PO’P Volume 93, Issue 1
Pep O’ Plant H.B. Plant High School 2415 S. Himes Ave Tampa. FL 33629
October Issue
Contents 4
news
5
service
711
NATIONAL MERIT
SCHOLARS
fne
r
2117 22 23 lizzo cho
tiktok
mental illness
ys
international students
applying
1315
to college
slam for
briefs
rile
college stigma
2425 26
mindhunter
34
chick-fil-a
31 33
27
weather
dna
editorial
Ella Bathurst
sports
recap
37 sports siblings
Policies
Mission: The Pep O’ Plant is a student-run newsmagazine serving the community of H.B. Plant High School. The mission of the Pep O’ Plant is to provide an open forum for the free exchange of ideas. Code of Ethics: Students are expected to adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Consequences for knowingly or unintentionally violating this code include, but are not limited to, probationary status on staff, zero credit for the assignment and removal from leadership positions. Editorial Policy: The editorial board will make all decisions for the publication. Editorial board members will discuss controversial issues and consider the advice of the adviser before making decisions regarding coverage. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the majority of the editorial board. Signed opinion columns and reviews do not reflect the views of the entire staff, adviser, faculty or administrators of Plant High School. Letters to the Editor Policy: Letters to the editor can be emailed to pepoplantnews@gmail. com. Letters may be no more than 250 words for publishing purposes. The editorial board reserves the right to edit for length, clarity and grammar in order to meet Associated Press style guidelines. Letters may be rejected in cases of obscene, threatening or libelous language. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be published. Obituary Policy: Any current student, staff or faculty member who dies during the year will be recognized with a 300-word obituary and one yearbook-style photo. The editorial board may decide to cover the deaths of alumni or former staff/faculty members when appropriate. Advertising Policy: The Pep O’ Plant has advertising space available in print and online for members of the school and local community. See the Advertising tab on PHSnews.com for pricing information. Advertisements are submitted by businesses or designed by staffers upon request. Advertisements which promote services or products that are illegal or harmful for anyone under 18 will not be considered. The editorial board has final approval over all advertisement content and design. Corrections policy: Errors printed and brought to the attention of the staff will be remedied in the “Corrections” box of the next printed issue. Errors found online will be fixed and accompanied by a note from the editor detailing the correction, as well as tagged to identify it has been corrected. Affiliations: The Pep O’ Plant has achieved All-American status with the National Scholastic Press Association (2018), is a Gold Medalist with Columbia Scholastic Press Association(2018), All-Southern with the Southern Interscholastic Press Association (2019), and Gold status with the Florida Scholastic Press Association (2018). The Pep O’ Plant is also a member of the Quill and Scroll International Honor Society.
PO’P Staff
Adviser: Christina Porcelli EIC: Graham Hill Print Editor: Alexis Perno News Editor: Carol Kornworcel Online Editor: Nicole Prus Opinions/Expression: Ariana Cimino Features Editor: Ava Nelson Photo Editor: Brenna Nderson Copy Editor: Hartley Hill Lily Phenis Design Editor: Elena Bassart Lily Riopelle Sport Editor: Kate Caranante Sports Manger: Chris Pisciotti Webmaster: Riley Schofner Social Media Managers: Clio Bruno Jessica Larringa Designers: Sydney Daux
Jasmine McLaughlin Aryma Moore Avery Owens Juila Peterson Mia Solano Olivia Zavala Staffer: Mariah Alvarez Isabel Antilla Lauren Azevedo Kathryn Bernstein Gabrielle Jones Sakena Kahassi Samantha Macuare Jack Morantes Cole Morgan Gracen Rivera Addie Robey Audrey Taylor Julia Wolfe Plant High School 2,398 students 143 faculty& staff 2415 S. Himes Ave. Tampa FL,33629 (813)-272-3033 Free distribution 1000 copies printed Contribute your work:phsnews.com/ Expressions PO’P is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia University Press Association, Florida Scholastic Press Association and Southeast Interscholastic Press Assocations.
Find Us twitter
online
@plantpop
phsnew.com
snapchat
pintrest
@plantpop
pepoplantnews
@pop.phsnews
contact us
pepoplantnews@gmail.com
Send a letter to the editor or contact us to advertise.
E-board officers are planning the annual homecoming dance Oct. 26 at Raymond James Stadium from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. “People should go to homecoming because it’s a tradition,” E-board president and senior Preslie Price said. “The whole purpose of spirit week and Panther Prowl is to get people pumped up for the actual event itself and to get everyone to show their school spirit.” Tickets will start selling Oct. 14 in the cafeteria for $50, and will be $60, cash only, at the door. The homecoming theme this year is Candyland, which was decided by E-board. Senior class president David Tuohy is also organizing the event. “Homecoming is a really exciting time and is just gonna be a fun time to get together and get out of the school situation but still be with your friends,” Tuohy said. “It’s also a much more regulated area rather than some of the other parties, and it’s a much safer and closed off environment. So not only is it a place to go and have fun, but also be safe while doing it.”
Dates:
Students Achieve
Semifinalist
Title
Plantoween The football team will host their second annual PlantO-ween at Dad’s stadium Oct. 31 for kids in the south Tampa community. “Not only getting to see the smile on the kids’ faces when we were giving out candy, but also being able to play games with them out of the field during the whole thing really made it a great experience for us and the kids,” senior football player Tucker Gleason said about last year’s event. Gleason is helping to lead in organizing the event again. Gleason said it is a great way to give back to the South Tampa community. “It’s very important for us to be a part of the community for a couple of reasons,” Gleason said. “Every home game on Friday nights, the community comes out and packs Dad’s Stadium to support us, so giving back and supporting the community is really important to keep that relationship going.” The tradition was first started last year by Coach Robert Weiner. “I actually had the idea years ago and have been trying to find a way to implement it,” Weiner said. “Last year was the first year, and we look forward to continuing it further as we go along.” Weiner said that even though the tradition is new, every year it has changed and more people have attended as well as participated in the event. The goal of the event is to make a nice place for kids in the community to come on Halloween, Weiner said. “A lot of little kids in the neighborhood come to Plant football games and look up to the players,” Weiner said. “We want to make sure that they’re in a great environment.”
Fantasy Football
Pawbucks Goes Green Candyland
Pawbucks has decided to go green by eliminating the use of plastic straws and styrofoam cups starting Oct. 1. The eco-friendly materials, including the cup and lid, are more expensive, causing the Pawbucks prices to increase. The lid will now be a bioplastic made from corn starch and the cups will be paper with a lining inside made from renewable resources such as sugar cane. Their prices will be increasing from $1 to $2 for hot coffee and Starbucks iced coffee will be 50 cents more. Students are encouraged to bring their own cup to get half off coffee. “Although the prices for hot coffee are increasing, there are added ounces to the coffee cups, it’s a good deal,” ESE teacher Mary Radigan said. “We really are encouraging them to bring their own cups… they get a cheaper cup of coffee and we don’t have any waste.” Junior Vendela Busbee came up with the idea of switching to environmentally conscious materials. The Pawbucks proceeds go towards Special Olympics, which Busbee is a board member of. “Pawbucks is going green to reduce waste products and to conserve the planet’s resources for future generations,” Busbee said. “We want to keep our earth as beautiful as we have it now for future high schoolers like us. I believe that going green is choosing better options that will help slow the process of deterioration our earth is going through right now.”
After picking their team names and drafting their players, the next step in a Fantasy Football league is to decide the punishment for the person who comes in last place. Although the person who comes in last place for the season gets the worst punishment, junior Parker White’s league, which was started four years ago, also has weekly punishments. Every week the three lowest scores get put into a random drawing, and whichever one gets chosen must do the weekly punishment. “I’m fine with weekly punishments because I don’t lose but, if I lost it would be terrible, I would want to quit,” White said. “My favorite punishment has either been someone having to eat a banana with the peel on or Davis having to wear wet socks to school.” A group of teachers have their own fantasy football league, which was started in 2005. Members include two-time winner John Henson and “commissioner” Joshua Marr. “I can’t say my team is better than others—I haven’t won a game yet this year,” Marr said. “It’s going to be me; it’s just going to take a while. Everyone else in my league is too stupid to play very well, so they’ll make mistakes and I’ll take advantage of them.” This year the loser will have to wear a dress to the end of the year gathering and will not be able to shave until the next season. The league also competes for the coveted “Iron Maiden” trophy compiled of several different trophies that features a female bodybuilder at the top. It can currently be found in the room of reigning champion Henson, who has also had the most appearances in the final. “I go into it with a plan,” Henson said. “I value certain positions differently than some of the other people in our league, and then I count on the stupidity of the other league members to make mistakes and
N
Nine students- seniors Alyssa Crocker, Lindsey Gabler, Ryan Hobson, Hamilton Jones, Lucy Morris, Tien Nguyen, Alixandra Rubin, Hayden Watson, and Junhao Zhang- became National Merit Scholarship semifinalists Sept. 17. The National Merit Scholarship is an academic competition based on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores to receive various scholarships. In order to participate in the program, students were required to take the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year of high school. Those with the highest PSAT/ NMSQT scores qualified for semifinalist status. “I just did a lot of practice beforehand, making sure to know the structure of the exam before taking the exam,” Zhang said. “There are also a lot of specific ways to get to the answers of some question that you can just remember and figure out.” To progress to finalist, participants must submit a completed NMSC Online Scholarship Application (OSA) and confirm their PSAT/NMSQT performance with scores from the SAT or ACT. High academic performance is expected to be maintained throughout senior year. “If I become a finalist, I will maximize the opportunities given through the merit program to succeed,” Morris said. “I see it helping me stay motivated in my future schoolwork because the recognition shows me that I have the potential to achieve greater things.” Nguyen found out she had qualified as a semifinalist when a friend texted her a congratulatory message. “I was totally freaking out and I had to ask my friend like twice to make sure I won it,” Nguyen said. “I pulled up the Tampa Bay Times and I saw my name. I literally sat in my driveway for five minutes looking at the page because I couldn’t believe I actually qualified.”
News Briefs I 21
Slam for service Student-run charity raises money for Children’s Cancer Center
Story Audrey Taylor; Photography Audrey Taylor; Design Savannah Chalmers, Avery Owens
S
ingers, poets and drummers came together to raise money to help kids at the Slam for Service event Sept. 8 at Tequilas in Ybor. This is the second Slam for Service that the event’s coordinator, senior Payton Covelli, has organized. The donations are going to help purchase music and art supplies for the kids at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Children’s Cancer Center. “I have a really big passion for everything in the arts—music, singing. I do it all and I love it so much,” Covelli said. “I also really love volunteering with kids. When I volunteered I realized that they didn’t have the same access as I did to the arts, so I wanted to be able to give back to them.” In July 2018, Covelli hosted the first Slam for Service to raise money to refurbish the arts center at the YMCA. At this year’s event, students performed to inspire and thank attendees for their donations. One of the performers was junior soloist Toni Keene. “When I was little, I had a lot of health problems and benefited from non-profits like the Ronald McDonald house,” Keene said. “It means so much to me that complete strangers could help me and my family, so I believe it’s important to do the same for others
06 I News
like me.” There were also many singers that performed, including soloists, a duet, and Pawcapella. Junior Blase Roque attended the event and performed with Pawcapella. “It was a good cause,” Roque said. “It felt nice to be able to give to the community with the donations.” Not only did performers sing, one student played the drums and two performers recited poetry that they wrote. “I wanted to participate in Slam For Service because I had never read something out loud to a bunch of people that I’d written myself,” senior Natalie Ulm said. “It seemed like a good place to start and I had a great time” At the event, attendees watched the performances, ate dinner and participated in raffles. The event created an opportunity for students and others in the community to support the arts and donate to charity. Covelli says that she is planning to make the event annual and donate the new materials in December and February. “I think it’s import for the youth of Tampa Bay to give back for the future generation,” senior Kennedy Logan said. “It’s cool that Payton does this and that everyone from Plant can come and support.”
As a duet seniors Kathryn Edgar and Katie Vincent performed at the student run event slam for service Sep 8. The duet performed together at the beginning of the event before senior Natalie performed her poetry.
To start the even, Junior Tess Lowke signs a solo at the student run event Slam For Service Sept 8. Lowke sang two songs and was followed by seniors Katherine Edgar and Katie Vincent’s duet.
During the Slam For Service event, Junior Isabella Rodriguez performs a solo Sept 8. Rodriguez performed her solo before plant’s acapella group Pawcapella performed.
TO COLLEG G N I Y L P E P A S
Alex tory
o; Photography Jessie is Pern Larri n ag a; Designer Mia Solano
IMPORTANT STEPS TO CONSIDER:
1
-Q & A WITH COLLEGE RESOURCE COUNSLER, LAUREN MOSELEY-
Q:What mistakes do juniors frequently make when thinking about college? A: I think there is a general reluctance to take the SAT or ACT. So, what my best advice would be for juniors is to study and prepare for those tests as much as possible during their junior year and get their best score by the end of that year, so that they can actually just focus on the application process during their senior year rather than having to retest. Q: What would you say to people who feel like they haven’t done enough or like they aren’t ready? A: A lot of colleges don’t even look at your activities, they just look at your GPA and your test scores. Your GPA kind of is what it is at this point, if you’re in your junior year. It’s out of your control in the standpoint that you can’t change the past, so I would stress less on feeling like ‘oh my gosh I need to do more’ and focus instead on what you can control. Research has shown that the more you practice for the SAT and ACT, the better your score is. It’s not really an intelligence thing, it’s familiarity with the test. So, I would say to focus on what you can control, and even if you don’t have the best scores, or the best GPA, or the best activities, there is a place for you to go to college. Q: What is some specific advice to people, like how to make yourself stand out? A: When you’re putting in an activity, let’s use volunteering as an example, so let’s say you volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries.
A lot of students put like what Metropolitan Ministries is rather than what they contributed to that organization. So, it’s easy to say like okay National Honor Society is a... honors organization or Metropolitan Ministries feeds the homeless, rather than saying ‘I specifically packaged meals’ or ‘I served meals’ or ‘I interacted with individuals who were seeking help from the organization in this way’. Contributions matter more than what the organization is.
Q: Do you have specific advice for the essay component of applications? A: Yes, I think there’s like a rumor or a feeling going around that you have to have had something significant happen to you in your life like an obstacle or hardship that you’ve overcome, and that’s just not true. Like, I’ve read amazing essays about people’s passions, like one guy was like a Falconer and trained Hawks. He just liked to do that and it’s not an obstacle, it’s just something unique, a unique interest that was cool to read about and refreshing. So,
I would rather get to know if you can transport me into your life for 5 minutes in some way, by talking about something you’re passionate about, are interested in, or an experience you’ve had, it doesn’t have to be so heavy and deep into hardship. Q: What would you say is the hardest part of applying to college? A: I think dealing with rejection. I think recognizing that everyone experiences rejection as a part of this process is important. With social media, I feel like everybody of course posts where they’ve been accepted and when they’ve been accepted. So, it can create this false sense that everybody I know has been accepted and is going to the college of their dreams. When the accuracy, looking at the actual data, is that in nearly every college list, there’s a mixture of acceptances and rejections and it actually doesn’t say anything about you as a person. It’s just a matter of the colleges know the type of person that’s going to be happy on their campus, and so if you’re rejected to that school, it truly means that they feel that you would not be happy and an engaged member of their campus. So, in my opinion I feel it’s for the best, but I think that a lot of our students here strive for perfection, and maybe they’ve never earned a B or they’re at the top of their class, they’re great at their sport and so this can be the first time that somebody tells them no, this isn’t going to work out. I truly have seen time and time again that you will end up where you’re supposed to
2
3
4
Take the SAT and/or ACT: Research testing days and register to test online. Use resources such as Khan Academy or the ACT Academy to prepare. Working to get your best SAT or ACT score in your junior year allows seniors to focus on the application process, Moseley said.
RESOURCES: College Resource Room: Allows students to access college-focused sites such as Naviance, register for the SAT/ ACT, find out about upcoming college visits and research colleges. Moseley is available from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointment needed, but appointments can be made online through Edsby. Khan Academy: Free online site that provides access to official SAT practice tests created in partnership with College Board. ACT Academy: Free online site and app that offers official ACT practice tests and other test prep resources.
Know your academics and plan a senior year schedule: Know what your current GPA, class rank and other competitive statistics look like to give you a handle on how to approach senior year. This information is available from the registrar upon request in the guidance office.
Research majors and colleges: Moseley said to consider colleges from an academic perspective and an interest perspective, including location and overlooked details such as class size. “Even just knowing your name in a class I feel like can be an invaluable experience. Some students really need that, and some students are fine in an auditorium lecture in a hall of 250 people,” Moseley said.
Research Honors programs at colleges: Honors colleges take in the top-performing students from the admitted application pool, which Moseley said can give a huge campus a smaller feel. Honors programs vary and can consist of benefits such as priority class registration and specialized academic or leadership advising. Moseley also said that Honors programs can give students looking into graduate school a boost in the application process.
In the college counselor’s office, a representative from Dartmouth college explains how to submit applications Wednesday Sept 17. Discussing colleges, Lauren Moseley stated seniors feel stress because they are scared of not being accepted.
While discussing the process of applying to college, the representative from Dartmouth goes into detail on steps needed to be successful in their application Wednesday Sept. 17. When asked about college Lauren Moseley claimed, weather you are accepted or denied it doesn’t define you as a person.
News I 11
Exchange student Alicia Gullotti connects with host family
Chasing Dreams
At the end of the day, senior Kailee-Rose Casey holds the state flag Sept. 27 during flag detail. Casey moved to Florida from Ireland and participates in JROTC.
Juniors Alicia Gullotti and Mia Bergier have a lot in common, most notably their Swiss nationality. An exchange student from Zurich, Gullotti arrived in Florida on Aug. 7.
In the midst of a JROTC game of flag football, senior KaileeRose Casey runs down the field Sept. 27. Casey hopes to pursue veterinary medicine and is looking at the University of South Florida and Florida Southern College.
W I
t took 4,879 miles for Switzerland foreign exchange student Alicia Gullotti to complete her journey to start her junior year abroad. After a year of planning and a day’s worth of travel, Gullotti is now finding her way around Tampa and the school’s crowded halls. “I wanted to improve my English, and just experience new things,” Gullotti said. “I think it was a good opportunity to take.” Gullotti left her family behind, consisting of her parents, her 11-year-old sister Shana, and her two dogs Neara and Yoda. “Twice a week we call each other, and text message,” Gullotti said. “My friends I hear from everyday over Snapchat.” Although leaving them behind was hard, Gullotti sees her introverted characteristics as an even scarier obstacle to overcome. “I think I’m a shy person. I don’t go up to people and just ask like ‘How are you’,” Gullotti said. “I was afraid that I wouldn’t find friends or connect with people here.” Uncommon for an exchange student, Alicia is staying with a host group that she and her
Kailee-Rose Casey pursues veterinary dream
family have known since her adolescence, so she did know some familiar faces before she arrived. Alicia’s friendship with junior Mia Bergier, her host sister, has helped ease her shy tendencies. “Hosting an exchange student is an experience I would recommend to anyone.” Bergier said. Their fathers are partners in a family-run business originating in Switzerland. The organization dates back generations, and both Mia and Alicia are set to be the next heirs in their family to run it upon turning 20. “I guess you could say our families run it together,” Bergier said. “Since my dad’s granddad started the family organization, it has grown.” Along with coming to America to better learn English, Alicia is here to meet and grow closer with Mia and the rest of her host family After a month of being in close quarters with Alicia, as they share a room and many other vicinities, Mia is appreciative of Alicia’s friendship. “For me it’s been such an amazing experience,” said Bergier. “She’s honestly been amazing. I can just talk to her about anything.” Alicia was also very excited to stay with her host
family after staying last year for spring break in Tampa as a “test run”. After wanting to come back to Tampa again, she had to search hard to find a company that would let her choose her own host family. “I wanted to go to a family I knew,” Gullotti said. “My parents had friends here, and I’m staying with them. So, I had to find a special organization that makes this possible for me.” CETUSA, the Council for Educational Travel, USA is the company that Alicia used for her trip. They help coordinate high school students to study in 17 different countries across the map. Because of CETUSA, Alicia has been able to experience American culture and even plans on travelling to Arizona and New York. As Alicia explained, the trip is worth it due to the lasting memories and connections made with new people around her. “I think you can start a new life here because you start from the bottom,” Alicia said. “You know in Switzerland the friends you have. I think just meeting new people is the most exciting part of it.”
hen senior Kailee-Rose Casey stepped into the Boston airport for the first time, the first thing she noticed was a Dunkin’ Donuts. “I kind of never thought that the day would actually come, so like when we got off, I was like 'holy cow we're in f****** America',” Casey said. Casey moved from Black Rock, an area just outside of Cork, Ireland to Tampa April 7, 2019. This was the first time Casey could remember being in America; she was born in New York and moved to Ireland when she was young. But now, Casey and her mother have found themselves living in the States once more. “It definitely is a land of opportunity,” Casey said. “I have a friend from New Jersey and she never really spoke very fondly of America, but when I was moving here I feel like you can do so much more. My school, we didn’t have a lot. It was a good school, but it wasn’t the best… here I feel like they prepare you for the real world like they teach you what you need to know. It’s just everything is a lot better… I just love how nice everyone is.” Casey left Ireland with her mother to pursue veterinary schools since the only school with a program on the island is University College Dublin. “If I were to go there, I'd have a very slim chance of actually getting it done,” Casey said. Currently, she’s looking at the University of
South Florida and Florida Southern College for veterinary medicine. Growing up in Ireland, Casey was surrounded by farms and credits her upbringing to her love of animals and desire to become a vet. “Ever since I was young, I was like ‘I’m gonna be a vet, I’m gonna be a vet and so that’s why we moved here,” Casey said. “It’s easier here I feel, and just with, as I said, more opportunities. This is literally the land of opportunities.” Casey said that she definitely misses Irish food the most- decent mashed potatoes in particular. In America, Casey said the food is more processed and very sugary compared to the authentic, often homemade dishes in Ireland. Along with the food, Casey also misses the cold rain she left behind. “I miss the rain so much,” Casey said. “I honestly didn't think I'd miss it. I was like I'm glad to see the back of it, but I miss it. All my friends are sending me pictures and I'm like, 'oh my god, I love the rain'." Along with her friends from the countryside, most of Casey’s family live in Ireland and don’t travel. Casey said this means she probably won’t see them for a few years. “It was tough,” Casey said. “When I left, I left the day of... my friend’s 18th birthday and I had to leave school early, so it was really tough because I didn’t get to like have a huge goodbye because I had to leave halfway through the day.” While she wouldn’t live in Ireland again, Casey said she definitely plans to visit. Here, she’s
created an American bucket list, including going to Busch Gardens, Niagra Falls and experiencing the American party scene. “I just want to travel,” Casey said. “I want to go and like get a camper or something like that, even just after high school. Get a camper with my mom and just like, go around to different states and stuff like that because I haven’t been anywhere. I’ve barely left my house because the past two months have been just a bit crazy trying to get everything done.” English is the main language in Ireland, but Casey said that Gaelic, which she’s learned since she was four, is often spoken in rural areas. Casey compared the language to Latin, saying that Gaelic is dying out and that Irish schools are making an effort to revive it. “I come from a Catholic family so like a lot of the words have a Catholic meaning to it and I really like that and also because not a lot of people know it,” Casey said. “I feel like it’s part of my culture, it’s part of my heritage and it’s just something I’m really proud of.” Casey’s mother is currently thinking of setting up an Irish club to connect other people with their Irish heritage, and Casey said that she plans on involving her own friends in some of her favorite traditions as well. “It’s amazing because not a lot of people know a lot about Irish history,” Casey said. “Just teaching people about Ireland is just really cool because they’re really surprised and it’s just something I’ve always been very proud of.”
Feature I 13
Unashamed William Renninger openly speaks about mental illness
A
Story Ava Nelson; Photography Brenna Anderson; Design Julia Petersen
s students present information on mental illness or mental health as being less le- chart his wife designed. The chart includes six select art works from AP Art Histo- gitimate than a physical problem,” Renninger main components that encourage healthy bery’s top 250, said. “Like if I came in with a broken leg on havior that Renninger can gain points for each teacher William Renninger asks crutches people would hold the door for me day. Even with active attempts to manage his specific questions regarding the and feel sympathetic, but they have a different mental status, Renninger still acknowledges the pieces to encourage academic discussion. Hold- attitude if you’re suffering from something you fluctuating highs and lows of his mental health. ing the highest passing rate in the nation for his can’t see physically.” “It’s up and down, it’s not like I’ve improved class, art, culture and history are all researched While Renninger naturally finds joy in his drastically,” subjects in Renninger R e n n i n g e r ’s said. “Even room. A topic selthough you dom discussed in can’t tell beother classrooms cause I work occasionally surreally hard to faces the converbe even in my sation -mental classroom, health. outside my “I think it’s imclassroom it’s portant to demysa constant tify it struggle. It’s so it’s not not easy.” something that’s T h r ou g h shameful, so being open people recognize and unthis ashamed of is pretty comhis personal mon,” Renninger struggle with said. “So, hopedepression, fully there are stuRe n n i n g e r dents hopes to who recognize encourage that if they’re students to feeling the same take charge way they can talk of moniabout it with Beginning class with a review sessions Ap art history teacher William Renniger asks engaging toring their their parents in- questions to his third period class Thursday Sept 17. When opening up about his mental health own mental stead of being ei- Renninger stated “I think it’s important to demystify it so it’s not something that’s shameful, so health. Renther ashamed or people recognize this is pretty common,”. ninger also unwilling to talk about it.” Renninger is unafraid to discuss his own struggle with depression and mental illness, and even touches on the topic if it connects to an artist or a work being examined. Although Renninger feels comfortable speaking about mental health with his students due their good relationship, he notes society’s abrasive attitude towards mental illness, and hopes for the topic to become unshrouded for future generations. “I think people see any kind of struggle with
14 I Feature
job, he still has to be proactive about combatting depression in other aspects of his life. “This is the one area where I don’t have to work to feel happy,” Renninger said. “Coming to the classroom, teaching the subject that I teach, that genuinely brings me joy. It’s everything else in my life that I sort of have to pay attention to and make sure that I’m finding joy in other things.” Different methods Renninger uses to confront his mental health include medication, therapy and a custom six step program
urges students to understand recovery is not a road they have to take alone. “Find a support system, find a system that works for you whatever that it is, find a therapist that works for you, medication, whatever it is, it can be a combination of any of those things,” Renninger said. “But what you can’t do is what I’ve done many times, which is just ignoring it hoping it’ll go away, because it doesn’t. You need to be proactive, and you need to tell other people so if you’re not being proactive,
IT’S ALL IN THE CARDS Riley Schofner plays fantasy game
Story Ava Nelson; Photography Brenna Anderson; Design Elena Bassart
Wielding spellpowered cards, senior Riley Shofner prepares his move for board game, Magic: the Gathering. Riley began playing and competing in Magic: the Gathering in middle school.
C
asting spells, strategic play, card advantage and resource management, contests and champions are just a few aspects of fantasy card play, a familiar activity to senior Riley Schofner. In middle school, Schofner bought his first set of cards from Walmart for the fantasy game Magic: The Gathering (or Magic as Schofner calls it). Schofner has since continued his interest in the game through friend groups and competition. “I’ve made a lot of friends through the game.” Schofner said. “It’s a shared space of equal interest in fantasy and competitive play.” Schofner self describes Magic as ‘a mix between chess and poker’, where you can make strategic plays with cards you own and lands you construct, which provides mana -or spells- for your deck. Schofner is active at his local game store and often attends Magic related gatherings and events held there. While some students use sports as an outlet to face victory and defeat,
Schofner has found competition through the game Magic. “It’s easily one the most successful hobby games with a very active and vocal community,” Schofner said. “And it’s worth it because I don’t have many other ways for me to be competitive.” While purchasing an effective set of cards for Magic can be expensive according to Schofner, managing money spent regarding the game has improved his economic practices. Schofner also acknowledges challenges from negative generalizations made towards fantasy fans, but encourages others interested in playing to not be discouraged. “There is a lot to learn but there are so many enjoyable fun things about opening a cool card in a pack and playing it and winning with it,” Schofner said. “Don’t worry about the ‘nerd’ stereotype. They exist, but not everywhere and it’s really exaggerated.” Through practice and tournaments, Schofner
found satisfaction in his abilities regarding Magic, as well as confidence in past achievements and his capability to win. While Schofner appreciates the entertainment and companionship he has found through personal experience in the game, Schofner values the special gratification he feels when introducing others to Magic. “I enjoy being good at something,” Schofner said. “And I really enjoy bringing other people to enjoy it too.” Although Schofner plans to continue his involvement in Magic throughout college, he has no intention of professionally incorporating the game into his future career. Even still, Schofner appreciates what he has learned through his experience in the game, especially learning how to lose. “Magic is about winning and losing, and you can’t win every game,” Schofner said. “It taught me how to respect my opponent, and myself.”
Feature I 17
TIK TMASTERS K Students gain views on social media app TikTok
Story Cole Morgan; Design Lily Riopelle
A
fter five months of making and editing dance and humor related videos, sophomore Raegan Williams has gained 38,200 followers on the social media app TikTok. Even after collecting thousands of viewers on her account, Williams has not noticed any difference in the way people treat or recognize her at school. Williams enjoys different aspects of the Tik Tok process and said she feels energized when making videos. “It gives me something to do and I have lot of followers so it’s fun,” Williams said. “Getting all the likes and making it with my friends is fun too.” Other than creating videos for personal enjoyment, Williams also earns money off the platform through making live videos instead of preparing and editing her clips before posting. For ideas and inspiration, Williams looks to her friends and other users on TikTok and enjoys when her completed videos go viral. “I usually just get them [likes] every time I make one, but some of them blow up more than usual,” Williams said. “When that hap-
pens it’s pretty exciting.” Senior Niki Peacock also looks to TikTok to creatively express herself through comedy and dance videos on her account. Having amassed 63,000 followers through the app, Peacock said she enjoys the opportunity to convey a different aspect of her personality through her videos. “I like how people can see another side of me,” Peacock said. “Rather than the strict side of me in school.” Although Peacock appreciates TikTok as a ‘creative outlet’, she acknowledges the slight awkwardness that accompanies recognition through the social media platform. “It’s kinda awkward when people call you out in school or old friends but overall its fulfilling,” Peacock said. “I feel validated and that people appreciate my hard work.” Senior Isabelle Bush also uses TikTok and has gained a few hundred followers on her account and consistent views on her videos, with the highest reaching 11,200. After learning about TikTok through ads on Youtube and seeing their videos on Instagram, Bush decided to download the app herself and appreciates the
obscure humor she’s found through her account. “The dance trends and stuff are trendy and fun to do on your own, but I don’t really post those because that’s embarrassing,” Bush said. “But, like, mainly the humor aspect is what draws me to it.” Since downloading the app, Bush has noted her significantly higher usage of TikTok than any other form of social media she owns, and after realizing her growing amount of time spent on the platform, Bush felt inspired to make videos for herself. Bush recommends that other users do not overthink what they post, and simply go and publish the videos they enjoy. “Don’t be scared to put something out there,” Bush said. “Just make the video and if it doesn’t do good don’t harp on it. Because what I would do, I would refresh and just watch the views go up and I would be disappointed if one didn’t do as well as another. Don’t analyze what you do, just like, do it.”
TIK TOK FLOPS ? CON PRO
Tik Tok is an awesome app as it enables users to express themselves in ways that simply aren’t replicable on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter. After scrolling through the For You page or viewing videos made by their friends, users may be inspired to create a video using the same audio or format of a video they enjoyed, with their own personal twist. The app has turned into a source for many popular sayings, jokes, memes, and more. TikTok also helps increase the popularity of new songs from artists and is developing an increasing impact on the selection of songs featured on top hits radio stations. Celebrities and internet stars alike often use the platform to entertain their fans. For example, TikTok features a live video option in which fans can interact with their favorite TikTok influencers in real time. The apps ability to bring all sorts of people together and influence pop culture is remarkable and is part of what
makes the app so great. The platform can serve as a great way to bring family or friends together and enhance a social gathering, getting a group off the couch and bringing a fun time to everyone involved. Having a large group of people allows for the production of even more creative videos that cannot be made by just one person. Making videos alone can also be a very fulfilling experience as well. For instance, I made my first TikTok on a night alone after I had done all my homework. I spent thirty minutes or so perfecting my dance moves and doing plenty to retakes to ensure that the video turned out exactly how I wanted it to. The act of working on the video itself was very enjoyable for me it gave me a distraction from the stress of school and the number of compliments I received from friends felt very rewarding. While the app may not be the best use of excessive time, it serves as a great source of entertainment for creators and viewers alike. Story; Cole Morgan
FAST FACTS
150
Facts about Tik Tok
TikTok displays lack of creativity, unoriginal content I am blissfully unaware as I scroll through Instagram. Suddenly, I see it, yet another TikTok creator crediting themselves for inventing lip-syncing. A cesspool of stolen content boils over onto my pristine dash, contaminating it. I dissolve into the vat of unoriginality as a few lucky influencers rise up, throwing dollar bills to welcome the coming of a bleak future. Dramatics aside, I don’t actually hate TikTok. Sure, plenty of the creators are annoying extensions of boring, cliché Instagram influencers, but that is not my main problem. People are allowed to have fun, and if TikTok is someone’s way to do it, then that is good for them. However, we can not pretend like people lip-syncing on camera is a revolutionary new form of entertainment. With the way internet humor works, even ‘original’ content has some forms of another joke tucked within it. Children and content creators on TikTok are not the problem here- it’s larger influencers stealing jokes that were never theirs to begin with. For social media memes, jokes usually go viral in an original format. Then, as more and more people find themselves inspired by the
joke, the first format transforms into other versions as creators alter the meme. Now, each altered meme becomes quasi-original: it was not the new creator’s joke, but it is not the original meme, either. In TikTok, the humor is very formulaic and similar to how social media memes blow up: creator A makes a joke, said joke is repeated by creator B but with different context plugged in, and so on. This is not to say it’s not funny- I have definitely laughed at more than one video on my dash. However, we can not say that this humor is new or refreshing. TikTok is definitely not the pinnacle of comedy, and the jokes certainly are not original. For every person you see making a new idea, there’s a least four other videos you are not seeing of the same idea. This realization is something that is intriguing yet intimidating: if this trend of viral content continues to grow, as it likely will, how will actual original content be protected? Will copyright laws be affected? Will the world of humor end as we know it? I’m kidding. Partially. But TikTok does pose some greater questions about the future of internet humor. Mostly, I just hope there’s less tacky sound effects used. Story; Alexis Perno
TEACHERS THINK WHAT Teachers share their opinions on Tik Tok
countries have Tik Tok users
Tik Tok has been downloaded onto
1.27 BILLION devices as of July 2019 TIK TOK WAS CREATED IN 2016 USE TO BE MUSICALLY
TIK TOK
“I think it’s cool, if kids are only doing it with friends that they know. I think they’re funny.” Caroline Medina (ESE Social Studies)
“I’ve probably been on students Tik Toks now that I think about it.” Eduardo Lastra (Social Studies)
“Post modernism is kind of difficult to understand, but I do understand it at the end.” Yohanis Carrera (Spanish)
Center Spread I 21
100%THAT STAR
Lizzo defies mainstream media
P
Story Julia Wolfe; Art Summer Purks; Design Lily Riopelle
H
igh school is a monumental four years in adolescence. Once you’re in school, there’s no time wasted on getting you ready to be a perfect scholar, all toned in the same cookie-cutter way for university. Between the emphasis on AP courses, the extra preparation for SAT and the never-ending questions from extended family members on what lies ahead for your career, you might feel a sense of dread and fear being stuck on the conveyer belt that is four-year college. There’s such a push for the university route that the idea of taking any other route post high school is foreign to the average high school student. Trade school and community college are often portrayed as lesser options. But according to National Public Radio, there’s real value in the job opportunities found in the so-called second-class option of trade school. NPR reported, “While a shortage of workers is pushing wages higher in the skilled trades,
22 I Opinion
the financial return from a bachelor's degree is softening, even as the price — and the average debt into which it plunges students — keeps going up.” According to the article "The Ten Fastest Growing Jobs in Florida for 2019” written in the popular career website Zippia, five of the top 10 jobs that are in high demand in Florida are part of the skilled-trade realm. On top of that, it takes an average of around 10-18 months to complete a trade school. That sounds like a great option, and not something you should be hesitant to acknowledge you’re interested in. With community college, there’s also stigma that you don’t have the grades to get into a four-year university. You can save thousands of dollars completing required credits and then transferring to a four-year. An example is HCC vs. USF: the tuition in-state for HCC, averages around $2,500, while USF in-state is close to $6,500, according to their respective school websites. Frankly, the amount of stress students put
on themselves to get into a four-year university is ridiculous. Between the insane course load, community service and extra curriculars, students barely have time to take a break and have a social life. With that comes the disturbing ways students deal with these stresses. Adderall, an addictive drug prescribed for people with ADHD, is abused to stay focused and awake longer. In the school halls, especially around exam week, talk of unhealthy sleep schedules and all-nighters are very prominent. Taking your future seriously shows responsibility but overworking yourself to dangerous levels is unhealthy and counterproductive. With community college and trade school, there are still the possibilities of toxic productivity, but the extremes you see before and during university are much worse. Sometimes, yes, going to a daunting four-year is what is required to get the skills you need for pursuing your dream job, but the option to not do so should be noted, highlighted and accepted in
Story Julia Wolfe ; Design Lily
op singer Lizzo, who reached the scrawny. These expectations are shifting, and bum cover in an Essence interview was that she top of the charts this year, has forged companies are running with it. loves her body, and how she uses it to create and a crack in the thick walls of society’s Femvertising -advertisements that employ enhance her artistic style. beauty standards. Her soulful, silky pro-female talent and imagery- is popular with Even singer Miley Cyrus has been criticized voice and her empowering lyrics can companies such as Aerie. Aerie’s ad campaigns for her plus-sized promotion. A photo of Anmake anyone put their hands up and dance show off what they call real women, because gelina Duplisea, a well-known plus-size model, around, without a worry about who’s watching. the company chooses not to retouch any photos was posted on Cyrus’s Twitter account and reHer music gives a sponses were strong, sense of belongeither in support or ing to listeners, no opposition. Pamelah matter what color, Umeh, a woman gender or size. on Twitter, was not Her talents afraid to voice her have led to great opinions. She ranted achievements, inabout how how she cluding being labelieves Duplisea is belled by Time obese and that her Magazine as one of health should not be the Musical Acts praised. She also reto Watch in 2014, marked that society as well as being inis too sensitive about cluded in Rolling image. Stone’s Top 20 Best The lines of what is Albums of 2016. empowering and what Her song “Truth is simply unhealthy Hurts,” from her are blurred. For most latest album Cuz I people, the subject Love You reached of beauty along with No. 1 on the Billweight can be unboard charts this comfortable, but in year and has stayed the end, everyone just at the top for over wants to be accepted. four weeks. It also Lizzo shows over recently broke reand over again cords, becoming through her music the longest solo and her actions that female rap song to your view of yourself be at No. 1 on the is what is most imAt the Boston Calling in 2016, Lizzo finishes performing a song in her set. Lizzo’s live performances Billboard charts. portant. She once said are beautiful to watch, her and her dancers using the entire stage to perform the music. Lizzo is one of in a Junkee interview many mainstream artists bending how people of their models to present an authentic feel of that her movement celebrates diversity, and perceive beauty. A movement of body positivity what the female body looks like. In recent years, that what she stands for is inclusion. She has is on the rise, influencing large companies to Target, Everlane, JCPenney and Dove have all continuously been known for her positivity and represent more body types in their ads. made ads about women empowerment. unapologetic love for herself and hopes everySince the dawn of entertainment and adverDespite all the of the recent media coverage one that hears her songs can speak up for their tisements, women have been portrayed as slim. on empowerment and self-love, Lizzo posed own individuality. Mainstream artists, especialMale models have also traditionally been held nude for the cover of her new album, “Cuz I ly woman, are highly criticized and for their to high physical standards as they are expected Love You,” sparking debate because of the nu- personalities and looks, so it’s refreshing to see to have toned torsos and to never be chubby or dity. Lizzo’s response when asked about her al- a break in precedent.
Opinion I 23
Story Lauren Azevedo; Art Chloe-Amelie Aikman; Design Elena Bassart
C not so cool JUUL, Response to vaping must be reformed
Story Graham Hill; Art Summer Purks; Design Elena Bassart
T
hough it has been prominent for several years, recently the discussion over e-cigarettes and vape products has become one of the most heated topics at the national level following six deaths attributed to the products. Politicians of all ideologies have weighed in on the issue, coming down strongly against vaping. President Donald Trump called for the removal of all flavored vapor products from the market, leaving only tobacco flavored products available. Further details of the plan have yet to be released. However, it is clear that the energy surrounding this issue is rather sorely misplaced. Is vaping a legitimate health concern, especially for teens? Of course. But the current measures discussed are drastic and ultimately fail to address any real problem. There is evidence, supported by such organizations as the Harvard Health Blog and the Journal of the American Medical Association, that suggests vaping can help smokers quit, though obviously, addiction is still a risk for vapes containing nicotine. But rarely is that aspect discussed. The deaths attributed to vaping, as well as the diseases
24 I Opinion
linked to their use, are both significant, but hardly stand out against deaths from other substances. The Center for Disease Control attributes nearly half a million American deaths annually to cigarettes, and reports alcohol as responsible for 88,000. When these numbers are compared, it is obvious that deaths caused by vaping pale in comparison to those by other substances. But this is not the core of the problem: the heart of it is the effect vape products have on teens. The use of vapes and e-cigarettes is increasingly rapidly, with a recent study from the National Institute of Health reporting more that around a quarter of high school seniors admitted to vaping within the last month. Vaping is undoubtedly a major problem in schools across the nation, but the solution to the issue may not be as simple as it is often made out to be. Bans on flavored e-cigarettes hurt smokers genuinely trying to transition away from cigarettes and do little to stop teenagers from engaging in an already illegal behavior. And the current mindset of punishment for those caught vaping could do with some revi-
sion. Obviously, there ought to be consequences for illegal behavior, especially on school grounds. But it is worth considering that many students could be facing the problem of addiction that the current system fundamentally fails to address. Yes, calls are made to parents and perhaps they can individually seek out help for their child, but not every family will have the resources to do that. Instead, there must be a twofold approach to this problem. The first part is educating the younger audience who are at risk about the medical dangers of vaping. The second aspect deals with increasing the presence of resources that already exist in the school system. Social workers and school psychologists present on campus need to be a component of the system so that the issues of addiction or dependence on these substances are properly addressed. In the current system, where the focus is punishment, this concept is absent. Through the spread of information about the serious dangers accompanying vaping and the inclusion of professionals to address the real issues at work, it may be possible to combat the new drug problem of this generation.
hick-Fil-A’s new menu item brought excitement to Chick-Fil-A’s enthusiasts, like myself. With the chicken-based menu, adding mac and cheese to their selective items led the community to anticipate the new item. After hearing the news of the new mac and cheese, I couldn’t handle the exhilaration. I immediately got into my car and drove to ChickFil-A to try the new item. Following the long-awaited meal, I can’t help but say I’m disappointed. The mac and cheese definitely did not meet my expectations. I was hoping for more than what I received. I thought I’d get a meal that I’d be excited to go back for. The texture of the mac and cheese was flawed and inconsistent. At the top of the pasta, the cheese was hard and felt like plastic. The mac and cheese didn’t sit with me well because the inconsistency of texture made the meal unappetizing. The taste was bland and not unique in any way. To be honest, from the first taste, it felt as though I was in a hospital cafeteria. It’s not a thought you’d like to think about while attempting to enjoy a new item. The divinity of the other meals Chick-Fil-A has to offer raised my expectations for the mac and cheese. I’m sad to say it did not live up to that presumption. There are many things Chick-Fil-A is good at, like their spicy chicken sandwich. The sandwich has a rich eruption of flavors that the mac and cheese surely does not. The taste is too generic to have anything about it stand out. If they’re going to do it, they must do it right. Chick-Fil-A missed the opportunity to add a fresh item to their menu that customers could be excited to buy time and time again. Chick Fil A should stay in the realm of chicken and stay far from the world of mac and cheese.
Opinion I 25
FALL’IN IN L VE WITH FLORIDA (not)
S
Florida weather makes fall unenjoyable
Story Jessie Larrinaga; Photography Jake Colvin; Design Lily Riopelle
ept. 22 was the first day of autumn. When I picture autumn, One of the best things about autumn is making leaf piles and jumping I am first inclined to think of colorful leaves falling from the in them with your friends, but in Florida there are no leaves to make a trees and a nice breeze and cooling off after a long, hot sum- pile with. There is no beautiful change of colors with the season; instead mer. Then I am smacked by the realization that I live in a place there is only more humidity and heat. where fall is basically just summer round two. Cold isn’t necessary, but at least cooler weather would be nice. Every In Florida, there is moment spent outside in Florida no cooling off – at least is another moment of sweating. not until the fall festivThere usually isn’t a breeze, and the ities are practically over. air remains thick with moisture. Things don’t actually If you’re lucky, you might catch a get cold until Decemmoment in the morning before the ber – if you consider an heat kicks in at full force. average low temperaAnother great aspect of fall that ture of 54.7 degrees we miss out on simply because “cold.” of location is the ability to wear In October, the avcute, cool-weather clothes in the erage high is around autumn months. While people in 84 degrees, while in other regions are wearing sweaters states with beautiful and jeans or leggings, most Florida autumn weather, like residents are out and about wearing Virginia, are at highs shorts and short sleeves. of 69. This makes fall Accessorizing in the fall can feel more like a state also be fun in most regions, with of mind than a reality many options like scarves, hats and in Florida. Drinking gloves. In Florida we pretty much warm seasonal drinks never need these, even in the heart from Starbucks isn’t the of winter, much less in fall. Items same when the hot coflike boots and earmuffs are basically fee feels like the same unheard of to Floridians. temperature as the outThe reasons for Florida’s warmth side air. are that it’s farther south than most It’s difficult to get in states, located closer to the equathe mood for fall dector and surrounded on all three orations and activities sides by water that makes it humid like pumpkin carving in addition to the heat in cooler when it doesn’t feel like months. fall. Plus, all of the soWhile this allows residents to While people in the northern United States are experiencing cool fall weather, peocalled pumpkin patchcontinue activities like going to the ple in Florida are stuck with more months of heat and humidity. Floridians don’t have es in Tampa are really the luxury of seeing the leaves change and having temperatures drop. This makes beach and swimming later in the just stacks of hay with living in Florida during the autumn and winter months much less enjoyable than it year than most places, it hinders pumpkins propped on would be otherwise. the seasonal experience by making top of them that you fall months pretty much indiffercan choose from. entiable from other times of the year. In northern places on the east coast like Maryland, there are places The fact that the weather in Florida is the same for most of the year where you can walk around in fields of pumpkins and choose one from off makes living here much less enjoyable than it otherwise would be. Some the vine. That’s what real seasonal activities should be like, but in Tampa people like the fact that it’s always warm, but I am not one of those we don’t have that option. people.
26 I Opinion
NEW SEASON, NEW KILLERS I
f you’ve ever seen “Mindhunter,” you know that the series is a nail biter. But after season one was released in OcThrilling Netflix show releases long-awaited tober of 2017, fans couldn’t second season wait for a second to air. It took over Story Jessie Larrinaga; Art Summer Purks; Design Lily Riopelle a year for them to drop season two, and it took only five days for me to binge watch all nine episodes. The show is set in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and centers around the lives of FBI agents Holden Ford, who is portrayed by Jonathan Groff, and Bill Tench played by Holt Mcallany. They work alongside psychologist Wendy Carr, depicted by actress Anna Torv, and create a new unit in the bureau called “behavioral science.” This essentially entails them interviewing serial killers to try to find common characteristics among them, as well as helping local police forces solve murders that involve repeated killers. Season one left viewers on a cliffhanger that was only partially explained in season two. The end of the season again left watchers on the edge of their seats, so a third release is heavily anticipated. While there are plenty of shows that involve serial killers, part of the intrigue of this show above the others is that the killers are well known in American history. The pair interview the likes of Charles Manson, who pretty much every American has heard of even if they don’t know his story. The other thing that makes it so hard to look away is the allure of the private lives of Ford and Tench. Both characters have problems that are both relatable and 10 times worse than anything most of us have gone through. The idea that the two men are not what most of us would call a classic hero makes it more interesting to see the way that they interact with the prisoners they interview. Every character has secrets, and watching those secrets unfold adds another unique aspect to the series. At the beginning and sometimes
the end of most episodes, there is usually a clip of the infamous BTK killer. His character is based on Dennis Lynn Rader, a serial killer who lived a double life. He had a job at ADT Security Services before becoming a city compliance officer. He also sent many letters to correspond with the police about the crimes that he was committing anonymously. The clips of the BTK (bind, torture, kill) escalated from not really telling viewers who the man was in season one to showing scenes that evidently showed his identity in season two. These clips create a second narrative in the show – one that has extremely slowly developed and will continue in the third season. Holden’s life has changed dramatically from the start of the show. Seeming like the perfect golden boy in the beginning of season one came to an abrupt end, and his issues seem to be progressing as the show goes on. Tench also faces many problems with his family life and balancing work with his wife and child. Carr has problems of her own as well. Her identity as a lesbian woman in the 1970s and ‘80s is something she hides from her coworkers and most of the world. This creates an internal struggle that is relatable for many viewers. Each person in the show faces some issue that most people can relate to, whether it be emotionally of physically. This makes it impossible for viewers to stop watching. While the show can be very gruesome and bleak, it combines elements of interesting historical events along with issues of the time period it is set and establishes connections between the audience and the main characters. I’d recommend this to anyone who doesn’t shy away from slightly dark themes, because the intrigue of the show goes far beyond the grim moments.
Opinion I 27
Swimmer qualifies for olympic trials Story Kate Caranante; Photography Kate Caranate; Design Logan Black, Aryma Moore
T
en times a week, junior Ella Bathurst, arrives at Bobby Hicks Pool for swim practice and has been doing so since she was six years old. “Originally I got into swimming because my parents wanted all my siblings and I to be safe in the water,” Bathurst said. “We all had to do one season of swimming just for safety purposes, but then I liked it, so I kept going.” Bathurst now swims for a club team, the Tampa Elite Aquatic Manta Rays. While participating in a recent meet at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California junior Ella Bathurst qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials. “It was super exciting because I didn’t really know that I made it at first,” Bathurst said. “I touched the wall, and I didn’t turn around and see the score board right away.” When she qualified, she was in California competing at Junior National Championship with all her teammates around her. “I just heard my team cheering, so I was like ‘Oh boy this is either really good or really bad,’” Bathurst said. “Then I turned around and figured out I made the team.” To qualify for the Olympic Trials, the swimmer must swim a certain event in a certain time. For the 200 freestyle, the time needed in order to qualify is 2:01.69, Bathurst swam her 200-meter freestyle in 2:01.49. “Anyone can qualify if they get a certain time,” Bathurst said. “So, my whole team just went to the meet to improve, and I’m just happy to make the cut.” The Olympic Trials will be held in Omaha, Nebraska during June of 2020, but until then Bathurst will continue her training in preparation for this summer. “We swim two times a day most days of the week and we do our weightlifting two or three times a week,” Bathurst said. “I’ll just keep that up until the summer.” Bathurst knows that the trials will be a great learning experience no matter how she does. In fact, there are many things she has learned after ten years of swimming. “Swimming has helped me gain so many life skills,” Bathurst said. “It has helped me with time management and dedication. It has also helped me make lots of friendships all over the country.”
30 I Opinion
Exiting the practice lanes, junior Ella Bathurst goes to join her teammates Sept. 10 at Berkeley Prep. Bathurst placed first in the girls 200-meter medley relay and the 100-meter breaststroke.
Talking to a younger swimmer from Berkeley, juniors Ella Bathurst and Reagan Flynn and freshman Catherine Vaughan prepare before the meet Sept. 10 at Berkeley Prep. This was their third meet of the year.
Opinion I 31
Receiving an award from the meet, boys cross country starts the season at the George Whitmire Classic Sept. 7. Their upcoming meet will be Oct 5 at the 2019 Great American Cross Country Festival.
FALL
SP RTS
Grinning after warmups, senior Christian Carvajal prepares for kickoff Aug. 23 at the Armwood stadium. Carvajal plays as an offensive lineman and running back.
Focusing on the game, sophomore Augie Hofmeister and junior Cassidy Amesbury prepare for the next round Aug. 29. Boys golf are undefeated this season.
Lining up to start the play, the junior varsity offensive line sets up to hike the ball Aug. 29 at dad’s Stadium. The junior varsity football team lost to Jefferson high school 44-3.
Performing at the Western Hillsborough Invitational, sophomore Penelope Markowski heads towards the end of the race Sept. 20 at Al Lopez Park. The race consisted of three laps and twelve competing schools.
Swinging her club, junior Samantha Paradise competes with varsity golf at Rodgers Park Aug. 29. Girls varsity golf is currently has a record of 8-2.
Halfway down the lane, junior Luke Sprague swims breaststroke Sept. 10 at Berkeley Prep. Sprague competed in six events at the third meet of the year. Setting the ball, sophmore Macy Cassidy kicks off the second set at the game Sept. 9 in the gym. The junior varsity team won the game against Palm Harbor University High School 3-0.
Prepping for kick off, senior Judah Norwood stands ready for the upcoming play Aug. 23 at the Armwood stadium. Norwood plays as a wide receiver and free safety.
Sports I 33
Grinning after warmups, senior Christian Carvajal prepares for kickoff Aug. 23 at the Armwood stadium. Carvajal plays as an offensive lineman and running back.
Opinion I 23
Football Team Unveils New Theme
Story Kate Caranante; Photography Kate Caranate; Design Sydney Daux ost high school students What makes it unique? And then, were able When you walk through the hallways or learn that DNA stands for to do the work that allows that to happen.” look on the practice field you see the playdeoxyribonucleic acid, but In his 16 years at Plant, Weiner has given al- ers dressed in their new gear with the DNA to the football team DNA most every year a unique theme, which takes logo prominent on the front of their shirts has a second meaning: Dig- him around six months to figure out. and sweatshirts. nity Navigates Ascendance. “I think the most important part particu“I like also that on the first day our shirts “Our program has kind of created its own larly in this theme is the knowledge of who come out, a lot of teachers are intrigued by it,” persona and its own evolution,” head coach one is or who one is trying to be at their best, Weiner said. “I always get a lot of questions Robert Weiner said. “But you don’t want it to is the opportunity for fulfillment of that,” from teachers, so yesterday I re-explained be that way, because greatness requires work. Weiner said. “As coaches, all we can do is pro- DNA to the guys so they would be able to You have to not only be constantly vide fertile ground for our guys to be the best answer those questions themselves.” reinventing yourself, but you have to constant- they can possibly be.” Each time the players are asked what the ly make sure that your players are recognizing As school starts back up and summer fades theme means, it gives them a chance to exwhat the essence is of what you are.” into fall, the players get ready to suit up un- plain what their team’s motivation this year is. In order to touch on the essence of the der the lights once again. In order to prepare “Your DNA is what’s inside of you, what program, Weiner created a theme that is for the upcoming season, the new theme will you are born with and how can you use that to meant to make players question who they are help unify and motivate the team. make your team better,” senior wide receiver as a team. “Your DNA is what you’re made up of,” Judah Norwood said. “To have our Dignity Navigate our senior quarterback Tucker Gleason said. “We Ascendance, we have to know what it is that have to find out pretty early on what our team we’re made up of at a chromosomal level,” is made up of, what our team’s DNA is beWeiner said. “Who are we? What is Plant cause we have the toughest first five games football? What makes Plant football special? that any team in the state will play.”
M
Backpedaling during practice, senior cornerback Elijah Cook prepares for Looking at his team, senior linebacker Jackson Hacker gets ready for the upcoming game. The varsity football team will face Armwood High School walk-throughs. The varsity football team will have their first game of Friday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. the season Friday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m.
34 I Sports
strength through Sibilings connect through sports
SIBILINGS
Story Hartley Hill; Photography Hartley Hill; Design Lily Riopelle Huddled with the volleyball team, sophomore Lily Frierson and senior Birdie Frierson listen to their coach at a time-out at the Alonso game Sept. 12 in the gym. The sisters began playing volleyball after watching their two older sisters enjoy the sport, too.
T
he girls volleyball team takes the court as the reigning 8A state runner-up, but that is not the only reason they are a force to be reckoned with. Not one but two pairs of sisters build this team to their greatest potential. Lily and Birdie Frierson and Macy and Adele Cassidy have shared the sport all their lives. “Honestly, it’s the best because if I am ever in a bad mood or I’m not doing well, she knows exactly what to say to make me feel better,” sophomore Lily said. “We always help each other with shots and make each other better and we just know how to communicate and play next to each other.” For the Friersons, although they have only been on the same school team for two years, Lily and senior Birdie have been playing at the same club since elementary school. Their two older sisters, Emma and Ellie also played volleyball through high school, so Lily and Birdie followed in their footsteps, beginning their volleyball careers at a program at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church.
“Both of my older sisters played as well and were totally different players so they can provide Lily and I examples of different types of players we can look up to and learn from,” Birdie said. “They were both really strong mentally and very talented, so we are able to learn a lot.” Ever since, Lily and Birdie have carried on the Frierson volleyball legacy. The two sisters finally took the same court last year at Plant, with Lily as back row and Birdie as a hitter. “My favorite thing about getting to play with Lily is that it makes me feel like we’re just best friends and not even sisters sometimes,” Birdie said. “Like I’m lucky enough to have my best friend on the court with me and then also live in the same house.” For the Cassidy’s, sophomore Macy and senior Adele have been playing volleyball together ever since middle school. As of right now, Macy is a hitter and captain of the JV team, and Adele plays back row on varsity. “It’s cool because we’re different grades and stuff and we can’t play club together, so it’s nice we get to have this together,” Adele said.
“I think because she’s my sister she knows me better than most people, so she knows how to push me and same with me to her.” Macy and Adele will share the same court once again at the upcoming Nike Tournament of Champions in which the top 25 teams in the nation will be playing Oct. 4-5 in Phoenix, Arizona. “My favorite part about playing the same sport as my sister is following in her footsteps,” sophomore Macy Cassidy said. “She is my role model and the person I look up to. Volleyball has made my family all closer by all of us taking part in it because my mom did also.” Not only would Plant Volleyball be drastically different without the strength of sisterhood, but the Frierson and Cassidy families would also not be the same without the sport. “My family would lose a crucial thing that makes us who we are,” Birdie said. “Everyone loves it and it’s kind of takes over our lives in a good way. Travel gives us vacations and stuff so we really would be so much less cool.”
SHE SHOOTS, HE SCORES Jack and Elise Iller both make the National Soccer team Story Cole Morgan Siblings Jake and Elyse Iller will Jake said. “I used to be playing on the U.S. Virgin Is- play every sport, but it lands national soccer team as of came down to baseball or summer 2020 after finishing their soccer and baseball was too senior and junior year respec- slow for me, so soccer’s always tively. Both siblings were in- been my favorite.” vited to the national soccer Soccer provides Elyse camp in the islands for a with an outlet for her week last summer to see emotions. The sport is if they were a good fit very therapeutic for for the team. Elyse as well, as it After 6 hours of is a great way for flying, they arrived in her to release energy. the St. Croix, the larg“It gets my anger out, est island in the country. They you know,” Elyse said. “If you spent a week practicing along with have a bad day you can just go pre-existing team members. out and kick a ball.” “I went down there for a week and As much as the siblings love their the coaches really liked me,” Jake sport, soccer does not always put said. “I had to get all of these docu- them at ease, especially when facing ments approved. So, once I got those a difficult team. approved by FIFA, I was able to be on I’m really nervous before soccer the team.” games,” Elyse said. “I hate messing Jake and Elyse were drawn to soc- up.” cer around the age of 5. From there, Jake and Elyse intend to continue they developed a love for the game their soccer career apart from the nathroughout their childhood. tional team and both aspire to display “I’ve always loved soccer,” their ability on the collegiate level.
hey, batter batter Q: A:
Suarez brothers answer questions about playing baseball What’s it like playing on the same Who do you think is winning the team as your brother? rivalry right now?
“It’s surprisingly fun with hanging out at more games and establishing a better brotherly bond. We do have rivalries all the time at dinner with mostly the conversation on how we played and who did better.” Gabriel Suarez (10)
Q: A:
“Honestly it’s me, even though he is working harder every day trying to be better than me. “ Gabriel Suarez “Right now, probably me. I’m hitting the ball farther in games.” Christian Suarez (10)
“How has being on the team with your brother impacted you as a player How has being on the team with and as a person?” your brother impacted you as a person? “It honestly makes me realize the “As a person, it’s gotten me close to necessity and appreciation of having a my brother because we’ve been able brother always at your side, whether you are to bond over these few months so far in doing bad or doing great, someone that has baseball. Christian Suarez your back no matter what and will help you achieve your goals in life.” Gabriel Suarez
Q: A:
Q: A:
Sports I 37