2015 Issue 4 - The Legend by SHS The Legend

The Legend Volume 18 Issue 4

February 2015

Swipe Left This generation has been tagged the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hookup Generation.â&#x20AC;? Has the advancement of technology been an influence, or have the morals of today loosened? Pg. 16

News

Table of Contents Fe

Blurbs 3 Playing the Game 4 Excellence and Equity 5

Re Lo bo ud un an d d R P Sp ec ro ot ap ud! lig 8 6 ht -9 10

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16 n tio 8 ra ne 17 ol 1 19 Ge est ho tion up od Sc a ok M in orm Ho fine oms Inf De nd uch Co o M To

B Fa ein H bul g S it o in th so g Le e S ph le 2 t I po y 2 0 tG t 1 o 22 23

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Suncoast High School 1717 Avenue S Riviera Beach, Fl 33404

Contact Information Phone: 561-882-3485 Fax: 561-494-2626 Any opinions that are printed in â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Legendâ&#x20AC;? are not necessarily the opinions of the adviser, administration, or the school district. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the editorial board.

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Editors

Staff Writers

Hannah Ramil Daniel Rojas Isabelle Shafer Kayla Jin Claudia Laukien Sabrina Cedeno Sabrina Rubis Jonathan Elwell Kristen Unico Kaylee Clemens Traci Lowe

Co-Editor in Chief Co-Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Features Editor News and Opinions Lifestyle Editor Photo Editor Business Manager Advisor

Stefanie Macedonio Natalia Arjona Christian Coury Jordan Young Jessica Steen

Yana Rankine Alexis August Charlie Burgess Lillian Hassanein Ameenah Rashid

News In other news... Return of the Amur Leopard Since 2007 the Amur Leopard population has doubled with about 60 leopards alive on the entire Earth. The rebound may be thanks to conservation efforts taken up by Russia and China which has also shown success in saving the Siberian Tiger from near extinction. These conservation efforts actively continue. Source: Yahoo News photo courtesy of Yahoo News

Iranian Sanction Breaking Iran has made a bold move to bypass American sanctions and accomplished this by retreiving more than $1 billion and bringing it back to Iran allegedly through couriers. This money is needed by Iran for banking and was collected through front companies based in Dubai and some companies in Turkey as well. No word on further action. Source: Yahoo News photo courtesy of Yahoo News

Asylum for Albinos Albino children in Tanzania are in extreme danger. Parents are desperately attempting to find safe havens for these children as two were abducted and allegedly murdered in the past few months. The danger stems from a belief by some in tanzania that the body parts of albinos are useful in the formation of spells and charms. There have been calls for people to stop but the danger is present. Source: Yahoo News photo courtesy of Yahoo News

Lights too Cool in Japan Since the installation of new LED traffic lights in Japan traffic has run pretty smoothly but new problems have arisen. Due to their limited emission of heat these traffic lights are being covered in snow with no way to melt it all and this has caused a negative change iin traffic. Currently the only solution has been to manually scrape it. Source: Yahoo News photo courtesy of Yahoo News

Slain Student in Florida There was recently a shooting at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida where three students were shot. Thankfully the students were only grazed and non suffered any more injuries, and so far two people, with at least one being a student, have been arrested for having a connection with the shooting. Source : Yahoo News photo courtesy o Yahoo News

Cyprus and Russian Relations Russian and Cyprus have signed a recent military deal that would allow Russian ships to dock in Cypriot ports. Although not an entire military base this would join the Syrian port as a haven for Russian ships allowing the Russians to expand their operating range. Russian ships have already called at Cypriot ports but the treaty allows for legality. Source: Yahoo News photo courtesy of Yahoo News

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News4

Playing

the game

January 29th was the annual carnival, which has been celebrating students’ success for six years. Christian Coury Well, it was that time of the year again! As Rebound Week approached, it only meant one Staff Writer

thing – the carnival. Yes, I am talking about that carnival. For those of you that were not aware, Suncoast has been hosting a miniature success carnival for the past six years. “We have the carnival to note and celebrate all of the hard work our students put into every test they take on campus,” Assistant Principal Robin Kantor said. At the event, several popular fair food items made their appearance during the event, which took place on the late-start day, January 29th during Rebound Week. “If you really want the food, then get there as quickly as possible because the lines are ridiculous,” Junior Paula Moreno said to ninth graders. After all who would not rush to get in line

for elephant ears and popcorn? But this event would not have been complete without activities such as the jousting challenge and rock wall, just to name a couple. In addition to past activities, there was also a dream catcher in which students could express their wishes. To top it all off, Ms. Mitchell, Mrs. Kantor, and SGA members were dunked in the all new dunk tank. “My favorite part is to be able to spend time with friends and laugh at people falling down while fighting [jousting],” Junior Paula Moreno said. “It’s kind of one of the biggest fun things they [Suncoast] have,” Freshman Laura Moreno said. With music, games, activities, and food, who would not want to take part in this break from the typical rigor of Suncoast?

photos courtesty of: Kristen Unico

Around the World in

ONE ASSEMBLY

An overview of the 2015 Heritage Assembly that included acts from all different continents and 15 different cultures. Stefanie Macedonio T h e heritage Staff Writer

Photo by Kristen Unico

assembly is a tradition that has been going on for at least 10 years for as long as Ms. Rashid can remember. Heritage assembly gives students the opportunity to showcase their culture and celebrate diversity that exists in Suncoast. Rashid said, “The goal of the Heritage Assembly is to promote international mindedness.” Suncoast certainly executes this goal well as we had almost 15 acts displaying their cultures. The 15 different groups from all different continents have practiced for 3 months in order to perfect their routine. Senior Ashni Thakor said, “the few months of practice was well worth

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it as I feel that these performances give the students the opportunity to go around the world in less than an hour.” On January 30th, the 15 different acts were finally able to show the school the routines they have been perfecting over the course of the last few months and it was a show to remember. “I think that the coolest part was the slide show that they showed while the performers performed because it puts the audience in the performance,” Freshman Oksana Rubis said. The heritage assembly continues to grow each and every year, so who knows what the next heritage assembly has to offer.

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Excellence and Equity In the Class Act feature of the local CBS broadcast our school was recently spotlighted for our rankings on the website Niche. Daniel Rojas Co-Editor-in-Chief Niche is a new system of rankings based not only on the typical facts and figures that other schools use but the actual outcomes of graduates from the school. They somehow quantify these results and then paint a full picture of each high school or college and how they contribute to a student’s education. According to this ranking website Suncoast is 6th in Florida and 183rd in the entire nation. The segment was done by Gary Widom who interviewed our principal Dr. Linda Cartlidge

for an administrative standpoint and senior Shamshad Ali for the standpoint of a student. The discussion on Suncoast’s identity centered around the culture at Suncoast as the unique quality that sets it apart. Both Ali and Dr. Cartlidge elaborated on this culture explaining it as one where academics and success are emphasized. Instead of the school community focusing on the next social event we focus on acing the next test and we have an emphasis on working towards the future instead of wasting the present.

Dr. Cartlidge attributes a lot of the culture to her learning and application of organizational management books by writers like John Maxwell. This use of management teachings has led to a better culture. There is also a large emphasis on opportunity for all, no matter race or creed and with our diverse student body it clearly shows. These values can be coined into a mantra that Dr. Cartlidge mentioned in her interview “Excellence and Equity.” By making these our core principles Suncoast has risen to the top spots of rankings across the country.

Photo courtesy of CBS 12 News

Class Act The Class Act program is a running feature on CBS News that chooses certain schools or programs in the Palm Beach County area and spotlight the key members of representatives of the program or school to determine what makes a school or program so great. When Dr. Cartlidge, obviously a key member of Suncoast, and Shamshad Ali, a senior in the IB program, were interviewed they focused on the culture created at Suncoast, one that everyone can succeed in. Another factor that they determined together was the existence of multiple activities that students can join and run and succeed in. Suncoast isn’t just a school for the run of the mill genius but anyone who has the work ethic to excel in whatever program they choose.

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Guardian Angels Take Flight Yana Rankine Many of us have had the opportunity to visit Staff Writer the Arlington Cemetery

in Washington D.C., (most likely due to being a Safety Patrol in 5th grade), pondering on the identity of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. But if given the chance to visit the memorial again, you might want to try getting a fresh new perspective from a veteran. Honor Flight is a well-known club on campus whose purpose, as a non-profit organization, is to honor our veterans ranging from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War - by raising money to give them an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. giving them the chance to visit their memorials. In this school year alone, students across campus helped raise over $7000 towards the cause. With prices equalizing to $500 per veteran, Honor Flight is able to send 14 veterans to a much deserved trip. “The students went in and got the money for it. We had a competition in November where different social studies classes competed to see which one individual class either raises the most or raises the most per capita, so the smaller classes can win as well. The majority of the money we donated was brought in through that,” history teacher, Mr. David

Traill, said. Students also have the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. with Honor Flight. For $400, students can apply to become a “Guardian,” in which they are buddied up with a veteran, accompanying them throughout the trip. “ I think it’s different when you visit a memorial by yourself and then you visit it with someone whom that memorial was built for, and so they can tell you how each little detail in the memorial is significantthings you never would have thought of, and to really see that emotional impact,” Belen Zavala (12) said. Along with sending veterans on trips, Honor Flight also invited them to share their experiences during the war. Recently, veterans, such as veteran Dick Ramsey, was invited to speak to Mr.Traill’s history classes to speak in regards to their involvement in World War II. “You could have people read things from a book all the time but, for instance, as you’re reading a book there’s something interesting and you wonder “Man, I wish I could ask that guy about what it was like.” To be able to ask those veterans questions is something that your kids will never be able to do because they just won’t be around at that point. We’re losing hundreds every single day

around the country, we lose 47 a day in Florida from just World War II. To give the students the opportunity to talk to somebody that was there makes it much more realistic and something that was much more meaningful,” Mr.Traill said According to Honoflight.org, “an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day.” A generation of hero’s potentially will be gone, and all that will be left is accounts written in history books, along with any recollection shared by them. Fortunately, Mr.Traill enlightens our campus by contacting willing veterans to speak to our campus. “Everybody’s got a unique story, it doesn’t matter if you were a cook, it doesn’t matter if you were in the infantry, or on a submarine - everybody had something unique that they were involved in. It’s a time that none of us have lived through and experienced and never been asked to do the things they did and so it doesn’t matter who the veteran is and what their background is, all of their stories, to me, are interesting and revealing and I can never get enough of them,” Mr.Traill said.

ISIS Faces International Backlash The group released a video of the gruesome execution on social media, prompting the international community to support Jordan and the U.S. in denouncing the militant Jihadists international Jonathan Elwell The Lifestyle Editor community has been

thrown into a state of shock by the brutal execution of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh, who had been shot down over Syria and captured by ISIS on December 24, 2014. On February 3, ISIS released a 22- minute video which culminated with the immolation of alKasasbeh, causing widespread outrage and a military response against the selfproclaimed Islamic state. ISIS used al-Kasasbeh as a bargaining tool in the weeks following his capture. They attempted to negotiate the exchange of the 26- year old Jordanian

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and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto for al-Qaeda and ISIS prisoners held by the Jordanian government, namely failed Iraqi suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi. On February 3, with these negotiations having seemingly failed, the Islamic State released a video of al-Kasasbeh being burned alive while trapped in a metal cage. Jordan responded immediately by executing two al-Qaeda prisoners, including al-Rishawi. The actual date of his execution is uncertain, with ISIS claiming it to be February 3 but Jordan saying it may have been as early as January 3. The global outrage to the al-Kasasbeh’s

death, however, has been unequivocal. Everyone from President Obama to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi denounced the execution, with Al-Sisi saying that all countries should unite against this “terror” group, and their “barbaric, cowardly acts that violate all religious concepts.” The execution has also drawn a military reprisal, mainly in the form of Jordanian airstrikes. As of February 9, Jordan claimed 56 airstrikes against the Islamic state, the most deadly of which having killed 55 militants, including a senior commander, in the Iraqi city Mosul on February 4.

Features

Row, row, row your boat Rowing may not be a popular sport, but it is effective in teaching the importance of teamwork. Sabrina Cedeno-Tobon Rowing is a sport that is overlooked by many people nowadays. However Features Editor

“My favorite thing about rowing is the feeling of seeing the hard work I put in training after a race,” Senior Matthew Green said. there are many students at this In school you may know school who row and they know her as Ms. Larkin the math from experience that it takes a teacher, but outside of school lot of time and dedication to be a she coaches rowing at a local rower. Training for rowing is a lot rowing club. This is her second harder than people may think and year coaching rowing at North can consist of practicing on the Palm Beach. water, working out on the ERG “I’m the novice coach which is a rowing machine, and which means first year rowers. doing body circuits to strengthen I also am the assistant Varsity your core. coach. I was an assistant Many do not know that coach for UCF for one year,” rowers mainly utilize their legs Suncoast students Matthew Green and Casey Moore rowing as doubles in a tournament mathematics teacher Monica entered for North Palm Beach Rowing Club. while rowing because that is how they Larkin said. Photo courtesy of Matthew Green they get the power to maneuver the Rowing is a well-known and popular sport that has oar. When rowing in competitions been a part of the Olympics since 1900 for men and 1976 for you can enter to row in singles, doubles, pairs, quads fours, or women. Rowing is a sport that requires strength, agility, eights. Even if someone rows only in single races, they still get endurance, and commitment just as any other sport. the experience of being on a team because during practice you get to train with other rowers in your age group.

and

Loud Proud!

The Suncoast cheerleading team was runner-up to Dillard High School at the FHSAA State Cheerleading Championship, held in Orlando on January 30th. Suncoast Claudia Laukien c hThe eerleaders Copy Editor usually practice

afterschool two or three times a week, for at least two hours. But if there is an upcoming competition, they practice afterschool everyday, and sometimes, even on the weekends. Professional choreographers help them create their dance routines and perfect their stunts. The team even trained on homecoming day, a few hours before they went to the dance, as one of their choreographers could only teach that day. But hard work paid off at the regional finals held at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. There, after winning second place, they were sent directly to States to compete in the 2A large non-tumbling division, a step up from being in the 1A

division the previous year. Suncoast was the smallest team in the division, but even so, they had a strong performance. Though Dillard High School took home first place, Coach Strickland said, “Second place in the entire state is nothing to scoff at. It’s a major accomplishment and [the team] deserves to be recognized for that accomplishment. … Getting second place has focused the girls and motivated them to come back strong next year.” Each performance at the state competition is required to have a cheer, a dance, a pyramid, a stunt sequence, as well as a jump sequence. “We had a bobble and a fall and opened the door for the other teams,” Strickland said in an interview with Sentinel correspondent Dave Heeren. “It’s a Suncoast ideal that you don’t

stop until you are the best,” Strickland explained, “[Dillard was] the better team, but next year that won’t be the case.”

Photo by Kristy Strickland

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Rebound Recap Missed anything from Rebound Week? Check out these memorable moments.

Recognizing winter sports Kristen Unico and the great seasons that our Photo Editor

Chargers bring to the forefront is one of our favorite past times. Rebound Week 2k15 was an all-around eventful five-days full of school spirit, cultural celebrations, and a well-deserved academic recognition. Not only was Rebound Week memorable for its iconic and traditional dress up days, lunch activities, and winter pep rally, Rebound Week also shared some of the most anticipated moments of the school year: the Winter Carnival, the Heritage Assembly, and the first annual Sadie Hawkins Winter Formal. The week was full of events that many students enjoyed. “It was one of the best!” Senior David Rollins said. “I’ll remember it forever.”

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everybody freeze. Spirited Juniors take on the Chargerettes during a freeze dance game at lunch on Wednesday. While dressed in their pajamas, students attempted to mimick the Superior Seven and their sass-ful moves.

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chargers got that soul. With their always amazing performance, the Chargerettes and Charger Sonic Band performs in front of the whole school, bringing an end to a memorable pep rally, and a memorable Rebound Week.

all photos by: Kristen Unico

got water? Junior Autumn Ramsay, and SGA Treasurer, takes one for the team- or cancer research if you prefer. After volunteering to man the tank, she was dunked with a splash and a rumble of laughs.

know your roots. Performing her flamenco dance with Senior Kyle Cortes playing his guitar, Senior Alex Munoz is one of the many performers representing her culture during the Heritage Assembly. Latin American, Asian, and African cultures were also represented.

dance with me? Senior Hannah Ramil asks Senior Erickson Gallardo to the First Annual Sadie Hawkins Winter formal in front of the Class of 2015 at the pep rally. With support from their class, Gallardo happily accepted.

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Spotlight:

The Life of Couples

Two couples and their story about how they met and the time that they spend together. Marianne and Matt Photo Creds: Marianne Cortes

In a school filled with stress, work, and tests, it seems Jessica Steen Staff Writer impossible to ever even consider one’s social life, let alone

ever devoting time towards a significant other. There are a select few who choose to take this path and stray from their previous life of solitude. Two couples have experiences and stories to share with us lonely people what it is like to be in a relationship with another person. The first couple is Seniors Marianne Cortes and Matt Wolpert who have been dating for a year and eight months. This couple did not have the corny “love at first sight” type of relationship seen in the movies. Instead, these two people started off hating each other when they first met. “We met in our freshman biology class and initially hated each other throughout our freshman year. But because we shared a common friend group, we hung out a lot and ended up really liking each other,” Wolpert said. The relationship started with a simple date at a frozen yogurt shop on a Saturday night. The relationship began to grow as they spent more time with one another, unlike most of us these two are never alone during the holiday season. “We celebrate Christmases, birthdays, Valentine’s Days and New Years’ together,” Wolpert said. Not only are they never alone, but they can share their favorite activities and hobbies together. “We both enjoy the show New Girl a lot. I play tennis and Matt likes to play tennis with me every now and then. We also both like watching soccer and painting together,” Cortes said. painting. Painting is one of this couples favorite activities to share together.

Alyssa and Connor

The next couple has been going out for a solid year and a half. Just as any other couple, they enjoy living a life of companionship. “I like being in a relationship, because you always have someone to do things with and someone to hang out with and be there for you,” Senior Alyssa Rubin said. Suncoast seems to be a facilitator of relationships, as this couple met during Ms. Owens’ math class during freshman year. This friendship sparked into a relationship during their junior year when Senior Connor Thies decided to ask Rubin out after going together to the beach. As opposed to Cortes and Wolpert, this relationship started out with a friendship from the start and there was no initial hatred towards one another. Similar to Cortes and Wolpert, Rubin and Thies also enjoy doing things together. They enjoy watching reality TV shows, going to the beach and eating food together. They also have been on adventures in different states. “This past winter break we went to New York City together for a week and that was really fun,” Thies said. Disney seems to be the spot of interest for those in a relationship as both of these couples have gone there together. Maybe it is Minnie and Mickey, or maybe it is the exhilarating rides, such as The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but nonetheless, Disney is the spot for couples to go. The couples seem to have a good time together as they are able to spend time with each other, and keep each other company so they are never alone. The life of a couple is one filled with never-ending companionship and entertaining activities.

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homecoming. This couple decided to spend time together at the homecoming dance senior year.

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Can a commoner take the Oval Office? The year 2016 is rapidly approaching, and new potential presidents are making an appearance, including George Mansfield, who is trying to portray himself as the humble, everyday businessman. George Mansfield was in business for “over sixty years, Christian Coury What if a common man was elected president in the election of 2016 instead of the typical either being just an average employee or owning his own small Staff Writer politician? This is what businessman George Mansfield hopes to accomplish. Interestingly enough, his very own grandson, Ryan Kosches, attends this school. “He is originally from Rhode Island and now resides in Tennessee,” Ryan Kosches said. During an interview, Kosches explained that America needs a “common-man.” “We believe that Americans have a huge antiWashington sentiment right now,” Kosches continued. “And then they [politicians] don’t know what is going on.” Mansfield’s motive is to transmit a message to the American people – that he feels it is time to elect an everyday man. But who is this commoner?

business; now he is a marine surveyor.” In accordance with his platform, George Mansfield will be running as an Independent, avoiding the constant Republican-Democrat clash. Kosches explained that the campaign is currently trying to recruit political advisors. In fact, Mr. Mansfield even has his own website at http://www.georgemansfieldforpresident.com. This website is currently under construction and features a biography and list of ideological stances taken by Mr. Mansfield. Students wishing to show support for Mansfield can even receive an official campaign shirt from Ryan Kosches. Will the commoner take the Oval Office? Only time will tell. photos courtesty of: en.wikipedia.org

“Okay guys. Let’s get this over with.” Human Growth and Development, more commonly known as “Sex Ed,” ends in freshman year.

Ameenah Rashid Staff Writer

“

The infamous “Sex Ed” course occurs only in ninth grade. After freshman year, students are expected to retain the knowledge and make smart choices, yet some students feel that continuation of the course would be beneficial, while other students believe that Sex Ed will not make a significant impact on the choices people make.

photo by Ameenah Rashid

”

phot by Ameenah Rashid

The school should continue teaching Sex Ed, but instead of focusing on abstinence, teachers should highlight the importance of safe sex and make sure students know their options. -Sophomore Scott Carlson

“

In a survey, 31 students were asked if they would use protection: 25 said yes 6 said no

”

I don’t think schools needs to teach Sex Ed after ninth grade. By this point, everyone’s made their decision, so it won’t really make a difference. -Sophomore Corrine Martin

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Mounting

Did you even do this?

What are you doing with your life?

Why are your grades so bad?

I don’t even think you’re trying, at all.

You’re not good enough.

You’re just getting worse.

You used to be better.

You’re throwing your future away.

Why can’t you be like your sibling?

You never do anything right.

Pressures Hannah Ramil Co-Editor-in-Chief

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You’re stupid.

The different programs can put a lot of pressure on our shoulders, and sometimes, added pressure can cause us to crack.

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If one were to look up the definition of “Suncoast student” in the dictionary, according to Alumni Emily Bocchino, one would find words along the lines of “smart,” “accomplished,” “well-rounded,” and even “the world.” The last sentence of the definition may probably read “See also Stressed out.” There is no question that all Suncoast students are all of the aforementioned definitions. Whether it is by virtue of being born a genius, studying until one becomes a genius, or parents grilling their children until they become a genius, Suncoast students are a different breed altogether, and all are capable of succeeding (or rather, surviving) perhaps the most difficult four years of their young adulthood. However, the journey through high school is never easy. Not only are children expected to take college-level courses in their very first year, they are also expected to make life-long companions with a bunch of strangers. Yikes! It is really not that bad, though. In truth, one of the hardest part about being a

“The first semester of senior year was definitely not what I expected. You would think the worse of the two was junior year, but when your teachers are trying to fit in all the IB requirements all at the same time, it becomes overwhelming,” Senior Andrea Sifuentes said. “Kind of like you’re dying.” It is natural for a parent to want their children to succeed, but at times, the pressure put on by parents, and teachers can be overwhelming. “I always felt pressure from my parents to make them proud. They were my main motivation. If I get a 97, my parents are always asking me why I didn’t get a 100. But all that pressure actually just makes me not want to work. It unmotivates me,” Senior Obayed Nasiri said. Sometimes the workload is too heavy for students to handle, and students often find that the added pressure from parents does more harm than good. “I used to feel overwhelmed by all the pressure, especially

“I stopped worrying so much after I realized that regardless of how well I do, I will always get nagged at...It unmotivates me.” Suncoast student is finally breaking it to your parents that you are not perfect. Sometimes, parents lose sight of just how tough and rigorous the programs can be, and it comes as quite a shock to them to hear that their straight-A son, Timmy, got a C on his AP Statistics test. Or that their perfect daughter, Suzy, pulled an all-nighter to finish an IB History Internal Assessment that was due the next day. “Why did you not do it earlier?” they ask. “You were given so much time.” That may be the case, but they fail to consider what the six other classes are demanding from Suzy. The trabajo escrito for IB Spanish had to be written. There was a math exam to study for, and another Internal Assessment to write for IB Calculus. Who could forget the mock Paper 2 for Higher Level Psychology, as well as the several CAS hours that Suzy had to upload on Managebac? The list goes on and on. Newsflash: Suncoast is considered to be one of the toughest high schools in the nation, and boy, do they live up to it. Life at Suncoast is no walk in the park, and parents often have a hard time understanding that.

from my parents. But then I stopped worrying so much after I realized that regardless of how well I do, I will always get nagged at. I’ll get nagged at if I have a 95, or if I have a 75,” Nasiri said. Students who are in this predicament are often left feeling inadequate, and struggle even more to handle their responsibilities when their parent(s) discourage them, instead of encouraging them. “I’m always usually aware of where my problems in my classes are. And when I have another person yelling at me about it, it’s just annoying,” Junior Chris O’Neill said. According to Dr. Karen Ruskin, a family psychotherapist, “the key is to be your child’s biggest fan and nurturer.” She also suggests that parents act as “supporters” instead of “pushers.” “Parents frequently act [like] their children aren’t really capable of already knowing how big their grades matter. We’ll take care of pressuring ourselves. As long as we have a nice place to come home to, full of love and happiness, it will make schoolwork a lot easier,” Bocchino said.

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The Next 4 Years

In the uncertain world of college admissions there are a few seniors at our school who have some sort of certainty and control over where they are going to go for the next four years. In differerent states and different plpaces these seniors will be able to continue the passion they have nurtured in high school. Daniel Rojas Co-Editor-in-Chief Photo by Duane Long

During his junior year Casey Goldenberg comitted verbally to Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He feels that once he hit a pitching speed of above 90 m.p.h. he reached a college level of experience. Photo by Duane Long

Photo by Alec Deker

Jessica Steen in her last year at Suncoast helped lead her team regional semifinalists and her skill and talent has guaranteed her a spot at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Photo by Kayla Hess

On the volleyball courts Arielle Erillo has distinguished herself enough to commit to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. She said a major draw was their sincere interest and on-campus beach.

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Jamari Bozeman a Bowling Green State University Falcon is getting ready to play in Bowling Green, Ohio next year. He was approached by Miami University and Florida International University.

The Pitch on Recruiting

College recruitment for sports officially begiins in the junior year where a university may have formal contact with a student athlete, but contact very oftens starts earlier if they are a particularly remarkable candidate. Generally most student

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athletes will know for sure where they are going on Natrional Signing Day where an agreement is made between the student and the university. For all their hard work studernts may receive well-deserved scholarships for all their hard work, especially our students.

Photo by Duane Long

Originally, Fabiana Ingram was talking to other schools but in November of her senior year, pretty late for recruitment, Ingram began talking to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida where she committed.

Will Pisaniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to Florida State University in Tallahassee began at the Florida Swimming Championship Meet when the head coach approached him. When Pisani visited the campus that is when he knew.

Photo by Alyssa Rubin

Photo by Duane Long

Marquavius Gibbs was conflicted between a few universities but eventually chose Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas due to the long distance from home and more time on the gridiron.

Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida began recruiting Antoine Mora towards the end of his junior year when his tape was sent. The engineering program persuaded Mora to attend.

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Opinions “HOOKUP GENERATION” With finding a date as easy as a text message, young people are being labeled as the “hookup generation” for losing interest in serious relationships, however, this label is unfair and unwarranted. It is no secret that older generations look down upon us millennials. We are lazy, selfish, apathetic, unfit to lead the country, and even incapable of love (according to them). We have been labeled the “hookup generation,” because we tend to avoid serious relationships and prefer casual flings. In an article by Elite Daily, we are said to have “forgotten how to date.” Regardless to whoever’s fault it is, it is true that millennials have seemed to have lost interest in real relationships and gained interest in “hookup culture,” short flings with people without the intention of a serious relationship. This is seen through dating apps like Tindr. With one mutual click, two people are matched together. This eliminates the process of meeting someone and allows for quick dating. Movies such as “Friends With Benefits” and “ No Strings Attached” demonstrate the idolization for a relationship without an emotional connection. Dennis Prager from the National Review theorized reasons why hookup culture is so prevalent today. One of his reasons was the inreasing technology. Prager claims that this new technology is changing the way that all of society works. This technology makes everything faster: communication, research, and even dating. With instant messaging applications like iMessage and Kik, it is incredibly easy to contact someone and get an immediate response. This ties in to the need for convenience. Since communication is immediate, it is convenient for a person to set up a date with someone within seconds. However, the speed of communication actually creates a barrier that prevents the establishment of intimacy due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. When two Tindr matches meet in person, they find that they do not have a real emotional connection and find themselves only wanting a short fling. They do not feel guilty because their goals are mutual, as they both want nothing more serious than a casual fling or short-term relationship.

Izzy Shafer Managing Editor

February2015

Prager’s second reason for this has to do with the increase of feminism. As women feel empowered to live independently and focus on their careers rather than their relationships, it is easy for them to prefer casual relationships rather than long-term relationships. Young women feel that they do not need to be committed to a man to make them happy and engage in a lot of casual relationships to prove this. As young adults in their 20’s, millennials prefer emotionless relationships rather than looking for someone to marry. This shocks the older generations because they were marriage-ready when they were 19. Our grandparents were ready to “go steady” with someone and commit the rest of their life to that person before they even graduated college. Clearly, the culture has changed. However, these changes in culture do not mean that we are uninterested in love or unfit for marriage. Though it is true that millennials are involved in “hookup culture” while we are young, it is unfair to label us the “hookup generation.” Just because 20-year-olds are not interested in commitment yet, they still plan to get married. Our generation values falling in love and find a partner just like previous generations. A survey done by Brigham Young University found that 97 percent of its female students planned to eventually get married, while 93 percent of men also had those intentions. The difference is that millennials want to experience more of their youth before settling down to become an adult. We are said to have lost our work ethic because everything has been handed to us, but growing up watching every member of the team earn a trophy is not our fault. The same goes for our lack of interest in steady relationships. We grew up watching over half of our parents get divorced yet we are chastised by them for not wanting to commit right away. We grew up into this. It is unfair to point fingers at us or give us this condescending label, when it is just a matter of a change in culture.

Opinions17

Define Modest

Yana Rankine As you walk down the hallways, you notice heads turn. Your quickest instinct is to look Staff Writer down: you pull up your shirt, you pull down

your skirt and you ask yourself “Am I showing too much skin? Too much cleavage? What are they staring at?” In regards to appearances, modesty can be defined as dressing in a way to avoid impropriety, or attention. In other words, crop tops with spaghetti straps and shorts two sizes too tight are definitely out of the question. As the generations progress, the level of modesty alters with it. In 1920s, women bathing suits were shorts that ran midthigh and tank tops with straps about an inch thick. Nowadays, bathing suits show way less skin. If a teenage girl went to the beach with her friends wearing a 1920s bathing suit, she would stand out amongst her peers wearing the standard two-piece bathing suits from Forever21. Some may even call her a prude

One piece swimsuit resembled a tight dress with a skirt that covers the “backside” completely.

1960s

Bathing suits were reduced to one piece, or a long top that covered the shorts with stockings.

1940s

Victorian style bathing suits were typically black with long stockings.

1920s

1900s

As time progresses, so does the visual description of dressing modest. Two piece bathing suits , or the bikini, was born.

for covering up more skin compared to modern day bikini’s, when realistically she wore it because she’s uncomfortable in her own skin, (unless,of course, she wore it to be “hipster”). In essence, when comparing the wallflower to her basic peers, the 1920s bathing suit girl would be the one expressing modesty. So covering up more skin is considered modest then? Well, when referencing my definition of modest: not exactly. I mean, yes wearing a long sleeve shirts and jeans can be considered a more reserved outfit compared to short-shorts and a bandeau, but either outfits can turn heads. Arguably, being modest in appearance does not prevent anyone from being raped or catcalled, regardless of gender. So then what does it mean to be modest? Truthfully, the definition of being modest varies from person to person. Generally speaking, you would not meet the parents wearing shorts and a tank top, right?

You’re really sweet, but... Do public promposals force the person to say yes because of the peer pressure?

your answer to the promposal of your dreams. He went all out, flowers, people spelling out P-R-O-M-? with posters, he even used music. The only problem is the person standing in front of you, most anticipating your answer, asking you to one of the most important social events of your high school career: is not the guy from your dreams. But you have to say yes because you do not want to embarrass him, so you do and now you are in quite a predicament. There are two problems with public promposals; the girl might not want to go with you or she might be embarrassed by all the attention. Of course, many girls imagine these lavish promposals like all the cute videos they see, but not all girls. Out of 13 girls asked only a mere four said they would not want to be publicly asked to prom. But just pretend the girl you want to ask is one of those four. Word of advice, guys: before you make a fool of yourself and embarrass the girl, ask her friends if she would even like something extravagant, a note in her locker might suffice. To the girls who are publicly asked to prom by someone they do not want to go with you do not have to say yes. I am not saying you should laugh in his face and walk away that would just be plain cruel, but you might want to just ask the boy if

you could speak to him in private then let him down gently. And of course, I am not discriminating. This all applies to girls asking guys, guys asking guys, and girls asking girls. Just as a public service announcement before you go all out - no matter who you are or who you are asking - make sure the person wants to go with you and that they are okay with a public promposal.

Photo by: Yana Rankine

Alexis August Imagine being surrounded by your friends Staff Writer and classmates waiting in silent suspense for

Rejected! Be warned, this could be you.

February2015

Opinions18

Condoms in schools Should schools hand-out condoms to students on request? Condoms should be offered in school. I am not saying they should be passed out like forks in the cafeteria, but students should have access to them. A lot of pregnant teens do not finish high school, because they do not have the financial support to finish high school. Handing out condoms is something that could avoid these situations. Also, condoms do not promote students to have sex, but it promotes students to make smart decisions, if they are going to have sex. Schools are not going to give out condoms without sex education class. Teens should know the risks of having unprotected sex, such as sexually transmitted diseases, and teen pregnancy. In addition, teens will have sex regardless of if they have contraceptives or not, so why not provide them with the means to have safe sex? Sex education is still a taboo topic in schools, so many students around the country do not have the proper education when it comes to sex. How can students make informed decisions, if they are without the proper education? Students are more likely to make the wrong decision, or make mistakes, because of their lack of knowledge about to sex. More importantly, how can they be blamed when they are not provided with an education that informs them on safe sex? The bottomline is: teens will have sex no matter what, so why not provide them with the means to participate in safe sex.

@bridapuzzo Handing out condoms in school is like saying “go have sex,” without actually saying it #KeepITClassy

@marthaarasim Students are gonna do what they want anyways, might as well have protection #safetyfirst @chasebrown It is not as big of a deal, it’s not like they are dispensing them out in vending machines #KeepTheFoodWhereItsSupposedToBe

THE MEASURE OF

EXCELLENCE At Palm Beach State College, there are many measures of excellence. And they’re inspiring our students every day.

“Professor McCauley

channeled my passion to help others into my life’s work...”

Hear Veronica’s Story and more at: PalmBeachState.edu/Stories YOUR PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

Apply Now! Call 561.967.7222 or visit palmbeachstate.edu

February2015

Professor Judy McCauley Dental Hygiene

TM I oo

uch information

A guide on how not to give your friends too much information about your Valentine this year. February of every year, Valentine’s Day comes Kaylee Clemens to grace everybody with chocolate we really do not Business Manager

need, stuffed animals we really do not have room for, and tons of our friends’ juicy relationship details we do not want to know. We would all like a Valentine, but we do not want to know what you did with yours. So to make sure you do not end up being that friend, here are some helpful rules to follow:

Rule #1: Out of all of us, you are the one that got the cute date, and we are happy for you. But after February 15th, all the chocolate has been eaten, and we are done listening to what happened. There are only so many emojis you can send to describe one day.

Rule #2: We want to know where you went on your date, what you got each other, and if you kissed. We do not need a dramatic reenactment of everything that was said, nor a detailed description of how you kissed.

Rule #3: Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to come up with disgustingly cute nicknames for each other. Keep them between each other. Unless he is changing his twitter username to Stud Muffin or Shnookums any time soon, we do not need to know!

Rule #4: Even though we really do not see it, we know that you think your Valentine is a total hottie. Although, if we have to hear about how you could totally see his muscles right through his shirt, or that you are positive her bra size is a 32E “because they are enormous” one more time, one of us is probably going to lose it.

And finally, rule #5: If your romantic Valentine’s Day story begins with, “So I meet them by the first floor staircase...” it is probably best not to say anything about it, and besides, we all saw what happened.

Opinions19

STOP and think Flowers,

chocolates,

Isabelle Shafer holding hands: love Managing Editor is in the air. Spring is

here, which means that everyone is coupling up in preparation for Valentine’s Day and prom. There has been a huge increase of relationships and it has almost become hard to keep up with all of the couples joining together, and with prom coming up, a promposal frenzy is about to emerge. With the excitement of all these new relationships, it is easy for a person to want to brag about their relationship so that they stand out. However, this can create conflict with other couples, and friendships may even be hurt because of the competition created. I think it is ridiculous to compare your relationship with someone else’s. All relationships are different, as every individual connects with their significant other differently. Comparing the size of the chocolates your boyfriend got you with the one your classmate got from her boyfriend is superficial and implies the idea that you care more about the gifts than the person. This superficial jealousy does not just exist in relationships, but all throughout our lives. In general, we should not compare ourselves to others. As a man named Steve Furtick said, “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” Other people will have aspects that make them seem more happy or successful than you, but it is important to realize that they are not as great as they seem. Everyone has their own insecurities, and, as cliche as it sounds, nobody is perfect. An example of this is the recent surge of college acceptances. Just because you did not get into that one school that everyone else seems to get into, this does not they are better than you. You cannot let minor things impact your confidence. These comparisons only make you feel badly about yourself and get in the way of you achieving your own goals. To fix this problem, do not look at other people’s success as something to compete with. Each person’s success is individual to them and does not affect you. You are capable of your own success, even if it pales in comparison to someone else’s. We all have different lives and comparing these things is like comparing apples to oranges. Instead we should only compare our previous success with our future success, because all that really matters is our own personal accomplishments.

February2015

Lifestyle

Perks of being single

There is nothing wrong with spending Valentine’s Day without a date. Believe it or not, there are benefits to being single, so look at the bright side.

Lillian Hassanein Staff Writer

1. What is your favorite part about being single? 2. What is your favorite part about being in a relationship? 3. When is the last time you went on a date? 4. What is a dealbreaker for you if you’re interested in someone?

christian hernandez

aniya smith

1. I’m not constricted to other people’s plans 2.You always have someone to talk to if you ever need someone. Someone is there for you besides your family and friends. 3. Two weeks ago 4. If they don’t have a sense of humor, not intelligent, or not easy to talk to.

1. “I want to say the fact that I can do whatever I want but I can do whatever I want either way.” 2. “Someone is required to spend time with me and wants to.” 3. Exactly a year ago.” 4. If I feel like I can’t trust the person.

You do not have to spend a lot of money on food and gifts to make your significant other happy.

You do not feel the pressure of always looking nice for your significant other.

You have more time to yourself to figure out what you w ant to do with your life, whether that be career wise or just personally.

You can hang out with friends of the other gender and not have to explain yourself to anybody.

No one is actually going to be upset if you forget about anniversaries, because they do not exist!

Is She/He Just Not That Into You? Your favorite guru is back, with new tips on recognizing if your special valentine is into you. Natalia Arjona Staff Writer They flirt with you… but they flirt with everyone else, too. The problem is this particular person flirts with everyone of the opposite sex. That’s just their way of being. Their natural personality can come off as flirty and with a lot of people, it can be interpreted as something more than they mean to give off. This is where a lot of people can get confused. They get all wound up because someone totally swept them off their feet. You got their number, had a charming conversation, you keep texting for a little about nothing and...Nothing! Where did they go?

His/her body language and general behavior. Negative body language cues include: avoiding eye contact, positioning their body away from you, not engaging in the conversation (non-verbal signs of this are them not smiling while talking to you, or not nodding and showing active interest in what you’re saying), maintaining distance from you, looking around the room while talking to you… It’s usually pretty obvious when someone isn’t focused on you. If they do any of these things, they most likely are not interested.

You feel like you are giving more than you are receiving. The worst feeling is being on the side that cares more about a relationship than the other person. If you constantly feel like you are giving more than you are getting, get out of that situation. It is definitely better to back off calmly rather than being desperate and clinging onto something that is not even there.

They take advantage of you for their own benefit. “One time I had a crush on this girl in my math class. Every couple of days she would text me and start a conversation. But then I noticed that at the end of every conversation, she would always ask me for homework answers. I got over her because I didn’t like feeling used.”

February2015

Lifestyle21

[ fabulosophy ] Kayla Jin Copy Editor Welcoming the new year of 2015, we are blessed with another chance to start off fresh and reinvent ourselves, and our wardrobe, for the better. In preparation for awards season, celebrities have already gotten a head start in taking fashion risks and taking looks from the runway and rocking them on the red carpet. From the looks of the best dressed list for the Golden Globes, 2015 has already made a jumpstart towards a more glamorous year. Despite the common taboo of matching with the red carpet, a bold red was a popular color of choice. Heidi Klum (Atelier Versace), Allison Williams (Armani), Lena Dunham (Zac Posen), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Angel Sanchez) all went for a simple, yet classic look, allowing the boldness of the red speak for itself. In addition to red gowns being a hit, metallics have also been quite popular -- silvery and chromatic hues have been persistently killing it this season. Julianne Moore (Givenchy) took a risk by combining a gradient of metallics with a feathered bottom. Reese Witherspoon (Calvin Klein), Diane Kruger (Emilia Wickstead), Jessica Chastain (Versace), Dakota Johnson (Chanel). For embellished garments, JLo (Zuhair Murad), Lupita Nyong’o, Kate Beckinsale (Eli Saab), Kate Hudson (Versace), and Joanne Froggatt (Marchesa) all embraced different contemporary designs. And for the eye-catching details, Naomi Watts stunned in a diamond snake choker, while Amal Alamuddin added long white gloves to bring back a classic look, although they could have been rolled further up the arms to elongate the arms.

With the start of awards season, we can keep an eye out for more new trends on the carpet for other award ceremonies such as the Oscars, Grammy’s and the Academy Awards, and get possible ideas for prom season.

Photo by time.com Photo by mirror.co.uk Photo by vanityfair.com

Golden Globes 2015 Best Dressed List Amal Alamuddin

Diane Kruger

Kate Beckinsale

Jennifer Lopez

Jessica Chastain

Julianne Moore

Lena Dunham

Lupita Nyong’o

Joanne Froggatt

Naomi Watts

Kate Hudson

Allison Williams

Dakota Johnson Heidi Klum

Reese Witherspoon Photo by thenational.ae

Catherine Zeta-Jones

February2015

Lifestyle22

Hit the spot

Hannah Ramil Co-Editor-in-Chief

Coffee has become a staple in the high school student diet, which makes coffee shops a popular place for many teens to frequent. Subculture Coffee is one coffee shop in Downtown West Palm Beach that provides students with a quiet and cozy environment for studying and socializing. Subculture Coffee offers a wide variety of beverages, from Americanas to even breakfast smoothies. They also offer two flavors of gelato, several baked goods, such as coconut cake and strawberry ginger muffins, and sandwhiches. Subculture has free wi-fi and large tables so students are able to finish their work while eating and drinking. They are also open up to 2 oclock in the morning on the weekends, so people are really able to get their caffeine fix late round the clock! Photos by: Hannah Ramil

Unbroken

A review on the highly acclaimed movie Unbroken, which was directed by Angelina Jolie. Sabrina Rubis Angelina Jolie directed and News Editor

produced the highly acclaimed drama movie Unbroken, which follows the true story of Olympian and war veteran Louis “Louie” Zamperini. In the movie, Louie became a war veteran in World War II. In the movie, while onboard a plane, something went wrong with the engines, and the plane plummets to the water. Astonishingly, Louie, along with two other men, survived the plane crash and were lost at sea for 47 days. After a struggle to survive in the sea, the Japanese Navy found the men and captured them, in which they were

February2015

then sent to a war camp. The film follows the challenges of Louie’s life trying to survive the war camp, where he was constantly singled out and harassed by one of the guards. As inspiring and entertaining as this movie was, I felt like it was prolonged. The scenes were repetitive and somewhat expected, and I believe that Jolie concentrated too much on the prison camp itself. However, despite the length of the movie, Unbroken nevertheless was an inspiring story about the undeniable strength of the human spirit and I suggest everyone to take the time to watch this movie. Photo courtesy by Relevant Magazine

Lifestyle23

Letting Go, Letting Go.... Jonathan Elwell Lifestyle Editor

With with the clock ticking down on their time at Suncoast, a handful of seniors were asked how they were coping with the crippling affliction that is senioritis and what hopes they had for their last semester of high school.

“Pretty much wake up, go to school,

“I think it’s hard because you still have

it’s a very low stress semester. It’s play the sport that I love;

all this work to do and your teachers don’t realize that you’re physically

done, emotionally done, and mentally done. But I’ll keep on

good to know that you can focus on your extracurricular activities more. -Adrien Thokalath

trucking because senior sign out will come. -Kayla Texiera

”

“It

feels good to know that I’m almost done with high school and I’m proud of the effort I’ve put forth to get here. - Jonathan Joseph

”

Graphic courtesy of free vectors The Countdown Continues Seniors are counting down the days until May 14th, when they sign out, and May 22nd, when they graduate at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

“I feel like second semester should be

more about making memories rather than academics. - Alex Lam

”

Interactive Word Bank affection boyfriend candy chocolate date

girlfriend love pressure single treatyoself

February2015