RHS Knight Writers Vol 64 Issue 3

Embracing Ramadan at Robinson

Breaking fasts and building bonds through a holiday about Allah and family

By CECILIA CHENG, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

Beep, beep, beep goes your alarm. Looking over to your phone, it reads “5 a.m.,” instead of the usual 7:30 a.m. alarm. You drag yourself out of bed in order to take part in the morning prayer, Fajr, with your family. After, you eat a full meal before going to school. From then on, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything until sundown. For many students at Robinson, that is what their morning looks like in the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month of the year for many Muslims; it celebrates the revelation of the Quran. This year, it starts on the evening of Sunday, Mar. 10 and ends on Tuesday, April 9.

“Ramadan to me is the time to practice self-reflection, to seek forgiveness and to remember our creator Allah and be grateful for all the things that are given and provided to our life,” Shokhina Afandikhonova (‘24) said.

Tajikistan, they believe it is important to take part in all the rituals Ramadan brings. On top of their regular everyday routine, they also visit the mosque, pray five times a day and most importantly, fast from sunrise to sundown.

“It definitely is hard to fast, the whole purpose is to be in the people’s shoes who struggle to find food or barely have any. I usually try to distract myself the whole day so that I don’t think about food or water, but it does get easier for me at least as the month goes by,” Afandikhonova said.

Despite the challenges, she emphasizes how Ramadan is one of her favorite holidays as it allows her and her family to connect to their culture and remember their values. She believes that the most important part of Ramadan is improving herself. However, her favorite part remains to be the food, especially when fasting ends.

“My favorite part of Ramadan is definitely eating all the delicious food. At the end

specifically, the meaning behind fasting.

“My favorite part about Ramadan is understanding how amazing water and food is, after experiencing thirst and hunger for a long day from dawn to dusk. I get the first sip of water of the day and it is such an amazing feeling,” Aboouzeid said. “It [fasting] is not hard when you understand that you prevent yourself from the pleasures of this world and focus the whole month on worshipping God.”

For Aboouzeid, who is from Giza, Egypt, he believes that Ramadan is all about family. He highlights how Ramadan is all about the community that he and his family have built. Not to mention, he mentions how more prayers happen during Ramadan in order for individuals to feel closer to God (Allah) and their loved ones.

“We do our best to spend as much time together in it, so we make our plans to be together and pray together. This is because Ramadan is about feeling the things people don’t notice until they don’t have and the month of family gatherings and worship,”

Through all of the Ramadans that he has celebrated, the most memorable for Aboouzeid would be last year’s Ramadan. After watching Aboouzeid fast one day, his friends decided to join him to see what he was experiencing. “It’s a little hard only in the lunch period due to all the people eating and drinking for a whole period in front of me. But last Ramadan was memorable because some people tried Ramadan with me who were not Muslims and they understood the blessings of water and food too,” Aboouzeid

Ramadan looks a little different for Cadence Stephens (‘24). Although she partakes in many of the Ramadan activities and traditions, she does not

“I personally don’t fast, but my mom usually does. For her,

it can be hard sometimes, especially if you are out at a fast-food place and get food to go and you have to wait all day just to eat it. However, I still love Ramadan because learning is always a thing I enjoy and love to see others learn about different cultures and holidays,” Stephens said.

Stephens, along with Afandikhonova and Aboouzeid, all hope that individuals who do not celebrate Ramadan understand why they are doing this and respect their traditions, as this important holiday teaches them selfdiscipline and empathy.

“I hope people not familiar with Ramadan can understand why people do it. And that they can appreciate something that they may not take part in in any capacity. It’s way more than just fasting for the day, but breaking bad habits and leading a good life,” Stephens said. “Ramadan means a moment to take the time to put yourself in a place you may have never been with yourself.”

A plate of samosas premade for when Afandikhonova and her family are ready for break fast. Photo Courtesy of Shokhina Afandikhonova

Pelemeni, which is mini dumpling soup. Photo Courtesy of Shokhina Afandikhonova

An illustration of a family breaking their fast with a festive meal. Illustration by Janiece Mitchner

Former Principal Bush Is on the Campaign Trail

Robinson’s former Principal runs for school board

By ASHLYN MILLER, SPORTS EDITOR

Robinson, a historic school with deep roots in SOG, is littered with many teachers who have been Knights for decades. Many of these veteran teachers and program heads had Johnny Bush, now a candidate for Hillsborough County school board, as their Principal.

“Robinson was my first job as a Principal, so it will always be very near and dear to me. I love what they have done with the school [and] I love the history of Robinson. I was Principal when Robinson received its first A rating and we brought the IB program to accreditation,” Bush said.

As Bush began to start his plans to retire, many of his colleagues told him that he would make a great candidate for the school board. Social Studies Teacher Jaclyn Militello recalls him being a great leader and an important asset to the school during his tenure.

“Mr. Bush was a great principal. He was fair and equitable to all. He had a very diplomatic way of giving constructive criticism without making people feel bad about themselves and was very motivational and uplifting to his staff,” Militello said. “He would be a great school board member because he knows the system. He has served at the district level and he has a personality that would be welcoming to a variety of perspectives and take into consideration what’s important for the various schools and students.”

Inspired by his time spent volunteering at a summer camp for deaf and blind children, Bush began his teaching journey as a teacher for the deaf.

“My first love for education was teaching deaf and hard of hearing kids,” Bush said.

Shortly after his college graduation from Concordia Lutheran College, Bush found himself driving past the Florida School For the Deaf and Blind. He was compelled to stop to try and reconnect with the children he had taught while at the camp.

“I stopped in to see some of my kids there because I knew that they had attended that school, and sure enough I saw some of my kids,” Bush revealed. “I saw some of the people who were actually counselors with me and worked for that school, and said, ‘I want to get a job here!’”

Bush was hired as a dorm parent in the deaf department for tenthgrade boys, where he spent his first year at the school. He was soon offered an elementary teaching position at the same school.

He went on to get his Master’s Degree in Deaf education from the University of North Florida.

Now, having worked with many teachers during 33 years as an educator, one of the major platforms for Bush’s campaign is the somewhat controversial topic of teachers’ pay. With Hillsborough County becoming increasingly expensive to live in, Bush believes the average income for teachers should be expanding to help increase affordability and decrease teacher shortages.

“In the past ten-plus years, there are a lot of teachers that I have met that are leaving our district because it is cheaper to live elsewhere. Hillsborough County is one of the most expensive places to live in Florida, but we are not paying people more to live here,” Bush said. “I supervised four educators in their final internship from two local colleges here...not one of them picked a job in Hillsborough county, and we have vacancies in our district.”

At Robinson, with the past 2022-2023 school year seeing a loss of teachers across various subjects, teacher vacancies have started to severely affect students. Robinson has also lost several other impactful educators in the current school year and filling these slots is getting increasingly more difficult.

“When you don’t fill vacancies, other teachers have to

Math Club Paves Their Way to States

Mu Alpha Theta’s vigorous practices pay off with their competitive victories

By JADYN GRAYES, A&E & MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Robinson’s Mu Alpha Theta (MAO) chapter has recently seen success in their monthly competitions, generating interest and support.

MAO has competed in a total of five competitions this year and is currently working towards States, which will take place in April. The initial competition the club attends in November, the Fall Interschool Test is followed by the Hiller Nunn Dostal test in December. The first regional competitions are hosted locally, leading up to the statewide competition held at any determined location in the State. Each competition follows the same schedule, consisting of an individual round with a 30-question test and a team round of 13 questions.

When picking students to participate in the team rounds, the club thinks strategically in terms of what types of questions are most likely to be asked. Although certain strengths are looked for when selecting teams for the team round of competitions, everyone in Mu Alpha Theta is encouraged to participate. The team prepares by attending weekly meetings which cater to the needs of each division and urge members to practice individually.

“We hold weekly lunchtime meetings for each division where we either learn new topics or review past test

questions. Some divisions, such as calculus and precalculus, meet twice a week to allocate more time for preparation and increase our chances of placing well. However, a significant aspect of success relies on self-discipline and practicing the concepts covered during meetings independently to ensure a thorough understanding for the competitions,” Kalia said.

These weekly practices not only help prepare the team for competitions but build the members’ overall math skills to make them better students. It’s urged that everyone attends regardless of whether they compete or not to help grow their passion for the subject.

“We think of it like a sport and growing your brain and stretching its muscles to learn and grow more. Also, some of the topics that we learn individually, and different kinds of math are all joined together once you take the higher-level subjects,” said Judi Charley-Sale, a Math Teacher heavily involved in MAO. “All the subjects become tied together so they can see math together as a whole rather than separate subjects.”

Aside from competitions, Mu Alpha Theta also contributes to the school by offering tutoring on various math topics. Any club member qualifies as a tutor, and times vary depending on their schedules.

him. It’s not just teacher pay, he wants improved teacher treatment. It’s not just paying teachers more money, but giving them the resources to do their jobs well,” Mousseau said.

Most of the districts surrounding Hillsborough have tax millages to compensate teachers. However, the vote to pass this act on the local level failed.

“The message that was sent was that we don’t value the people that we put in charge of educating our kids enough to pay a little extra taxes to pay those people, that motivated me,” Bush said.

During Bush’s time as Robinson’s Principal, the school had the highest percentages of students report that they felt very safe at school, a detail Bush finds very important. Giving the peace of mind that comes with safety is something he hopes to give students throughout the district While asking local parents if they planned on sending their incoming high schoolers to Robinson, he was met with questions about the integrity of the campus and the current student body.

“At the time, they [the parents] didn’t know about Robinson, they didn’t know how safe Robinson was, and I had never known Robinson not to be safe, but I have heard stories from the past,” Bush said. “I went to the superintendent and said that we had to give our school a single entry access point and solid security. We made those things happen.”

Robinson has gone through a transformation over the past ten years, one that is not limited to new buildings or technology. As a phoenix rising from the ashes, or in this case rubble, Robinson has grown and has started to flourish academically and socially in the South Tampa community. Many long-time staff members feel that this transformation can be attributed to Bush.

“I’ve had some amazing people that worked there with me and Robinson has long been a hidden gem of South Tampa. A lot of teachers stay at Robinson for a long time, which is unusual because when you stay in those positions for a long time, [it’s] because you like where you are,” Bush said. “I think that atmosphere has continued through Robert Bhoolai and now David Brown.”

“We are trying to accommodate people for tutoring during their study halls or JA’s, but we have also done it after school in the past.” Ayan Nallamshetty (’25), Treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta said.

Leadership recommends that everyone interested joins Mu Alpha Theta, regardless of experience. The opportunity to grow your skills and confidence via competing is a highlight for members.

“My favorite part about competing is being able to apply what I’ve learned from practicing and work with my friends to tackle difficult questions,” Nallamshetty said.

Former Principal Johnny Bush talks to the students, parents and teachers. Photo by Isabel Hanewicz

Mu Alpha Theta members poses with trophies at a recent competition. Photo Courtesy of Judi Charley-Sale

Meet the Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the Class of 2024

Get to know Robinson’s 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians

By CHARLOTTE STONE, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editor’s Note: IB Valedictorian, Vikram Sambasivan, is Knight Writers’ Co-Editor-In-Chief.

The Valedictorians and Salutatorians of the Class of 2024 were released on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Knight Writers has compiled a list of questions to ask the top students of this year’s graduating class.

thing I want to do, I just go for it; an opportunity that seems fun or interesting, I just go for it. I try to blend all of these different aspects of life (academic, extracurricular, social) into everything that I do; this is something which I have found to be very sustainable and which I believe will help me find fulfillment in my professional life.”

Q: Has becoming Valedictorian/Salutatorian always been a goal for you? What did it take to achieve this goal?

Vikram Sambasivan, IB Valedictorian: “While achieving this title is a great honor, it has never been my goal. As many of my peers probably realize at this point, especially if they have any extracurriculars, pointlessly running up one’s GPA for a ranking is not worth it. My parents have always tried to instill in me a sense of curiosity along with a love of learning. It was this which inadvertently brought me to this position. However, I would be remiss if I did not state that this journey would simply not have been possible without the guidance and mentoring from our amazing teachers and administration here at Robinson.”

Jazmine Afridi, IB Salutatorian: “Being salutatorian did not become a goal until recently. Freshmen year, I began taking classes that I was interested in. My GPA increased on its own and then I made it a goal of mine. Honestly, the only thing I did to achieve this was take classes I was interested in, through dual enrollment.”

Anthony Zheng, Traditional Valedictorian: “It wasn’t my goal at first as I was just taking classes that I liked and taking classes for college credit, but when I realized I was in the running, then I started to pursue it more.”

Dayana Dominguez, Traditional Salutatorian: “Yes, graduating at the top of my class was always a goal. I had to take some hard classes and keep pushing even when I didn’t want to do the work. It took self-discipline and learning.”

Q: Was becoming Valedictorian/Salutatorian worth the hard work and any possible sacrifices?

VS: “This is a difficult question to answer. If achieving this title was my only goal, then no, the work I had to put in would not have been worth it. However, taking additional classes out of pure curiosity allowed me to actually try to learn concepts rather than just chasing grades; this led me to not only satiate a desire to learn, but also broaden my own perspective and create connections between subjects. This experience made me more well-rounded, and that is something that, to me, is priceless. It taught me to be disciplined, for sure.”

JA: “Yes, it was worth the hard work. This is because I didn’t take all these classes in order to become salutatorian. So, essentially, the work would’ve been put in even if I didn’t achieve this.”

AZ: “I wouldn’t say the title itself is worth as much as the standards I set for myself, in which case yes I think it was worth it to not cheat myself and let myself fall below my own standards.”

DD: “The hard work and sacrifices were definitely worth it, it feels good to be able to celebrate that hard work and I’m excited to give a speech at graduation. I’m most grateful for the growth it has given me.”

Q: How were you able to balance academics, extracurriculars and your social life?

“I have never really thought about my life in those distinct categories. Coming into high school, I was feeling a bit frustrated with the rigid nature of middle and elementary-level education that I had experienced thus far, so my mentality shifted from ‘I need to get a good grade’ to ‘I’m just going to do whatever I want.’ So that’s pretty much what I’ve done. If there’s some non-academic

JA: “As captain of the soccer team and Mu Alpha Theta, balancing extracurriculars with academics and my social life meant being on top of things, always. There were many late nights and eventually, I learned how to perfect time management.”

AZ: “I was able to balance my academics, extracurriculars, and social life pretty well as I tried not to procrastinate and managed my time wisely. Another habit that helped me was how I gave my full attention in the classroom so that I wouldn’t have to study as much nor finish as much work outside of school.”

DD: “I balanced it all by planning and prioritizing. But more importantly, by doing things I enjoyed. When it got hard I journaled and played the violin. It’s important to keep doing what makes you happy as you pursue other goals.”

Q: What message would you share with underclassmen who are interested in pursuing the same path?

VS: “Don’t try to follow the same path as me or anyone else. It’s good to have role models for general guidance, but ultimately, you have to follow your own path or else it’s just not worth it. Becoming Valedictorian is just a title; it is not any indication of future life outcomes or an accurate predictor of whatever one defines as success. Just focus on pursuing your own goals out in the world and speaking to others in that area; that is the most valuable thing I have done, one I would recommend to others.”

JA: “If you are going to take extra classes, take classes you genuinely enjoy. It will make not only your high school experience better, but you won’t dread the work as much either. This is especially important when you’re a part of lots of extracurriculars as well.”

AZ: “My message to underclassmen that are pursuing the same path is to not let yourself become too comfortable where you are because then you’ll be inclined to be complacent. Challenge yourself by taking harder classes, trying new sports, joining new clubs and getting used to being uncomfortable.”

DD: “My advice is to find what it [everything] means to you. Do it all with purpose, with intent. Find meaning in everything. Think about what you want to put forth in the world. Stay hungry. Your potential comes from how bad you want it. How hard are you willing to work for it?”

Q: What are your plans for the future?

VS: “I have always been curious about the medical field, however, during my high school years I developed a strong passion for journalism. In the future, I would like to combine both Journalism and Medicine, using my writings as an insider in the medical industry to change the standard of patient care and physician treatment. Eventually, I would like to influence this change through policy as well. I would also like to acknowledge those who helped me develop the skills and traits which led me to this path: my teachers going back to elementary school encouraged me to become a problem-solver and think through obstacles which I face, my coaches at Team Tampa Rowing for teaching me the self-discipline I need to stay focused throughout my life, the amazing administration at all of the school I have attended for crafting a nurturing educational environment and last, but not least, my fellow managing editors - Charlotte Stone and Cecilia Cheng - whose support has been crucial in developing my passion for Journalism.

JA: “All of my college decisions will be released beginning in mid-March. But, as of now, I plan on majoring in biology and going into medicine.”

AZ: “My plans for the future are to pursue a computer science major at a university and build a career in the IT field working with AI or something similar.”

DD: “I plan on building a life I can be proud of. Sneak peek: giving back to my parents, becoming a neurosurgeon, honoring myself and my dreams. I’m going to be doing school for a long time... I’ll continue working hard and putting forth my best effort.”

Vikram Sambasivan, IB Valedictorian. Photo from CADY Studios

Anthony Zheng, Traditional Valedictorian. Photo from CADY Studios

Dayana Dominguez, Traditional Salutatorian. Photo from CADY Studios.

Jazmine Afridi, IB Salutatorian. Photo from CADY Studios

So-Called “Sephora Children” Are Ruining Sephora

Children are taking over popular makeup stores and it needs to stop

By MALIA RODRIGUEZ, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

I used to love shopping in Sephora. Something about the cool black-and-white aesthetic, with all the grown-up fancy makeup and perfume would always be my favorite part of mall trips. Recently, however, walking into Sephora has started to feel less like a fun shopping experience and more like a battlefield. Elbowing my way through the aisles, surrounded by destroyed testers and empty shelves one can only wonder how this ended up this way and I have an answer.

There has been an epidemic of children taking over Sephora. Elementary to middle school-aged children run amuck with their parents’ credit cards, grabbing anything trendy they can get their hands on. This trend of younger kids infiltrating makeup stores has been largely fueled by social media, specifically TikTok, which markets these expensive products through various “get ready with me” type videos.

The main problem with these kids is that they have little manners/social awareness. They are too young to know how to properly behave in an environment that is not meant for them. If you have ever walked by the Drunk Elephant

section in a Sephora, I’m sure you’ve seen the byproducts of this. Huge messes all over the shelves, makeup and skincare smeared over the tops of other products in order to make “skincare smoothies.”

NFL? More Like Swiftie Snooze Fest

The 2023-24 NFL season causes a swarm of Swifties obsessed over Taylor Swift and her new boyfriend, Travis

Kelce

By YESENIA ROSARIO, NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR

As many, if not all, know by now, Taylor Swift is currently in a relationship with Travis Kelce, an American football player for the Kansas City Chiefs. As Swifties became “Chief fans” overnight, this also meant more talk, especially on social media.

Since the first appearance of Swift at the Chiefs game on Sept. 24 of last year, fans have been raving about her and Kelce’s relationship. Since then, at every Chiefs game, thousands of fans anticipated Swift’s face to be shown on the jumbotron or their TV at home. With just a few seconds of screentime Swift shared, alongside the Chiefs, Swifties took to social media every time posting and freaking out about their relationship, posting clips of her with his family or cheering for him. While all of this can be considered “cute,” it’s also annoying.

Cool, a celebrity at a sports game. Nothing that hasn’t happened before. How about we keep it like it’s always been at games, whether it be football or basketball and give the celeb their 10 seconds of screen time and move on?

Instead of doing this, the National Football League (NFL) has been milking their relationship dry showing every little thing that happened...

This isn’t just messy, it also causes many stores to take these products off the shelves, effectively ruining the experience for other shoppers. This isn’t the only issue with these kids though, many of them are very rude, and entitled. Any time I try to shop in Sephora I often have to wait for ten, maybe fifteen minutes to get in front of any ”trendy” makeup stand. These kids refuse to move away from the stands until they’ve tried every single product there, which normally is fine, but they refuse to let anybody else to even pick up a product.

This isn’t the kid’s fault, most of the blame should be on the parents who enable this behavior by buying these kids anything they want.

It also just isn’t healthy for their skin or self-esteem.

Many of these trendy products contain harmful ingredients like retinol, which can cause flaky skin and a sensitivity to the sun and in the long run, will only serve to harm these kids in the future. It can also be bad for their self-esteem because they are being exposed to the expectation of

wearing makeup daily at a much earlier age than most people.

I think there could be some benefit to kids learning to take care of their skin early on, as opposed to dealing with it a bit too late, but there is a line where skincare and makeup aren’t really necessary. Most ten-year-olds don’t need to be applying twenty different products every morning and I think that there should be more of an effort on the part of influencers and parents to prevent this from happening.

Bows: A Modern Symbol of Feminism

The refreshing return of hyper-femininity

By GRACE SHAFER, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Bows on burritos, bows on shoes, bows on significant others. The idea of “girlhood” has been a recurring theme in pop culture forever, but recently it’s had an abrupt comeback. Although social media has shaped the comeback to have a more satirical connotation,

bows, little toys and trinkets have been appearing more and more in trends and are creating this communal focus on girlhood. I think this focus derives from the freedom found in girlhood and being true to ourselves by bringing back components from our youth.

in the morning.

Fashion is very symbolic of movements through life. I think trends always reappear for a reason, it says something about that time and why there’s a need for a revival of it. Bringing bows back, an emblem of our adolescence, signifies our growth. We’ve grown up with them and are now bringing them back as a way to soften our cynical, hardened older selves.

Women are often extremely critical of other women. We judge other girls for embracing parts of ourselves that we are afraid to present to the world. I remember even just a couple of years ago when girls would make fun of other girls for wearing bows. Now, the persecutors are the girls putting pink bows on everything they own.

Bows have subliminally brought girls together, in a way that I haven’t really seen in other trends. Everyone has just agreed that they work on everyone, and everybody can participate in the trend without criticism. This is a quality that’s lacking in other trends. A vast toxicity of exclusiveness in trends dissuades many people from participating in them. When we remove this selectiveness, more people can freely participate in and enjoy the trend.

I think the power of the bow trend is much greater than most people realize. It marks the start of a new era in pop culture of tolerance and peace. It also symbolizes the unification of women in our shared interest in the resurrection of girlhood. I hope we can continue to have these kinds of judgment-free trends that amalgamate people together instead of separating them further because of stupid ignorance.

A wide array of colorful skincare.

Photo by R. Rolle

The Drunk Elephant and Glow Recipe section of Sephora.

Photo by M. Rodriguez

A Coca-Cola bottle wrapped in a bow; representative of the manifestation of the bow trend in everyday life. Photo by G. Shafer Scan to read

Editorial: Impacts of Child Labor

Child labor laws are being rolled back

By KNIGHT WRITERS STAFF

Being a working student has become the life of many high school students in the United States; with this development, child labor restrictions are all the more important. Rolling back these restrictions is nothing short of an attack on students who need jobs, forcing them to work longer hours and put an education on the back burner.

Recently, the Florida House has approved a bill which would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to be considered as adults under child labor protection laws. They would be allowed to work more than 30 hours per week during the school year and can even be scheduled to work overnight shifts.

In Florida specifically, this change has been spurred by the labor shortage facing the state after Desantis-era crackdowns on illegal immigration caused many labor shortages. While we are a largely untapped labor pool, turning to children is not the answer.

While having an after-school job may teach a student responsibility and customer-service skills which may become useful later on in life, working too much can harm academic performance.

A 2010 study found that “Teenagers working over 20 hours per week perform worse in school than youth who work less.”

This statement is simple, yet it speaks volumes. Tapping into students and children to fill labor quotas is either a symptom of a malicious government or a simple lack of foresight. An uneducated youth population means that they will grow up to innovate less, and as technological development slows, economic growth slows. In the long run, these laws will create more problems than they are poised to solve.

However, this is not such a black and white

issue. Many students need to work hours during the school week to help support their family or just simply earn a little spending money for themselves.

Considering this, the ability to work more than 30 hours per week, taken at face value sounds great, but it is not all that it is cracked up to be.

Most employment in Florida is “at-will” employment meaning that not only is the employee hired or fired at the will of the employer, but they may also force you to work any shift (whether or not the employee wants to) at the threat of termination. The new legislature not only lifts restrictions on the number of hours students have to work per week, but also which hours they can work. Employers would be able to schedule students aged 16+ to work overnight shifts during the school year.

By taking this massive step backwards in employment reform, holding an after-school job might become too difficult for students (especially with increasing academic demands

working much harder to fill the gaps left by those who quit.

Another study conducted by Northeastern University shows an average $9,000 difference in expected salary between a person with a high school diploma vs. someone who never graduated. Salary continues to increase as one progresses through levels of higher education.

The students who are unable to quit, may drop out of school, purely out of necessity.

So, what’s the solution? Before this issue, there was the exploitation of illegal immigrants for the labor that nobody else wanted to do. They had no other options, so they were paid a fraction of what a citizen would be paid. This legislation is just another case of exploiting the marginalized: students who need jobs. The answer to filling the job shortages affecting Florida is a very obvious one. Pay workers more money. However, implementing this is hard.

With the economy in its current state, and inflation – despite increases plateauing – remaining at an all-time

businesses who apply would allow for them to hire adults to fill gaps in labor. Now, the government is not just made of money, but luckily there’s an easy

Over his years in office, Desantis rejected close to 11 billion dollars in federal aid due to energy and healthcare

Perhaps, going forward, the state government could accept the federal aid to solve a looming crisis rather than fight an ideological

An illustration of a young boy in work clothes.

A Music App Without the Music

Universal Music Group removes all of their music from TikTok

By BRIANNA YASIS, STAFF WRITER

TikTok, a platform with a musical note as its symbol. Where fans of famous artists can share express how their love for the artist’s songs. Where aspiring musicians promote their music in order to stop living in their parents’ basement. A platform that’s pretty much built to play music from all around the world. Unfortunately, that all ended when on Feb. 1, where Universal Music Group (UMG) decided to pull out each and every single song from artists who are signed to UMG. That includes almost all of the famous artists we know today, from Taylor Swift to Frank Sinatra. This leaves people with scraps of music to enjoy knowing that all their favorites have been removed.

Not only does this make TikTok less enjoyable, but it also stops people known as “TikTok editors” from creating the content that they

worked so hard on. I think this is horrible because these editors are the ones carrying the fandoms of today’s generation with their 15-second highquality videos. Now, they can be seen losing their mind over the fact that all their edits have lost their value and some are even trying to repost them with a song that barely fits such as Beethoven’s. “Symphony No. 6.”

Besides the fans and the edits, this also affects artists such as Conan Gray who’s unable to promote his new music video because of the regulations which is a struggle because TikTok is where people mainly get news from artists. Otherwise, fans wouldn’t know when a new album is going to come out.

I’m sure that some people on TikTok wouldn’t have the same music taste as they do today, including me. Over the years, TikTok has been the main reason

artists get to walk on red carpets such as Laufey, who recently won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. I’m afraid to say this, but Laufey wouldn’t have made it without the fame she got from TikTok. If she hadn’t promoted her music on that app, who knows where she’d be?

It’s devastating that the main part that held TikTok together has been removed after seven years. However, it doesn’t actually affect anything as the world is still spinning and people continue to mindlessly scroll on TikTok. It all just gives artists and fans fewer opportunities to enjoy music.

Editors’ Letter

By CHARLOTTE STONE & VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN, CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

As the third quarter comes to an end and summer slowly approaches, everyone (especially us seniors) moves a step closer to the end of our high school careers. Although it seems like a bittersweet time, there is still a lot to look forward to: prom, water wars, the clap-out and, of course, graduation. We know most of those are senior activities, but don’t worry, everyone, freshmen and seniors alike, can look forward to Spring Break.

This new issue of Knight Writers embraces this year’s early Spring, covering everything from Spring fashion tips to ideas for a fun-filled Spring Break. But, in order to fully experience Spring and the start of a new sports season, the issue includes a recap of all winter sports.

In other news, this issue also includes what Ramadan means to those at Robinson who celebrate and how they choose to celebrate. Finally, the issue features exclusive photos and coverage from the Gasparilla Music Festival.

We hope you enjoy this issue as our time with the Knight Writers Staff begins to come to a close. Although the future may seem uncertain as many await their college acceptances, remember that everything will turn out okay. Wherever you end up is where you’re meant to be. For more content, don’t forget to visit knightwriters.org.

KnightWriters

This Knight Writers newspaper is produced by the Journalism II-V class at Robinson High School.

Editors-in-Chief

Vikram Sambasivan

Charlotte Stone

Print Managing Editor

Cecilia Cheng

News & Features Editor

Yesenia Rosario

Sports Editor

Ashlyn Miller

Opinion Editor

Keirra McGoldrick

A&E & Multimedia Editor Jadyn Grayes

Senior Staff Writer

Whittaley Bowden

Briana Garcia

Janiece Mitchner

Malia Rodriguez

Mission Statement

Grace Shafer

Araya Stearns

Staff Writer

Annabelle Bulger

Winter Carbajal

Mikesha Clarke

Jordan De La Cruz

Jennie Gutman

Sophie Le

Jasmyn Mitchner

Anika Sanka

Sofia Scott

Ryan Rolle

Coleton Rone

Gabriella Treviño

Brianna Yasis

Publications Adviser

Nancy Webster

Principal

David Brown

The role and goal of the Knight Writers is to inform, interpret and entertain their viewers through accurate and factual reports, and be accurate, fair and impartial in its coverage of issues that affect the school community. The staff of Knight Writers will strive to report all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, according to the Canons of Professional Journalism developed by the Society for Professional Journalists.

Policies

For more information about the staff policies, follow this link https://knightwriters.org/about/staff-policies/

Publication Memberships

Illustration by W. Carbajal

The TikTok logo.

Photo from C. Stone

Robinson’s New Restaurant Sparks Campus Community

A look into our very own “home” cooked restaurant

By SOPHIE LE, STAFF WRITER

The sounds of sizzling stoves, commanding orders and laughter of happy customers fill the bustling air when visiting Robinson’s new restaurant, the Knights Tavern. Amongst the lively symphony of united cooks and cheerful customers, it’s unbelievable that just last year the idea of culinary obtaining their very own kitchen was a longed-for dream. But after Robinson’s awaited campus construction, culinary’s wish came true.

For the past couple of years, culinary was taught in portables. The relocation of the classroom limited the program’s space and equipment. But this school year, culinary was upgraded. Now, students learn out of a frontfacing kitchen and professional equipment.

Culinary at Robinson has evolved over the years but was originally pushed by former Principal Sylvia Albritton in the ’90s. The program has gone through several chefs throughout the years but Mitchell Smithey has fulfilled the role for the past five years. He first became involved as a chef out of necessity. He looked into teaching the profession at school to continue doing what he loves with the perks of working in education.

“I was more looking to get out of what I was currently doing and be able to still do something I like. With doing restaurants and food and all like that without working nights and weekends. And it’s fun. I like teaching,” Smithey said.

He currently teaches three classes ranging from beginner to advanced.

“Culinary One is the basics. How to use a knife, the history of the terms and what things are. Then you learn the basics of making soup, stocks and sauces. Culinary one’s pretty much the fundamentals,” Smithey said.

cooking, baking and management where students can have up to two to three culinary classes a day.

“Quite honestly, when you start up Culinary One and you go all the way through Culinary Four, when you leave here, we can get you pretty much anywhere you want because you’ll already have the skill set,” Smithey said.

Since Smithey is the only chef teacher at Robinson, there are no specific Culinary One classes. This allows for different skill sets to interact and work together in the restaurant. During lunchtime, you can see different groups of students perform their jobs and collaborate to serve customers’ food.

As of right now, entrees are only for culinary students and faculty because of respect towards not wanting to compete with the cafeteria’s food. If you are not faculty or a part of the culinary program, you can purchase sodas, cookies and chips. However, due to some exceptions, I was able to snag myself one of Culinary’s delishlooking burgers and I will say it did not disappoint. I watched as a student flipped my burger, assembled it and

served it on my platter. The burger was very aesthetically pleasing. Stacked with different toppings, the burger was juicy and flavorful. The meal came with a side of wellseasoned tater tots that were exceptionally crispy. Afterwards, I washed it down with a refreshing cold sprite and I confidentially say that it was an enjoyable meal.

Just eating with my fellow teachers and students brought me a sense of love for my school’s community. IB biology teacher Tiffany Oliver and a frequent customer at Robinson’s restaurant enjoyed a turkey bacon club while conversing with her faculty peer.

“Everything we’ve done recently to improve Robinson is great for all of us,” Oliver said. “We come here regularly because we wanna support the students who are doing this and also our own students who are involved.”

IB chemistry Teacher James Atkins also praised the program’s benefits for the students.

“It’s good for the students doing it because they have experience outside and besides the school work, which can lead to easy jobs in college,” Atkins added.

A new chapter of Robinson’s culinary program has unfolded, opening an endless world of opportunities. Students and faculty are not only benefited but Robinsons’ community as a whole. Looking ahead, the restaurant holds limitless room for growth and innovation.

“I’m really hoping next homecoming that we can all do a homecoming meal here before people go off to the dance,” Chef Smithey said with a contagious smile.

Robinson Garden Cultivates Learning and Growth

I beg your garden?

By COLETON RONE, STAFF WRITER

Amidst the concrete jungle of Robinson, a green oasis thrives, the school garden. The miniature garth is cherished and maintained by the groundskeeper, Alex Chromiak (’24). Chromiak, in cooperation with the Keep

Despite the harsh weather, the garden is still alive and thriving. Persistently working to beautify the school, the diligent students work hard to keep the operations running smoothly.

volunteers to help Alex fulfill the project,” Linh Tran (’25) said.

Though the garden has not fulfilled its potential yet, the student body waits excitedly to see what the future holds for this

“I think the school garden is pretty cool, it has not prospered yet, but I see good fortune

If you want to join arms with Chromiak and his compatriots, make sure to sign up for future volunteering days. If you want to help out with the garden and more of the school,

days where we will be planting and adding decorum,” Chromiak said. “They [students]

creating a Sign-Up Genius and posting it among

different school social medias to do the final planting and decorating.”

If signing up to help the garden is too much of a time commitment, students can contribute by helping keep a lookout for the garden: stopping people from messing with it and causing any harm or issues towards it.

“Student aid in watching over it to make sure things don’t get stolen would be much appreciated,” Chromiak said.

As the seasons unfold, the story of Robinson’s garden is sure to change and improve. Though it needs a little help from the student body, if worked on together the garden shall as a testament to the power of Robinson’s community and fondness for nature.

“The garden is still early in the works, not too much has been planted, but the KOSB kids are excited to maintain it,” said Diana Marazzo, Biology Teacher and KOSB Club Sponsor.

Robinson’s culinary chefs flipping burgers on “Tavern Thursday” for customers. Each student in culinary is assigned a role. Photo by S. Le

Alex Chromiak (’24) lounging in the butterfly garden.

Photo by C. Rone

MENTAL HEALTH At Robinson

As we approach the exam season, here is how Robinson approaches mental health

By VIKRAM SAMBASIVAN, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editor’s Note: Trigger Warning: suicide, eating disorder and self-harm are topics addressed in this article.

Assignments piling up on top of a busy sports schedule, grades on the line, club responsibilities growing, your academic future bearing down on you. This is the reality of the modern student, and it is stressful.

Mental health and anxiety have become an issue of increasing importance at Robinson and in high schools all around the world.

In a survey conducted by YouthTruth, 56% of high school students cited “feeling depressed, stressed, or anxious” as the largest obstacle they must overcome in school.

Students who are affected by depression and anxiety tend to exhibit specific, identifiable characteristics.

“A lot of times you’ll see them with withdrawal or they disengage. Sometimes they become moody with depression. Oftentimes, they lose an appetite or they gain an appetite. They sleep a lot. They’re lethargic, unmotivated, they don’t want to come to school,” said Lori Stewart, veteran Robinson Social Worker. “They know they need to do better, but they just can’t find the energy or the effort or the motivation to do better.”

While there are many signs of poor mental health with a student’s unusual performance in school, social signs can present themselves as well.

“The one thing that I’ve seen is they tend to isolate. They oftentimes want to be alone and don’t engage, even with their close friends and peers,” said Clayton Wilson, a parttime Social Worker at Robinson.

While social workers are a very important aspect of addressing student mental health on campus, it is often left up to teachers and peers to recognize the signs of a student struggling.

Eric Smithers, IB English Teacher. “If a student walks into my room, most of the time I’m going to say something just as simple as ‘good morning’ or ‘what’s going on,’ and if they nudge past me and I can see red eyes, I can see their ignored me,

up, [then that sets off red flags].”

While these signs are worrying, they are also pretty general. One of the most difficult things is distinguishing between someone who is just having a bad week – a normal thing – versus someone in danger of hurting themselves. To help with this, Hillsborough County has adopted the use of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) as a proper procedure for addressing students who exhibit enough worrying signs.

According to the Columbia Lighthouse Project Website, “the C-SSRS…is a simple series of questions that anyone can use anywhere in the world to prevent suicide.”

However, if a student is particularly isolated, there may not be peers, teachers or counselors who are able to recognize these signs. It is for this reason that it is important for students to take charge of their own mental health.

“Students can stay mentally healthy in many different ways. These include things that release dopamine like exercise or sports, spending time with friends and family, journaling, and many more,” said Savannah Lax (’24), former Co-President of the Not I, but We Club. “While these may not work for every student, it’s important to find what works for you and makes you happy.”

At times, when school and responsibilities become particularly overwhelming, mental health days can also be helpful.

“Mental health days are extremely important to overall wellbeing. Living under constant stress can be extremely detrimental to one’s emotional state,” Lax said. “Mental health days should be taken when a student feels like there’s too much stress upon them and they need to recover.”

With mental health being such a large issue for students, it is not only important that schools are able to provide professional counselors for affected students to speak with, but also make sure that students are aware of them.

“If a student is having issues…[they] can just say ‘I’m really struggling today and I need to talk to somebody’ and teachers will give you a pass and you can come down to the office. I’m here five days a week,” Stewart said. “We have three different independent outside agencies that come in and offer mental health support. So you want to gain insight and assistance from people who are trained to offer insight and assistance rather than getting it from your 14 or 15-yearold friend.”

When having depressive thoughts, while speaking to

feelings can help, consulting a counselor can often provide a more mature perspective on the situation.

“When you’re having a mental health crisis, you really want somebody that is a professional. They’ve been trained… oftentimes when you go to your friends, you’re getting advice from somebody who has no education and no experience in the field, and they’re just drawing on what they’ve done which may not necessarily be an appropriate thing,” Stewart said. “If one student says, ‘Well you know, I cut [myself] and that helps me,’ so now you’re going to have another student that’s going to get involved in cutting. So those are two unhealthy mechanisms.”

Ultimately, in an increasingly stressful environment, the most important thing students must do (no matter how they

An illustration of a stressed teenager crying into her hands. This represents the importance of mental health as this is what many teenagers feel nowadays. Illustration by Janiece Mitchner

Robinson’s Cheer Squad Breaks Records and Takes Names

Cheerleading season ends in high placements at both States and Nationals

By JORDAN DE LA CRUZ, STAFF WRITER

The Competitive Cheer Team went to both the State’s Semi-Finals and Finals on Feb. 3 in Lakeland. At this competition, they performed against other schools in the state, achieving an 81.4 of 100. This was the team’s highest score in Robinson history. They won 6th place at the State competition out of 22 schools.

The cheerleading squad also went to Nationals the following week, Feb. 10-12, in Orlando. During this competition, they managed to score a 76 out of 100, earning the placement of 4th place in the Nation.

Coach Brianna Godfrey, the leading coach of the cheerleading team, speaks about the major improvement she had seen throughout the season.

“56.7 was our first score, and then our last score of the season was an 81.4. So, we had a crazy amount of growth over 3 months of practice. It was incredible,” she said.

Breaking records and winning high placements takes not just effort but also sacrifice. With such an ambitious season, a

substantial amount of time and effort was expected from all team

Kameron Padgett (’24), a base on the cheerleading team, had given up a large amount of time in preparation for this season’s competitions.

“We would take off our breaks. I would take off summer vacation time just for practice,” Padgett said. “But I would say it was worth it. Me taking time out of my vacation time and my weekends really worked out

Addy McDowell (’24), cheerleading Team CoCaptain, emphasizes the effort that has been put into

“We worked our butts off all season, and it was worth it,” McDowell said. “We had the highest score ever, which is really cool, because it shows the amount of

work and dedication we put toward this team.”

A major factor in this recordbreaking season is new coach Peter Lezin, joining the team’s support alongside Coach Godfrey in Aug. 2023.

“We had gotten a new coach too. Peter Lezin just started this year. He came to cheer as he used to cheer at Robinson,” Padgett said. “One of the best coaches in the area; he improved upon our team so much.”

The members of the Cheerleading squad had taken a differing approach to the season’s practice, focusing on the mental fortitude that is integral to the sport.

“Throughout my seasons, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs. But the past year, our Coach Peter has helped us get into the right mindset,” McDowell said. “This season has really been about mindset and mind-over-matter. I feel that’s really helped us grow, as a team, closer and work towards our goal. He’s definitely made us more passionate about what we do.”

With a record-breaking team, a brand-new ambitious coach and a focus on the mentality over the sport, only the high ceiling of the gymnasium was the limit for the Robinson Cheerleading Squad during this season.

Harold Has Options

Robinson’s resident Four-Star’s D1 path

By ASHLYN MILLER, SPORTS EDITOR & JASMYN MITCHNER, STAFF WRITER

Junior LaJesse Harold has been collecting D1 college offers like trading cards: University of  Georgia, University of Cincinnati, University of Colorado, University of Florida, Louisianna State University and Pennsylvania State University to name a few.

Harold plays defensive end and holds a four-star rating, making him amongst the top players at the high school level for his

“College coaches are always looking for the next wave of talented student-athletes. They will call/visit campuses across the country, collect the data, then decide which kids best fit their school,” Robinson Head Coach Mike Williams said. “They will then extend different versions of an athletic scholarship that covers everything from room, board, food, etc.”

Harold is new to the Robinson

His respectable 27 offers do not just come from his athletic skills, but his above-average GPA as a football player. Academically prestigious schools such as the University of Florida and the University of Georgia have offered him places on their team and in their schools, an opportunity many students strive for every day.

“Jesse has the size and athletic ability, which is the first thing that gets colleges’ attention. He he can handle college classwork,”

Gutman Gets It Done

Jennie Gutman reaches 1000 points scored

By SOFIA SCOTT, STAFF WRITER

Running up and down the court, driving and dribbling the ball to the basket, Jennifer Gutman (’25) causes her opponents’ head to spin as she continuously puts points on the board. Gutman, one of Robinson high school’s basketball stars, has recently reached 1000 points scored during the duration of her time playing basketball at Robinson.

Especially doing it during her junior year,” Batista said.

With the time that Gutman puts into her work, it’s no secret that this milestone has been on her mind for a while now, driving her to spend extra time on the court and in the gym.

Considering all of his options, one day be watching him play as they cheer from student sections

programs in the country. Having played football for the majority of his life, Harold feels that his hard work and dedication to the sport

“Yes I have gotten offers from schools I’d love to go to,” Harold about playing at Division 1 even getting these offers is

basketball since she was eight years old, having played in and out of school; she could be found in YMCA camps, middle school teams, and now, has been playing on Robinson’s Varsity Girls Basketball team since her freshman year.

current coach, Gerard Batista, was not at all surprised when he heard the news that Gutman would soon reach this momentous milestone.

players don’t ever make it to that, [1000 points]; it shows the amount of effort and dedication that has gone into her developing and becoming a better player.

“I feel like I’ve improved rebounding wise for sure because last year I averaged eight rebounds and now I’ve averaged 11 rebounds,” Gutman said. “I practice five to six times a week and three of those days I’m in weightlifting, while the other days I focus on shooting and

The sky is the limit on Gutman’s potential as she continues to get better, and work towards her dream of playing for a Division 1 college.

“It was definitely a goal of mine to reach 1000 points so I’m happy about it for sure, but there is always room for improvement and more work [that] I can put in. My goal is to play in college, so I can’t settle just yet,” Gutman said.

Soleil Olivo (‘24) holds Flyer Maile Abell (‘26) on her shoulders. Photo by K. McGoldrick

Flyer Maile Abell (‘26) being thrown in the air during the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading State Championships. Photo by K. McGoldrick

Soleil Olivo (‘24) jumps up in the air into a toe touch. Photo by K. McGoldrick

LaJesse Harold (‘25) getting his mind right before he faces off with the Yellow Jackets.

Photo by J. Gutman

Jennie Gutman (‘25) dribbles the ball. Photo by K. McGoldrick

Winter Sports All Wrapped Up

The 2023-24 winter sports season comes to a close

By KEIRRA McGOLDRICK, OPINION EDITOR

Winter: a cold dreary season that makes everyone want to bundle up and stay indoors. Managing to stay warm this season is the Robinson winter sports teams. There are 7 total teams that make up the winter season, boys and girls basketball, soccer and wrestling, along with the co-ed competitive cheer team, all of which have gone to at least a district championship.

Basketball is one of Robinson’s most popular sports. The boys team, with an overall standing of 16-12, made it as far as district playoffs against the Gibbs High School Gladiators, losing 56-77. Scoring an average of 62.2 points per game, the team is ranked fourth in the 4A District 10.

“[The season] had its ups and downs and we had our moments but we always found a way to come back stronger,” Basketball Player Ikeef Williams (’24) said

Williams continued by saying that the most memorable point in the season, even though they lost, was the district championship and that they made the most of it. Alongside the boys team, the girls basketball team traveled to Lakewood High School on Feb. 7 for the district playoffs, ending the season with an overall standing of 1610, scoring an average of 56 points per game.

Soccer has become a sport that the students of Robinson regularly attended and even in the unusually cold and rainy climate that these games took place in, both teams prevailed with the boys’ overall standing of 12-9-2 and the girls’ being 12-7-1. Captain of the boys team, Tristan Davilla (’24), highlighted that the biggest accomplishment for the team this season was winning districts for the third time in a row.

“Being able to push through some tough games and go further than we did last year. With those accomplishments, it really helped us to come together overall as a team and bond well,” Davilla said.

Wrestling is a sport not many at Robinson first think of when they think of sports to watch. It is more of a single-person sport rather than a group effort like in basketball or soccer, yet still consists of two teams, boys and girls. Many of the athletes on the teams are headed to the regional championships and then some may head on to the state championships. Dominic Hernandez (’24) pointed out that the most challenging match the team as a whole faced was the Riverview duel.

“They are a pretty tough team and Coach Montero always knows what he’s doing to get a win. We had some great wins and some losses. But we got to the last two matches and we put in a forfeit and bumped up Arron McCarty to get the six points we needed to beat them. Then he pinned the guy and we won,” Hernandez said.

Cheerleading is typically something many people in the athletic world debate over. Is it a sport? Is it not a sport? Looking at competitive cheerleading specifically, it is impossible to think of it as anything less than a rigorous sport. After gaining second place at Plant High School for the Western Conference qualifiers, the team then moved on to the state championships. Following that win, the team earned third place in the semifinals, moving on to acquire 6th in the finals. After heading to Nationals in Orlando at the ESPN World Wide Sports Center, the Knights got a school record-breaking fourth place.

Donevan Kelly (‘24) shooting to score on a Steinbrenner defender.

Photo by K. McGoldrick

Yanichel Or (‘25) competing against her opponent from Alonso. Photo by J. De La Cruz Annie Keith (‘24) looking for open teammates to pass the ball. Photo by A. Stearns

Jasmyn Mitchner (‘26) attempts to take the ball from a McKeel player at the regionals semi-finals game. Photo by A. Miller

Addy McDowell (‘24) waves her black pom-pom to the audience during the cheerleaders “RHS” chant. Photo by Y. Rosario

Devon Richardson (‘25) lunging for the ball. Photo by S. Le

Seniors Corinne Schear and Keira Logan hug each other on Soccer senior night. Photo by K. McGoldrick

Zyon Floyd (‘26) attempts to dribble around a Wharton defernder during the Break the Silence game. Photo By K. McGoldrick

Your Guide to Spring Fashion

Essentials for this spring season

By RYAN ROLLE, STAFF WRITER

It’s Spring 2024 and even though lately style has been spreading out into different aesthetics, there are always a few staples every season. Even thought it is getting warmer out, Florida is still having random cold fronts which will probably continue til April. So, what to wear? Here are five easy pieces you can keep in your wardrobe.

1) Maxi Skirts

Maxi skirts are coming back in and they’re super cute for this spring season. A long, flowy, floral skirt paired with a more form-fitting tank top is a perfect go-to to have in your closet. Hyper-femininity and “ballet-core” have been in for some time now, so if you want you could also pair this cute outfit with ballet flats or slingback heels. Maxi skirts are perfect for spring because in Florida, by the time summer comes, it gets too hot to sport a full-length skirt.

2) Linen Pants

Linen pants are perfect for a European aesthetic spring. My personal favorites are from Brandy Melville. They are long, but you can hem them however short you may need. These striped linen pants paired with a white cropped tee or even to wear over your swimsuit as a cover-up are a musthave and you can continue to wear them into summer. I would pair this outfit with a pair of sandals or Sambas. The only issue would be wrinkles, which are an easy iron away.

3) Lace Tops

Lace is in every season, but especially in spring. Plain-colored lace-trimmed tank tops

are a staple and can be paired with every item on this list. You can find them in every color and they can be easily dressed up or down. Another option is entirely lace sheer tops, paired with a nude-colored undershirt. Vogue explains the comfort factor of this.

“As if to combat the heat, designers built a sort of air-con functionality into their garments, opting for mesh, eyelet, lace, and other openwork techniques to offer ventilation,” Vogue said.

Sambas come in all sorts of colors and you can wear them with both long and short bottoms. I love Sambas because they come in so many different colors and the thin almost ballet-style look is a dainty yet retro look. These are perfect for a sweet, vintage look and are also very comfortable on your feet.

We all know cardigans are perfect layers for Winter, but you can actually wear them for spring as well. Wearing cropped cardigans with your outfits this season will add a little warmth for those colder days and a pop of color to any mediocre outfit. Cardigans are super easy to find at any thrift and they are not too expensive. As it transitions into getting a little hotter, you can swap it out for a breezy button-up shirt to wear unbuttoned over your more

Spring is for pastels, flowy clothes and staying cozy while preparing for the Florida

Things to do Over Spring Break

Here’s a list of activities that’ll make your week one to remember

By JENNIE GUTMAN, STAFF WRITER

Spring break, a time of sunshine and beaches is right around the corner. As it approaches, everyone is starting to make their plans with their friends and families. Here’s a list of activities to turn a bleak day into an adventure over your break.

1) Clearwater Beach

If you’re looking to have a good time, Clearwater is the place to go. The police presence ensures safety, and people from all around Tampa gather to play games, eat food, tan and swim. It’s a great way to meet new friends and make memories that will last a lifetime. I’d recommend going in the morning before it gets too crowded to find a good spot to settle in, and staying till sunset is always fun.

2) Try new restaurants

You can never go wrong with food. In Tampa, there are always new and innovative places opening around the corner. One of my favorite activities is riding around with

a friend and finding the latest restaurants. Some newer ones in the area are The Naked Farmer, Kura Sushi and The Salty Donut.

3) Late night drives

It’s always fun to drive around at night with music blasting just singing at the top of your lungs; it is even more fun to do with friends. This is something every teenager should experience as I believe activities like these capture what it feels like to be young. However, taking caution and wearing a seatbelt is always crucial.

4) Busch Gardens

This is one of the biggest amusement parks in Florida where your day can vary from seeing elephants to riding a 90 mph ride like Cheetah Hunt. Although this costs money, I think every penny is worth it. During spring break, they have their food and wine festival which includes concerts

and food and drink tasting on the weekends.

5) Strawberry Festival

festival is the place for you. The live music, games and food guarantee that you’ll have a super fun time. If you’re a dessert lover, I’d recommend building your own strawberry shortcake or even their funnel cakes. I’ve gone in the previous years and it is always a fun time.

Trying new activities is what makes your spring break memorable. Take advantage of your time off and have fun.

Briana Garcia (‘24) wears a lace top, camo pants and Addias Sambas. Photo by B. Garcia

A detail shot of Ryan Rolle (‘26) wearing a lace top on a warm spring day. Photo by R. Rolle

Sophie Le (’26) showing off her outfit as she wears a simple white baby tee, jeans and sambas with her hair in braids.

Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens. Photo by Y. Rosasio

The exterior of The Naked Farmer on Gandy. Photo by J. Grayes A beachfront restaurant at Clearwater Beach. Photo by J. Grayes

Check out these knightwriters.org exclusives

“All Of Us Strangers” Destroyed Me

My movie of the year

By GRACE SHAFER, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Do you ever leave a movie theater just thinking, God I’m glad movies like this are made? A film that makes you appreciate the art form itself...

Entertainment ToKnight: Travis Scott Concert

Travis Scott performed on Jan. 31 with a special guest

By GABRIELLA TREVIÑO & BRIANA GARCIA, STAFF WRITERS

Check out our first episode of our new podcast series: Entertainment ToKnight.

“Bob Marley: One Love” Changed My Perspective on Music

“Bob Marley: One Love” released in theaters on Wednesday, Feb. 14

By YESENIA ROSARIO, NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR

Bob Marley’s biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” was released on the day of love, Wednesday, Feb. 14 and left me jaw dropped.

If you don’t know who Bob Marley is, you’ve been living under a rock. Marley was an international legend through his powerful reggae music which united Jamaica during a time known as the Rastafari movement, a new emerging religion during a political and violent period in Jamaica. This movement was a reaction to the then dominant rule of British colonial culture all of which was illustrated in the movie. Marley was the unofficial face of peace for all Jamaicans and a sign of hope.

The movie stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita. Ben-Adir is most notably known for his past roles in which he played Barack Obama and Malcolm X meaning he’s had quite a lot of experience in channeling public figures and illustrating their lives on screen. While many people had an issue with Ben-Adir’s ethnic background not being Jamaican or his lack of shared physical features with Marley, I think internally Ben-Adir channeled Marley beautifully.

The film focuses on a snippet of Marley’s life from his attempted assassination to his move to London, up until his iconic peace concert. The opening scene begins with this assassination attempt. From there, we’re swept to his life in London and are shown the process of him writing most of his album “Exodus.” Music, of course, is a recurring motif throughout the movie, specifically his song “Redemption Songs” which was played beautifully and intimately in front of his family in one of the last scenes.

The cinematography was beautifully done, encompassing the large crowds and emphasizing emotions when needed. There is one scene in particular that stood out to me. It kept

appearing as a flashback which was a symbolic scene of his father on a horse and a field which then was engulfed in flames. The wide shot of the burning field and lighting made the scene mysterious yet mesmerizing.

Occasionally we’re shown flashbacks of a young Marley. They showed his introduction and soon conversion to Rastafarism along with the origins of his relationship with his later wife, Rita. They also entailed scenes with Marley’s father walking out on him and how that affected him.

While I think altogether this film was a 10/10, some argue that this was too basic and not made for “true” fans. Jack Hamilton from Slate described Marley’s legacy has been dissolved down to holding the highest of status in dorm rooms such as posters.

“In the United States, Marley has been a staple of dormroom walls for generations,” Hamilton stated in his article on the movie. “Marley has become the embodiment of a musician whom people own posters and T-shirts of but don’t actually listen to, which isn’t totally fair to most of the owners of those posters and T-shirts.”

While I agree that there are many people out there who have posters and shirts of him solely for the aesthetic or look, that applies to every famous person/band. The same thing happens with Pink Floyd for example. I think this film is a perfect introduction to Marley and his music for people who may not know much about him or his short-lived life. The impact of his music was illustrated as well as his internal conflict. This film humanized him 10 times, showing more of his struggles.

Sadly, the movie ended with Marley’s diagnosis of his cancer, a rare melanoma. His impactful peace concert was performed by Ben-Adir in the film who radiated everything Marley down to the dancing and voice.

Book Review: “House of Flame and Shadow” Is a Beautiful Mess

“House of Flame and Shadow” is an enlightening fantasy

By ANIKA SANKA, STAFF WRITER

Sarah J. Maas fans rejoice around the world with the release of the highly anticipated final book in the Crescent City series, “House of Flame and Shadow.” Maas had originally gained fame from her award-winning “A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR)” series and the extensive “Throne of Glass” series.

Even though all her books are in the same fantasy realm, the characters in each series have never interacted until the end of the second book in the Crescent City series, “House of Sky and Breath.” The book ended with a riveting cliffhanger when the main character Bryce jumped through a portal and landed in the same world as the characters in ACOTAR, which sent fans into a frenzy. ACOTAR is “booktok” famous and the last book in the series came out in 2021. Maas is rumored to be working on the sixth book in the series, but fans only just received confirmation after this recent release, because this book blended the worlds of the ACOTAR characters and the Crescent City characters.

That said, the crossover was wholly disappointing for me. For one, it was definitely a marketing push to grab purchases from members of the ACOTAR fandom because the actual crossover only consisted of a small portion of the 850-page book. There are lots of questions left unanswered with the collaboration of the characters, however, Maas definitively confirmed that the ACOTAR series will continue, where I hope some of the plot holes will be closed.

Besides the occasionally messy plot, there’s a lot to like about this book. The flow of the book is constantly moving, alleviating boredom and as the plot ramps up there are several “sit on the edge of your seat” moments. As someone who often needs a little romance to remain interested, I was delighted by the love story between Lydia and Ruhn. It was a cute side plot, which brought some passion into the story instead of Bryce and Hunt’s relationship which had already reached its height in the previous book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and Maas made Bryce a lovable, fun and complex character who we can all relate to at times and gave her a modern spin which characters in ACOTAR lacked. Maas accomplished the feat of wrapping up Bryce’s story in Midgard and starting a new story in Prythian (where ACOTAR is based) and I’m interested to see the next move in the Maas multiverse.

This film made my appreciation of music and the impact that it could have skyrocketed. While I knew his impact was large on not just Jamaica, but the world, it never fully processed in my head. This film executed the hardships and risks that were taken by Marley. His music has forever and will forever leave an undeniable mark on the world and this movie is proof.

Your Ultimate Spring Break Playlist

25 songs to liven up your Spring Break

By WINTER CARBAJAL, STAFF WRITER

After continuous weeks of cold, rain, gray skies and moody atmospheres, I think we’ve all had enough of winter weather. Spring greets us with only intensified schoolwork with no end in sight and the ever-present threat of approaching exams. To me, it is a chance to listen to some calm and relaxing music.

Staff have compiled 25 of their favorite songs that they have been listening to Scan the code and listen along with us

Promotional poster of the biopic of the late Bob Marley, “Bob Marley: One Love.” Photo from IMDb

Cover Art for “House of Flame and Shadow.”

Photo from Goodreads

Gasparilla Goes from Swashbuckling to Singing

The 2024 Gasparilla Music Festival was filled with laughter good tunes

By KEIRRA MCGOLDRICK, OPINION EDITOR

The long awaited, annual Gasparilla Music Festival (GMF) blessed Tampa Bay for the thirteenth consecutive time from Feb. 16-18. The event took place over the course of three days at Julian B. Lane Riverfront park across four different stages. With over 50 different bands, artists and groups, headliners include artists like Young the Giant, Coin, Surf Mesa and Big Gigantic.

Gasparilla Music Festival is also a great opportunity for smaller artists to get their music to a larger audience, Judy Anne Jackson, Entertainment Revue and Parrotfish are all great examples of smaller artists and groups that are given a chance to shine and expand their listener pool to a wide variety of people they never thought of before.

The mission behind the festival is to raise money to provide instruments to under-advantaged youth in the Tampa Bay area, along with promoting different small businesses in the area, whether it be delicious food or interesting products to sell, GMF gives many opportunities for business growth of many kinds.

Matty Rodrigo of Parrotfish singing while preforming with his band members at the Gasparilla Music Festival. Photo by A. Miller.

Judy Anne Jackson singing her newest single “Dear Me.” Photo by K. McGoldrick

Matty Rodrigo and Lynch performing together. Photo by K. McGoldrick

Popular DJ Surf Mesa hypes up the crowd of the Gasparilla Music Festival. Photo by A. Miller