2018 Issue 3 - The Legend by SHS The Legend

Suncoast Community High School

Volume 21 Issue 3 | january 2018

honor veterans experience a day of respect. pages 12-13

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

The Staff

Adviser TRACI LOWE Editor-in-chief austin lent Managing editor eda kutsal business manager Maria fahmy news editor marisa hart lifestyle editor monica kramer Features editor dayalis zamora opinion editor jahnaezha mcfadden sports editor anthony inza design editor farzana talukder copy editors alex levine, meghan mcglone Multimedia editor megan mendoza

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news

pathfinder nominees bright futures

website managers SIMRUN WAGHRAY, JIMMIE SMITH social media manager SAMANTHA POWERS STAFF WRITERS mARIANGEL ALEMAN, ALEC AUGUST, KAIDEN BUSCEMI, YASHNA CHOWDHURY, Mindjina Courage, KENDALL COYLE, CONNeR DICKMAN, ADRIANNA ESTRADA, KATIE GOGOLISHVILI, KEELIE HANLEY, Tahj jeanfrancois, mekela mosley, kenjela mullings, rhekha nadarajah, garfield noel, william rivera, Aubin Robinson, Sara Samadi, Randall Scott smith Jr, jack swank, daniel torrez-ortiz, Victoria vera

features opinion

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back to our roots taking flight

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the money game net neutrality

cont

Stay connected with us! follow us on Instagram: @shsthelegend add us on Snapchat: @shsthelegend check out our website: shsthelegend.com

about us

“The Legend” is a newsmagazine produced entirely by Suncoast students from all grade levels. We publish six issues per year, 3 each semester. Any opinions that are printed in “The Legend” are not necessarily the opinions of the adviser, administration, or the school district. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinions of the editorial board.

lifestyle sports do you have political kick for a business?

18 celebrities 22the fences fast nothing 20 foodies 23 but net

advertise with us! stop by room 3-117 or check out our website for more information.

ents

Pathfinder Nominees 2018 These are the 2018 Suncoast nominees for the Pathfinder Scholarship Awards.

Rachel Cherelstein

Skyler Shepard

Academic Excellence

Art

Dillon McGovern

Esther Green

Computer Science

Drama

Taylor Reed

Cynthia Du

Literature

Mathematics

Julia Volpi

Gabrielle estrada

Sports

Technical/Vocational/ Agricultural

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Austin Lent

Elle Chumlongluk

Buisness

Communications

Community Involvement

Olivia Schmidt

Eda Kutsal

Foreign Language

Forensics/Speech

Dayalis Zamora

Jose Hernandez

Sam Chen

Nicholas Constantino

Music/Vocal

Music/Instrumental

History/ Political Science

John Sutor Science

january 2018

A Bright Future For Seniors The Bright Futures Scholarship provides funding to Florida high school seniors planning to attend Universities within the Florida State University System. By Marisa Hart News Editor

s high school seniors are finishing up their college applications, there are several aspects they must keep in mind, one of them being financial costs. In state students applying to schools in Florida have the opportunity to qualify for the Bright Futures Scholars program. “It is a scholarship that is offered to students based on a combination of their GPA and SAT or ACT test score. And it provides tuition scholarship for students who are residents of Florida to attend the Florida state university system schools,” guidance counselor Stephan Kaplan said. For the 2017-18 school year, the Florida Academic Scholars were awarded full tuition and $300 to buy educational materials. The Florida Medallion Scholars offered $77 per semester course. The same funding amounts are not always guaranteed every year. “The funding has changed over time.

Back when I was a student the academic scholar covered all of tuition. It became way less generous as tuition went up. And just recently the state has bumped up funding again and for students who qualify for academic scholars it will cover the entire cost of a year’s worth of tuition,” Kaplan said. The scholarship is renewed every year for college students as long as they continue to meet the GPA requirements. If the requirements are not met in the first year of college, the student gets one restoration period during either the summer or spring term. After the first year of college, if the requirements are not met, the student will not be receiving a scholaship renewal. There are three different scholarships offered by Bright Futures: the Florida Academic Scholars, the Florida Medallion Scholars, and the Gold Seal Vocational

Scholarship. There are different GPA, test scores, and community service hour requirements for them. The Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship is geared towards students who are planning on getting an industry certification in college. “Most Suncoast students will be eligible for Medallion Scholarship, which requires an 1170 SAT score and a 3.0 core GPA, which is different than the GPA that gets reported on the student’s transcripts. And then the Academic Scholar is a 1290 with a 3.5 core GPA,” Kaplan said. The equivalent ACT scores are a 29 for the Academic Scholar and a 26 for the Medallion Scholar. The community service requirements are 100 hours for the Academic Scholar and 75 hours for the Florida Medallion Scholars scholarships. Suncoast seniors are applying for the scholarship during their English class.

tps for haitians is coming to an end

The temporary Protected status will eventally deport thousands of hatians By Garfield noel staff wrtiter

he Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants is coming to an end in the United States. These immigrants were victims of the earthquake that occured in Haiti in 2010. The scheduled deportation date for Haitians is on July 22, 2019, which gives them seventeen months to prepare to leave the U.S. TPS allows people from different countries experiencing catastrophic events or natural disasters to come to the U.S. It also permits these immigrants to work and live in the U.S. About 59,000 immigrants from Haiti received help from TPS. Haitiansare one of the largest group with the protected status. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, John Kelly said that “TPS was granted based on the earthquake…Things in Haiti were tough for decades prior to the earthquake, and will be tough for decades to come. But the reason TPS was granted was because of the earthquake.” He states that the sole purpose for the TPS was to help the country while it was going

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

through trouble; it was a temporary law. When the TPS ends, the immigrants that are still in the U.S. will become undocumented. The end of tps will affect students all over the world. A suncoast student’s grandmother has a daughter studying in a medical field. She says that, “with the TPS she is able to study and now she is working on her profession.” The end of the protection of these immigrants will affect Haitian students with TPS in the U.S, whether they were born in Haiti or born in the United States The Trump administration will determine whether to extend the status for several countries in a couple months. This would allow Haitian immigrants to re-apply for TPS. Haitians with TPS from 2010 has 27,000 children that were born in the U.S. The decision to end TPS will harm Haitian families that have been working hard to support themselves, along with the relationships that they have built during their time here. Photo Source: politico.com

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dual enrollment: a Key to success

Dual Enrollment Has Been Available For Years, And it includes many benefits. By Conner Dickman Staff Writer

uncoast, like many other high schools, has offered dual enrollment for years. Dual enrollment courses are offered directly through colleges, and count for college credit. Although Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment courses both c o u n t as college credits, they have key differences. In order to earn credit for AP classes, students are required to pass an exam in May, just before the end of the school year. Furthermore, dual enrollment is offered directly through a college; therefore, students are taught by actual professors. Additionally, this means the college will have to accept t h e credit if students pass. There are many advantages to taking dual enrollment courses. Like AP courses, they allow students to complete college requirements prior to entering their desired college. This will allow students to reduce the time they spend in college, or they can take other courses they want to take. Either way, these courses allow students to save some money. Students in the Math, Science, and Engineering (MSE) program are required to take specific dual enrollment courses. In their junior years, these students are required to take Calculus II/III - these are two separate courses. During the first semester, they will take Calculus II, and during the second, Calculus III. In their senior year, they will take Differential Equations I during their first semester, and Linear Algebra during their second semester. For students who intend on pursuing a career in engineering, these math courses will help them in college. These classes will be needed for engineering and physics courses students will take before they graduate college. Completing these math courses in high school allows students to save money in college and complete college at a quicker pace. MSE students are not the only Suncoast students required to take dual enrollment classes. Computer Science (CS) students must enroll in Linear Algebra and Discrete Mathematics. In programming, a great deal of math is needed. Therefore, if these CS students decide to continue pursuing computer

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science in college, they will have a great number of their math credits completed when they get there. MSE and CS students are required to take these courses because of the program they chose. However, all Suncoast seniors are required to take a dual enrollment

“If anyone wants to expand their knowledge and raise their GPA, dual enrollment is a great choice.” Tanuj Solanki English class, as well. All seniors will take British Literature or College Writing. Students who passed the AP English Language exam, AP English Literature exam, or both will take British Literature;

all other students will take College Writing. Completing these courses will benefit the majority of Suncoast students because almost all seniors will take one of these classes. This will allow students invovled in a different area of study to focus on what they want to study in college because they will have almost all of their general English credits done before they get there. For all of our dual enrollment classes during school, our administration works with Palm Beach State College (PBSC). Students grades and course curriculums will be reviewed by their administration. MSE students are required to take additional courses, as well. During the Summer following their Sophomore year, MSE students are required to take a dual enrollment course. They have three options: take an online course through PBSC, take a course on campus at PBSC, or take a course on campus through Florida Atlantic University (FAU). If students choose to take these courses on campus, they must report to the college’s campus instead of Suncoast. Students who chose to participate at FAU will travel to their Boca campus. Here, students will have the opportunity to gain an unprecedented amount of hands on learning. Taking these classes now will allow you to take other classes in college later. More importantly, dual enrollment allows students to get an idea of what they want to pursue in college. Students not involved in these programs can apply for dual enrollment too. Additional courses can be taken online or taken at another school’s campus. Tanuj Solanki, a student involved in Suncoast’s MSE program, claimed dual enrollment courses “can be stressful at times, but the teachers at this school are extremely helpful.” Then he added, “If anyone wants to expand their knowledge and raise their GPA, dual enrollment is a great choice.” If you are interested in applying for dual enrollment courses, contact your guidance counselor. They should be able to assist you in choosing which class is best for you and how to apply for that class. Photo Source: Florida Atlantic University

january 2018

Greek Life at fsu Suspension of greek life at fsu and other universities due to hazing incidents. By kendall coyle staff writer

n November 3, the fraternity Pi Kappa Phi at Florida State University was suspended. This suspension was because a student, Andrew Coffey, pledging for this fraternity, died. Coffey was found unresponsive at his home and by the time the police showed up, he was already dead. His death was due to the fact that he and his fraternity brothers indulged in an excessive amount of alcohol. In a separate case, Garrett John Marcy, a 20-year-old member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at FSU, was charged with the trafficking of cocaine, according to CNN. Another case happened with former Suncoast student, John Doe*. This student was pledging for a fraternity and was drugged. His fraternity brothers knew and dropped him off at his dorm without telling anyone which lead to his inappropriate actions. This student was arrested and charged with multiple accounts of battery charges. Because of his arrest, he is not allowed back at FSU to be a part of a fraternity any longer. One of his closest friends, another former Suncoast student, Sam Smith* was greatly affected by this. “It was really sad to have seen this happen to one of my closest friends. College is something you’re supposed to look forward to and these sort of accidents by fraternities and hazing should not be taken lightly.” It started with just this fraternity being banned, but now ALL Greek Life, including sororities is banned across campus. By definition, a fraternity is a group of people showing a common profession or interests. Greek Life was created by students in the mid to late nineteenth century who wanted to get together to learn about a “greater variety of topics offered in the classroom...thus creating

the first organized modern day debating and literary societies,” according to an article about the history of Greek Life by Appalachian State University. The top schools in Florida for Greek Life are Florida State University, University of Florida, Florida A&M University, University of Miami and Rollins College. Fraternities and Sororities have become very popular within the past few years, but alcohol and illegal substances have become the main topic of interest rather than what Greek Life was originally created to accomplish. “When you enter into a sorority or fraternity you become part of a family. You all become sisters or brothers in the sense that everyone does everything together. Once you get accepted into a fraternity or sorority, you are basically bound to them for life. You represent it with everything you do from then on. I think this is why pledges feel obligated to do exactly what other members tell them to do and that’s why hazing has become a big deal,” UF student Remi Conley said. Greek Life has been very popular recently, but there are a number of downfalls associated with it, including a number of now infamous hazing incidents. Before getting accepted into a fraternity, students pledge to join a specific fraternity. Pledging is basically when students want to join a fraternity and do whatever it takes to get accepted. The members of the fraternity take advantage of the pledges by edging the students to do things they may not be comfortable with, called hazing. At FSU, all Greek Life has been recently suspended because of the severe hazing that has been going on, including drug use and indulging in deathly amounts of alcohol.

Pi kappa phi fraternity first suspended following the death of a student who was pledging. Photo source: cbs news

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

There have been many deaths from students pledging for fraternities. FSU is known for its fraternities and sororities but by suspending these for the time being, it should send a message to the students that hazing has a big effect on students’ lives and hazing should be toned down. Suspending Greek Life at one of the top schools for Greek Life has made other colleges and universities think hard about the Greek Life they have in their school. In the past two months, Louisiana State University and Texas State University has also suspended Greek Life activities after each school had a fraternity pledge die. The University of Michigan’s Greek Life has been suspended recently due to allegations of sexual misconduct, hazing and drug use, and Ohio State University suspended most of its fraternities amid a wave of investigations into member misconduct. Penn State University has implemented new regulations for its Greek Life and suspended some fraternities, according to NBC News. “Banning Greek Life altogether would also drive fraternities underground, where, with virtually no oversight, they can be even more dangerous,” John Hechinger, a senior editor at Bloomberg News said. Experts say there are other avenues schools can take to reduce hazing and protect against alcohol-related deaths, such as banning alcohol and eliminating pledging. “Fraternities are a big part of the college experience and even though they are banned for the time being, they are here to stay,” Hechinger said. *students’ names have been changed to protect their identity photo source: ktla5.com

Andrew coffey this student died while pledging for the fraternity pi kappa phi.

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Looking Back at Our Roots

The annual Heritage Assembly showcases the diversity of Our Students. By Farzana Talukder Design Editor

ights dim, quiet chattering erupts among the audience. Energy buzzes throughout the performers’ veins. A spotlight, a couple of taps on a microphone and a figure appears on stage. It is time for the performers to showcase their talent and represent their countries, background and culture. “Welcome to Suncoast’s Annual Heritage Assembly!” The student population of Suncoast is a diverse one, as shown by the many flags lining the walls of the media center, with students from over 50 countries. The amount of students and the number of minorities attending is ever growing. Despite so, not many people know about cultures aside from their own. Every year, Hands Across Campus holds an eventful week dedicated to appreciating the cultures of the world, with each day of the week representing a different continent. The finale of this diverse week is the annual Heritage Assembly—a spectacular collection of performance pieces featuring groups of fellow Suncoast students representing their own little slice of their world. “The Heritage Assembly is an hour long performance that showcases several different cultures that we have here at school. It’s an assembly that lets us appreciate the diversity among the student body,” senior and co-president of Hands Across Campus, Prachi Bhavsar said. “We want to have an impact on the people who are watching the event. We want to give them the opportunity to appreciate other cultures and the people around them.” As it turns out, not many students have been exposed to other cultures. Although knowing that their peers have access to a whole different world from them, students are unaware of the how significant these experiences are to their classmates. “My heritage, for example, is Indian. I have this whole other world open to me; [the fact] that I can let others in on the experience makes me so happy,” Bhavsar said. How people perceive heritage varies among each student as well, as they feel the word ‘heritage’ may have a deeper meaning than the conventional definition. “For me, heritage means something just beyond like ‘oh, I’m Jamaican, I’m Syrian,” senior, Valdane Gifford said. “I feel like it’s what connects you to your roots and your culture, [it] connects you to your family.” The heritage assembly is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The acts performed differ year from year, but they continue to leave a lasting impact on the audience. Some well known acts that performed last year include the Indian dance,

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the American performances and the Vietnamese fan dance. Chosen performances are not limited to just one culture or country, though. Popular clubs may audition for their own acts, such as Black Student Union (BSU) and Latin Dance Club (LDC). These clubs are dedicated to the appreciation, inclusion and unity of students of different countries all falling under a particular race or ethnicity. Everyone may have their separate clubs and groups, but the assembly ties them all together. This year, Hands Across Campus has decided to take advantage of the event. After Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico, the territory has been in a state of immense devastation, as citizens are still without continuous power and lack basic necessities. Hands Across Campus is planning to use their funds to donate to Puerto Rico to help make a difference. Having such a well known and highly praised assembly comes with complications. Not everyone who auditions is able to participate, mainly due to timing. These time constraints also force a few acts to cut down their show or be cut out entirely. “I think our biggest problem is the timing, because we have to fit in so many acts in just one hour. It’s really hard to get the timing right,” senior and co-president of Hands Across Campus Simrun Waghray said. “It’s hard to pick and choose during auditions because they’re all so good but we just don’t have enough time.” Though, these complications will never dampen the enthusiasm of every person involved. Each performance may showcase the diversity of the school to a larger audience, but the acts enlighten their fellow performers as well. Behind the scenes, there stands a sense of community, as the acts root and cheer for one another. Besides being able to exhibit their culture, the groups are simultaneously having the time of their lives. “The most fun part of participating in heritage is when you’re backstage with all the other acts and you get to meet and bond with so many people,” Waghray said. “It’s fun to dance to their songs, and sometimes they teach us their dance routines!” To have friends in the audience hyping them up only heightens their enthusiasm. The clapping and cheering of the audience serves to show how all of their hard work is appreciated. “It’s when you see the acts on stage or you watch a video your friend took,” Bhavsar reminiscently said. “To watch it back to see the lights and the costumes and the smiling… it just all comes together.” Photo Courtesy of Hands across campus

january 2018

Money makers

students struggle with finding balance between their jobs and school work. By Maria Fahmy Business Manager

s students of such a competitive school with rigorous programs and countless exams, it could be very hard to balance one’s time. Having a job on top of all of this makes it even harder. In addition to participating in student government, joining clubs and playing sports, having a job is another method that students use in padding their resumes and college application. Having a job also helps students be more independent and feel ready to move out when the time comes. Some students feel the need to work as they are helping their parents with their college tuitions or any other expenses. It is important, however, that students are able to find a balance between their jobs and their school work. It is also crucial that they have their priorities straight, as their jobs are important, school is more important for their future and their careers.

Patricia Luis

Jack baumann

“I work late nights and to maintain my grades, I lose a lot of sleep. When we have breaks from school during holidays, I don’t even get a real break because I have to work every single day until 10 or 11 p.m.,” senior Patricia Luis said. Luis has worked as a hostess at Pizza al Fresco for two years. She found that having a job, although challenging, is a great learning experience that students should consider. “I think it’s an extremely valuable thing to have a job in high school. I understand that many people want to focus on just school, but at the end of the day there’s never going to be a situation in the real world where you can drop any other responsibilities to focus on just one thing. Being able to balance your life and handle multiple tasks is important, especially for teens who are about to become adults and leave the guidance of their parents.”

“I work at Palm Beach Yacht Services on any boats from 40 to 100 feet. I do pretty much everything except for engine mechanics,” junior Jack Baumann said Baumann believes that it is very important for people to enjoy the work that they do, and he is happy to have found a job that he “absolutley loves” and calls “[his] passion.” Baumann believes that it is important for students to work, as having a job develops a “good work ethic” that would help them in school and outside of school. Working during school time, however, is very difficult due to the nature of his job. “There is no way I could ever work during the week because [my job] is physically demanding and I would probably be tired when I get home.” Baumann’s job includes washing the boats and working with electronics that are on the boat.

Annie Wormus “I work at this shop called McMow Art Glass where we sell glass. I am a retail assistant which means I do a lot of the transactions. We also have classes so sometimes I help out with those,” junior Annie Wormus said. Wormus has been working at McMow Art Glass for six months. Although she tries to work only on weekends, at many times she has to skip her sport practice so that she can go to work. Although Wormus plays a sport and is doing both the IB program and the CS program she thinks that having a job is still “manageable.” “I like having a busy lifestyle. I would not say that students younger than 16 years old should work because you don’t want to start working too early and then spend your whole life working but I’m very lucky with my job and I think it’s good to start young.”

The balance of life

graphic by: Maria Fahmy

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

features 9

The Sweet Victory

The Chargersonic band and chargerettes put on a show at the sugar bowl. BY Sara Samadi STAFF WRITER

arching and dancing through the streets of New Orleans in their green and gold uniforms were the Suncoast Chargersonic band and Chargerettes. Prancing and performing through the streets, these Suncoast students participated in AllState Sugar Bowl New Years Eve Parade. The AllState Sugar Bowl is a football game between two colleges who have made it to the postseason. This year, Alabama and Clemson played in the game. The event is hailed as one of the most anticipated college sports events of the year. On December 31, 2017 the day before the game, the New Year’s Eve Parade was held and brought bands from schools all over the United States. Tourists along with visitors celebrated the New Year and the Sugar Bowl with floats, boats and marching bands in typical New Orleans flair. If one could not attend, the parade was broadcasted live for about three hours on the local channel “WDSU-Channel 6” and was uploaded on Youtube. One of the bands that participated was our very own Suncoast Chargersonic band along with the Chargettes who were invited for the third straight year. Although many of the members performed for the first time on this big stage, they performed exceptionally well, winning first (superior) in every category which included best drum major, percussion/auxiliary and many more. “I mean we always expect to do this well so it wasn’t a surprise at all” Junior Hunter Garcia said. The Charger Band has been well known around the country for their exceptional

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performances that are filled with a unique energy and flair. Reporters are generally aware of the talent that is displayed by the band given their past record at competitions such as the Florida Classic. A first time performer at the AllState SugarBowl, Senior Tyriq Stewart, recalled the event “From start to finish it was high energy and non-stop fun.It was a great experience that I definitely won’t forget.” said Stewart. Given all of the success of the band in the past and at this event they will likely return next year to the Sugar Bowl for another performance. Although many members will not be able to return, this was an experience that will last a lifetime for everyone involved. Photo Courtesy of Tyriq Stewart

january 2018

More Than Just “Lifting Weights”

victoria de alba has been on the weightlifting team since her freshmen year. By Yashna Chowdhury Staff Writer

t all started when sophomore Victoria De Alba noticed that she had a slower metabolism, meaning she would burn fewer calories than a person with a faster metabolism. Her mom immediately decided to take action and wanted Victoria to become more active, so she started out by swimming and doing gymnastics. After she went through numerous amounts of activities, she finally discovered crossfit. Crossfit is a fitness regime, which is a mix of weightlifting, cardio and gymnastics. When Victoria was ten years old, she began to do junior crossfit. Like many other adolescents, she was “lazy” and “not motivated” and wanted to keep her mom content. She later realised that it was more than just going to keep her mom satisfied: she was doing crossfit to have a healthier lifestyle. From always going to crossfit and keeping a healthy lifestyle, she has gained stamina and determination. Usually, when someone thinks about weightlifting, a person would assume that it is lifting a fair amount of weight off the ground, but it is obviously not a facile victory. De alba stated, “The hardest part about weight lifting is getting the movement correct. When you bench you have to keep your shoulders tight and your feet should be flat on the ground and when you clean and jerk, you have to keep the right form throughout the whole movement.” After getting the form right, it becomes almost like a second nature. Once a person is accustomed to the movements, that is when strength comes into play.

victoria de alba makes second place at districts competition for her weight class.

When De Alba saw that there is a girls’ weightlifting team at Suncoast, she could not wait to join. Since she had been doing crossfit for years, joining the weightlifting gave her an advantage, especially when it came to movements. De Alba explained, “Since I knew how to do the clean and jerk, all I had to do was freshen up and continue practicing throughout the season.” The weightlifting team’s coach, Molly Mccann, makes sure the girls practice every odd day, so they stay consistent with training. Last year, on the day of her first meet, her nerves were spiraling as she walked into Jupiter High School. While she was overwhelmed by the amount of people surrounding her, she almost hit her new personal record on bench press, which was ninety pounds at the time. De Alba mentioned, “I was struggling to push the bar up, wanting to say help but it was already too late and I already got the help.” Now, Victoria’s clean and jerk is 120 pounds and her bench is 105 pounds. A clean and jerk is two movements together, where a clean is lifting the barbell while going into almost a squat position, then a jerk is going from the squat position to propelling the bar upwards and going into a lunge finally bring the feet into the same plane as the rest of the body. Weightlifting is an individual sport, but for De Alba, she feels that what she loves the most is being part of the team. “The team aspect of weightlifting is that we go to these meets and we push each other to get a new PR. Overall, the team is really supportive because we all help

and teach each other and give each other tips on how to lift better. One of the best feelings is when your team is cheering and clapping for you when you hit that new PR.” De Alba described hitting a new PR as “wanting to jump up and down and do cartwheels but you can’t because you might hit a bar.” A common misconception about weightlifting is that people immediately assume that a person has to be strong and muscular and usually girls who are “bigger in size” would be on the weightlifting team. The weightlifting team is a group of diverse girls who are all doing something they are passionate about. De Alba is a smaller girl, she also encourages anyone who feels like they are not strong enough to be on the weightlifting team. She remarked, “There are girls who join knowing that they can’t lift that much and start with the bar[45 pounds] and we are halfway through the season and now they can do 60 pounds.” In the future, she hopes to continue weightlifting. De Alba included, “Not only weightlifting but just continue exercising and having a healthy lifestyle and just integrate weightlifting into my workouts.” After the season is over, De Alba is aiming to join USA Weightlifting and go to those meets to see how well she does and test her limits. She hopes to continue to incude crossfit in her daily living. Adding to her accomplishments, De Alba made second place at districts along with Veronica Feinberg, she hopes to place again at regionals on Jan. 19th.

de alba (right) and feinberg (left) show off their medals, both making second place.

de alba finsihes the clean and jerk at the districts competion. photo s by Yashna Chowdhury

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

features 11

taking flight virtually

virtual honor flight offered veterans a day of respect and excitement. by Austin lent editor-in-chief

verwhelming applause fills the auditorium. Cheers, smiles and the occasional tear soon follow. As the video comes to a close, there is not a single person in the room who has not been touched by the moving visuals. The task was ambitious from the beginning. A flight from Palm Beach International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport can take well over two hours. But they only had a mere 30 minutes to transport 42 veterans from Suncoast to Washington, D.C. and back. At 7:30 a.m., doors still needed to be decorated, the cafeteria had to be transformed into an elegant red, white and blue dining hall, and the lofty balloon arch was one YouTube tutorial away

from being started. As time dwindled and the clock approached 10, pressure began to build. With wheelchairs lined up and ready to go and the finishing touches being added around campus, guardians prepared for the start of an important day, a day for the community to demonstrate its respect. While some veterans have received the once-in-a-lifetime experience from the Honor Flight Network of traveling to D.C. by plane and viewing their war memorials all in one day, others cannot make this remarkable journey. The trip is physically demanding and can be difficult for those with limited mobility or other disabilities. So the Virtual Honor Flight (VHF) was born,

bringing the nation’s capital here. No airports. No planes. No interstate traveling. Just a “normal” Saturday at Suncoast. Southeast Honor Flight’s Director of Public Affairs Kathy Sreenan said to the audience, “We hope this is a day focused on these courageous men and women for serving our nation, for stepping up when the world needed you most, and for laying your lives on the line to preserve our freedom and way of life.” The day consisted of pictures, music, lunch, and more pictures, but the highlight was the video. “It was stressful. There was a lot of pressure to make it great,” senior Chelsea Mistretta said. Mistretta joined fellow senior Jack Webber on an Honor Flight trip to produce an immersive experience for these veterans. From the changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetery to the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials, Webber and Mistretta captured all the highlights on camera. They then uploaded the many hours of footage and edited it down to just 30 minutes. “It was really special to see the veterans’ [response]. So many were in tears. That was what this was all about. That made all the months of preparation and video editing for us all worth it,” Webber said. “I knew something good would come out of it, but the end result was bigger than anyone could have ever expected.” And the response was unanimous. From the veterans and their loved ones to the Honor Flight team, everyone only had praise to give, with Spalding Wagner, a Korean War veteran, complimenting

“

This [experience] was unbelievable. I haven’t cried in years. I won’t ever forget it. wwII veteran Stanley Ehrlich

”

how “natural and easy” everything seemed. “I am so impressed with the organization, I know how much detail there was to pull this all together. It looked so effortless. It looked so natural and easy. I want to congratulate the whole group. They’ve done a good a job as I’ve ever seen,” he added. The road to VHF, however, was not easy. Amidst endless spreadsheets, last minute cancellations and a changed date, History teacher David Traill coordinated VHF with Southeast Honorflight, but he does not want any “individual praise.” “It was the best day of my life in 21 years of teaching. We definitely touched some lives,” he said. “I am so appreciative. I can’t put it into words.” Like Traill mentioned, the day was not about the recognition for the staff but for the veterans who may not have received this gratitude back when they returned from the military. Although VHF centered around the video, the overall experience served to build a sense of gratitude in the community. Honor Flight’s signature “Mail Call” embodied this idea with each veteran receiving letters from family members, friends and students. World War II veteran Stanley Ehrlich said, “I really didn’t want to bother at first. I thought I would be schlepped around, but If I had missed this, I never would have known. This [experience] was unbelievable. I haven’t cried in years.” While Virtual Honor Flight was just a one day experience, the auditorium took the veterans out of Palm Beach County right to Washington, D.C. for the time being. “There is so much love in this place [Suncoast] that I will hate going back into the real world,” Ehrlich added. The audience bursts once again into a defeaning roar of cheers. “More! More! More!” And that was just for the cheerleaders’ performance. Despite their age, the veterans are still one lively and humorous group that “won’t ever forget” the Virtual Honor Flight experience. photos and graphic by austin lent operation homecoming (top left). At the conclusion of the event, veterans and their guardians are greeted by members of the community with flags, posters and all things red, white and blue. hats off (bottom left). The veterans gather together for a group photo in their honor flight shirts and hats. a job well done (bottom right). David traill and kathy sreenan celebrate the success of virtual honor flight at the end of the day.

mentally misunderstood mental disorders do not inhibit your ability to function in the real world. By Jahnaezha McFadden Opinion Editor

ver the years, the importance of mental disorders has been cast aside and overshadowed in society. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost 3.5 million Americans who were diagnosed with a mental illness do not receive treatment and over 50 percent of individuals have undiagnosed mental disorders. This is mainly due to the lack of understanding and not taking the symptoms of mental disorders seriously. In society, there is a negative stigma associated with mental disorders and because of this, so many people attempt to hide from the diagnosis. Too ashamed of the negative connotation associated with mental disorders, people deny the fact that they need help, which only hurts themselves and the people close to them in the end. Mental illnesses has been categorized as health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior. Mental illnesses have also been associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. The true causes of mental disorders are unknown, but it has been related to biological, environmental, psychological, and genetic factors. In today’s society being different is automatically viewed as a bad thing, so many people with mental disorders feel ashamed for something they do not have control over. Many times someone with a mental disorder has been told that they are being dramatic or they just want attention when in hindsight their actions are a sign that they need help. “Multiple people have told me I need to be in control of my feelings, but it is not something I can control. In the end it

14 opinion

[what they say] only makes it worse and makes me feel more alone,” a senior who wishes to remain anonymous said. Today the lack of the appropriate use of words like depressed and bipolar has given way to these feelings of loneliness, shame and has diminished the importance of what it means to have a mental illness. In situations where someone is upset, others label them as depressed or if a person has a change in emotions they are called bipolar. The frivolous use of these conditions in trivial situations has only secluded people with mental disorders even more. Shaming someone for who they are has become too common, and it needs to stop. Supporting people with mental disorders should be a main priority instead of creating a negative perception for their condition. Letting them know that they are not alone and that they have the support they need should be the focus. At Suncoast, the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program has been

implemented to allow students to discuss and learn about depression and those who self-identify as depressed are provided counseling; but at times, the students lack the understanding of the seriousness od the issue. During the presentations students are either are talking and playing around or making jokes. In this program, depression is categorized into two parts, “big D depression” and “little D depression,” and rather than focusing on this issue at hand, students use it as a punchline for their jokes. The media has become a significant influence in people’s lives and previously it appeared that there was very little discussion about mental health and its influence on a person’s overall state of well-being until actors Chris Wood, Melissa Benoist, and Edward Schmit started the #IDontMind campaign in October 2017. The concept behind the campaign is to raise awareness, to break down the barriers of the stigma surrounding mental illness, and to bring hope to those who are struggling and afraid to speak up. Many celebrities including Wood, Benoist, and Schmit uses the hashtag I Don’t Mind to show that even though they are celebrities, they battle with anxiety and depression at times and demonstrate to other people with mental illnesses that they are not alone. #IDontMind was based on the quote “your mind matters, talk about it,” and from the very beginning, the quote was incorporated into every aspect of the campaign. The importance of sharing one’s experience and the inclusive nature of the campaign display its message and its’ goal to spread awareness. All money raised through the sell of t-shirts and sweatshirts goes the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an advocacy group that represent families and people affected by mental illnesses in the United States. PHOTO SOURCE: PANTHER PRINT

january 2018

the money game

students are paying up long before they receive their acceptance letters. by Eda Kutsal managing editor

s college application season comes to a close, seniors are beginning to brace themselves for the endless weeks that await them before acceptance (or rejection) letters are delivered to their doorsteps. However, long before any senior can proudly commit to the college of their dreams and send in that sweet 200 dollar deposit fee to claim their seat, a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears must be sent into colleges if they are expected to consider the acceptance of a prospective student. In all seriousness, students are expected to pay hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in order to apply to higher education institutions and complete all the required documents and components needed. Applying to college comes with a price tag at nearly every step of the way and students are liable to bankrupt themselves before they even get to their school of choice. There are plenty of high school students that are either undecided on what they plan to study in the future or would like to keep their college options open. As a result, most seniors are applying to quite a few colleges in order to ensure they will be accepted into at least one school. Preparing for the future and applying to several colleges comes at a hefty price and some students are not able to afford to apply to more than three or four colleges because of financial reasons. It is not only dreadful, but so discouraging to be put into a position where you are unable to apply to college because you do not have the money in order to do so. Although students who are fortunate enough to live comfortably do not have to worry about this issue and neither do much of the lower income students due to fee waivers, lower middle-class families that do not fit into either category are stuck in a position where they must pay the full price to apply to colleges, despite their financial standing. Many people are quick to believe that all it takes to apply to college is a few essays and a couple of written questions and then bam, you are done! Unfortunately, it does not work this way. Applying to college requires transcripts, standardized tests, schoolspecific applications, and time, all of which are costly. Every transcript to an out-of-state university costs three

dollars, and this can vary from school to school. Next comes standardized testing which is what can make or break any studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; application. To register to take an SAT test, students have to pay a baseline of 46 dollars for the test without the essay portion and 60 dollars for the test with the essay portion. The ACT without writing costs 46 dollars and with writing costs 62.50. Often times, students take the SAT more than once in order to get their test superscored and most schools require students to take the writing portion of the test. Not only that, but students must also pay in order to send these scores out to the schools they are applying to. It costs 12 dollars to send one SAT score report and 13 dollars to send one ACT score report. These prices add up over time and it is a hefty price tag that many lower middle-class families cannot afford; however, application fees are what truly drive up the cost of applying to college. Application fees range anywhere from 30 dollars to 90 dollars each, most being on the higher end of the scale. The baseline fees that every senior applying to college must pay does not even take into account the price of personal SAT/ ACT tutoring, college essay tutors, and college application mentors that

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

make the process ten times easier and less stressful. Having money makes a huge difference when applying to college and definitely comes with significant advantages that make it easier to get into college. Access to tutors and mentors make the experience seem less overwhelming and having money enables students to apply to as many colleges as they want whereas those in the middle class do not have these advantages and are forced to work much harder in order to yield the same results. There is no reason for colleges to be charging students so much for application fees. Colleges earn more than enough money through student tuition to cover the 80 dollar fees they ask from students. Paying an application fee should not indicate the quality of a student. If a student is applying to a college, that should be more than enough to show they are worth the time and consideration of admission officers. It is not only admissions though, students end up paying hundreds of dollars for standardized testing in order to get into college too. Education, something that should be valued and inspiring, is doing nothing more then draining the pockets of students all across the country.

Graphic courtesy of zach lajoie

opinion 15

us states TRUMP territories MANY ARE ANGERED OVER THE LACK OF URGENCY TRUMP HAS TO HELP PUERTO RICO. BY KAIDEN BUSCEMI STAFF WRITER

uerto Rico, a small and beautiful island belonging to the United States of America, is still struggling to recover from the devastation that Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria left behind this past fall. Irma devastated much of the Caribbean, including the countries of Barbuda, St. Martin, The Virgin Islands, Cuba, and the Bahamas. American states including Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas and the western and northern coasts of Florida also received substantial damage. Though many damaged communities in Florida and Texas have received aid from one another and helped to clean up and replace what was lost, Puerto Rico continues to struggle on the path of recovery, and many have begun to blame Trump and the US government. As one of the top most powerful Atlantic-born storms, Irma grew to a category 5 rather rapidly, and clocked in wind speeds of 180 miles per hour. In Puerto Rico alone there were about 20 deaths after all three hurricanes swept across the island, though Irma left a total of 134 dead by the time the storm had passed. Aside from the death toll, thousands were injured and left without their normal commodities. The main issue being power shortages, as well as many completely misplaced from their homes. Though Puerto Rico escaped most of Irma’s wrath, the eye of the hurricane passed over the territory, and furthered the devastation of the island’s infrastructure and damaging most of their power lines. As the hurricanes swept through Puerto Rico, many lost their cars, boats, pets and houses. With an already weak economy, and many of their buildings beginning to crumble, the island did not stand much of a chance to either Hurricane Maria, Jose,

or Irma. Though our own people and the internal conflicts that the hurricane caused were first on the governments list to fix, Puerto Rico is still not yet fully recover from the damage, and many are outraged. States with the most damage received help within a few days, as the government has helped to send aid services and resources such as food, clothing and housing to those that lost their homes and belongings in the floods caused by the storm. Puerto Rico had to wait two weeks for the US to send their aids over. The federal government issued a promise to send their resources over by September 26, but aid, as well

meals by aircraft alone, as well as sent over six commercially used barges, two navy ships, nine coast guard ships, has opened five airports and four ports in Puerto Rico, and has issued a 36 billion dollar aid package to be given to Puerto Rico, all meant to help with hurricane relief. Recently, Trump has laid claims to revoke the help being sent over to Puerto Rico, though the money has still been used and US services continue to help the nation. Perhaps the most debatable policy that Trump has issued is his implementation of the Jones Act Restrictions, which have declined the allowance of non-American ships to be used in and out of Puerto Rican ports. This ban was issued by the department of Homeland Security, and has restricted the potential supplies and resources that other cargo ships may bring to Puerto Rico in effort to help them. The restriction of these cargo ships has upset many Puerto Ricans as it dampers the amount of resources and services available for their revival. Despite the assistance the US has given, as well as the communities with Puerto Rico helping to recover from the damage, much more is needed. It has been argued that Puerto Rico is Trump’s responsibility, as it is a US territory, and though Trump has given them billions worth of aid, the island is still trying to clean up the debris from the millions of trees, houses and buildings that were destroyed and scattered throughout the island. Puerto Rico was hit by multiple storms within a couple of months, as well as still attempting to fix their economy and recover from storms in other previous years, the road to gaining their infrastructure and national strength again will be long and hard.

“...an island in the middle of the ocean. You can’t just drive your trucks there from other states.” Donald trump as Trump’s promised visit, happened on October 3, while the promise of federal aid to states like Texas were fulfilled within a days time. The delayed action that the United States has taken upon reaching Puerto Rico and supplying them with essentials such as food and gas has angered many native to the island, as well as those who have personal ties to the island. On the contrary, in an article by the New York Times, Trump points out that Puerto Rico is “...an island in the middle of the ocean. You can’t just drive your trucks there from other states.” Despite Trump taking longer than preferred, Puerto Rico still received tremendous help from the US, as within the weeks following the storm, Trump has sent over 1 million

36 billion dollar aid package all for Puerto Rico five airports and four ports in Puerto Rico

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six commercially used barges

nine coast guard ships

1 million meals by aircraft

two navy ships

january 2018

THE FATALITY OF NET NEUTRALITY The net neutrality repeal would leave America in the dark ABOUT WORLD NEWS. BY MEGAN MENDOZA multimedia editor

itting in a classroom, you zone out from the lecture and decide to find something to entertain you. From YouTube videos to Club Penguin, you run into the same old page with an alert saying “website blocked by school district.” This censorship has already caused enough trouble when it prevents students from doing research at school. After the vote to repeal net neutrality, this could become a reality in your own home. Since 1983, the internet has been a platform that connects people across the globe, keeping them educated on world news. As of 2017, people have used the internet to pioneer ideas, express opinions and overall make a difference in the world. This free reign may come to an end soon since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal America’s net neutrality protections. Although the vote to repeal has won, net neutrality is not officially over, as the repeal still has to go through congress and several people have called for a bill to reestablish net neutrality. According to Angele Gilroy, author of Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate, net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers must treat all data the same. This meaning that no matter the user, platform or device, one is free to browse any part of the internet. The intention for net neutrality is to allow the internet to be fair for anyone’s use. Anyone should be allowed to voice their opinions and broadcast important information. The repeal would mean that only certain service providers would have the ability to streamline and control all information that surfaces onto the internet. America would then only be exposed to mainstream media that covers events that affect the majority. Due to this, America would no longer be educated on events and problems that occur around the whole world that need to be tackled. The slave trade in Libya, for instance, was being silenced until it surfaced on social media. People of the internet then took action and spread awareness of the issue. If the net neutrality repeal takes place, a majority of the people who would utilize the internet would be those privileged enough to pay for it. This would lead to a biased platform due to the majority rich and white users. On the other hand, there are some benefits to repealing net neutrality. According to FCC chairman Ajit Pai, the repeal would allow consumers to make greater investments in digital infrastructure. This would create jobs for more Americans, increase competition, and lead to better internet access.

suncoast high school | shsthelegend.com

Additionally, the repeal would not force those who rarely use the internet to pay for a service that they do not utilize. Users in the modern age have used net neutrality to their full advantage. Many people may believe that kids and teens abuse the internet just for entertainment purposes, but students worldwide use the internet to help with their studies. They are able to get homework help, collect research or get free tutoring via the internet. Entrepreneurs and entertainers can use the internet to advertise their ideas or use platforms such as YouTube to profit from creating content. “In the last four years at Suncoast, I’ve used the internet for just about everything. I use it to do assignments, find research to do papers, and (most importantly) watch Netflix. Net neutrality is a key part of everyone’s everyday life and to get rid of it would be atrocious,” senior Anjali Ramsahai said. There are many uses of the internet, including the ability to allow the whole world to work together in order to combat tragedies. The internet has allowed the public to gather information and formulate strong opinions. People have voiced their opinion on social media and were able to break social barriers. Through media exposure, people were able to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, speak out against sexual harassment, hold officials accountable for their actions and much more. Through the use of the internet and the help of net neutrality, social media has become such a helpful platform for keeping people educated on world news and making a difference. On the internet, every voice matters. America as a whole has made such an improvement on its state just by the use of the internet’s free speech alone. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, about 87 percent of Americans make use of the internet. America would be taking one huge step back if the FCC allows the net neutrality repeal to follow through. The internet is an important source of free speech. Net neutrality gave the public a way to have a voice in their community, transferring some power from the government to the people. If the repeal follows through, the people lose that power and the power gets given back to those who want to take away our rights. America would be silenced and uneducated about world news. If the public is unaware of issues and are unable to work together to combat them, history will repeat itself. PHOTO SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS PHOTO SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

opinion 17

Celebrities in politics

Political activism has become a new trend for singers and movie stars. BY Monica Kramer Lifestyle Editor

resident Trump’s campaign sparked outrage among politicians as he previously was a successful businessman and most surprisingly, a reality TV star. Despite the average American’s response to Donald Trump’s campaign, he is hardly the first celebrity to be a political activist or run for public office. Before Ronald Reagan’s presidency, he starred in a variety of Hollywood films for almost 30 years. The Terminator star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became the Governor of California in 2003 and evidently sparked celebrity involvement in politics and activism. One of the most notable displays of celebrity activism was Beyonce’s Super Bowl 50 halftime performance in which she paid tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement. Her performance was received with differing opinions from the American public as some praised Beyonce for her bravery, while others said the Super Bowl is no place for politics. Regardless, the performance was widely discussed. Her album, “Lemonade,” was released in 2016 and is a clear indication of her political stance on equality and racial tensions in the United States. The various music videos are rich with images to show Beyonce’s willingness to speak out against institutional racism and police brutality. The lyrics reference her personal struggles and the hardships women of color face in society. The title of the album is a metaphor to the process of making lemonade, which symbolizes overcoming adversity and hardships. Hillary Clinton’s campaign was another hotspot for many celebrity activists. Madonna put on a concert in New York City urging fans to get out and vote in the election. Extremely active in Clinton’s campaign

photo source: Deadline photo source: pinterest photo source: wikimedia

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were Jay Z and Beyonce. Together they held a concert for Clinton the weekend before the election and showed their immense support for this presidential candidate. Demi Lovato spoke in support of Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in July 2016. As an individual who suffered from depression, she praised Clinton for her devotion to medical improvements for those who have mental illnesses. Among other celebrities that publicly supported Clinton were Cher, Bon Jovi, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Jennifer Lopez and Pharrell Williams. On the other hand, several celebrities showed their support for Donald Trump throughout his campaign. Kiss member Gene Simmons praised Trump in an interview with Rolling Stone claiming he was “good for the political system”. Other celebrities have shown their political opinions through activism. “Harry Potter” star Emma Watson was a United Nations ambassador in 2014 and launched the #Heforshe campaign. She utilized her popularity to become a worldwide voice for feminism and women’s rights. Similarly, Shailene Woodley played the lead role of Amy Juergens in “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and demonstrates her passion for the environment. Woodley

campaigned against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016 and while doing so was arrested for trespassing. She continues to use social media to promote her love for the environment. On the other hand, Taylor Swift is unlike most of her celebrities as she is not outwardly political in any of her public appearances or albums. While some fans praise her for keeping her political views separate from her music career, others criticize Swift for not taking a stance. As a result of her large audience people expect her to speak about important issues. In 2014, Swift was attacked for not supporting Hillary Clinton in her campaign, like most other celebrities did. Swift indicated that there is nothing wrong with keeping her political views separate from her singing career. In the age of social media and President Trump’s polarizing administration, celebrities use their influence to increase awareness or create change, especially concerning political issues. Many celebrities are political and engage in activism, while others evidently prefer to keep their political opinions separate from their music and acting careers. Despite a celebrities political stance, their involvement in activism has proven to be successfully in a variety of ways.

MOBILE ANIMAL CROSSING GAME RISES TO SUCCESS

New Animal Crossing game makes history with its cute and charming characters. By Jack swank staff writer

intendo, one of the world’s leading gaming companies has released “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp,” the next addition to their “Animal Crossing” series. The “Animal Crossing” series is mainly composed of fishing, catching bugs, picking fruit, shopping, designing living spaces, character customization and overall helping the villagers in the community; however, there is a new twist in “Pocket Camp”. Aside from being the only mobile phone game in the series, this game allows the player to host a getaway campsite. The player interacts with friendly animals, hence the name “Animal Crossing”. Each animal has their own unique design to differentiate themselves. There are many types of animals, including dogs, cats, birds and hamsters.The main purpose of the game is to create friendships with them. This can be done by having conversations and completing favors. Like people, these animals have design preferences. Some of the categories are cool, cute, hip, elegant, natural, sporty and modern. “Animal Crossing” with friends has never been easier. All that players have to do is share their game ID with others and have them accept a friend request. With friends, players can access the mines to earn extra money and also check out each others’ campsites and what their friends are selling.

The game has become extremely popular among students. During lunch, many students can be seen playing this new game. According to Forbes, “‘Animal Crossing Pocket Camp’ has made more than ten million dollars in nine days as well as more than 15 million downloads.” Despite making millions of dollars, “Pocket Camp” is ad-free. The timed goals and objectives that need to be completed in a specific time frame attract players to come back to complete the goals for unique in-game prizes. The daily login bonus is also another reason for players to login consecutively because it gives players free prizes. With the intense academic standards of school it can be nice to have a bit of a retreat. For many users, “Pocket Camp” helps them relax, and being a mobile game, anyone can bring their oasis with them on the go. Overall the “Animal Crossing” series has touched the hearts of many players worldwide, and “Pocket Camp” is no exception. “Pocket Camp” is the fusion of the heart-warming “Animal Crossing” people know and love as well as the new features to compete with the advancing and ever changing gaming industry. “Pocket Camp” is free to download on the App Store and Google Play store. Graphics Courtesy of: animal Crossing franchises

Fast Foodies some of The best food to buy at the South Florida Fair. By Adrianna Estrada Staff Writer

he South Florida Fair is something that all Floridians flock to every year. This event only comes to the fairgrounds once a year, only staying for a few weeks. The variety of rides are not the only reason why people go to the fair, though. Hundreds of people go to the fair just to get a taste of the delicious food. Some of the best food can only be seen once a year just by going to the fair. Here are some of the best foods you can eat exclusively at the fair.

Funnel Cake

Elephant Ears

Fried Oreos

Funnel cake is one of the foods that everyone talks about when the South Florida Fair approaches. This deep fried cake is made by pouring batter through a funnel, in a spiral shape, into oil to fry. Once taken out of the oil it is covered by a powdered sugar that makes this dish deliciously amazing. “Tasting the soft doughy sweetness, always brings back good memories with my family” said Kelsea Frederic.

This fried dough is something that keeps Floridians coming back for more every year. The dough is placed into oil to fry to get a crispy golden color. After being taken out of the fryer, it is brushed with melted butter. To finish it off, a cinnamon and sugar mixture is sprinkled on top. No wonder people just cannot get enough of this. “I love the buttery sweetness of elephant ears when I go to the fair” said Kayleigh Ramos.

After a long day of being at the fair, fried oreos definitely catch everyone’s eye. It is hard to leave the fair without getting a taste of this dish. An oreo is dipped into a batter and then placed into a fryer to make little yellow balls. After, it is covered with your choice of powdered sugar, chocolate syrup or both. “I love when I’m eating fried oreos and it all melts in my mouth when I take a

Fresh funnel cake Photo courtesy of Kelsea frederick

Golden elephant ear Photo courtesy of kayleigh ramos

Bitten fried oreos photo courtesy of ashley dynes

This Spanish delicacy is also sold at the fair. Batter is squeezed out of a tube into oil to fry. It is fried until it is crisp and golden. After it is covered in a cinnamon and sugar mixture, you can choose for it to be filled with chocolate or caramel as well. With every bite you get the crunchiness of the churro and the gooeyness of the fillings. “They are yummy because they have this crunchy sweet taste to it” said Daniela Orozco.

A flat bread is filled with slices of your choice of beef, pork or lamb. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream and most importantly tzatziki sauce are added to bring the dish together. French fries can also be added to your gyro for more flavor. People from around the state come to try and get a taste of this dish. “Gyros are my favorite food at the fair because all the flavors come together perfectly” said Janet Limas.

Hundreds of people who attend the the fair wait in line every year to get the famous turkey leg. A big turkey leg is roasted to give it a red-orange crunchy and moist skin. Different spices are rubbed onto the turkey leg and then left to roast for several hours to bring out all the juicy flavors. “I love getting turkey legs at the fair because because the meat is so moist and it tastes amazing” said Christian Cabeza

Crunchy churros Photo couresy of daniela orozco

Fresh gyro at the fair Photo by Adrianna Estrada

Big turkey leg photo courtesy by christian cabeza

churros

Gyros

bite” said Ashley Dynes.

Turkey Leg

So after a long week of exams, tests and homework, head to the South Florida Fair and try all of these great foods. It is a perfect way to finally get a break from all the work students get at school. You can enjoy everything the fair has to offer with your family and friends. Most importantly you can eat all the mouth-watering foods that only come by once a year.

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january 2018

top 10 SONGS: HIP-HOP EDITION 10 of the hottest songs dominating MY HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYLIST. By Kenjela Mullings Staff Writer

usic is a beautiful way for one to express their feelings through listening to different beats and rhythms. Stylistically, many people have differences in preferred music genres and artists. Ten of my favorite hip hop songs will be listed below, in no particular order.

1.Pick It Up- Famous Dex (feat. A$AP Rocky)

A$AP Rocky and Famous Dex collaborate with one another to produce this upbeat song that highlights their opinions on the wealth and fame they have received over the past years. The introduction starts off “soul-full” then quickly transitions into a bass-boosted chorus and melody.

`7.1000-N.E.R.D (feat. Future) For those who may not know, N.E.R.D is a funk-rock music group that was mainstream in 2010 and spontaneously reappeared recently in November of 2017. N.E.R.D’s new album, Not Everyone Really Dies, is temporarily comprised of two songs, including “Lemon” by Rihanna and this song, “1000”. “1000” has multiple music transitions and beats, making the overall style of the song unique and enjoyable to the listeners ears.

2.Ric Flair Drip- Offset, Metro Boomin’

12:1

Offset, one of the three Migos, goes solo on this song produced by Metro Boomin’. In this song, Offset alludes his lyrics to the famous wrestler Ric Flair in an effort to metaphorically show that he has reached a lavish life analogous to Flair’s.

3. UnoTheActivist- Fabo

UnoTheActivist is more of an underground rapper, but some of his songs really stand out. Fabo, for example, was a song on the Live.Shyne.Die album in which Uno rapped about the luxurious life he lives and the people he has met along the way. His raps convey confidence and passion for what he does.

4. Issues- PnB Rock (feat. Russ)

The combined voices of PnB Rock and Russ transform into a song with a catchy melody and stylistic rhythm. Russ is known for producing his own songs. His experience in beat-making mixed with his PnB Rocks unique singing-style makes the song a favorite.

5. Gummo- 6ix9ine

Gummo is a song that would not be considered a “Hip-Hop” song traditionally; however, the hook and the beat make it a really powerful song. This song was inspired by the emo-styled genre of music. its heavy-beat boosted melody and loud chorus contributes to the songs overall aggressive sound.

6. I Live in LA- Famous Dex

Famous Dex, who was featured in the song “Pick It up”, uploaded “I Live in LA” as a Soundcloud EP. While the song is not as mainstream, the beat is very playful and Dex shapes his voice to fit this quiet but lively melody.

Can You Rap Like Me?

Trippie R e d d T r i p p i e Redd is a young rapper with a lot of stylistic talent. His song “Can you Rap Like Me?” has an old school vibe and flow. This song was meant to target all of his haters as a way of telling them that he is one of the best rappers out there. The confidence in this statement is definitely depicted in the way he raps his verses.

9. CandyPaint- Post Malone

Candy Paint is an upbeat song and is sung by a very versatile rapper, Post Malone. In the song Malone sings about his wealth, success and appreciation for the items he is able to receive in his life.

10.

Don’t Do It- N.E.R.D (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Kendrick Lamar is an all-round multi-faceted artist with unexplainable knowledge of the world and the events that are shaping human’s lives. In this song “Don’t Do It” N.E.R.D and Kendrick team up to present a song that alludes to the violence in the world.

Kick for the Fences The teachers have their own ways of having fun after school. By randall scott smith jr staff writer

hile there are a wide variety of sports for the students of Suncoast to play, our very own teachers enjoy sports of their own. After school, some of Suncoast’s teachers play on their own kickball team. These games are an exciting way for the teachers to unwind and have a fun time after dealing with students all day. “It’s an overall program to increase wellness and activity for the district employees,” said team captain and Suncoast psychology teacher Dennis Spencer. The kickball team, named “Pitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”, was composed of 20 different teachers, however, not all of the team members could show up every week. “On average we had about ten people show up to every game,” said Spencer. This is the second year that the teachers have played kickball, and their previous experience paid off this season. The kickball team was set up like a normal sports season, with Suncoast’s teachers competing against other teachers and administrators throughout the district. The kickball season started back in October, and lasted until their final playoff game in early December. “We played once a week, but the day would change week by week,” said team member and Suncoast history teacher Gavin Seidel. Over the course of the season, the teachers played a total of five games in the normal season plus one play off game. The teachers performed quite well in their season, winning four of the five games, and having a draw on the last one, which means they were undefeated. As the team captain, Spencer was very involved in the season, showing up to every single game. It helped to have 20 people on the team since not everyone could go to every game.

One Suncoast staff member who was a part of the team was our very own school Principal Karen Whetsell. “Ms. Whetsell played with us one game, against a team that had their boss on the team,” said Spencer. One of the biggest difficulties that the kickball team has had to deal with is coordinating games with other teams. “It’s very difficult coordinating these things with teachers that work later. If you’re at a middle school you’re not done until after four, and then you’ve got to go drive somewhere and play a game so it’s hard to coordinate all of this, then our team might do well scheduling our games on Wednesdays, and the other team plays mainly on Thursdays, so you’ve got to coordinate times and locations,” said Spencer. In spite of these difficulties, the teachers were still able to play every week with few incidents. On December 5, 2017, the teachers played their first and final playoff game against a team named “Cool Name Pending”. Unfortunately, the Suncoast team lost three to one, even though they were tied going into the final inning, meaning it was a nail-bitingly close game. Since they lost, the teachers unfortunately were not able to continue in the playoffs, and the season was over. This is not the end of the teacher’s sports program, however, since the kickball team will also be playing softball later in the spring. photo source: Marines.mil

The suncoast teacher kickball team Poses for a team photo Photo courtesy of dennis spencer

22 sports

january 2018

t e N t u B g n i h t o N

By Alex Levine Copy Editor

eams.

sketball t a B e eg ll o c g in is m o r p t a’s mos a closer look at Florid By Alex Levine Copy Editor

s the excitement of college football has come to a culminating bang of an end in the form of bowl season, college basketball has emerged out of the shadows to delight fans throughout the country, as teams fight for a chance to compete during March Madness for the national championship. This year, Florida’s best college teams look to build on newfound confidence as they aim for success. The University of Florida has high expectations this season. After coming off of a mediocre season, the team was ranked in the top ten to start the 2017-18 season. Yet, after suffering a number of losses throughout early December, they have much to prove in upcoming Southeastern Conference play to justify their pre-season rankings and aspirations. In an SEC conference that carries increasing weight in terms of national difficulty, Florida will need to maintain an almost perfect record to

regain a coveted top-10 ranking, and a high seed during March Madness. Nevertheless, Florida fans are excited about the possibilities offered by their conference’s newfound standing. “We have a lot of opportunities to prove ourselves,” said Senior and Florida fan Kiersten Smith. “If we can play well against Texas A&M and Kentucky then I think we might have a good chance at winning the SEC title and a good spot in the tournament.” Florida State is coming off of a strong 2016-17 season, yet it has a rebuilding project on its hands. With star small forward Jonathan Isaac gone to the National Basketball Association after just one year, Florida State will have much to prove in a difficult Atlantic Coastal Conference. With strong leadership in the form of 16-year veteran coach Leonard Hamilton, though, and a recent trend of NCAA tournament appearances, a solid

season from FSU could easily yield a strong seeding during March Madness. Miami, with one of the strongest defenses in the country, has been rolling strong throughout the start of the season. Although not yet proven in conference play, where they will be forced to stand up to Duke and University of North Carolina teams that are consistently dominant, Miami allows its opponents the second lowest points per game tally in the country. Led by sophomore Dewan Huell, who hails from Miami, the Hurricanes are one of the most threatening teams in the country and look to be a power to be reckoned with during March Madness on the road to the National title. This college basketball season looks to be an exciting one for Florida basketball. With a number of strong teams in powerful conferences, success and strong showings in the NCAA tournament looks to be the goal.

rankings, FSU, UF s es Pr d te ia oc ss A s Beside 25 in ESPN’s p to e th in e ac pl ll a and Miami which forecasts , x de In er w Po ll ba Basket success in March. Photo Source: wikimedia PHOTO Source: www.gatorcountry.com

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sports 23

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october 2017