Green Issue

Volume 54, Issue 10

Friday, May 29, 2015

801 West Kensington Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056

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The

Prospector Faking the gr de 22 percent of students use their iPad or phone to cheat

97 percent

of students think grades, rather than education, have become the main focus in school gr

26 percent of

Student actors

Prospect’s theater program has put on three productions this year. To learn about students’ individual experiences turn to ...

11 Entertainment

See CHEATING, page 2

Jerbi retires after 29 years at Prospect

By Jack Gabriel

6 Features

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This also makes it harder for Schnell to provide valuable feedback.

“When you’re grading, you feel like you’re being more detective than trying to help people understand information,” Schnell said.

“You’re just trying to say, ‘Am I catching you cheating, or am I trying to give you some feedback so that you’ll understand?’”

Because of this, Schnell now has a new rule that all homework assignments must be handwritten either on paper or on Notability. Also, there are clear homework deadlines, and if a student misses a deadline, they are not eligible to take the next partner retake test. If a student is caught cheating on a homework assignment, they still must do the assignment again on their own

News Editor

Students have origins worldwide. To read about students’ global adventures to visit family, flip to ...

students ask friends what’s on the test before taking it

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classes.

At the beginning of the year in the class, students would ask their classmates to send them a copy of their completed homework, and then those students would turn it in as their own. About five to six assignments per class were the result of copying.

“It’s just rampant,” Schnell said.

“I’ve had multiple occasions this year where students are just turning in other people’s stuff ... I had one student who I was watching in class literally taking somebody else’s work … and [trying] to trace over the letters to make it look like he had written it. I have lots of stuff that gets turned in with the same answer wrong on 10 pages in a row [on] 10 separate submissions … Cheaters drive me nuts.”

78 percent of

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students look at other students’ papers during tests

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Family overseas

*information is from a survey of 151 students

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admitted to cheating by asking others what is on a test and copying homework. Twenty-six percent said they look at other students’ papers during tests, and 22 percent use their phone or iPad to cheat during tests. All these students cheat at least once a month, if not more.

“It’s your own choice if you want to cheat, and you know the consequences of it,” Jackson said. “I know I’ve cheatBy Shreya Thakkar ed ... but it’s because I wanted to know Editor-in-Chief the answer. It’s not because it felt morally OK to do it.” *Name changed for confidentiality Although Jackson felt guilty at first, it doesn’t bother her much now.

Having three tests the next day and “I feel a little guilty, but then only one night to study meant thenagain I feel like I had to do it because freshman Natalie Jackson* had some I want to do [well, especially with] the choices to make. She decided not to pressure from home,” Jackson said. study for her AP Human Geography “[When] I’m just taking a normal test (APHG) quiz on culture so she could foand don’t get caught, I feel, ‘Well, whatcus on Geometry and Biology. ever, I didn’t get caught.”

During the APHG iPad quiz the next According to Associate Principal day, Jackson gave into the temptation Scott McDermott, this pressure to do to look up the answer to one question well is self-imposed and doesn’t come in a separate tab. However, Schoology from teachers. However, he believes automatically shut her out of the quiz cheating is not the answer. and Hodges approached her after class “There are kids about it. that feel that they’re “I knew I had not adequately predone something “I’ve cheated ... but pared and [cheatwrong, but I didn’t ing is] the way they really want to own it’s because I wanted need to go about it,” up to [it],” Jackson to know the answer.

McDermott said. said. “But I knew it “That’s a decision was the right thing It’s not because it felt that they’re makto do.” ing, [but] it’s not the morally OK to do it.”

After Jackson right decision.” explained her situaWhile McDertion, Hodges was unanonymous junior mott has not rederstanding yet disceived more reports appointed. Because of cheating with she cheated, he gave iPads than he used her a zero on the quiz. to get when students didn’t have iPads, That incident kept Jackson from 75 percent of students believe iPads cheating the rest of freshman year, but make it easier to cheat. she started cheating again sophomore AP World History teacher Dave year because of the stress of her classSchnell is one of many teachers who have es. Now as a junior, she does it about been struggling to combat that. Copying once a month. homework through the iPad has been a However, Jackson is not alone. Out problem this year in AP World History of a survey of 151 students, 78 percent

Students wrestle with morality, guilt of cheating

Prospect cheating statistics

After 29 years of working at Prospect, P.E. Area Assistant David Jerbi has seen it all. From the field house fire in 1995 to the three state football championships in 2001, 2002 and 2005, according to Jerbi, one thing has stayed the same: the students.

“The physical building has changed a lot: the [athletic training room] was not here.

The locker rooms were different. The commons as you know it did not exist,” Jerbi said. “[But] the students here have always been great. I cannot say anything bad about the students.”

After all of his time at Prospect, Jerbi is retiring.

“Many reasons [led to my decision to retire], but basically, I’ve been involved in education for 37 years now. And it’s time to go,” Jerbi said. “It’s time to move on and get something else in my life going.”

After Prospect, Jerbi is looking forward to getting more involved in Boy Scouts, reading more and sleeping in. As an Eagle Scout himself, Jerbi is looking forward to helping out more with Boy Scouts.

SECOND HOME: P.E. Area Assistant David Jerbi reminisces on his 29 years at Prospect as he will retire this year. “That fieldhouse has been my home for the past few years, and I’m going to miss that,” Jerbi said. (photo by Lauren Miller) In Boy Scouts, Jerbi helps the scouts get their merit badges and climb through the ranks.

After a scout completes a rank, they have to do a board of review with Jerbi. During these, Jerbi and the scout go over the scout’s progress and sign off on their advancement.

“After becoming an Eagle

Scout myself, I really wanted to get more involved [in Boy Scouts],” Jerbi said. “Now I can do what I really want to do.”

According to Assistant Principal Jovan Lazarevic, it will be hard to see Jerbi retire.

Working as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for most of his time at Prospect, Jerbi

hopes to have made a positive impact on the students.

According to Lazarevic, Jerbi has been able to help students in sports and P.E. alike.

“I hope that I have helped [students] in the training room by getting them back from their injuries,” Jerbi said. “I hope, from the P.E. end, that I’ve taught them some responsibility [by] keeping them accountable.”

Not only has Jerbi impacted Prospect, but Prospect has also taught him a few things.

Throughout his time at Prospect, Jerbi developed a sense of patience along with time management. Jerbi also made lasting connections with students and staff who will be hard to leave.

“I think [I’m going to miss] the students and the staff that I’ve worked with the most,” Jerbi said. “The field house has been my home for the past few years, and I’m going to miss that, too.”

Jerbi hopes to be remembered positively at Prospect.

“Hopefully I’ll be remembered as someone who cared,” Jerbi said. “I care about the students, and hopefully I made a difference in their life. That’s all I am hoping for.”

2

May 29, 2015

prospectornow.com

News

Cops seek to minimize tension

By Mike Stanford Copy Editor

Freshman Leo Garkisch sat in his eighth hour Honors Written and Oral Communications (HWOC) class, careful to keep his spine flat against his chair. After all, he didn’t want to get on the bad side of the guest speaker.

The speaker’s occupation demanded respect, but with his job came authority, which was daunting.

Garkisch’s HWOC class was listening a police officer talk to the students about teen drinking. In retrospect, Garkisch realizes he had no reason to be afraid, but also thinks part of his perception stems from what he considers a slightly frayed relationship between police and teenagers.

However, in spite of occasional strained interactions with teenagers, the Mount Prospect Police Department (MPPD) has a generally positive relationship with the community; they received a 93 percent approval rating in a 2013 police survey. Still, local law enforcement is working to improve perceptions of police in the wake of national controversies, especially amongst teenagers.

“We definitely have an uphill battle,” said MPPD Officer Gregory Sill. “We have media, TV and movies portraying police as bad guys a lot of times because that makes [for] good [ratings], but really we’re trying to show we’re looking to help out.”

To combat national negativity towards police, the MPPD tries to show citizens how the department benefits the community through social media

In case you missed it: Students shine in local film fest

Locker decoration tradition ends

GOOD COP, BAD COP: Two Mount Prospect police officers pose for a picture during the Susan

G. Komen Walk for Breast Cancer. The MPPD regularly makes efforts to connect with the community to combat negative media attention on police. (photo courtesy of Gregory Sill)

and by standing guard at community events like the Susan G. Komen Walk for Breast Cancer. “[People] have to understand that there [are] two sides of the story,” Sill said. “Some of those stories and those negative portrayals drive people’s opinions of police and of our department. In turn, we have to work even harder to make sure we go above and beyond and [share] information as far as the good things we are doing.”

When trying to connect with teenagers, negative press is combined with preexisting notions. “[Teens] get the bad idea that police don’t like teenagers,” Sill said. “That’s just the common misconception, [when] in fact, that’s not the case at all.”

Sill believes the MPPD is able to make a strong connection with elementary and mid-

TRICK-OR-TREAT: A member of the MPPD (right) talks to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. This interaction is one of many ways that the police department works with the community. (photo courtesy of Gregory Sill)

Sill believes the MPPD has dle school students through initiatives like Officer Friend- strengthened its bond with ly. However, once high school teenagers through recent camrolls around, officers do not paigns and also says the MPPD have as many opportunities to has a strong bond with comvisit students, so a disconnect munity members of all ages.

However, it continues to try to forms.

To bridge the gap, the MPPD connect with civilians simply is working to engage more teen- by interacting with them as agers through social media, much as possible.

Sill experiences the benewhere Officer Friendly recentfits of the ly joined strong conTwitter and Officer Friendly nection Instagram on social media on a daily (see “Offibasis both cer Friend@Officer_Friendly_MPPD when citily on social zens place media” for @OfcrFriendlyMP trust in poa glimpse lice to proof his actect them counts). Ofand when ficers are also encouraged to interact the MPPD receives positive with teenagers while on duty feedback.

On April 29, a woman left a whenever possible, whether it be at a park or in the class- comment on the MPPD’s Facebook page about a recent interroom. “[We are] building this re- action with an officer. She was lationship where teenagers playing on her front lawn with are seeing a police officer as a her son when a cop stopped by person, not necessarily as the to talk to them, even letting her son sit in the police car and law,” Sill said.

Garkisch believes the MP- turn on the lights.

“Those moments are what PD’s visit to his HWOC class validate that we are making [a] had the intended effect.

“Most of the time when you great community connection,” see police officers on the street, Sill said.

While positive feedback it’s not necessarily for good reasons,” Garkisch said. “But makes officers feel their duty in school you see that they’re is worthwhile, national critnot just these mean guys who icism often has the opposite effect. take down the bad guys.”

“While in a sense [national Junior Andrew Pittman agrees, and says that he has criticism] hurts and it’s sad to been treated with respect in all see, we know that we’re doing interactions with the MPPD. our job, serving our communiWhen he was in middle school, ty and doing the right thing,” he and his friends were play- Sill said. “As [negative reports ing with air soft guns at Owen are] coming in, we know that’s Park. An officer arrived on the not us. That’s not Mount Prosscene and told them they had pect police. People are upset at to stop, but Pittman was sur- the badge or the patch in genprised because he was under- eral, [but] it’s not a personal attack by any means.” standing rather than rude.

CHEATING: Pressure tests honesty CONTINUED from front page

but receive no credit for it.

“I think the problem that we’re running into now is that you have students who are then going to take a test who have never looked at the material [and] who have never processed the material,” Schnell said. “[They’re] just getting it from somebody else, turning it in and then coming up to you after a test and going like, ‘I don’t know why I’m doing so poorly on the tests.’”

Sophomore Alex Hasse is against cheating for that reason. Hasse believes cheating is eventually detrimental for the cheater.

“By cheating you don’t really learn anything; you [just] get a good grade,” Hasse said. “It’s going to be harder for [cheaters] later on because [they] won’t understand what’s going on.”

Jackson cheats mostly on tests by looking at other people’s papers, or if it

is an iPad test, switching tabs and looking up the answer. She believes it comes from wanting to do well in school.

“I definitely feel that you want to be the best that you can be, so if it means [looking] up something on your iPad or [looking] over at the person sitting next you, [so be it],” Jackson said. “I almost feel like if you go to more extreme ways to cheat, you’re almost more dedicated because you want to do well, so you’ll figure out loopholes on how to do well.”

Schnell acknowledges that part of the reason for students cheating is the pressure put on by schools nationally, not specifically Prospect.

“We put a lot of emphasis on grades,” Schnell said. “[There is] a lot of emphasis on, ‘You have to have this done at this time. You have to have this completed,’ and I think we do stress some students out. Therefore they feel, ‘I have to cheat because I have to get this done. I have to get the grade. I have to keep things

going.’”

Ninety-seven percent of students agree that the focus of students has become grades rather than education.

Because of this focus, Jackson believes that cheating can be justifiable because of all the activities, AP classes and ACT preparation she has to juggle.

“I don’t think cheating makes you a bad person or that you’re ruined for the rest of your life,” Jackson said. “But I just think you want to do good, [and] the only way to do it is to cheat.”

But Schnell believes cheating is inexcusable.

“I think [cheating is not justifiable] because [it’s] a decision to not be honest and fair with what’s going on,” Schnell said. “And I do think ultimately most cheaters get caught, not by the teacher, but it catches up to them [through] a test, or an essay or a class discussion.

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“I almost feel like if you go to more extreme ways to cheat, you’re almost more dedicated because you want to do well, so you’ll figure out loopholes on how to do well.” anonymous junior in the long run.”

Although McDermott understands that students are stressed, he urges them to consider one question.

“Ultimately the way I look at things is, and I try to say something similar to this to my own children, ‘Is that a conversation you want to have with me at the end of the day as your dad?... Is it something you can defend?’” McDermott said.

prospectornow.com

May 29, 2015

News

3

There’s 104 days of summer school Students find countless local academic options

classes as well.

While classes and residency can cost between $2,000 and Almost every student would $5,000, students can apply to exagree with sophomore Nicole perience learning in a different Tortorello when she says sum- atmosphere. “[Classes at Northwestern] mer vacation can’t come soon really showed me what colenough.

“Knowing that there isn’t lege was like,” freshman David much time left of school and Fang said. “I got to learn the curriculum how a college stuthat sumdent would.” mer is Fang has takDistrict 214 summer coming is en an economics so stressschool options and an archiful,” tecture class at Tortorel• Shark Tank Business Northwestern lo said.

Challenge and plans on tak“It’s time • When Chicago was ing an internato start Hollywood: History of tional relations hanging the Industry in Chicago class this sumout with mer.

• Wall Street Survivor: The friends If students Fundamentals of Investand makare looking for a ing ing plans more local, less • Think, Exist: An Introducfor sumexpensive altertion to Philosophy mer.” native that can But provide high there are still a few weeks of school school credit, they can drive before students can rest. a few miles down to Rolling While some students like Tor- Meadows High School where a torello see summer break as variety of classes are offered to much-needed time away from students in the district over the teachers, tests and homework, summer.

District 214 offers two difsome students opt for a head start on the upcoming school ferent semesters; the first seyear by taking summer classes. mester is from June 15 to July 2 Every year, students can and the second semester being register to take summer en- from July 6 to July 23. Classes richment classes, which are are from 7:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m solely for a learning expe- with a break in the middle of rience. These are offered at the day.

Other students enroll for Rolling Meadows High School through the Talent Develop- classes known as “bridge classment Program for around $75. es.” These classes are for stuMany colleges, such as North- dents who wish to jump from western University, offer these regular classes to honors or

By Amber Alerta News Editor

OHM, SWEET OHM: Freshman David Fang and friends build a bridge for a contest in

their physics class at Northwestern University. This is one of the many enrichment programs that are available to students during the summer. (photo courtesy of David Fang)

Advanced Placement classes and incoming freshman looking to prepare for the high school experience.

“In summer school they are fitting a whole semester of work for a class into just a few weeks,” Tortorello said. “The pace was faster. It prepared me for the speed of classes and how being in high school works.”

Because the intensity and pace of summer school classes are often similar to those of a high school class, Tortorello was able to properly adjust to her Accelerated Honors Geometry class. However, despite the intensity, Tortorello says that her class was only in the morning and three weeks long. This left time for her to spend time with her friends and enjoy her summer vacation.

But not all summer school is for catching up and preparing

for high school. For some, summer school is an opportunity to get a head start on their requirements.

“I knew [Personal Finance] fulfilled a graduation requirement, and I really wanted to just get it out of the way,” Freshman Carter Bellows said.

“Now I have more open electives later in high school when there are more opportunities for classes I wanted to take.”

Students also opt to spend time over the summer getting ready for their ACT test.

However, despite the fact that District 214 does not offer any summer ACT prep classes, many students still choose to study via tutors and learning centers such Academic Tutoring Center in Park Ridge. Here, they offer individual tutoring for $1200 for 8 weeks and group tutoring for $495 for six weeks.

Another option is Huntington

Learning Center in Arlington Heights where individual tutoring is offered in a 10-hour program and a 28-program costing between $65-$85 per hour.

“I have heard good things from students,” College and Career Counselor Diane Bourn said. “[Students] really go to these companies more for the honing in on a specific sub-test [on the ACT].”

According to Fang, while summer vacation is an excellent time to get ahead on academics of all sorts, it’s important that students remember that it is a time for break.

“There’s that saying about all work and no play,” Fang said. “Even though summer school is helpful, it’s nice to relax and hang out with friends without having to wake up at six in the morning for school the next day.”

4

May 29, 2015

prospectornow.com

Opinion

Staff Editorial

Cheating culture overpowering Ninety-seven percent of Prospect students believe grades, not education, is the focus of school. Twenty-six percent of students admit to copying a peer’s exam, and 78 percent admit to acquiring information regarding an exam prior to taking it. (For more, see “Prospect cheating statistics” on the front page.)

Cheating is rampant, but it’s occurring on a sliding scale. Some view simply asking what to expect from a test as cheating. Others don’t believe it’s wrong unless they’re literally writing the answers on their arms.

However, no matter the level of severity, “cheating” stems from a common cause.

Prospect is a nationally acclaimed

high school with high academic goals. Despite reassurances that students don’t have to be perfect, they often feel an immense pressure to do well in their classes.

That’s coupled with that with emphasis on grades – from administrators and peers alike – and looming college admissions, and a culture that doesn’t blink twice at cheating in any form. Perfect breeding ground for cheating: enter stage left.

Moreover, when everyone’s cheating, it’s hard not to. In fact, it seems almost like a natural disadvantage goes to those who don’t cheat, not that an immoral advantage goes to those who do.

In many cases, cheating isn’t a

substitute for knowledge; rather, it’s a supplement – a buffer zone between a student and a B. This way, they can be certain they know the material that will be graded. For all practical purposes, tests have become communal in nature.

This doesn’t excuse blatant cheating, or even subtler forms. However, it offers an explanation for their popularity beyond the simple suggestion that students are lazy and poses an important question: when is culture the culprit of cheating, and when does blame truly fall on the student?

It is unfair to vilify individuals for strategies that nearly every student has participated in. However, when students use cheating to truly “cheat”

– in the sense that they do so to avoid knowledge, not cement it – it’s not only inexcusable; it’s impossible to empathize with.

We, the Prospector, believe that cheating is wrong no matter how minor. However, students share the blame with the culture that drives them to do it.

It’s easy to accuse students of being lazy. It’s easy to rely on moral dichotomies and pronounce students evil the second they turn a solo assignment into group work. However, doing so will solve little. In order to create a Prospect with true moral integrity, we must step back, look at the factors that create this cheating culture and start to pick them apart.

Yuki’s tree reminder to never forget him They say that when you’re yellow house in Vernon Hills. about to die, your life flashes Yuki enrolled at Stevenson and, because he couldn’t speak before your eyes.

English fluently, took classes in I have no idea what kind of experience this would be. Con- the school’s English Language sidering the closest thing I’ve Learning Program.

He also enrolled in the Fuever had to a near-death experience was last week’s math test, tabakai Japanese Saturday School, which is how I got I don’t even know if it’s true. to know him. We But there have weren’t best friends; been countless testiin fact, I never saw monies and personal him apart from the stories of those who, once a week at Futwhen faced with a abakai. But because sudden, life-threatthere were only 12 ening incident, vivkids in our grade, idly see past memme and Yuki interories stream past acted a lot, and I got their consciousness: to know him pretty the feeling of your well over the course mother’s hands pickElai Kobayashiof around a year ing you up from the Solomon and a half. kitchen floor when Opinion Editor It was the Hirayayou were just an inmas’ first spring fant, the smell of your father’s burned Sunday break in the United States.

They decided to visit the West morning pancakes.

Yuki didn’t have enough Coast on a sightseeing trip to time to see anything, though. It the Grand Canyon. A truly happened in an instant. Proba- American experience.

March 28, 2014. They were bly, the only thing he saw was driving in a black Chrysler van black.

The accident happened on U.S. Route 160, just outside around a year ago. I first heard Flagstaff, Arizona.

A maroon Ford pickup about it in the car ride back home from school. It was the truck, traveling close to 100 first day back after spring mph, was barrelling down the break, and I was complaining road in the opposite direction. to my dad about homework or It was being chased by the Nasomething when suddenly, at a vajo Police Department after red light, he turned around and multiple reports that the vehicle was driving erratically. told me the news.

It happened in a matter of Yuki Hirayama had only just moved with his family from seconds. The truck crossed the Japan to the United States at center line. It hit the Hirayathe beginning of the 2013-2014 mas’ car head-on. Both vehischool year. His father, Tomohi- cles burst into flames.

Yuki and his parents died ro, had landed a job at Yasukawa Electric in Waukegan, and instantly. Rinka was the only 16-year-old Yuki, along with his one to survive the crash.

When my dad told me about parents and nine-year-old sister Rinka, had packed their be- the incident, it was hard for longings and moved to a small, me to fully understand what

The Staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Krzys Chwala Shreya Thakkar COPY EDITORS Diana Leane Mike Stanford ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Grace Berry Marci Kiszkiel ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Caroline Binley ONLINE MANAGING EDITORS Lauren Miller

MEMORIES: My Futabakai classmates pose after the annual field day. Yuki Hirayama (far left) and his parents lost their lives last spring in a car accident. (photo courtesy of Asami Kobayashi-Solomon) he meant. Just a week or so before, I had beaten Yuki at a game of blackjack. He had let me borrow his pencil because I forgot to bring one. He had laughed at my failed attempts to throw a ball of paper across the room into a recycling bin.

Yuki couldn’t laugh any more, though. He couldn’t play another hand of blackjack. He couldn’t go to fencing practice.

He couldn’t help me with my homework. He couldn’t spin his pen around his thumb in an endless, mesmerizing loop. And it was hard for me to respond to this realization. To make sense what it really meant.

Only when we got home did I go up to my room and react in the only way that I really knew how: I cried.

But there was something else, too. It wasn’t just sadness.

Mixed in with the grief was a feeling of helplessness and of anger.

Although I knew there was

nothing to really be mad at, I couldn’t help but feel furious towards the world that had, without hesitation, ended the life of a 16-year-old with so much left to experience, so much life left to live. I couldn’t help but feel angry at the cruelty and injustice of a world that had snatched Yuki away from everything he knew in Japan and thrust him into the middle of an unknown, lonely world, only to cut his life horribly short.

To tell you the truth, I wasn’t even planning to write this story. As I said before, I knew Yuki, but not that well.

I can’t begin to imagine what his best friend at Futabakai went through. It’s impossible to fathom the feelings of Rinka, the lone survivor of the crash, who now lives in Japan with her grandparents. I didn’t think that I’d be able to do him justice and I was right; this column certainly doesn’t.

Molly Mueller

James Estrella III

VISUALS EDITOR Cassidy Selep

ONLINE EXECUTIVE EDITORS Alyssa Duetsch Ryan Molini

FEATURES EDITORS Flynn Geraghty Jess Darcy Caley Griebonow

ONLINE EDITOR Anna Indelli BROADCAST EDITOR Eric Schultz NEWS EDITORS Riley Langefeld Amber Alerta Jordan DuShane Jack Gabriel OPINION EDITORS Bridgette Jasinski

IN-DEPTH EDITORS Rachel Parks Jack Ryan Kelsey Philippe ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Isabelle Rodgers Cassidy Delahunty Garrett Strother SPORTS EDITORS Devin Prasad Jack Ankony Ben Dojutrek

STAFF WRITERS Elai Kobayashi-Solomon Katy Ryan Shannon Smith ADVISER Jason Block Mission Statement The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news as well as explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, the Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions. The Prospector is published by students in Journalistic Writing courses.

But it’s been around a year and two months since the accident, and with all the homework and school and activities, I realized I had slowly started to forget about Yuki. And if there’s something I’ve learned from this incident, it’s the importance to not forget. To not let Yuki and his parents become just another statistic in the Arizona state record books.

To remember that Yuki was a living, breathing person that I had talked and laughed with.

A couple weeks after the accident, we planted a tree outside of our classroom at Futabakai. It’s a peach tree, and we named it Yuki’s tree; in Japanese, the “ki” in Yuki’s name means “tree” and “yuki” means courage.

Last week, I noticed a couple of little pink buds had appeared on the end of one of the branches. The buds were filled with sadness, but also with memories and hope.

Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

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Letters to the Editor Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in Rm. 216 or email letters to prospectornow@ gmail.com. All letters must be signed. Limit letters to 400 words.

The Prospector reserves the right to edit letters for style and length.

prospectornow.com

Opinion

The girl with the peace sign tattoo Judgmental attitudes harbor negatives against the unique

Looking past the “outer mask” and lead to a lack of ignoring ridiculous rumors, you have confidence, possithe opportunity to meet the real Kupitz. ble depression, Kupitz enjoys photography, fashion social developand tattoos, all deep and expressive art ment problems and forms. Run and hide, she’s an artist.

She values her family and is best even suifriends with her 9-year-old brother, a cide Though definite sign of an ex-convict.

Her buzzed hair isn’t a rebellious anti-bulI will never forget my first encoun- cry against conformity. She buzzed her lying hair in order to support the programs ter with Sam Kupitz. It was have alSt. Baldrick’s foundation. our freshman year, and we Most terrifying of all, ready were both standing in the Kupitz used to be a huge fan drilled commons minutes before the those facts of Rachael Ray. sixth period bell rang. Out of our Though Kupitz is the re- into the corner of my eye, I saw a what incarnation of Kat Von D heads, girl lift up the corner of her many people fail there is an overabundance of shirt, revealing a black peace negative responses that her to realize is that sign tattoo on her left hip spreading rumors and “look” has accumulated over bone. The aura of rebellion being closed-minded the years. surrounding her drew my atIn eighth grade, a spunky, negatively affects not tention.

Bridgette Jasinski blue-haired Kupitz had her only the judged, but That is not what I won’t Executive spirits broken after learning the judgmental as well. forget, though. What is reOpinion Editor that a friend’s mother forbid It is an excellent way grettably memorable about the friendship to continue, to miss out on learning this particular encounter is that as I was admiring this tattooed and assumed that Kupitz’s appearance someone else’s story, even made her a “bad influence.” For the if it’s unconventional and 14-year-old, I heard a disgusted huff.

Two girls were staring, eyebrows same neon blue do, Kupitz’s club volley- different.

“You learn from other raised and noses scrunched. I couldn’t ball coach threatened to expel her from people’s differences, and difhelp but hear the garbage they began to the team.

If judgment from adults wasn’t ferences is what keeps people together, dump out of their mouths. enough mistreatment for Kupitz, the keeps us interesting, keeps us chang“I heard she was in prison.” ing,” Kupitz said.

“Oh my gosh yeah, it was because negative response “Everyone she threatened her mom with a knife or from peers took its Sam’s fashion favorites is differtoll.

Throughout something.” ent, and middle school she “What a freak.”

1. Doc Martins that’s what The bell rang, disrupting the anger was bullied be2. Gauges makes us that was beginning to boil inside my cause of her 3. Red Lipstick so similar.” “look.” head.

The acThe rumors Kupitz has never been in prison. She ceptance critical has never threatened her mother and and of others’ of despite other rumors, is not addicted to judgments differences Kupitz eventualhard drugs. may have Initial judgment based on a person’s ly left her strugallowed Kupitz to appearance seems to deter people from gling through social ignore painful rumors and cruelties. sion. getting to know somebody who may anxiety as well as depresAccording to bullyingstatistics.org, Despite judgment, Kupitz refuses to turn out being fantastic. Though often unintentional, such judgment means the effects that rumors have on teens give up her unique sense of style and missing out on meeting a variety of in- range in severity, though the effects takes great pride in her individuality.

Kupitz recently added to her groware not unlike that of Kupitz. Rumors teresting people.

May 29, 2015

5

THINK INK: Junior

Sam Kupitz shows her peace sign tattoo. Her edgy style has led to misjudgment and false rumors that put down her individuality. (photo

by Lauren Miller)

ing collection of tattoos two black and white roses on her left shoulder. The roses look beautiful, and they got me thinking.

Before a rose blooms, the plant appears to be a terrible bush of painful thorns. Then the hidden, gentle flower is revealed.

The rose is like a silent sentiment to judgment. Those who only see the thorns assume the rose plant is a horrible sight, however those who are patient enough to wait for the bloom of the rose see how lovely it truly is.

As for those who were not patient enough to see past her outer thorns, I assure you that judgment of Kupitz has led you to miss out on meeting a wonderful girl.

‘Dugging’ through the problems of television At the tender age of 5, I was a different person. I hated vegetables, Spider-Man was my favorite Avenger, and I wanted kids. So many kids, in fact, that I’d need a school bus to chaperone them all. Looking back, it seems my earliest life goal was to be “19 Kids and Counting” star Michelle Duggar.

Thankfully, a lot has changed in the 12 years since then. I outgrew my youthful dreams in Caroline Binley time to feel real Online terror when “17 Editor-In-Chief Kids and Counting” premiered in 2008. Though I’ve never been a fan of the show, the past week has left me disgusted.

Michelle and Jim Duggar’s oldest son, Josh, has publicly admitted to molesting his sisters when he was 14 or 15.

He’s since apologized, but as you might imagine, simply saying “sorry” and reminding crowds that Jesus forgives isn’t enough to resolve this scandal.

In fact, that even the Duggars’ fellow Christian fundamentalist have turned on them. Zsuzsanna Anderson, a pastor’s wife whose proposed AIDS-free Christmas project includes murdering every gay man and woman on the planet, understands child molestation is a problem. If she can figure it out, the Duggars should be able to do the same.

“Should” being the operative word.

When Josh first told his parents about his behavior, they did not do so much as

FAMILY PHOTO: The Duggar family, stars of “19 Kids and Counting,”

pose for a family portrait. Their oldest son, Josh Duggar, has come under fire for molesting his younger sisters. contact a counselor. When allegations reached the police four years later, they kept charges from being pressed. Now that his actions are public, the family continues to stand by Josh.

Thankfully, this lowers our chances of getting a season 11, as most advertisers are pulling their support and many fans have done the same. Unfortunately, cancelling the TV won’t erase the reality.

The situation is the equivalent of a 10-car pile up; no matter how horrible, we can’t look away. And maybe we shouldn’t. Just like “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” or “Real Housewives of Orange County,” I’m sure portions of “19 Kids and Counting” were fabricat-

ed. Fans aren’t just watching a scandal unfold -- for the first time, they’re starting to see the Duggars’ reality.

There’s irony here, for sure. The Duggars are best known for the religious convictions that prompt their baby-crazy lifestyle. They’re quite captivated by the ideas of sin and Hellfire, and they’re even veterans of the Values Bus Virginia campaign, a political campaign that encourages young people to vote based on “traditional” values.

However, they certainly aren’t as pure as they preach.

The first fault being, well, their preaching.

The Duggars are part of a fundamentalist Christian sect called Quiv-

erfull. They’ve used it as an excuse to vilify birth control, reduce women to baby-making machines and even liken abortion to a “baby holocaust.”

Hand-holding, certain to invoke the wrath of God, is banned until engagement. Kissing, also a one-way ticket to Hell, isn’t allowed until marriage.

The rest seems like a never ending list of absurdities.

Jim ran for U.S. Senate in 2002, the same year Josh’s sisters endured his abuse. Jim lost the nomination, but not before he suggested that capital punishment is the best treatment for incest, something that might seem hypocritical in hindsight.

Michelle crusaded against Arkansas’ Ordinance 119, a horrific piece of legislation that promoted such crimes as letting trans men and women enter restrooms aligned with their gender identities. Unfortunately, she was successful; the ordinance was overturned.

In addition to his aforementioned offenses, Josh has defended homophobic comments right and left. Most notably, he stood against “radical gay groups” in defense of “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson and Chick-Fil-A’s CEO. These are the Duggars’ realities, more so than any smile for a camera.

They’re dark, twisted and discriminatory, despite their Godfearing front.

The scary thing is that unlike the endless drama we stream on our flatscreens, overlap between righteousness and bigotry has can take root in Mt. Prospect. In some individuals, it’s clear that it already has. As a consequence, we need to be careful to draw the line between beliefs and hatred in our own lives.

prospectornow.com

May 29, 2015

Features

Returning to the Motherland Ermioni, Greece

By Grace Berry

Associate Editor-In-Chief

.

Senior Demi Burikas traveled to Ermioni, Greece last summer to visit family (pictured). She loves going to the beach and eating at restaurants on the Agean Sea. (photo courtesy of Demi Burikas)

Just hold on, we’re going home Kazanlak and Yambol, Bulgaria

. .

Junior Janeta Yancheva visited her family in Bulgaria last summer. Yancheva has family in both Kazanlak and Yambol, Bulgaria to see her mom and dad’s family. (photo courtesy of Janeta Yancheva)

Senior Demi Burikas was baptized in Greece when she was one year old. She and her 27-year-old brother, Demetri, were named after her dad’s parents, so they were baptized there to honor them.

Many students travel to different countries to see their families and friends over the summer. Their family’s heritage and culture can shape some of their experiences.

Burikas admits she didn’t always appreciate her visits to Greece as a kid.

“When I was little, it was just kind of like, ‘Oh, we’re going to visit family,’ and, ‘This is a cool beach,’” Burikas said. “I never really got to understand it and appreciate it.”

Burikas is 100 percent Greek, and both her parents have family in Greece. She went back every two years when she was younger, but she doesn’t have as many opportunities to return in high school.

Her most recent trip was last summer, and that was when she learned how much she loves Greece. She enjoys the laid-back culture and all the people because they’re friendly.

“Being able to travel to Greece makes you realize what’s out there in the world,” Burikas said. “It kind of opens your eyes because it’s such a different lifestyle from here in

America and even my own lifestyle. [If I didn’t go,] I wouldn’t be aware of how other people lived.”

Junior Janeta Yancheva was born in Bulgaria and lived there until she was three-yearsold. She agrees that knowing another culture makes her more aware about the world. “[Being Bulgarian] is something different,” Yancheva said. “I feel like I know more about the world in a way because it’s just one more culture that I know more about.”

Yancheva speaks Bulgarian fluently and went to Bulgarian school until she was a freshman. Most of her family still lives there except her immediate family and her aunt and uncle. Her last visit to Bulgaria was last summer.

She loves visiting to see her family and going to the Black Sea. Yancheva explained the atmosphere is different in Bulgaria, and everyone is more family oriented.

Like Yancheva, Burikas looks mostly forward to seeing family in Greece. Her mom’s family lives in Northern Greece, but she stays with her dad’s family at the bottom of the mainland in a town called Ermioni.

“It’s so cool because I go back [to Greece,] and [my family and I] just start back where we left off,” Burikas said.

Burikas loves how every time she goes to Greece she

6

sees something new. She hopes one day she can spend summers in Greece and the rest of her time in the U.S. “I have family [in Greece,] and I can stay with them, and I have people that I know,” Burikas said. “It’s not just a foreign place to me. It’s kind of like a second home.”

Burikas explained her life would be very different if she wasn’t Greek. She goes to a Greek Orthodox church where she met some of her best friends, and she can become friends with someone just because they share a connection to Greece.

Yancheva loves having another culture in her life and believes it has taught her a lot. “[Being Bulgarian] has taught [me] to really value where you’re from and not to forget where you’re from,” Yancheva said. “It’s important to know where you’re from to know yourself.”

She appreciates her culture and believes everyone should have a connection to their heritage.

“I feel like everybody should know where they come from and have some sort of connection [to their heritage],” Yancheva said. “If you don’t speak [the language] at home or you don’t go [to the country you have a connection with] during the summer, you kind of lose that part of you that’s really you.”

Disability more than meets the ear Student overcomes hearing challenges to thrive in educational environment

By Caley Griebenow Features Editor

Walking through the hallways of Lincoln Middle School, words like “stupid”, “weird,” and “deaf and dumb,” were thrown at now-senior Haley Drucker. To her, the comments were made on a personal level because they were made from people she knew.

“It stung, what people said to me,” Drucker said. “I’ve blocked out the worst of it.”

While middle school can be notorious for bullying, Haley was perceived an easy target because of a small electronic device that is visible on her right ear, which made her different than the others.

Drucker is one of approximately 38,000 children in the U.S. who have a hearing implant, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Haley was born completely deaf, and she was only 18 months old when she had surgery to have a cochlear implant inserted underneath her skin, so she does not remember life before the implant.

While the implant has tremendously helped Haley in communicating and interacting without the use of sign language, it can cause some frustration for Haley. When the batteries are low, the implant doesn’t function as well, making hearing difficult. Group con-

versations are especially challenging because the implant can pick up extraneous noises, which can be frustrating for Haley. Although she knows American Sign Language (ASL), she rarely uses it because not many people know it.

“It was hard to cope at a young age, because I knew I wasn’t like everyone else,” Drucker said. “People would take advantage of me. They would literally talk behind my back. They would make jokes.”

The bullying continued into high school, where people called Haley names and using her disability to single her out and isolate her.

“There was this pattern of me finding a group of friends, then one of the girls would decide she doesn’t like me,” Drucker said. “They would stop talking to me, and I would have to start all over.”

Looking back, Haley knows that the bullies shaped the person she is today.

“It made me a stronger person,” Druker said. “The bullies can walk a thousand miles in my shoes and then call me.”

According to her mom, Leslie Drucker, Haley never let those comments weigh her down.

“Every time she was knocked down, she stood back up and kept going,” Leslie said. “She really is a strong person, stronger than she realizes.”

While being deaf makes her differ-

Facts about cochlear implants -They give deaf people a realistic representation of sounds and help them understand speech -Most deaf children receive the implant before 18 months -It works by bypassing damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, -It’s very different than a hearing aid; a hearing aid amplifies sound information courtesy of National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders

ent, it provides Haley with experiences she would not have had otherwise. She was able to meet kids who shared her struggles. Haley attended Child’s Voice, a school for the deaf and blind, from ages 2 to 7.

At Child’s Voice, the kids worked on the production of sound, forming full sentences and not relying on sign language. After several years of hard work, the class of about 10 kids lined up in the front of the classroom, in their cap and gowns, and had a graduation ceremony. The ceremony signified that the kids would be able to communicate with kids their age.

Drucker also had the opportunity to attend Camp Lions, a camp for the deaf and blind, when she was 13 and 14, which had a huge impact on Drucker’s perception of herself.

“That was the first time I really realized I wasn’t the only one, that other people are having the same feelings,” Haley said.

Because Haley is very functional and independent, Leslie sometimes forgets her daughter is deaf, but little things snap her back into reality.

“I’ll be watching TV, and my husband will try to talk to me from the kitchen, and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God! I can’t hear anything!’’ Leslie said. “So I, even as her mother, can’t imagine what it’s like for Haley to cope with this everyday.”

“It took me a long time to accept the fact that I have implants,” Haley said.

“But hearing loss is a part of me. I can’t change that. It’s who I am.”

Haley’s infectious positive attitude has not gone unnoticed. Math teacher Alex Budden, who served as a student teacher when Haley was a freshman and was her geometry teacher junior and senior year, was quick to see how positive Haley is.

“She’s an incredibly hard worker,” Budden said. “One time I heard her say to another girl, ‘Hey, that isn’t okay,’ when that girl made a mean comment.

She’s that kind of person.”

For Leslie, this upcoming graduation ceremony will be bittersweet. She knows that her daughter will be moving onto bigger and better

SOUND-OFF: Senior Haley Drucker sits behind her removable implant. The implant used to single her out, but now it serves as a symbol of perseverance. “Being deaf made [me] a stronger person,” Drucker said. (photo illustration by Cassidy Selep) things by pursuing her dreams, she will also leave behind the bullying and the negativity.

“I’m not happy that she’s leaving me, but I’m happy that she’s leaving Mount Prospect,” Leslie said. She needs a new surrounding. I know she’ll use her skills and be a star.”

Haley is excited to start the next chapter in her life at Illinois State University in the fall, where she will be majoring in deaf education. Her decision was influenced by her background knowledge about the subject and her desire to help those who need it.

“I can’t wait to pass on what I’ve learned to other kids, who could need it more than me. I want to be an inspiration to those kids,” Haley said. “Hearing loss is not a tragedy, it’s a gift.”

prospectornow.com

May 29, 2015

Features

7

Legendary coach returns as sub

teacher’s pension restricts him to a maximum of 500 hours of sub time annually.

After substituting at Wheeling and Stopping at a garage sale on the way home from work, former Prospect Buffalo Grove for one day each, McMorteacher Gary McMorrow made small row decided to reserve his subbing abiltalk with a man while browsing the ities for only Prospect.

“I went to Prospect as a student. I merchandise. After talking about his teaching job, the man asked McMorrow taught here for 25 years. I was head wrestling coach for 26 years. So, this is where he taught. sort of where my roots are.

They soon I know everybody. Everyrealized that body knows me,” McMorMcMorrow was “He’s just a good row said. the man’s high McMorrow says that it is school teacher. person. He definitely easy for him to get subbing The man thanked put[s] others first. jobs because teachers reMcMorrow for quest him. He is a common the effect that he What he did for his favorite sub among both had on him, as teachers and students. he used McMor- students and his Junior Preston Penningrow’s teachings ton-Sahs is one of these sturegularly in his athletes is something dents. He says day-to-day life. else.” that McMorThis man row (who many was merely one have of hundreds of Paul Hennig, students nicknamed people that Gary business teacher “G-Mac”) is McMorrow has different from impacted as a other substiteacher. tutes because After graduatof his relaxed and personal ing from Prospect in 1968, McMorrow started out teaching at John Hersey teaching style.

McMorrow’s favorabilHigh School in 1972.

He taught cooperative work training, ity is in part because he a program that helped kids who were makes a conscious effort to having trouble in school by teaching remain a part of the Prosthem about work ethic, attitude and be- pect community, despite having retired seven years ing a good employee.

McMorrow soon transferred to teach ago. When he isn’t subbing, at Prospect but continued teaching the McMorrow likes visiting same class in addition to working as a with his former co-workers.

“I still hang out in my old counselor.

He also started coaching the Pros- office in 164 with [Cathy] pect wrestling team, returning to the Fortuna and [Lance] Burmats after wrestling for Prospect when meister and [Paul] Hennig he was a student. After his retirement, and the people down there,” a major wrestling tournament held McMorrow said. “In my at Prospect was named after him: the free periods, I don’t hang Mudge-McMorrow Wrestling Invita- out in the lounge. I go back down to my old hunting tional. grounds because I feel comTeachers speak highly of him.

“I don’t know who would say some- fortable and I enjoy being thing bad about him,” business teach- with my friends.”

McMorrow’s love of er Paul Hennig said. “He’s just a good person. He definitely put[s] others first. teaching and working with What he did for his students and his kids was illustrated by his immediate move to subbing athletes is something else.”

Since Hennig came to Prospect in after retirement and the re2004, he has been working with McMor- spect that students had for row. From the first day, he attests that him.

LEAVING AN IMPACT: Substitute “You could tell that he McMorrow was a welcoming and generwas trying to help [stuteacher Gary McMorrow frequents Prospect, ous coworker. but not all students know he previously After working at Prospect for 25 dents]. When he spoke, his years, McMorrow retired in 2008. He students listened. And you taught for 25 years. He taught cooperative can tell that means [stuleft a legacy in hundreds of student learning, a class focused on work habits dents] respect him,” Henlives through his teaching and successand behavior, and later became a counselor nig said.

“He was looking ful wrestling team. (pictured top). He also coached the wrestling However, he still was not finished out for their well-being.

He did meaningful stuff in team, and later had a tournament named making his impact on Prospect.

McMorrow began subbing almost class that students knew after him (pictured middle and bottom). immediately after he retired. He subs would benefit them in the (photos courtesy of the Crest) at Prospect for about 100 days each year. future.”

This number would be higher, but his

By Riley Langefeld

Executive News Editor

Who Knows You Better?

The subjects

Favorite TV show?

Favorite Class?

Least favorite physical feature?

Favorite teacher?

The results

Northwestern University

Scooby Doo

Acting

Her eyes

JMo

Winner

Blue

Northwestern University

Once Upon a Time

Acting

Her hips

JMo

Blue

Northwestern University

Pretty Little Liars

Calculus

Her hips

JMo

4

4

4

4

Favorite color?

Junior Ryan Lakner

Blue

The Boyfriend

4

Junior Heather Pecho

Where she wants to go to college?

4

4

4

The Subject

Junior Emily Waltrich The Best Friend

Winner

8

May 29, 2015

In-Depth

prospectornow.com

STUDENTS, TEACHERS WITNESS Open arms vs. cold shoulders Some teachers share lives with students, others stay reserved

By Kelsey Philippe In-Depth Editor

On the 2013 Italian exchange, Italian teacher Lyn Scolaro received news that her father had passed away. Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to return back home until the trip was over, she decided to open up to her students and tell them the news she received.

“At that time, they were my best medicine,” Scolaro said. “They acted like my family when my family couldn’t be there. It’s hard not to open up to my students; they’ve been around for very critical parts of my life.”

Scolaro’s current seniors have also been with her through the passing of her sister’s mother-inlaw, the birth of her cousin’s child and the rest of her everyday life.

According to her, opening up with her students is the reason she is so close with them.

Student-teacher interactions vary based on how much each teacher is comfortable sharing with their students. Some teachers share more than others based on what they believe is appropriate.

“There are lines that you don’t cross, though. There are things you don’t need to talk to your students about,” Scolaro said. “You just have to be respectful about the things that you tell them and be mindful of what high schoolers should be told.”

For Scolaro, personal relationships and finances should not be discussed with students. She feels it’s okay to share with students one’s relationship status, but the more intimate details beyond shouldn’t be shared.

Senior Mickayla Bedenian, a current Italian student, doesn’t have a problem when her teachers open up in class because she feels that this allows her to retain more of the content, like in her Italian class.

“For my life in Italian class, the Italian culture is a huge part of the class, so having an Italian-American teacher really allows me to see

how they apply the culture to their classroom, and anything teachers lives in their own homes,” Bede- share may be spread around.

“You have to make sure everynian said. “It helps me to remember different aspects of the class thing you say can’t be misinteronce I have [something] to connect preted,” Shaffeld said. “You have to make it clear that what you’re saythe concept with.”

AP Psychology teacher Daria ing is opinion and not fact.”

Biology and Oceanography Schaffeld and Scolaro are similar when it comes to being open with teacher Tom Froats doesn’t feel the need to act like a student’s peer; instudents.

The desks in the psychology stead he interacts with his students classroom are arranged in a U-like through an authoritative persona.

He feels that the classroom calls shape, which allows Schaffeld to for an educator, walk around not a friend, so and engage What’s something most opening up to with her stustudents has dents better. of your students don’t never been Schaffeld know about you? important to believes very Froats. strongly in “You have opening up to “I have been to be willing her students on a four to have expecabout her perseater castations of the sonal life and students, in experiences. sena plane regard of what “I teach a over and into you want from subject about the Grand them, their humans, and I Canyon.” homework and feel that learntheir classroom ing by personbehavior,” al examples or Italian teacher Froats said. examples from “Sometimes the my life helps Lyn Scolaro students need attach meaning to be pushed to the content, “I don’t think out of their and students most of my comfort zone, will remember students and in the class[the content] know I have room everyone better,” Schafneeds to know feld said. been buntheir roles.”

For examgee jumping He feels that ple, one topic before.” it is all about covered in AP personal comPsychology is fort and what a the milestones Science teacher teacher is comof child develTom Froats fortable sharopment. Some ing. of these mile“I’ve been However, stones include skydiving, but he also agrees first words and I don’t think that if a teachsteps. my students er expects their Instead of know I hiked students to be pulling ranin Fox Glaopen, the teachdom videos off cier in New er needs to be of YouTube to Zealand open with them show as examfirst. ples in class, before.”

Social science “Its a twoshe shows her Daria Schaffeld way street, own home vidthough,” Froats eos of her son said. “I think that you want stuachieving these milestones.

“I think [teaching is] about be- dents to share about themselves ing able to communicate and how because that background gives you to be a role model,” Schaffeld said. a perspective [in order] to approach “It’s more than just teaching the that student. [It helps you] find out X’s and O’s of your subject matter.” what excites them, to find out what Shaffeld believes that teachers motivates them, to find out what have to understand that students their goals and passions are.” can repeat things mentioned in the

Positive, negative view

Teachers and students can hav other. They confessed to what they mad versus what makes their day. All

Classroom disagreements es Jack Ryan

Executive In-Depth Editor

ROTTEN APPLE: When disagreements occur between students and teachers, senior Chris Kivlahan believes nothing can be gained from them. “People seem to dislike teachers because they have nothing better to do [in school], because the class is boring or because they want attention, and nobody wins there,” Kivlahan said. (photo by

Going through lymph node surgery was hard for junior Jenny Hoening, but having to deal with issues at school was even worse. Hoening remembers coming back to school after surgery during her sophomore year and asking her teacher multiple times to give her the homework she missed, and he would always tell her to ask a classmate.

After three days of asking for her makeup work, Hoening snapped.

During class Hoening charged up to her teacher’s desk and started yelling at the top of her lungs, “I keep asking you for the work that I missed and you won’t give it to me. I asked my classmates and they don’t give it to me either. What am I suppose to do, just fail your class?”

Her teacher was shocked and kicked Hoening out of class that day. Hoening never had a good relationship with him after that. She tried to switch classes, but didn’t want to go through the whole process. (See “Failing classes left and right”) For many students and teachers, it is not unusual for student-teacher disagreements to happen, and for the relationship in the classroom to be strained. According to the National Education Association, up to

80 percent of teachers will get into a disagreem physically or verbally with a student in a school ye Social science teacher Dave Schnell has been in s ations where a student has gotten into a disagreem with him. One time a student tried to make a jok class and no one laughed. He tried to make the joke more times, and that was when Schnell sharply him to stop, resulting in the student swearing at hi From this disagreement Schnell has come to conclusion that teachers can start arguments, and t teachers need to handle these situations in a pro sional way.

“I think you can choose to become irritated or upset about [getting into a disagreement with a dent], but what I do is I try to diffuse the situation w humor … and at some point pull them off to the s when it’s not a big public moment and say, ‘You’re ing to have to drop this,’” Schnell said.

Schnell believes that before things get too perso in a disagreement, it’s important to acknowledge student’s side of the argument so no one gets offend “Hopefully [both of us] can acknowledge that b of us have valid points of view, but that we’re not n essarily going to walk away [from this disagreem with a full compromise,” Schnell said.

Although some disagreements occur, Schnell wa his students to voice their opinions. He appreciates

prospectornow.com

May 29, 2015

In-Depth

9

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

ws of students, teachers

ve different emotions about each y do to each other that makes them negative comments are anonymous.

Supportive student-teacher relationships bring inspiration, motivation

By Rachel Parks

Executive In-Depth Editor The summer before freshman year, senior Tommy Mathews met cross country coach Erik Hodges.

While Mathews, Hodges and the other freshmen were running together, Hodges broke the silence and asked the runners what they did that summer.

“The first thing I said was that I didn’t wear deodorant for three weeks, and that was his first impression of me,” Mathews said.

“Ever since then, we’ve always been able to joke around with each other.”

Currently, the only senior distance runners are Mathews and Michael Anderson. Hodges has known both since they were freshmen and has enjoyed seeing them grow over the years.

Hodges says his relationship with the runners is on a level of mutual respect; he never talks down to them.

He thinks his close relationship with the runners has facilitated good communication and has been helpful for the team. Social science teacher Frank Mirandola agrees that having a close relationship with students can be beneficial, as he has seen with leaders of the Underground (the U).

“Any time you work with students who are invested so heavily in something, it is natural for a relationship to develop where there is a lot of trust and respect,” Mirandola said.

U leader and senior Sam Garcia agrees that having a close relationship with Mirandola has been helpful for the program. “[Our relationship has] allowed us to open up our ideas and open up our minds to the bigger picture,” Garcia said. “With him being such a supporting factor [of The U], people trust him. They trust us. It allows us to reach for the stars.”

Mirandola thinks that without

BREAKING BARRIERS: Senior Tommy Mathews poses with

cross country coach Erik Hodges and his wife (top), while senior Sam Garcia poses with track coach Frank Mirandola. (bottom) Both students show through their sports how they were inspired by their coaches. (photos courtesy of Mathews and Sam Garcia)

his positive relationships with students, they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish things like winning best student section in the state.

“The U leaders this year energized me to continue to push the envelope and push the boundaries of what people think is possible,” Mirandola said. “And in doing so, we’ve found new possibilities that weren’t thought of in prior years.”

In addition to benefiting the program, Garcia also believes that Mirandola has been a role model for him.

“I would’ve lost that drive to keep moving forward [if I wasn’t close with him],” Garcia said.

“Having him on my side has allowed me to strive [for] my goals and reach for bigger things. In a way, he’s a role model, and he’s really taught me how to be a leader.”

Senior Dema Govalla says art teacher Barbara Shaffer pushed him to become a better artist. He went from a trouble maker freshman year to a student who takes art seriously. “[She’s given me] the knowledge that I’m good at something, and

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students’ inputs with all topics, such as religion.

However, Schnell doesn’t like when a student doesn’t put effort into their work, and senior Chris Kivlahan does not like when teachers do not put effort into teaching. Often times, this can be why an argument may occur.

Kivlahan has experienced disagreements with teachers, including this year in his AP Government class, when he got into a disagreement with AP Government teacher Mike Sebestyen.

According to Kivlahan, after the disagreement occurred, his relationship with Sebestyen soured, he spoke less in class and Sebestyen would only talk to him if it was necessary. Kivlahan feels that the disagreement caused that class to be the most tense he has ever been.

Sebestyen was not shocked by this disagreement like some teachers might have been because he expects disagreements to occur in a class like AP Government where the topics are debatable.

Sebestyen knew Kivlahan was a student who liked to debate, and he did not take the disagreement to heart.

Like Schnell, Sebestyen thinks the best way to handle a disagreement between a student and him is by maintaining a professional element in the classroom.

Even though Kivlahan may not like a teacher, he

tries not to inconvenience them while they’re teaching because he doesn’t see the point of it. He prefers to handle disagreements between a teacher and him one-on-one instead of ruining other people’s class experience.

“My general philosophy is if [a disagreement gets] to the point where you are disrupting stuff, it’s a problem,” Kivlahan said. “[If you do that], all [relationships between the student and the teacher] is lost and it doesn’t tend to be worth it.”

For Hoening, once a disagreement has occurred between her and a teacher she participates less in class.

She feels it is unnecessary to participate or put effort into something if the teacher won’t treat her with respect. In her case, she tries to get through the class day-by-day, or she’ll try and get called out by her mom.

But Hoening does admit that due to her lack of attendance and participation in class, it does hurt her learning experience. “[You’re afraid] to approach [the teacher,] and if you don’t understand something you’re afraid to ask them questions [since] you just don’t really want to talk to them,” Hoening said.

After disagreements occur, students usually don’t try to mend relationships with their teachers since they don’t understand the consequences of their actions.

now I know that I can do whatever I put my mind to,” Govalla said.

Mathews thinks Hodges has also helped him grow, and it was helpful to have a staff member to guide him. Hodges even played a big role in his college decision.

During lunch, Mathews used to discuss the pros and cons of different colleges with Hodges, and while Hodges gave Mathews advice, he always made it clear that it was just his opinion.

Mathews says he has learned from Hodges how to stay committed to something, to power through even if something seems too difficult and to always have a sense of humor.

“I think he’s taught me how we can make that student to teacher relationship work and be beneficial,” Mathews said. “I can talk to him. … He’s more of an adult idol figure than a teacher I can’t relate to.”

Moving forward, Mathews is thankful for the relationship he has built with Hodges because of how it may help him to be more comfortable with some of his professors in college. However, Mathews will miss the relationship they have.

“It will be hard not having him as a role model anymore, but he’s prepared me a lot to be independent,” Mathews said. “He’ll be one of the first people I’ll call [when I come home] to get lunch.”

Failing classes left and right Here are the steps students who wish to drop or switch a class due to a teacher need to take: 1) Get a parent or guardian signature to switch or drop the class.

2) Get signature and permission from counselor to switch or drop the class.

3) Get signature and permission from division head.

4) Get district official’s approval because the issue is with the teacher.

5) Any student dropping or switching a class has to do so before the 15th day of the semester so the course doesn’t appear as a fail on their transcript.

According to Kivlahan holding grudges between students and teachers is not the answer.

“I don’t think anyone wins when students and teachers dislike each other,” Kivlahan said. “People seem to dislike teachers because they have nothing better to do [in school], because the class is boring or because they want attention, and nobody wins there. The teacher is not going to like that, and the student is not going to like the backlash they get [from the teacher].”

10

May 29, 2015

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Features

Becoming

For more on Prospect YouTubers, head over to Prospectornow.com!

BUFFERING: Senior Keaton Keller sits front and center as he shoots one of his videos for his YouTube channel, TechSmartt. This month Keller’s channel hit 400,000 subscribers. “I was just in awe that [my channel] had come so far,” Keller said. “When you cross 400, you realize this is actually serious. You can build this even further.”

Student finds future in videos

By Flynn Geraghty

Executive Features Editor Senior Keaton Keller was in Los Angeles when he got a text from his friend and video editor Phil Esposito. Their YouTube channel, TechSmartt, hit 400,000 subscribers.

“I was just in awe that we had come so far,” Keller said.

“400,000 subscribers is a lot ,different than other milestones [I’ve reached]. A lot of channels have a few thousand subscribers, so when you cross 400, you realize this is actually serious. You can [go] even further.”

Keller has been making videos since 2010. When he started, he never imagined he would go this far. He feels happy as his subscriber count goes up because it means more people are interested in what he has to say.

“It [feels] good to know that I [can] reach a larger audience, and I can share my opinions,” Keller said. “That’s all I’ve really wanted to do. [I wanted to] have a community where I could talk to the people about the things I really love and hopefully educate and just find out what they really like.”

Keaton’s father, Matt Keller, was just as shocked to discover how far his son has come.

“I [used to think] it was a nice, cute, little thing he wanted to do,” Matt said. “I just thought it was a hobby. I didn’t know YouTube was so far-reaching into the world.

So 400,000 subscribers later, I guess I’m starting to understand it … Naturally, I’m proud of him. I watch his videos, and

I see him growing as a YouTu- he knew some information ber. I see his confidence grow- about editing videos, like how ing.” to shoot in HD, but not as much Keaton’s channel gains as the other bigger, more popuaround 1,000 new subscribers lar tech channels on YouTube. every day. At seventeen, Keaton Because he was inexperienced, has started his own business Keaton’s videos looked less devoted to his dream of edu- professional than theirs, so he cating people about new forms had a harder time getting his of technology. However, it took name out there. a lot of hard work for Keaton “When I first started it was to get where he is. According really hard trying to compete to Matt, it isn’t uncommon for with the other channels out Keaton to be up at four in the there that had access to the morning working on a video. new tech,” Keaton said. “For However, his enthusiasm the most part, I had to fund the for what he does is what allows channel myself. I worked at Keaton to burn the midnight UPS in the summer, just saved oil. Keaton has always been in- as much money as I could. I terested in technology and how would buy and sell tech as I it is constantly changing, so went. It took a long time to get he eventually started his own where I am.” channel on YouTube. He decidWhen he had around 300,000 ed on the name subscribers, TechSmartt companies — with two began com“[Founding T’s because ing to him, TechSmartt has] been TechSmart requesting with one T was for him to the best decision of already taken. review their “I decided products. my life. I’m happy [my channel] Currently, I’ve given everything the largest was going to be TechSmartt; companies up. I have no regrets something he gets to that had a rework with at all.” ally nice, clean are SamKeaton Keller, sound to it,” sung, HTC, Keaton said. senior Motorola “It was [eiand LG. Dether that or] spite receivTechMaster, ing some which is something I probably products from these compawould’ve regretted down the nies, Keaton says he still buys line.” around 85 percent of the tech When creating his first vid- that he reviews. Keaton enjoys eo, a review of the app Cam- working with them because he era+, Keaton was nervous but can show his viewers the latest also excited. and greatest in technology.

“It was kind of nerve-wrackAs he continued reviewing, but I knew what I wanted ing this new tech, the activity for myself a few years down the on Keaton’s channel began to line, and I knew this was step pick up, so he hired Esposito one,” Keaton said. “I knew my as a full-time employee to help first video wasn’t going to be him with the editing. Esposito perfect, [but] I knew I just had is a junior in college who has to jump in and things would get been with the channel for a litbetter.” tle over a year and works from Keaton posted his first vid- nine to five, Monday through eo on Dec 10, 2010. Back then, Friday.

“[Working with Keaton can be] a little crazy, but in a good way,” Esposito said. “Before [TechSmartt], I worked at Best Buy for two years, and when I would punch out there, I could care less. But now, I’m never not working. I’m always thinking about the channel. I genuinely care about what I’m doing. If I see negative comments, even though they’re not directly geared towards me, I still take it as a personal hit.”

Keaton says the more he stuck with TechSmartt, the more popular it got. Once he posted a video comparing the Xbox One and the PS4, his channel’s activity greatly increased.

Keaton’s channel has given him the opportunities to travel to different places all over the world. In the past year, he has been to Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York. “[Traveling to conventions] is the most rewarding experience ever,” Keaton said. “I love being able to go to different places and talk about what I love and just share that with my viewers. It is the best experience in the world.”

During conventions, Keaton gets to meet up with his viewers. He enjoys this very much, since his viewers are such an important part of his video-making career.

“Whether I’m livestreaming or answering comments and Snapchats, [I always want to learn] about my viewers,” Keaton said. “Just that one-onone connection. I really do care about what they have to say.”

Keaton is constantly working hard in order to satisfy his 400,000 subscribers and produce a product they will enjoy.

Matt believes that this ambition is what made him so successful.

“He has such a drive,” Matt said. “He has such a passion.

He does not quit, and he is relentless with getting deals made and getting products to cover.”

As for the future of his career, Keaton plans on expanding his entire operation. On top of TechSmartt, Keaton also currently has a channel called The List where he makes top five lists of various things, from beaches to snow storms.

Keaton is also working on making a lifestyles channel where he will delve into more personal matters, such as fears and his personal opinions. Keaton says that should keep him busy for a few years.

As TechSmartt continues to grow in popularity and in size, Keaton is thankful for everything he’s been able to experience because of it. “[If I hadn’t started my channel] I would’ve probably had to have gotten a job. I probably would have better grades at school,” Keaton said. “But, [founding TechSmartt has] been the best decision of my life. I’m happy I’ve given everything up. I have no regrets at all.”

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Entertainment

May 29, 2015

11

Confessions of a teenage drama kid

Students grow in or out of high school through acting

By Jessica Darcy Features Editor

When sophomore Rhegan Graham thinks about her acting career, she is constantly reminded of the neighborhood plays her mother put on when Graham was only 6 years old.

“My mom was a drama teacher, and she always did these neighborhood plays. I guess it’s really her fault [I began to love acting],” Graham said. “It’s just something that I’ve always done since I was really young.”

Some students come into Prospect wanting to pursue an acting career.

Whether they want to pursue acting itself or something acting related, many of them grow more into the theater. After participating in the fine arts department, students have to decide whether they wish to continue acting after high school.

Like Graham, sophomore Ben Marshall’s mom was the one to get him into acting by allowing him to audition for Metropolis at age 6.

Ben came to his mom, Kelly Marshall and expressed an interest in taking acting classes.

“He was about 6 years old, and he loved movies [and] loved watching other actors.” Kelly said. “He told me he wanted to take a class, so I signed him up at Metropolis.”

He took a full year of classes and enjoyed them. But according to Kelly, he wanted to do more. So the next summer, he began to participate in a performing arts camp that Metropolis held every year. He excelled in his part as a member of the Lollipop Guild and a flying monkey in the musical “The Wizard of Oz.” “[Ben] got a lot of attention at a very young age for being funny on stage, and everything seemed to come naturally,”

BEHIND THE STAGE FACE: Sophomore Ben Marshall and junior Andrew

Pittman sing in the musical, The Producers. Marshall, who has been acting since age 6, says he loves acting for the open mindness that comes from it. (photo courtesy of Ben Marshall)

Kelly said. “He was very cute and very charismatic on stage. [He] had a blast, and I think he [became] hooked.”

Ben who has made a lot of friends being in theater programs not only at Prospect. Kelly says it’s amazing to see not only how talented Ben is, but also his friends that are in theater with him.

“All of these kids come from different backgrounds, and they are all so extraordinary in their talent, so I love it.”

Kelly said.

However, getting instant support from parents isn’t always easy for some aspiring actors. For senior Sabrina O’Mara, acting was something she had to push for. Living in Mount Prospect, O’Mara’s parents didn’t know how to go about getting an agent and where to audition.

However, O’Mara’s parents soon caved due to O’Mara’s passion. Now her mom is the one who drives her to auditions, despite the fact that O’Mara has

her own car.

According to Fine Arts director Jeremy Morton, actors become more able to express themselves to other people and to themselves because of the confidence they build from performing. “[Performers] can articulate their thoughts. They can get up in front of a group [or do] an interview,” Morton said. “I think they have confidence after they have experience on the stage.”

After high school, Marshall, Graham and O’Mara all want to do something related to acting. Graham wants to be a director, Marshall wants to be a drama teacher and O’Mara would like to do independent films.

Although Graham has never performed on the Prospect stage because of volleyball and activities like Speech Team, she says that she will be trying out for the musical next year because acting will always be close to her heart.

“When you are up on stage and you’re

performing for people, it just feels like you are empowered, and you are pretending to be someone else,” Graham said. “It’s just an awesome feeling.”

After directing a couple of plays for little kids, Graham realized that directing was her passion. She says it’s a different experience being able to control the actors instead of being one, something she feels she’s better at.

O’Mara is in the same boat. Acting is not all she wants to do. She doesn’t want to work a nine-to-five job and along with acting, O’Mara wants to travel, teach English as a foreign language, run an organic farm and become a fitness instructor and an activist.

Marshall will also not be acting professionally. But he has a high opinion of acting and wants to be involved with theater as much as he can.

“It helps me become a more open-minded person because you are constantly being other people, and [you] get to see what it’s like to be in their shoes,” Marshall said.

Marshall’s excited to become a drama teacher after high school, and so is his mom, since it will be easier for him to pay his bills.

After spending a lot of time with student actors like Marshall, Morton has found that it’s all about students finding their voice and developing who they are.

“Even if these students never go on and perform again after they leave the [Prospect] stage and the final curtain goes down, I think they’ve learned how to sell themselves in a way that they can’t in other activities.” Morton said.

O’Mara can easily relate to what Morton is saying. With all her experience as an actor, the thing O’Mara enjoys the most is watching herself grow.

“I’ve really grown into my own skin the way I have because of acting,” O’Mara said. “[I’ve grown because of] going into an audition and not getting it, but still knowing, ‘This is what I do.’

I love this, and I can’t wait to improve myself. It’s an industry of rejection, but it helps you find yourself and makes you stronger.”

Comedians break into psychological films

By Garrett Strother

Entertainment Editor Comedy is perhaps the broadest of film genres, and therefore a wide variety of comedians are produced.

From the zany, spastic antics of Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler to the scathing sarcasm of Bill Murray (in addition to comedians like Will Ferrell falling somewhere in between), there is a huge spectrum of tones and types of films produced.

However, all of these vastly different comedians have something in common. As they approached middle age they made an out-of-genre film, which, while still being a comedy, dealt with more complex issues of human nature and general philosophy.

A prime example — and perhaps trend-setter — is Murray’s wonderful 1993 movie “Groundhog Day.” Filmed nearby in Woodstock, Illinois, the film follows an egotistic weatherman stuck repeating

the same day over and over again.

Sandler had “Punch-Drunk Love,” a bizarre treat of a movie from 2002 that has a plot so completely convoluted and quirky that it can only be described as a romantic comedy about buying pudding.

Ferrell had the 2006 film “Stranger Than Fiction” about an IRS agent who finds out he is the main character of a novel.

Finally, in a bit of a departure from the trend, Carrey had two movies: “The Truman Show” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The latter of the two has a plot that is impossible to describe without spoiling completely (although it is one of the most inventive and mind bending, if cynical, movies of all time).

“Truman Show,” in which Carrey played a man who had no idea his entire life was a television show, had the most box office success, grossing over $215 million at the height of Carrey’s fame.

“Groundhog Day” grossed a fair $70 million, largely based on Bill Murray’s popularity, and has gained widespread acceptance through all types of religious communities.

Though despite good reviews, a limited release actu-

ally made “Punch-Drunk” lose money, coming in around $8 million under budget.

But the films have more in common than just their departure from the genre. These films share deep philosophical themes having to do with societal molds, probably not a coincidence considering all of these actors were all approximately the same age.

“Truman Show” shows a world that is literally fabricated. Specifically targeting the rise of suburbia, it details one man’s struggle to find his place in a cookie cutter world.

“Punch-Drunk” is the most similar thematically to this, showing an office drone trying to rise out of mediocrity but getting pushed back down by his boss, his sisters and even a mattress store-owning Philip Seymour-Hoffman every time he gains some traction.

“Stranger Than Fiction” brings these two even closer together as it teases the fastpaced distracted modern world and preaches that simplicity and being genuine are the true keys to happiness.

The trend of simplicity

continues with “Groundhog one of them. Faith in human Day” as Murray’s character resilience and the ability to learns to see the value in the find happiness in the quietest places is what they’re all quiet, small town about. of PunxsutawOf course, all of these ney that he films can be enjoyed once despised simply as comedies so much. He and require no deepbegins to emer thought than the brace life as viewer wants to give. it comes and However, there’s learns to be still something compasdeeper in them: all sionate. It’s approaching their sweet, but 40s and 50s, these not sugary. actors all chose to It’s an ormake films about the ganic fruit of cyclic tendency of life a film that lifts and, much more to their you up without frustration, society. Maybe the synthetic crash that so often comes with an ar- it even reflected some frustration with the repetitive nature tificially optimistic movie.

Finally, coming full circle of their own careers.

It is important to remember back to Carrey, “Eternal Sunshine” shows the darker side all the acclaimed screenwritof the coin. It focuses on the re- ers and directors whose vipetitive trap society puts peo- sions every single one of these ple into and how people who masterpieces were. But these try to escape the cycle end up comedians saw truth in those just where they were before, visions and thought these stories were important enough to except somehow unhappier.

“Eternal Sunshine,” like all be told. the others, preaches the ability to rise out the cyclic life that society creates. Unlike the others, Have joint pain or sleeping it thinks it’s problems? Buy our herbalmuch harder based supplements! to do so.

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Entertainment

Popular games promise quality The last few months have brought the gaming industry some top-notch titles, both mainstream and indiewise. Some made you laugh, some made you cry and some just had you confused as to how they became relevant in the first place.

Regardless, 2015 is looking like a good year for gamers. By Marci Kiszkiel

Associate Editor-In-Chief

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Life Is Strange

In the third game in the Dragon age franchise, players customize their own character that finds themselves tasked with ending a war raging between mages and templars after the events of the last game.

The small-town existential hipster game of our dreams.

Players take on the role of Max, a quirky college girl just trying to take quality pictures for her photography class. After discovering she has the power to rewind time, Max finds herself tangled in situations she never thought she would be in. The game was expected to flop when the idea was pitched due to the common misconception that games with female protagonists will not sell. However, it has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. Fans are desperately waiting until the next part is released.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

I’m a sucker for fantasy games. I’m likely to adore anything with magic and dragons involved. Initially, I expected this game to be similar to the game Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, but the original storyline and unique characters proved to be incredible.

Rating: 9 out of 10. This game has everything: from complex female characters, to a genuinely thrilling and suspenseful storyline that leaves players craving more. Not to mention the original art-style as well as the indie soundtrack complimenting the game perfectly.

Dark Dreams Don’t Die ( D4 ) With over 1.3 million downloads, this comedic crime thriller proves to be one of the most successful indie games of 2015 so far. Players maneuver through time as David Young, a former detective for the Boston Police Department with the ability to “dive into the past” by touching items from certain events that he refers to as “mementos.” After his wife Peggy is murdered, Young uses his new power to find out the truth behind his wife’s death and tries to prevent it from happening.

Although the game is only available for the Xbox One at the moment, a PC version of the game is to be released in June.

Rating: 6 out of 10. While the game is interesting enough to get you invested in the story, it’s too similar to multiple Telltale games, a gaming company that’s recently gained mainstream success, for me to genuinely enjoy it. From the semi-realistic comic art style Telltale is known for, to the angst-filled detective protagonist straight from The Wolf Among Us, everything this game offers has already been done before.

Rating: 7 out of 10. Although an incredibly interesting premise, the game simply lost itself throughout the story. Don’t get me wrong, the game is absolutely disturbing, this coming from a major horror junkie.

However, as the story progresses and become overly complicated, the game loses its scare factor and just turns into a confusing mess.

Possibly one of the most well developed and thrilling games to ever be released. With over 1 million in sales, fans everywhere agree that Goat Simulator is the most realistic and insightful look into the fascinating world of goats.

The only purpose of this game is to explore the open world given to players as none other than a goat. Truly, game of the year, maybe even the century.

Rating: 10 out of 10. There is literally no way to dislike this game. It’s hilarious and a great time killer, even the glitches and shortcomings of the game only add to the entertainment value.

Infamous: Second Son The fourth game in the Infamous series is set in a world where people known as “Conduits” have the ability to harvest certain elements or energies to use as powers. The protagonist Delsin Rowe suddenly finds himself with the ability to absorb and use other conduits’ powers. His family is soon attacked by an agency whose goal is to imprison conduits, so he sets out for Seattle to find the leader of the organization and save his family.

Outlast A first-person survival horror, players take on the role of a journalist looking to find out the secrets and mysteries lying within a local abandoned asylum.

However, once he breaks into the asylum, he finds that the building is not as abandoned as it seems. Armed only with a camera, players must fight for their lives as they try to escape the asylum and the horrors within.

Goat Simulator

Rating: 10 out of 10. Second Son features great storyline set in a dystopian society with interesting and unique characters that made for a fanstastic game.

Upcoming games Mad Max September 1 Batman Arkham Knight June 23

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May 29, 2015

Entertainment

13

Safety, dope and rock ‘n’ roll Festival fanatics give tips for staying safe at concerts

By Isabelle Rogers

Executive Entertainment Editor After searching the Lollapalooza festival grounds with a few random people who offered to help, social science teacher Jon Kaminsky came to the conclusion that he was not going to find his phone. In 2013, Kaminsky ran out of the festival to the nearest T-Mobile store. He needed to buy another phone so he could contact his friends who accompanied him to Lollapalooza.

He charged the phone in the store and was back at the festival in time to see the next band. Though Kaminsky doesn’t suspect his phone got stolen, he now takes precautions in order to make sure he keeps his belongings safe.

According to Billboard.com, more music festivals emerged in 2013 than any previous year in the U.S. This surge in popularity means more people in one confined space. Below are tips to keep safe while still enjoying the festival.

Pack light: Both Kaminsky and senior Tina Payne recommend packing light and only bringing the essentials. If it is necessary that you bring money and a credit card, do not hide the possessions in one place. That way, if somebody

steals money from one pocket, the other will still have the credit card.

After Payne lost her phone at Lollapalooza while seeing Knife Party, she has made sure to not put anything important in her pant pockets. Now she uses fanny packs. “[Fanny packs] are ugly,” said Payne. “But they do the trick.”

Similar to Payne, Kaminsky always wears shorts with a back pocket button. The button stops his possessions from falling out and from any potential thefts.

“It has come to the point that if I am short shopping, I actually make sure that there is a back pocket button,” Kaminsky said. “If there is not a back pocket button, I will not buy the shorts.”

How to avoid uncomfortable situations: Payne and her friends have a rule that if one of them is feeling uncomfortable in a crowd either because of weird people or because they feel claustrophobic, they will all relocate immediately.

Payne always makes sure to stick with at least one of her friends.

“If I feel uncomfortable, I will keep moving through the crowd,” Payne said. “But if there is someone that [will not leave me alone], I turn around

Cartoon CartoonbybyVeronica VeronicaHolloway Holloway

JEEPERS CREEPERS: Senior Tina Payne explains her tactic on avioding uncomfortable people

at festivals. “If there is someone that [will not leave me alone], I turn around and ask, ‘Would you like to stand in front of me?’” Payne said. “They always get really baffled and run away.”

and ask, ‘Would you like to stand in front of me?’ They always get really baffled and run away. ” Payne recommends that festival goers make sure to find easy ways out of the crowd before a band starts. That way if the crowd gets too rowdy, a simple escape is a few feet away.

Sunscreen: In the summer sun, it is very easy to get sunburnt. Bring multiple bottles of sunscreen and make sure to reapply. In order to not have the sunscreen taken by security, make sure to bring non-aerosol containers as aerosol containers have condensed gasses that are flammable Water bottles: Another one of the most obvious dangers is dehydration. Most festivals

Strong women largely unrepresented in media

By Cassidy Delahunty Entertainment Writer

The release of the newest Marvel movie, Age of Ultron, has re-sparked the controversy surrounding the franchise about one of its only female characters, Black Widow, not being in most toys or clothes released about the movies.

“Everyone’s [saying], ‘Where’s the Black Widow movie?’” junior Kit Fitzgerald said. “But there’s not going to be one because she’s the woman.”

On the official Hasbro website for Avengers toys, Black Widow does not appear until the 11th page. However, there are three sets of action figures claiming to contain all of the Avengers between pages one and 11,

none of which Black Widow are in.

According to junior Addie Griffin, this problem is nothing new.

“It’s always been a male dominated world,” Griffin said. “Now it’s starting to become more female dominated, but we’re just starting.”

Because of this, a test was created in order to see the level of respect female characters in movies are given.

In order to pass the test, two named female characters must talk to each other about something other than a man at least once. Only two out of the eight films nominated for best picture this year passed, and of the top 50 movies of 2013, only 17 passed.

Journalist Tasha Robinson explains this with a concept called Trinity Syndrome.

Trinity Syndrome is when a seemingly dy-

either let attendees bring in a sealed bottle of water or a Camelbak backpack. If a first time festival-goer does not want to deal with the hassle of bringing in a water bottle, most festivals have water fountains to refill water bottles. Because the Lollapalooza staff is worried about attendees fainting from dehydration, medical tents will give out water bottles without questions.

Be cautious: Both Payne and Kaminsky agree that one should never accept any sort of drink or food from anybody they do not trust or know. Kaminsky advises that music fes-

namic, interesting female character later on becomes a typical trope when the male protagonist realizes his true potential.

Some examples thedissolve.com gives of characters like this include Valka from “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and Wyldestyle from “The Lego Movie.”

Valka, the leader and tamer of a large pack of dragons, starts off self-sufficient, independent and interesting; she has been successfully fighting off the main antagonist of the movie on her own for years.

However, when it comes time for her son Hiccup, the main character, to defeat the villain and prove himself, she is suddenly incapable of fighting and leaves it to her son and husband.

In “The Lego Movie”, Wyldestyle starts off as a character determined to find the prized “Piece of Resistance” that can defeat the movie’s villain. She saves herself and the main character from the villain’s minions on several occasions at the beginning of the movie with no help from any other character.

But at the end of the movie, she offers herself to the main character as a kind of prize for his success.

Both characters had a point in the movie where their only purpose was to be res-

tivals are not the place to try something new.

“The majority of people [at festivals] are not doing anything illegal, and you do not have to ei- ther,” Kaminsky said. “[A festival] would never be the ideal time to try something. I think the biggest problem that people get into is they choose this to be their one time [to do something bad].

And not only do these things cause huge problems, but you are now doing it with 150,000 people in hot weather while dehydrated. Do not do anything dumb or new.”

cued by the male protagonist.

“It’s not to say that women can’t take that role and use it to their advantage,” English teacher Tim McDermott said.

“But when we see that portrayal in Disney films and other cartoons, these little girls get this impression that they have to be the weaker sex.”

However, in the few cases where strong female characters are present, they have a positive influence on not only the audience, but the actors as well.

Fitzgerald says that many of the characters she has played for speech team inspired her because a lot of them are real people. She says that what makes them strong is the fact that despite going through real conflicts, they persevere anyways.

“The whole point of all of them is that they’re still going through this really tough struggle, [but] they’re still making decisions and trying to be rational,” Fitzgerald said. “I think that’s the strongest thing.”

Despite not agreeing with some of her character’s viewpoints, Fitzgerald believes they can still be strong if they are realistic.

“The strong thing about women is that they’re completely real people.”

Fitzgerald said. “They have doubts, they have struggles, they don’t know what to do a lot of the time, but the important thing is that they’re doing things even though they don’t know how to do a roundhouse kick.”

14

May 29, 2015

prospectornow.com

Sports

Senior leaders guide rising stars

By Katy Ryan Staff Writer

Prospect’s first doubles team, composed of seniors Jessica Hirsh and Stephanie Venturelli, has seen success during this badminton season. The duo won their sectional and advanced to state with a record of 31-2, where they took third place May 16th.

This success is not new for Hirsh and Venturelli. They have been a doubles team since their freshman year and made it to state their sophomore, junior and senior years. Last year they placed third at state, putting pressure on them to improve this year. “[Sophomore year] nobody had any expectations for us because nobody really thought that we were qualified or that we’d do well, but we did,” Hirsh said. “[This year] it was tough to hold up to everyone’s expectations.”

Hirsh said that before the season started, she and Venturelli felt a lot of mental pressure to be successful. As the season went on, they started to disregard the expectations placed on them, helping both them and their teammates. The whole team had a successful season, placing second in the division and fourth at conference.

Varsity coach Jean Rezny attributes some of these accomplishments to the leadership of the upperclassmen.

During the last few seasons, the team always had strong role models in teammates like 2014 graduates Kiley Walsh and Noreen Caporusso. This year’s seniors took over that role. “[Walsh and Caporusso] were really, really good mentors for us,” said Hirsh. “[This year] we could only text them, and we had to be mentors for other people. I guess [we were] kind of stepping up to fill in their shoes and hoping that we could help out everybody as much as they had helped everybody before.”

The connection is still strong between the current seniors and last year’s team. Walsh even came to practice with the current team a few days before sectionals.

“It was really nice,” Hirsh said. “And

BYE BYE BIRDIE: Senior Kendall Dawson reaches out to return the birdie.

Dawson is one of 12 seniors who has helped guide the underclassmen and build the program in the right direction. (photo courtesy of Crest staff)

then she had to leave again unfortunately. She’s playing Division I golf, so she [is] busy.”

Seeing her old mentor come back was a somewhat surreal experience for Hirsh.

“It felt different because we’ve never had the mentoring role. We’ve always been the mentees,” said Hirsh. “But it felt nice to step up and kind of assume the role that we had to play this season.”

Besides the leadership from the first doubles team, Rezny says she sees many other players helping each other.

“Fortunately I have 12 seniors on the team,” Rezny said. “Not all of them play varsity, but they were able to play on the JV level. They were great role models for the younger players, which is very important to keep building the program and moving in the right direction.”

According to Rezny, a lot of the players show leadership by coming to practice early and setting up the gym and nets. Every year she wants the freshmen to understand the role they play,

and she looks to the seniors to demonstrate what responsibilities come with being on the team.

Besides preparing the gym, the seniors also helped some of the younger players with their game. During the season, Hirsh taught some of the freshmen the rules of badminton and helped them fine-tune their shots.

She also helped some students on the varsity team, one of which was junior Nora Meyer. Meyer just moved here from La Crosse, Wisconsin, and had never played badminton before. “[Rezny] came up to me when I was playing volleyball, and she told me I should try out for the team,” Meyer said. “I was kind of skeptical because we didn’t have badminton at my other school. I just thought it was a game that you play in the backyard. I went to [Shannon Pohl Badminton Academy for lessons], and it was actually really competitive and a lot of fun. So I decided to try out for the team.”

Meyer has a close bond with the girls

on the team now and has learned a lot from them.

“They have taught me everything I know,” said Meyer. “[They were] supportive as well, if I ever had a bad game or anything. They always gave me pointers. Just scrimmaging against them and playing against somebody that’s a lot better than [me] helped me improve a lot.”

Meyer ended up competing in the team’s sectional lineup, and Hirsh said she saw great improvement in Meyer throughout the season.

“She was great,” said Hirsh. “She’s really athletic. She played volleyball, [and] is also a gymnast. Her athleticism really transferred well to badminton.”

Hirsh sees a lot of potential in the other underclassmen too and hopes that they will also step up to lead the team. “[Meyer and junior Jazzmine Klopack] almost qualified for state,” said Hirsh. “They really have a lot of potential, as with our JV team and our frosh/soph team. There’s some really, really great talent in the upcoming players.”

One talented younger player is sophomore Kate Ponzi. She is a part of the frosh/soph first doubles team and has seen playing time on all three levels.

Ponzi believes that the team has potential and will keep growing.

“Everyone’s really supportive, and we all work together,” Ponzi said.

“Whenever we go on trips for invites, we always have a really great time. I think that the program is just going to keep getting stronger as the years go by, and it’s always going to be really fun.”

Meyer will return next year to play, but she will miss the current seniors when they’re gone.

“The seniors, some of them, are my best friends now,” Meyer said. “[I’ll miss] the bonds we’ve had and the memories and laughs we’ve had.”

Although she is leaving, Hirsh has high hopes for the program’s future. “[I hope the younger players] step up to that next level of play that everyone’s really close to,” said Hirsh. “They just have to push, and they’ll get there.”

Boys’ tennis serves up success, nets up results fidence on the court.

Kujawa said that the team has done a great job learning The varsity boys’ tennis new techniques throughout team traveled to Mundelein the season. They have adapton April, 17 to take on the ed well to the level of play they need to be at.

Carmel CorThe team sairs.

Jufinished secnior Adam Conference ond in the Nadler and doubles Tournament Results East behind Hersey, but partner were in conStephen 1st Singles tention all Schmit had senior Ryan Weiler (6th) year. In the their backs 2nd Singles conference against the sophomore Mike tournament wall after the team Stanford (4th) a tough placed secstart to the 3rd Singles ond behind match. freshman Jack Barrington.

The duo Terry (2nd) According to banded 1st Doubles Kujawa, partogether, senior Joey Hafertepe/ ticipating in came back senior Nick Macina (4th) the Pitchford and forced invitational 2nd Doubles a third-set tournament tiebreaker. senior Stephen Schmit/ against 32 of Ultimately senior TJ Swan (4th) the top teams they pre3rd Doubles in the state revailed. junior Adam Nadler/ ally helped the “There freshman Peteam grow. was a lot of Though the ter Velic (3rd) intensity Knights were 4th Doubles for me and not very sucStephen. junior Steve Norton/ cessful in that It was just junior David Slupski (4th) tournament, awesome,” Overall senior Joey Nadler said.

2nd Hafertepe Coach says it providTom Kujaed them with wa said he is proud of the boys this sea- an experience to grow.

The team looks up to Hason. He said they are playing the way tennis is supposed fertepe and senior Ryan Weito be played by making the ler because they have experiright plays and showing con- ence. Hafertepe runs warm

By Jack Ankony Sports Editor

ups and tries to keep the team energized. He wants to pass on the energy to the younger teammates by keeping them motivated and excited.

“I’m trying to keep the high intensity of the program going after I’m gone,” Hafertepe says.

On the other hand, Weiler tries to lead by example as he is trying to make it to state, a goal he set for himself before the season. A strong record during the season and successful matches at sectionals is what it takes for Weiler to reach his goal.

Aside from the seniors, the team has two freshmen on the rise, Jack Terry and Peter Velic. Terry was undefeated in the east until he suffered a tough loss against rival Hersey.

Going into the season, Terry thought there was a good chance he would make varsity, but he knew there was no guarantee. He explained that there has been a lot of tough competition on the varsity level that has helped him get better.

“It’s all about sticking with it and hanging in there,” Terry said.

Terry started playing tennis 10 years ago when his mom signed him up for lessons, and his love for the game has grown ever since.

On days without practice, Terry tries to improve by practicing with a ball machine or playing games with

his teammates who he recently befriended.

Though the team plays well together, their tennis beginnings differ.

Not everyone on the team grew up playing tennis like Terry.

Team leaders Hafertepe and Weiler played baseball their until eighth grade. Both were unsure if they would have made the team, so they decided to join tennis.

Junior Michael Schwingbeck was influenced to play by his mom and brother, who he saw play as he grew up.

He first started playing tennis during lessons at River Trails.

“It’s not just in the games, but hanging out with teammates and getting to know people better. I have a great time,” Schwingbeck said.

The varsity boys’ tennis team has lost nine out of 11 players that were on the team the season before. Nevertheless, Kujawa said the team has played together nicely to fill in the holes.

“This is a young team [with] a lot of potential,” Kujawa said. “They really stepped up this year and played quality tennis.”

BACKHANDED: Senior Joey Hafertepe focuses on a backhand smash. Hafertepe is one of the team’s leaders. “I’m trying to keep the high intensity of the program going after I’m gone,” Hafertepe said. (photo by Devin Prasad)

prospectornow.com

Sports

May 29, 2015

15

Water polo scores new guidance New coaches revitalize boys’, girls’ programs

By Devin Prasad

Executive Sports Editor First-year coach Steve Grzybek is already making an impact on the boys’ water polo program as the team finished the season with a 8-2 conference record. Junior All-Conference player Isaac Ginnodo feels that Grzybek’s experience as a water polo player and connection with the game puts him well ahead of previous coaches.

Ginnodo has strong opinions about the transition from coach to coach. He explained that unlike the previous coach, Grzybek played water polo throughout high school and made it down to state with his team all four years. He also still plays water polo in a local coed league.

Ginnodo is confident that if the team was led by Grzybek, they would have made state every year since he was a freshman.

The team finished second in

the MSL East this year behind Wheeling, who has become a rival for both the boys’ and girls’ teams.

The boys went into their second game against Wheeling on April 20, confident they could win the MSL East title. Ginnodo feels that the team has more depth than Wheeling, but one of Wheeling’s players is a Junior Olympian who helped the Wildcats secure the title.

The team also fell short of winning a sectional game, however, senior Sam Gabriel was named to the all-sectional second team.

“The season went really well despite the ending,” said Gryzbek. “I learned a lot as a coach and a leader.”

Going into the season, the team focused more on little details of the game, such as specific strategies and plays, thanks in part to Grzybek, but also thanks to the players’ connection.

Many players on the team played prior to high school and this connection helps them greatly in the pool.

“We all know what we’re going to do,” Ginnodo said.

“We all know each others’ weaknesses and strengths. We know where to find someone.

We know what they can do. We know their limits, so we can use that to our advantage.”

TOSS IN THE WATER: Senior Michelle Vuong handles the ball during a sectional win against Hersey on Wed., May 13. The win was a goal that the team was able to achieve under second year coach Natalie Tucker. (photo by Cassidy Selep)

BREAKAWAY: Junior Isaac Ginoddo launches the ball against Wheeling on Mon., April 20.

This year boys’ water polo has been successful with a new, experienced coach in Steve Gryzbek.

Their overall record is 8-2 in conference. (photo courtesy Crest staff) The girls’ water polo team potentially play. They studied is also continuing to grow un- their offense and defense and der second-year head coach thought of different strategies Natalie Tucker. Going into the to attack the opponent on both sides of the season, Tuckpool. Accorder felt the ing to McCalexpectations Girls’ lister, Tucker for the team water polo team focused a lot on were very leaders conditioning high. While and improving the team was Most goals the players’ not able to mentality bereach their fore the touroriginal goal 1. Niki Neumann - 53 nament. of an east di- 2. Danielle McCallister - 49 Tucker vision title, 3. Gracie Dix - 46 also believes they comthe team was pleted their Most assists “hungry” gosecond goal ing into the of winning 1.

Niki Neumann 29 sectional a sectional 2.

Michelle Vuong 23 tournament game for the 3.

Lauren Broz 21 after falling first time in just short of four years. In Wheeling in their first secMost steals the east. tional game This year the team won 1. Niki Neumann - 31 Tucker saw 15-7 with five 2. Gracie Dix - 28 the team regoals coming 3. Michelle Vuong - 27 ally progress from senior and become Danielle Mcmore mature.

Callister.

She saw the In order to prepare for the sectional tour- girls take a proactive approach nament, the girls watched a to improving their game by lot of film of teams they could practicing outside of Prospect.

McCallister also saw the team mature and grow closer under their five senior starters.

For the girls’ water polo program, the future looks very bright. Tucker believes that “the best is yet to come.” The junior varsity team who will send up many players to varsity next season went undefeated this year.

“When I say the best is yet to come it’s not because this year isn’t great,” Tucker said. “But we’re going to keep rolling and keep improving.”

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams named three players to All-Conference this season. On the girls’ side, senior Niki Neumann, junior Lauren Broz and McCallister received the honor.

On the boys’ side it was Gabriel, Ginnodo and senior George Schober.

“We were one of four schools to get three All-Conference players and everyone else got one,” Tucker said. “I think it’s pretty clear that there’s a higher tier of teams right now and then there’s everyone else. To be considered amongst those teams is really cool.”

Keep up with spring sports on ProspectorNow

Use Aurasma on this picture to see gymnastics in action.

UPSIDE DOWN: Learn about the boys’ gymnastics team and what it is like to be a gymnast at Prospect from the point of view of senior Mark Larock. (photo by Alyssa Duetsch)

HI MOM!: Senior Jake Caviani gives a rose to his mom on senior night. To follow the team and see a photo gallery from senior night, visit ProspectorNow.com. (photo by Lauren Miller)

SPORTS Friday, May 29, 2015

On ProspectorNow.com ...

Seniors Stephanie Venturelli and Jessica Hirsh finished third in the state badminton tournament for the second year in a row. For more on how winning is not everything for the pair, visit ProspectorNow.

Blocking out early adversity After tough start, volleyball creates success through 10 game win streak

“We have a couple of hiccups here and there, but for the most part we’re satisfied. We’re playing good volleyball, and we’re happy with our record.

By Ben Dojutrek Sports Editor

Eryk Krzyzak, senior

When walking in to a boys’ volleyball practice, the first thing a person notices is the chatter. Players are talking to each other, whether about the game or just life in general.

The second thing one notices is the camaraderie.

People of all grade levels are playing, learning and joking together. Their positive attitude and teamwork is one of the reasons why the team has been successful in recent months.

To start the season the boys’ volleyball team went 0-5 at the Vernon Hills Invitational. However, the team finished on a hot streak, winning the last 10 games of the regular season.

“Our schedule was tough; we went up and down at the beginning of the season,” head coach Mike Riedy said.

“We came out flat and lost that first game every time.”

The problematic start might have caused a deficit that that could hurt the team’s chance to be successful, yet it did not bother most of the players.

While not ideal, the losses allowed players to evaluate their mistakes.

“It showed flaws and showed where we needed to improved,” senior Eryk Krzyzak said.

But after the less than perfect start the team has rallied in recent weeks currently sitting at 20-11 as of the week of May 11.

This renewed sense of purpose the team has had in recent weeks has helped them beat highly-ranked opponents, such as Rolling Meadows and Buffalo Grove.

The recent success stems from the boost of teamwork from the seniors .

ATTACK: Senior all-conference player Dane Schweinzger goes up for the

kill on a ball set by senior Kyle Gerber. The game against Elk Grove on May 12 was a part of the teams late season success. Senior Eryk Krzyzak is pleased with the team’s record and play. (photo by Calla Flanagan) “When seven out of 10 guys on a 10 person team are seniors, they are going to step up and be leaders even if they don’t want to be,” Riedy said.

Even though most of the team is older, with seven out of 10 players being seniors, the attitude of the team is that

it ultimately doesn’t matter due to the overall teamwork and leadership displayed by the seniors.

During their practices, both varsity and junior varsity squads work closely together. Riedy is confident the team is ready for success next year.

“Our senior members are learning important things, and it trickles down to our varsity and junior varsity teams next year,” Riedy said. “They’re learning things from each other, how to play and act.”

Some of that has already rubbed off on the younger players in this already difficult season.

The team that started off 0-5 at the Barrington invite has roared back to life thanks to the combined efforts of the senior and junior players.

“There’s been a lot of young guys on the JV and even the varsity who have really stepped up this year and have made a difference,” Krzyzak said.

With renewed prospects, the team has headed into the end of the season with a goal in sight.

While out of contention in the MSL, the boys have set their sights on a bigger prize.

“Our end goal has a couple steps, our first step is to win a sectional, and then hopefully go to state,” Riedy said.

“We’re in a tough sectional, but we can get it done.”

Even though the end of the season is approaching fast, the team is not concerned about how they ultimately finish. To them, it’s better to play than to worry.

“We have a couple of hiccups here and there, but for the most part, we’re satisfied,” Krzyzak said. “We’re playing good volleyball, and we’re happy with our record.”

STATE RUNNER-UP BROOKE WILSON Year: Sophomore Sport: Track Events: 3200 meter and 1600 meter State ranking, time: 2nd in 3200,10:51 and 6th in 1600, 4:59.

Wilson was the first Prospect female runner to earn a state medal in multiple distance events in a single year.

Q. Going into state, what were your expectations?

A. I knew if I ran a good race and ran smart that I definitely would be able to place in the two mile. I wasn’t originally going to run the mile even though I qualified, but once we decided I was going to, it was like, ‘Oh you know you can’t try to go easy during prelims because then you might not make it. Then [my goal] was just run as well I can during prelims and we’ll see what happens.’”

Q. How did you feel about your races?

A. One of the things that has already helped me out for racing is beforehand I’ve never gotten that nervous. I can always kind of control it, and if I am nervous then my coaches are always there to reassure me [and] to give me more confidence. Afterwards I was really happy, but it didn’t really hit me that hard.

Q. How did your teammates impact your race at state?

A. I brought along Hannah Getschman, so she was just my buddy the whole weekend. She would do all my warm ups and stuff with me ... She was there all the time for moral support.

Q. How are you going to use your state experience to improve yourself next year?

A. Last year I wouldn’t have said that [in] 365 days I would be where I am today. What else can I do? How much better can I get?