Aureus Vol 1, Issue 2 by SPA Publications

Aureus

the feature magazine of The Rubicon St. Paul Academy and Summit School Volume 1, Issue 2 April 2016

AUREUS • Inspired

CONTENTS

THE SCIENCE OF INSPIRATION

INSPIRING PLACES IN THE TWIN CITIES

EATING DISORDERS: MOTIVATION OT RECOVER

DANGERS OF THINSPIRATION

“PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY”

ISABELLA STAR LABLANC’S CBS DIVERSITY CASTING

INSPIRING MUSIC

POLITICAL FIGURES SHAPING AND INSPIRING STUDENTS

STUDENTS’ INSPIRING QUOTES

“MY DOG”

GENERATIONAL INSPIRATION

DR. HODGES’ MINNESOTA HUMANITIES GRANT

MS. OLGUIN’S WRITING INSPIRATION

THE STEM SIDE OF INSPIRATION

“THE SUN WILL ALWAYS SHINE ON HIM”

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Although students hear this sentiment quite frequently, it’s true that we’re all lucky to go to a school that’s full of bright and passionate people. It’s in these people, in each other, that we find the inspiration that we channel into our work and ideas, in and out of the classroom. Inspiration is omnipresent; it’s created by and influences everyone. Therefore, it’s only fitting to have the last issue of the year focus on inspiration. I hope that these stories not only showcase various facets of inspiration and its roles in peoples’ lives, but also that they motivate you to continue pursuing your passions. There’s nothing more inspiring than someone chasing after and engaging in something. Creativity and inspiration are part of a cycle: our actions are a product of inspiration which in turn inspire others. So, keep writing, creating, thinking, learning, helping, working, pursuing ... and continue to feel inspired by those around you. - Amodhya Samarakoon Editor-in-Chief

POLICY

Each story in Aureus is produced in a reporting team comprised of The Rubicon staff members, with each being designated as the designer, photographer, or writer of a story package. The magazine is produced using digital SLR cameras and Adobe Creative Suite 6. Some creative work not produced by The Rubicon staff members is included in the magazine. These pieces belong the author of the work and cannot be reprinted without their permission. 400 copies of the magazine were published by Ideal Printing and distributed for free on the Randolph campus.

STAFF LIST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amodhya Samarakoon ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mari Knudson DESIGNERS Diane Huang Stephanie Li Amodhya Samarakoon Javier Whitaker-Castañeda Mari Knudson Clare Tipler Jonah Harrison

PHOTOGRAPHERS Emily Thissen Iya Abdulkarim Webster Lehmann WRITERS Mimi Geller Isabel Saavedra-Weis Amodhya Samarakoon Jack Benson Andrew Johnson Noor Qureishy Peter Blanchfield Emily Thissen Jasper Green

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The uncanny ability of humankind to draw upon its surroundings for inspiration Breathe in, breathe out. The word “inspire” is derived from the Latin word “inspirationem” which means to breathe upon or into. Being inspired by someone, something or someplace evokes emotions of elation, much like how chests rise when deep breaths are taken in. Aside from the functional component of inspiration, many scientists have recently begun explaining and researching how the body and mind interact when inspired. Inspiration

DESIGNER: Amodhya Samarakoon

translates into feelings of happiness as dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is released by the brain. With regards to ideation of creativity, inspiration is not solely the source of this creativity, but rather the motivational response. Feelings of elation when inspiration occurs ignite the energy that allows for creativity. Psychiatrist Benita Dieperink, a St.Paul Academy and Summit School parent, explains the implications of receiving a reward when inspired.

by Mimi Geller

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“Dopamine is associated with motivation and happiness. It propels us to do things that we believe will bring reward. The emotion of inspiration is associated with our dopamine creation. The experience inside our minds of being inspired by something looks like activity and neurons activating reward pathways,” Dieperink said. In a study conducted by Scientific American, people were tested to solve insight problems and analytical problems at different peak times throughout the day. In terms of timing, it is often accepted that attention-demanding activities like taking an exam are performed best at people’s optimal time of the day, which varies from person to person. People generally receive their best results with analytical problems when distraction is avoided. However, the susceptibility to distraction that occurs during one’s non-optimal time of day can actually help to generate answers for insight problems. Dieperink explains how, during offpeak times, people are less focused, so a wider scope of outside influence is considered. “I think that theory is so interesting in terms of how our brains can put things together in a new way creatively with a lot of different points of information ... but it can put together a new and important way when we’re relaxed,” she said.

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This susceptibility to outside influence carries implications towards how inspiration is a social phenomenon. People inspire each other. Inspiration pathways in the brain are associated with an increased creation of dopamine. Dopamine relates to reward. The neurons in the brain that are using the dopamine from feeling inspired also enjoy feeling a sense of reward. Since this reward in the neurons originates from receiving dopamine from inspiration pathways, feeling inspired from each other biologically fosters emotions of accomplishment. In addition, the brain contains mirror neurons which emulate how other people are behaving in a given environment. How other people act directly impacts how observers feel. How others inspire often reflect what another person does. These mirror neurons are activated when inspirational activity occurs in a given environment. “That’s an example of how the brain is picking things up all the time. When you walk into a room and the vibe may not feel good, your body and mind register that almost immediately. We’re picking up things all the time... a lot of that has to do with inspiration. When our brain is sorting through all those things, it’s new connections that are really helpful. There’s a lot that we criticize just to try and be in the present moment, deal with the task at hand, so in terms of inspiration it also energizes our bodies. It’s a thought in the brain that translates to particular sensations,” Dieperink said. Inspiration is a mind-body experience. There is beauty in the knowledge that observing inspirational acts can directly impact how individuals feel. Researchers Lauri Nummenmaaa, Enrico Glereana, Riitta Harib, and Jari K. Hietanen, studied how emotions directly impact the body. Participants were asked to color in regions of the body where they felt sensations after viewing emotional stories, movies, pictures or words. The study showed that what is often described as happines is true, resulting in sensations felt all over. This body map for happiness included the coloring of sensations almost throughout the entire body with particular attention to the chest and face region. Since the creation of dopamine is associated with emotions of happiness and motivation, the inspiration that prompts that dopamine brings sensations throughout the body. The compulsion to feel inspired after viewing others’ inspiring actions brings sensation to the brain and the body. To be inspired is to be contagious with inspiration.

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PLACES IN THE TWIN CITIES by Emily Thissen

DESIGNER: Stephanie Li

PHOTOGRAPHER: Emily Thissen

The environment influences creativity and intellectual pursuit. Where do students go to feel inspired?

Lake Harriet

“

There is this place with this tiny little elf door built into a tree...it triggers an emotional appeal to further my ideas and I find it very empowering. - 9th grader Sharee Roman

Lake Harriet is one of several urban lakes that offers a taste of nature in the city. Roman goes there for imaginative inspiration.

Orfield Laboratory “

There is a chamber where there is no sound and it is -9 decibels in there. I had been reading stories about it and I passed it one time so I went inside. - 9th grader Sharee Roman

Orfield Laboratories offers testing and research services. After visiting the chamber, Roman was inspired by the limitless possibilities in science.

AUREUS • Inspired Senior Ella Matticks enjoys visiting the Walker Art Center because its contemporary visual arts and design exhibitions challenge her creativity.

Walker Art Center

“

It has continuously evolving art that tackles different concepts, and as a young artist, it’s sparked a lot of ways I see modern art and my own work. - Senior Ella Matticks

The Dorothy Day Center is a part of the Catholic Charities in the Twin Cities.

“

[The Dorothy Day Center] shows that people care for each other and the idea of bringing people together to do good is very powerful. - Sophomore William Welsh

Dorothy Day Center 8

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ARMED WITH DRAGON SKETCHES, SUPPORT FROM LOVED ONES, AND TAP SHOES Alumna share their eating disorder recovery experiences and what inspired them to fight by Andrew Johnson For young people across America, eating disorders are viewed as a crippling, life altering illness. According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), there exists no concrete answer to what actually causes an eating disorder. However, sociocultural, physiological, and biological factors generally contribute to the disorder. ED, while prevalent in younger people, can affect both men and women of any ethnicity or age. The struggles that come with the disorder can often overshadow the inspiring stories of recovery. However, this path to recovery has many important aspects to it, starting with the support of family and friends. For Victoria Guest (‘14), a 20 year old art major at the University of Minnesota who was diagnosed with anorexia her senior year at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, and Maggie Vliestra (‘16), an 18 year old freshman at Barnard College who was also diagnosed with anorexia in high school, family provided essential inspiration. “Family and friends are a big help to me, but it can be very difficult at first to open up to family and friends for support simply because ED makes you feel so very alone and isolated, and there’s a lot of stigma surrounding mental health in general,” Guest said. Vliestra names several people in her life who were helpful: “My parents were very supportive of my recovery, and I also relied on a couple of close friends. I am so grateful to them for their support. I also cannot speak highly enough of Ms. Short. She was very helpful to me while I was struggling,” Vliestra said. Guest relied on a small circle of people: “My mom has been a major source of support for me and has been very willing to help and learn more about what to say or how to say it when it comes to body image and mealtime support. My friends in and out of treatment have been helpful too, both as people I can vent or process to or as distractions. My best friend, let’s call her Cat, has been with me though the worst of my ED all through now, and has been really great for distracting me from difficult thoughts,” she said. For people experiencing ED, the motivation to do what they have always wanted fuels them to fight the disease head on. “One other thing that keeps me inspired and on track is

DESIGNER: Jonah Harrison

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ILLUSTRATIONS: Victoria Guest

reminding myself that there are so many things I haven’t tried and want to, whether they be foods or places to travel or bucket list stuff like swimming with sharks. I can’t do any of that if I let my ED drag me down,” Guest said. Recovery is worth it. “Recovering from my ED was very difficult and came with a lot of pain, but I also came out of the experience a much stronger and more self-assured person. I’m driven by my desire to be truly happy, and I knew that my eating disorder was in the way of my happiness,” Vliestra explained. Often, hobbies and interests serve as inspiring coping mechanisms essential to recovery. “I found that diving into my activities provided me with a good distraction from my eating disorder. Working on theater always helped me channel my energy somewhere else, and I have continued to do that in college, Vliestra said. “I also tap dance a lot, which is a wonderful distraction.” Guest said that “Anyone who knows me can attest that I am constantly drawing dragons and other crazy creatures. And sharing music was a great way to bond in treatment but also to improve my mood. Some of my favorites in treatment (and still today) included AWOLNation, Fall Out Boy, Florence + the Machine, Banks, Of Mice & Men, Imagine Dragons, and Bastille.” Those recovered from or in recovery often have words of encouragement for others experiencing ED, and Guest and Vliestra have some wisdom to share.

“

I would tell anyone who is struggling that the worst thing to do is to keep it to yourself. It’s difficult to be vulnerable and reach out to others but eating disorders feed on solitude and secrecy.” -Maggie Vliestra (‘16)

“I would tell anyone who is struggling that the worst thing to do is to keep it to yourself. It’s difficult to be vulnerable and reach out to others, but eating disorders feed on solitude and secrecy. Tell someone you trust, and get the help you need. Also, don’t ever blame yourself,” Vliestra said. Whether struggling yourself or seeing signs in others, getting the help is essential. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, “National surveys estimate that 20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives.” This means that this issue more prevalent in the U.S. than many believe, and getting the proper care and support is an essential step on the road to recovery. As Vlietstra said, “Don’t feel ashamed of it. It’s a result of factors completely out of your control. It feels really impossible to see any escape from it when you’re struggling, but it will get better. And when you’re on the other side of it, you’ll be so glad you sought help.” Guest believes recovery is inspired by a belief in yourself and a deep connection to others: “While I stand by self love and self care I also think it’s incredibly important to remember when you’re struggling that other people care. Reach out; you’d be surprised how often someone has had similar struggles or empathizes and wants to see you get better. Remember you’re not alone and there is always hope. It gets better and you are worthy of it all.”

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RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT Family - trusted family members can not only connect you to medical and psychological professionals, but can serve as a central source of support. Friends - can be a tremendous resource for not only understanding but distraction. Primary doctor - can determine and treat the medical implications of an ED, in addition to connecting you to resources. Therapist or counselor - whether it’s a private therapist or Ms. Short, a therapist can be central in helping get to the core of the disorder, and help with the healing process. NEDA help line (1-800-931-2237) The Emily Program (888-364-5977) The Melrose Center (800-828-8158)

12 by Emily Thissen

DESIGNER: Jonah Harrison

Dangers of THINSPIRATION AUREUS â&#x20AC;¢ Inspired

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Scrolling through the Instagram explore page, one is sure to find photos from profiles deemed “Thinspiration accounts” with #thinspo or #fitspo written in each caption. Thinspiration is the idea that photos of extremely thin people (many times unhealthily thin) will inspire health and fitness. While thinspiration is mainly about thin females, there are corresponding “buff ” accounts for males. But, the body types being promoted are not realistic for most body types and the false expectations created by #thinspiration can be harmful. The hashtag itself, #thinspiration, was banned from Instagram in April 2012 in an effort to remove the promotion and glorification of selfharm from the image based social media site. Although the hashtag was banned, thinspiration accounts still exist en masse on Instagram and there are many loopholes, including the shorter #thinspo that fans of the trend have begun to use. Many of the accounts post photos of people with abs and thigh gaps, creating a sense that that is the ideal body type and reinforcing an unhealthy social expectation. Similarly, many pages also include their current weights vs. their goal weights, their daily caloric intake, before/after photos, and other examples of potentially detrimental behavior. According to an article from Shape magazine, the president and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, Lynn S. Grefe, MA, calls the thinspiration trend “Very, very, dangerous,” pointing out the fact that “eating disorders are biologically based, psychiatric illnesses, and these sites promote being sick and staying sick.” Anastasia Amore, who is now a self-love coach, recounts her struggle with an eating disorder on her website: “One day, two of the girls in my class began to send me hurtful messages on MSN messenger about my weight, and sent me thinspo (thinspiration) websites to look at—telling me that maybe I could get a boyfriend if I looked ‘normal’,” Amore writes. This is a first hand example of how thinspiration creates harmful ideals. Amore has now recovered and aims to help people get better and love their bodies. Thinspiration is a very real problem that, even after concrete steps by companies like Instagram, exists all over the internet. It is important to realize that, as tempting as it may be to look at the accounts, these images are more likely to cause physical and mental damage than inspire wellness and happiness. It is essential to be inspired by relationships, activities, ideas, and inner beauty, because appearance should never be diminished to a hashtag or photo.

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The Persistence of Memory

DESIGNER: Amodhya Samarakoon

by Anna Commers The clocks melt. Unconfident of exactly what time it is, Generally what day, year, holiday it is. Doubtful of whether relatives are alive, Or dead or relatives at all. Unsure what is in the foreground, And what is in the rearview mirror. Memories from a child are fresh Produce ready to be picked. Memories from an old woman are leftover Seeds never to be planted. The clocks melt. The brains melt.

DESIGNER: Amodhya Samarakoon

Poem and page design inspired by Salvador Dali’s painting, “The Persistence of Memory”

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LaBlanc launches career as inspiring actor

DESIGNER: Javier Whitaker-Castañeda

Isabella LaBlanc (‘15) is paving her way through a career choice that had been calling her name loud and clear for a while. “I knew that this is what I wanted to do by the time I was a junior, and I knew that after I graduated I wanted to explore what it meant to be an actor when I didn’t have to balance it with school,” she said. LaBlanc is currently working full time as an actor. “[It’s] crazy, and weird, and incredibly fulfilling. It’s really like having a million different jobs at once, all of which lead me to be able to play and dress up. I’ve worked pretty steadily since I graduated, in both theatre and on-camera, and have been incredibly lucky to work with amazing people and artists who always keep me on my toes and always push me just enough out of my comfort zone,” LaBlanc said. LaBlanc has been acting for many years; the first play she was cast in was “Little Birdie that was Caught: The Story of Jane Gibbs” which performed at the Steppingstone Theater when she was eight years old. Since then, she has found herself hooked on the career of pretending.

SUBMITTED by: Isabella LaBlanc

by Isabel Saavedra-Weis

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“At first it wasn’t at all about being a career path; it was just something I loved to do. But there comes a point when you invest so much of yourself into something you can’t really turn back. After years of constantly searching for the next time I could be onstage or on-camera it was pretty clear that we’d passed the point of it being just a hobby,” LaBlanc said. LaBlanc immersed herself in theater and film productions as often as she could while juggling school. But once she graduated, she wanted to experiencing acting with no other distractions. Her break from school paid off. LaBlanc auditioned for the CBS Diversity Casting: a program to give typically underrepresented actors (such as people of color or LGBTQ+ community members) and workshop of how Hollywood and the Los Angeles acting industry works. The casting was open nationally, and 14-16 people were accepted into the program. “All together it was about a three month audition process, starting with a taped audition, then taking me to Chicago for a callback and finally LA when I was selected for the program. Three months sounds like a long time, but it definitely didn’t feel like it,” she said. Just this Thanksgiving, LaBlanc received an important call from the CBS Diversity Institute, securing the deal that LaBlanc was selected for the program. “I remember getting off the phone and sitting in a sort of stunned silence. I can honestly tell you that I wasn’t expecting this to happen. This initiative was on such a huge scale, being a national call, that I didn’t even really consider that I would make it. The fact that I did still amazes

me. I think I’m still processing all these weeks later; check back with me in six months and maybe things will have sunk in by then,” LaBlanc said. LaBlanc traveled out to LA, and was greeting with new faces, new information and new opportunities. “The CBS opportunity was like a crash course in the LA industry. I have been fairly sheltered in the sense that I have exclusively worked in Minnesota, it’s a whole different world out there in LA. I got to meet and work with so many amazing people who know that industry well and how to be successful there,” she said. LaBlanc looks forward where this accomplishment will take her: “I’m excited for the opportunities that have been opened and that I get to start this new journey as I transition to working in other markets. It’ll be a busy year.” But the CBS Diversity Casting was not only a way for LaBlanc to learn more about an industry she didn’t know much about before and make leaps in her acting career. It was also a way for her to start making a difference in what kind of people appear in media. “As a Dakota person I come from a people who, for generations, have used stories to teach. We tell stories to represent a way of life and a way of being ... But mainstream media makes very little room for Native stories and instead we’ve had a lot of stories told to us. Most of the time we are excluded from the narratives being told, and the very few times we are represented it’s inaccurately. What does it teach a kid if the only time you see yourself on TV is as a caricatured mascot?” LaBlanc said.

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Isabella LaBlanc (‘14) has makeup applied before being filmed as part of a CBS casting initiative. LaBlanc was one of 14-16 people who were accepted into the nationally competitive program. “This initiative was on such a huge scale, being a national call, that I didn’t even really consider that I would make it. The fact that I did still amazes me,” LaBlanc said.

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(Continued from p. 16) LaBlanc very rarely saw anyone like herself on her own television, and when she did, she did not see a positive light being shined on them. “I grew up watching old westerns from the 70s. They’re comically bad, with lots of white actors in horrible black wigs speaking in broken English. It’s easy to wonder why, as a kid, I would have any interest in these movies, but I loved them and

watched them repeatedly because I got to see Indians on a screen. I knew my people’s history, but it felt like the rest of the world never talked about us, so I latched onto the little bit of representation Westerns gave me, even if it meant watching Indians get killed over and over again.” Having camera time with other people of color and minorities during the CBS casting was also something that inspired LaBlanc to keep acting.

“The other actors are amazing and we quickly became very close. It was such gift to get to learn from my fellow actors. They were all older, and wiser than me, and were so generous with their advice and mentorship. I have an incredible support system of actors going on this journey with me,” LaBlanc said. LaBlanc was given a big opportunity with the CBS Diversity Institute, but she knows that she can’t take a break now. “CBS has basically said, ‘Here. We believe in you, we like you, and so we’re going to give you some really great groundwork ... But now that we’ve given you this boost, it’s your job to do the work to carry it forward and really make things happen.’ So now I’m in work mode, doing pretty much the same stuff I was doing before, but now thinking on a much larger and more immediate scale,” she said. She looks up to many as she paves her way down a very lightly beaten path, but it seems that at this rate, LaBlanc will be giving a voice to those who have been silenced, showing representation to those who have felt invisible, and inspiring all who had to overcome and work so much to achieve their dreams.

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STUDENTS SHARE THE MUSIC THAT INSPIRES THEM TO SWIM, DANCE, AND WRITE 9th grader Cesar Gallagher’s Playlist - Rap Eminem - Rabbit Run Lil Dicky - The Antagonist

DESIGNERS: Amodhya Samarakoon and Diane Huang

Eminem - Lose Yourself “Rappers rap about all the hard work they have done to succeed in the rap game. I can relate to [this] because I have put the work in everyday and dedicated most of my life to swimming.”

I want to listen to a playlist that’s ... emotional intense braggadocius swagger laid back focused

Senior Sonia Sukumar’s Playlist - EDM Zara Larsson -Lush Life The Chainsmokers - Roses Michael Jackson - Lose Yourself “They inspire me to dance the most because my dance teacher usually plays these types of songs.”

upbeat energizing simple complex positive simple

Sophomore Olivia McCauley’s Playlist - Indie, Alternative Lehra Palmer - Veins Futanari Masterace - Roses Ams - Blue “I want a song to feel so addictive that my chest lurches when it starts and I don’t feel blank when it’s done.”

ethereal calming dream pop electronic evocative complex

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Political figures inspire through dedicated service by Noor Qureishy Seniors Cole Staples, Henry Ziemer, and Sarah Wheaton; junior Ben Konstan; and sophomore Olivia McCauley share the political figures that inspire them. Being able to inspire and mobilize the masses is one of the hallmarks of a leader — while the specifics of a political ideology or speaking style may vary, every admirable political figure possesses that rare gift of inspiration, expressed through their commitment to service. What inspires students about these officials comes in many forms: the way Barack Obama carries himself, Walter Mondale and Dwight Eisenhower’s empathy, Hillary Clinton’s perseverance, and Emily Anne Staples’ dedication. Emily Anne Staples, a Minnesotan senator from the early ’70s and senior Cole Staples’ grandmother has long been a source of inspiration for him because of her dedication to the issues that mattered to her

and not just the party politics that notoriously grip the U.S. government today. “She was a Republican for a good part of her life but she changed in the ’60s because of issues like abortion and nuclear proliferation...she’s inspired me with [her] long term dedication to what matters to [her],” Staples said. Walter Mondale, former Minnesota state senator and vice president of the United States, and Dwight Eisenhower, former president of the United States are also politicians that Staples admires because of their empathy and their roles in pushing forward civil rights legislation in the ’60s and ’70s. “[Dwight D. Eisenhower] continued [former U.S. president] Harry Truman’s trend of beginning to commit more thoroughly to civil rights.” - senior Cole Staples

“[People like Mondale have] given up a large portion of their lives to help people who can’t make it better themselves,” he said. “[Eisenhower also] continued [former U.S. president] Harry Truman’s trend of beginning to commit more thoroughly to civil rights.” Junior Ben Konstan values former U.S. Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s integrity, along with her perseverance, as an indicator of her strength as an individual. “I look at all of these figures through the lens of service. This is an important quality for me as I am interested in pursuing a career as a civil servant after college.” - senior Henry Ziemer Portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1965 (Public Do-

“If everyone fought with as much intensity, with as much passion, with as much care as she did, everyone would be able to do better for themselves,” he said. Senior Sarah Wheaton’s admiration for Clinton is also based on Clinton’s perseverance, along with her symbolic value as a woman in “If everyone fought with as much intensity, with as much passion, with as much care as [Hillary Clinton] did, everyone would be able to do better for themselves.” - junior Ben Konstan

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your day to day life, even if things seem more difficult, the idea that there’s somebody who’s going to overcome it all is sort of inspirational,” Wheaton said. “[She] made me think that being inspirational doesn’t mean being a huge personality...there’s inspiration from the fact that she figured out how to be the person she wanted to be — even if that meant not compromising herself, but giving a different version of herself.” Another big-name Democrat both Konstan and Wheaton admire is former president Barack Obama. Konstan sees Obama as an inspirational figure because of his class and charisma. “[Obama is] just class personified,” Konstan said. “He is both someone you would want leading your country and someone you would want to spend time with... he seems like a genuinely good person who cares and is doing the best he can.” Wheaton agrees. “My inspiration from [Obama] was more about his patience... and how, despite the fact that sort of everybody was against him, he kept plodding along and kept trying to get things done,“ she said. “[Hillary Clinton] made me think that being inspirational doesn’t mean being a huge personality... there’s inspiration from the fact that she figured out how to be the person she wanted to be — even if that meant not compromising herself, but giving a different version of herself.” - senior Sarah Wheaton

Fair use image courtesy of hillaryclinton.com

DESIGNER: Diane Huang

politics. “In the back of my head there was always this idea that [Clinton] would be president at some point and there’s this idea that if a woman can be president then a woman can do anything else too,” Wheaton said. Wheaton saw herself in Clinton’s struggle throughout her political career and her tendency to never give up. Through her actions and public persona, Clinton taught Wheaton that being inspirational doesn’t necessarily mean having a loud personality. “As you go about

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AUREUS • Inspired Olivia McCauley doesn’t find the vast majority of politicians inspirational, but she does believe that political figures who are bipartisan in their efforts to seek justice and who strive to find a common middle ground are admirable. “[I value] a medium: a mixture between the two that’s more balanced and more reasonable because splitting into small polarized groups... only creates more polarization so I hope that people will start to value a more common middle ground,” she said. Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is an example of an individual McCauley finds inspirational. “I liked that [Sanders] called people out on his side as well as Trump’s side because so much of political discussion is this side versus the other side... he brought a more generalized criticism to all politicians,” she said. Along the same vein, Staples asserted that his views on inspiration come from politicians from both main parties that strive to improve the quality of life for the people around them. “[Among Republican politicians], there have been and there continue to be very admirable figures that we “I like that [Bernie Sanders] called people can all look up to regardless of their political party or ideology out on his side as well as Trump’s side because they’ve striven to because so much of make life better for as many political discussion is this side versus people as they can,” he said. the other side...he brought a more Whether students are generalized criticism to all politicians.” inspired by numerous - sophomore Olivia McCauley politicians or just a handful, all have shown that inspiration can come in any form and in any way. For politicians in particular, those that show admirable strength of character, dedication to service, and a maturity that allows them to transcend party politics are able to tap into this elusive quality.

But, more generally, politicians inspire others through their commitment to civil service and bipartisanship. Senior Henry Ziemer is inspired by older politicians that are personally committed to service like Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the United States Forest Service; Sukarno, the First President of Indonesia; Anwar Sadat, the Third President of Egypt; and Robert Gates, the former Secretary of Defense under both the George W. Bush and Obama presidencies. “I look at all of these figures through the lens of service. This is an important quality for me as I am interested in pursuing a career as a civil servant after college,” Ziemer said. “[These individuals], at different points throughout their lives, placed themselves and their careers at risk for the sake of their countries.” Sophomore

Fair use image courtesy of berniesanders.com

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QUOTES THAT INSPIRE

Junior Noa Carlson: “If we don’t come into a conversation with the intent to understand, then what’s the point of the conversation at all? ... the point of a conversation is not to hear your own voice, but rather hear the perspective of another.”

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Illustrations by Stephanie Li and Diane Huang

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” - Stephen Covey

“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’” - Kurt Vonnegut Senior Ivan Gunther: “It reminds me of two principles that are fundamental to my personal philosophy: 1. We’re all small, temporary, and insignificant; 2. When you really think about it, the world, in all its grotesquerie, is pretty frickin’ funny.”

DESIGNER: Stephanie Li

Senior A.M. Roberts: “As someone who deals with anxiety, this quote has helped me realize how important and worthwhile it is to face your fears.”

“Pain is temporary, GPA is forever.” - SPA senior Tommy Dicke Junior Nikolaus Elsaesser: “Inspires me to work hard at my academics in times of stress and heartbreak during the school year.”

“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!’” - Audrey Hepburn Junior Sorcha Ashe: “It reminds me to seek possibilities in everything.”

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My Dog by Hendrie Grant A Basset hound with glossy coat unusual her parentage. Some people have to stifle laughs I play with her Appreciate your pets

DESIGNER: Amodhya Samarakoon

Our canine friends, they love us most of all. Their boundless energy, adoring eyes. My Buddy is the best of all, ferocious love and passion She does look goofy though, her fur like splotchy blobs of paint, the deepest black on grey and disproportionate, her legs to length. She looks unique, I love her most of all but she was left behind like many other hounds. I rescued her, My Dog

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GENERATIONAL INSPIRATION There’s no place like home to find mentors and heroes DESIGNER: Amodhya Samarakoon/Emily Thissen

by Mimi Geller

A.M. Roberts finds inspiration from her two older brothers, currently serving in the military.

“I know they are putting in a lot of hard work right now so whenever I’m going through a rough time I just think ... if they can do that I can do whatever is tough for me.” - Senior A.M. Roberts

PHOTO SUBMITTED by: A.M. Roberts PHOTO EFFECTS by: Diane Huang

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“[My mom’s] such a wonderful woman and I would be very lucky if I was like her in any way at all. She’s very dedicated to whatever she does.” - 9th grader Sydney Therien

inspiration support

love

encourage role model

Family creates a foundation. With parents, siblings and relatives as pillars, values and morals as steps, and exemplary actions as building blocks, the often subtle influences of inspiration seemingly fly by unnoticed. Much like a holistic structure, the removal of an important building block topples the construct; likewise the omission of inspiration within a family ruptures integrity and decency that is inherited from members’ influence. Inspirational behavior leaves its imprint on many careful listeners within a family. Nature and nurture are two components of upbringing that are in continual debate. Nature can be relatively defined as a person’s genetic inheritance of their characteristics, while nurture can be defined as differing environmental factors that influence a person’s behavior and beliefs. These factors come in many dimensions. Social factors like peer pressure influence people similarly to how family influences action. It is almost impossible to separate influence as being completely environmental or genetic. In reality, nature and nurture interact in complex forms that feed into a person’s physical traits, personality, and internal beliefs. Whether behavior stems from how we are raised, or whether our internal characteristics originate in our genetic makeup, students at St. Paul Academy and Summit School credit much

guidance

advice

influence

strength character

of their personality to inspirational members of their family. Senior A.M. Roberts credits a wide array of her interests and personality to her two older brothers: Daniel and Ryan. Roberts initially had an obsession with doing anything remotely similar to them when little; now, she reflects on how her brothers continuously inspire her to push boundaries. She originally started mirroring their actions by playing hockey, something she’s known for at SPA, being part of a team that’s finished second at state for the past two years. Her next interest connected to her brothers is music: playing guitar and singing. This passion stemmed from both her exposure to music and genetic inheritance because of how the physiological impact nature vs. nurture influences people. Currently, both of Roberts’ brothers serve in the military and although that isn’t the path she has set for herself, their choice to serve further increases her admiration of her brothers’ endless courage and impact. “Ever since I was younger I’ve looked up to them and I’ve done everything that they did. Now they’re both in the military and they really inspire me,” Roberts said. “I know they are putting in a lot of hard work right now so whenever I’m going through a rough time I just think about how my brothers must be going

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through a rough time in hard core military can inspire himself through my actions in a training. I just think if they can do that I can do way too,” Asis said. whatever is tough for me.” 9th grader Sydney Therien wishes to both Even with the distance between them, Roberts follow a similar career path as her mother and her brothers continue to inspire each other. and inherit the exemplary attributes Therien “When they were in boot camp they weren’t admires in her. “From my mom, it’s mostly allowed to have their phones so we’d write career things, but she’s such a wonderful letters back and forth, and in every letter I’d woman and I would be very lucky if I was like write about how inspirational they were. I her in any way at all. She’s very dedicated to remember one time my brother wrote back whatever she does,” Therien said. telling me that I’m an inspiration to him. One This past summer, Therien’s mother of the reasons he’s in the military is to protect battled and defeated cancer. The journey of his people and that includes his little sister,” seeing her mother act selflessly and fearlessly Roberts said. further affirmed Therien’s Hockey, music, endurance admiration. Much like when a “How I act and how and strength have marked structure temporarily loses its Roberts’ childhood thanks to strength and shape, it is more I behave and how I her older brothers. apparent that the necessity perform in school, I For sophomore Ethan Asis, of that missing component usually think is directly much of his inspiration stems is vital. Therien realized that correspondent with from his father. Asis believes without her mother, her how [my dad’s] treated that his father subtlety absence would deteriorate the me and how he’s raised very essence of her family’s serves as the backbone of his household. construct and the flow of me. I think he can “Trying to be passive and influence. inspire himself through listen to what other people “She’s just a really strong my actions in a way have to say, trying to take woman. She’s very smart. too.” initiative, getting what you She’s a doctor and that’s want done while not putting something I’d really like to Sophomore Ethan Asis yourself in front of others, do someday. She also battled guiding people to see things cancer over the summer, they way you want them to which was really hard for me see so they can understand where you’re coming to see her struggle through, but she was always from, and vice versa so you can see where other really strong and that’s always going to be people ... Those qualities are all things I hope to something I admire in her. I think it’d be really get from my dad,” Asis said. nice to lead a successful life that she can be Without his father’s presence, a central part proud of,” Therien said. of the construct of Asis’ family life momentarily Every ounce of motivation parents and stops; an aura of safety seems to return with his siblings exude gives an equal opportunity for company. those inspired to demonstrate their dedication. Asis testifies his correlation between If pillars represent the members of a holistic inspiration from his father and his own actions structure, the force of inspiration exerted by to make him proud. “How I act and how I preserving the family’s function equally and behave and how I perform in school, I usually consequently should receive inspirational think is directly correspondent with how he’s retribution. treated me and how he’s raised me. I think he

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Dr. Sushmita Hodges recieves grant to

DESIGNER: Clare Tipler

by Jack Benson

History often forgets the victims of colonization. Textbooks and curriculum avoid the perspectives of people caught up in the violent tide of genocide and cruelty that rides in its wake. Upper School History teacher Sushmita Hodges is working to share the untold stories from the oppressed and hidden people of history. Recently she received a grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center to work on anything related to the humanities. Hodges is using this grant to build curriculum and spread awareness of affected societies across the world. “I decided this year’s focus was on decolonizing minds and decolonization,” Hodges said. Hodges had worked with the Humanities Center before receiving the grant on topics relating to the hidden stories of history. “It’s through them that I have done a lot of work on the absent narrative pedagogy,” Hodges said, “and so I basically used that pedagogy to study and develop curriculum on human trafficking.” Hodges saw this grant as an opportunity to improve the history curriculum at St. Paul Academy and Summit School by implementing a wider view of colonization. America had a complicated and often

violent history, which can be hard to fully acknowledge. “We do everybody — ourselves and students — a disservice when we don’t talk about the fact that this country was built on colonization and genocide,” Hodges said. It’s also easy to brush off the problem, saying that it never happened in Minnesota and that all these problems took place in areas far away from us. Colonization is most often associated with European expansion into Africa and South America; however, the United States has colonization and genocide written deeply in its history. Unfortunately, Minnesota has a stained past, especially through the lens of the first nations people who lived here before the settlers came: the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes. Hodges plans to use the grant to help spread this awareness. “Knowing that where we sit today is a Dakota place. Knowing that the Dakota wars were fought here and the most sacred juncture of where their creation stories began for the Dakota was in Fort Snelling, which is where their genocide happened as well as their creation,” Hodges said. Hodges pointed out the blatant ignorance with an example that even at Fort Snelling, a location extremely relevant to Dakota history, intolerance for the sour history pervades. “And yet, you have people who rent Fort Snelling to celebrate birthdays and so forth and to commemorate the war through the lens of the white settlers coming in,” Hodges said. The sophomore classrooms of SPA will see these lessons in future years. The grant will serve as a tool to examine the more overlooked perspectives, and also localize some of the larger issues.

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“What I am trying to do is look at history through the lens of colonization and the impact with the genocide and looking at the impact on their society, the Ojibwe and Dakota society,” Hodges said. The grant will not go to waste, as Hodges prepares to do as much with the money as she can. This will mean bringing in some speakers who have experience with effects of colonization, which will serve to not just observe history from a distance, but to delve in head first and create a more involved learning experience. “If anything, my absent narratives pedagogy, thanks to the Humanities Center, has really made me recognize the importance of learning with and from the community, rather than just about them,” Hodges said. Experiencing history in diverse ways is a crucial component to this grant. Hodges spoke of going on a Bdote trip to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri river. This is the most sacred place to the Dakota people, and the location of the mounds and their burial sites. However, the landscape here has been severely altered by the construction of the highway and other development. The culmination of this led her to realize the overlooked place of the Dakota people. “Through the Bdote trip I have learned how important that connection is, the land,

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the relationship of your place to the people,” Hodges said. The curriculum Hodges is writing is not just about showing the struggle the Dakota and Ojibwe people went through, but also demonstrates the resilience and resistance of the groups of people who have undergone colonial distress. “We’re not just going to be relying on the victimhood of the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples; we’re going to look at them as a thriving community,” Hodges said. A lot can be learned from this undervalued perspective on history. In contemporary times, there are still remnants of issues with marginalized people. Hodges believes that we need to learn from other perspectives to be able to appreciate others and the world. “We just have to be aware of some of our own actions and really reflecting on them so that we recognize that our way or our world view is not the only one.” Hodges said. The funding for the grant comes in part from The Art of Youth Foundation and the arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We do everybody — ourselves and students — a disservice when we don’t talk about the fact that this country was built on colonization and genocide.

US History Teacher Sushmita Hodges

PHOTOGRAPHER: Iya Abdulkarim

pursue well-rounded diversity curriculum

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by Jasper Green Do what you love, and the inspiration will follow. That’s what Molly Olguin, an US English teacher, believes, and that’s why she writes. “All writing basically is is telling yourself a story, and I like telling myself a story that I really love,” Olguin said. For Olguin, writing is a basic and essential part of life, and she cannot imagine life without it. “I’ve literally always been writing, so asking ‘What does writing mean?’ to me is like asking, ‘Shat do your lungs mean to you?’ It’s just there. I’ve heard some writing advice in the past that said, ‘If you can imagine yourself being anything other than a writer, you should do that,’ and I wasn’t able to

imagine myself not writing... so here I am,” Olguin said. In college, Olguin chose to complete a creative writing thesis, and she wrote a book instead of a constructing a traditional dissertation. From college, she went into a Master of Fine Arts program for three years, where she wrote a collection of short stories as part of her advanced degree. “I don’t see genre as the only mode that can link stories together,” she said. “What I find interesting is stories that have similar concerns—one of them could be a horror story, one of them a science fiction—but they could all be thrown together in a book of short stories because underneath genre they have some of the same emotional features.” Currently, Olguin manages her time to plan, teach, and grade American Literature and English electives, as well as find time to work on her novel.

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“I spend as much time as I can writing. Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, and Lemonade, It’s a matter of coming home from school, the visual album, by Beyonce,” Olguin said. grading papers, and then finding the time to As some advice for other writers who dream work on my novel,” Olguin said. of greatness, Olguin shares that practice is Olguin enjoys surprising herself through the best way to become proficient. her writing when her plans change and her “Write. Instead of thinking, ‘Here’s all of ideas transform: “Sometimes when I write, the preparation I need to do before I write,’ my plans don’t turn out… something comes just write, every day if you can. You can’t up and surprises me. To me that’s really Sometimes when I write, my plans delightful, like, ‘Oh don’t turn out… something comes up my gosh, did I just and surprises me. To me that’s really tell that story? I’ve delightful, like, ‘Oh my gosh, did I just shocked myself,’” Olguin said. tell that story? I’ve shocked myself.’” Olguin asks her Creative Writing - US English teacher Molly Olguin students to name the last five stories that they loved, because what one loves can be a window into become an olympic swimmer if you don’t what type of story they are meant to write. do laps every day. You can’t become an “Stories can be anything: they can be books, amazing concert pianist if you don’t practice they can be movies, songs, video games... your scales. People think that they can just just the last five stories that you absolutely sit down and write a poem in one go, but in loved. You didn’t like it. You didn’t kind of order to become better you have to practice. enjoy it. You absolutely loved it. The last five Write stuff that’s dumb, stuff that fails. Write stories that I loved were The Unabridged De stuff that you don’t know where it will go, or Profundis by Oscar Wilde, The Young Pope what it’s even about,” Olguin said. on HBO, The play adaptation of Frankenstein by Danny Boyle, The Brief Wondrous Life of

Olgin had two short stories published in March: in River Styx Literary Magazine and in Fugue Literary Journal.

DESIGNER: Diane Huang

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Finding inspiration in science and math by Isabel Saavedra-Weis Greek mathematician Archimedes came up with the concept of water displacement as a way of measuring volume while he was in the public bath. As legend has it, upon his realization, he leapt up, yelling “Eureka! Eureka!” and ran all the way home unclothed. Archimedes’ tale is not the only legend of inspiration in math and science; just think about the story of an apple falling on Isaac Newton’s head. Not only are these stories about inspiration, but their lasting impressions demonstrate the inspirational power of math and science. For sophomore Isabel Dieperink, science is inspiring because it’s possible to know so much and so little at the same time.

1) Senior Sara Bohjanen’s research binder. Bohjanen conducts research on Cryptococcus neoformans.

2) Sophomore Isabel Dieperink

decorates her laptop with science stickers.

3) “One, Two, Three...Infinity” by George Gamow, a book about the fundamentals of science and math owned by sophomore Jeffrey Huang.

“In science, it always amazes me how much we know, and also how much we don’t know. Having the potential to research things amazes me,” Dieperink said.

Dieperink got into science at a young age. Her parents are both doctors, and she grew up in an environment filled with science-oriented people. “My parents did a lot when I was young to give me books about scientific things, like learning about animals. My mom tells me I like to memorize types of butterflies. They really encouraged me to read and learn about the world,” Dieperink said. When visiting the hospitals with her parents, Dieperink also thinks that the chance to help people is inspiring. “Getting to know people really well when they’re in a bad place, and seeing them be resilient is something I’m really drawn to,” Dieperink said. For senior Sara Bohjanen, science came into her life in a similar fashion to Dieperink. “I was inspired by science at an early age. I have only ever wanted to be a doctor, and when I was around six or seven, I would always sneak down and read my parents’ old medical school textbooks. I did not understand them, but I was intrigued by the pictures of the diseases, especially those on the skin. I also loved the models of interesting chemicals,” Bohjanen said. However, while Dieperink is inspired by people working in science, Bohjanen is more inspired by the potential inherent in science. “I am inspired by the science itself, not the scientists. [...] I am inspired by science because it provides infinite

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For sophomore Jeffery Huang, math offers a way of thinking that is peaceful to him. “Math inspires me because there is only one correct answer and it is beautiful in its simplicity. However, the process to get to the correct answer can be complex and challenging and requires clever thought,” Huang said. Although math is simple in the way that it has straight-forward solutions, Huang has immersed himself in math that is anything but simple. “I am currently learning multi-variable calculus and I hope to use math a lot in the future,” he said. Huang was intrigued by math at a young age when he stumbled upon the book The Math Curse. “On one of the pages was the Fibonacci sequence, which I did not know at the time. However, I was able to find the pattern in the numbers and was amazed. This was inspiring,” Huang said. Huang, along with Dieperink and Bohjanen, have found ways in math and science that give them reasons to be motivated. For anyone, math and science’s simultaneous complexity and simplicity can provide a beautiful starting point to inspiration.

“I am inspired by science because it provides infinite opportunities for humans to progress.” - senior Sara Bohjanen

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APHER: Diane Huang

opportunities for humans to progress, and I want to help further this progress,” Bohjanen said. Bohjanen works in a lab at the University of Minnesota, researching the chitin content of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. She sees the progress that science provides as a motivation, just as many see music or theater or art as inspiration. “I like art, but it does not inspire me to get out of bed in the morning,” she said. Dieperink, however, doesn’t feel the necessity to compare fine arts to science and math. “I don’t necessarily think of art and science as completely different things. I see a lot of blending in my life between all of those subjects,” she said. Not only does science inspire people just as much as art does, but science and art don’t have to be different. “I was out somewhere with my mom, and after that, we went to the Weisman museum, and they had this exhibit about the beautiful brain. And it was done by a man who wanted to be an artist, but his parents forced him to be a doctor. So, he drew neurons in detail. The museum was filled with all these beautiful pictures of neurons. So I think, in its own way, science and math and history can be an art,” Dieperink said.

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AUREUS • Inspired “I wrote this poem based on the immense impact my grandfather has had on me. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2003, and has been fighting it every day since. His resilience and fight is something I look up to each and every day.”

The Sun Will Always Shine On Him by Rahul Dev

It wasn’t always this way, he used to throw the ball with ease. The cane used to keep him standing all day, and keep him from skimming his knees. He showed me how to ride my bike, held me every rotation of the wheel. And every time my wheel caught a spike, He would carry me home, and cook a good meal.

DESIGNER: Amodhya Samarakoon

Then there were the walks, when he told me his story. For hours we would just move stride by stride and talk. It took me years before I recognized his glory. Soon each step became less clear. The floor beneath him seemingly invited him to a race. Leaving shattered bones and a single tear rolling down his face, It was clear that the tides had turned. He showed me he’s the strongest man I know. Even when his face is covered with a large burn, he smiles, an image that will always glow.

PHOTO SUBMITTED by: Rahul Dev

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You’re inspired: now what? By Isabel Saavedra-Weis If you feel it...

Capture it. Inspiration has no sense of time. And it’s the worst when inspiration hits in the middle of an inconvenient time, such as during a test, or in the middle of a really busy week. Inspiration boards (real or online), journals, or even in the notes section of a phone are all ways to make sure the inspiration isn’t forgotten, no matter how bad the timing.

When you are inspired by something...

Acknowledge it. Inspiration is a never ending trend because it’s contagious. Once someone feels inspired by someone and they make something out of it, they create something new that has the potential to inspire someone else. Inspiration is never ending. Feeling inspired is a great feeling, and there are many ways to spread the inspiration-love.

When you feel it...

If you feel it...

DESIGNER: Mari Knudson

Say it. Nothing feels better than someone praising you for work you have done, and telling you that you’re work has inspired them. If you are inspired by a person or a group of people, tell them. Seeing people care about your work, that the work is going farther than one person, is motivating, and just lengthens the road of inspiration for others.

Show it. If someone, something or some place is making you inspired, then use that inspiration to do something else. Inspiration from a senior speech can turn into a new way of thinking that can be spread to other people. Inspiration from a vacation place can turn into a pretty photo gallery, or an effort to change habits to keep nature green. Inspiration from a book can turn into keeping a journal or making a book club.