2018 Issue 2 - The Legend by SHS The Legend

Suncoast Community High School

Volume 22 Issue 2|November 2018

Acceptance living with the fear of rejection may cause one to deny their true colors. pages 12-13

The Staff

Adviser Traci Lowe Editor-in-Chief Jahnaezha McFadden Managing Editor Meghan McGlone Business Manager Meghan McGlone News Editor Zarin Ismail Lifestyle Editor Kaiden Buscemi Features Editor Anika McGetchin Opinion Editor Jahnaezha McFadden Sports Editor Shivani Shah Design Editor Kenjela Mullings Copy Editor Yashna Chowdhury Website Managers Zarin Ismail, Shivani Shah Social Media Manager Samantha Powers, Adrianna Estrada Staff Writers Diana Devine, Samirah Abellard, Jack Swank, Keelie Hanley, Bryanie Daza, Jessy Aramouni

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.

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CONT

Opinion

News

NEW JUSTICE 5 GENDER? 6

A TALE OF TWO TAX 9 BEEN THERE DONE THAT 11

Features

TRUE COLORS 12 WE ALREADY MISS YOU 16

Lifestyle

ACT V.S SAT 19 HAWAIIN FRIDAYS 21

Sports 2020 OLYMPICS 22 RUN TO LIVE, LIVE TO RUN 23

TENTS

4 News

RED TIDE RAISES A RED FLAG Red tide has hit the east coast and Palm Beach County. Meghan McGlone Managing/Business Editor

he stench of rotting fish and the sensation of burning in the lungs and eyes are not what one typically associates with Florida’s picturesque beaches; however, these issues are what has caused the beaches on Florida’s Eastern coast to be closed for nearly a week, with red tide being the primary cause. Red tide is an algae bloom that is caused by Karenia brevis, and according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, blooms typically occur yearly along the West Coast, and less commonly along the East Coast. These blooms can also last months, and they are capable of killing fish, birds and other marine animals. Manatees, turtles, dolphins and even sharks have been found dead, as they feed on animals that are affected by the algae. This is especially harmful for endangered animals, such as the loggerhead sea turtle. Red tide even has been known to affect humans by irritating the skin, eyes, throat and lungs. Those with pre-existing respiratory issues, such as asthma, can experience much worse respiratory effects from the algae. “Red tides block sunlight to aquatic plants like seagrass, leading to decreases in dissolved oxygen levels in the water. This has led to massive fish die offs, impacts on manatee populations and decreases in tourism,” Brett Stubbs, IB Environmental Systems and Societies teacher at Suncoast said. He also mentioned that neurotoxins from red tide can “...kill organisms, accumulate in shellfish and even become aerosols blown inland that cause respiratory illness in people.” Red tide also causes economic issues. Florida Governor Rick Scott announced in late August that the government would be providing $3 million to help counties affected by red tide. The money will go towards clean up efforts, monitoring red tide and helping with further research for red tide. “All the lifeguards were wearing surgical masks and there was a couple guys [on the beach] with hazmat suits taking

samples,” Barry Friedman, owner of Lake Worth Tee Shirt Company along Lake Worth Beach, recalled. His store was also affected by the red tide. “It hurt the store. We were pretty dead for about two weeks, and then when the news came on and they were touting that red tide was over and that the stores were open, the people came back,” Friedman stated. The effect that red tide has had on local businesses is palpable, as the beach was closed for a few days, but red tide was present for several weeks. Friedman has been running his store for almost 35 years, and he mentioned that the red tide from this year seemed worse than the last time he had witnessed it. The east coast has not been affected by red tide since the mid 1990s, according to ABC News, but there is no effective way to stop the issue. Red tide is naturally occurring, and the algae thrives in salty warm water. This means that around storm season in Florida, the algae flourishes. Additionally, according to National Geographic, an increase in fertilizers and other nutrients released by humans could very well have served to amplify the red tide. Another factor that may be strengthening red tide is climate change, as warmer waters can better help harbor the algae. “Climate change has likely affected red tide in two ways. First, increases in surface water temperatures have allowed for increased rates of algae growth and the range of where red tide is found. Secondly, changes in precipitation levels in different areas could perhaps affected irrigation and runoff amounts,” Stubbs added. Although red tide cannot be stopped, its effects can be mitigated. By reducing factors such as fertilizer and carbon footprints, red tide can be much less deadly and effective as it is now. As of Nov. 1, the red tide bacteria has not been present in Palm Beach County, as according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“This has led to massive fish die offs, impacts on manatee populations and decreases in tourism.”

Brett Stubbs

5 News

NEW JUSTICE

Brett M. Kavanaugh becomes the next Supreme Court Justice.

Shivani Shah Website Manager

upreme Court Justice nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh was officially sworn in as the ninth justice on Monday, Oct. 8 at the White House. The ceremonial swearing-in ceremony featured Kavanaugh and his family along with President Trump and every member of the Supreme Court. This is just days after a week long investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded that there is no substantial evidence of the sexual assault allegations made against him by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Kavanaugh was on the list of potential Supreme Court Justice nominees, picked by Trump, in late June to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. In early July, Trump chose Kavanaugh as his official nominee to replace Kennedy. During this time, Ford sent a letter to her state senator and even met with her state representative to discuss her allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh.

She accused him of sexually assaulting her at a party while they were both in high school. This was hidden from the public and the press out of respect for Ford. After the confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh, reports of the letter sent to

SWORN IN: Kavanaugh at his swearing in ceremony for Supreme Court Justice with his family and Trump. photo source: Wikipedia

her state senator surfaced and eventually she came forward to the Washington Post. In September, both Kavanaugh and Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary

Committee, who decided to conduct an FBI investigation to gain more information. In the end, Kavanaugh was approved as the 114th Supreme Court Justice with a close vote of 50-48 by the Senate. His confirmation sparked outrage throughout the entire country, especially by women who were inspired to tell their own sexual assault stories after Ford testified. Sophomore Mahirah Alam described how, â&#x20AC;&#x153;even though the accusations brought against Kavanaugh occurred more than 30 years ago, Kavanaugh is supposed to be an influential figure on the U.S. government and should be a role model to the young generation. However, it is hard for people to have a clean record, especially at a high school party, and Kavanaugh should showcase that he changed from the person he was 30 years ago through his future actions as justice.â&#x20AC;? A day after his confirmation ceremony, Kavanaugh joined the Supreme Court bench with the other Justices.

GENDER? Children’s Hospital Colorado removes gender from patient ID bracelets. Bryanie Daza Staff Writer

week before the end of September 2018, the Children’s Hospital Colorado announced that it decided to remove gender from patient identification wristbands. The hospital’s gender diversity task force released a statement, stating their reasoning behind the decision is to ensure “everyone who walks through their doors feels comfortable.” This task force was implemented all throughout the facility. Dr. Natalie Nokoff, who specializes in endocrinology, said they were seeing many patients who had diverse gender identities. The task force stated that implementing the program helped them realize that it is not easy for the patients to see gender on their patient identification wristbands, since they are “growing up with an expansive gender identity or expression.” This detail also made them see that the children who visit their facility needed a support system that helped them on their path through transition. Junior Rachel Hunt said, “this decision is important because, it does not make the patient have to speak up about it if they have not spoken to those around them about it, they do not have to feel that pressure to speak about it.” Children’s Hospital Colorado works with young children and their families. Dr. Nokoff explained that although gender will not be marked on the wristbands, all other medical information is recorded and put on the bands. In the aspects of the patient's identity or body parts are documented elsewhere, so that it is still apart of their medical record for safety reasons. The hospital found no reason to display this information on the wristbands since it may hinder the patients feeling of support or their progress through transition. The hospital has received criticism for their decision, but the patients of the hospital are more than content with the movement. One patient named Ben, claimed the removal of gender from the wristbands was “bigger than anything on this planet” for him. Many patients feel that this helps them truly embrace who they feel they are and can move further into transition. Rachel Hunt also said “the hospital’s decision was good because it allows you to be yourself if you do not fit the binary spectrum, a patient does not have to look at their wristband

and question ‘is this really me or is this not really me?’ You do not have to feel that pull within yourself.”

Photo Source: floridapolitics.com This is the Children’’s Hospital Colorado facility. The hospital’s goal is to ensure that every child has a happy and healthy future, they specialize in childrens health and have research bases.

7 Opinions

SICK DAYS

The unreasonable consequences on being out sick.

Jessy Aramouni and Kaiden Buscemi Staff Editor and Lifestyle Editor

t seems like it is always flu season, especially when the kid sitting next to you always seems to be sniffling and obnoxiously blowing their nose as you subtly scoot a little further away from them, in a feeble attempt to protect yourself from the plague. They also understand missing one day of school could be equivalent to missing a whole chapter of notes and being lost the rest of the quarter. Therefore, missing a day of school would not be an option for them, even if they were having severe symptoms. Zachary Cary received the Flu vaccination shot but still got the flu. He was out for about four school days and returned while he was still recuperating. He believed it was unfair for his grades to be affected because of class assignments he was unable to complete because of his illness. His teachers were understanding of his medical condition and were able to assist him in the help he needed to move forward with his work. “I didn’t want to miss any more school because I knew when I return, there would be a tremendous amount of work that I would have to make up. It’s unfair because the students couldn’t control they were sick and while we were sick, we weren’t able to think properly to complete the assignments that were required while we were out,” Cary said. Another downside is teachers often give more challenging tests to students after their return to school from being sick. Teachers lack trust in the students who say they are sick in fear of them actually skipping. Students do get sick often, but are not given the equal opportunity to make up the work, which was assigned while they were out sick, because certain teachers believe the student should not miss any school days no matter what. This is unfair because

every student should have the equal opportunity to complete the same assignment as their peers, and not be penalized because they were sick with the vaccination shot that the school advertises. In order to prevent the flu from occurring, flu vaccinations were provided for each student at the beginning of the school year. At first glance, vaccines present themselves as extremely safe and successful catalysts, which build up the body’s defensive systems, and, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the benefits of vaccines are actually greater than their potential and or harmful side effects for most children who take them. Vaccines work by injecting either a dead or extremely dormant version of said virus into the body, usually via the arm. As explained by LiveScience, this allows the body to create antibodies, which are rich in proteins and help fight against the antibodies, or the virus entering the body. Vaccines help the immune system by giving it a head start to produce thousands of antibodies, assuming the body is under threat of a potential disease with the implementation of the vaccine. Many do not trust the science behind administering vaccines, since introducing a disease into the body typically is viewed as dangerous. Despite this, teachers and students at school are encouraged to get flu shots because vaccines have been known to prevent widespread disease epidemics, even on a small scale, such as keeping those from getting sick and missing school. Overall, students have managed to prevent missing days of school because of the consequences of being absent. Sick days are unbearable and inconvenient, but students should be allowed to take them without being penalized.

I AM NOT MY HAIR

The natural hair movement still goes on, but schools seek to ban its effects on campus. Samirah Abellard Staff Writer

n India Arie’s song “I am not my Hair” she sings the words “I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am not your expectations, I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am the soul that lives within”- but schools today still need to be reminded that their students’ hair does not define their character. Some schools have implemented dress codes that now prohibit the wearing of hair extensions on school grounds, and it seems that African American students are the target of these policies. Two students from Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, Mya and Deanna Cook, were kicked out of class because the school deemed their extensions as distractions. Other African American students who wear their hair in its natural state were told they would have to perm or chemically straighten their hair. The parents of these girls went to the school and showed administration pictures of Caucasian students with extensions in their hair, but the school did not

take action because they claimed those extensions were not as obvious. Students who refused to comply with the rules face two options: drop out or get kicked out. Students may complain about uniforms they have to wear for school, but to target African American students for the way they wear their hair is truly discriminatory. Many people have noticed a trend that has risen in recent years. Students have been kicked out of class for having dreads, hair wraps and even wearing their hair in its natural state. “Protective hairstyles are implemented to protect your natural hair so it does not break and for it to grow,” sophomore Londe Mondelus stated, and Kerheen Bresius also commented that “[I] would feel disrespected” if our school were to implement these types of codes. Schools have used these types of dress codes to target certain groups of students. Administering these codes tells young black girls that there is a problem with their hair, and if they do not do something to fix

it, they will face consequences. Schools that administer these rules are also the ones that preach that students should accept themselves for the way they are. Mondelus asked “Why can’t I wear my hair how I should?” because African students should not have to have consequences for wearing their hair in certain ways. They also cause these young girls to have low selfesteem and feel inferior to others. These schools may feel as if they are helping their school environment, but it seems as if they are forcing their African American students to be more like their Caucasian peers. Students of other races can dye their hair and wear extensions without consequeces, African American students seemingly cannot. Bresius stated, “The point of a dress code is so that we can express ourselves in all types of ways,” so really discriminatory dress codes have no place in the education system. Anyone can dye, cut or perm their hair but they cannot change the way it grows from the roots.

8 Opinions

THE DARK SIDE OF SHANE DAWSON Should YouTubers be tackling serious mental health issues?

Anika McGetchin Features Editor

n the summer of 2018, Shane Dawson’s dark, in depth documentaries took over the internet, racking up millions of views in less than 24 hours. In previous years, the 30 year old YouTuber was known for his more light hearted comedy videos, including making “cakes” out of various kinds of fast food and putting various items into a microwave. After becoming uninspired by this type of content, Shane moved onto his new documentary style videos in which he has in depth interviews with controversial figures, while still retaining his sense of humor to lighten the tone. One of his first was a three part series with Tana Mongeau after her convention, TanaCon, was a complete disaster. Thousands of fans were left standing in the sun without food or water for hours due to a lack of planning on the part of Tana and the management team she was working with. Shane’s series investigated this tragedy and tried to find the reason behind it and a way to solve the problem. Following his Tana series, he did a five part series starring cosmetic mogul and fellow YouTuber, Jeffree Star. The series dove deep into Star’s past struggles with finances and self harm. It also explored the makeup company he built and the lavish lifestyle it allows him to live. The series received tens of millions of views and established Shane’s new style of delving into the most hated, controversial online personalities and exposing their human sides with humor and honesty tempered by his genuine kindness. To top the Jeffree Star series, Shane’s latest project is called The Mind of Jake Paul. The series follows another content creator, Jake Paul, known for his dangerous pranks and loud personality. He and his brother, Logan, amassed a huge following online, numbering in the tens of millions. Despite their large fan bases, the brothers are intensely hated online for their blatant disregard for the safety of those around them. People even went as far as accusing them of being sociopaths, which is where the Shane Dawson series began. In his first video, published on Sept. 25, Shane interviewed iNabber, a smaller YouTuber known for making videos about drama in the YouTube community. With him, Shane discussed the Paul brothers and asked him if he thought Jake Paul was a sociopath. The video was full of sound bites and video clips from Jake Paul videos, stock footage

and foreboding music, all of which seemed to be trying to dramatize the situation. Obviously, this makes sense because,ultimately, Shane is an entertainer. He is trying to make this videos scary and exciting so that people will watch them. This would be fine if this were just a silly video about Jake Paul and why he behaves the way he does. “The series has been ridiculous,” junior Lynn Van Kirk stated. “It’s also kind of new. He’s never done a series this long or this intense before, but I like it. I’m a stan.” The problem that arose is that Shane was not just making an entertaining dramatic video, he was also attempting to educate people about Antisocial Personality Disorder and sociopaths. The second part of his series, which came out two days later on Sept. 27, was an interview with Kati Morton, a therapist, focused on Antisocial Personality Disorder and its symptoms. Not only was the video completely fallacious, presenting misleading and sometimes blatantly false information, it also demonized what is essentially a mental illness. “Mental illness is something that needs to be talked about more and shouldn’t be stigmatized,” junior Oluchi Nwankwo commented. “The more we as a society educate ourselves on this topic, the more we can do to combat this issue.” Kati even admitted in part five of the series that, “This is not my specialty, just FYI. I work with eating disorders and self injury.” So the therapist that Shane decided to use is not even educated about the issue that they are investigating. While she may know a little more about how the brain works than the average human being, sociopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder, which are not synonymous, as Shane’s video implied, are not in her field of study. Simply put, she is not qualified to be presenting the 20 million people who watched Shane’s series with information on this particular mental disorder. When talking about Antisocial Personality Disorder, Kati used language such as “gross” and “icky,” which is not only completely unprofessional for a licensed therapist, but also perpetuates the harmful stereotype that all people with Antisocial Personality Disorder are violent emotionless demons who are out to manipulate and hurt everyone they cross paths with. There is no reason to fear people with Antisocial Personality Disorder, or even sociopaths. They are just regular people with a mental illness and they do not deserve to be treated as dangerous or scary.

9 Opinions

SCARY TIME FOR MEN

Men must beware of arising false accusations.

Kaiden Buscemi Lifestyle Editor

or the past couple of years, countless amounts of women have come forward and faced the cameras in order to publicly report their past experiences with sexual assault and negatively life-changing encounters with powerful men, especially within the realm of Hollywood and the political system. The #MeToo movement, started by Tarana Burke, in an effort to help women of color speak up and face their predators in order to get the justice they deserve, has been brought back into the spotlight by many celebrities who have also experienced sexual assault or harassment and have used the power of social media to gain awareness of the rising issue. After the Hollywood scandal revolving around film and media producer Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo movement gained substantial popularity, as well as with the imprisonment of Bill Cosby. The issue of sexual harassment has become more apparent and widespread than ever. A rising issue involving these accusation includes the credibility and honesty behind these powerful claims. It is debated whether or not all of these women who have suddenly stepped into the spotlight and made strong accusations against powerful men of Hollywood and the government are legitimate. On one end of the spectrum it may seem unthinkable to question the ordeal a woman claims she went through such as a victim of sexual assault. Seeing as the issue is very hard to confront, however, those that do doubt their validity, question why these

women have taken so long to speak up about their experiences. For some, the situation has begun to turn around and victimize men rather than woman. No one said that men cannot be victims of sexual assault, but they are now seen as victims of false claims, and struggle to maintain both their reputations and livelihoods. Those who fear for the safety of men that have been subject to being accused of committing crimes like that of sexual harassment include President Donald Trump and his son, Trump Jr. In an interview posted by CNN, Trump says, “Well I say that it’s a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of.” Trump also explains how men in this day and age are more subjected to false claims of committing crimes of sexual assault, and that “in this realm you are truly guilty until proven innocent.” Not only has Trump detailed his concerns for young men in America, but so has his son, Trump Jr. According to the Washington Post, after he was asked about the issues surrounding sexual allegations, especially with the accusations made against Brett Kavanaugh, and whether or not he is more concerned for his daughters or his sons, Trump Jr. replied, “Right now, I’d say my sons.” Although making false accusations is a serious issue, and occurs in the world of Hollywood and the government, the problems arising from women actually being sexually harassed is far greater than those concerning false claims.

A TALE OF TWO TAXES

The penny sales tax is not as effective as we expected.

Zarin Ismail Website Manager/News Editor

fter an approval of a penny sales tax in 2017, all Palm Beach County residents were required to pay a 7 percent tax on their transactions, which was previously 6 percent. According to the Palm Beach School District website, the county pledged for the tax collections to go towards school renovations and updated technology, such as the SMART Board. Recently, SMART interactive projector boards were introduced to classrooms. According to an article from the PBSC website, the smartboard allows teachers to write on and project their computer screens or student devices to bring ease and fun in learning. However, technology does not come without its hiccups. “The touchscreen on my smartboard broke and had to be replaced,” statistics teacher Elizabeth Pearson said. Instead of smartboards, I believe that the penny tax should have been used for more useful additions to the classrooms, such as new personal printers for teachers, laptops for students and new, free books for students. Many teachers must pay for classroom supplies and cannot use their printers because of how old they are. Also, students lack books in certain classes. Recently, some students were asked to buy their books. Media specialist Amy Armbruster stated, “It would be nice if the state made instructional materials a priority.” The students who cannot afford buying their textbooks are lacking the necessary resources for their exam, and it may lead to lower scores that are detrimental

towards the school’s student performance record. “...there is a need for new textbooks but the school is unable is buy the class new textbooks,” senior Nanakow Thompson said. “We need these new textbooks because it provides new information we need for the IB exam.” The purpose of free public school is so that every child has access to an education and does not need to worry about financial circumstances. If a student cannot afford a book for their class, they feel that their entitlement to an education is at risk and become self-conscious about their grades. The local government is focusing on infrastructure, which is needed, and technology more than the basic needs of students. If the district wants to implement a useful technologyfriendly environment into classrooms, it could make a free interface for student access of every book necessary for every class in the schoolwide curriculum. Smartboards can be a beneficial aspect of learning, but there are other essential issues that have not been fixed by the district. The School Board of Palm Beach County proposed a referendum, which was adopted on Nov. 6 2018, and will hopefully solve some of these issues and fulfill the needs of administrators and students such as funding the arts and increasing teacher salaries. However, this referendum will still not satisfy the problem of paying for textbooks.

10 Opinions

PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE Increase in cost countries pay for U.S. military presence.

Keelie Hanley Staff Writer

uring President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” rally on Oct. 2 2018 he claimed that he planned to increase the cost of sustained military presence in foreign countries. He claimed that this would reduce the burden off American taxpayers. Of the countries mentioned, he made particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia and South Korea; as he feels that sustained military presence benefits the foreign country more than it benefits the United States and I am in agreement with this decision. One of the central reasons that the United States established a military presence in Saudi Arabia was to preserve our own national security by safeguarding the Saudi Arabian oil industries, to sustain our main source of cheap energy. However, the United States has recently become the number one oil producer in the world due to our use of previously untapped reserves, making Saudi Arabia less of a demand for our national security. While the cost of the presence has steadily risen over the years, the Saudi Arabian government does not pay even half the cost the United States spends on the sustained presence (47 billion). “The presence of the United States military decreases the threat of Iranian pressure for Saudi Arabia,” senior Rileigh Hanley said. If American troops were to to leave the country, the threat of possible Iranian invasion or pressure would increase due to their religious differences and the Iranian wish for a caliphate in the Middle Eastern region; the Iranians are Shiites and the Saudi Arabians are Sunnis’, both of which are different branches of Islam that have been in conflict for centuries. The United States is one of the only things separating Iran from Saudi Arabia. This can be inferred due to the spread of Iranian

United State troops marching through Saudi Arabian desert. Photo by: Joseph Chenelly

footholds in surrounding countries; Iran is currently in Syria fighting Yemen rebels, the HuTu, and they already have a major presence in Iraq. The presence of the U.S. military also increases the Saudi Arabian economy due to the protection offered from outside influences and our promotion of capitalism. While Saudi Arabia reaps the benefits of the protection, all the United States receives is the minimal reimbursement and business though arms deals (recent deal for 110 billion), which is why increasing cost is a beneficial idea. Also, on Oct. 10, Turkish officials, claimed that a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, was brutally murdered by the Saudi Arabian government. This journalist had previously criticized the Saudi Arabian royal family and exiled himself to the United States; however, he entered a Saudi Arabian consulate on Oct. 2, and has been confirmed as dead. Saudi Arabian officials claimed that he left shortly after his arrival, but he is still missing. This sent Congress into a frenzy with pressure to pull out of any future deals with Saudi Arabia, as they have grossly violated American ideology of “freedom of the press” and potentially murdered a U.S. resident. This is a big reason as to why Saudi Arabia should be more than willing to increase their payment to the United States, as the United States government is in serious consideration of ceasing business relations and potentially pulling out of the country. The price of sustained presence should also be used to apply pressure to the country and act as a type of economic sanctions against them to dissuade them from anymore bold moves. Although the U.S. is threatening to pull out of the country, I do not think that it is a smart idea because should Iran invade or create a foothold in the country, they would have succeeded in creating an oil monopoly in the Middle East. This is why I think economic pressure is the most beneficial strategy, rather than pulling out completely. President Trump is also planning to increase the cost for the country of South Korea. I believe this is the best way for the United States to reap benefits for this endeavor, as the United States gains nothing from the sustained military presence. However, the people of South Korea reap the benefit of protection from North Korea. The presence of American

military deters North Korea from making

Members of the United States military along with the South Korean military are stationed on the 38 parrallel on the border seperating North and South Korea. photo by: Mandel Ngan

any advancements on South Korea and becoming a total communist country, as it was the United States that pushed North Korea back to the 38 parallel and freed the conquered South Korea at the end of the Korean war. If the United States were to pull out, South Korea would be vastly outnumbered, as their army consists of 495 thousand, while the North Korean army numbers over two million. Although the United States only has 40 thousand troops stationed in South Korea at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), it symbolizes an active military support and the promise of quick retaliation. Many believe that the United States should pull out of South Korea due to their agreement to end their nuclear missiles programs; I do not agree. This is because an agreement is only effective if the country continues to abide by it; it can be broken at any time. The essential role that the United States plays in the protection of South Korea is more than enough of a reason to pay the United States for sustained presence. In my opinion, an increase of funds is the best solution to the growing American overseas military budget because foreign countries rely on the United States more so than the reverse.The United States needs to take measures to relieve the burden on taxpayers that is caused by foreign expenditures. Although the United States cannot pull out completely from the countries due to the threat of the spread of communist ideology (Iran is not a communist country, but is governs with fundamental Marxism principles), we can use our recindication as a threat to increase foreign budget to the United States. Even the countries fail to comply, than the troops stationed in each country has room to decrease.

11 Opinions

BEEN THERE DONE THAT What was considered “ghetto” is now a trend.

Jahnaezha McFadden Editor-In-Chief

he 90’s sitcom “Friends” tells the story of six 20 something year-olds attempting to make a name for themselves in New York City. 14 years after its series finale it is still a fan favorite today. The TV show gained popularity quickly because of its’ relatability, comedy, and romance. Their gut-wrenching punchlines, jokes, and storylines are still considered iconic to this day, but it had been funnier when the original version of this show, “Living Single,” premiered the year before. Similarly to “Friends”, “Living Single” tells the story of several friends living the single life in Brooklyn, New York, but the difference being “Living Single” premiered with predominantly African American actors as compared to “Friends.” This was not the first or last instance in which what was once unknown or unpopular gained recognition when it is redone by non-people of color. Another prime example was the development of the #MeToo movement that fought against sexual harassment and assault. The original founder of the movement was Tarana Burke, an African American activist, who began the campaign over a decade ago, but it did not gain recognition for its importance until this past year after a series of actors and celebrities (nonpeople of color) spoke out about the issue. This goes on to exhibit the cultural double standards present in today’s society. What once went unnoticed when done by one culture gains popularity and attention when done by non-people of color. When Burke came out of her pain and experience, the media dismissed her trauma but when Rose McGowan came out with her story it was embraced. This pattern of behavior is shown to be present throughout history. For example, African American women were bodyshamed for naturally having bigger breast, butt, lips, and hips than compared to others, but now it is considered a trend after the Kardashians got surgery to match what mainstream found offensive. “I think it is funny how we naturally have a certain figure that white girls pay for. Yet, at one time it was cool to be a stick figure and we were picked on about being “fat”” senior Yanique Spencer said. Setting these unrealistic expectations impacts a woman’s self-esteem and could lead to the development of eating disorders and body image issues.

of eating disorders and body image issues. Not only were people of color shamed over their body size but also the ways in which they wore their hair. Wearing braids, cornrows, dreadlocks, and afros was classified as unprofessional and inappropriate in multiple workplaces such as Hooters, and some correction offices by non-people of color, but when it became a trend and worn by nonpeople of color, it was fine. After an influx of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber, and Kendall Jenner wore these hairstyles, it was considered new, unique and trendy when it had previously been characterized as ghetto and inappropriate. Due to the stigma originally surrounding these hairstyles, people of color missed out on job opportunities and some were told they needed to cut their hair or to change the style to keep their jobs. “Being an African American woman has directly shown me the double standards presented in today’s society. I feel as though non-people of color are glorified and praised for doing the same things African Americans were ridiculed for,” senior Wesleigh Jarrell said. The issue comes down to giving credit where it is due. Most trends that are seen today can be credited back to one culture or another. We should recognize the fact that everyone contributes to society even the Kardashians and deserve recognition for it.

12 Features

TRUE COLORS

The journey to acceptence is often a bumpy road.

Jahnaezha McFadden Editor-in-Chief

t was a night filled with dancing, laughter, friends, and fun. After months of non-stop homework, test, and assignments being able to just be stress free was exactly what he needed. The want to commemorate the event was too hard to pass up; it was his first official high school dance with a date and it was night he did not want to forget. His date leaned over and placed a kiss on his cheek, “Click.” The photo represented exactly how he felt, happy. Jose De Alvare went to bed that night with his head above the clouds, but reality soon came crashing in at 2 a.m the next day. With a simple Snapchat post, what had begun as one of his best days ever, quickly turned into a nightmare forever scarred into his memory, no matter how hard he wanted to forget. “I guess my brother follows my Snapchat and he decided to show the pictures to my dad. So, it was right after homecoming. I had gotten home and I was sleeping, then my dad woke me up in the middle of the night. He asked “What is this?” and he asked me to explain myself, ” De Alvare said. Before that night, De Alvare never told his family that he was gay; it had always been something he avoided due to his parents’ old fashioned views of how people were supposed to be. It was never something he planned to tell them, so he was always careful with what he put on social media and about what he said to them. Scared of the repercussions, his first instinct was to deny and lie about it all. “I said, “um it was just a dare, I was just kidding!” I didn’t want to come out because I knew my parents were not approving of it, so I continued to say “It was a dare, it was a joke,” but my dad was not buying it at all. He kept saying “You’re lying, you’re lying.” Eventually I knew I had to do it because he was not believing me. So I said, “Okay I’m gay,” De Alvare recounted. Admitting the truth to his parents was one of the hardest things De Alvare ever had to do. With his dad being older and from Romania, he believed only in traditional men-women relationships. “Growing up, my parents had always been rude to gay people. As soon as they would find out they were gay, like people at restaurant who would wait on us, and I would know they were gay, but my parent didn’t. They would say they [the waiters] were so nice and then later they would

“I never was the type to hate myself for being gay until I started to grow up, and realized my parents disapproved of gay people and didn’t accept them.” Jose De Alvare

photos courtesy of Camila Caba

realize they were gay and then they [parents] would say they are such a bad person. Like being gay made my parents’ perspective [of that person] completely different, even if they approved of the person earlier. Once they found out they were gay, it was over for them,” De Alvare said. After De Alvare came out to his parents they did everything in their power to conform him into the image of what they thought he should be. He was threatened with conversion camp, kept from going out, and forced to talk to a priest. “When they first found out, they didn’t let me go anywhere or talk to anyone, and they even went to school a bunch of times and threatened to pull me out. They said,“he wasn’t like this before he went to school here. He wasn’t gay. This school changed him. Then they threatened to pull me out a bunch of times. My parents also made me go to confession where I would talk to priest, but I’d tell them I don’t know what I did

wrong and the priest would say neither do I. Not even the priest would think being gay was wrong, but my parents would go to church and constantly try and get me to meet with people. Sometimes they would threaten to send me to conversion camp,” De Alvare said. Although De Alvare’s parents are not accepting of his sexuality he does not blame them for it. De Alvare associates their closed-mindedness with the way they were raised. “My dad is really old, he was born in the 1940’s, although my mom is not that old she was raised in a communist country, so I feel like it was how they were raised. I don’t think it is because they are bad people or anything, I just think they don’t understand that it’s normal,” De Alvare said. Despite De Alvare not blaming them for their views, it did not help him deal with the various confusing and conflicting emotions associated with coming out.

13 Features

“I never was the type to hate myself for being gay until I started to grow up, and realized my parents disapproved of gay people and didn’t accept them. Up until then, I never thought that being gay was wrong. I thought it was completely normal,” De Alvare stated. As time passed very few things changed in the De Alvare home. De Alvare’s parents began to ignore his sexuality altogether. The only times it was brought up was when it was used as an insult or to get under his skin. “A couple of weeks ago he told me if I got married to a guy he wouldn’t go to my wedding, or, since I have a lot of girl-friends, when he see a picture of us he’ll ask if we’re dating,” De Alvare said. Overtime De Alvare slowly became desensitized to the insults and would brush it off. “It’s complicated because when he [his dad] first made the comments, it would upset me, and obviously I cried a lot. There was a period in my life when I was really depressed. It was everything, the stress of school and everything. The comments he made really did upset me, because obviously, I don’t want my own family not to be at my wedding because of something so simple that doesn’t really matter in the long term. It’s grown to the point where he makes those comments and I sort of brush it off cause my dad and I never been really close. I’ve grown immune to it because I heard the comments so many times,” De Alvare emotionally stated.

The many faces of Jose De Alvare

Although coming out to his parents was a traumatic experience, it was not the same with his friends. De Alvare’s friends were more open and accepting of his sexuality and did not judge him. “In school it was kind of different. I came out freshmen year but everyone already assumed I was gay. I didn’t come out to them at first because I thought they would have the same perspective as my parents, but I came to realize everyone here is really supportive, accepting, and understanding. I knew I could come out to these people because they’re my friends,” De Alvare said. After realizing nothing could be done to change him, De Alvare’s parents started to come around to the idea that their son was gay. “I broke up with the first person I had been dating and my mom asked me how I was doing, and if I was okay. I was surprised because I didn’t think she would care enough to ask. After about two years they’ve stopped worrying about it and understood,” De Alvare said. Coming out has been one of the most emotionally traumatic experiences for De Alvare, but to him it was best thing that needed to happen. If it were up to De Alvare, he would do it all over again. “I’ve learned that even though being yourself is never easy, in the end, it’s worth it because it’s not good to suppress who you really are,” De Alvare said.

“In school it was kind of different. I came out freshmen year but everyone already assumed I was gay.” Jose De Alvare

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NEW CLUBS!

Welcoming our new 2018 clubs.

Jessy Aramouni Staff Writer

In the new school year, new clubs inspired by our very own students had a purpose to share their interests and hobbies

with each other. Clubs such as SYZYGY literary magazine, Protecting Wildlife at Risk (PWR) club and Yoga club were made for students with those interests. Each club had a way to interact and make new friends within those activities. President of the SYZYGY literary magazine club, Victoria Jenkins, decided to re-establish a group to revive the club from 2014. She believed the club had the potential to be great again. Any person interested in designing, spreading positivity and short stories by putting out information about their school events would be perfect for the SYZYGY literary magazine club. They meet every Wednesday to discuss what their stories in the magazine will consist of ,and to get the information for the next meeting one can look on their instagram account which is @syzygylitmag. “Having this club filled with close friends makes the process of running the club easier and my passion for writing also helps the magazine to succeed,” shared Jenkins. Co-President of the PWR club, Maria Jones, wanted to take the step on being the leader of this new club side by side with Maya Mills. Together with the help of using Science teacher Michael Neuburg’s room for meetings, they formed a club with a positive motive in helping wild animals. “I enjoy participating in this club because helping animals is a passion of mine, and I get to do it while receiving my service hours for CAS.” Jones said. A person who finds animals interesting would join the PWR club to learn about the variety of endangered species and their environment and advocate a clean habitat for them. PWR club fundraises money for World Wildlife Fund to adopt a wild animal every few months. This club is an opportunity to volunteer at shelters and earn hours. This could be found on social media on Instagram @shs_pwrclub. Co-President Coco Plasencia’s purpose was to encourage the practice of yoga, build a foundation of regular exercise and create relaxation techniques to help students deal with school stress. Deborah Sunset, their clubs sponsor, worked with them to create routines which were beneficial and enjoyable for relaxing students. Their club meets twice a month for group yoga practice. For more information follow them on instagram @suncoatyogaclub. “My friends and I love running yoga club! We always enjoy getting together to plan the club’s monthly meeting and yoga sequence. Like, for finals week, we plan to have a meeting focusing on relaxation techniques and stress management. Or, since Thanksgiving holiday is in a few weeks, we plan to meet and have “thankful” a themed yoga session.“

b T pu wa be we beg “In wo Sin ab th w p

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D S N I T H M I N E K V I T ALIKE A E R C

uo showcases the beauty of difference through photogra d e v i t a e phy. that A cr Design Editor

gs la Mullin e j n e K

eering through the viewfinder of his camera, the photographer signals his model to change angles. Effortlessly, the model reconfigures himself in a distinct pose ensuring that his eyes continue to pierce the camera lens with a powerful gaze. The shuttering of the camera echoes in the distance as the photographer and his model wrap up their shoot. Photography can be classified as an art that captures the beauty within society and nature. For Michael Leggett and Trevon Fields, photography serves as an outlet to express and showcase the creative imaginations that lurk within their minds. Both Michael and Trevon teamed up together to create a “co-op” page consisting of many photography concepts that intertwine the common motifs of natural beauty, unique fashion and raging curiosity. Their work ranges from pictures of a young woman sitting on a kayak in the middle of a movie theatre to an awe-filled Fenty inspired fashion photoshoot. Their minds are open to the beauty that lurks within creativity and showcasing that beauty is what really makes one stand out as an eccentric individual. They began immersing themselves into photography fairly recently. “I purchased my camera just over a year ago, around September. But, it was not until December of 2017 that I started thinking of photography beyond the camera aspect. Sharing my ideas with Trevon, we found that we had similar ideas and visions for photoshoots, and from there we began to work tightly in planning ideas for future photos,” Leggett said. “In technical theatre, during preparation for the fall show last year, Michael would take snapshots of the cast and together we would make posters. Since we had so many classes together and we are friends, we both talked about our interest in photography and creating moments of art, and from there, we started planning and doing pictures together. We decided to work together because we have similar views and both wanted for out pictures to be different and professional,” Trevon Fields said.These experiences show the preliminary drive and curiosity that encompassed both Fields and Leggett resulting in these unique and creative works. Leggett’s initial interest in photography was spiked due to first-hand experience with his closest friends. “I had two really close friends that were invested in photography and seeing the resulting images immediately captured my interest,” Leggett said. Although these photo shoots come out visually awe-inspired, a lot of work has to be done in order to conduct a shoot successfully. One needs to have a plan so the shoot can be organized and the models will know what to wear and where to be. Both Leggett and Fields do an outstanding job planning out their shoots. On their instagram page, one could tell that every post has a different meaning. The angles, outfits, light exposure and colors all have a distinct purpose that aids in showing the versatility of their ideas. “Our methods are constantly changing. Sometimes we see a piece of clothing

we love and base it off of a model that we really want to shoot with, or sometimes we just come up with a really interesting idea and do everything in our power to execute it. For example, I really wanted to take photos with a kayak and Trevon really wanted to take photos in a movie theatre, individually, these ideas are too broad (and boring). But together, the kayak and movie theatre make for something weird and never really seen before. Although the idea seemed impossible to do, a local movie theatre was more than happy to accommodate us with our idea,” senior Leggett explained. Sometimes their visions do not only stem from the ideas that bloom in their minds, but also from the works of other famous figures and photography influencers. Leggett admires Rihanna and her influence in the fashion and music industries as well as her photographers Paolo Roversi, Inez and Vinoodh and Ellen von Unwerth. “I take inspiration from anyone and anything. Beyoncé definitely is a huge inspiration of mine because of the risk she takes and the versatility she has with patterns, materials and different cuts and fits. Some other modern inspirations of mine are Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Jackson and Will Smith. I love his sense of fashion both on and off screen,” Fields explained.Together, they believe that photography has opened a door, enabling them to to learn the importance of standing out and being their own persons despite what the world thinks.“I like being able to grasp onto concepts that are just floating around in my head and bringing them to life with my friend. I enjoy looking for the value in all types of things and trying to create a photo that conveys that value to everyone. Everything has value as well as every person, which is an another reason why I love photography because it allows diversity to act. I have found that there are people in this world that try to devalue you based on identifiers, such as race, but everyone’s beauty deserves to be showcased,” Fields said. “We can not stand things that are overplayed or cliché, because who wants to see the same things over and over again? Of course there’s those people that do not like seeing things that are different and fresh, but we also have seen that people appreciate when they spot something original…” Leggett expressed. Many of the models that have worked with the duo enjoyed sporting for them. “I enjoy everything about modeling for Michael and Trevon, it’s like being a barbie doll and getting to wear cute clothes all the time,” senior Emma Alexis said. Photography in general has shed a positive outlook on their future and career path. Both Fields and Leggett want to major in business during college, which will allow them to eventually merge their knowledge of photography and create a photography business. For now, they will continue to devise unique concepts for their shoots and execute them throughout the years. Who knows, maybe, Beyoncé and Photos By: Michael Leggett Rihanna will be inspired by their work.

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WE ALREADY MISS YOU

A few of our teachers and faculty get ready to retire soon. Yashna Chowdhury Copy Editor

ver the years, teachers and faculty continue to leave and retire after many years of being with Suncoast High School. We thank them for their involvement with our school, and all our students appreciate their hard work in teaching and providing us with knowledge that will last for a life time. Here are some of the teachers and faculty that plan to retire this school year. Photo by: Yashna Chowdhury

John Fresco

John Fresco, Creativity, Activity and Service(CAS) coordinator and Theory of Knowledge(TOK) teacher, has been teaching for 38 years and at Suncoast High School for the last 30 years. Fresco plans to retire this year after his many years of teaching. Currently, Fresco does not have plans for retirement and is focusing on the school year. Fresco said, “I see a lot of TV remote in my future, I don’t have any immediate plan for my retirement. Right now, I’m getting my seniors prepared to pass their assessments.” Since it will be his last year teaching the curriculum, he gave advice to the juniors who will be taking TOK next year. Fresco said, “They should continue the tradition of success that we started over 30 years ago. [The students] should begin with a beginner’s mind and I think you should just come. I think coming to class is 50 percent of the battle.”

Photo by: Yashna Chowdhury

Maria Winsco

Maria Winsco, Confidential Secretary, worked two years in Broward County and 16 years in Palm Beach County. Winsco has been at Suncoast for over five years. Winsco plans to retire this school year. Winsco explained that the best part of her job is that, “I like being a supportive person and enjoy helping everyone. [I am going to miss] the interactions with everyone that I have met, and my daily routine. I love Suncoast and right when I come in, there is action and beautiful people that I work with every day.” Winsco added, “My plans for reirement are to be able to spend more time with my family. I have grand daughters in West Virginia, so I’m looking forward to seeing them more often. Also, I have projects that I would like to work on around my house and ... exercise.”

17 Lifestyle

THANKFUL FOR SWEETS

An easy dessert that lights up the Thanksgiving buffet.

Keelie Hanley Staff Writer

hen people think of Thanksgiving, two things usually come to mind: the Macy’s Day Parade and food. As everyone sits together watching the parade, a craving for something sweet to nosh on usually occurs. This is a cute dessert everyone will love that is equally easy to make and extremely festive.

Corn On The Cob Cake Pops

When you hear the word fall, corn is one of the prominent things that people think of. The supplies that are needed to make the cake pops are frosted sugar cookies, vanilla frosting, a bag of yellow M&Ms, a pack of straws, yellow food dye and edible green fondant. Step 1: Put 1 cup of the vanilla frosting in a bowl and add two drops of yellow food dye and mix until there is an even consistency of color. Step 2: Break the sugar cookies into small pieces and put them in another bowl, then add ¼ cup of dyed vanilla frosting, and knead the dough until the consistency is smooth and sticky. Step 3: Shape your dough into 3D corn like an oval shape. Make sure that they are relatively large, so that they do not break apart when they are put on the straws. Step 4: Take your yellow M&Ms and cut each M&M in half. Step 5: Place your cake dough on the straws and dip them into the remains of the yellow dyed vanilla frosting, then take a butter knife and smooth the frosting around the cake pop. Step 6: Place the cut M&M pieces in rows along your cake pop, so that they resemble corn kernels. After this is completed, roll out the the edible green fondant (add a little powdered sugar to the cutting board to keep the fondant from sticking to the board). Step 7: Cut the fondant into different sized ovals in order to make corn husks. Precision is not necessary. Cover the fondant with some plastic wrap to keep it from drying out and cracking. Place the cake pops in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Step 8: Then stick the fondant on your cake pop. If the fondant is not sticky enough to do this, use some more frosting to act as the glue. photo by: Trish Flake Step 9: Plate them and serve.

WHY ARE YOU SO OBSESSED WITH ME? The actor taking the internet by storm.

Anika McGetchin Features Editor

ollowing his leading role in the Netflix romantic comedy, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Noah Centineo rose to internet fame. The movie showed off his boy-next-door charm and swoon worthy lines. Since its release, fans of the movie flocked to social media to rave over America’s newest heartthrob. The movie followed the life of Lara Jean Covey, a KoreanAmerican high school student. Whenever Lara Jean had a crush on a boy, she wrote him a letter expressing all of her feelings and placed it in a hat box in her closet. Somehow, the letters got mailed to their subjects and Lara Jean, panicking, entered a relationship with Centineo’s character, Peter Kavinsky, in order to avoid a confrontation from one of the other crushes, Josh, her older sister’s ex-boyfriend. Kavinsky was on a break with his former girlfriend and he knew the relationship with Lara Jean would make her jealous. Over the course of the film they fell in love for real. The adorable romance that ensued caused millions of girls to swoon. “I thought it was a creative spin on the classic

rom com that kept you wondering what would happen next,” junior Alexandra Davis said. The attention from TATBILB lead to him picking up the role of Jamey in the 2018 Netflix Original, Sierra Burgess Is a Loser. It was no surprise that this movie would also feature a romance, considering Centineo’s success in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, but this film had a darker twist. In the film, Centineo’s character once again fell into a fake relationship, but contrastly to Kavinsky, Jamey is not aware of it. Jamey is catfished by the female lead, Sierra Burgess, who uses pictures of another girl to create a fake identity when talking to him. While some fans expressed disgust at the romanticization of Sierra’s actions, many were pleased with Centineo’s performance. Regardless of their opinion of the film, everyone can agree that with it, Noah Centineo has secured his spot as Generation Z’s king of romantic comedy.

Noah Centineo internet sensation

18 Lifestyle

K-POP POPS UP Korean pop music is breaking into the western music industry.

Shivani Shah Website Manager

arious Korean pop (K-pop) music groups are crossing international borders and making themselves known in the western music scene. They are breaking the general public’s view of K-pop as “fake, overly cutesy and cringey.” They have a passionate and devoted fan base that gives them unconditional love and support. Three groups in particular are making K-pop more global. They are none other than BTS, BLACKPINK and NCT. Bangtan Sonyeondan, or more commonly known as BTS, are no doubt the most popular boy group in general right now. Consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, BTS is known and loved for their inspirational messages in their music, along with their intense choreographies. They have appeared and performed on several talk shows including, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” BTS also attended the Billboard Music Awards and won the Top Social Artist Award for two years in a row. Described by Time magazine as “next generation leaders,” BTS have made global impacts as well with their LOVE MYSELF campaign. BTS: BTS stand together with their first Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist in 2017. photo source: Wikipedia

Another group breaking barriers is BLACKPINK, a four member girl group comprising of Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa. They debuted in 2016 and have already amassed over 200 million views on each of their music videos. BLACKPINK is known for their strong, girl crush image, which is quite different from the usual cute image that most girl groups in Korea have. This has helped them attract even more fans around the world. BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Rose and Lisa all attended New York Fashion Week recently. The girls also released a collaboration with English artist Dua Lipa titled “Kiss and Make Up,” which is featured on her new album. BLACKPINK: BLACKPINK at the red carpet for the Gaon Chart Music Awards in Korea. photo source: Wikimedia Commons

One more group that should be mentioned is NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, that has been steadily rising. This particular group is known for their unique concept with their 18 members split into three units: NCT U, NCT 127 and NCT Dream. Over time, additional units are to debut with mixes of both new and old members. The three units that are currently active have all appeared on major Billboard music charts. NCT 127 has even recently performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with the English version of their new song “Regular” and attended the American Music Awards. Apple Music even picked them for their “Up Next” artist series. NCT 127: NCT 127 at the Moscow Expo Hallyu Promotional Ambassadors Appointment Ceremony in 2017. photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Sophomore Rachel Hu, who is a fan of all three K-pop groups, described their success as “an opportunity for opening new doors. All three groups are introducing more people to K-pop, which leads to more opportunities for new groups that debut after them. I’m sure that BTS, BLACKPINK and NCT are going to get even more popular.” BTS, BLACKPINK and NCT are just starting their journeys of making themselves known worldwide. They will have to face obstacles and prejudice against them along their respective journeys. They can overcome it though, thanks to the undying love and support from their beloved fans.

ACT vs. SAT

19 Lifestyle

How to know which test best fits your learning style.

Diana Devine Staff Writer

aking the SAT and the ACT can seem like a stressful another, so you can take the test that suits your learning style. process, but knowing what you are being tested on can Although the SAT and the ACT may seem similar, there are be very beneficial. Most colleges do not prefer one test over some distinct differences that every test taker should know.

ACT

SAT

The ACT tests your knowledge in English, math, reading and science reasoning.

The SAT tests your knowledge in reading, writing, language and math.

Essay?

How long is it?

Reading Portion

Math Portion

Science Portion

The ACT has an optional essay portion. It will test a student’s ability to write on complex issues. The test duration for the ACT is two hours and 55 minutes or three hours and 40 minutes with the optional essay portion. The reading portion on the ACT consists of four passages and multiple choice questions that go along with them. These questions test various reading comprehension skills, including key ideas, details, craft, structure and integration of knowledge and ideas. The math portion of the ACT covers math subjects up to Algebra II. The use of a calculator is permitted for the entire duration of the test. The science portion on the ACT tests a student’s critical thinking skills. It does not test in specific scientific knowledge.

Scoring

The SAT has an optional essay portion. It will test a student’s ability to comprehend a source text. The test duration for the SAT is three hours without the optional essay portion and three hours and 50 minutes with the essay portion. The reading portion of the SAT consists of five passages and multiple choice questions that go along with them. These questions test skills such as command of evidence, words in context, and analysis in history or social studies and in science. The math portion of the SAT covers math subjects up to Algebra II. There are two sections on the math portion, one permitting a calculator and without a calculator. There is not a science portion on the SAT.

Scoring

The SAT is graded on a scale from 400-1600.

The ACT is graded on a scale from 1-36.

If you still are unsure which test is right for you, try taking a timed practice test for both the ACT and the SAT. Also, doing ACT/SAT preparation before taking the tests can be very useful. Scoring high on these tests can be helpful for getting college scholarships or other merit awards.

Also, the tests can be taken as many times as you need. If your score is not what you hoped it would be, there is no penalty in trying again for a higher score. There is no need to stress over these tests. With ample preparation and self confidence, scoring high on the ACT or the SAT can be simple and stress-free.

LGBTQIA+ CELEBRITIES

In 2018, many celebrities came out to social media. Yashna Chowdhury Copy Editor

Steve Lacy

photo source: theFader.com

Steve Lacy is a 19 year old artist who is a member of the band, The Internet. While he does produce music with the band, he also produces music with other artists like Goldlink, Kendrick Lamar and Kali Uchis. When Lacy was questioned on social media about his sexuality, Steve replied, “I’m human.” Along with this, he also mentioned that he would date a man. Lacy feels that people should not have to stay in the closet then make known their sexuality. Steve said on Twitter in July 2017, “let’s delete the whole closet concept and just let kids be themselves without having to announce what or who they’re into sexually.”

Shannon Purser

photo source: thefix.com

Shannon Purser is an actress that has been featured in many Netflix Originals, including “Stranger Things” and “Sierra Burgess Is a Loser.” On Twitter in 2017, Purser opened up about her sexuality and came out as bisexual after having a twitter feud with fans about a lesbian ship. Purser wrote, “I don’t normally do this, but I figure now is just as good a time as any to get personal. I’ve only just recently come out as bisexual to my family and friends. It’s something I am still processing and trying to understand and I don’t like talking about it too much. I’m very very new to the LGBT community.” Shannon hoped through this she will be able to help others come to terms with their sexuality. Purser tweeted, “Getting comfortable with your sexuality is a process. It’s going to be ok. I wish I’d known that sooner.”

Hayley Kiyoko

photo source: twitter.com

The artist and actress is well-known for her songs that talk about sexuality. Kiyoko’s most popular song, “Girls Like Girls,” conveys the story of two girls falling for each other. The music video received millions of reviews on Youtube, spreading to more than just fans. Through her music, she is able to help fans and people in general to know that “being queer is beautiful.” Not only did it help her fans, but it also helped her open up about her own sexuality. In an interview, Kiyoko said, “I was shocked at how people weren’t judging me. I was ready to be judged, and I was ready to be labeled. That was a moment for me where I was like, I can be myself and people are okay with that.” Junior Isabelle Jones mentioned how celebrities helped her, “I don’t have a celebrity who has helped me but I know quite a few that are out and expressive of their sexuality and it gives me confidence in my own.”

RAISING AWARENESS

21 Lifestyle

Breast cancer occurs in both men and women, learn how to protect yourself. Bryanie Daza Staff Writer

ccording to the National Breast Cancer Organization, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Breast cancer occurs when a group of cancer cells come together, causing malignant tumors to develop in the breast. This typically begins in the inner lining of the milk ducts or within the lobes that supply them with milk. Later, these cells can spread throughout the body by separating themselves from the original tumor and entering blood vessels or lymph vessels.When cancer cells move to other areas of the body and begin damaging other tissues and organs around them this process is called, metastasis. Everyone, whether male or female, is born with breast cells and tissue. Although males do not have milk producing breasts, a man’s breast can still develop cancer. According to the National Breast Cancer Organization, less than one percent of all breast cancer cases develop in men, and only one in a thousand men will be diagnosed. Breast cancer in men is generally detected as a hard lump under the nipple or areola. Unfortunately, men carry a higher mortality than women do in breast cancer, due to the fact that breast cancer awareness in men is far less

*Names have been changed to concel the identity of the student.

than in women. Also, men are less likely to assume that a lump in this area is breast cancer, which delays detection and treatment. Freshman, *Riley was interviewed. He said “ My mom was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer when I was in the sixth grade, so it made my first year of middle school really rough. I was scared about losing my mom. I think more people should educate themselves about breast cancer, because nobody is invincible to cancer. Anyone can be diagnosed with it, if people knew how to detect it and the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, it would be found a lot sooner and would give them a better chance of surviving. Just understanding breast cancer and that it can happen to anyone, even males is crucial to awareness.” Breast cancer in men may display the same symptoms as those in women. Whether someone is male or female, if a hard lump appears in the breast area, it is recommended to contact a physician immediately. Early detection increases treatment options and reduces the risk of mortality. Breast cancer can be diagnosed by having a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, biopsy or a lab test.

HAWAIIAN FRIDAYS Students are sporting a new trend around campus.

Diana Devine Staff Writer

loral prints, leis and palm tree designs are making students go coconuts for Hawaiian Fridays! This is a day when students of any grade get to enjoy wearing their classiest Hawaiian shirts with their friends. It all started with one student, Charlie Wandoff, who was particularly excited about wearing his Hawaiian apparel. “I started to think about how the Hawaiian style could make a huge comeback,” Wandoff said. He started telling a couple of his friends to wear Hawaiian shirts with him as well. More people started noticing their fashionable luau apparel and almost instantly it became a trend. The Hawaiian style was contagious! Eventually, Wandoff and a large group of his friends spent every Friday in their Hawaiian shirts. “I was super surprised about how many others who were just as excited about wearing Hawaiian shirts as I was,” Wandoff said. The activity became so widespread among his friends that they decided to call it, “Hawaiian Fridays.” “It is a super cool way to end the school week,” junior Mariana Rivera said, “It makes Fridays feel like a vacation!” Also, students who participate love to show off their style on Instagram and Snapchat for other students to see and hopefully tag along. Luckily, finding a Hawaiian shirt in Florida does not take too much effort. The key spots to buy these shirts are in tourist shops along the coast. Also, low priced Hawaiian shirts can be found in various Goodwills and other thrift stores around West Palm Beach. Students like pairing their shirts with accessories such as leis and flip flops.

It really makes it feel like summer lasts all year long! Anyone can sport their favorite Hawaiian prints each Friday. Charlie Wandoff and his friends say that they are always hoping for new people to take part in their trend, so iron your best Hawaiian shirt and join the fun!

photo by: Diana Devine

22 Sports

MORE THAN JUST POM POMS The student athletes that deserve more recognition.

Diana Devine Staff Writer

or years students have attended football games to watch the Chargers take on the field. What many students disregard, though, is the cheer team on the sidelines. These girls work for hours on end after school to perfect their jumps, flips and routines to perform at games and pep rallies. However, the cheerleaders participate in much more than football games and pep rallies. The competition squad competes against other schools in statewide and national competitions. During the competition season, they, “...had practice every single day and a competition almost every weekend,” cheerleader, Jenna Yassine said. They participate in conditioning and team building activites during practice as well. The team works equally as hard as any other athlete at school. Also, the cheer team is rarely recognized for the awards and titles that they have won. During the 2018 school year, they have won first and second place at some of the local competitions against other schools. “We won third in the state and fourth in the nation,” according to Yassine. These titles are very admirable for both the cheerleading squad and the school. The team does not cease to impress us. Cheerleader Jaden Bartick expresses the

road to winning a national title as, “Invigorating yet extremely reward to me and my team in the end.” Cheerleaders also face the same challenges as other student athletes at the school. They learn to balance school and athletics in their daily lives. Yassine said that, “It is very hard to learn to balance my studies, but so worth it because it built teamwork and a family at school.” This hard work of the cheer squad go should not go unnoticed. Their hard work in both academics and athletics proves their position as student athletes at school. Whether is it keeping the crowd hyped on the sidelines, performing at pep rallies or winning competitions, the cheerleaders never fail to show their talent and athleticism to the school.

2020 OLYMPICS The summer Olympics are just around the corner.

Jack Swank Staff Writer

photo sources: sportsnewsireland.com, wikipedia.org and zimbio.com

urfing, basketball, table tennis and many other sports are going to be featured at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. It has been 56 years since Tokyo has had the Olympics in their city. Athletes around the world have been preparing for the Summer Olympics for years. The 1964 Olympics transformed Japan’s capital greatly and Japan officials hope for that in 2020. Japan is also the first country in Asia to hold the Olympics. The 2020 games are making headlines about the addition of new sports never featured in the Olympics. Some of the new sports being introduced are softball, karate and skateboarding. Athletes of the new sports are excited because of their chance to compete in the games and become accepted on such a high athletic platform. With new sports being added to the roster, athletes that could not have competed in the past are going to be given a chance to compete for a gold metal. One of the weirdest sports being added is undoubtedly rock climbing, or officially called by the Olympic committee, “sport climbing.” It could be considered out of the ordinary because it is usually not seen in a competitive light, and usually is displayed at carnivals and fairs; but there are other views like those of Suncoast student Jack Baumann. Jack explained, “I believe that anything can be a sport as long as it involves some sort physical

assertion and there is someway to evaluate their performance.” Since the environmental catastrophes of the last summer Olympics in Rio, examples being the presence of Zika and rivers overflowing with trash, there have been concerns of how the Olympics in Tokyo will affect the environment with the addition of new aquatic sports and also the conditions of the Olympic stadium. The overall condition of Shidashita Beach, which is the location for surfing in the Olympics, seemed fine when photos of Shidashita Beach are found and despite Japan’s giant population it has one of the least amounts of waste per person. As for the conditions of the stadium, Tokyo has done a good job at maintaining the Olympic stadium unlike many other countries that have their Olympic stadiums look like abandoned wastelands. The Olympics are overall looked forward to and enjoyed in many nations around the globe. Athletes all around the world train for many years just to compete for a 14 day event. It is great to see nations put aside their differences to come together for the love of sports. Tokyo is proud to hold the prestigious 2020 Olympics, which is evident in the celebration during the Olympic conference when Japan won the host spot of the 2020 Olympics, with many of the new sports being introduced as a result of the changing definition of what is a sport.

23 Sports

RUN TO LIVE, LIVE TO RUN

Latasha Smith is one of Suncoast’s best track runners yet.

Meghan McGlone Managing/Business Editor

ith the sound of the starting pistol, she is off. The adrenaline and anxiety course through her veins, and her legs take long, pounding steps that soon became leaps on the ground beneath her. She is like a bullet fired from a pistol, with her hair whipping behind her like the remnants of smoke. Her name is Latasha Smith, and with the speed and energy of a bullet, she has claimed a spot as one of the nation’s fastest high school runners. Smith began running in the beginning of elementary school and has continued the sport ever since; her love for track sprouted from her natural abilities, and her dedication has won her a multitude of awards. This includes being named the fifty-first best runner in the nation and the tenth best runner in Florida for the 400 meter dash. “I’ve always had a natural talent in running so learning the mechanisms and techniques about how to improve my running was a factor of me falling in love with the sport, along with the track meets,” Smith said. More of her awards include most improved sprinter, sprinter of the year and the MVP award; other track related awards include receiving a letter from a Florida state senator and getting scholarship offers from universities such as UCF. Smith’s love for running has pushed her to strive for the best, and this includes a consistent training schedule. She ensures that every week she is practicing and training, with only two off days per week and a summer break. Her training is to help her run faster and more efficiently, as well as make up for her weaknesses.

“I… am flat-footed, which is uncommon for sprinters to have because people with flat feet normally don’t run,” Smith admitted. “...but I manage to pull through.” Her biggest challenge, however, comes from her own self doubt. Because she is much smaller than most other track members, only around five feet, so she has to train harder to compensate for this as well. “I tend to have a habit of thinking everyone I will or have competed against will eventually beat me because most track runners are tall and strong,” Smith revealed. Another challenge that Smith faces is balancing the rigorous Suncoast IBCP coursework with her demanding sport. Because she stays after school late to practice and lives so far away, she often gets home late and has to stay up late to do her homework, or procrastinate on doing her work. She also misses practice if necessary, but this only occurs about once every few weeks. Her stress from both school and striving to do better for herself and her team have even led to injuries. “Sophomore year I did hurt myself by stressing and overworking my muscles from running and stretching excessively,” Smith recalls. Since then, she has taken better care of her health and is more cautious regarding overworking herself. Although Smith does not know how far this sport will take her, she knows that it is her passion and she will follow it for however long that she can, which includes participating in track in college.

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october 2017