features

By KEIRRA McGOLDRICK, OPINION EDITOR

No matter where you live, jack-o-lanterns are a staple part of any Autumn experience. Picking up a giant orange ball from the grocery store or at a stand on the side of the road with a giant sign labeled, “Pumpkin Patch” it’s a magical feeling to say the least.

The task of actually carving said pumpkin, however, is not for the weak. It starts with searching the internet for a design to cut into the big orange vegetable. It’s then time to pick the perfect pumpkin for carving.

The Kitchn’s, Allison Russo’s number one tip is to “pick it up and tap it: It should feel sturdy. When you tap it, you should hear a hollow sound.”

Once the perfect pumpkin is chosen, it’s time to gut it. Start by carving a circle around the stem that’s large enough to be able to scoop out all the seeds. Scrape the edges of the pumpkin to get all the stringy pumpkin inners and seeds out, but don’t throw them away. They can be used later.

When the pumpkin is officially hollow and no seeds remain, sketch the chosen design and start carving. Get a knife that can easily be found in any nearby kitchen and go with the lines of the sketch. When the beautiful jack-o-lantern is formed, put a candle in it and put the top back on.

Now what? The leftover seeds can easily be separated from the “meat” of the pumpkin and turned into a tasty and healthy snack.

“Toss them with a mix of olive oil and savory spices from curry powder to cayenne pepper and roast them to create the ultimate...snack,” said Sheela Prakash of Epicurious.

Sadly, carved pumpkins don’t last long, only an average of three to five, but can last up to a week or two depending on climate, sunlight exposure and temperature. In this treacherous, Floridian weather, a typical pumpkin outside would probably last maximum of four days. After the beloved pumpkin had reached its last breath, instead of just throwing it away, repurpose it.

“...they [rotten pumpkins] are the perfect addition to any compost pile—just make sure to remove any decorations first, such as candles or ribbons.” Sophie Hirsh of Green Matters

Let this become a cycle. Keep getting and carving pumpkins and then compost them. Don’t just stop at one pumpkin, go crazy with it.

The official Knight Writers pumpkin. Photo by K. McGoldrick.

Gallant Galvin the Knight

RHS senior dons the Knight costume to every home game as the school mascot.

By JUNO LE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

There are five things that make a Robinson home game a Robinson home game. The first four consists of the football team, the cheer team, the marching band and the student section. The final piece that wraps all of it together is the senior bouncing around in polyester “chainmail” swinging a shiny plastic sword.

As the football team dons their jerseys and the marching band clasps their uniforms together, Alex Galvin (‘23) retrieves the red, black and silver Knights regalia. Since the first football game of the 2021 fall season, Galvin

Galvin in a suit of armor, sword and shield in hand at the March 2022 Pep Rally to welcome students into the gym. Photo by J. Le. has become a recognizable face at every home game under the helmet of his outfit as the official mascot.

“I’ve always been a big supporter and advocate for school spirit and pride, so when I found the costume in my closet, I told myself to give it a try. Once I became the official mascot, I thought there was no better way to show school pride than being the literal symbol of the school,” Galvin said. “Honestly, I would say that wanting to be the mascot simply comes from my desire to [represent] the school and support our place.”

In Galvin’s years as the school mascot, there have been two costumes. The classic foam costume, locked away for special occasions and the Galvin-ized costume most commonly worn. The latter carries sentiment.

“[My favorite part of the coshas to be the for sure.

tume] cape It really brings to- gether the whole outfit and when it drifts behind you it looks really cool. Also, the cape on the original costume has been through so much (including the paint stains on it) that it’s really classic to that outfit,” Galvin said. It’s also worth highlighting the sword because no Knight is ever complete without [their] weapon, and brandishing the sword is really the thing that gets people going.” Robinson’s mascot is officially known as Thomas “Tommy” the Knight. But to Robinson students, the Knight is beyond a reference to Thomas R. Robinson, the Hillsborough County educator for whom the school was named after.

“As silly as it seems, for me, the mascot is all about getting new people to be passionate about Robinson,” Galvin said. “Especially as a senior, my hope is that if younger students see a 17-yearold dressed up in a costume, making a fool of himself and not caring, then they’ll feel comfortable going out of their comfort zone to embrace the spirit.”

Not just anyone can be the mascot. Galvin’s rise to success as the Knight stems from his relationships with the students, teachers and faculty members.

“I think Alex is an amazing mascot because not only is he really interactive with the crowd, he has energy throughout the entirety of an event. Whether it’s during a football game or during a pep rally—he never loses that momentum,” SGA President Sela Teplin (‘23) said. “I also think he does a really good job of being personable towards all of the students and teachers so it’s fun getting to interact with the mascot.”

While not everyone is able to recognize the person under the “armor,” he’s still a friendly, familiar face to many when they attend one of Robinson’s home football games.

“He always gives off his positive energy and gets everybody hyped when he’s around,” Carsyn Clack (‘26) said.

Sword in hand, Galvin hopes to spread the school’s Pride Through Excellence motto to his peers.

“If people look at the costume and they’re filled with their own support and passion for even half a second, then I’ve done my job,” Galvin said.

Sword in hand, Galvin hopes to spread the school’s Pride Through Excellence motto to his peers.

“If people look at the costume and they’re filled with their own support and passion for even half a second, then I’ve done my job,” Galvin said.

Galvin standing beside the other Knight costume, worn by Brenden Chapman (‘24) at the 2021 Homecoming game against Middleton High School. Photo by J. Le.

Alex Galvin (‘23) points his prop sword, returning for his final year in the Knight costume. Photo by J. Le.

By YESENIA ROSARIO, STAFF WRITER

BeReal is a social media photo-sharing app where you share a photo once a day when receiving the notification, giving you a two-minute time frame to snap a pic and tag a location.

Students have many mixed opinions on BeReal. Some believe it contains unrealistic expectations of how people should spend their free time by not showing their authentic selves and is a toxic platform. Others believe BeReal is a fun way to snap a shot of memories and interact with friends by getting a glimpse into their daily life.

Sara Valencia (‘24) believes the app is fun but creates a sense of pressure.

“It’s fun to see what everyone is doing and actually having that part of ‘being real’” Valencia said. “But it conflicts me a little because part of that ‘being real’ is that the timer can get you on a bad moment.”

Many seem to agree with Valencia’s opinion about how pressuring it is to take the perfect photo. Danica De Jenzano (‘25) also believes there’s a negative stigma when it comes to “bad moments.” “It sets unrealistic expectations because most of the time people are in school so obviously people know that you’re doing boring stuff,” De Jenzano said. “But on the weekends… people aren’t constantly hanging out with their friends and going out to cool places…It’s impossible for you to always be happy and [have] a good time, that’s unrealistic.” Though De Jenzano believes BeReal may set unrealistic standards, she does have a positive opinion about the interactive part. She believes it’s fun to interact with personal friends, rather than trying to accumulate random friends. “I think if you’re just looking at your friends, then it’s fun,” De Jenzano said. Most students had mixed opinions about whether the platform is having a more positive or negative effect. Mae Allbritton (‘25), similar to De Jenzano, believes it’s a great app to interact with others but does set unrealistic standards.

“BeReal allows people to connect with others and it shows what everyone is up to outside of school,” Allbritton said. “[However, it] makes people compare their lives to others. A lot of people would rather post late when they’re doing something interesting, rather than actually posting on time… [It] shows how [much] people care about what others think.”

On the more positive side, Reese Pierson (‘25) believes BeReal is a constructive outlet for young teens.

“It really helps living in the moment, not just focusing on social media and our phones, looking the best, acting the best,” Pierson said. “It helps me be more open and honest.”

Reese Pierson ('25) takes a BeReal with Soup the tortise in his tank in Marazzo's biology classroom. Photo Courtesy of Reese Pierson.

How to Prepare for Fall

The best season of the year is approaching, so let’s get ready.

By CHARLOTTE STONE, PRINT MANAGING EDITOR

The time is finally here. Everyone’s favorite season is approaching: fall. After an excruciatingly hot summer, there is nothing better than the cool, comfortable weather that comes with fall. There is nothing better than waking up on a cool autumn day, putting on a cozy outfit and walking outside to see leaves falling to your feet. Now that fall is practically upon us, here are some fun, but necessary ways to prepare for the upcoming season. Step 1: Decorate. This is the most important step. If it doesn’t look like fall, it won’t feel like fall. So, your number one priority is getting those decorations up. Maybe you hang some leaf/pumpkin-shaped fairy lights, or maybe you get a cheesy fake pumpkin from target. You decorate however you want to get in the autumn spirit. Step 2: Candles. This step is absolutely mandatory. Candles have the amazing ability to transport you anywhere using just smell. As soon as you breathe in that pumpkin, cinnamon scent, you know it’s fall. All of your autumn memories are marked by that scent and you could recognize it anywhere. Step 3: Food. Everyone has a specific food that takes them right back to autumn. For me, it’s the Pillsbury Dough Boy Pumpkin Cookies. As soon as I spot those seasonal cookies in the grocery store, I know that fall has arrived. However, this treat can be different for everyone. For some people it might be pumpkin pie or candy corn. Just pick whatever food reminds you of fall the most and enjoy it with your friends and family. Step 4: Finally, Movies and TV shows. This has got to be my favorite step and it’s accessible to almost everyone. The easiest way to get into the fall spirit is by watching the perfect movie or TV show to remind you why autumn is your favorite season. For example, nothing reminds me of the autumn season more than “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Some people may argue that it’s a Christmas movie since it says Christmas in the title, but they’re wrong. Another example of the perfect fall TV show is “Gilmore Girls.” Between the coziness of Stars Hallow and Rory’s perfect autumn wardrobe, there’s no show that encapsulates fall as well as “Gilmore Girls.” With the start of a new school year comes fall, and although I know that we would all rather be relaxing at home instead of stuck in school, autumn is the ideal season to cheer us up. The beautiful scenery combined with the amazing weather makes the perfect combo that everyone can enjoy. So don’t wait and start preparing for fall now!

A collection of fall essentials to get anyone ready and excited for autumn. Photo by C. Stone.

Harvest Holler Farm Makes this a Fall to Remember

Harvest Holler is a place where you can explore nature and have adventures.

By ARIANA SMITH, STAFF WRITER

Pumpkin patch at Harvest Holler farm. Photo by. A. Smith. Harvest Holler Farm is a one-of-a-kind family-owned Corn Maze located in Polk City, offering a friendly environment for all. Open for the fall season through Nov. 13., one can wander through the twists and turns of the corn maze, take a hay ride to see the cows and horses, ride the cow train, visit the pumpkin patch and take plenty of pictures at all the fall themed photo spots. The Adventure Hay Ride is a great way to get the feel of what living on a farm is really like. If one decides to take a ride on the Cow Train, they can expect barrel carts pulled by the Harvest Holler’s Tractor Drivers with the end result of creating an entertaining riding experience to see the farm in an exciting way. Be sure to enjoy the moment because when the train gets to moooving, it’s hard not want to go again. With hundreds of different sized pumpkins from which to choose, there are giant carving pumpkins for making Jack-O-Lanterns as well as smaller options, all the way down to the most ideal of dining room table décor. The tire swing, hay bales and mini golf are a suited for a wide variety of fun as you climb, swing and golf around the farm related obstacles that could challenge even the best of golfers. There are many more activities in addition to the ones already mentioned that one will never find themselves in a moment of boredom. On the way out, one should be sure to stop by Maw Maw’s Country store or Paw Paw’s Vitties for a variety of fresh baked pies, homemade jams and sausage dogs. Harvest Holler is a farm that is home to a hard-working family who, for many years, have been opening for visitors to enjoy. To support other agricultural families, the food is from local vendors that produce quality homemade products. The owners and the families helping run the farm on the weekends are happy to tell you about their animals, the farm, and will help make sure you’re having a great time!

Real Food & Lifestyle Inspiration For Real Busy Families

Email: info@cookprayslay.com www.cookprayslay.com

By JUNO LE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Clear skies this time, the Robinson Knights came back home for a game to remember. On Sept. 23, Camelot kicked off its annual homecoming game, which was against the Brandon High School Eagles this year. In terms of their overall season, they came into this game 2-2 after a 68-29 loss at Plant High School’s Dad’s Stadium the previous week, when their game was rescheduled to the morning after due to lightning storms. The Knights had a bright start, scoring their first touchdown roughly 30 seconds into the first quarter and secured the extra point. 7-0 on the scoreboard and the game just started. The combination of Brandon’s weak defense and Robinson’s confidence from being back in their home field led them to a steady first quarter, with another touchdown four minutes in by Jeremiah Fernandez (‘23). The first quarter ended 14-0. Second quarter breezed by, still with little damage from the Brandon Eagles. In fact, the Knights were able to advance another 20 points by halftime. At 38-0, the Jack Peters Field welcomed the Homecoming Inner Court along with Robinson football player, Kassim Johnson (‘23), who was crowned King of Camelot. Friday night wasn’t looking so good for the Eagles and the game entered a mercy rule. Brandon was able to score their first, only and last touchdown that night during the mercy rule, but no extra points were obtained and they fell even further behind when the Knights advanced another 10 points by the end of the game. The game was immediately followed by the RHS Marching Band’s performance. Robinson’s Homecoming victorious 48-6 win brings them to a 3-2 overall season record for the time being. The Knights will depart the home turf for an away game at Tampa Catholic on Sept. 30 and won’t be playing at home again until Oct. 14.

Kassim Johnson (‘23) dances in celebration following a touchdown by the Knights. He scored three touchdowns that night. Photo by A. Stearns.

Jeremiah Fernandez (‘23) carries the ball into Brandon’s end zone with a little over eight minutes left running in the first quarter. Photo by J. Le. Antonio Bulmer Jr. (‘23) listens as the coach talks pros and cons of his play, and the next one. While the Knights held a steady lead, there was always for improvement. “We bought it out. We just wanted to make you all happy,” Bulmer said. Photo by A. Saklaan.

Josh Crump (‘23) (left) and Bulmer tackle Brandon High School runningback Malachi Lockett (‘24) during the first quarter of the game. Photo by J. Le

Justin Richardson (‘23) attempts to push past Brandon High School defensive players. Photo by A. Stearns. JUMPING FOR JOY. Allan Lewis (‘24) celebrates scoring a touchdown for the Knights, advancing the team even further ahead of the Brandon Eagles. While Brandon made a small hit near the end, Robinson left the field that night with seven total touchdowns. Photo by G. Hilton.

Tara Senkowicz (‘23) marching with the Robinson drumline during the Marching Band’s first performance of their 2022 marching show, “The Mad World,” in uniform after weeks of weather complications. Photo by J. Le. Sierra Hatton (‘24) spins the flag in the first set of the marching show, wearing the Starlets’ new uniforms. Photo by J. Le.

Nico DeLise (‘23) playing the baritone. “It felt great, especially since [the show] got pushed back a few weeks,” DeLise said. Photo by G. Hilton.

Spirit Week Sweeps the Halls of Camelot

Get a look at what the Knights wore during spirit week in preparation for homecoming.

By KNIGHT WRITERS STAFF

Scan the QR Code to see more photos from the Homecoming Pep Rally on knightwriters.org

By CECILIA CHENG, A&E EDITOR

Robinson students gathered in the gym this Friday, Sept. 23 to finish the school week strong with a pep rally in preparation for the 2022 homecoming dance at Zoo Tampa. To start out, the Spirit Boys gave everyone a warm welcome with their performance with the Robinson cheerleaders following. Even though there were a few changes in the plan, along with some technical difficulties for the cheerleaders, they both pulled it off in the end. “Our original plan was something entirely different. We wanted to do a stunt with a basket and do something with the lights for effects, but admin didn’t approve the idea,” Spirit Boy Jake Abell (‘24) said. “I think despite everything that went wrong, we got out there and did a great job.” The pep rally also consisted of many games, one of them being the “wheelbarrow relay.” Students from each grade level were paired up into three pairs and had to race across the gym floor as human wheelbarrows. The two were then forced to spin ten times and run back to the other side in order for the other pairs to go. With many falls and slips, the seniors ended up finishing first, the sophomores next, the juniors right after and the freshmen last. A performance from the Kultural Dance Club followed the relay. 14 of their members, dressed in all black, danced to the beat of SOLO By Jennie Kim. Additional artistic performances were seen from The Robinson Starlets and Band who were applauded enthusiastically by the crowd.

Not to mention, the Homecoming inner court was also introduced during the Pep Rally. As IB Psychology teacher Donald Pippin introduced them, these royalties made their entrances in pairs. Each pair did a little dance as well, showing off their excitement to the crowd. “I was super nervous leading up to the announcement and going out there. You could ask anyone that was sitting next to me how many times I said I was going to barf,” Homecoming Princess Tammy Jerson (‘24) said. Because of the time crunch, a few games were shortened such as: the Homecoming fashion show, human hula hoop and TikTok dance battle. Senior Isreal Eldridge-Mindieta (‘23) and Junior Tammy Jerson (‘24) went head to head against each other as the two show (From left to right) Charlie Thaxton (‘23), Cade Van Aelst (‘23), Arasan Subramanian (‘23), Josh Kim (‘23), off their best Rand Peate (‘23), Jessica Diaz (‘23) and Collin Check (‘23) holding the letter signs that spell out SENIOR. Holding the signs made those above part of the pep rally fun. “I sort of feel pride and happiness out of being a senior at pep rallies since me and my classmates have been working a lot to get to the position we’re in now. moves. Eldridge-MindiPhoto by Z. Thaxton. eta ended up winning the competition, as he wowed the crowd with his head handstand. At last, the pep rally finished off with the traditional class chant. Despite the underclassmen being the majority of the crowd, they were eliminated first. The seniors ended up winning the chant, going home remembering the final moments of their last homecoming pep rally. While Robinson students had a blast at their second pep rally of the year, The Student Government Association (SGA) is always looking for ways to improve. “I definitely think the pep rally could’ve been better, but I’m ready to improve things for the next one,” Senior Class President Sara Gainer (‘23) said.

Mia Sanger (‘23) cheering in the Senior section with her classmates. She had a front row seat to watch the activites. “My favorite thing at the pep rally was the wheel barrow game. It was really funny and impressive to see how fast people were able to go,” Sanger said. Photo by C. Rodriguez E.J. Archield (‘25) and Kelis Coleman (‘25) enter the gym for the welcoming of the Homecoming Inner Court. Photo by G. Hilton.

Jonah Irwin (‘23) and Hailey Green (‘23) walk together in the Homecoming fashion show wearing pieces from the PTSA dress dive. Photo by A. Miller.

Meet the 2022 Robinson High School Homecoming Inner Court

King Kassim Johnson (‘23) Photo by G. Hilton

Prince Wilton Rollins (‘24) Photo by C. Cheng Queen Katejion Robinson (‘23) Photo by A. Stearns

Princess Tammy Jerson (‘24) Photo by C. Cheng Oscar Poland (‘23) Photo by Z. Thaxton

Duke E.J. Archield (‘25) Photo by Z. Thaxton Sara Gainer (‘23) Photo by G. Hilton

Duchess Kelis Coleman (‘25) Photo by Z. Thaxton Juno Le (‘23) Photo Courtesy of Matt Moreno

Count Mickah Graham (‘26) Photo by Z. Thaxton Giselle Denson (‘23) Photo Courtesy of Matt Moreno

Countess Ma’Leya Thompson (‘26) Photo by Z. Thaxton

Monday: Little Miss/Mr. Tuesday: Soccer Moms v. BBQ Dads Wednesday: Workout Thursday: Dynamic Duo/Trio Friday: Break It Down Brandon

A Homecoming (K)night in the Enchanted Forest

By JUNO LE & GRACE HILTON

Hands are up and heels are off. The dance floor erupts in a sweaty pile of jumping and dancing.

Robinson High School held its 2022 Homecoming dance on Sept. 24 in the Saunders Pavillion of ZooTampa (Lowry Park Zoo) to celebrate the victorious football game against Brandon High School the night before. The theme was previously announced by the Student Government Association (SGA) on their Instagram—Enchanted Forest.

Attendees danced the night away to songs inspired by the collaborative Spotify playlist SGA shared. Two photo stations were open as a means of memorabilia of this year’s homecoming dance. To see photos from the dance, check out knightwriters.org.

Unidentified child crowd surfs under the purple LED lights of the venue. Photo by G. Hilton.