.

“I had always enunlike any “It was 5:30 a.m. joyed ice skating just other sport where It was super dark for fun,” Boersma said. everyone wears outside and freez“But when I saw this ing cold. I was in post on Instagram, I the same uniform my bed and all was like, ‘Wow, I total- and is allowed to comfy, and I was sitly forgot figure skating get sweaty and ting there thinking, existed! That would be dirty. You can’t do ‘Oh, God. I don’t really fun to do.’” want to get out out And it all started with that in ice skatof bed.’ that one Instagram like. ing.”

“But then I That very night, Boers—Emma Boersma thought, ‘I really ma said, she went onwant to go ice skatline to find the nearest ing.’ It sucks someice skating rinks, so she times, but it’s worth it.” could start taking classes.

Boersma said what gets Boersma began learning her out of bed each how to figure skate in Octomorning is the joy of ber of 2017 in group classes “not walking.” at Skatetown (1009 Or“I have done so lando Ave.), located in many sports in my life, and Roseville. These classes they always involve running,” contained only five to Boersma said.

10 people due to the va“I’ve done soccer for a long time, riety of skill levels in figure skating, and it’s like 90 percent running. I according to Boersma.

“When I started, all I could do was hate it.”

And even though ice skating go forward,” Boersma said.

“I didn’t know how to go back- doesn’t involve running, it still has the competitive aspects of sports ward or even stop.”

Starting in Pre-Alpha, the be- that Boersma said she loves.

“I like winning, and I like beating ginner level, Boersma improved her form quickly, allowing her to people, which I can do on the ice the skip the next level (Alpha) and go same as on the field,” she said.

The individuality of ice skating is straight to Beta after only two weeks, a leap that would take most students also something that attracts Boersma.

10 weeks.

“It’s always all up to me,” she said.

“In Beta, we started to learn actual moves, not just how to go forward “I can beat people, but I can also be and backward and stop,” Boersma creative and elegant.

“It’s a different medium to express said.

And over the past year, Boersma myself.”

Having done ballet for three has advanced eight levels, all the years when she was in lower school, way up to Freestyle 2.

At that point, Boersma said, she Boersma said the performance and felt confident to start entering com- grace of ballet is similar to the skills needed for ice skating. petitions.

“But in the end, figure skating is “Once I felt I was good enough and had tricks to show people, I just an entirely different animal,” hired a private coach to start train- she said.

“And I love how new it is.” ing for competitions,” she said.

Before Boersma could compete, “We meet once a week for half an hour to go over new moves and for she had to earn badges in each figher to help improve my form and ure skating level from the Interna-

“I

BY JACK CHRISTIAN

tional Skating Institute (ISI).

“Badge testing is essentially the official figure skating way of knowing what level you are at to compete in,” she said.

“Someone certified by the ISI reads off certain moves for you to do, and if you do them all correctly, you can get your badge for the level.”

Boersma currently holds badges in pre-Alpha, Alpha, Beta and Gamma.

“I was also supposed to get a badge in Delta, but I was late to my test, so I didn’t get to test for it,” Boersma said.

“So I’m currently competing at the Gamma level.”

After Delta, a skater can advance through Freestyle 1 to 10 and then obtain Open Freestyle Badges in Bronze through Platinum. Couple and Pair Freestyle Badges are also obtainable.

In addition to earning badges, Boersma had to come up with an original routine to perform during the competition.

“There are three categories you can compete in: dramatic, character and energetic,” Boersma said.

“I chose dramatic, and my coach picked music to go along with my routine.”

While Boersma’s routine lasted only 1 minute and 6 seconds, she noted that higher levels compete with full songs.

With the music and category picked, the next step for Boersma was learning the choreography from her instructor.

“One of the moves I competed with was a waltz jump, where you jump with one foot and spin and land backwards on your other foot,” she said.

Boersma also performed a spiral, which involves gliding on one foot while simultaneously lifting your other foot up in the shape of a wine glass.

“I also did a bunny hop, which is the same idea as the waltz jump,

(but) you don’t land backwards,” she said.

With these moves, Boersma competed in her first official figure skating competition at Skatetown on Oct. 6, a home competition.

“It was nice that it was a home competition because I really didn’t know what the heck I was doing,” Boersma said.

Boersma said the competition was exactly like the Olympics.

“You wear a pretty dress and tons of makeup and put your hair up all nice and everything,” she said.

“It’s really like a beauty pageant.

Yes, you are being judged on your moves, but there is also the visual aspect of it.

“You want your performance to look pretty, so if you look like a hot mess, it’s not gonna look good no matter how hard you try.”

While Boersma does not know exactly how the skaters are scored and rated, she said that both the difficulty and quality of moves are considered in addition to visual appearance.

“Even if you are doing a really impressive spin, your appearance really matters” Boersma said.

“That is so unlike any other sport where everyone wears the same uniform and is allowed to get sweaty and dirty. You can’t do that in ice skating.”

Boersma ended up placing third of three people in the Gamma category in the Oct. 6 competition.

“The people I was competing against had definitely been skating far longer than me,” Boersma said.

“You could just tell that they knew what they were doing. It was also my first time.

“I obviously wished I had placed higher, but now that I have some experience under my belt, I

(GRAPHIC BY MOHINI RYE)

Sports Boosters’ Athletes of the Month Lia Kaufman, volleyball Lia is a consistent passer and defender for the varsity volleyball team. Her frontrow play has stood out this year, and her hitting has been consistent throughout the second half of the season.

know I can do better.”

One problem in figure skating, according to Boersma, is people competing at a level lower than they should be at, a problem Boersma said she encountered at her level during the competition.

Despite the outcome of the competition, Boersma said she continues to improve every week.

“My hardest move so far to learn has been my one-foot spin, which is extremely difficult for me balance wise,” she said.

“I have also started jumping higher and higher, which increases difficulty.”

For Boersma, however, the hardest part is not the jumps but the spins.

“Ice skating is not physically taxing for me, but the hardest part is balance,” she said.

“The reason I can’t nail the onefoot spin is because my center of gravity is not exactly perfect. Even if a little thing is off, you will fall and screw up.”

Boersma said that in her first competition, she messed up one of her jumps because her body weight wasn’t where it needed to be.

“That’s such a small thing that you would never think about in any other sport other than ice skating,” she said. “It’s been a struggle for me to get used to.”

But with the joy of ice skating also comes a big price tag.

“Every time I see my coach, I have to pay her; every time I use the rink, I have to pay them for rink time; every time I compete, I have to pay for registration and buy a new dress and makeup,” she said.

“I also had to buy professional figure skating boots, which were pretty expensive. You can’t just use the rental ones.

“Gas, too, is expensive because I live 20 miles from Skatetown.”

Looking toward the future, Boersma plans on improving her skills to a higher level before competing again in March.

“When that competition comes around, I really want to be able to compete at a higher level and have a lot more experience,” she said.

While Boersma doesn’t plan to compete for a college figure skating team, she hopes to continue the sport simply for fun over the next couple years.

“Maybe I’ll even join a synchronized ice skating team,” she said jokingly.

“Who knows?”

Jack Christian, soccer Christian’s tireless work ethic helped propel the coed soccer team to the post-season. He scored timely goals this year, plays multiple positions and helps wherever the team needs him the most.

For information, please see SCDS homepage under the Quicklink “Parents.”

Paid for by our generous Sports Boosters

6

Centerpoint

October 30, 2018

The Octagon

7

‘it was confirmation’ Alumna soldier diagnosed with a ‘one-in-a-few-million’ intersex condition, fully transitions to female “In the military, when hanging out with other guys, there’s a lot of masculinity,” she said.

“It never clicked with me - I never interacted that way.”

Furthermore, Gill said these “slight problems” were always at the back of her mind.

“I felt certain things were wrong maybe as early as middle school,” she said. “It’s hard to put an exact date on it, but it got stronger throughout the years.

“I felt strongly that something was not right with the way I was

BY CHARDONNAY NEEDLER developing.”

Gill said earlier in her life she had gone to therapy and intert is March 2018. University students in the Reserve Officers' nally debated whether or not she was transgender.

Training Corps (ROTC) are busy running field training exer“I had dysphoria in general, just not liking my body, a feeling cises (FTXs) just as the cold East Coast weather was begin- of not being in the right body,” she said. “This feeling got stronning to thaw. ger and stronger in college.”

One of the soldiers, a young turban-clad figure - the 10th That’s why, that spring day CAT scan gave her “affirmation.”

Sikh ever to receive religious accommodation - falls between “There was a mixture of relief and overwhelming feelings,” the crags, falling in such a way that the thighs begin stretching Gill said. out, crumbling underneath forces from the lateral stretching and “It was kind of a lot that hit me at once, both happiness and the vertical weight from gear. just the feeling of, ‘Wow, I’m that one-in-a-few-million that has When the FTX is over, the pain does not subside. this specific sort of condition.’”

Eventually, this student, soldier and Sikh goes to the doctor Following the relief and good feelings, she said, came a tinge to get diagnosed. of frustration.

First the doctor x-rays the upper leg - no bone damage is “I thought, ‘Why couldn’t they have caught this earlier; was found. there a corrective surgery that could have been done?’” she Then the doctor turns to a CAT scan to check for tissue dam- said. age.

“Relief was there, yes, but I wished it could have happened The screen shows not a lack of tissue from damage but ex- earlier.” tra tissue in the pelvic region that the average male should not However, due to modern medicine, this revelation didn’t have: “female bits.” mean that Gill had to transition outwardly to female - she chose That CAT scan showed that this Lafayette College senior had to. an intersex condition.

“I thought on it a long time,” she said. “I didn’t just make a And that soldier, who was raised male but is genetically fe- gut decision.” male, is Lillian Kaur Gill, ’15.

And in early May, a few months after the initial CAT scan, Gill Gill has one variation of De La Chapelle syndrome, or XX- had made her decision. male, an umbrella term for any crossover between the X and Y According to Gill, her parents were also supportive. chromosomes during meiosis. In its broadest sense, according “They said, ‘We want you to be happy, and if this is what’s to the Journal of Clinical Case Reports, De La Chapelle affects 1 right for you, and you know it, then this is how it is,’” she said. in 20,000 births - but Gill has an even rarer form of the condition, But as for why she decided to transition, she said there was she said. no single reason.

Some cases of De La Chapelle “I can’t say what the real readon’t result in any changes, as son was, but there was someThere was something in me that the part that gets carried to the thing in me that knew that if I knew that if I stayed as male, I X chromosome in a problematic stayed as male, I would be uncrossover could be any part of would be unhappy.” happy,” she said. the Y chromosome.

“It was a culmination of those —Lillian Kaur Gill “Sometimes parts of the Y feelings I had felt my whole life. I chromosome that don’t have already had a lot of thought goanything to do with development ing into it.” get onto the X chromosome in crossing over, so some women And she had more than just her emotions and genetic evican have no noticeable difference,” she said. dence to motivate her.

Because there were multiple possible sex disorders with her “I’m not an expert in psychology or genetics - I just symptoms, Gill was whisked in and out of clinics for more tests, know what I read off of research papers on PubMed,” blood draws and endocrinologists’ visits - all to find out her she said with a laugh. specific situation.

“But there was something else - not just, ‘Oh, I have XX, so Like most De La Chapelle cases, Gill’s condition arose from a I’m going to go female’ - that’s not the only reason.” crossover error, Kaiser Permanente genetic counselor Johanna One of the many other reasons was Gill’s spiritual Martinezmoles explained. consultation, which she received through her Sikh reli“All chromosomes pair up before cell division, and when the gious leaders - Granthis. cell divides, that’s how you get your copy,” she said.

“The Granthis helped me know this was right spiritu“You can have part of the X be on the Y if they didn’t line up ally,” she said. correctly - it can happen.

“Even though, in all facets, Sikhism treats women and men “In this case with the X and Y chromosomes, which (are) un- equally, there’s still a stigma that if you’re a male, then you’re a balanced, there’s only one area where they pair up and cross male and all that. over: SRY (the sex-determining region on the Y chromosome).”

“But then, what am I? If I do nothing, I would turn back into According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the SRY a female. The estrogen was surpassing the testosterone, and gene contains a series of genes that code for the expression that’s that. In terms of religion - what do I do?” and development of male traits.

That was the exact question that she brought to her Granthi, For Gill, she got the “master switch” portion of the SRY gene: who she said was “fairly modern and progressive, in support of the portion for the activation of male puberty. the LGBT movement.”

“It was enough to make me develop as male, but it didn’t The Granthi’s response was, as Gill put it, one of self-emhave the adult testosterone regulation gene,” she said. “There powerment. “Look, she said, God gave you the power here to always were slight problems - like low testosterone - but until choose your own destiny, and the future isn’t set.” the end of puberty, that’s how I developed.”

Gill also took a Hukamnama, which she explained in her Sept.

And, according to Gill, having low testosterone, especially in 18 coming-out Facebook post as “a Sikh message chosen at the army, was “a setback.” random from the Guru Granth Sahib, (the Sikh) holy text.”

“I’d do the same training as any soldier but progressed at a The verse, according to Gill, was a “hymn to the power of much slower rate,” she said.

God, a testament to what God can do and what humans can “One of my superiors once asked me if I was skipping meals do with God’s blessings.”

- ‘Why are you not gaining muscle? Why aren’t you bulking up?’

The verse reads: “The beggar is transformed into a king, the “Well, now we know why.” idiotic fool into a religious scholar. He fills what is empty - and And the feeling of not fitting in didn’t end when the drills were empties what is full. The woman is transformed into a man and over; it carried over to social aspects. the man into woman.”

I

Gill said this reminded her that God can act in various ways. comments, a “surprise” for Gill.

Instead, she was met with “kind words and support, an out“There is a lot up to interpretation in the words of the holy text, but it is clear that you have the power to make your own pour of love”: an “unexpected” 171 likes and over 70 comments. decision,” she said.

“The country should only be protected by cool, kind and “Sure, God gave you this condition, but He put you in this responsible people like you. Keep soldiering on, situation for a reason.”

Lillian!” Ethan Simmons, a fellow student at LafayGill also said that the cyclical nature of the pasette College, said. sage reminds her of her situation.

I don’t “You are an amazing person. Thank you for be“If you’re an arrogant, inhumane king, then you’ll think that ing so open and sharing your journey with others turn into a beggar,” she said. “If you’re a beggar, my gender de:) You are incredibly strong and brave. I’ve always but you’re caring and working hard and live the fines me; me as admired how well spoken you are. I wish you the life of a good human being, you’ll turn into a king. best on this new transition,” Elinor Hilton, ’16, “That, to me, means that there is no black and a person defines said. white again. It’s fluid - there’s spectrum.” me.”

Even former Country Day teachers, such as Gill further said that the passage emphasizes —Gill Ron Bell, responded. individuals for their qualities.

“It obviously took a lot of courage to post this, “It doesn’t matter if you’re a farmer in the fields and it’s also important to be aware of De La Chaor the president,” she said. “If you are good person with good morals, doing what is right, then God will give pelle: I didn’t, but knowing about it makes me more aware of the many complexities of gender - and that we’re all normal, you His favor.

“I don’t think that my gender defines me; me as a person because we’re who we are,” Bell said.

Few have seen the “complexities of gender” more than Mardefines me.”

It was this sentiment that helped Gill publicize her condition tinezmoles, but even she is “challenged” at how she “perceives and processes” gender. with her friends on Facebook.

“We’re more than just one gene,” Martinezmoles said in refer“I decided there comes a point where I can’t hide it and ence to the X and Y chromosomes. shouldn’t have to hide it,” she said.

“There are changes in sexual differentiation, nature “I am who I am. versus nurture and its effect on gender, hormones.”

“I thought, ‘I’m just going to put this out, and if people hate Androgen insensitivity, Martinezmoles explained, is me for it, unfriend me - good. Then I’ll know who my real a condition where women identify and feel as though friends are.” they’re women but in fact have an XY genotype But no one unfriended her; no one left negative

Graphics by Héloïse Schep

AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW Lillian Kaur Gill, ’15 (third from left), hugs her girlfriend, Eleanor Gayle Powers, on national Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) at Lafayette College. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF GILL

due to a mutation in the androgen-recognizing receptors. male at birth and transitioning to the other gender,” she said.

“The levels of testosterone would equal her male counterHowever, as of the week of Oct. 15, the army has changed parts, but the receptors that would use that androgen - and their stance. make (the person) go down the male pathway - just don’t work,” “They’re re-evaluating the situation,” she said. “They’re going she said. to treat me outside the transgender umbrella. Down the line, “So there’s no uterus, no ovaries, infertility. These girls are I’ll get support for hormone therapy because I’m only a cadet picked up because they don’t start their periods - but they iden- right now. tify as girls.”

“I am also most likely not going to get any surgeries.”

And even though Gill studGill said that the army is also ied and wrote papers at Stanaccepting. ford University Medical Center Knowing about (De La Chapelle) “Nothing has changed much,” - including researching XXY, makes me more aware of the many she said.

Kleine’s and androgen intensity Her room, via Lafayette Colcomplexities of gender - and that we’re all - she too said that her condition lege, is still a single; the army helped her “take a step back” normal, because we’re who we are.” is coed, so she trains with the —Ron Bell same people as before; she’s and more closely examine the intricacies of gender. had no “fallouts” with friends.

“Before my diagnosis, I had And as for the name, Gill never even heard of De La Chapelle,” she said. chose that while with her friends.

But knowing about De La Chapelle has “made things make “People were passing out names, and then someone sense” for her. passed out the name Lily,” she said.

“Roughly when I was around 18, my body had already started “The lily flower is associated with three Greek godchanging,” she said. desses: Athena, goddess of wisdom; Aphrodite god“After I turned 18, my facial hair froze where it dess of love; and Hera, goddess of family. was. That’s when the X chromosome part of things “The lily is common to all of them; it sounded took over again following the conclusion of puberty. appealing to me, so I just lengthened it to “By then there was already a high level of estro- Lillian.” gen and low levels of testosterone in my body.”

Because of her chromosomal condition, she has transitioned faster than her endocrinologist - and the timeline for transgenders without an intersex - had proposed at first.

“This made me very happy and excited,” she said. “How well my body was and is taking to the hormones was affirming, too.

“I took to the hormones a little differently than others, and things moved along a lot faster than I originally anticipated.

“My voice shifted a little, and my appearance shifted a lot.”

After only two-and-a-half months of hormone therapy, Gill is already presenting as female.

“There was a steep decline in body and facial hair growth off the bat,” she continued. “Also (there was) lots of fat and bone redistribution to the hips, waist, chest - even some in the face.

“The point of the hormone treatment is to ensure I’m not going through six years of weird stuff, an awkward second puberty. It’ll speed up the process.”

And since her hormone therapy is merely a speeding up of a process that would naturally occur, the government is approaching her condition differently from transgender soldiers.

“I was put under the transgender umbrella at first because I was still assigned

6

Centerpoint

October 30, 2018

The Octagon

7

‘it was confirmation’ Alumna soldier diagnosed with a ‘one-in-a-few-million’ intersex condition, fully transitions to female “In the military, when hanging out with other guys, there’s a lot of masculinity,” she said.

“It never clicked with me - I never interacted that way.”

Furthermore, Gill said these “slight problems” were always at the back of her mind.

“I felt certain things were wrong maybe as early as middle school,” she said. “It’s hard to put an exact date on it, but it got stronger throughout the years.

“I felt strongly that something was not right with the way I was

BY CHARDONNAY NEEDLER developing.”

Gill said earlier in her life she had gone to therapy and intert is March 2018. University students in the Reserve Officers' nally debated whether or not she was transgender.

Training Corps (ROTC) are busy running field training exer“I had dysphoria in general, just not liking my body, a feeling cises (FTXs) just as the cold East Coast weather was begin- of not being in the right body,” she said. “This feeling got stronning to thaw. ger and stronger in college.”

One of the soldiers, a young turban-clad figure - the 10th That’s why, that spring day CAT scan gave her “affirmation.”

Sikh ever to receive religious accommodation - falls between “There was a mixture of relief and overwhelming feelings,” the crags, falling in such a way that the thighs begin stretching Gill said. out, crumbling underneath forces from the lateral stretching and “It was kind of a lot that hit me at once, both happiness and the vertical weight from gear. just the feeling of, ‘Wow, I’m that one-in-a-few-million that has When the FTX is over, the pain does not subside. this specific sort of condition.’”

Eventually, this student, soldier and Sikh goes to the doctor Following the relief and good feelings, she said, came a tinge to get diagnosed. of frustration.

First the doctor x-rays the upper leg - no bone damage is “I thought, ‘Why couldn’t they have caught this earlier; was found. there a corrective surgery that could have been done?’” she Then the doctor turns to a CAT scan to check for tissue dam- said. age.

“Relief was there, yes, but I wished it could have happened The screen shows not a lack of tissue from damage but ex- earlier.” tra tissue in the pelvic region that the average male should not However, due to modern medicine, this revelation didn’t have: “female bits.” mean that Gill had to transition outwardly to female - she chose That CAT scan showed that this Lafayette College senior had to. an intersex condition.

“I thought on it a long time,” she said. “I didn’t just make a And that soldier, who was raised male but is genetically fe- gut decision.” male, is Lillian Kaur Gill, ’15.

And in early May, a few months after the initial CAT scan, Gill Gill has one variation of De La Chapelle syndrome, or XX- had made her decision. male, an umbrella term for any crossover between the X and Y According to Gill, her parents were also supportive. chromosomes during meiosis. In its broadest sense, according “They said, ‘We want you to be happy, and if this is what’s to the Journal of Clinical Case Reports, De La Chapelle affects 1 right for you, and you know it, then this is how it is,’” she said. in 20,000 births - but Gill has an even rarer form of the condition, But as for why she decided to transition, she said there was she said. no single reason.

Some cases of De La Chapelle “I can’t say what the real readon’t result in any changes, as son was, but there was someThere was something in me that the part that gets carried to the thing in me that knew that if I knew that if I stayed as male, I X chromosome in a problematic stayed as male, I would be uncrossover could be any part of would be unhappy.” happy,” she said. the Y chromosome.

“It was a culmination of those —Lillian Kaur Gill “Sometimes parts of the Y feelings I had felt my whole life. I chromosome that don’t have already had a lot of thought goanything to do with development ing into it.” get onto the X chromosome in crossing over, so some women And she had more than just her emotions and genetic evican have no noticeable difference,” she said. dence to motivate her.

Because there were multiple possible sex disorders with her “I’m not an expert in psychology or genetics - I just symptoms, Gill was whisked in and out of clinics for more tests, know what I read off of research papers on PubMed,” blood draws and endocrinologists’ visits - all to find out her she said with a laugh. specific situation.

“But there was something else - not just, ‘Oh, I have XX, so Like most De La Chapelle cases, Gill’s condition arose from a I’m going to go female’ - that’s not the only reason.” crossover error, Kaiser Permanente genetic counselor Johanna One of the many other reasons was Gill’s spiritual Martinezmoles explained. consultation, which she received through her Sikh reli“All chromosomes pair up before cell division, and when the gious leaders - Granthis. cell divides, that’s how you get your copy,” she said.

“The Granthis helped me know this was right spiritu“You can have part of the X be on the Y if they didn’t line up ally,” she said. correctly - it can happen.

“Even though, in all facets, Sikhism treats women and men “In this case with the X and Y chromosomes, which (are) un- equally, there’s still a stigma that if you’re a male, then you’re a balanced, there’s only one area where they pair up and cross male and all that. over: SRY (the sex-determining region on the Y chromosome).”

“But then, what am I? If I do nothing, I would turn back into According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the SRY a female. The estrogen was surpassing the testosterone, and gene contains a series of genes that code for the expression that’s that. In terms of religion - what do I do?” and development of male traits.

That was the exact question that she brought to her Granthi, For Gill, she got the “master switch” portion of the SRY gene: who she said was “fairly modern and progressive, in support of the portion for the activation of male puberty. the LGBT movement.”

“It was enough to make me develop as male, but it didn’t The Granthi’s response was, as Gill put it, one of self-emhave the adult testosterone regulation gene,” she said. “There powerment. “Look, she said, God gave you the power here to always were slight problems - like low testosterone - but until choose your own destiny, and the future isn’t set.” the end of puberty, that’s how I developed.”

Gill also took a Hukamnama, which she explained in her Sept.

And, according to Gill, having low testosterone, especially in 18 coming-out Facebook post as “a Sikh message chosen at the army, was “a setback.” random from the Guru Granth Sahib, (the Sikh) holy text.”

“I’d do the same training as any soldier but progressed at a The verse, according to Gill, was a “hymn to the power of much slower rate,” she said.

God, a testament to what God can do and what humans can “One of my superiors once asked me if I was skipping meals do with God’s blessings.”

- ‘Why are you not gaining muscle? Why aren’t you bulking up?’

The verse reads: “The beggar is transformed into a king, the “Well, now we know why.” idiotic fool into a religious scholar. He fills what is empty - and And the feeling of not fitting in didn’t end when the drills were empties what is full. The woman is transformed into a man and over; it carried over to social aspects. the man into woman.”

I

Gill said this reminded her that God can act in various ways. comments, a “surprise” for Gill.

Instead, she was met with “kind words and support, an out“There is a lot up to interpretation in the words of the holy text, but it is clear that you have the power to make your own pour of love”: an “unexpected” 171 likes and over 70 comments. decision,” she said.

“The country should only be protected by cool, kind and “Sure, God gave you this condition, but He put you in this responsible people like you. Keep soldiering on, situation for a reason.”

Lillian!” Ethan Simmons, a fellow student at LafayGill also said that the cyclical nature of the pasette College, said. sage reminds her of her situation.

I don’t “You are an amazing person. Thank you for be“If you’re an arrogant, inhumane king, then you’ll think that ing so open and sharing your journey with others turn into a beggar,” she said. “If you’re a beggar, my gender de:) You are incredibly strong and brave. I’ve always but you’re caring and working hard and live the fines me; me as admired how well spoken you are. I wish you the life of a good human being, you’ll turn into a king. best on this new transition,” Elinor Hilton, ’16, “That, to me, means that there is no black and a person defines said. white again. It’s fluid - there’s spectrum.” me.”

Even former Country Day teachers, such as Gill further said that the passage emphasizes —Gill Ron Bell, responded. individuals for their qualities.

“It obviously took a lot of courage to post this, “It doesn’t matter if you’re a farmer in the fields and it’s also important to be aware of De La Chaor the president,” she said. “If you are good person with good morals, doing what is right, then God will give pelle: I didn’t, but knowing about it makes me more aware of the many complexities of gender - and that we’re all normal, you His favor.

“I don’t think that my gender defines me; me as a person because we’re who we are,” Bell said.

Few have seen the “complexities of gender” more than Mardefines me.”

It was this sentiment that helped Gill publicize her condition tinezmoles, but even she is “challenged” at how she “perceives and processes” gender. with her friends on Facebook.

“We’re more than just one gene,” Martinezmoles said in refer“I decided there comes a point where I can’t hide it and ence to the X and Y chromosomes. shouldn’t have to hide it,” she said.

“There are changes in sexual differentiation, nature “I am who I am. versus nurture and its effect on gender, hormones.”

“I thought, ‘I’m just going to put this out, and if people hate Androgen insensitivity, Martinezmoles explained, is me for it, unfriend me - good. Then I’ll know who my real a condition where women identify and feel as though friends are.” they’re women but in fact have an XY genotype But no one unfriended her; no one left negative

Graphics by Héloïse Schep

AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW Lillian Kaur Gill, ’15 (third from left), hugs her girlfriend, Eleanor Gayle Powers, on national Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) at Lafayette College. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF GILL

due to a mutation in the androgen-recognizing receptors. male at birth and transitioning to the other gender,” she said.

“The levels of testosterone would equal her male counterHowever, as of the week of Oct. 15, the army has changed parts, but the receptors that would use that androgen - and their stance. make (the person) go down the male pathway - just don’t work,” “They’re re-evaluating the situation,” she said. “They’re going she said. to treat me outside the transgender umbrella. Down the line, “So there’s no uterus, no ovaries, infertility. These girls are I’ll get support for hormone therapy because I’m only a cadet picked up because they don’t start their periods - but they iden- right now. tify as girls.”

“I am also most likely not going to get any surgeries.”

And even though Gill studGill said that the army is also ied and wrote papers at Stanaccepting. ford University Medical Center Knowing about (De La Chapelle) “Nothing has changed much,” - including researching XXY, makes me more aware of the many she said.

Kleine’s and androgen intensity Her room, via Lafayette Colcomplexities of gender - and that we’re all - she too said that her condition lege, is still a single; the army helped her “take a step back” normal, because we’re who we are.” is coed, so she trains with the —Ron Bell same people as before; she’s and more closely examine the intricacies of gender. had no “fallouts” with friends.

“Before my diagnosis, I had And as for the name, Gill never even heard of De La Chapelle,” she said. chose that while with her friends.

But knowing about De La Chapelle has “made things make “People were passing out names, and then someone sense” for her. passed out the name Lily,” she said.

“Roughly when I was around 18, my body had already started “The lily flower is associated with three Greek godchanging,” she said. desses: Athena, goddess of wisdom; Aphrodite god“After I turned 18, my facial hair froze where it dess of love; and Hera, goddess of family. was. That’s when the X chromosome part of things “The lily is common to all of them; it sounded took over again following the conclusion of puberty. appealing to me, so I just lengthened it to “By then there was already a high level of estro- Lillian.” gen and low levels of testosterone in my body.”

Because of her chromosomal condition, she has transitioned faster than her endocrinologist - and the timeline for transgenders without an intersex - had proposed at first.

“This made me very happy and excited,” she said. “How well my body was and is taking to the hormones was affirming, too.

“I took to the hormones a little differently than others, and things moved along a lot faster than I originally anticipated.

“My voice shifted a little, and my appearance shifted a lot.”

After only two-and-a-half months of hormone therapy, Gill is already presenting as female.

“There was a steep decline in body and facial hair growth off the bat,” she continued. “Also (there was) lots of fat and bone redistribution to the hips, waist, chest - even some in the face.

“The point of the hormone treatment is to ensure I’m not going through six years of weird stuff, an awkward second puberty. It’ll speed up the process.”

And since her hormone therapy is merely a speeding up of a process that would naturally occur, the government is approaching her condition differently from transgender soldiers.

“I was put under the transgender umbrella at first because I was still assigned

8

A&E • October 30, 2018

The Octagon

Bready, Set, Go!

Local parent-owned bakery sells smorgusbord of sweet treats

BY SANJANA ANAND

Miles ordered the raspberry dome cake and a mendocino turkey eopening in January of this sandwich, which included lettuce, year after switching loca- mendocino mustard, tomatoes and tions, Estelle’s Bakery (2530 turkey.

Miles said that his favorite was the Arden Way) sells all sorts of baked goods, ranging from fun-sized sandwich.

“It was the right size, so it was easy macarons to soups and salads.

On Oct. 21, fellow freshmen Miles to finish,” he said.

“The overall taste of it was amazMorrow and Arikta Trivedi joined ing, and I would definitely come me as we visited the bakery, which back to order this sandwich again.” was surprisingly packed for a SunHowever, Arikta disagreed. day afternoon.

“The sandwich had mustard in Walking through the door, I felt it!”

Arikta siad. welcomed by the lively atmosphere, “And I hate mustard because it is the pleasant smell of the pastries and the colorful paintings on the so bitter and ruins the taste of something. walls.

“I was trying to remove the pieces There was a buffet line to order the pastries. In the cases, ready for of meat which had mustard on it.”

Arikta said that she enjoyed eatpatrons to take, were a large assorting the other items she ordered, ment of macarons, cakes, tarts, danhowever. ishes and croissants.

“Because this is not An employee at the my first time here, I bakery gave us her The food already knew what to opinion on the differlooked very order,” she said. “I orent pastries. dered a big macaron “My favorite baked fancy, and the with cream inside item is the vanilla designs were very and a vanilla tart.” tart,” she said. “It has intricate.”

She said that the a vanilla mousse with —Sanjana Anand macaron, which was a base of white chocoabout 6 inches wide, late. It’s really good. I was her favorite part can probably eat it in because the tart raspberries and the less than 10 seconds!

“I also like the almond croissant. sweet cream tasted well together.

I ordered a chocolate tart, which This is also really light and airy, was surprisingly good. I had asand I have it every day before I start sumed it would have too much chocworking.”

She said that the most popular olate based on its appearance, but it items are the macarons and the was creamy and delicious.

The food looked fancy, and the tarts because of the different flavors.

Espresso, caramel and strawberry designs were very intricate. Most of are the most common flavors of both the food had swirls on the top; the tarts and macarons had a gold flake pastries. in the center of the dish, and other

R

MACKIN’ ON MACARONS Freshmen Sanjana Anand (left) and Miles Morrow (right) went to Estelle’s Bakery for lunch. Anand savored a chocolate tart while Morrow enjoyed a raspberry dome. PHOTO BY ARIKTA TRIVEDI

items had decorative fruit.

The only problem with the food was the price. The small macarons were $2 each, and a tart, which was about 3 inches wide, cost $6 to $7!

Besides the high prices of the food, the staff and the environment of the bakery were very friendly.

“I’ve been working here for about six months, and I love it!” an employee said.

The staff was very supportive when they found out we went to Country Day, and they explained that the owner, Esther Son, is the parent of seventh grader Caleb Shin and sixth grader Cara Shin.

Overall, Estelle’s has excellent food and service, and my friends agreed that they would definitely want to come here more often!

TASTY TRIO Top left: Macaron Rose ($7.25). Top right: Vanilla Tarte ($6.75). Bottom: Raspberry Dome ($6.75). ALL PHOTOS BY ARIKTA TRIVEDI

The Octagon

October 30, 2018 • A&E

Bakery Bash

9

Cozy bakery soars high with colorful crepes and sandwiches LET’S GET THIS BREAD Top: Crepe ($5.25).

Middle right: Pig-in-a-blanket ($1.38). Middle left: Pineapple buns ($1.38). Bottom: Banana -strawberry sundae ($5.25) ALL PHOTOS BY ARIKTA TRIVEDI

A

s I walked into the small bakery, all I could see was the beautiful pegasus mural. It was a white pegasus flying in front of a tree, with leaves spanning out in a rainbow gradient.

BY ARIKTA TRIVEDI “I like this bakery - everything is so simple,” said my partner in crime, freshman Hailey Fesai.

Pegasus Bakery and Cafe (6825 Stockton Blvd.) combines baking styles from Asia and

Western Europe.

The breads in the bakery were placed selfserve style: Take a tray and get what you want.

The cakes, on the other hand, were inside glass cases and could be removed only by employees.

To start off, Hailey and I asked an employee for her recommendations. Without a second of hesitation, she rattled off her favorites.

“Definitely the taro bread, pork bun and fruit cake,” she said.

We decided on the taro bun ($1.38) and fruit cake ($2.75). Neither of us wanted to try the pork bun due to its enormity - it was practically the size of a baseball glove!

As we were paying for our first batch of items, we saw free samples of Swiss rolls on the counter. After the first taste, we decided to get a full slice.

As we sat down to eat, I noticed that the

seating area was very limited, unlike other bakeries I’ve been to. However, most people were taking their food to go.

The ambiance of the bakery was nice - the bakery felt cozy. A lot of families were there, and everyone was talking and having fun. The fact that the bakery was not overly large added to the cozy feel.

As Hailey and I started to eat the taro bun, we noticed it had the perfect texture, and the flavors and textures complimented each other; the gooey taro in the middle went perfectly with the somewhat salty and crusty exterior.

“The bread is crumbly on the outside, and the taro in the middle is the perfect consistency,” Hailey said.

The bun was definitely one of the highlights. It was quite large, though - about the size of a softball - and even with the two of us, it was hard to finish.

The next item we tried was the slice of fruit cake.

It was made of a sponge cake, cream, frosting and some fruit (strawberries and honeydew) at the bottom. The texture was perfect, though the fruit at the bottom didn’t meld well with the rest of the vanilla cake.

Next we had the marble Swiss roll slice that we sampled earlier.

The slice cost $1.93, which was pricey in comparison to the taro bread, considering the size difference (the Swiss roll was only 2 inches

thick.)

The marble slice was a mixture of chocolate and vanilla. The texture was cloudlike, and the combination of chocolate and vanilla went really well together.

“I really liked the flavors, but it was a bit salty,” Hailey said. “Although I can ignore that because this is really good.”

To wash down the food, we also ordered some drinks.

We got a large milk tea with cold boba ($4.20) and a coke ($2.50).

The milk tea was different than anything I’ve ever tried. The boba was standard, but the milk tea - chai with milk and a little bit of caffeine - was amazing.

“I’ve never tried anything like this,” Hailey said. “But I really like it!”

The bakery also had crepe ice cream sandwiches and waffle ice cream sandwiches, which we wanted. They looked delicious, but both Hailey and I were too full to try either.

However, I did see an employee making the crepes, and it seemed like she worked hard on every detail, all the way to the fruit garnish.

Hailey and I also wanted to try one of the sandwiches, but we were told that the kitchen closes at 4 p.m, and it was already 3:45 p.m.

In the end, Pegasus Bakery soared high and succeeded with flying colors, and I will definitely be back to try those crepes and sandwiches!

Freshmen enjoy variety of flavor at South Korean, French fusion bakery

BY HAILEY FESAI “This is my first time, but I want to take everything - I love pastries,” a customer said while feasting on a pesto sandwich and salad beside an overbrimming box of pastries at Paris Baguette (1229 Howe Ave).

On Oct. 5th, my friends and I decided that we wanted to go out to eat some sweet treats. We had heard great things from SCDS seniors about the bakery Paris Baguette.

So that Monday morning, six freshmen burst into the bakery, hungrily staring at the pastries and other delicacies sitting behind the glass containers of this bakery.

According to its website, Paris Baguette is an international franchise founded in 1988. It was inspired by a man named Chang-Sung Hur, who introduced bread to Korea and helped feed the country while it struggled to rebuild itself after the Korean War. While Paris Baguette specializes in French-inspired foods, its pastries also have Asian influence.

As we walked in, the first thing I noticed was how clean it was.

“Everything in the glass containers is so perfectly stacked,” freshman Arjin Claire said. “It’s so aesthetically pleasing.”

Walking farther into the bakery, I could immediately smell buttery croissants and fresh bread as I gazed at the array of pastries sitting in the glass cases. My friends and I had never experienced a bakery like this

before; we were able to serve ourselves, check out after we were done and then go sit and enjoy our treats.

We bought pastries such as the cloud bread, cream cheese doughnuts, a variety of croissants, almond pastries, other cream-cheese-filled pastries with raspberries or blueberries, bread pastries filled with fruit and whipped cream and dusted with powdered sugar and more.

The pastries were a reasonable price as well. Each pastry was about $2, allowing us to get five pastries each for about $10.

However, as with all bakeries, some pastries were better than others. The cream cheese doughnut and the egg tart weren’t the creme de la creme. The tarts weren’t sweet enough, and the cream cheese doughnut was just too greasy.

Some of my personal favorites, however, were the Berry Happy Days pastry and the cloud bread.

The Berry Happy Days was a very simple pastry: a soft flatbread that tasted similar to a croissant was filled with chocolate chips and lightly coated in a sugary glaze, a small layer of whipped cream and strawberries.

The cloud bread was a very light bread is a very light and sweet bread that had a whipped cream filling. It was like a doughnut but much lighter and not as sweet.

“It’s literally like eating a cloud,” freshman Arikta Trivedi said.

As we let these pastries sink into our taste buds, freshman Dylan Margolis said that he liked how sim-

ple all of the pastries were. I agreed; a lot of bakeries can be too extravagant with their pastries, overloading them with too much frosting or filling them with overly sweet cream.

While this is not always a bad thing, it was satisfying to taste how great something as simple as a chocolate chip pastry with whipped cream and strawberries could be.

My friends and I also enjoyed a variety of different croissants. Paris Baguette had chocolate, traditional, ham and cheese, among other flavors.

While I’m not a big fan of croissants, the ones at Paris Baguette really caught my attention. The second the croissant was in my mouth, I could feel it gently melting onto my tongue, and I could sense a subtle sweetness reach every corner of my mouth.

These croissants might have seemed ordinary to anyone who hadn’t tried them, but they were truly special; they were so much lighter and fluffier than normal croissants, and they tasted buttery. The overall quality of the croissants was quite impressive.

Another highlight of the bakery was the bread. Arikta and I ordered a pesto chicken sandwich, and the bread was softer than anything I’d ever eaten.

One not-so-great thing about the bakery, however, was the customer service. The employees’ recommendations were very vague, making it harder for us novices to decide what to order.

WINDOW SHOPPING A glass container displaying the variety of pastries at Paris Baguette. These include croissants, fruit tarts and red bean cakes.

PHOTO BY ARJIN CLAIRE

10

The Octagon

Opinion • October 30, 2018

OCTAGON STAFF

“The (Wo)man in the Mirror” by Emma Boersma

My Angle

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

BY MILES MORROW

Jack Christian Mehdi Lacombe Chardonnay Needler Mohini Rye Allison Zhang

Going paleo was the best worst thing I’ve done

NEWS EDITORS Jack Christian Allison Zhang

SPORTS EDITORS Jack Christian Allison Zhang

FEATURE EDITOR

Chardonnay Needler

A&E EDITOR

Mehdi Lacombe

OPINION EDITOR Mohini Rye

BUSINESS MANAGER Larkin Barnard-Bahn

PAGE EDITORS

Larkin Barnard-Bahn Jack Christian Anna Frankel Mehdi Lacombe Jackson Margolis Chardonnay Needler Mohini Rye Sarina Rye Héloïse Schep Allison Zhang

REPORTERS

Sanjana Anand Arjin Claire Jackson Crawford Hailey Fesai Evan Grijnsztein Carter Joost Dylan Margolis Ethan Monasa Miles Morrow Arijit Trivedi Arikta Trivedi

GRAPHIC ARTISTS Emma Boersma Jacqueline Chao Mohini Rye

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Mehdi Lacombe

PHOTO EDITOR

Jacqueline Chao

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jacqueline Chao Elise Sommerhaug Shimin Zhang

MULTIMEDIA STAFF

Harrison Moon, editor David Situ, assistant Ming Zhu, staffer

ADVISER

Emily Eustace The Octagon is Sacramento Country Day School’s student-run high school newspaper. Its purpose is to provice reliable information on events concering the high school and to inform and entertain the entire school community. The staff thrives for accuracy and freedom from bias. The Octagon aims to always represent both sides of an issue. Errors in stories will be noted and corrected.

The Octagon shall publish material that the staff deems is in the best interest of the school community.

The staff recognizes the importance of providing accurate and reliable information to readers. The Octagon does not represent the views of the administration nor does it act as publicity for the school as a whole.

The Octagon will publish timely and relevant news, subject to the following exception: obscenity; slanderous or libelous material; and material contrary to the best interests of the school community, as judged by guidelines between the newspaper staff, adviser and school administration. Editorials are approve by an editorial board. Columns/commentaries shall be labeled as such and represent only the author’s opinion.

In the interest of representing all viewpoints, letters to the editor shall be published, unless otherwise requested. All letters must be signed and conform to above restrictions.

The staff may change grammar and punctuation or abridge letters for space. Comments may be made online to address all stories run.

E

EDITORIAL: Sexual education should not be heteronormative

ven as early as middle school, Lillian Kaur Gill, ’15, said she had felt something was developmentally “wrong.” Then came more hints: low muscle development, lack of testosterone and confusing thoughts about her own masculinity.

With growing feelings of gender dysphoria, Gill started to ask, “Am I transgender?”

There was no reply to her question, however, and she went to college still mystified.

But why was it that Gill, desperate to explain the way she was feeling inside, could originally think of no other answer than being transgender?

At Country Day, there are variations of sex ed starting in lower school. Fifth grade is the puberty talk; seventh grade is the first “sex talk”; eighth grade is pregnancy and abstinence; 10th grade is birth control, pregnancy and STDs; 12th grade is consent, sexual assault, rape and sexting.

While we agree that those are the proper grades to approach such topics, what’s missing is the talk about the intricacy of gender and what can cause feelings of “being in the wrong body.”

Gill said she “found out some basic (disorders), like Klinefelter and Single X,” in AP Biology, which she took senior year. However, other than that, she remained uninformed about any potential genetic disorders she could have had.

Because of that, she assumed that being transgender was the only feasible explanation for her symptoms.

We’ll never know what could have happened had Gill learned about De La Chapelle before she was diagnosed;

maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference.

But maybe it would have.

That chance is enough reason to change our policies toward teaching students about gender identity, non-binary identification and possible intersex conditions, along with offering classes on other facets of sexuality.

Furthermore, that teaching needs to start earlier. We applaud the LGBTQA+ club for spreading awareness about nonheteronormative issues to the high school, but must lower or middle school students uncertain about their gender or sexual identity wait until high school to learn about these topics in a school setting?

So instead of having a conversation about just puberty, let’s also talk about how it’s OK to feel as though the body one is in is not the right one.

Rather than discussing mainly heterosexual activities in seventh grade and then their consequences in eighth and 10th, expand the classes to have more information on homosexuality and bisexuality, along with gender incongruence and disorders that can cause gender confusion.

And as opposed to teaching the senior class only about consent and assault, let’s add a segment about pronoun usage and how to support friends who come out.

We acknowledge that Country Day is more progressive than other schools when it comes to sex ed. However, that doesn’t mean we should stop changing or adding classes - especially in light of the issues transgender people have been facing in past years.

In July 2017, president

Donald Trump’s administration tried to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

The argument, as per one of Trump’s tweets, was that “our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

The ban was blocked by courts, but the controversy it caused only highlighted Americans’ views toward transgenders. Americans are fundamentally split: A 2017 Pew Research Center survey reported that 54 percent think whether someone is a man or a woman is determined by the sex they were assigned at birth, while 44 percent believe someone can be a man or a woman - even if that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

And while protecting transgender people in the U.S. military was a milestone for fighting against transphobia, it’s only one win in an ongoing battle.

Now, as of Oct. 23, 2018, the Trump administration is looking to define gender as a “biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth,” according to a New York Times article.

If not to help in a situation such as Gill’s, we should change our sex ed curriculum in response to these recent societal pushes against transgender people.

Students going through puberty are already confused by changes in their body; if we can do anything to minimize any other confusion, we should.

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR KEEPING US IN THE BLACK! Anand Family, Anonymous, Bahn Management Company, Christian Family, Frankel Family, Impact Venture Capital, Lacombe Family, Monasa Family, Needler Family, Schep-Smit Family, Situ Family, Zhang Family

Most of the time when I tell people I’m on a diet, the person looks at my mom and asks, “You have him on a diet?”

When encountering this question, we reply that the diet was my idea, which is normally followed by a strange or confused look.

When I was younger, I was a bit heavier than I would have liked.

When I started this ‘journey’ last summer, my initial plan was to lose weight by exercising, so I started running and, later, doing Crossfit. This definitely helped my cause but not as much as I wanted it to.

A few days before this school year began, I realized what I needed to do: Go on a diet.

I decided to try the high-protein, low-carb paleo diet because it’s so well known in the CrossFit community. I even convinced my mom to try it with me. We have been - and still are - making the effort to cut carbs from our diet.

By cutting carbs from meals, I don’t find the same pleasure from eating as I did before, and now meals are much more bland. Have you ever tried eating spaghetti and meatballs without the spaghetti? Or a hamburger without the bun? It’s not as satisfying without those delicious, carb-filled foods.

Another hardship occurs at school, since I order school lunches.

I have been told more times than I can remember how “sad” my lunches look. To my friends, I’m ignoring all the best parts of the meal. But in my eyes, I’m just staying disciplined.

It’s possible that my friends are the real winners here, seeing as they get all the food that I can’t eat.

If my drastic change in diet wasn’t already hard enough, I then had to go on the freshman class trip and figure out how I was going to eat paleo when surrounded by fast-food joints and the siren song of street food in San Francisco.

Every meal we ate at the hostel was based around carbs. For breakfast we had French toast, breakfast burritos and bagels. Dinners consisted of burritos, spaghetti marinara and a night out on Pier 39, however I was ready for the challenge.

Luckily, I was able to find ways around the carbs at all meals. For breakfast I only ate fruit. When we went to Pier 39, I ate a salad while my friends had pizza, burgers, french fries and nachos.

While I ate my “depressing” meals and mentally complained, I also thought, “This may be one of the worst things I’ve ever done, but at least I haven’t given up.”

Yet. Temptation is everywhere, from advisory snacks to dinners out with family.

However, after a few weeks of enduring the torture, it became easier and easier to say no to the normal American diet.

Now, I have developed a sort of “super power” in my friend’s eyes.

They think of my diet as an impossible task and are in a constant state of pity for me, but in reality, my diet is no longer a “task” but just something that I’m adding into my lifestyle.

The real question remains: Is going through this “torture” worth it?

Absolutely. In the past month and a half of cutting out carbs and staying disciplined, I’ve lost 13 pounds.

The Octagon

October 30, 2018 •Feature

11

Students use outside counselors to craft college resume

BY MING ZHU

LONG DISTANCE Sophomore Om Sharma Skypes with his college counselor, who lives on the East Coast. Sharma has been working with this counselor since his freshman year. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JACQUELINE CHAO

A

s college deadlines approach, many students are working closely with Country Day’s college counseling office.

may accept self-reported test scores.”

Bauman explained that, since all colleges can see the test scores submitted from the Common App, some test scores should be kept out, and a college counselor helps students determine which test scores to send to colleges.

Junior Kaitlyn Canepa, who started consulting an outside counselor three years ago, said that her counselor helps her with outside activities rather than applying for college.

Canepa, who had “nothing” on her resume in eighth grade, said that her parents paid for a counselor so she could learn what she needed on her resume. “(The counselor has) really helped me a lot at doing that,” Canepa said.

“I’m still going to see her because she really has helped

dent college counselor once a week, said that an outside counselor goes more in-depth than just helping with college applications.

“I meet with her a lot more than I do with a school counselor, so it’s very direct,”

BY MING ZHU Rogawski said.

“We work on a variety of In addition to teaching different stuff, like college retheir regular classes, high sumes, not just college counschool English teacher Jane seling. A school counselor Bauman and history teachjust tells you how to apply to er Chris Kuipers are also the colleges.” school’s designated college Because Rogawski met his counselors. counselor - a family friend However, a number of high through his mother’s job, he school students still choose said “it’s a lot more personal” to hire independent college than school counselors. counselors to help them with Sophomore Om Sharma the application process. got an out-of-school counselAccording to Bauman, the or in the middle of freshman role of the school’s college year. His counselor lives on counselors is to help students the East Coast. prepare to apply to college.

“The counselor we found “For example, we help the is really famous - she writes students refine the list of cola lot of books about college leges to apply counseling to,” Bauman so before we said.

Quite frankly, there is nothing that an talked to her, “ ( Ku i p e rs we knew she outside college counselor can do and I) help was credible them gauge that me and Bauman cannot do.” and that we which col—Chris Kuipers could hire lege is a reach her right school, a colaway,” Sharlege with a ma said. low acceptance rate; a target me a lot in getting outside acBecause the counselor, school, a college with a good tivities and volunteer oppor- whom Sharma declined to chance of admission but defi- tunities. I volunteered at the name, lives in New York, nitely not guaranteed; and a Ronald McDonald House, Sharma uses Skype to call likely school, where they will started the French club and her regarding summer activplan to volunteer at this year’s ities, weekday and weekend most likely be admitted.

“We also help them decide elections.” extracurriculars and other Similarly, senior Jack questions. whether they want to apply early action, early decision or Christian got an outside colAccording to Sharma, the lege counselor during his counselor charges $1,000 to regular decision.”

Through early action, stu- sophomore year to help him $2,000 annually; the price dents apply early and will with outside activities. varies between different Christian said his parents grade levels, with seniors bereceive a response from colleges earlier than regular de- sought a counselor to help ing the cheapest. cision. Early decision is the him with finding summer Sharma said his friend same process as early action, programs, like the Clark recommended him to receive but the applicant must attend Scholars program, which counseling.

Christian attended last sumthat college if accepted.

“One of my really good Kuipers and Bauman also mer. friends who lives near us “It was a lot of my parents’ found a counselor in (his) help students determine which standardized testing decision to get an outside freshman year, and now he they should report - either the counselor,” Christian said. goes to a prestigious college,” “The college counselors Sharma said. “I asked him SAT or the ACT. “We are a little SAT-centric here are great - (Kuipers) and what I should do to be a good here, (but) some students also (Bauman) do a great job. I just candidate for colleges, and had (a counselor) since soph- he told me that I should get a take the ACT,” Bauman said.

“Testing policies are omore year, so I work with good counselor.” changing widely at different her in addition to Kuipers.”

Sharma agreed with Senior Alex Rogawski, Rogawski that an outside schools. Some schools may be test optional; (other) schools who meets with an indepen- counselor is more thorough

with college counseling than in-school counselors. “(My friend) told me that outside counselors go very indepth, and if I have a specific college that I want to attend, I should get an outside college counselor,” Sharma said.

Senior Allison Zhang said she chose an outside college counselor in addition to her school counselor because she wanted a different point of view.

“I know that Bauman and Kuipers are really good at what they do, but I’m just a nervous person,” Zhang said.

“I just want another per- for the application,” Kuipers spective - especially on writ- said. ing, testing and feedback on “Ms. Bauman and I submit what I should do to bolster the transcripts; we write multi my application.” page letters of recommendaKuipers, on the other hand, tion. We are intimately ensaid that having an outside gaged with the process.” counselor is “unnecessary.”

Bauman agreed with Kui“Quite frankly, there is pers that outside counselors nothing that an outside col- are unnecessary. lege counselor can do that “There is one thing the me and (Bauman) cannot do,” high school college counselKuipers said. or does that no one else can “I think that (college coun- do: We write letters of recomseling) is one valued thing mendation,” Bauman said. that Country Day students “Our letters are detailed. get from their They are anectuition.” dotal, and they Kuipers furThere is really reflect ther said that the student’s one thing most indepenstrengths. We dent college the high school put the student c o u n s e l o r s college counselor in his or her have a larger does that no one best light, and student work- else can do: We we tell that stuload than he write letters of recdent’s story.” and Bauman Bauman ommendation.” do. said that be—Jane Bauman “That said, cause she and some students Kuipers have do need anothworked alonger person to bounce ideas off side students for years, they of,” Kuipers said.

Kuipers explained that have a greater “vantage point” sometimes an independent when it comes to writing letcounselor can be an interme- ters of recommendation.

Senior Chardonnay diary between students and parents, as well as a resource Needler agreed with Bauman for students in large public and Kuipers.

“It’s how much you use (the schools, where students didn’t have many opportunities to counselors),” Needler said. “If receive college counseling you go to Kuipers or Bauman a lot, it can be like having an from the school counselor.

But he said that for SCDS outside counselor.

“I feel like you only really students, he and Bauman are need a college counselor if experts.

“Independent counselors you are aiming for top-tier can give advice, they can sup- schools and you want a statport the application, but they istician, or you don’t want to don’t actually do anything put much work in yourself.”

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Backpage • October 30, 2018

The Octagon

Staff, volunteers integrate farm-to-fork activities into class time called frost covers. However, instead of being used for frost, these sheets are used for pest control, Covey said. illed with either students eat“We have a (certain species of ) ing lunch, classes doing outmoth that comes out here and lays door activities or student phoeggs on those plants,” Covey said. tographers observing different “The eggs turn into caterpillars, insects, Country Day’s own Garden (which have) voracious little appeof Eden is always busy. tites.”

But in order to keep it a clean, Another technique Covey learned functioning space, many people from his time at Soil Born Farms is contribute their time and energy planting cover crop on rows that arsome even as young as 5 years old. en’t being used. Cover crop, accordThe official “garden coordinator” ing to Covey, helps bring nitrogen is former teacher Michael Covey. He into the soil, thus helping future retired from teaching high school plant growth. chemistry at Country Day in 2005 Covey also assists the middle and saw that the garden “needed a school Farm-to-Fork elective, taught lot of tending because the teachers by middle school science teacher and students involved couldn’t keep Aleitha Burns. up (with the work),” he “They are the main worksaid. force besides me and volAnd so, unteers,” he said. “They do Covey dea lot of tending to the beds cided to start and help make seasonal volunteering transitions between plants.” at the school But even with all the work garden around done by the Farm-to-Fork 2008. elective, Covey and volAt that time, unteers have a constant Classes the garden constream of work to do. will come sisted of only 10 Covey works in the garto 20 gardening out here to do den an average of 10 hours beds with no activities or do a week, he said, but may main caretakspend up to 25 hours a something outside er, according to week during the late sumthe four walls of a Covey. mer to early fall, late winBut now it has classroom.” ter to early spring and late expanded to in—Michael Covey spring to early summer. clude a vegetable “There’s about five to garden, a strawsix months in the year berry patch, a when I put in a lot of time, and pumpkin patch, a native plant habthe other months, things are growitat, a variety of fruit trees (apple, ing happily on their own or growpomegranate, plum and olive) and a ing very slowly and need a lot less greenhouse. work,” he said.

There’s also a composting area, On top of tending to the garden “where harvested plants are placed which “includes a lot of weeding” so that the nutrients can be reused,” he works with lower school teachers Covey said. to plan activities in the garden for Covey, who was later hired as a their classes. part-time employee of the school, is “For most of the lower school joined by volunteers from the school classes, that means sowing seeds, community. transplanting plants (and) a little bit Peggy Lindsay, freshman Jordan’s of weeding, harvesting and eating,” grandmother, tends to Kathy’s Cor- he said. ner, a flower garden commemoratAnd by allowing these students to ing former middle school teacher work in the garden, Covey said, stuKathy Russell-Fernandez. dents have a chance to try new foods Theo Kaufman, ’18, and senior Lia while gaining an understanding as Kaufman’s mother, Christina, has to where food comes from. volunteered at the garden for about Christina agreed, citing that as seven years, she said. one of the reasons she started to vol“(She) takes care of pretty much unteer at the garden. everything,” Covey said. “(The garden) has been essential A lot of methods and techniques to teaching students about food and used in the garden are because of where it comes from,” she said.

Covey’s volunteer work at Soil Born “And when I say ‘food,’ I mean Farms, a Sacramento-based farm real, authentic, ground-grown food dedicated to growing organic food, - sans chemicals.” educating youth about farming and On top of that, around a third of providing greater access to produce. the rows in the garden are growing For instance, Covey’s covered the crops to be donated to the River City cauliflower and broccoli plants in Food Bank, Covey said. the garden with large, white sheets “Last year, we donated about 500

BY ALLISON ZHANG

F

LITTLE HELPERS The second-grade class starts to harvest kohlrabi plants from one of the garden’s many rows on Oct. 18. According to garden coordinator Michael Covey, the second graders grew the kohlrabi this fall, and after harvesting the plants, they worked together to cook and eat them. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE CHAO

pounds of fresh produce,” he said. quire, but society suffers from the For example, the sophomore EnThat year, the fourth grade also unhealthfulness these ‘on-the-go’ glish classes have done gardening started donating part of their har- foods provide,” she said. activities in relation to the theme of vest, according to fourth-grade “We need to educate and inform “coming to California.” teacher Amanda Ashdown. our younger generations of the imNear the beginning of the school “And this year we had a great dis- portance of healthy foods versus year, students researched different cussion with the students, and we convenient foods.” vegetables and how they arrived in opened their eyes up to the purpose The collaboration between the Sacramento, according to sophoof the garden,” Ashdown said. garden and students wouldn’t have more Brian Chow.

Pamela Livesey, the other fourth- been possible without Covey and Afterwards, the class went to the grade teacher, added that Covey other volunteers, Ashdown and Ligarden and planted beets, carrots, visited the class and gave a presentaonions and other vegetables. tion about the garden and the Food Similarly, last year, the fourth Bank. grade helped plant na“As we were talking, the class tive California plants came up with the idea that 90 perYIELD to go along with their cent (of the harvest) goes to the Food study of California.

Bank, and the rest stays with us so Signs on rows show to whom or where Lastly, in the thirdwe can have a taste,” Livesey said. crops will be going. grade classes, students And by donating to the Food PHOTO BY JACQUEplant the Three Sisters (squash, corn Bank, Livesey and Ashdown said LINE CHAO and beans), which the students are able to learn more about the Food Bank as ties into their study well as give back to the com(The garden) has been essential to of colonial Amerimunity. can life. teaching students about food and On top of donating to the The garden is where it comes from.”

Food Bank, students are able also, as Covey said, —Christina Kaufman to learn to work together and a “place of respite.” see “the payoffs of hard work “Some high and diligence,” Ashdown schoolers come out said. vesey said. here to relax or do homework,” he “For our kids, (the growth) magi“We’re just super grateful for said. cally happens - they don’t tend to the (Covey) and Christina,” Ashdown “Eighth graders eat lunch out plants like the Farm-to-Fork elective, said. “They do all the hard work for here, and some classes will come out (Covey) or Christina do,” Ashdown us.” here to do activities or do something said.

Livesey agreed, citing all the time outside the four walls of a class“But Michael is very good about and energy Covey has spent workexplaining the whole process to ing with students over the past eight room.”

Because Covey used to teach high them.” years. school chemistry, he said he didn’t Christina added that another But the garden isn’t just a way for benefit of the garden is its ability to students to give back to the commu- have a chance to work with younger promote healthy eating. nity. In fact, many classes do activi- students until now.

“I enjoy est job on campus. Every“We all know processed foods are ties in the garden that tie directly convenient and super easy to ac- into the curriculum. thing I do is fun.”