Green Issue

THE

PROSPECTOR

801 WEST KENSINGTON ROAD, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056

THE VOICE OF PROSPECT HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 1959

VOLUME 57, ISSUE 10

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018

Dowling leaves legacy in D214 AYSE ELDES

Editor-in-Chief

W

hen Tina Athanasopoulos, Prospect’s new social science and foreign language division head, attended a staff meeting in Prospect’s cafeteria before spring break, a staff member warned her about Principal Michelle Dowling’s tendency to tear up during these staff-appreciation meetings.

What the staff member didn’t know was that Athanasopoulos has known Dowling since their time working together at John Hersey High School. She is currently a social science teacher there, where Dowling was the social science and foreign language division head from 2002 to 2008. When Dowling transitioned to Hersey after an 18-year teaching career at Buffalo Grove High School, her office was merely a couple of feet from Athanasopoulos’s classroom, and they immediately became close friends. She was familiar with Dowling’s tendency to tear up when showing appreciation for those involved in education.

“She’s emotionally connected to what she’s doing. It’s about students; it’s about individuals; it’s about personal achievement,” Athanasopoulos said. “So when I see her, it’s nice to see someone who stayed true to who they are. …

It was really nice to see her at that [meeting] where she addressed staff because she was emotional, was genuine and her staff embraced it. … She hasn’t changed.”

After 34 years of working in District 214, Dowling will officially retire from her position as principal on June 28. Looking back, she believes the personal connections she’s made with students and colleagues will be something she will take with her into retirement.

In many cases, these connections have had a lasting effect.

Hersey Innovative Technology Facilitator Laura Monahan worked in Dowling’s department during her time there. She remembers how Dowling would write personal notes to staff members and pin them on the bulletin for people to find. Each note contained an encouraging message for its recipient.

MEMORIES: Principal Michelle Dowling stands in front of Prospect High School’s main entrance on May 11. After 18 years working at Buffalo Grove High School, five years at John Hersey High School, and 11 years at Prospect, this will be Dowling’s last year in District 214.

“I hope I left the place better than when I got here,” Dowling said. (photo by Ayse Eldes) Prospect Assistant Principal of Student Activities Frank Mirandola can attest to Dowling’s effort to connect with the people around her. Mirandola started working with Dowling when he was a social science teacher. Her guidance and counsel has helped him grow as an administrator, according to Mirandola.

“I’ve enjoyed the private conversations we’ve had about leadership and growing and the education field,” Mirandola said. “She’s hands off, and she’s not going to go ahead and micromanage things.

She provides global leadership and asks you those questions [that make] you think about things in a different capacity to make sure that you thought through all possible scenarios. It’s really been interesting working with her as a teacher, then also working with her as a colleague on the principalship here at Prospect High School.”

Under Dowling’s leadership, Mirandola has spearheaded the Chicago Bears’ visit to Prospect, made changes to the Spotlight assembly and school rebranding efforts, among many other projects.

“As a staff member, she’s done a fantastic job of really getting to know the strengths of all staff members, … utilizes them and also works with you to develop in

She is an advocate for women and women in leadership positions. When I think of Michelle Dowling, that’s what I think of.”

- Tina Athanasopoulos, social science teacher

areas that really may not be your strengths,” Mirandola said. “From a personal example, kind of looking at how she’s tapped into my energy, my passion for Prospect, giving me the vehicle to go ahead and do amazing things for students.”

Last year, Mirandola wanted to revitalize the end-of-the-year Spotlight assembly, where student and school achievements are celebrated. Dowling and Mirandola coordinated with the Fine Arts department to incorporate new elements like a musical performance and digital lighting enhancements.

Throughout such projects, Mirandola highlights Dowling’s support for new ideas and taking risks.

“She’ll allow you to fail; she’s going to push you to fail but be there to guide you through that process,” Mirandola said.

Last year, the Prospect administration initiated the annual One Knight program, where staff members shadow individual students for a whole day, walking through their schedule and attending after-school activities. The goal of the project was to gain a holistic understanding of today’s students.

He took notice of Dowling’s participation.

“There’s a lot of principals who wouldn’t do that to make themselves vulnerable. She’s not afraid to go ahead and make herself vulnerable and enlighten herself,” Mirandola said. “As a principal you’re supposed to know everything and be in control of everything, and to go ahead and put that backpack on, pull out that iPad and walk in the students shoes, you’re extremely vulnerable because you don’t have all the answers, whether it be in the class or with the student experience.

“And I think that was one of

ON PROSPECTORNOW.COM ...

LIFETIME: Principal Michelle Dowling (far left) poses with her high school Student Council board members in 1979. Dowling returned to work in District 214 after her graduation from John Hersey High School in 1980. (photo courtesy of the Correspondent) See prospectornow.com for a photo album documenting Dowling’s 34 years in District 214. the most quintessential moments of her saying, ‘Hey, I really care about my kids, I really want you to walk in their footsteps to understand what they go through on a daily basis.’”

Dowling’s successor and current Associate Principal Greg Minter wants to continue these elements of her leadership. Minter has been on the administrative team with Dowling since 2003, executing the collaborative management system she has initiated.

“I think she would tell you that she is not a person that likes to be out in front of things; she likes to kind of lead within and be collaborative; she is not a micromanager,” Minter said. “She is certainly someone who likes to share her ideas and thoughts, but the other leaders in the building go about the

implementation [of a project] with her guidance but not necessarily micromanagement at all. …People really appreciate that.”

Minter has observed Prospect’s identity shift from a high school to a “community school” under Dowling’s leadership. Specifically, the Prospect Gives Back program has mobilized nearly 200 students each year to volunteer in the community since it started two years ago.

“She is a champion for the kids; she is a champion for the school.

In general, making sure that the accomplishments of kids, students, family and community have been celebrated … are really critical elements to what she’s brought here,” Associate Principal Scott McDermott said.

SEE DOWLING, page 2

2 NEWS

prospectornow.com

MAY 18, 2018

Assassins of Prospect RYAN KUPPERMAN Copy Editor

T

Currently on ProspectorNow.com...

“Senior assassin: sparking tradition”

ELIMINATED!: Seniors Nick Caputo and Noah Helstrom pose for a photo after Caputo eliminated Helstrom from their 2018 senior assassin game. (photo courtesy of the @assassin_phs Twitter page)

he rush of adrenaline and the bursts of water –– the last obstacle before college: senior assassin.

1986 Niles North High School graduate Scott Bulmash and his “hit squad” knew they had to take out a rival group of assassins. His squad consisted of a small group of friends that went around town hunting and eliminating their peers with water. The car chase began with Bulmash and his friends following the rival group onto the highway.

However, Bulmash estimated that the high speeds of the chase tore a hole in one of the rival-car’s tires. Although the tire was not flat, it was rapidly deflating. The car was forced to pull off the highway into a gas station. Bulmash and his group followed the other car and, instead of letting them change their tire, proceeded to do donuts around the gas pumps in an effort to chase them. As driving in circles made little progress, Bulmash agreed to a five-minute truce to let them change their tire, along with a one-minute headstart from the gas station.

32 years later, Bulmash remembers the highway-chase as one of the funniest senior assassin moments of his time.

Senior assassin is a student-run game held among high school seniors. Although the rules can vary by school, the goal is to eliminate classmates through means of water, while not being eliminated by anyone else.

As Bulmash sparked the senior assassin game at Niles North High School, the game has formed a prominent senior tradition in high schools across the country, including Prospect.

This year, senior Claire Strother continued the tradition and decided to organize Prospect’s game of senior assassin. She says this is because she was worried that no one else would step up as talk spread around school.

According to Strother, a large part of organizing the game was waiting for people to sign up. As soon as everybody had, Strother estimates that it took her two days to create a spreadsheet that listed everyone’s names, phone numbers and randomly assigned targets.

The beginning of the game started at midnight on April 23 with 261 participants.

By the end of one week, on April 30, only 94

RAINDROP, DROP TOP: An unsuspecting student gets sprayed with a water gun.

As senior assassin is finishing off seniors’ high school career, water warfare is a common occurance around town. (photo illustration by Erik Velazquez) people had moved on to the next round. Players have to both eliminate their targets and stay alive in order to move on. As midnight marked the end of round two on Sunday May 6, only 16 people moved into the third round.

That number shrunk to only seven people advancing into the fourth round.

Before the game began, Strother sent out a poll asking if players wanted to pay money to play, or pay nothing but lose a grand prize for the winner. The majority of people voted for no fees. Twitter allows communication among all players of the game.

In order to communicate among players, Strother personally texts targets to each player. As people began to get eliminated, they either directly messaged the twitter page, @assassin_phs, with a photo or video of the assassination, or they texted it directly to Strother.

Among some of these rules include no assassinations while on school property, while driving, while in the passenger seat of a car, while at a place of worship or while in a place of work. It is also against the rules to go into someone’s house uninvited, to be a “jerk” or to break the law.

In the situation that a participant breaks the rules, Strother will reach out to the players involved and tell them it is not allowed.

Otherwise, clear violations of the rules only mean that the attempted assassination will not count.

For instance, Strother recalls an incident where an assassin took their target’s backpack and would only give it back if the target allowed the assassin to shoot them. After contacting the assassin, Strother got them to agree that they had crossed the line. The target got their backpack back, and both players continued playing.

Senior Allison Buck, who did not make it passed the second round, said the main reason she played senior assassin was to have fun with her friends at the end of senior year. However, Buck also points out the competitiveness of the game, as friends are constantly seeking as much information as possible from other friends.

Despite the competitive nature, Strother says that senior assassin is more than just a game.

“People are creating bonds and meeting people that they never would have,” Strother said. “It is just a fun, culminating thing for everyone because we have all been around each other for four years, and this gives you a chance to talk to people that you wouldn’t have otherwise.”

DOWLING: Principal retires after 34-years in district CONTINUED from front page McDermott, who replaced Dowling’s former position as associate principal in 2012, has had one child graduate from Prospect and has two students currently attending Prospect. From the perspective of a community member, he attests to the school’s strengthened identity in the community. He believes her goal has been consistent in every project, plan or change: “to create a home away from home.”

“We have to tell kids [that] it’s time to leave at the end of the day.

This is a place I would say [the] majority of kids, staff [and] families feel really great to come and hang out and stay,” McDermott said. “You’re never going to get 100 percent, but you’re always going

to keep trying. I think that’s something that we do; keep looking for ways that have been changed by her and Mr. Minter to find ways to keep bringing our kids together and making them feel like they’re part of the collective – that’s really important.”

Dowling was one of the first people McDermott met when he started at Prospect as the special education division head in 2009.

Her transition from associate principal to principal, while not surprising to him, happened unexpectedly.

When Prospect’s previous principal Kurt Laakso resigned during the school year in the fall of 2012, the position was left temporarily vacant, as Laakso took over the District 214 Associate Superin-

CURRENTLY ON Prospectornow.com ...

How Principal Michelle Dowling impacted the role of women in District 214

tendent for Human Resources position when his predecessor resigned for personal reasons. Laakso and the school board decided that Dowling was ultimately the best choice to take over Prospect.

“I just wanted to continue the trajectory; I just wanted to have students feel successful, to feel like they had a place where we were meeting every kid’s needs,” Dowling said. “Because sometimes kids fell through the crack, and it’s the job of the principal and every adult in the building to make sure that we’ve reached out [to] every kid in some way.”

Laakso’s experience working with Dowling showed him that vision.

“I worked with Michelle for, at that point, almost six years, and I knew her to be an incredibly talented and dedicated educator, [as well as] just a tremendously good person in every way,” Laakso said.

“So I had great faith in her ability to lead the school but also represent what is the best for Prospect since she has such strong character herself. She’s a kind and giving person who will do anything possi-

time to mentally retreat from her current lifestyle.

“It’s kind of hard to make decisions when you’re so caught up in it. I still am, and I don’t want to lose the intensity until that time is up,” Dowling said. “But then I probably will [step back], and it’ll quite honestly take a whole month to do that. … I haven’t made a decision, and I consciously am not going to, [but] it’s hard because I want to. For me, I just keep going, and that’s what I’m comfortable with. I’m trying really hard to be comfortable not doing that.”

-Kurt Laasko, D214 associate McDermott and Misuperintendent for randola are not surprised

by Dowling’s plan, while human resources Laakso is surprised that she is even taking a month ble for the students to be successoff. ful.”

“I think she always wants to be Dowling plans on focusing on doing something helpful to others, family for a while when she retires. and that’s going to have an imHowever, her long-term plans are pact on those around her, whethnot that of a typical retirement. er that’s her immediate family, After spending a month to take a friends or colleges in some type of step back from the intensity of her work environment,” Laakso said. current occupation, Dowling envi“So I don’t think she’s going to sions continuing her career. stay away for long because I know Although she has had multithat in her heart and in her soul, ple job offers because of her backshe’s a worker, and she wants to do ground in economy and budgeting good work in the world. That’s the experience, Dowling is currently kind of person she’s always been as leaving her options open. long as I’ve known her and learned She feels that taking a break is about her history. She wants to do counterintuitive to her personaligood things and be part of somety and passion for working in edthing meaningful.” ucation but wants to allow herself

She is very student focused – it’s

in her blood ... I’ve never had a conversation with her regarding

school [when she] didn’t put students first.”

prospectornow.com

staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEFS Ayse Eldes Amanda Stickels ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Connor Graver COPY EDITORS Grace Givan Ryan Kupperman Danny Ryerson ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kate Hyland ASSOCIATE ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Wyatt Dojutrek NEWS EDITORS Blanca Estrada Grace Baldino Hannah Connelly OPINION EDITORS Anthony Romanelli Ryann Harold ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Jenna Koch Angelina Jasinski FEATURES EDITORS Mackenzie Noelle Leah Cooch Manisha Panthee SPORTS EDITORS Anthony Santangelo Rick Lytle STAFF WRITERS Elizabeth Keane Emma Muehlenbeck VISUALS EDITORS Erik Velazquez Mara Nicolaie ADVISER Jason Block MISSION STATEMENT The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news and explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, the Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide an unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions. The Prospector is published by students in Journalistic Writing courses. Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

ADVERTISING For ad rates, call (847) 718 5376 (ask for Ayse Eldes or Amanda Stickels), fax (847) 718 5306, email or write the Prospector, 801 West Kensington Rd., Mount Prospect, IL, 60056, prospectornow@gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in room 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 for style and length.

MAY 18, 2018

OPINION 3

Staff Editorial Career pathways program effectively provides resources

W

hether at college commencements or upcoming senior graduation speeches, Prospect students can relate to receiving advice for adulthood. While there is no standard path or set formula for a successful future, every educational institution can only hope to effectively prepare its students for adulthood.

Prospect’s graphic arts program clearly exemplifies the qualities educators should display when preparing students for life after high school. Graphic arts teacher Andre Poisson emphasizes how each class is purposely built to help students learn exactly what they need for both college and freshout-of-high-school jobs.

“The first year you learn how to bake the cake,” Poisson said. “The second year you’re getting to fine-tune it… Adding the decorations and making it look much fancier …

The third year [you’re] learning to make … wedding cakes.”

This high-level, challenging coursework is designed to be as hands-on as possible, according to Poisson. In the first through third years of the program, Students design shirts and logos for programs around the school, become experts with design programs such as Photoshop and take initiative on their own projects as they move up in the class.

The ability to work with clients inside and outside of a school building exemplifies

how these students are ready to take on real-world projects in this field.

We, the Prospector, believe Prospect High School’s Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications career pathway program is effectively geared toward readying students for the two key elements of post-high school lives: college and a career.

The pathway’s exposure to different campus programs and professional fields of graphics application is a unique commodity.

Individuality and responsibility is paired with advanced resources to prepare students for post-high school opportunities in the most successful way.

This mindset of college-level, but career-important, classwork is reflected onto students who take the class. Junior Annie Otto, a two-year student in the program, believes that Prospect’s graphic design teachings are as cutting-edge as they come.

“If I were to take a graphics class in college and start from the very bottom level, it would be very boring for me,” Otto said.

If a student from Prospect pursued a degree related to graphic arts, those like Otto would be more than prepared for the college-level curriculums.

In addition to the students’ participation in class, Poisson tries to expose students to the adult world of graphic arts as soon as possible, which provides students with valuable experience that will extend beyond high school. Field trips to different companies in the graphic arts field, such as departments at Illinois State University, are excellent examples of this.

Otto enjoys the classes because of the creative freedom she gets, but believes that

they’ve “opened a door” that allowed her to truly consider pursuing a career in graphic design. Inspiring young students is a feat that every high school should strive to accomplish, and through the graphic arts program, Prospect has done so.

“I’m still deciding whether I want to be a graphic designer, but now it seems much more possible,” Otto said.

The program also allows students to be a part of the community. Through the graphic arts class, Otto has been afforded the opportunity to leave a permanent mark on Prospect history by designing the logo for Prospect Gives Back, as well as buttons and posters for the Lemons of Love concert.

Even though she was hesitant in her first year to follow graphic design as a career, Otto has seen the classes become more and more career-focused, which she enjoys.

“I knew that I wanted to combine art and computers into a career because those are my two favorite things,” Otto said. “Graphic arts was the closest thing to that.”

An emphasis on cross-career disciplines has always been a focus for Poisson. In addition to significant overlap between his class and the app design class next door, Poisson believes that it’s impossible to leave your house without “coming into contact with a graphic designer” in some way.

In an institution that envisions preparing young adults for the next step of their lives, the graphic arts program has done a great job evolving and preparing students for this world. All schools should strive to model the accomplishments of Prospect’s graphic arts program.

Astrological “science” sketchy, unreliable Fortune-telling can be used to earn money in exchange for false promises Don’t you just love it when giant stars that are billions of light-years away align themselves in a specific order just to tell you whether or not you’ll do well on a test next week? Sure, it sounds stupid when you put it that way, but the National Science Foundation reports that 40 percent of Americans believe astrology is a science, which is the highest percentage since 1983. That’s disturbingly high for a developed country because not only is astrology completely false, but paid astrological services are scams that target vulnerable people. Someone needs to call out these foul practices, and I am more than happy to do so.

Astrology is considered a scientific theory by its propoANTHONY nents. The problem ROMANELLI with this is that a theory can only Executive be scientific if it is Opinion Editor verifiable and falsifiable. Astrology is neither.

Astrological signs are said to predict a person’s future, but no test has or could be conducted to repeatedly prove this is possible. Something of a supernatural nature cannot be tested and thus cannot be proven to exist.

A double-blind test was conducted by American physicist Shawn Carlson at the California Institute of Technology to see if astrologers could accurately deduce the birth signs of subjects. The subjects were also asked to figure out each other’s signs.

The experiment concluded that neither the subjects nor astrologers were any better than the other in deducing the correct sign.

Both groups were unable to consistently choose the correct signs, meaning that not only is astrology a pseudoscience that relies on lucky guesses, it can be done by random people pulled off the street with the same accuracy.

Some argue that horoscopes are harmless fun –– and I would agree –– but astrology is far more than horoscopes. An entire

NOT IN THE STARS: Astrologers and similar fortune-tellers make money off of people who are led to believe astrology is real. Not only is astrology a pseudoscience, it is actively harmful to those who take it seriously. (cartoon by Mara Nicolaie) industry has sprung up around astrological consultations. Astrologers who give paid services are nothing more than glorified con men, preying on the confused and troubled for an extra buck.

According to the New York Times in 2015, Manhattan resident Niall Rice reportedly paid $718,000 to an astrologer to help him find his old girlfriend. When the astrologer found out that the woman had died, he lied to Rice and continued to accept money for his “search”.

This is only one of many examples where astrology has been used to delude people out of their money. And since astrology is guessing at best, astrologers can change their product to suit their needs. In other words, if you want a better future than the one you have, you’d better pay up.

Yet, even when confronted with evidence, those who believe in astrology continue to flock to it in a damaging cycle. This is known as subjective validation. Subjective validation occurs when two unrelated or random events are perceived to be related because their beliefs demand that a relation exists.

People find “evidence” of astrology believable because they want to believe it’s true and feel reassured or validated.

This belief enforcement is aided by the nature of astrology itself. If you were to read your daily horoscope, it would probably

get some things right. That’s because horoscopes are so general and vague that they can’t be very wrong, however, they are specific enough to get people interested at the same time. It’s called the Barnum effect, and, while it applies to most personality tests (looking at you, Myers-Briggs), horoscopes are the worst repeat-offenders.

I looked at my horoscope a few days ago, and it told me I would “find new love.” Love for what? A girlfriend? A boyfriend? A hobby? Heroin? You don’t know; I don’t know; and it stands to reason that Horoscope Guy doesn’t either.

Astrology is unfortunately growing and has received celebrity endorsements from people like Katy Perry and Nancy Reagan, who both consulted astrologists during difficult times in their lives. What I find most disturbing is that from people ages 18 to 24, the future workers and teachers of America, are most susceptible to these lies.

If you read a horoscope just for the fun of it, that’s fine. That’s not going to impact you. But if you know someone who has paid an astrologer or psychic, encourage them to stop and boycott this deceptive practice.

These are liars and charlatans, pure and simple, and the children of the Information Age should not be falling for a cheap magician’s trick.

4 IN-DEPTH

MAY 18, 2018

FUN IN THE SUN

Students discuss their summer plans

cal and mental toll on her body.

“We are only in high school, so working two jobs and trying to balance everything isn’t really what we are supposed to be doing,” Bailie said. “I feel like [it takes] a toll on your mental health and well-being all together.”

A typical day for Schauer will be to wake up around 10 a.m., have free time and go to work at 5 p.m. During his free time, he spends time with friends, exercises, draws GRACE GIVAN writing my essays in advance will give me a or writes. Schauer emphasizes the imporreally big advantage,” Ryan said. “So when tance of indulging in hobbies.

I’m dealing with all these harder classes and Copy Editor “I’m able to practice [and] get better with trying to balance sports and activities, it’ll that practice. I am more happy because I make me feel more reassured and relaxed.” unior Tia Sadlon’s daily summer enjoy [my hobbies], and I can do them more Ryan also keeps in schedule consists of two hours dedoften,” Schauer said. mind that her school icated to basketball camp, an hour In fact, according to the year will be hectic, so she and a half of assisting the younger kids’ website Parsley Health, doesn’t want to isolate herbasketball camp and four to eight hours of long breaks can impact self from having responsilifeguarding. However, Sadlon’s summer the brain by increasing bilities. On top of writing day is relatively stress-free compared to her of teens have a creativity. her essays, Ryan will be school schedule, so her hectic summer does Schauer prefers to summer job working as a golf caddie not bother her. have his summer break be for four days every week “[Staying busy] helps me stay focused, different than the school for four to eight hours. *information courtesy of Next Gen [so] then I know, ‘OK, I need to get this done year by being involved in This is important for her Personal Finance in this amount of time, so there’s no messing less things, and, for him, because she doesn’t want around or anything,’” Sadlon said. it provides a sense of proto have a drastic mental Sadlon is not the only student involved gression. change once school starts. in multiple activities over the summer. StuAccording to Schauer, the summer gives Staying mentally aware is not the only dents on the other end of the the feeling of an end to the school year, so benefit to working over spectrum, however, prefer making his summer as time consuming as a the summer for Ryan. Both Helping Hands to keep their schedules relaschool schedule would throw off his internal Sadlon and Ryan will work tively clear. Each approach clock. during the summer in order to summer break has its ben- Teens can pursure loval For Bailie, staying productive can reto accumulate money that efits, but students disagree on volunteer opportunities at: sult in the opposite. She continues to grow will last the rest of the year, as which has more. in her organization and multitasking skills, their busy school-schedules Some students keep their along with growing as a golfer throughout -Journeys from PADS to do not permit working during schedules busy in order to the summer instead of taking a break once HOPE the school year. prepare for the upcoming school ends.

However, junior Cooper -Kenneth Young Center school year.

For Ryan, however, a productive summer Schauer, whose summer will Junior Grace Ryan, for -Bessie’s Table benefits her mentally, as she gets stressed only consist of working three example, is writing a college when she is not doing anything. days every week at Culver’s, application and half of her “It is really tempting for me to not do finds that a mental break is college essays over the summer. anything [this summer], but I know if I don’t necessary in developing his personality.

Ryan concluded that she was going to do do anything, I’m really going to regret it Due to stress, Schauer feels as if he is less this when she was younger, as she saw how later. And after I get work done, I feel approachable during the school year, so her older siblings became stressed when so much better about it without summer is a time for him to become more they wrote all of their applications during having it looming over my relaxed and friendly. senior year. head,” Ryan said.

In fact, junior Grace Bailie has noticed “I know that senior year is going to be Sadlon’s that her hectic summer schedule can cause really hectic; I’ve had two older siblings go father, her to be irritable. through the whole process, She works two jobs on top of golf practicso I know that es and tournaments, which takes a physi-

J

30%

Hitchhiker’s guide to the ‘burbs DANIEL RYERSON Copy Editor

Submarine Express, a sandwich stop in Mt. Prospect. (Photo by Daniel Ryerson)

Submarine Express is in ancient Mount Prospect history. It was around when my parents went to Prospect, and it’ll probably still be there when your kids are looking for things to do around town.

Located on the corner of Main and Northwest Highway, they’ve been open for business since 1927 and claim to have “the absolute best submarine sandwiches, burgers, salads, soups and sides in Mount Prospect.”

Submarine Express doesn’t skimp out on their sandwiches, unlike a certain yellow-and-green-themed sub chain. Each sandwich comes with almost three-quarters of an inch of both meat and cheese before you factor in veggies or anything else.

However, this quality doesn’t come without a price — namely in cash. Submarine Express hasn’t taken credit or debit cards in the 91 years they’ve been open; you have to pay with cash there.

prospectornow.com

Gregg, finds being busy in the summer can provide insight into one’s threshold when it comes to work. Because Gregg has seen the effects of a hectic summer on Tia, he observes that she can manage her time and decide how much work she can take on at once. “[Learning time management] helps me because I am sure of what I’m doing,” Tia said. “Like I know, ‘OK I’m getting this at this time.’ And then, ‘I’m going to do this another time, and I don’t need to worry about that now because I’m doing something else.’

So it just helps be be more confident in what I’m doing.”

For Ryan, the result of having this liberty over her schedule is actually minimizing her stress levels since she is spreading her work over a long period of time.

“Stress becomes more stressful when you don’t know how to deal with it,” Ryan said. “So having a plan [to figure out] what you want to do really relaxes me. … Like just figuring out the process for me takes away some stress.”

Either way, Gregg finds that having the freedom to choose the degree of activity a student has is important.

“It gives them an opportunity to grow and grow up and make their own decisions. I think that the most important thing is if they’ve made the decision [themselves], the more inclined they are to do [things] and feel like it was more rewarding because they had a large say in what the decision was that they’re doing,” Gregg said.

To find more interesting places to visit in Mt. Prospect and Arlington Heights, visit ... prospectornow.com

prospectornow.com

FEATURES 5

MAY 18, 2018

Gap years provide break for graduates HANNAH CONNOLLY News Editor

L

auren Miller, 2016 Prospect graduate, decided to take a year off and volunteer before college. First, she spent two months in Guatemala volunteering to help women ages 16 to 25 that lived in assisted living homes by talking and helping the in-home nurses.

Miller also spent five weeks in Costa Rica studying sea turtles. Then, another three months were spent in Peru where she worked within an orphanage While in Peru, she also lived in the Andes mountains with a group of Quechua indigenous people, which taught her how other people lived in different areas of the world.

After high school, Miller knew she couldn’t go straight into college. She talked to Syracuse University, who had accepted her on the Chancellor’s scholarship, about taking a gap year.

She then figured out her financial situation and traveled to different countries around the world. Throughout her travels, she did different types of service work through the International volunteer head-

“SISTERS” FOREVER: Prospect graduate Lauren Miller in Ccollotaro, Peru with homestay “sister” Cynthia. Going to Peru was part of her gap year between her senior year of high school and freshman year of college. (photo courtesy of Lauren Miller) quarters.

According to college counselor Diane Bourn, most students do not know that a gap

EXPLORING: Prospect graduate Lauren Miller hikes in the Andes Mountains. She stayed with an indegenous family in the mountains for a short amount of time while in Peru. (photo courtesy of Lauren Miller)

year is a break taken before starting college.

When this year is taken, most students will travel, work, volunteer or relax.

According to the USA Gap Fairs website, there are possible college programs to volunteer through during a gap year. They can offer a variety of experiences, such as going to different countries, living on the ocean, mountain climbing or learning about art history abroad.

Colleges such as the University of Maryland and John Hopkins University offer programs that allow students to take gap years.

Many colleges support students’ decisions to take gap years because they open students’ eyes to the world and help them begin the next chapter of their life.

Once students are accepted to a college, the college may or may not allow students to keep their spot for the next year when they return after their gap year.

Most colleges do not provide financial aid for students interested in a gap year.

However, some colleges might keep a scholarship in place for the student for when they return to school according to an article from The Balance.

“Everything from seeing parts of the planet [that] you’ve never seen before [to] …

being able to have adventures in other countries is really inspirational for me,” science teacher Jennifer Welter said.

Although she did not take a gap year, she says the most important part for students who are looking into taking a gap year is to be safe.

Welter recommends traveling with an organization or a group, like Miller did, because it is a safe way for people to travel at a young age.

“If you need to be rejuvenated … giving yourself a break can really help,” Bourn said. “[You will] be able to start the next phase of your education with a little more excitement.”

Since Miller had taken almost all AP classes her senior year, she believes that taking a gap year was the best thing she could have done for herself.

Miller feels she learned to become more independent before she got to college because of her experiences during her gap year.

“People are always like ‘oh I don’t know about this, it doesn’t fall within my plan,’” Miller said. “Everything in the U.S. is always about a plan, but the thing is [that] you don’t really have to have a plan to be successful at life.”

Knights’ Way adjusts to new changes, develops curriculum AMANDA STICKELS Editor-in-Chief This year the Knights’ Way program gained new leadership under social science teacher Jay Heilman, English teacher Joyce Kim, social science teacher Qiana Drye and Innovative Technology Facilitator Matt Hamilton.

Under their direction came new lesson topics. Before the school year, Heilman said the group attended a presentation by Medal of Honor recipients at the Cantigny museum.

The presentation focused on the six pillars of character, which inspired the new Knights’ Way topics — excellence, selflessness, integrity, perseverance and passion.

Senior Knights’ Way leader

Six

Zach Miller says that he liked this change because it gave him the leeway to talk to his class about many different, specific issues since the topic was very broad.

Social science teacher David Schnell believes that the new topics allows for more structure to Knights’ Way, but he also hopes that next year’s topics delve deeper into more specific issues.

Schnell feels that Knights’ Way topics should require wider discussions other than “this is right” or “this is wrong.”

Miller agrees, as he remembers one of last year’s lessons about mental health, which struck a chord with him because it’s an issue that many students could relate to and have a deep discussion about.

Talking about problems like

s of c ha ra c

ar ill

p

te

r

COURAGE

SACRIFICE

INTEGRITY

CITIZENSHIP

PATRIOTISM

COMMITMENT

The new Knights’ Way topics were inspired by a Medal of Honor presentation about the six pillars of character.

mental health is one of the reasons why Miller misses having student-produced topics, as lessons in the previous years were planned by a committee comprised of experienced Knights’ Way leaders.

According to Heilman, having student-produced topics is something that he, Kim, Drye and Hamilton are thinking about for next year.

However, they didn’t want to include it this year since this was their first time leading Knights’ Way. “What me, Mrs. Drye, Mrs. Kim and Mr. Hamilton had felt was that this is our first time taking over this program, and we wanted to be the ones to steer the curriculum the first year just to kind of know how to do it. We didn’t want the students to do something that we had never done… I don’t think that’s fair to the kids,” Heilman said.

Moving forward into next year, students are now allowed to nominate themselves to become Knights’ Way leaders, as opposed to teacher-nominations from last year.

Heilman says the reason for this is that last year some students who were nominated by a teacher didn’t necessarily want to be a leader.

On the other hand, some students who were interested in becoming a leader were not nominated.

“We also want to capture some of those kids that do see something in themselves that maybe their teachers haven’t seen,” Heilman

LEAD: Two Knights’ Way leaders teach a lesson to their class. This year the Knights’ Way program gained new sponsors in teachers Jay Heilman, Joyce Kim, Qiana Drye and Technology Facilitator Matt Hamilton. (photo courtesy of Joyce Kim) said. “We only want people in Knights’ Way that want to be in Knights’ Way.” Even while there are many changes in the Knights’ Way program, Heilman says that the goal remains the same.

“A significant part of what students learn in high school has nothing to do with test scores, has nothing to do with grades or GPA. It has everything to do with learning how to in-

teract with other human beings. …

That’s what I think Knights’ Way is all about. It’s all about teaching people how to be a good human being and how to interact with others in this world,” Heilman said.

6 FEATURES

prospectornow.com

MAY 18, 2018

‘Hard’-ey to say goodbye after 19 years LEAH COOCH Staff Writer

E

arlier this year, English and Special Education teacher John Hardey won the Outstanding Contributor to Education award, which is only awarded to two or three teachers per school in the district. When Hardey received the award, he was mainly recognized for leading the freshman reading program.

Throughout Hardey’s 19-year -career in education, he has dedicated the last 10 to teaching freshman English.

“I love teaching freshmen. They come in knowing nothing, and the idea is to try and get them ready for the rest of high school,” Hardey said. “They don’t know it, but the next four years are going to go by fast.”

Before Hardey taught freshmen at Prospect, he was a teacher at Nipper Career Academy for five years, which was a District 214 alternative learning school for children with behavioral disorders.

Nipper Career Academy shut down in 2004 due to a lack of enrollment, so Hardey got a job teaching at Prospect.

Throughout the last six years, Hardey and English teacher Nicole Stoltz have team taught a freshman Written and Oral Communications class, which according to both Hardey and Stoltz has made the two very close.

“Hardey has been more than

AWARDING RETIREMENT: After a 19-year career, English and special education teacher John Hardey (right) poses with English teacher Nicole Stoltz after winning the Outstanding Contributor to Education award for leading the freshman reading program for 10 years.(photo courtesy Nicole Stoltz) just a teacher at Prospect,” Stoltz said. “Hardey has truly recognized the importance of connecting with

students and taking interests in their activities.”

Stoltz recalls an instance in the

Johnson joins retirement, hopes to substitute, travel MEGAN SULAK Staff Writer

K

When chemistry teacher Deb Johnson first attended Stonington High School, she found an interest in math and science. Johnson expresses that her math teacher’s excitement about problem solving intrigued her to attend college with that career path in mind.

Starting her first job as a student teacher at John Hersey High School in the fall of 1984, Johnson developed her love for teaching.

“It’s that one student who comes back and says, ‘Thank you,’” Johnson said. “All it takes is for one student every once in a while to keep that attitude and that drive to keep doing this — the difference that [us teachers] make for our students.”

Starting in 1985, Johnson began her fulltime teaching career at Prospect. Since then, she has taught chemistry, math, computer science and physical science.

“I like different subjects for different reasons,” Johnson said. “I like chemistry because we have so many hands-on things we can do. … I like math because I like the logical thinking that can get you from point A to point B … and

o Wh ws o n

I like the problem solving part [of computer science and] learning the different codes and the different languages.”

Johnson also coached Hersey’s freshman girls’ volleyball team, while still student teaching, and Prospect’s freshman and JV girls’ volleyball and girls’ track teams for the first six years at Prospect.

While Johnson didn’t continue to coach because she wanted to focus on her family, she still attends volleyball, football and basketball games to cheer on the students. She also enjoyed attending her children’s sports games and activities, such as softball games and musicals, while they went to Prospect.

Throughout her years of teaching, Johnson has had positive experiences with both students and staff. She feels that being surrounded by them every day has made her a part of another family.

Outside of school, Johnson plays on an all female volleyball team in Crystal Lake. After trying out for her junior high team, she decided to continue playing the sport.

“I love [playing volleyball]. It keeps me active,” Johnson said. “It’s also social because I play with friends, so it gives me opportunities to stay up-to-date on what they’re doing [and] what their kids are doing.”

Along with volleyball, John-

Freshman Christo Nicolau The Boyfriend

Freshman Hannah Smith The Subject

B

Y et to u er?

spring of 2017 when Hardey made a positive impact on students from the Best Friends Club, a club where special education students and student volunteers can participate in activities.

When the club decided to watch a varsity girls’ soccer game, Hardey surprised all the students and teachers involved with the club by inviting them into the press box, where he was announcing the soccer game. While they were there, Hardey gave all of the students an opportunity to announce things into the microphone such as the players’ names and the score.

According to Hardey, when he gave the students the microphone he was able to share his passion for announcing sports with the kids.

For as long as Hardey can remember, he has been a sports fanatic, which is what led him to pursue his pastime of announcing high school sporting events.

Hardey originally started announcing sports for his kids’ soccer games at Buffalo Grove High School 20 years ago; now he is the voice for five different sports at Prospect.

Hardey has announced both boys’ and girls’ soccer for 15 years, boys’ and girls’ basketball for 14 years, boys’ and girls’ track and field for 10 years, boys’ baseball for three years and boys’ volleyball for one year.

“I love announcing all of these different games, because I am a sports nut,” Hardey said. “If I was not announcing these games I

GONE BUT NOT FOREVER: Chemistry teacher Deb Johnson has been teaching at Prospect since 1985, after student teaching at Hersey the year before. Although she will be retiring after this school year ends, she is hoping to return and substitute. (photo by Erik Velazquez) son attends church every Sunday and takes part in her church’s choir. She enjoys singing any song with harmonies and always feels relaxing but rejuvenating at the same time.

Reading, gardening and camping are also some of Johnson’s favorite hobbies outside of school.

Growing up on a farm, Johnson is used to nature and the outdoors. Throughout her life, Johnson has camped in different states, including Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin.

She enjoys everything involved in camping, such as hiking, biking and canoeing.

After retiring as a full-time teacher at Prospect, Johnson does plan on coming back and substitute teaching, as well as volunteering around the area. She also plans on traveling overseas to Europe and other states in the U.S. with her husband and friends.

“I like Prospect … I love teaching and I love seeing the students,” Johnson said. “I’ll be able to keep doing that to just kind of stay involved with young students.”

The Little Mermaid

Cherry Coke

Florida

P

P

P

P

Favorite movie?

Favorite soda?

Favorite board game?

The Little Mermaid

Cherry Coke

Favorite vacation spot?

Florida

Florida

Monopoly

P

P

Freshman Emma Preissing Pitch Perfect Cherry Coke The Best Friend

would most likely be sitting on the bleachers watching.”

Although Hardey is retiring at the end of this school year, Prospect will not lose his familiar face and voice altogether.

Hardey’s longtime friend Mike Stokes, special education teacher and track and field coach, convinced Hardey to stay and announce the basketball and track and field seasons next year.

“I could not imagine the track meets without him next year because he is such a good announcer that it would be hard to get someone other than him to do the meets,” Stokes said.

When Hardey is not announcing at Prospect next year, he will be found traveling the United States in order to reach his goal–– visiting all 50 states.

So far, Hardey has made it to 46 states, and only has Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii left on his list.

“I love this country, and there is so much I have not seen yet. ...

These next years to come are all for me,” Hardey said.

Hardey still plans on staying close with everyone when he is gone, and he will make sure to stay in touch with people, such as Stokes and Stoltz.

“When you spend so much time with somebody over the past six or seven years, you get to know them differently,” Stoltz said. “[Hardey] is not just my colleague, he is my friend. ... I am going to miss that dynamic we have.”

P

Monopoly Olive Garden

P

W I N N E R

Favorite restaurant?

Monopoly Olive Garden

Portillos

X

prospectornow.com

MAY 18, 2018

FEATURES 7

Traditions build strongest team bonds ELIZABETH KEANE Staff Writer

W

hen a new wave of students join a team, it’s up to the former teammates to help them feel welcome.

One way the yearbook, theater, football, poms, cheer, cross country, and swim programs at Prospect do this is through team bonding and lasting traditions.

According to senior Sam Lupo, the yearbook staff always looks forward to the traditions they have.

Some of these include Saturday deadlines, senior dinner at yearbook camp, yearbook apparel, senior gifts and gifts for their adviser Nicole Stoltz, but Lupo’s favorite is the fun surrounding distribution.

The “yerds,” or yearbook nerds, get together on the Sunday before the first day of distribution to set up by unboxing all of the books while singing to their favorite songs. After a few hours of this, they go to Javier’s in Arlington Heights for dinner and take pictures at North School park to celebrate the year. This tradition began seven years ago, when Stoltz took over the yearbook program.

“Not everyone always participates because it depends on availability,” Lupo said. “But I always make sure to leave my calendar open so I can have fun with my yerds.”

Similarly, the theater program is able to grow closer through their traditions, even without talking. Before the final Saturday show of the musical, crew, band and cast come together in a big circle.

The people on the outside close their eyes while the different grade levels stand in the center. Prompted by the director with phrases such as, “Who inspired you?” the people in the center go around tapping people on their heads accordingly.

According to senior Megan McLaughlin, in this activity, she is able to thank people she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to otherwise.

“Whether or not you have the opportunity to get to know someone throughout the process of the production, this activity helps us all to feel more connected and unified,” McLaughlin said.

Another important tradition is the chant the team does before every show to calm nerves: “Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm.” This chant can apply to any group, whether it’s on the stage or the field.

The football team celebrates each home game win with the song “Ring of Fire.” The team also has the “Meat Lovers’ Skillet Challenge” in which they go to Mr. Allison’s, a breakfast diner, and each eat an entire Meat-Lovers’ skillet along with two chocolate-chip pancakes with whipped cream. A Meat-Lovers’ skillet at this diner is complete with ham, bacon, sausage, and American cheese.

They also do “Thursday throwarounds” in which they throw a football around on the Thursday mornings of the offseason and always go to Dunkin Donuts after.

Traditions like these were all collectively started by the team when junior Jimmy Martin was a freshman.

“Hopefully the traditions we started will stay in the football program forever,” Martin said. “They definitely brought us closer together as a team.”

Besides cheering and dancing for the crowd on Friday nights, the Poms girls like to celebrate homecoming week with a team sleepover and party, according to senior Hanna Walker. The “big and little sisters” on the team exchange

FISH OUT OF WATER: The boys’ swim team bleaches and shaves their hair every season. “When we shave our heads we get to all embarrass ourselves as a team, and that’s what makes it so great,” junior Justin Fugiel said. (photo courtesy of @phsboysswim) TP-TOWER: On the night before each year’s homecoming game, varsity cheerleaders stay out until 3AM to TP the varsity football players’ houses. (photo courtesy of Kayomi Hirano) gifts with each other throughout the season and at poms summer camp. The sister pairs are chosen specifically to encourage team bonding; seniors are paired with freshmen and juniors with sophomores. There is also a team dinner before the homecoming football game.

“The team celebration before the homecoming game is my favorite because it gets everyone really hyped up for the performance,” Walker said.

The traditions have been there for the four years that Walker has been on poms. They were started by the former coach and stuck.

“Whenever we start the season, the team is really clique-y,” Walker said. “But through these traditions, we’re able to all become friends even if we’re not in the same grade.”

Cheer also has an exciting tradition involving homecoming. The night before the game, varsity girls go to Steak n Shake before purchasing a huge amount of toilet paper. With this, they are out until 3 a.m. TP-ing the football players’ houses.

“The seniors drive, and we mix up grade levels in each car so we can bond with everybody,” senior Kayomi Hirano said.

At every meet, the entire track and cross country team

keeps a consistent dynamic warm-up to get their legs moving, no matter the ability level. They then begin an extended running warm-up roughly an hour before the race begins, and end with a team huddle.

“My favorite part is just being able to run with all my best friends,” senior Jack Terry said.

The top varsity members went on trips to Devils Lake in Wisconsin and Yellowstone over the summer. Additionally, everyone on the team has an opportunity to attend a road race in Davenport, Iowa. Here, the team camps for three days until their seven mile race.

“The goal of the trips are to include a lot of team bonding, running, and exploring new places as a team,” Terry said.

Junior Justin Fugiel got the full boys’ swim experience when he bleached and shaved his hair with the team for two years in a row. He estimates that about 85 percent of the 60 person team participates in this. Another tradition is that after any MSL East first place win, the team gets to throw the coaches in the water.

“When we shave our heads we get to all embarrass ourselves as a team, and that’s what makes it so great,” Fugiel said.

Whether they’re in the pool, on the track, or performing onstage, all of these upperclassmen can agree that team traditions have improved their high school experience.

High school traditions around the country Cupertino High School in California: After the Homecoming king and queen are crowned during the football game’s halftime show, the water polo team runs out in the middle of the field in speedos.

Londonberry High School in New Hampshire: The school donates their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths (which helps women and girls fighting cancer get real-hair wigs). They’ve donated so much hair that they hold a Guinness World Record.

Preston High School in New York: Every January before the end-of-semester exams, the student council throws an overnight pajama party featuring talent shows, makeovers, games, movies, a DJ, and food in order to help students relax before finals.

BONDING MILESTONES: The top varsity members of track and cross country traveled to Yellowstone National Park in Montana last June. “The goals of the trips are to include a lot of team bonding, running, and exploring new places as a team,” senior Jack Terry said. (photo by Jay Renaud)

FOllow us on twitter and snapchat @prospectornow

FINISHING THE SPREAD: The yearbook staff spends a lot of time together during competitions and days leading up to yearbook distribution. Yearbook distribution this year is on May 21st and 22nd. (photo courtesy of Sam Lupo)

8 FEATURES

prospectornow.com

MAY 18, 2018

Conspiracies capture student interest JENNA KOCH Executive Entertainment Editor

W

hen the Prospect High School (PHS) Conspiracy Twitter account followed junior Katie Gault, she was a bit creeped out. However, she does have PHS in her Twitter account’s bio, so she assumed that’s why they followed her. She ended up checking out the conspiracy twitter and found the theories to be really entertaining.

Her favorite theories include that there’s a monster living in the pool and that if a person arranges the figurines on social science teacher Jonathan Kaminsky’s desk in the shape of a whale, the octopus monster Cthulhu will be summoned.

Gault decided to test out the figurine theory, but unfortunately, Cthulhu did not make an appearance.

While the PHS conspiracy twitter is just for fun, some students and teachers believe in theories that go beyond summoning monsters in history class.

Junior Tim Konopacki has researched many aspects of theories surrounding 9/11 to theories concerning John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

“I’m not so much concerned who did it, it’s just the fact that it’s not what we’ve been told,” Konopacki said.

Konopacki actually found out about more 9/11 theories through a youtube video going around called “golf ball did 9/11” and “Bush did 9/11.” The videos portray former president George W. Bush hitting a golf ball, followed by footage from 9/11.

The videos initially got him interested, but Konopacki says he

I WANT TO BELIEVE: A bulletin board is filled with conspiracy evidence. Junior Tim Konopacki believes in the 9/11 conspiracy theory and enjoys watching documentaries on it and researching it. “I’m not so much concerned with who did it, it’s just the fact that it’s not what we’ve been told,” Konopacki said. continued to look into more theories. Konopacki feels it is interesting to look into different aspects that make an event seem questionable.

“I think a lot of what conspiracy theories are is that it doesn’t seem right, and so you question other possibilities,” Konopacki

said. “The whole thing with conspiracy theories is that you’re thinking outside the box and trying to think for yourself.”

9/11, along with other historical events, are often questioned, Social science teacher Brad Rathe has heard many of these theories in his history classes.

Unhealthy friendships prove issue among teens MANISHA PANTHEE Feature Editor As Jamie Costabile walked to her eighthgrade math class, she spotted a former friend walking by. Although she and the other student passed each other with blank stares,

Detecting a toxic friend Check off all that apply You’re scared of his/her reaction anytime you do/say anything She/he always tells you to change, although they won’t see any of their own shortcomings.

Your friendship is an emotional rollercoaster.

The stress of being their friend takes it’s toll on your body physically and mentally.

You are more interested in maintaining your friendship than your friend.

There is an imbalance in talk time, with most of it going to your friend.

If you’ve checked off most of these, it mightbe time to rethink that friendship. (according to Psycology Today)

Costabile couldn’t help but look behind her shoulder and wonder how they had gone from best friends to two girls that couldn’t even look at each other.

After the girls met at a sixth-grade birthday party, they “clicked right away.”

Costabile thought her new friend “would be the person [she] needed in her life” because she was going through some personal issues at the time.

“We knew each other like we knew ourselves,” Costabile said.

During 8th grade, Costabile found out she didn’t know her friend as well as she thought.

According to Costabile, now a freshman, her friend replied with degrading comments anytime she questioned where she was. She felt she was being verbally abused in the friendship.

Plus, they regularly got into big fights.

After a huge argument about the distance between the two friends, they stopped talking to each other. In a matter of days, the two best friends quickly became enemies.

Unhealthy friendships are very common, whether emotionally or physically.

They are very prevalent on television too, - Rachel often portrayed as glamorous like Serena and Blair from Gossip Girl or the Plastics from Mean Girls.

According to counselor Rachel Brill, unhealthy friendships in the real world are much more understated than television may show.

“Tripping people in the hallways, teasing them in assemblies — things like that

“I’ll entertain them, I’ll listen to it. I don’t put much stock into a lot of them, but there are a couple that I find intriguing,” Rathe said.

He finds the most common theories discussed are the 9/11 theories and the JFK theories. According to Rathe, he believes the JFK theory to an extent, and even dedicates a

we don’t necessarily see so much,” Brill said. “Kids see how obnoxious the movies are and don’t realize they’re doing the same things. What they experience is more subtle little jabs.”

According to Brill, it’s important to know which relationships are unhealthy so a person knows when to distance themselves. For the individuals involved, it can be difficult to acknowledge a friendship is damaging.

Costabile says she had no idea their friendship would turn into such hostility, but she feels there were warning signs that they weren’t the best pair. (see “Detecting a toxic friend”) She felt broken and depressed during that particular friendship. The happiness she felt during the beginning changed to stress, fear or anger every time they talked.

According to Psychology Today, individuals with negative relationships have a higher chance of developing depression and heart problems than individuals with healthy relationships.

W h e t h er someone chooses to Brill, Counselor acknowledge their friendship is unhealthy, distancing from a friend can be very difficult. According to Brill, there can be many factors tying two people together besides their individual friendship, such as family history or long-lasting friendships.

“There’s emotion attached to friendships,” Brill said. “It’s hard to let go of some-

It’s hard to let go of someone you care about even if you can see it’s not a good relationship.”

day to it after AP testing.

“It’s interesting and it makes you think,” Konopacki said. “If there’s one take away from conspiracy theories it’s that you’re not necessarily believing that that theory is true — it’s more that you don’t want to believe what is being shoved down your throat.”

one you care about even if you can see it’s not a good relationship.”

According to social worker Andrea DiPrima, teenagers may also feel hesitant to end their friendship with someone due to their mutual friends. Due to being in the same friend group as her former friend, Costabile said their other friends felt obliged to pick a side.

“You don’t want to lose all your other friends at the expense of one,” DiPrima said.

Costabile, Brill and DiPrima all stressed the importance of having honestconversations with friends who cause unhealthy relationships.

Costabile and her friend had a chance to sort out their problems, and although it was the last time they talked, Costabile felt it was better to have their thoughts out in the open rather than suppressed.

According to Brill and DiPrima, it’s best to put distance between two friends if a conversation does not work out. They recommend not to fuel the fire, but instead, become too busy to hang out. Politely make excuses when they ask to go somewhere or make sure there are other friends nearby to talk with.

It takes two people to maintain a friendship. As one starts to distance themself from the other, the friendship could eventually fade.

DiPrima says as important as it is to cut out a negative person out of someone’s life, it’s best not to define anyone as a bad friend because of one action. Having fights or saying something hurtful in the moment does not correlate to being an unhealthy friend.

“We all make mistakes sometimes,” said DiPrima. “You’re gonna have conflict.Conflict is healthy. It’s OK to have conflict with your friend and work that out. It doesn’t necessarily make them toxic.”

prospectornow.com

MAY 18, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT 9 Representation in the top 100 movies 4.2% Other 4.9% Hispanic 5.3% Asian 12.5% Black 73.1% White

#HOLLYWOODSOWHITE: Six Prospect students pose to represent the underrepresentation in the Hollywood industry.

d re a m i n gold s u N ot al l of Students weigh in on lack of diversity in Hollywood casts

BY BLANCA ESTRADA Executive News Editor

A

s Leonardo DiCaprio, Eddie Redmayne, Matt Damon and Michael Fassbender’s names were announced, minority groups began to see what was occurring for the second year in a row.

All of the 88th Academy Award nominees were white.

Days after the nominations were announced, Spike Lee, an African-American film director and actor, announced he would

not be attending the Academy Awards because he “cannot support it.” Additionally, many Hollywood A-listers including George Clooney, Reese Witherspoon, Don Cheadle and Lupita Nyong’o called out the Academy for the lack of representation.

Although the 88th Academy Awards theme was “We all dream in gold,” the dream wasn’t attainable for minority actors. On Feb. 28, 2016, the night of the 88th Academy Awards, no minority actors won an Oscar.

The lack of diversity in Hollywood began since the entertainment industry flourished.

The first black movie star was Lincoln Perry, portraying Stepin Fetchit in “In Old Kentucky” (1935). But for that distinction, the black community paid a heavy price when his character was seen as a mumbling and shiftless fool.

Additionally, African countries or those of an African background have often been

portrayed in an inconsiderate manner by the entertainment industry. Movies such as “Casino Royale” (2006), “Lord of War” (2005) and “The Constant Gardener” (2005) are all films portraying Africa as either poor or full of murderous freaks.

In July 2017, Nigerian filmmaker Olu Yomi Ososanya created a mini-documentary called “Hollywood Vs. Africa” exploring the entertainment industry’s one-dimensional narrative of Africa and explaining that Africa is not what people think.

“Hollywood has a homogeneous narrative of Africa, which doesn’t represent a continent of 54 countries, numerous tribes and ethnicities,” Yomu points out in his documentary. “War, famine and child soldiers, while not all false, are singular.”

Nevertheless, progress was made when “Black Panther” was released Feb. 16 during Black History Month. “Black Panther” was seen as a step forward for minority actors in the entertainment industry and, in many ways, as a love letter to black culture.

“Black Panther” was the first Marvel movie where the major roles were played by black actors. Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman were the only two white actors that had speaking roles.

Junior Samworlee Nyain was born in Ivory Coast in West Africa and she is proud that Hollywood is breaking barriers, especially with a movie as big as “Black Panther.”

“It’s really cool to see people embracing my culture. … It makes me feel proud about being African,” Nyain said.

Nyain has seen the underrepresentation of minority actors since she was young.

Whenever she watched Disney Channel, the majority of the actors she saw on the screen were white.

“It was hard not seeing other people like me; and when I told my mom ‘I want to be like them,’ she would say, ‘You can’t be that, you’re black,’” Nyain said.

Although the underrepresentation negatively impacted Nyain when she was young, she believes it has made her work harder to prove people wrong.

CURRENTLY ON PROSPECTORNOW.COM Rolling Meadows and Prospect students, staff share work in district graphic arts career pathway

*information courtesy of ThoughtCo “I know where I come from. I know how other people look at me because I’m black,” Nyain said. “They might think ‘you’re not that smart,’ and I want to prove to them that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.”

Sophomore Alex Lasky also believes that there should be more representation in the industry.

“I feel like it makes people think they have less of chance of making it in that business than other people do,” Lasky said.

Latinos are also significantly underrepresented in the entertainment industry. In spite of Latinos making up 18 percent of the United States’ population, they only have three percent of speaking parts in film.

In addition to being underrepresented in films, they have also lacked recognition in award shows. There have only been five actors with Latino backgrounds to have won an Oscar over the Academy’s 90-year history: Rita Moreno, Jose Ferrer, Anthony Quinn, Mercedes Ruehl and Benicio Del Toro.

Gina Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican actress, has called out Hollywood’s lack of representation. Just like Nyain, she has seen the lack of representation since she was young.

“I didn’t become an artist to be a millionaire … I became an actor to change the way I grew up; I never saw myself on screen … and I realize how limiting that was for me.

I would look at the screen and think, ‘Well there’s no way I can do it because I’m not there,” Rodriguez said in a interview.

When Nyain has a family in the future, she hopes her kids get to see more minority actors on television.

“I believe race should not be the head point of any situation,” Nyain said. “It shouldn’t be because you’re black or you’re white; if you deserve an Oscar, it should be because of your talent. … If you have only white actresses and white people winning, then it makes kids of color feel like they are not important or they will never get that big break.”

10 SPORTS

prospectornow.com

MAY 18, 2018

Boys’ track wins East, runner-up in MSL RICK LYTLE

Top PHS MSL meet finishers

Sports Editor Boys’ track and field has been dominant in the MSL East, winning the last nine straight division meets. This year, they scored 37 more points than second place.

Senior Connor Heimdal has been a sprinter on the varsity team for the last three years. He attributes part of the team’s success to their dedication to practice both in-season and out.

In the winter, the team is on a regular track workout schedule when most teams are on break. Starting after Thanksgiving, the track team practices three times a week.

Heimdal says the team is making sure they are where they need to be in order to excel in the spring season.

The team also tries to compete in as many indoor meets as possible, which is usually once a week. It isn’t as frequent as outdoor, but it is a good warmup for the spring season. Heimdal says the team is motivated by the common goal of winning the MSL East and then placing high in the entire MSL, which they did finishing second at that meet last Friday.

“When we get to spring, it’s go time,” Heimdal said. “All out, outside every day if it’s raining, snowing [or] anything.”

The track and field coaching staff has a constant motto to keep their athletes focused over the long season.

“Our message is to focus on the process, focus on the day in and the day out and good things are going to happen over the long term,” head coach Jay Renaud said.

This year is different than others because of the sheer amount of underclassmen.

That’s why senior Jack Terry, a three year varsity member, thinks the upperclassmen have an even more important role to pass that message along. They want them to learn the time, effort and dedication it takes to build a successful team.

“It’s our duty as the upperclassmen to guide them through this process,” Terry said.

The seniors and juniors have a lot of people to guide “through this process” this season. At the MSL East division meet, there were more sophomores in the top finishing places for Prospect than any other age group. Even with many sophomores and a

Nate Cozine- 2nd in 1600m Michael Shafis- 1st in High Jump Nathan Kowalski- 3rd in High Jump Michael Shafis, Tim Zalinski, Anthony Burkhardt, John Moellenkamp 3rd in 4x100 relay Michael Shafis, Tim Zalinski, Will Horvath, John Moellenkamp 3rd in 4x200 relay Casey Daleiden, Andy Reimann, Jack Terry, Nate Cozine 1st in 4x800m

MUSCLES: Senior Cade Lussow throws a discus during a meet on May 11. The boys’ track has been dominate in the MSL East, winning the last nine division meets. (photo by Erik Velazquez) few freshmen running on varsity, the frosh/ soph team managed to place second in their MSL East meet.

At the Hersey frosh/soph invitational, Prospect entered all of their best freshmen and sophomores. This means that they had sophomores and freshman running that were usually running with varsity. Prospect scored 101 points, while second place scored 66 points. This may foreshadow the next couple varsity seasons, as many of Prospect’s conference rivals were competing.

While many athletes on the team find

themselves mentoring underclassmen, the long distance group on the varsity track and field team isn’t full of sophomores and freshman. The 4x800 relay consists of three seniors and a junior. With the exception of sophomore Thomas Walter in the 3200, all long distance Prospect runners in the Prospect Wanner Invite finals were Juniors or Seniors.

The long-distance runners don’t just run together during track season, they also run year-round with cross country. Terry has been running with seniors Casey Daleiden

and Nate Cozine, two of the members on his 4x800 relay team, for the last four years between track and cross country.

“We get to see each other’s strengths and weaknesses hands on,” Terry said.

Terry attributes part of the group’s success to this camaraderie. The other leg of the 4x800, Junior Andy Reimann, has been running with him for three years.

“You have to take it day by day,” Terry said. “It’s such a buildup for the four years, I want to see this all the way through, and see what I’m fully capable of.”

Terry, who suffered from acute kidney failure at the end of last cross country season, has gone through a lot of adversity to be able to run this season. His kidney failure set him three weeks back in training, but he says he doesn’t want to think about what could have been. The rest of the 4x800 team and him have their eyes set on one goal: to get to the top 9 in the state.

As the next group of runners moves their way into the varsity lineup, the veteran members of the team have been able to integrate newcomers and create a successful team.

“I think upperclassmen leadership is always a big thing on any team… I think trying to show them the right way and trying to show them … what you need to do to win [the] East and [the] MSL, is really what our goal is so that when we leave they can continue their dominance and leave their own legacy,” Heimdal said.

Girls track indoor training prepares for outdoor season CONNOR GRAVER Associate Editor-in-Chief The sound of the starter’s pistol. Athletes running down the track. Fans and fellow teammates screaming from the bleachers.

Some races come down to fractions of seconds and get to the point where anything that happens makes a difference in winning.

Track and field starts long before the team is outside in the spring. Conditioning, training and meets all make up the indoor season.

Although Indoor season isn’t a sport recognized by IHSA, it is a widely practiced method of staying in touch with track athletes and practicing in the winter.

Indoor season events are modified because of lack of space or equipment available. For example, discus is purely outdoor, along with most running events.

Indoor takes places in the field-

For a full recap of the sectional meet and state qualifiers head to ProspectorNow.com. For updates from the state meet, May 18-19, check @ ProspectorLive on twitter.

house or gyms using whatever tracks are available. Most tracks are modified and shorter at 200 M compared to the standard 400M outdoor track. Indoor also has shorter lengths of races, such as the 55M dash and hurdles or the 4X160/200 depending on the size of the track.

Indoor is used to train for the upcoming season as a way to easily transition into the more important outdoor season. “[In the winter] we do more of the introductory stuff, especially with our younger kids,” head coach Pete Wintermute said.

“Then come outdoor, it’s trying to fine tune things.”

The training pays off at the start of the outdoor season. Athletes are focused, conditioned, and motivated to get to work and compete in meets.

Most meets follow the same basic format. Multiple teams gather at one school and a certain high school and run through the scheduled events. An advantage to outdoor season is that track and field events can run at the same time with the extra space. During indoor season, limited field events run first, then the runners finish their track events.

Athletes qualify for conference by being the fastest runners at Prospect, and after conference select runners from the Mid Suburban League go on to the sectional meet. At the sectional meet, ath-

CONFERENCE RIVALS: Prospect varsity runners compete in the 800 at a meet between Prospect, Hersey, and Elk Grove, which took place on May 1 at Prospect High School. Prospect runners from left to right: Sara Michelini, Paige Runkle, Allison Zakula, Samantha Roberson, and Bianca Czeslawski. (photo by Erik Velazquez) letes from high schools in the area compete. First and second place finishers automatically qualify for state, along with athletes meeting the required times.

“Outdoor is better; being able to work up to conference, sectionals, and state,” junior Samantha Berman said. “Having an end goal is always great to work for.”

Berman, along with sophomore Ellen Sherwood, senior Annie Walsh, and four relay teams (see Girls’ track qualifies all four relat teams for state meet), will represent Prospect at the IHSA state championship meet on Friday May 18 and Saturday May 19.

Girls’ track qualifies all four relay teams for state meet 4x100m Senior Annie Walsh Junior Samantha Berman Sophomore Natalie Kowalczuk Junior Grace LaCamera

4x400m Sophomore Lia Skoufos Freshman Elena Barbaric Junior Marissa Valentini Senior Mikayla Olsen

4x200m Senior Annie Walsh Junior Samantha Berman Sophomore Natalie Kowalczyk Sophomore Ellen Sherwood

4x800m Sophomore Lia Skoufos Junior Julia O’Grady Senior Sydney Kitzmiller Senior Mikayla Olsen

prospectornow.com

SPORTS 11

MAY 18, 2018

Baseball team loses games, practices to weather CONNOR GRAVER A new king in town

Associate Editor-in-Chief

I

t’s mid-April and inches of snow are on the ground. The windchill is below freezing with gusts of 20 mph.

Sadly every student or teacher knows exactly what this feels like because we live in Chicago in the spring, but the last thing you would want to do is play baseball in this weather.

The boy’s baseball program has run into this problem time and time again losing practice, games, and altering seasons because of the weather. The program needs a solution.

Playing baseball in this type of weather is a whole different game. The weather can affect how players move on the field and how they grip the ball. It can also affect how a player hits the ball while batting.

“You’re fighting for survival,” Varsity Head Coach Ross Giusti said. “It’s tough enough to battle your opponent, but then to battle the weather just compounds everything.”

Coaches of high school teams around the area try their best to plan for this every year by scheduling games later in the spring or trips to warm destinations over spring break.

“You just have to roll with the punches,” Giusti said. “You have to adapt any way you can.”

According to Giusti, the team postpones a game if the temperature or wind chill dip below 32º F with winds at least 15 mph. The conditions are unplayable.

When these games are cancelled, the team works to try and make them up later in the season but eventually overpacks their schedule.

In May, when the weather is more favorable, the team is up to playing six games in seven days. A game everyday Monday through Saturday which leaves no room for practice.

“Baseball is a game of routine and consistency,” Giusti said. “When you’re not

On Monday, May 7, head coach Ross Giusti passed Larry Pohlman as the winningest coach in Prospect baseball history with 436 wins.

Giusti has coached the team since 1997, coaching in his 21st season.

Heading into this season Giusti’s alltime record was (422-274) . Giusti is currently 16-11 on the season.

ACE ON THE HILL: Senior Johnny Czeslawski throws a pitch in a game against Elk Grove on May 1. Prospect has lost a multitude of games due to weather this season according to Giusti. (photo by Erik Velasquez) practicing situations, [skills] get left to the wayside, and in a game situation, we’re not sharp.”

Another problem the team runs into is dancing around the IHSA pitch count. If a pitcher throws 31-45 pitches in a game on Monday, they are ineligible to pitch until Wednesday and have a limit of 90 pitches. If a pitcher throws 46-60 balls in a game, they need to rest for two days before they can

take the mound again.

While this system ensures the safety of pitchers, it can create problems come Friday or Saturday on a six game series. Giusti and the coaching staff have to factor in who is allowed to pitch in a certain game.

The varsity team takes precedence and is the top priority to reschedule postponed games. Some of the make-up games don’t trickle down to the JV or Freshman/Soph-

omore level and these teams lose games entirely.

“We know we’re not necessarily going to have a field,” Frosh/Soph Coach Bob Reibel said. “We try to get a lot of stuff done inside so we can get that work in.”

The lower levels work closely with the varsity team and work to move kids up and down between levels to ensure that every player gets their best opportunity to play.

This problem seems endless with teams walking on eggshells trying to move players up and down between levels, playing games, rescheduling and postponing games. However, there are some possible solutions.

One solution is starting the season later at the beginning of April and ending in mid June. This solution would could stop the problem of postponing games due to weather but could have problems with activities over the summer.

Another solution idea is switching the football and baseball seasons so baseball would run from August to November and football would run from March to May. Reibel added that you can play football in both the fall and spring, but only play baseball in the fall. He added that the idea was most likely not feasible.

“I do think there needs to be a change,” Rebiel said. “I think that most coaches around here would say the same.”

Softball utilizes high powered offense, wins key games “I think [all of the recruits] show that we have a lot of committed girls in this program and girls that are here who love softball,” Mackowiak said. “It is helpful to have that leadership and that commitment to the program. I think a lot of the younger girls in our program look up to them. I think it really sets a precedent going forward and what we are about.”

The varsity softball team returned seven seniors this season, and all of them have had at least two years of experience at the varsity level.

“The depth of our team this year is really strong from top to bottom,” Caldrone said. “‘Everyone is putting in hits. Everyone is contributing in some way, and I

Softball has dynamic team, driving in runs, winning games ANTHONY SANTANGELO

Sports Editor For seniors Alyssa Cacini and Lauren Caldrone, they were never able to beat Fremd in softball–until this season. The girls’ varsity softball team was leading 13-2 at the end of the fifth inning on March 11, which is slaughter rule. They ended up winning the game after playing seven innings, but this win over a talented Fremd team was a major turning point in the girls’ season, according to head coach Krystina Mackowiak.

“That was kind of our turning point [in the season], especially for the seniors, because the last few years when we played them, it didn’t go our way, and last year was a really close game, but we didn’t come out on top,” Mackowiak said. “ T h i s year, I

Shattered Records EYES ON THE PRIZE: Senior Lauren Caldrone fields a ground ball in a game. Caldrone has been a centerpiece of the Knights’ offense with 54 hits and 49 RBI’s this season as of May 8. (photo

know they were pretty fired up, and [Fremd is] usually good competition. When we won that game, that was kind of like our first big game that people didn’t expect us to win.”

The team has been able to win because of the team’s solid, offensive hitting, according to Cacini. The team has had four games with 20 or more runs and an 18-5 Lauren Caldrone, senior r e c o r d

The depth of our team this year is really strong from top to bottom.

Everyone is putting in hits. Everyone is contributing in some way, and I think that is what’s making a difference this year and really putting us to the next level.”

-

think that is what’s making a difference this year and really putting us to the next level.”

Caldrone broke the records for career hits (165) and most RBIs (49) in a season. She committed to Northwestern during her sophomore year.

Even though the team has been successful when it comes to hitting, they need to continue this streak going into playoffs. “[We can improve on] just staying consistent,” Cacini said. “We started off strong, so we just have to end strong also. We are getting into round two of playing teams, so they are going to know what to expect. We just have to stay consistent.”

as of May 14.

“We have been doing a lot better than we have been in the past,” Cacini said. “Our offense has been crazy good. Our whole lineup has really been hitting hard. We have been having a lot of fun offensively.”

Cacini currently holds the record for most career RBIs (129) (runs batted in) and home runs (25). These statistics are accurate as of May 8. She will be attending the University of Dayton in the fall to play softball. Cacini believes that all of the girls who are committed to play softball on the team hold a certain level of responsibility. She believes it is important for them to stay consistent and be good role models for the underclassmen.

Hits: Senior Lauren Caldrone is two hits away from breaking the career (164) hits record and four hits away from breaking the season hits record (58).

RBI: Alyssa Cacini tied the season RBI record her sophomore year (47). Lauren Caldrone broke the season RBI record this year with 49 so far. Alyssa Cacini broke the career RBI record at the end of last season. It was 86 RBI, she currently has had 129 RBI in her career.

Doubles: Lauren Caldrone tied the season doubles record her sophomore year (13). Alyssa Cacini broke the season doubles record this year (currently has 14). Alyssa Cacini and Lauren Caldrone both broke the career doubles record. It was 28, Alyssa currently has 30 and Lauren has 31.

Home Runs: Home runs: Colleen Palczynski and Alyssa Cacini both broke the career HR record. The record was 16 home runs. Currently, Colleen has 21 and Alyssa has 25.

12

MARCO! POLO! The varsity girls’ water polo team easily defeated the Latin School of Chicago Romans in their match on May 2. Go to prospectornow.com to read more.

SPORTS MAY 18, 2018

Despite injury, Malone ranks third in world ANTHONY SANTANGELO Sports Editor

C

olombia, Bolivia, Poland, Indonesia, Ecuador, Argentina, Italy and Spain. These are all of the countries that junior Madi Malone has visited to compete in her karate tournaments. She not only travels around the world to compete in her sport, but she is also ranked third in the world for her age and weight group.

“It took a while for it to actually hit me,” Malone said. “At first I was like ‘wow, I got third; that’s nice; that’s amazing’. But then a month later I was like ‘Wow I am actually third in the world’.”

Fortunately for Malone, sensei (teacher) Brian Mertel always believed that she was capable of great accomplishments. A sensei is a teacher in martial arts. “[Malone] has always been an extremely talented fighter,” Mertel said. “What happens when you’re talented is you win a lot and you end up with a lot of pressure on you to continue winning. A lot of people don’t realize how difficult that is, and [Malone] has really done a great job of continuing to push herself to try and stay at that pinnacle.”

Mertel has known Malone since she was a baby because he trained her older brothers, Brandon and Marcus, when they first started karate. At the age of five, while following in the footsteps of her brothers, Madi immediately fell in love with the sport.

Madi loves that all of her best friends are from karate, but her favorite part is the traveling the world for her tournaments.

“I think my favorite part about [karate] is the fact that I have gotten to such a high level where I get to travel, and I just love learning about new cultures,” Madi said.

When it comes to schoolwork, Madi finds it hard to concentrate when she is in another country because of competitions. She typically does her schoolwork on the plane or when she gets back from her week-long trips. Cramming in her work at the last minute is something she has grown accustomed to. Fortunately for her, a lot of her teachers are understanding when she turns her work in late.

Besides schoolwork, Madi is constantly preparing for the karate season. Many of her workouts depend on the season that she is currently in. For example, in the winter, Madi does light training, where she mostly focuses on her technique for reverse punches or kicking. Towards the summer, when it gets closer to the National competitions, her training gets more intense where she actually ‘spars’ (fights) her teammates. There are also practice sessions where Madi can only defend herself while another trainee is attacking her. Sometimes her practice sessions don’t involve karate but include interval workouts where she runs up hills or lifts weights.

In karate, there are two different competitive categories: ‘kumite’ and ‘kata’.

Kumite is scored on the number of quality punches and kicks you can land, along with takedowns. Kata is a type of routine that is performed and scored based on how perfect your form is and how strong you are. Madi does both; Back in October of 2017, she made it further in kumite than in kata at the world competition.

Madi thinks that she can improve in kata and kicking as well. Even though she is third in the world for her age and weight group, she still believes she has a lot to work on when it comes to fighting.

During winter break of Madi’s freshman year, she suffered a serious injury. It was during a normal training session the first time that it happened.

“I was just fighting somebody, and I tried to go backwards and then go forwards real quick to try and throw a punch, but I had to stop my momentum,” Madi said. “My knee subluxed, which is when it pops out and slides backs in. I fell over and couldn’t really do anything after that.”

After four months of physical therapy, Madi was able to come back to karate once a week. Three weeks later, the same injury occurred again. What was most frustrating for Madi was that she was wearing her knee brace when the accident occurred. Shortly after, she began to do physical therapy for

She has got all the talent and ability to work hard enough to [compete in the Olympics] if she wants to.”

- Brian Mertel, sensei

CONCENTRATION: Junior Madi Malone prepares for her fight at the 2015 Nationals in Florida. She is currently ranked third in the world with 1,170 points in the junior division. Malone wants to train through college to hopefully qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. (photo courtesy of Madi Malone) the second time.

“That was when I realized that [my injury] couldn’t be fixed with physical therapy,” Madi said. “I was going to need surgery.”

Mertel realized the only way Madi could come back to karate is if she learned how to fight lefty. After the second round of physical therapy, she was able to come back to karate without the knee brace.

“I would fight like a lefty; which is the right leg in front and the left leg in the back,” Madi said. “[It felt] so unnatural at first because I had been fighting like a righty for 15 years. For a while I got the crap kicked out of me by all of my teammates because I was so useless. I didn’t really have a choice because every time I switched my feet to go to my natural stance, Mertel would yell, ‘switch your feet!’”

Madi went on to fight as a lefty at nationals in Pittsburgh. She placed first in kumite and second in kata, which made her eligible to compete in Ecuador that year.

Once Madi returned to school from the Pan-American Championships in Ecuador, she began to feel an agonizing pain in her knee. Madi mentioned that it hurt to walk,

and it got to the point that surgery was the only option. In December of 2016, after her surgery, she underwent a five month recovery process. “[My injury] was a blessing and a curse to me because, now, I can fight with both of my legs, which is an advantage because most people do not know how to fight against a lefty,” Madi said. “I can use that to my advantage because it trips other people up.”

Over the past year, Mertel has been helping Madi not only with the physical components of karate, but the mental as well.

“A lot of what we have been working on over the past six to eight months has been building her confidence back up and helping her realize she still is good as she ever was,” Mertel said. “She went and placed at the

World Championships. Now it has been a matter of trying to add to the things she already does well.”

Some big news for Madi is the inclusion of karate in the 2020 Olympics. Madi is still deciding on the best options for her future.

She realizes that focusing on her college education is important, but she doesn’t want to quit karate.

“I don’t think I am going to quit, but I will probably take it easy and focus on school,” Madi said. “The 2020 Olympics is kind of a low chance for me. Towards the end of my college career is when I will probably start to pick it up again and start training hard for the 2024 Olympics.”

According to Madi, the Olympics has a complicated point system. She currently has 1,170 points, but once she reaches the senior league, the total amount of her junior points will be cut in half. Since karate is emerging as an Olympic sport, many former champions are coming out of retirement, leaving junior athletes, like Madi, who don’t have experience in the senior league, intimidated by these champions.

Despite this, Mertel believes that Madi could do anything with the work ethic and mindset that she has.

“She has got all the talent and ability to work hard enough to [compete in the Olympics] if she wants to,” Mertel said. “I spent over a decade on the US team. My friends are the ones that are ranked highly in the world, and I know exactly what it takes to get there, and she definitely has it. It’s just a matter if she makes the decision to do it. It is not a guarantee that she will go to the Olympics, but she is definitely capable of doing it.”

Scoring points in karate Punching to the body or face: • One point Kicking to the stomach or back: • Two points Kick to the head or takedown: • Three points.

Punches must be clean for them to count. There are four referees during the match that have red or blue flags. They throw the flags at a certain height depending on which points an athlete receives. Two of the referees need to raise the same color flag in order for the points to be awarded.

KNOCKOUT: Junior Madi Malone competes in kumite, which is fighting in karate terms. Malone has been training since she was five years old, and her trainer has known her since she was a baby. She has been to eight different countries to compete in karate tournaments. (photo courtesy of Madi Malone)