Magazine 2007 Part 2

Scenes from Spain

by Elizabeth Rasmussen

36 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, an athlete, a basketcase, a princess, and a criminal.

Does that answer your question?

The Breakfast Club

38 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

Do movies like The Breakfast Club, Mean Girls and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion portray the true nature of high school social groups? We take a look at the validity of these stereotypes as they apply to the senior class. Is the grade divided according to Hollywood standards or do SJS social groups have a fluidity that extend past these boundaries?

mav-cliques

exploring the inner workings of SJS social groups by bret vollmer, jordan thomas and courtney carvill photos by katherine kelley, daniel perenyi and gabriella wise graphics by austin o’connor

RIght: seniors Crystal Law, Matthew Steffen, David Finkelstein, Mitchell Nimocks and Jennie V. Caven The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 39

perceptions Among the many constants associated with adolescence such as stress, anxiety and hormones, few are deeper embedded in social conscience than high school cliques. Several generations of movies from The Breakfast Club to, most recently, High School Musical have created a distinct image of high school cliques so that even before reaching high school, students expect a certain social atmosphere.

What students find at SJS may not perfectly represent Hollywood interpretation of high school social groups. Now, as they approach graduation, the senior class can examine the state of cliques within their grade.

Although views on the nature of cliques vary between individuals, the majority of SJS students acknowledge the existence of social divisions within the senior class, and few seniors are more vocal in their views than Law. “I don’t do cliques. I tried that,” said Law, “and it didn’t work out.” Laughing, she added “I don’t have enough friends to be in a clique.” Hearing Law describe being “expelled” from one of the senior

40 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

class cliques, one would imagine her to be bitter: however, she describes her experiences with a cheerfulness and honesty found in few others as she provides insight into the social atmosphere of the senior class.

“I go all out, I’m not going to say ‘it depends,’” says Law, “There are always lots of coups. There are definitely leaders and if one person thinks something they won’t announce it, but they’ll tell each person individually and then they’ll all hate this one person.”

This view of cliques, however, is not shared by all SJS students and many oth-

“I don’t do cliques.

I tried that and it didn’t really work out.”

-Crystal Law (‘07) er seniors such as Mitchell Nimocks (‘07) have a more positive view of the social divisions within their grade. “If you go to senior country, everyone hangs out together, plays video games together,”

said Nimocks. “There’s never really any exclusion besides the fact that we’re all seniors.”

When asked about how these social divisions form, most seniors regard it as similar people with similar interests hanging out. However, some seniors such as Anna Domning (‘07) believe that the rigorous academics of SJS particularly impact the social atmosphere. According to Domning, the amount of time a student spends on academics and extracurricular activities influences, to a certain degree, their social group.

Of course, as with most other social issues, cliques differ greatly between boys and girls. “It’s different with guys,” says Law, “because with guys, they are all unified by Halo or something. [Girls] don’t have anything to unify us.” Many seniors echo this sentiment, and some believe there is some truth to the stereotype of girls’ cliques being much more severe.

“When you have a beef with someone, a guy would just take it to the source and handle it,” says Paul Hausknecht (‘07).

“A girl, maybe, I don’t know, would like wait, let it hang around, hold a grudge, tell her friends, spread a rumor etc. etc. I’m not saying all girls are like that though.”

Although girls’ cliques may be more complex, social divisions are much more distinct among boys. “I think it’s more divided among boys than the girls,” said Anna Domning.

It takes only a few moments in senior country to realize this.

Many students, however, feel that these cliques often cause a loss of personal

identity.

“Once you join a clique, its like, you mold yourself subconsciously to their mentality whether you want to or not,” says Law. “That’s just in my experience.”

However, as Jennie Caven (’07) explains, whether or not cliques allow personal identity is a matter of perception.

“I would like to think that the people

[in the group] are seen as themselves and are just friends with certain people, but I’m not really sure about how other people see it,” explained Caven. “I think every individual thinks they have their own identity, but some people have stereotypes and group people without the other person realizing it.”

*For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

T The he R Review eview M Magazine agazine || S Spring pring 2007 2007 41 41

super sports crew

The name says it all. If anyone were to question what united the Super Sports Crew, what sparked their existence, all they would do is turn on ESPN and watch an hour of SportsCenter. “I can honestly see [Ben Jones (‘07)] as a SportsCenter anchor, I can’t see him doing anything else,” said Anand Tamarisa (‘07). According to Jones, members of Super Sports Crew can be found arguing over anything from “the best rivalries in sports--I have that argument at least twice a week” to “whether or not Greg Oden or Kevin Durant will go to the NBA.” Although members of Super Sports Crew have been friends since middle school, the group didn’t receive a name until their junior year (at a time when many other groups were receiving names as well). “[Back in 9th and 10th grade] we used to all play football and basketball 42 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

on weekends...junior year, [David] Sklar (‘07) deemed that whole crew Super Sports Crew,” said Jones.

Super Sports Crew first formed in their freshman year when members would, after debating sports during lunch, meet afterwards to play football or basketball regularly.

Like any other group, they had a common affinity; they worship sports. Known for his Reggie Bush New Orleans Saints jersey and mobile ESPN phone, Ben Jones is widely regarded as the epitome of everything Super Sports Crew is about.

“When I think of Super Sports Crew, I think of Ben Jones. The guy knows everything,” said Clayton Ayers (‘07).

Even Jones himself acknowledges that he is a “figurehead of the group.” “The people who I hang out with are really passionate about sports...watching, playing, debating, anything... I’m pretty sure

nobody else in our grade but me is an obsessive fan of like all sports,” says Jones.

The group began to dissolve with the introduction of Trammel, Senior Country, and subsequent senioritis. Playing Halo took precedence over football during lunch, a double kill in the game gained just as much applause as a well timed pass by Peyton Manning. The debates still continue, and every now and then members of Super Sports Crew will unite to play church league basketball, or watch a sporting event.

In a testament to the senior class’ permeability, members of Super Sports Crew not only associate with group members but with everyone. “I think that lots of kids in our grade know a lot about sports, including people in the CZ and RO crowds. Honestly, I think most guys in our grade care about and know about them on a similar level,” said Jones (‘07).

the seven

When students were asked what the first thing that came to mind was when they heard the term “The Seven,” one word was repeated consistently: popularity. The descriptions people provided of “The Seven” seemed well-tailored for a stereotypical high school movie: “If we had a prom queen it would be one of them,” said Clayton Ayers (‘07). Sam Freedman (’07) referred to them as “the ‘it’ girls”. It would appear as if they had entered the realm of--to quote “Mean Girls,” “teen royalty.”

However, looks can be deceiving. The Seven is a group marred by misconceptions and assumptions. In fact, The Seven’s name wasn’t even their choice. “We were trying to walk some place, and we were like, ‘Wait, where is everyone?’. And I was like, ‘Count off. One...two...three...’ And we kept counting off until we got to seven. And then someone on the basketball team heard and told everyone,” said Lindsay Pearson (’07).

Like some of the other groups featured, The Seven first officially became a group in the middle of their sophomore year.

“The 2004 release of “Mean Girls” caused some to call them by a different name, “The Plastics,” said Freedman. When asked how The Seven received this reputation Kirsten Scott (‘07) said, “...probably because we hung out with upperclassmen a lot, and some [of The Seven] got a lot of attention from upperclassmen boys. I’m not sure exactly if that’s it, but that’s my guess.” In reality, members of “The Seven” are different from the cliches they are associated with.

They’re like any other group of friends within the school— their affinity springs from their common interests. According to Scott, they got to know each other through “sports, childhood friendships, dance and classes.” They were viewed as an exclusive group compiled of girls looking to “establish themselves,” says Freedman. “Even referring to The Seven as “The Seven” implies that whatever you say about them applies to [each individual girl],” said Elizabeth Easterly (‘07).

As a consequence of being seen as “The Seven”, the individuals became one single being, made up of seven indistinct parts. Because of this, The Seven practically no longer exists.

“It seems the image was fabricated by other people, and that if they looked closely they could see that, like people in any group of friends, each girl is an individual. If you asked any one of the girls, you’d learn that each one of “The Seven” has friends far beyond just the other 6. It’s convenient to give a name to a group of people, like CZ or RO, but to ridicule such a group for simply existing would be ignorant,” said Easterly.

R.O.

With sub-groups, affiliates, floaters, and unclassifiables, River Oaks (RO) is perhaps one of the largest “most diverse groups” SJS has, said Sam Freedman (‘07). There are overlapping layers, long histories, and various groups that can all help tell the story of RO and its origin. “I guess we’ve all been friends since kindergarten. Our parents are all friends so it made it easy to hangout with people. We just kind of stuck together,” said Adam Hines (‘07).

Members of RO aren’t much different from any other social group in high school. They can be found “gaming” says Robert Howard (‘07) with members of CZ, Super Sports Crew, or any other “affinity group in Senior Country. They also hang out with “sophomores, juniors, and seniors” alike says Freedman.

“When I think of our grade, I don’t really think of cliques.”

- Adam Hines (‘07) However, outside forces have helped mold the common image many have of the group, particularly this year’s Kinkaid Video. “Xtreme!!! The Kinkaid Video is a really accurate [portrayal] of them. They’re really active and like to hang out,” Clayton Ayers (‘07) said, laughing. In one scene, the “Xtreme Scene” members of RO are seen dousing one another in Mountain Dew, skateboarding, and urban kayaking.

This helped create the Xtreme sub-group of RO, and also became the defining image of RO. “When I think of RO I think of extreme skateboarding...” said Anand Tamarisa (‘07). The name “RO” was given in “response” to the CZ name. “There were clearly two main groups of friends, and CZ had a nameso it was only logical to have a label for the other one,” Sam Freedman (‘07). For a time RO was seen as a male version of The Seven. They were the “it” guys.However, as is the case with many cliques, its members, their perspective of themselves, and others’ perspective of them changed and matured.

“When I think of our grade, I don’t really think of cliques.

In other grades it’s more pronounced. I think we’re a real cohesive group- especially the guys- we all hang out together,” Adam Hines (‘07).

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 43

SJS: the next generation

attended SJS since 6th grade, recalls several “best friends” from middle school who he doesn’t really talk to now. “There were definitely more changes freshman Stuart Dickerson (’10) and Andrew other people,” said Dickerson. year when people started to separate each Mintz (’10) casually lean against the lockThe pensive comments came to a halt, other based on how popular they were,” ers eyeing the doors of senior country. however, when Mintz yelled, “We don’t he said.

When asked about the number of cliques care!” and gave Dickerson another highIn terms of permeability, sophomore in their grade, however, the two straight- five, summarizing the general male opin- social groups are more flexible for boys en up, “Plenty. We’re loaded!” Dickerson ion on the subject of cliques. than for girls. “It won’t be weird to have says enthusiastically.

Ordonez (’09) sees the sophomore grade one group of friends hang out with anClosely adhering to the established high according to stereotypical high school other group, but I would never see that school trend, the freshman, sophomore, divisions. Social groups make alterations with girls,” said Ordonez. and junior classes all acHe pointed out that a group’s knowledge divisions within acceptance of someone from the their grades. outside depends on the person.

The sophomore class is Shy kids, for example, would be “separated between popular less likely to be accepted. kids and not so popular kids Like Ordonez, Chen felt the with a few small groups sophomore grade was the most in between,” said Jose Ordivided in the upper school. donez (’09). According to “Sophomore groups have had a Jessica Chen (’08) the junior lot of changes for a year. They class, “is divided into two seem indecisive about who their big [groups] and then little friends are,” she said. ones inside that.”

As for the junior class, “EvAfter conferring, Dickeryone kind of hangs out. [The erson and Mintz agree that groups] aren’t exclusive. We the freshman class has one don’t have a ‘popular girls group’ conventional stereotype: that hates everyone,” said Chen. the pretty girls. “Only girls The juniors are not as divided by would put themselves in gender as the other grades either. cliques,” said Mintz.

Though there are small groups of The freshman boys startgirls and guys, they hang out toed to name their groups gether on the weekends. “It’s not of friends to make fun of exclusive but just kind of how it girls who did so. Groups happens,” she said. of girls like ‘S.L.A.S.H.M,’ Social groups in the junior class ‘K.A.L.E.B,’ and ‘The Great are open to others but still serve Eight’ inspired a group of as a base for group members. boys to call themselves “You can float in and out [of oth‘R.A.R.J.Z.M.S.’ er groups] but you always have According to Dickerson, a group of friends,” said Jessica.

“The divisions were there She also mentioned that ‘floatlong before I came on this ing’ is easier for some than for earth.” In other words, others, particularly for girls who “since second grade,” said “get jealous when other girls Dickerson and Mintz who hang out.” make up the S and A in The freshman, sophomore, and ‘R.A.R.J.Z.M.S.’ junior grades have different perAfter some debating, the spectives on social divisions of two agreed their group’s Stuart Dickerson (‘10) and Andrew Mintz (‘10) scoping out the the senior class. Dickerson and most frequent hangout is SJS social scene in the freshman hallway.

Mintz are vaguely aware of seDickerson’s house and they nior cliques but were able to draw have several traditions like nearly 15 parallels between specific midnight soccer games at Southside Park. with the coming and going of football freshman and seniors.

“Oh yea, we go commando on the last day and lacrosse seasons and he admitted that They compared Jett Williams (’10) to of school!” adds Mintz and the two high- “looks” divide the girls.

David Sklar (’07) for example and Mintz five.

“For guys [the divisions] aren’t as seri- wishfully compared himself to Griffin KlAccording to Dickerson and Mintz, in ous as for girls who tend to maintain the ement (’10). the freshman class, every group has their same groups,” said Ordonez, who characOrdonez said he could sometimes see own lunch table and no one really moves terizes himself as a ‘floater.’ “Every now similarities “but [the seniors are] generalbetween groups. Still, the two agreed and then I do hang out with the jock ly not as bad as our grade.” Chen considthere are several “token people” that hang guys,” he said. ered the seniors to be “pretty divided” but out with their group occasionally.

As a friend walks by Ordonez asks where could not see any resemblances between “When you recognize yourself as a he thinks their group falls on the social junior and senior social groups. “It’s comclique it comes with a lot of stigmatism scale and they agree that “the middle” is pletely different I feel like,” she said. q and you feel like you can’t hang out with an accurate location. Ordonez, who has 44 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

Preppy. Nerdy. Smart.

Students weigh in on the SJS stereotype

By DANIELLE PIKE Although the cliché “don’t judge a book by its cover” warns us not to make assumptions about people, we still do. When we see a blonde, we automatically assume that she is dumb or that a guy with a pocket protector is a nerd. Stereotypes cause us to make assumptions about people that are not entirely true. So what is the stereotype that SJS students from other schools and even current students associate with typical student on Claremont Lane?

When joking about students at SJS, Gabby Salazar (’08) said, “You know you go to St. John’s when Harvard is your backup school.”

SJS students are in an environment where academics seem to come first; therefore, some people believe that we are nerds. Even though SJS is often associated with Kinkaid and Episcopal, SJS is considered to be the one with the highest academic standards.

Although this statement may be contradicted by those at our cross-town rivals, the students at SJS will most likely agree as the standard of being an academically rigorous school also brings stereotypes such as nerd, geek and the like.

Maria Tapia, a junior at Episcopal High School, said, “The ‘johnnies’ are nerds. They do nothing but study. They have no life.”

Students at SJS do have a life; it just involves SJS most of the time. For instance, the Friday night of an SJS student might consist of going to the football game or to the musical.

Some students might find themselves at SJS the whole weekend participating in sporting events or fine arts activities. Just because SJS students spend most of their time doing school activities does not mean they are nerds.

David Hernandez, a junior at Episcopal, said SJS students are “Basically nerds that always

do homework or school related things such as projects…overachievers, perfectionists and etc.”

Even though some students from other schools may think that all the students at SJS are nerds, there are some students who don’t care that much about their studies.

Diana Wakasugi (’08), a student at St. Stephen’s Episcopal in Austin, said, “At first when I heard about St. John’s, I thought that all the kids there were very smart and rich.” SJS students are considered rich which is probably due to the hefty tuition of $16,025 a year for the upper school. Yet, the tuition at Episcopal is even higher (about $22,000 including extra fees.)

Sarah LaMond , a junior from student from Lamar High School, said, “I would have to say that the kids at SJS are very well educated and that is what they are known best for around Lamar. There are times when teachers will make comments saying, ‘Oh, you think this is hard. Why don’t you go over to St. John’s and see what happens there.’” Lamar students have the best view of us for they see us every day from across the street or through a gate. Nevertheless, they still stereotype us as being smart and hard workers.

A student at St. Agnes said that the stereotype is “a lot of them are rich, many are smart, some are bored, some are quirky [and] some are big partiers.”

This student is saying that not all the students at SJS are like each other.

Each student has his or her own niche. Some students study hard and leave no time for play while others prefer to have more fun and do not study as hard.

Clayton Benavides (’08) said, “Of course there are stereotypes within the school: jocks, nerds, art kids, preps, middle of the road kids, slackers. People are stereotyped by the cliques they hang out with.”

Not all the students at SJS are nerds, yet not everyone likes to party either.

Even though not all students at SJS can be classified under the same category, students from other schools still stereotype us. However, being considered a nerd may not be all that bad for even students at SJS consider themselves nerds.

Dean Alig said that we are “hard workers and nerds.” SJS students work hard and take many challenging courses, and this makes students from other schools believe that we are geeks and nerds.

Students at SJS may be stereotyped as nerds or as rich, yet this does not represent the entire student body. There are many different types of students at SJS that cannot be described in one word. However, no matter how different each student is, all students at SJS will still be considered to be nerds. So once again it is not good judge anyone because, for example, SJS all has types of people, but the students are still catagorized. SJS students like any group of people are unique. q

For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

45 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

15 things to do before you graduate

by EMILY FOXHALL

1

Learn how to free-line skate

A cross between skateboarding and rollerblading, free-line skating is a whole new balancing act to master. “It’s unlike any other thing with wheels,” said Buck Elkins (’07). “It’s hard to learn how, but once you learn it’s really fun.” The skates can be purchased online at www.freelineskates.com.

4

Go camping in your backyard

Though most of us missed out on the Boy Scout phase, it’s never too late to pull out old sleeping bags, set up a tent and spend the night in the great outdoors. Jenna Lindley (’10) and her friends, however, spent the night in a tent in her living room. “We made [my brother] Matthew set up the tent because he’s a Boy Scout,” said Jenna. “We put water in Nalgenes… and we had pillows and blankets and watched Scrubs.”

5

Have your own Iron Chef

Pick a few ingredients every course has to include, then see who can make the best appetizer, main course and dessert.

7

Spend a day not talking

“Do one day of no speaking… just to see everyone’s reaction,” proposed Bess Alford (’08). Try spending the entire day without saying a word to anyone at all. See how long you can last communicating only through writing and made-up sign language.

8

Explore the downtown tunnel sytem

Unknown to many Houstonians, a tunnel lies twenty feet below the downtown streets. “It’s really cool!” said Grace Hobby, whose dad works in a building above the tunnel (’08). “There are lots of restaurants and other stuff.” Though only open Monday through Friday, the downtown tunnel system is perfect for exploring and can be accessed through stairs or elevators in buildings above the tunnel or from Wells Fargo Plaza.

9

Watch the midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at River Oaks Theater

River Oaks Theater shows the 1975 cult movie Rocky Horror Picture Show on the screen while actors simultaneously perform on stage.

“It was crazy!” said John Allman (‘09), who has seen it before. “There are actors who dress up as the characters and say all the words on a stage with the movie and they run up and down the aisles... It’s really amusing.” If you’re not a fan of Rocky Horror Picture Show, then you can always see the midnight showing of Rushmore.

Max Susman (‘10) on his free-line skates.

2

Late-night snack at Café Brasil

Though finding a place to park is tricky, the effort is worth it. You can choose from a selection of things to eat and drink (including amazing hot chocolate), then enjoy! “I like sitting outside there,” said Lizzy Bowen (’08).

3

Go on a Photo Safari

Make a list of at least 10 random things to take a picture of (i.e. you with a policeman, in a fountain, rolling down a hill, etc.), divide into two teams, and then drive around Houston and see who can take all of the pictures first.

46 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

6

KATHERINE CARMICHAEL | The Review

Have a picnic in Huffington Park

Located at the intersection of College and Amherst, this park is so well tucked away in West University neighborhood that hardly anyone is ever there. Including a whale-shaped slide, chess tables and plenty of grass to roll around in, it’s the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic. The park “is fantastically unique,” said Gabi Chennisi (’09). “I’m a big fan of the hills; they’re at an optimal slope for relaxation.”

10

Visit the Orange Show

Located in east Houston, the Orange Show is a handmade structure completed in 1979 and built solely by one man. The mazelike building contains a stage where concerts are performed and movies are shown. “It’s like another planet. It’s ridiculous. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before,” said Blanche Jamail (’08). “It’s a little bit far away, but it’s a fun adventure.” The Orange show is run by volunteers and is open Saturdays and Sundays from noon until five.

13

11

Consume a large amount of food

Current senior guys have recently begun competing with each other to see who can eat the most of a certain food. “It’s a random tradition that senior guys started up,” said Will Joyce (’07). “We were really bored one Friday and decided to have Ray Schroer (’07) eat 10 big bananas for no reason whatsoever.” After Schroer and Dillon Chapman (‘07) had a contest to see who could eat the most bananas, Joyce grew excited and decided he would attempt the Milk Challenge: consuming one gallon of milk in one hour and keeping it down. Surprisingly, he was able to drink one gallon in ten minutes. “The amount of respect I got for that was unbelievable,” said Joyce. So, before you graduate, be sure to add your name to the list of those accomplished enough to consume more of a certain food or drink than anyone else.

Eat lunch at the Hobbit Café

Alice Alsup (’08), a frequent diner at this Houston café, describes it as “like a Lord of the Rings themed diner.” Open since 1972, Hobbit Café has developed a reputation for its unique atmosphere and, of course, it’s good food. “My parents used to go there when they were in college,” said Alsup. “My dad still orders the same thing he used to!” Also, if you’re an avocado lover, this is the restaurant for you; every meal is served with it!

12

Take the METRORail

You can’t call yourself a true Houstonian unless you’ve ridden our light rail. For two dollars, you get 24 hours of unlimited rides.

“It was a fun bonding experience to ride it from one end to the other, and you get to see all of downtown,” Emily Cain (’09) said.

14

Katherine Carmichael | The Review

Support an underappreciated SJS sport

The stands at boys football, lacrosse and basketball games are always full of proud SJS fans, but many other teams are not as lucky. Swimming, for example, is one sport that could always use some Maverick support. “It’s exciting because you get to watch people beat other people by like .1 second,” said swimmer Ryan Cordill (‘09). Plus, “you get to see mohawks, shaved heads and guys in Speedos” if you come, according to Aneel Henry (’09).

15

Take your dog to the Dog Park

Courtesy of Ridemetro.org

Divided into separate areas for big dogs and little dogs, Danny Jackson Dog Park is complete with a path to walk your dog, a pond for your dog to swim in and, of course, large grassy areas perfect for throwing tennis balls and frisbees. “It’s like a dog party,” said Sage Klement (’09). “It’s so fun!” q

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 47

Beyond Skip Lee: Students Competing in Sports Outside SJS

By MEGHAN HALL, JEREMY SLAWIN, LUISA bARRON and HUDSON DUNCAN

People often focus on the

popular, traditional SJS sports teams: football, basketball, lacrosse. But what about the student-athletes who toil away at their own practices and competitions away from school? The Review delves into the lifes of these athletes—and about their tough job of balancing sports, activities and lest we forget, schoolwork.

KATHERINE KELLEY | The Review

48 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

clayton holz

By JEREMY SLAWIN Most students at SJS know what Clayton Holz (‘08) can do on a soccer field. At soccer games, cries of “Go Clayton!” can be heard after each spectacular move, each precise cross and each powerful shot.

Many people recognize Holz’s talent, but many do not realize that his play under the lights of Scotland Yard is only a mere fraction of Holz’s experience in the world of soccer.

Growing up in Kentucky, Holz started playing soccer at five years old, just like many other children whose parents wanted to sign them up for sports as early as possible. However, Holz soon took his involvement with soccer to an entirely new level.

After moving to Houston, he started playing in the West University soccer league and by age eleven was playing soccer for Houstonians, a local club team.

This steep increase in Holz’s participation in soccer did not just occur by chance, though.

“I tried lots of sports and soccer is the sport that I quickly became attached to.

It was the sport that I was the best at and the sport that I had the most fun playing,” Holz said. After this realization, he began dedicating a large amount of time to improving his skills.

Currently, Holz plays club soccer for Classics Soccer Club and the Texas Soccer Club Texans, tryout-based teams that run out in Klein. He was invited to the tryout, a process for team selection implemented by many other high-level soccer programs, emphasizing the importance of knowing coaches and being a wellknown name in the world of soccer.

Holz also was asked to participate in the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, a seven-day camp where coaches instruct and evaluate young soccer players for future involvement in international soccer. After receiving instruction and playing an array of games, the players invited were assessed by coaches at the national, regional and state levels. Holz was one of eighty under-fifteen kids selected to the program, established in 1977 to identify future players for the international squad. More importantly, the program provides high-level instruction and training to enhance the development of all the players involved.

However, gaining more experience and knowledge was not the only thing that Holz took from this program. He also was

Photo courtesy of Clayton Holz (‘08).

introduced to coach James Clarkson.

Recently, Holz was invited, through Coach Clarkson, to play for the Houston Dynamo developmental team. This new system gives young, talented soccer players a chance to train in a “minor league” environment in hopes of eventually be-

ing signed to the first team. Holz was the third player selected for the under-eighteen academy team, a pool drawn from only South Texas. The group meets once a week, and coaches focus on improving their players in four key areas: technical skills, communication on the field, psyThe Review Magazine | Spring 2007 49

william young

by HUDSON DUNCAN To many around campus, William Young is simply known as “the freshman and starting point guard on varsity.” This generalization is true, but what many don’t know is the route Young used to improve his skills.

Young has been playing basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union for seven years. The league is nation-wide, and its teams hand-select the best players they can find. Until national tournaments are held, though, regional teams play one another.

Young has played for five different teams and is currently playing for the Total Package All-Stars. He has been successful with most of his teams, and this past year his team finished eighth place in the nation for his age group.

Because of his experiences in the AAU, Young has “really gotten better in all parts of my game,” he said. “I’ve definitely learned how to play as a team and how to be a good leader.”

caroline incavo

by Jeremy slawin

KATHERINE KELLEY | The Review

chological toughness and physical fitness.

This program makes Holz’s goal of playing professional soccer a reality, and he hopes to continue progressing through the system.

Holz dedicates a large amount of time to soccer. He plays once a week for the 50 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

Dynamo and then three times a week at Concordia Lutheran for his other teams.

“I really like soccer because it is a good escape from the rigors of school and the stress of my life,” Holz said. “You make great friends playing, and it is just a lot of fun.”

What sports did you play when you were younger? Most kids played soccer, Little League baseball or softball, and even perhaps YMCA basketball. Anything else is practically unheard of.

Such was not the situation growing up for Caroline Incavo (’07), though. A new student at SJS this year, Incavo grew up in Vermont, a place where the popular sports are different. There, hockey is included with the trifecta of baseball, basketball and soccer when it comes to children’s sports leagues.

Incavo, however, did not get involved in hockey until the eighth grade, when she was convinced by one of her best friends to take up the sport. Her team, an all-girls team, was called the Chittenden South Burlington Hawks, and it was playing for this team that fostered Incavo’s love for hockey.

“It was really fun because I didn’t have to be good. I was just learning how to

Photo courtesy of Caroline Incavo (‘07).

play, but it was fun to see my teammates who were all really when a coach meets with the team and runs drills. “I usually good players,” Incavo said. skip that one,” said Incavo about the once a month hockey pracAfter she moved on to high school, Incavo continued to play tice. hockey for her high school team. However, the girls hockey For Incavo, playing hockey in Houston has been different program at her high school was from playing in Vermont. The brand-new and was not taken goalie on the Harpies once told seriously. No players were cut Incavo she should apply for from the team, and the enscholarships and play Division I vironment surrounding the college hockey. She just smiled team was relaxed and free of and nodded at her teammate’s pressure. This helped Incacomments because she knows vo’s development as a hockey her true talent level. “I’m ter- Caroline Incavo (‘07) player since she was able to rible by Vermont standards,” get a lot of playing time despite she said, although she did say being relatively inexperienced at the game. that there was a possibility that she could play college hockey at “It was not too serious, so I had a lot of fun. I still got playing the Division III level. time and all of the girls were really nice,” Incavo said.

Hockey has been a part of Incavo’s life for quite some time, Incavo then moved to Houston, but hockey was something and the sport gives her great experiences. “I really like the sport she was not ready to give up. She now plays for the Harpies in because the people are always really nice and fun and it’s just a an adult league that meets every Wednesday night, with games great, fast paced game,” she said. “It’s really exciting, and I have for three consecutive weeks followed by a week of instruction, so much fun playing it.”

“I really like the sport because the people are always really nice and fun and it’s just a great, fast-paced game.”

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 51

kate donnelly & carolyn prioleau

by LUISA BARRON The homework load, clubs, fine arts, three sports seasons—many students at SJS manage to have a balancing act of everything they need and want to do, but certain student-athletes take it to another level. Students can receive credit for participating only in out-of school sports, but Kate Donnelly (’07) and Carolyn Prioleau (’08) handle sailing in addition to being on school teams.

Both sail for the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in Galveston Bay. Though Donnelly spends most of her summer there to practice sailing and compete in regattas at various places and levels, she is taking a break from racing competitively right now. She plays on the varsity field hockey, soccer and lacrosse teams for SJS, but there’s a difference between the competition at school and in sailing. SPC is admittedly somewhat limited, but for sailing, she said, “You can make it as competitive as you want.”

Donnelly has grown up around sailing, citing her mom especially as a source of her inspiration. It’s no surprise then that it is one of her two favorite sports, along with lacrosse.

“Sailing was my first sport I ever really got into…it’s one of those sports you can do all of your life,” she said. Competitions may not always be on her mind, but she said she will hopefully always be sailing for fun.

As for college, competitive sailing was an option, but she decided not to head in that direction.

The burden doesn’t fall too heavily on her shoulders as she finishes up her senior year--she likes to keep things going.

“It’s good to keep busy--it keeps me energized,” she said.

Mrs. Ellen Donnelly, Kate’s mother and the SJS sailing team sponsor, also acknowledges the difficulty in balancing sailing with school activities.

“They sail against schools that own their own boats, have a hired coach and are near water. These schools practice every day, just like a varsity sport here.

So it’s hard for SJS sailors to be competi52 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Prioleau (‘08).

tive when they don’t have as much support or practice time,” she said. “But these kids excel even when the odds are against them.

“There are definitely choices that have to be made—the main one is probably giving up social things,” she said. “Sailing is just like any sport—it’s a lot of practice but it’s also just what you’re given: a God-given talent. Some people just have an instinct for it.”

Teams of two or three practicing for a competition can get complicated, because “it’s hard with all the academics, and school activities as well, but what’s even harder is to coordinate [several] people to schedule, and find a boat to practice, and find time to go together to practice,” she said But she says SJS students are up to the task, important since most of the team members are also SJS athletes and participate in many other time-demanding activities.

“You know SJS kids—they’re into everything,” she said. “The kids do practice when they can, and especially in the summer, but school really comes first.”

Prioleau is another prime example of

the time-managing student-athlete—she plays varsity field hockey and soccer, but with a free spring season this year, she hopes to get to sail more often. It’s difficult for the athletes to get practice time in while participating in a school sport, but even when not doing one, “you have to make time on weekends and holidays,” Prioleau said. But, much like Donnelly, sailing competitively comes more into focus during the summer rather than the school year.

She has been enjoying sailing since childhood. “When I was eight years old, my parents bought me a boat for Christmas, and I just started out and loved it,” she said.

Graduation is still a little ways away, and “right now, I’m just trying to decide whether I want to [sail competitively in college] or not,” she said. Beyond that, she has “no idea.”

Yet finding time for such a demanding extra activity is easy for these athletes with enough love for the sport. “If you’re really dedicated enough, you can find the time for it,” Prioleau said. “It’s hard to find a balance, but once you do, it’s really nice.”

grace hobby

by MEGHAN HALL How long has Grace Hobby (’08) been riding?

“Basically forever,” she said. “My grandparents showed, my dad plays polo, my aunts still show. It’s a family thing.” Hobby’s two cousins, Caroline (‘11) and Carson (‘12) Gibson, ride, as well.

Hobby manages to balance riding along with doing her schoolwork and playing lacrosse. When she is not in lacrosse season, she rides three to four times a week. However, during the spring season, Hobby usually only gets to ride once a week. She rides mainly at Memorial Park but also sometimes at her cousin’s ranch in Magnolia, Texas.

Hobby rides in the hunter division, where the horse is judged on his movement both on the flat and over fences. She travels to shows in Katy, Texas, and in California with her two horses, Rio and Sunny. With respect to her schoolwork, it’s tough when Hobby has to travel, but “I’m used to it,” she says.

In the winter seasons of her freshman and sophomore years, Hobby was able to receive P.E. credit for her out-of-school sport. “[People who do out-of-school sports] should be able to get credit,” she says.

Regarding continuing her horseback riding during college, “I won’t choose [a college] based on whether it has horseback riding,” Hobby said. q Photo courtesy of Grace Hobby (‘08).

a closer look at...the SJS PE credit system this year…

—

if you play a sport SJS does not offer: - you will receive credit for one trimester/ sports season - your sport must require a large time commitment and a high level of playing - you must display an extended and sustained commitment with evidence of extraordinary achievement

— if

you play a sport SJS does offer:

- you will receive credit for one trimester/ sports season - you will also have to play for SJS - you must play at a high level and display a commitment to excellence

next year…

— PE credit for one school year may be earned by doing any of the following: - playing two SJS sports - playing one SJS sport and completing one semester of PE - completing a full year of PE - managing one team and either playing a sport or taking PE for one semester - participating in dance for a full year — the seasons are not changing, just PE enrollment times (now two times a year instead of three) — no credit given for sports played outside of school if SJS offers the sport — credit system for sports not offered is the same The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 53

Halls and Tunnels of Doom: How to Aviod Awkward Situations By bret vollmer

provement and affirmative thought, something that hardly seems worth the effort. It is much easier to blame the other individual.

“It usually happens with people I don’t know, or people that I think I know,” said Essig. “I know their name and I want to say ‘hey’ but always regret it.”

According to Essig, these moments do not occur while passing a stranger, someone who you are not supposed to speak to anyways, but with individuals who you are at least slightly familiar with, someone who you don’t want to speak to.

Uncomfortable hallway passings then, can be reduced by remaining a complete stranger to other students. If you do, however, insist on getting to know your peers, it is still possible to avoid these situations by knowing which hallways to circumvent.

Though not as long as the freshmen hallway, the width of the north wing of the quadrangle makes it easily the most common place for these uncomfortable passings.

Research shows that it takes exactly 40 seconds to walk from the computer lab to the end of the hallway, and during this time students are completely exposed to other individuals. This hallway though, is relatively easy to avoid by using the breeze-way.

Easily the most frightening part of the campus due to the possibility of cave-ins or flash floods, the tunnel has also become notorious for awkward scenes. “The tunnel is the worst,” said Essig. “There is no way to turn around or find another hallway.

You’re underground. You obviously have somewhere to go, so you have to keep going. You can’t get out of it and run away.”

Fortunately, the morning hours afford at least

temporary respite from the pains of a bad passing. Further reason not to get the recommended eight hours of sleep, Essig explained, “In the morning you have an excuse for being too tired,

Research shows that it takes exactly 40 seconds to walk from the computer lab to the end of the hallway, and during this time students are completely exposed to other individuals. This hallway though, is relatively easy to avoid by using the breeze-way.

Daniel Perenyi | The Review

If any animal deserves to be extinct, it is the “awkward turtle.” The annoying hand-gesture used to identify supposedly “awkward” moments in conversations only transforms what could be a casual or meaningful pause into something uncomfortable and frustrating. The word “awkward” itself is used far too often to describe social situations.

However, one situation that is undeniably painful is passing an acquaintance in the hallway and being unsure whether or not to acknowledge them.

Though not a phenomenon unique to SJS, almost all St. John’s students are familiar with those uncomfotable moments of uncertain glances and muttered greetings while passing an acquaintance in the hallway, and even though the hallway is often empty in these instances, you can be certain somebody is watching. Homework can be ignored, sports practice can be skipped, and poor grades can be accepted with quiet resignation, but the expectant stares of passing an acquaintance in a hallway are inescapable.

“It’s happening to me less now,” said Catherine Essig (’08). “It probably happens to me about five times everyday.” Essig, like many other students, often finds herself unsure how to react to a passing acquaintance and is not a stranger to the consequential anxiety. “I’ll wave,” says Essig, “and then realize I should wait, and then I sort of pause halfway.”

Though students often experience several of these uncomfortable moments daily, the source of the anxiety that often accompanies them is difficult to identify. The long answer is personal insecurity or a lack of confidence, which can be overcome through self-im-

Edward Williams (‘09) attempts to aviod Buddy Carruth (‘09) with his lacrosse skills and sheer muscle power

54 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

and you sort of like drift off down the hallway.”

Unfortunately, even with fewer than three hours of sleep, a student can often find themselves staring down a hallway at an oncoming acquaintance and not knowing how to react, and for this reason it is important to have a plan.

Christian Woo (’09) handles the pressure of passing someone in hallway better than most students and believes that “people should say ‘hi’ even if they don’t know the person, because it makes it less awkward…plus it makes them feel good about themselves.”

This is however, difficult advice to follow, and fortunately it is possible to both avoid awkward situations and not have to make another student feel good about themselves.

Most students admit to waiting for a response from the other individual before deciding whether or not to acknowledge them, and for this reason it is important for you to take the initiative and be the first person to ignore the other.

More importantly, do not waver in your decision; if you ignore another student once, then you can be sure they won’t trouble you with their friendship again.

If you do become fool-hardy enough to say something to an acquaintance in the hallway, be aware that you are exposing yourself to severe humiliation provided that they don’t return the greeting. “I’m not offended when it happens,” says Woo, “but it definitely puts a damper on my day.”

Everyday students are exposed to anxiety and uncertainty while passing an acquaintance in the hallway, and though it is possible to reduce the pain, it is impossible to completely avoid these situations.

However, in the unlikely event that despite your ignoring them, someone does say ‘hello’ to you, it is important to muster some kind of response. Even if they have already passed you by a few feet, you must do something whether it is a simple nod or a meek ‘hi.’ It is after all, the only polite thing to do.

Five tips to aviod the pass It is impossible to completely avoid the anxiety of passing another student and being unsure how to react, but with these tips can help lessen the pain Personal Improvement Theoretically, by becoming a kind, selfconfident person and greeting everyone with a cheerful smile you would be able to avoid awkward uncertainty. Unfortunately, the road to personal improvement is long and arduous. Not highly recommended.

Cell Phone When apporaching someone one of those uncomfortable situations, a perfect time presents itself to answer your friends text messages that you weren’t able to answer during class. Reading text messages or pretending to talk to someone on your cell phone is an easy way to avoid eye-contact. No cell phone?

Hold your hand over your ear and pretend you have a Bluetooth earpiece. Haggle business prices to make it more believeable.

Go Into a Classroom Find sanctuary in the nearest classroom, any classroom, doesn’t matter which. The questioning stares of the students or teachers in the room are much easier to face than the awkward glances of a hallway passing.

Imaginary Friends While walking towards an individual, tends to see someone behind them pass the person to catch up. If they around and don’t see someone they probably think they are the crazy

preand turn will one.

Beatbox/Freestyle While walking in the hallway, make like Tupac and drop a beat while laying down some smooth lyrics and no one will want to interrupt your flow. q

For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

Nihal Ramchandani (‘09) tries but fails to avoid Alex Pearson (‘09).

DANIEL PERENYI | The Review

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 55

The New College Admissions

by Danielle Pike Emily Foxhall and Ashley Tam edited by Ryan Staine graphics by Austin O’Connor

Courtesy of http://www.clark.edu/images/campus_orientation.jpg

“The SJS Effect” The evolution of college counseling Early Admissions 56 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

The SJS Effect By danielle pike

When students first meet with their college counselor in the middle of junior year, they may be thinking that they can get into any college just because the words SJS is on their transcript. Yet, does filling out SJS as your high school on a college application mean that you are going to get in? Probably not, since students at SJS actually do get rejected from colleges.

Bryan Rutledge, the head college counselor at SJS, agrees that SJS helps in some way to help students get into college, but it is ultimately the student who gets into college, not the high school. SJS not only helps students get into college with its name, but also provides students with an education to prepare them for college and a college counseling department.

Last year 80% of the senior class went to colleges outside the state of Texas. SJS is well-known within the state of Texas and helps to feed students into schools such as the University of Texas and Rice, but does so with schools outside of Texas.

However, Mr. Rutledge said, “I imagine that a school such as Boston Latin would enjoy a similar relationship to the one SJS has with Rice.” Boston Latin is a public school in Massachusetts, which is similar to SJS in terms of academics. Boston Latin sends many of its students to Harvard because it has a close relationship with the university. Many students at SJS have a close relationship with people at Rice and eventually go to college there.

Elizabeth Oliver (‘07) reflects on the college admissions process that she experienced in the past year.

JENNIFER DENFIELD | The Review

For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 57

Cara Yoder, college counseler, showing two students some graphs with regard to college admissions.

Teachers also help to spread the word about SJS by visiting other colleges and networking with colleges.

SJS alumni also help to inform colleges about SJS. Also, the colleges that come to visit SJS in the fall come at their own volition; no one at SJS asks them to come speak about their college.

“Though coming from a strong high school, you are going to compete with other students who are strong,” said Mr. Rutledge. SJS is a competitive high school and students are not only going to compete with students from other high schools, but also with their peers at SJS. College counselors send a profile of SJS with each application in order to show the college the kind of environment that SJS students are working in. This is the “most selective point in US history to apply to college,” said Mr. Rutledge. According to Mr. Rutledge, students do not get into college because of the high school they attend; they get into college because of their grades, test scores and other factors.

Elizabeth Oliver (’07) said, “St. John’s will help you write impressively and give you the opportunity to do all kinds of activities, but it can’t really tell you who you are, which I think is what colleges want to know apart from your grades and test scores.”

When searching for a college, students should not look for the most well-known 58 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

university, but one that is the best fit for them. Cara Yoder, new to the SJS college counseling staff, said that searching for a college is like “searching for a nice outfit, [you] don’t need one with sequins, [you] need something that is right for you.” Even though many SJS students are looking for the best college, sometimes it is better to look for the one that is best for you. Ms. Yoder said, “Because a certain style looks good on someone, doesn’t mean it looks good on everyone.”

The college counselors are there to help students get into college. They do two things: counsel and advocate. According to Mr. Rutledge, the counselors’ job is to “try to find what m a k e s you happy.” By writing recommendations and editing essays, college counselors help

JENNY LEWIS | The Review

students apply to college in many ways.

In the end, Mr. Rutledge said, “We become happy when you become happy.”

SJS can help to prepare a student for college, but in terms of getting into college it is all up to the student. Although colleges may consider the high school that a student goes to, it all depends on how a student looks on paper or in an interview. According to Mr. Rutledge, when going into the college counseling process it is best to have an open-mind for it is all about finding the college that fits not the one that is the best.q

Now and then

Is college admissions harder on today’s students?

By Emily foxhall

Dr. Dwight Raulston, currently both a math and English teacher as well as the Director of Curriculum at SJS, began his own college counseling process with the start of his senior year in 1970 at SJS. His class of 43 students was split among two college counselors. “One was the headmaster, so he took half the class for college counseling in addition to the other stuff he did,” Dr. Raulston said. “Then there was another guy who was the head of the history department and was a history teacher.”

Compared to the current staff of five college counselors, Dr. Raulston’s college guidance seems minimal. “The process did not have nearly as much individual attention,” he said, “but then it was not nearly as high-stressed in operation either.”

Dr. Raulston’s college counseling consisted of one or two meetings with his parents and his college counselor in addition to periodic class meetings which, Dr. Raulston said, were “for some reason split by the boys and the girls so the boys went in for one and then the girls went in for another… It’s kind of what they do by individual meetings now to make sure that the school knows every place you’re applying and to make sure you’ve got all your

Ms. Childress working in the College Counseling office JENNIFER DENFIELD | The Review each student will do over teacher recommendations and stuff like that. It’s much more efficient that way.” the summer, what courses they should Now, however, the college coun- take in junior year, and what standardseling process starts much earlier in a ized tests they should plan on taking.

Yet, the January of a student’s junior student’s academic career and includes far more individual attention. Current year marks the first formal meeting with SJS sophomores will have an optional a college counselor. Current SJS college meeting with their family and a college counselor Martha Childress began teachcounselor this spring to talk about what ing at SJS in 1981 and became involved

For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 59

Dr. Raulston working in his office on the SJS campus on which he has resided for many years. in college counseling two years later. She begins every January discussing future plans with students and their families.

“The junior student has already filled out a comprehensive questionnaire where we ask…all kinds of ‘getting to know you’ questions, then we sit down and take at least an hour to talk about course selection and testing and [plans for the] summer before senior year,” Ms. Childress said.

“Then we start developing lists of colleges using what they have provided us.”

The subsequent meetings are scheduled as needed by either the student or their parents. “Sometimes there are students in here about every three days and other times there are students who come in just several times. It all depends on the needs and desires,” Ms. Childress said.

In addition to an increase in individual attention, the college application process has become more competitive among students. “The competitiveness of colleges in that span of time [spent working at SJS] has gone in waves. It was very competitive when I first started [as a college counselor], then it got less so, and now it’s back again to being highly competitive,” Ms. Childress said.

This increase in competitiveness among seniors is attributed to two different factors among many others: an increase in numbers of college-bound students and, with advances in technology, a greater 60 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

accessibility to information about college and an increase in college information.

“We’ve also become more global,” said Ms. Childress. “So, colleges have seen a huge increase in international applications… part of it being because we have such a huge array of colleges in this country and that colleges are also becoming a little freer with offering financial aid to students from overseas.”

In addition, the media has also played a part in the increased competition.

Through publishing lists of the “Best Colleges” or “Top 25 Colleges,” magazines and newspapers have fueled competition between students applying to a small group of frequently-mentioned schools.

The admissions process in 1970, however, was not quite as intense. “There was not nearly as much stress back then as there is now. People applied to fewer colleges and [so] your chances of getting in were better,” said Dr. Raulston. “Most people when I was a senior probably applied to only three or four colleges.” Currently, the average number of colleges SJS students apply to is between eight and ten.

For example, Dr. Raulston applied only to Rice and Harvard and he turned down Harvard before he was accepted

by Rice. “The headmaster was actually not happy with me,” said Dr. Raulston, “I remember him asking me, ‘So what are you going to do if you don’t get into

JENNY LEWIS | The Review

Rice?’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ll take a year off and work and I’ll apply again later.’ which to me was an obvious answer!”

Because of the increasing focus on getting into good colleges, one must make sure they don’t become too fixated on the future. “There was much more of an emphasis, when I was here, on the St. John’s experience while you were here,” said Dr. Raulston. “I mean obviously there is still a lot of that, but… there was much more focus on [going] to St. John’s for what you get out of it while you’re there and, yes, you’ll be well prepared to go to college.”

Nevertheless, SJS is a college preparatory school, so a focus on college is simply “a part of the fabric of the school,” said Ms. Childress. But SJS college counseling has developed into something more than just a system to find the perfect college for each individual student. “There’s a lot that goes into the counseling besides just the lists of colleges, that’s just one part of it,” said Ms. Childress. “We are also advocates for our students to colleges, and we are counselors to the family.”

The college counseling process has changed as college admissions has become more competitive. The more individualized approach to guiding SJS students in finding, and being accepted to, the right college for them has helped ensure a positive future. According to current senior Matthew Ziemnicki (’07), the process

Is Early Admissions on its way out of favor?

By ashley tam Students entering their junior year begin the extensive, strenuous process known as college admissions. However, one aspect of college admissions that has become a critical strategic element of this process may now soon be eliminated altogether, further complicating the already multifaceted experience for high school students, In the fall of 2006, Harvard announced their decision to abolish their early admission policy for the next fall’s (20072008) admissions. Soon thereafter, Princeton and University of Virginia followed.

To all those who are unaware of the specifics early admissions, there are “two different breeds,” according to Bryan Rutledge, director of College Admissions at SJS. Early Action, the type of early admission Harvard used to offer, is nonbinding.

For example, if one is accepted early, one may have the relief knowing that one has been accepted into a school already, while still being able to have their options open.

Princeton and UVA, however, offered Early Decision, which is binding. In other words, if one applies to a school early

decision, acceptance means that they are contractually bound to attend that school.

Either way, early decision provides many benefits to students who choose to apply early. Most importantly, it allows second-semester seniors the chance to be second-semester seniors.

Says Mr. Rutledge, “[Early Admission] is a huge benefit to our kids… that’s a lot less stress so that they can enjoy their senior year.” Early admission offers an invitation not to slack off, but to be able to appreciate and enjoy your last year of high school, rather than suffering the stress of college applications.

So why, if early admission means an easier life for seniors across the nation, would some of the top schools in the United States want to take that away?

To make the college process more fair, cry experts at Harvard and Princeton.

Not everybody has the same advantages in getting into college. Though SJS is amazing and effective in its college admissions process, other students do not have the same head start.

Apparently, this includes applying early. Harvard, Princeton, and

UVA think that early admission makes the entire process unfair, as some students have more resources than others. “They [Harvard, Princeton, and UVA] feel that privileged students tend to benefit—they have the resources to get going sooner,” says Mr. Rutledge.

However, if one takes that stance, then many aspects of the college process are inherently unfair. Take for the example the SAT: students must pay forty-one dollars and fifty cents to take a “standardized” test that some prepare hours for, and others prepare none for.

Some spend thousands of dollars on private tutoring, others spend hundreds on class tutoring such as Testmasters or the Princeton Review, and yet others spend maybe twenty bucks on a book from Barnes and Noble that promises to raise your score by a few hundred points. Still others will ask whether or not the SAT would ask math questions or just English ones.

Clearly, there is an imbalance in preparation. Those with money to spare have more intensive preparation than those who are tight on money. The SAT could be considered just as unfair as early admis-

Bryan Rutledge, director of College Counseling, examines one of his many books on the subject.

JENNIFER DENFIELD | The Review

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 61

Students study mock college applications on a day dedicated to college admissions for juniors. sion. However, Harvard, Princeton, and UVA are making no moves toward eliminating the need for a prospective applicant to take and turn in the score of their SAT. It appears as though few schools want to follow in Harvard’s footsteps.

Yale, Dartmouth, and University of Pennsylvania, another three schools that, statistically, many SJS students take interest in, have already decreed that they will ignore the measures taken by Harvard, Princeton, and UVA. “It seems pretty clear that [other

schools] won’t follow,” says Mr. Rutledge. After all, there are other ways to make early admission both available and fair. “They can take fewer kids early,” suggests Mr. Rutledge. This leaves them “freer to have every kind of diversity.”

That way, schools will have more places left open for the common pool of applicants. And schools could potentially “change their financial aid programs,” adds Mr. Rutledge. There are many ways to make early admission fairer.

The main impact of the changes in

For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

62 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

KATHERINE KELLEY | The Review

college admission is slighter than one might think. Because the majority of other schools will not follow, students, especially those overzealous ones at SJS, will still have the early admission option.

However, those who wanted to go to Harvard, Princeton, or UVA may end up applying elsewhere early. In all, according to Rutledge, “It remains to be seen whether [Harvard, Princeton, and UVA’s] new approach will achieve its goals.” q

what’s the buzz?

sjs students get their

daily jolt

KATHERINE CARMICHAEL | The Review

by maddie mcdowell

Caffeine has quickly gripped our world in its addictive grasp, helping to speed up lives that already seem to run in fast-forward. At a school like SJS, where students sometimes appear like worker bees, flitting from class to class and then to a multitude of extra-curriculars, the appearance of caffeine is anything but rare–whether soda, coffee, or some other beverage– and materializes for various purposes.

“I’ve been drinking since I was eleven,” said Gabi Chennisi (’09). Her pick of poison? : Diet Coke. Chennisi, who is often spotted with the silver can in hand, drinks between two to six Diet Cokes per day.

The habit got started when Chennisi was starting Middle School. She said kiddingly “It was just present in my house, and, you know, it tasted good. I got hooked. It’s a problem; it’s an addiction.” Now the drink has become a staple of her diet.

Her reasons for continuing to drink the beverage are varied. She said at first, “Well, it’s my favorite drink and I definitely don’t think I’m addicted to it, even though deep in my heart I am,” and then later admits sheepishly “It keeps me calm and it probably helps me stay awake too.” The drink helps Chennisi consistently stay up until one in the morning on school nights, and often later on the weekends, though she said, “It’s not like I’m staying up late because I have too much to do.”

She finally shrugged and said “It’s my drink of choice. I like Diet Coke.”

A

nother avid soda drinker is Lauren Waters (’07), who has at least one Dr. Pepper a day, as well as a conventional coffee in the morning.

Waters’ addiction is perhaps in the more advanced stag-

es, because she said “I have to have my cup of coffee in the morning or I get really bad headaches.” Her reasons for drinking are similar to Chennisi’s, citing a need to stay awake, though Waters’ need is considerably more academically-focused. “During finals I usually drink more because I’m up later,” Waters said. “You know when you have to write a paper and stay up ‘till three doing that.”

The health affects of such consumption do not appear to be a substantial concern for Chennisi. She said “To me Dr. Pepper and a coffee once a day or twice a day isn’t a huge enough deal [to worry about].”

P

erhaps even more of a coffee aficionado is Stephen Popp, Upper School history teacher. Popp’s use of caffeine is a fairly recent development. “Coffee kind of dug its claws into me about five years ago,” he said, “I never drank coffee; I never drank a lot of soda or caffeinated beverage, and then I distinctly remember being with my wife and a few other friends and we were in New Mexico and I just had a nice cup of coffee in the morning and, I don’t know, I just thought, well that’s very tasty, and then…I just started drinking it.”

Mr. Popp’s routine consists of one venti Starbucks coffee every morning. “From what I understand, [it has] three times the amount of caffeine

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 63

as most normal coffee,” he said.

The past five years have allowed Mr. Popp to refine his palette in terms of coffee. “I am somewhat of a coffee snob and I don’t…. like the watery stuff,” he said. “Although, Mr. Mercado is getting me on alternative types of coffee.”

Mr. Popp’s reasons for drinking coffee are also varied. “I do like the taste, and it’s also… silly, but it’s kind of part of a routine in the morning. Particularly I re-

to the habits of some. He said “[My wife’s old boss] actually was chronicled by a newspaper for several months because he drank four pots of coffee a day, and so that is probably excessive.” He also adds that, from what he understands, coffee “has some health advantages.”

I

f one is really looking for a healthy source of caffeine, however, one might follow the example of Anjali

I am somewhat of a coffee snob and I don’t... like the

watery stuff.

Although, Mr. Mercado is getting me on alternative types

types of coffee.

KAT OSHMAN | The Review

- History Teacher Stephen Popp

ally enjoy it on Sunday morning I enjoy having coffee, reading the New York Times and watching political shows on TV. That’s kind of…a very nice relaxation time. It’s taste… but it’s also the caffeine, I can’t deny that.”

Unlike Chennisi and Waters, however, Mr. Popp does not drink caffeine to stay up late at night. “I’ve occasionally had to stay caffeinated longer than I need to but I never usually feel too good the next day,” he said, “I try to really…cut off any type of caffeine before noon. And if there’s…grad school work like a paper due or I need to stay up for school or something like that then I try not to use caffeine to keep me going because I’m…wrecked the next day.”

Unlike Waters, Mr. Popp has considered the health affects of his coffee-drinking. “I try to eat healthy. I run a lot; I’m training for a marathon right now...

I know caffeine’s probably not good for my heart…but I feel like I…try to balance it out as much as possible” he said.

Popp also mentions that his “addiction” pales in comparison

Salvador (’07), who drinks tea everyday for her caffeine fix.

Salvador’s reason for drinking tea is similar to Chennisi’s; she said, “[I drink tea] half because I like the taste and half because even if it doesn’t give me energy it’s nice to pretend it does.” Her drink of choice has a more indirect way of providing energy in her opinion. “I don’t think it’s so much that it keeps me awake so much that it kind of tricks my mind into thinking it keeps me awake because it doesn’t get me hyper or anything,” Salvador said.

While she may not get headaches from lack of caffeine, Salvador said “I do get kind of grumpy if I don’t have tea but that’s because tea is kind of my comfort drink and also it’s caffeinated.”

From examining these four creatures of habit, the need for energy appears in its many different forms. Every person has a different motive for drinking, or not drinking, vitalizing beverages, and yet all these habits and dependencies are connected in that they stem from one, seemingly benign, organic substance: caffeine.q

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 64

St. John’s School

How is Facebook Affecting the SJS Upper School?

Written by Maddie McDowell Tiffany Shyu Max Susman illustrations by kat oshman graphics by austin o’connor

65 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

As technology continues to improve rapidly, society has been having to keep up. As people get caught in the wonders of these new technologies, especially of the internet, they do not stop to think about how technology may be negatively affecting today’s society. The following three articles focus on Facebook, one of the biggest current online trends. How actually severe are Facebook’s security risks?

Sociologically, how are people dealing with instant communication?

Are there any other negative effects of Facebook?

Security issues exist for Facebook users A melody of mouse clicks and clacking computer keys fills the room, halting only when the composer takes a moment to absorb the glowing images on the screen before them.

This scene is the product of Facebook, an online social networking of college and high school students. The web site allows people across the globe to communicate via text messages and pictures, and its community continues to swell with users professing to Facebook “addictions.” The issue is, how secure is this new recreation? With internet threats abounding, the safety of this self-proclaimed “social utility” inevitably comes into question.

“There’s two pieces of security that people need to be aware of,” said Jeff Ritter, SJS Director of Technology. “I think they have tightened down some of the security that goes into people who don’t have logins…The area where I think there is a big risk is that now that Facebook is open to pretty much anybody who wants to be a part of Facebook, the security from that standpoint is very lax, and it’s very easy for anybody to get in and then start tracking people down.”

Mr. Ritter, who has spent time researching and assembling knowledge on the site, feels students should take the risks of Facebook

easily to find out what’s going on with individuals or things going on at schools…, I think pretty much anybody can do it. It’s not that hard. There’s a lot of information out there on how to [get around the security]; I think that it’s fairly common knowledge.”

Upper school Dean of Students Dan Alig agrees that students are not completely aware of the complications that can result from the use of Facebook. “I think students are naïve in their use of it,” he said, “In terms of how damaging it can be to others…and I don’t think students recognize the access to it, that other people, savory characters and unsavory characters, have, and I also don’t think students recognize the permanence of it, that unfortunately their foibles and missteps online could very well be preserved and impact their futures.” What the school expects of students is that they consider “the basic principles of the St. John’s student,” when using Facebook, and “take those expectations and transfer them to the online community” he said.

The reasons why students feel safe on Facebook vary. “I’m not too worried about Facebook being safe,” said Cocke, “because I just don’t see a problem with it; I have my [profile] set to private, and I know that there’s a way

might as well be able to use it like I want.’

But what they don’t understand is that there are even degrees within there. Just because Facebook is a little more secure than MySpace doesn’t mean that it’s as secure as it should be, or as secure as we would want it to be.”

“My goal in all of this is purely to help students realize they need to be safe in this day and age,” explained Mr. Ritter, “For the sake of security and safety, students should take into consideration what they put up [on Facebook].

The stories are becoming more and more rampant of people not getting jobs, not getting into college…because of the stuff they put up there.

The question comes down to this in the words of Mr. Ritter: “Is [Facebook] secure enough to have kids out there using it like they do?” His response? “I would say no.”

Fast Facebook Facts

-Founded by Mark The area where I think there is a big risk is that now Zuckerberg in Camthat Facebook is open to pretty much anybody who bridge, Massachuwants to be a part of Facebook, the security from setts (February 4, that standpoint is very lax, and it’s very easy for any- 2004) body to get in and then start tracking people down.”

-Jeff Ritter, SJS Director of Technology

more seriously than their current flippancy on the subject. “I think that in general most students, and this I find for most schools across the country that I read about and talk to, most students don’t truly believe there is a risk, and if there is a risk it’s pretty minimal, but I think [Facebook is] such a big deal that they’re willing to take the risk and use it anyway.”

Catherine Cocke (’09) holds no concern towards the security of her Facebook. Her rule of thumb for the site is “I don’t put anything on there that I wouldn’t want my parents to see.” As for total strangers, Cocke said if any person ever got a hold of her cell phone number she would “just hang up on them.”

The ease of bending Facebook security may rest in doubt in the minds of adolescents across the globe, but Mr. Ritter is assured that the loopholes in safety are in fact quite large.

“Let me put you this way,” he said, “If security companies and personal background check companies and the police department…can get in and use [Facebook] fairly quickly and

66 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

you can get around [the security measures], but not many people know of it so I really don’t care.” Besides the students who do not view Facebook security as a concern, others understand the risks but feel that they are safe from them. David Maher (’07) said “I think [the Facebook] security issue is a bigger deal for girls than for guys. Sexual predators will probably search out girls rather than guys. Because I’m a guy, I feel safe using Facebook.”

Mr. Ritter believes that the false sense of security that Facebook lends to its users may stem from the fact that when juxtaposed with similar sites such as MySpace, Facebook appears to be the lesser of two evils. Maher said “MySpace and Xanga are very insecure because anyone can see anyone’s profile. You don’t need a trick to be able to view nonfriends’ profiles [like you do for Facebook].”

Mr. Ritter, however, said “[The thinking is that] ‘Well, if I’m going to Facebook, then, you know, I’m in an okay area because it’s definitely more secure than MySpace, so I

-Largest number of registered users among college focused sites -Over 17 million members worldwide -#1 site for photos, with 2.3 million photos uploaded daily -7th most visited site in the United States of America

Facebook puts sociological pressures on users Facebook has become one of the most popular means of communications between peers; however, evidence shows that the connections made through Facebook are not as genuine and meaningful as a true face-to-face conversations.

“The way Facebook affects people really depends on what their offline social life was like prior to getting online,” says SJS Upper School Counselor Pat Reynolds. “There’s a correlation between two people’s experiences online, and how well they reconnect in person,” she said. Facebook has a reputation for being one of the most popular social networking sites in America. The seventh most visited site in the U.S., Facebook has 20,000 accounts updated and 2.3 million pictures uploaded daily. While the effect seems positive, “research shows that things that are done on Facebook can have an impact on your face to face relationships,” said Ms. Reynolds.

The impact that Facebook has on our social lives can be argued as positive or negative. One of the negative aspects of Facebook is the way people’s personalities change when they are not having a face to face conversation.

“Many people may not say the same things in person as they might online,” said Ms. Reynolds. While someone might be very outspoken and assertive on Facebook, their personality face to face with people may be the exact opposite. The feeling of being under a sort of ‘blanket’ changes the way people interact with others on the internet. Also, depending on one’s social life before engaging with Facebook, it could be considered unhealthy. “If someone is not very social and gets involved with Facebook, the outcome could be they turn Facebook into their only way of socialization, which would be a negative effect of the site,” says Ms. Reynolds.

A positive look at Facebook would be to consider the amount of people you can stay in touch with, and keep up with things that each other are and have been doing. However, many people perceive this as being ‘stalkerish’-keeping up on every detail of another person’s life-- and thus a negative side of Facebook.

One of the controversies on Facebook is the validity of relationships formed over the site.

While you are ‘keeping in touch’ with someone, you may not actually be in touch with them in the real, offline world. This is due to the non-personal conversations and relations formed and kept up on the internet. Because

these conversations are so non-personal, interpretation of comments and statements can vary. Many times, one might make a poking remark, or a sharp joke; however, sarcasm is not easily translated over the internet. “Emotion has to be shown by your words as opposed to your tone of voice,” said M.J. Wilkey, the SJS Middle School Counselor. “Sometimes you’re saying something and you mean it one way, but it could be perceived entirely differently.”

The impact of Facebook, or other online social networking sites, cannot be generalized over a large group of people. One’s experiences on Facebook are determined as positive or

negative by the quality, depth, and substance that makes up their online communications.

One of the recurring factors with Facebook is that “everyone has a different issue about it,” said Ms. Reynolds. Recently, the Episcopal High School baseball coaches demanded that all of the players this year remove their Facebook pages (which are still stored in Google’s massive online library) due to issues with drugs and alcohol. Many schools can and will intervene when inappropriate behavior is captured on Facebook. Many colleges and jobs will search applicants on Facebook to see if there are any self-incriminating photos on the pages during the application process.

They can screen applicants by determining which seem the most responsible and worthy of working for their company, or attending their college. One of the biggest problems concerning Facebook that the SJS administra-

tion worries about is the reputation that kids may give themselves, and the school, on the internet. Most of all, parents have issues with Facebook. “One of the biggest issues that parents have, that most kids don’t seem to understand at this point, is the far reaching-ness of Facebook,” said Mrs. Wilkey. “I think that it’s not as private as many people think it is.”

Privacy is a huge deal for many parents; however, many students disregard it completely. “I don’t think that privacy is that big of an issue for kids these days,” said Mrs. Wilkey. “But things that are on Facebook could be one of those things that come back to haunt them later on.”

However, some people take Facebook very seriously, and devote time on and away from the computer to enhance their ‘Facebooking’ experience. The issues that Jett Williams (‘10) worries about on Facebook are less serious than security issues, or wall posts. “Like, I’m afraid that Stuart Dickerson (’10) might have more photos than I do. I’m also afraid that he’ll have more friends than I do; but, I don’t have to worry, cause I have 301 friends currently and 180 photos with only four tagged of myself.”

With Facebook being introduced to high school students not too long ago, there has been some controversy on whether they are mature enough to deal with a personal web page.

Mrs. Wilkey said “High school is mostly a learning process for many kids. It’s a safe time in life where they can make mistakes and the whole world doesn’t know about them. But if Facebook is involved, there’s a good chance that anybody that wanted to could know about them.”

There are many different aspects that one can take to look at Facebook, however, “for every source on the internet that say’s its bad, there’s a source that will counter that point” said Ms. Reynolds.

Some may think it is unfair that schools are allowed to intervene with Facebook issues. “I think that if the students have to use their SJS email accounts, and have to orient themselves with the school on the site, then it is a domain that the school should have access to,” said Mrs. Wilkey.

Facebook users should be cautious about the reputations that they build online. With the internet reaching all over the world, and unlimited access to pretty much everything, Facebook can be a dangerous place when used incorrectly, as well as an unhealthy means of socialization when abused.

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For a note on survey results, please see p. 7.

68 The Review Magazine | Spring 2007

Other issues lurk on Facebook For the past few years, Facebook has been a common interest of most of the SJS upper school student body. Facebook was originally created to make keeping in touch easier and to allow people to find long distance friends.

However, as more people join Facebook and as Facebook becomes more popular, the original purpose of Facebook’s creation has been greatly twisted. People do not use Facebook simply to have fun and keep in touch with long distance friends anymore.

A whole darker side now exists in Facebook, and users’ activities over Facebook are not simply limited to keeping in touch. Two of the most blatant issues deal with the posting of pictures on Facebook and what happens in certain Facebook groups.

A popular and widelyused feature on Facebook is the ability for someone to post pictures for public viewing. Another feature of Facebook is ‘tagging’, where the people in the photo are identified and the picture can be viewed from a link on the person’s profile that states how many pictures of that person have been uploaded onto Facebook. However, because of this feature, taking and posting pictures has started to become somewhat of a competition and a necessity. People start to post and tag pictures of themselves simply to increase the number of pictures of themselves because they think that the more pictures they have, the more it seems like they have a vibrant social life. Because of this mindset, a lot of people now feel compelled to take pictures when they go anywhere for the sole purpose of having pictures to post and tag on

Facebook. As a result, to many people, social events are not a time to have fun and relax anymore; rather, they are races to see who can take the most pictures to put on Facebook – or for the people posing in the pictures – a race to see who can be in the most pictures that will no doubt turn up on Facebook.

Many people are too busy taking pictures to even enjoy their time and pay attention to

what is going on around them. Even if the event is just a trip to the movie theater on a

...social events are not a time to have fun and relax anymore; rather, they are races to see who can take the most pictures to put on Facebook Friday night, many people will bring along their cameras and snap random pictures.

Another problem that has arisen on Facebook has to do with Facebook groups. The original purpose of a Facebook group is to bring together people with a common interest.

However, the way people interpret the reason for joining Facebook groups and what goes on in those groups differs, and unfortunately, Facebook groups can get extremely complicated because of the different views people hold concerning the reason for joining Facebook groups. Firstly, many people join Facebook groups out of peer pressure. As unlikely as it seems that someone will be pressured to join an online group, it happens.

Many people simply join Facebook groups because all of their friends joined that group, other people are pressuring them to join that group, or joining the group is just ‘the cool thing to do’. Another problem created through joining Facebook groups is that the groups can cause rifts among people.

Sometimes, members of a group end up having ‘fights’ through posts, and there have even been some groups whose main purpose is to have these verbal fights.

The reason the option to join groups over Facebook was made was not so that users could terrorize each other through verbal abuse.

Facebook was created for the purpose of having fun and staying in touch with friends, and it has certainly become a big part of what people spend their free time on. In some cases, it almost dominates a person’s leisure time, and some people spend hours in front of their computers just being on Facebook. Though Facebook is fun to have, it was not made to increase competition and it certainly was not created to be a means by which people could attack each other. The original purpose of one’s having a Facebook has to some extent been twisted, and many people do not think of or use Facebook in the same way they thought of it when it was a completely new creation. q

The Review Magazine | Spring 2007 69