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editor-in-chief //
Allison Heithoff
copy editor //
Lily Yates
staff //
Maria Koliopoulos Hope Stratman Ava Dreessen Molly Gubbels Peter Quinn Robert Killgore Maria Miller Nessa Woosley Sam Wiegand Alaina Anderson Kayley Anderson Tom Hermanek Maddie Mollner Sam Klemme
advisor //
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Mr. Elliott
from the editor
Kaleidoscope is defined as a variegated changing pattern or scene; a succession of changing phases or actions; a diverse collection; something made up of many different aspects. This definition also accurately describes life: an always-changing, diverse compilation of the multi-faceted world around it. What we have done in this issue is attempt to look at the familiar people, places, and objects around us through a different lens and in a new light. Allow yourself to see the beauty and wonder in breaking free from the ordinary, to instead see all that is colorfully inspiring.
// Allison
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listen on spotify at FlightlineSCHS
fractal visions
playlist
by lily yates
foster the people // the angelic welcome of mr. jones kishi bashi // in fantasia dr. dog // swampedelic pop o k h o // long espresso mgmt // pieces of what
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neon indian // deadbeat summer michael cera // 2048 luke heffron // the future broadcast // come on let’s go odesza // koto the antlers // shh!
Impact ... from the people we will never forget //
Ava Dreessen
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identify //
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“How do you want to be remembered?”
It’s not difficult to blend like a grain of sand on the beach that is a catholic high school comunity. Ironically, these familiar words echo incessantly throughout halls that are filled with hordes of cookie cutter students, in the same uniform, going to the same classes. But, this rhetorical question expands far beyond the comprehension of the small fish in a big pond. Being remembered isn’t about the faux gold we bring home, the letter grades, or any other pomp and circumstance. It is more through giving ourselves to one another, the sharing of talents, memories, and passions that we could achieve being worth someone’s remembrance, passing on the things we learned from the people we will never forget.
impact // 6
fragmented faces
a realization long overdue sondering // a realization By: Hope Stratman
aaOn the average school day, you will pass hundreds of humans in these halls. They seem to blur aatogether. The boy from gym passes as you walk leisurely to your locker. Glasses gleam, a girl’s aaspringy hair flounces to your left. Bodies bumble in their rush. Faces, faces, faces. i Now, pause this scene. aaThe boy from gym adores drawing, but he only sketches deep into the night when sleep-aa aadeprived delirium frees his constrained imagination. The glasses belong to a freshman trying aato recall where he dropped his blue-ink pen, and the hair to a girl who finally aadecided to ask out the boy with glinting green eyes. So much fills up aathese bumbling bodies. More than you could ever comprehend. We tend to see ourselves as the protagonists of the oof the movie, the center axis around aawhich all other objects and persons spin. We are so caught up in our own ideas, entanglements, missteps, and attempts - our own intricacy - that we forget the aameaningless faces in the hall could ever harbor such thoughts and emotions. This realization was captured in 2012 when John Koenig created the word “sonder” for his Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. He defined it as “The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.”
aaThis aarealization, aawhen it finally hits you, is is aabreathtaking. The scale of sheer complexity and depth in this vast populous can never a be understood in full. We are all wisps of water that make up a river of humanity, never to be aaunmixed or unthought, only to continually bolster and break each other. We are the unfathomably, incoherently complex. And yes, we are all axes, but we do not orbit each other; aarather, we merely collide for a bit and provide the illusion of longevity. iSo sonder - coat yourself in awareness of the extent and complication of every axis, every flow in the river, every thread in the scarf. These humans are far more than faces in a hall. They are the diverse, the reflecting, the patterned, the fragmented.
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Just like you.
fragmented faces // 8
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Ocular
connected with the eyes or vision By: Molly Gubbels
Imagine a world so full of colors that no amount of effort could possibly classify them all. Imagine a world so full of majesty and wonder that the mere sight of it could bring a person to tears. Now, imagine that you could not see any of it. You rub your eyes and blink repeatedly, but the colors never come into focus. Our eyes are perhaps our most powerful weapon in an ongoing war against a metaphorical blindness. Perhaps the very first aspect that I notice about a person is their eyes, those beautiful orbs shaded by long, dark lashes. Eyes, in my experience, never lie. No matter the emotion or how deeply one tries to hide it, our eyes are the one thing that always reflect how we feel. Where our words lie, our eyes proclaim the truth. As the cliche goes, “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” and maybe you don’t believe that. Maybe to you they are simply a means for sight, but in a grand scheme of vision and life, our eyes are an immensely important feature.
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Transparency is a difficult attitude to master. Often, the easy way out of most situations lies in avoiding the authentic thoughts and feelings that course through our minds instead of solidifying them with words. Telling someone how we really feel or speaking up when we don’t feel right about something is not quite so clear-cut. Having the courage to admit when we are struggling and yielding up the trust to divulge our deepest thoughts and insecurities are not easy and straightforward matters. But life is not a perfectly clear, polished piece of glass. It is an intricately complex, fragmented collection of colors and pieces that beautifully come together to create who we are. Up close, stained glass is just a bunch of broken pieces of glass fit together in a random pattern. Yet when you step back, you do not see the individual irregularity and flaws of each piece, but rather the beauty of its entirety. The same is true for each of us. While at our core we have worries, imperfections, and insecurities, these individual struggles do not define us. People around us can view our collective beauty, not each individual aspect of our brokenness.
broken glass // 14
Even though stained glass is fixed in shape and design, that does not mean it looks the same all the time or does not have the ability to change. Light plays a huge part in illuminating individual pieces, while at the same time changing the colors and reflections that radiate through. As light shifts throughout the day, some pieces shine brighter than others, but even at night when the light is gone, every piece is still there. Some just aren’t seen quite as easily. As we go through our lives, we will experience a myriad of these phases, both light and darkness. In times of light, our best qualities and characteristics shine forth, outwardly apparent to both ourselves and those around us. As time goes on, those qualities may change as we discover new interests, talents, and passions. That doesn’t mean the old ones go away, it just means the new ones take focus. Even in times of darkness, when nothing seems to be going right and our overall outlook is low, those characteristics still remain. Stained glass is broken and flawed just as we are. Yet, it is also indescribably beautiful and mysterious like each and every one of us. It is simply a matter of how we decide to look at things.
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the art of constructing languages By: Kayley Anderson Reindeer. That was the first word I ever spoke, oddly enough, but if you know me well you probably aren’t all that surprised. I learned to speak just like all children do: by listening to the people around them. Our brains have an amazing capacity to learn language and find ways to communicate, even when language isn’t a common denominator. But have you ever wondered where l anguage came from, or if the languages you see in tv shows are more than just gibberish? While I can’t answer the first one for certain, though I’m assuming it evolved alongside the human race like many other fundamental characteristics of modern people, I can answer the second with a yes. These languages are what is known as constructed language, or simply a language one sets rules for and generates without the natural progression other languages have. Often, hybrid languages form from mulitple naural languages. They have a distinct sound sought after by fantasy writers and television producers. The famous Klingon language that originated in Star Trek is one constructed language.
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Even the language spoken in the movie Avatar was created by a single individual. Minion language is another example of a langauge created purely for entertainment use. Many have actually taken to studying these lnaguages and further developing their original rules. Yes, rules. As hard as it may be to believe that constructed languages have rules, they actually do. Klingon has conjugations and many others include grammar and punctuation like any other langauge would have. The intricacy of constructing a language has led many linguistic nerds to develop languages purely for a hobby, and as a way to learn more about how language functions and evolves. I myself dabbled in the art of contructed language and created a set of rules blending Spanish and English pronouncations. However, hobbies and entertainment aren’t the only use of constructed languages. Many have been crafted as a solution to international language barriers. Who knows- maybe one day these languages will help bridge racial divides, but until then there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun.
synthetic lanuage // 18
Synergy uniting differing techniques By: Alaina Anderson
Sitting on the outskirts of Omaha’s Old Market, a small art gallery can be easily overlooked. The seemingly dilapitated appearence can give the impression that the contents of the building are not for public viewing. However, once inside, vistors relaize that the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery is unlike any other location in Omaha because it unites over 20 different techniques through a single theme.
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synergy // 20
Artists’ Cooperative displays monthly exhibits that focus on a common a theme. Over 20 artists produce art centered around that theme, but it is produced in the artist’s own individual style. The result is a cohesive exhibit that contains many individually unique pieces. The exhibits show how individuality isn’t a negative attribute, rather it allows you to contribute in a way no one else can.
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your article // 19
Mula exquisite mexican cuisine in omaha's blackstone district by Tom Hermanek As I walked through the doors of this Mexican restaurant in a trendy Omaha neighborhood, I was greeted by eccentric lighting adorning brick walls. I took notice of an eloquent host stand, and when seated, a candle in an elaborate holder. From this point, I could tell that the story of this restaurant would be attention to detail. Mula's food is some of the best in town, and certainly the best Mexican cuisine in Omaha.
mula mexican cuisine // 22
Street corn charred sweet corn, roasted garlic mayonnaise, piquing, cotija, lime This treat will transport you from Omaha's Blackstone District to the streets of Tijuana. This slightly charred delicacy falls somewhere in between corn on the cob and a mild corn salsa. I truly enjoyed the melody of complementary flavors: the garlic mayonnaise mixing with the lime, plus the piquing (a delightful Mexican spice) make for quite the experience.
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Although it may not be traditional Mexican fare, the Ahi Tuna Tacos are certainly the most delectable of Mula's taco offerings. These tacos are served as a romaine lettuce shell filled with perfectly seasoned, fresh, and moist ahi tuna, which seems almost fit for a sushi restaurant. They're topped with Mula's house guacamole and pico de gallo with a sesame seed garnish. You've got to try these every bit as much as you've got to try Mula.
blackened ahi tuna, house guacamole, pico, sesame seeds, romaine wraps
Ahi tuna tacos [parilla guacamole bacon, grilled sweet corn, tomato, fresh chiles, green onion, cilantro The Parilla Guacamole, true to Mula's style, is truly unique. It's contents boast grilled corn, tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and most gloriously of all, bacon. The guacamole is served with fresh, house-made chips. This guac and chips combo is far more than an appetizer- rather, it could be a meal all on its own.
mula mexican cuisine // 24
blurred
distinguishing dream from reality
By: Maria Koliopoulos S o m e t i m e s . . . Sometimes I can’t tell a difference. Sometimes I wish I was always dreaming. ~B.S.H. I often find myself r e c a l l i n g events that never happened or conversations that n e v e r w e r e . ~R.E.S. D r e a m s are the medium by which our subconscious mind communicates with our conscious mind. ~M.J.W. My dreams have enabled me to process my emotions quite differently. I don’t know what I would do w i t h o u t t h e m . ~J.C.M.
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Life is so very long and so very short all at once. A s l e e p a w a k e a s l e e p a w a k e a s l e e p a w a k e . The average human does this for approximately 2 7 , 3 7 5 days and nights. Moments fragmented memories refracted it’s no wonder at all it becomes easy to forget what’s real and what isn’t. A second life lived through the night swims its way into the day.
A.M. throws light i n t o P.M. throws night i n t o all, whether conscious or not.
Does it help to forget which is which?
blurred // 26
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EXPRESSION showing ourselves through clothes By: Maddie Mollner
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The cluster of threads and hems that we as teenagers decide to drape upon ourselves express who we are. Colors can voice our mood and patterns can voice our personalities. The things we wear express our identity. Something so simple as a pair of socks or an accessory you’ve trademarked as your own can voice your personality better than words. Some spend a countless number of dollars on styles that fit in with the crowd. Others trek through vintage shops looking for outfits that speak for who they really are. Despite the impending pressure put on teenagers to fit in, some still manage to look past what is “in-season” and express themselves and their style in the best way they know how--fashion.
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Collection an assortment of extraordinary items By: Peter Quinn
Joe Bean has lived in a multitude of places. Outside of the various states he has lived in, he has inhabited different areas of Europe, as well as even living in Turkey for some time. Throughout his journey around the world, he has built up a collection of international currency.
// currency 31
vintage video games //
Skutt Catholic senior Isaac Poulin has amassed a large collection of Nintendo gaming gear, ranging from the ancient days before 2000 to present-day Nintendo consoles. While most students are playing their games on the most recent consoles, Isaac still enjoys throwing in his Nintendo 64 Zelda cartridge and playing the day away.
collection // 32
Miskidceptions childhood misconceptions
By: Nessa Woosley
As a child, the world seems to just make sense; anything is possible and the sky’s the limit. Sometimes kids misunderstand the world around them and it takes a little while to find reality. Every child grows up to discover the misconceptions of their younger self untrue. Siblings can be cruel sometimes. Ally Pachunka, junior, was convinced her tongue turned purple when she ate, so she’d take a bite and sprint to the mirror, only to be disappointed with her normal pinkish tongue staring back at her. Ross Kathol, senior, was more naive in his youth than even now. As an easily trusting child, he wholeheartedly believed his sisters when they told him that eating apples helps
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increase jumping height. So, almost constantly, one would see little Ross hopping up and down the sidewalk with a half-eaten apple in his right hand. Sometimes these childlike thoughts and ideas have no known source. Joe Bean, senior, truly thought the black market was an actual place. He thought criminals would set up booths and sell illegal contraband, like a bazaar. Joe as a child also wondered why the F.B.I. didn’t just storm the market and arrest everyone. For reasons unknown, a younger Ally Pachunka also believed that cars came from water towers. She conceived the idea that people climbed up to a water tower when they wished to purchase an automobile. Although what Ally never knew was how the cars drove out of the water tower.
miskidceptions // 34
e A nin se i a C rpr su
High school photographer Shea Glover conducted a social experiment/photography project in which she took pictures of people before, during, and after she told them they were beautiful. The series went viral on the internet; people fell in love with the way this project captured not only a cute moment, but the way our faces rapidly change to clearly express our true emotions. To me and many others, nothing invokes emotion like a dog. Inspired by this project, I decided to try to capture the rapid change of emotions animal lovers go through when they see their beloved pets. I lined up interviews with various Skutt Catholic students, and then ambushed them with my one-year-old great dane, Piper Jo, and documented the range of their reactions.
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students’ candid reactions to an unexpected “they visitor :
By
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have this ability to make almost anyone instantly happy” -jordan gustafson
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“dogs are members of the family, you love them just the same ”-will hanna
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“they are so pure of heart, they just always know how to make you feel better� -claire pape
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your article //
lily yates // 38
Stereotype
how skutt has changed the status quo By: Sam Klemme
What is your first thought when the words “football player” are said? It might be some big guy who pretty loud and rowdy (which isn’t necessarily wrong), but have you ever thought of someone who participates in the fine arts, or someone who vocalizes poetry for fun? There are some subjects that people just don’t think of as one and the same. We live in a world where we can decide to do pretty much whatever we set our minds to. Some people show that they want to experience every little facet, and make sure they see the kaleidoscope of views they can experience. Skutt Catholic has those types of people all around the community, and we can see it individually, in teams, and even in the school spirit of Skutt Catholic.
the athlete // Now I think we all know that we have almost an entire tribe of athletes, but how many would you think take a look into the fine arts? You don’t have to search all that hard, because this school is teeming with large amounts of these diverse people. We have those who have put in training for football, while simultaneously participating in long days of show choir. They show everyone that we truly do have more time on our hands than we may think. From dedicating their lives to extracurricular activities to staying on top of schoolwork, where do these people find the time? If you know one of these, give them a round of applause because they are some of the hardest working people we may ever know.
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the small team //
We’ve all seen them on the wall of trophies and plaques that we hold so dear. We have earned those thanks to none other than all the teams we have. With some of the decidedly miniscule teams we have, the odds can seem stacked against us. Some of those opposing teams are pretty large, the coaches get to pick the very best and make sure they get the most time to play in the game, but what about the small teams who make gold almost every year? Volleyball, being a moderately sized group, has shown that we may not have power in numbers, but that doesn’t matter one bit. Volleyball isn’t the only group who knows how to win. We have a multitude of other non-sports related groups who take on the giants to come on the other side victorious. For example, take a look at speech winning first at RCC in every category. They went out to win, and by golly, they did. Hopefully with the community’s support they will get a little more attention than an announcement in the morning. Here at Skutt, we make great teams and will continue to do that under the guidance of some great coaches.
the school // When I first got here, I hadn’t really thought of Skutt Catholic in many other ways than the school who is good at sports, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. Many people think this school has sports as a main front when in reality we show our merit in many more ways than this. First, we have our academics. The school has grown exponentially and we have really expanded our inventory by adding several classes. Forensics, for example, moves in on a more investigative side to forensics. We even have a robotics team. Along with these ambitions we have a Fine Arts department that is growing by the day. This all means to say we have a plethora of options, and I think the other side deserves to shine just a little more.
stereotype // 40
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AROUND THE WORLD photos from a lifetime venturing abroad By: Robert Killgore My grandfather and grandmother started traveling in 1976 when they took their first trip in Europe. They visited the prominent places on the Continent. Paris, London, Rome, etc. They were hooked. Since then, they have returned 18 times to see some of the less visited spots, including the Castle of Chilliom in Veytaux, Switzerland on Lake Geneva.
The Eiffel Tower // Paris
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The Castle of Chillon // Switzerland
around the world // 42
Walking farther from home, they took a cruise to Egypt, Israel, and Greece. One particular place that caught and held their attention was Africa. They visited Kenya and Tanzania on the path of the great wildebeest migration. The best and most easily viewed wildlife collection was in the Masai Mara and the Ngorgorongoro Crater. My grandparents also camped out in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, and flew over Victtoria Falls in Zambia in a helicopter. On another visit, they toured the Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Zebras at a watering hole // Africa
Elephants crossing the road // Kruger National Park
In Asia, they traveled through Japan twice, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. They’ve seen Borneo, leaving their DNA behind in a couple of blood-filled leeches that crawled into their sock, and all of Malaysia.
The Golden Temple // Kyoto, Japan.
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Angkor Wat // Cambodia
Some other places they went to are India, Mumbai to Calcutta, twice to Russia, taking a train from Vladivostok in Ulaan Batar in Mongolia. They went to Tibet to see the Putola Palace, all of the Baltics, up and down the coasts of Scandinavia, then North Cape to the equator and Tropic of Capricorn. Other places include South America to see Machu Picchu in Peru, Ecuador for the Galapagos Islands, and Brazil to walk on the beach of Ipanema and stand above the enormous waterfall at Iguaza. Additionally, they traveled to Argentina to stand in the city of Ushuala at the freezing tip of Cape Horn.
North Cape // Africa Machu Picchu // Peru In Australia, Grandad even climbed Uluru and swam in the Great Barrier Reef. My grandmother and grandfather left out plenty, but Tahiti comes first to mind for them. Recounting their beautiful experiences has made me wonder at my grandparents for seeing so much of the wide and varied world we live in, and for meeting so many of its diverse inhabitants.
In Uluru Rock, Australia, you can climb this rock, nicknamed “Chicken Rock.�
A caravansel in Bukara, Uzbekistan where caravans used to stop.
aroundyour the article world // 44 44
Kaleidoscopes how to make your own colorful creation By: Sam Wiegand
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of the entire magazine thinking that you wouldn’t have to see an actual kaleidoscope...wrong. It’s time to end this unique and exuberant issue of Quintessence with a bang These wonderful tools use mirrors to trick our minds into seeing shapes that are being bent. Just look at this image right here. This is a picture of some curved lines, but it comes out as almost triangular. Now that you know how kaleidoscopes work, why not learn how to build your own? On the next page, that is exactly what you’ll see. A step-by-step instruction manual on how to build your own kaleidoscope. So have fun, and do some arts and crafts on my behalf.
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4: This is the most unique
1: The first main step to
making your own kaliedoscope is to gather all of your materials. This includes: a clear acrylic tube, 3 mirror pieces (that can fit into said tube), a clear disk that is just the right size for the tube, a cabochon, glitter/beads, as well as some clear glue - a hot glue gun works best here. This picture shows one type of fancy lining for the inside of the tube.
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2: Once you have gathered everything, it’s time to build. First, form the mirrors into a triangle and place them into the tube. Now, glue the disk onto one side of the tube.
3: Now,
you will glue on the cabochon, which is simply a mysterious looking gemstone. This helps distort the image, giving you the true kaleidoscope feel. If you can’t find a cabochon, you can build a different type of kaleidoscope here. Pour glitter or beads into the bottom. This will be the effect, while with the cabochon you can look at the whole world through your kaleidoscope.
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step of the entire process of building your own personal kaleidoscope: decorating. You can go many different directions here. You can use construction paper and draw pictures on the outside of the tube, or you could do a slightly easier approach and just cover it in shinylooking paper that you can pick up at any craft store. Whatever you end up doing, make it unique, make it yours.
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5: This is what an actual, proper, well-built kaleidoscope looks like. Unfortunately, thanks to my severe lack of arts and crafts skills, I was not able to build a successful kaleidoscope. Hopefully your attempt to view the world in a new way turns out better!
kaleidoscopes // 46
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