December Leaf 2015

THE

LEAF Sycamore High School News Magazine

WHO ARE

Volume 3|Issue 5| December 11, 2015

TH

We Proudly Support the Teachers, Administrators and Students at Sycamore Schools We Proudly Support the Teachers, Administrators and Students at Sycamore Schools John Rickert Joe Gilligan Principal Managing Director www.svn-ricore.com

9708 KENWOOD RD. bLUE ASH, OH 45242

John Rickert Joe Gilligan Principal Managing Director www.svn-ricore.com

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H UDINI’S

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IN THIS ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS

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pg.3

pg.10

NEWS 2| Attacks on Paris rally support against terrorism 3|Syrian refugee crisis continues 6| El Nino affects climate dramatically

OPINION

7| Staff editorial 8|Sign raised in Leelah Alcorn’s memory 10| Lack of diversity in holidays

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pg.21

pg.26

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ENTERTAINMENT

FEATURE

13| Katie Good qualifies for competition 14-15| The best of Broadway 18| Facebook: Moms versus teens

26| Preview of Battle of the Sibs families 27| Various New Years Eve traditions

COVER

SPORTS

21-24| Millennials celebrate their generation

31| Swimmers dive into season 32| Students organize Hoops for Hope 33| Gary Traub, 12, prepares for season

25| Where’s Anna, soduko

35| Noah Patterson, 9

FUN &GAMES

SPOTLIGHT

THE LEAF

Sycamore High School 7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, OH 45242

Editorial Policy: Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the content is ultimately determined by the student staff and should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics about which there may be dissent and controversy. Students can not publish material that is obscene, libelous, or will cause “a substantial disruption of the educational process.” Content that may stimulate heated debate or discussion is not included in this definition. The views represented in our publications do not represent the views of the Sycamore Community School District or the Sycamore High School administration. Our publications are public forums.

ADVISER Cheralyn Jardine PHOTOGRAPHER McDaniel’s Photography ABOUT US Professional memberships: • Columbia Scholastic Press Association • Journalism Education Association • National Scholastic High School Press Association • Ohio Scholastic Media Association • Ohio Professional Writers (National Federation of Women Writers) • Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honorary

EXECUTIVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Caroline Gao EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Anna Zhou PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Brooke Landrum Elizabeth Rickert Elijah Zawatsky WEB EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Caroline Bruns Harsimran Makkad LEAFLET EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Orion Schlosser Zoe Schlosser BROADCAST EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sarah Horne BUSINESS MANAGER David Wertheim SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Ben Ruskin ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jenna Bao Lauren Kurtzer MANAGING EDITOR Sydney Evans BEATS EDITORS Adhiti Chundur Kamaria Walton LEAFLET DESIGNERS/WRITERS Emily Chien Hannah Frey INFOGRAPHICS Max Fritzhand Rujula Kapoor NEWS Jacob Englander SPORTS Hannah May

FEATURE Amy Deng Maddie Marsh ENTERTAINMENT Claire Lefton OPINION Natalie Brinkman Nathan Zhang SPOTLIGHT Lauren Shassere STAFF WRITERS Sarah Abraham Jordan Baker Alejandra Bello Allyson Bonhaus Taylor Close William Coleman Meghan DiGiovanna Lilah Foley

Yasmine Guedira Alexander Karev Stephanie Kidd Eshika Kohli Hannah Loftspring Christine Macke Anne Marsh Zachary Max Zachary Milliken Hajime Minoguchi Calliope Osborn Joshua Patterson Sam Ruskin Madeline Schramm Max Torem Caroline Veraldo Sydney Weiss Abhilash Yarlagadda

[ news ]

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015 | SHSLEAF.ORG

#PrayforTheWorld: Terrorist attacks cause anxiety

YASMINE GUEDIRA staff writer HARSIMRAN MAKKAD web editor-in-chief

T

he Paris attacks on Fri. Nov. 13 left the world in a state of shock and anxiety. As France mourns the loss of its loved ones, people are left wondering what comes next.

ISIS and its followers are gaining power, and with a threat as internal as this one, the government has many difficult decisions to make.

Paris resident Hind Guedira said, “This attack is a game changer, and it is scary because it is really close to us.

My sister was just down the street from the restaurant when the attack was going on. These are places that everyone would go often.”

An attack of this nature was personal, and it is clear that the motive was to create panic and induce paranoia in not only Paris, but all over the world.

French teacher Madame Lesley Chapman said, “I have friends in France who are afraid to go out. They’re suspicious of everything and everyone

around them. They don’t know who to trust. In that sense, the terrorists were successful. They created terror among the people.”

‘To me, the terrorists’ doings were very symbolic. I feel that when they hit the area, they tried to take the joy out of the Parisian life, a life filled with enjoying food, drinks, and friends.”

This was not only an attack on Paris, but an attack on the world; the 130 dead came from 17 different countries.

ISIS has since released a message stating that they would be coming to America next. It is now clear that threats are coming from inside our borders, as well as from outside.

Just days after the Paris attacks Christopher Lee Cornell was arrested at his home in Oh., because he was planning to detonate pipe bombs at the U.S. Capitol Building.

Chapman said, “What I fear the most is if this is the new ‘normal.’ Will the area, and really Paris, always be marred by the attacks and their aftermath?

Or will things eventually go back to a similar version of the way they were?”

Back in Paris, the city is still in the

midst of shock and realization. These attacks, while tragic, have strengthened French nationalism as the government only increases its strength and resistance to the terror.

Guedira said, “It’s something you would never expect to happen, and even when it happened it was hard to believe. All of France is in pain; it’s clear something has changed.”

Despite the difficulties, the people of Paris’ next challenge is to keep their heads up and move forward.

Paris held many ceremonies and memorials for the dead and the families of those lost. France’s President, Francois Hollande, gave speeches and lead a minute of silence throughout Paris.

Guedira said, “People are going to work and using the metro again. Many young people have been inspired to join the military or social services. It’s hard, but it’s becoming normal again.”

Of all the questions and answers, only one thing is certain: nothing will be the same. Whether it is security or the feelings of the people, everything has changed - for Paris, for France, for Europe, and really, for the world.

FRANCE LEBANON

2

RUSSIA

LIBYA

THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG N

guest column: AMAL SAEED guest columnist

Refugees seeking refuge in America face blockades and scrutiny over applications following Paris attacks.

Syrian screening

BROOKE LANDRUM co editor-in-chief

I

magine your homeland was being torn apart by civil war and genocide and every day you faced atrocities unfit for even the worst of individuals.

You give up everything you have, risk your life and the lives of those you love in a last ditch effort to escape to a world in which you might live in peace.

Oh. Governor, John Kasich, and the Mayor of Cincinnati, John Cranley, both ‘requested’ refugees not be sent here. The irony is not subtle as just one month ago they promised to make Cincinnati into the most immigrantfriendly city on earth.

Jim Lynch, a spokesman for Kasich said, “The governor is writing to the president to ask him to stop and to ask him to stop resettling them in Ohio. We are also looking at what additional steps Ohio can take to stop resettlement.”

These men are worried that allowing refugees will give open access to terrorists like the ones involved in the Paris bombing on Nov. 13. They are asking for the settlement to be halted until sufficient security measures can be taken.

President Barack Obama said, “These people are victims of violence, they are fleeing … they are running for

their lives and they are risking their lives to try to find safe harbor.”

Despite the requests, Cincinnati has become home to one refugee family in the past year. This family left Syria in 2012 and stayed in Jordan for three years before gaining U.S. entry.

This family consists of nine individuals, seven children under the age of 12 and the two parents. They are originally from Homs, Syria, a city that has since been all but obliterated and was the site of many Islamic State kidnappings.

The process for gaining access to the United States is a long, arduous process that involved up to six background checks. At this moment, there are 20,000 people on the waiting list, but only one percent of these people will be allowed entry.

In the past year, 2,000 refugees have been allowed into the U.S. and 78 of those have been allocated to Oh. 36.7 percent of all those requesting refuge in the U.S. are under the age of 12.

Recently the White House, Homeland Security and FBI have increased security, especially for those from areas where terrorist activity is highest. Not only can individuals be rejected due to dangerous activity, but also for disease and even connections to dangerous individuals.

When I was growing up, being Muslim almost seemed like a burden because I could not do the things everyone else could or eat the same food.

Not until I was about 13 did I realize how blessed I am. Being Muslim did not mean I was oppressed as a woman. I gained an entire second family from the Muslim community with friends from different backgrounds, and I’m lucky that I get to experience being Muslim in America.

Everything that has been going on and how the media portrays Muslims does not encourage any of my family and friends to leave our faith. Instead we grow closer because that is what we were taught. The media generalizes all the Muslims in the world and that is upsetting because we are not terrible people.

With everything going on, like the attacks on mosques in the US, it makes you scared to go to a place which you call a second home. I have taken friends with me to the mosque in West Chester and each time they are taken aback by the beauty of it.

When you walk in it just feels serene and that is what our religion is. It is not violent, and people have interpreted the Quran in a negative connotation. My youth group takes effort to do interfaith activities so I try to invite my friends, and when they meet my Muslim friends they realize how similar they are to everyone.

Many of my close friends wear hijab (a head scarf ) and it is weird to me how people treat them differently just because their hair is not showing. I used to hide my religion from people when I was younger because I was scared they would treat me differently.

Now I’m secure in my religion and openly talk about it when people have questions. I am proud to be Muslim.

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AUSTRALIA

EGYPT

YEMEN

N THE LEAF| Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Understanding ISIS

Roots and attacks of ISIS explored ABHILASH YARLAGADDA staff writer

I

SIS has been growing in power and audacity over the last few years. This terrorist group splintered off from Al-Qaeda in 2006, but only became prominent six years later, in 2013.

Recently, ISIS gunners shot up a hotel in Mali, but just a week before that, suicide bombers attacked at a concert and soccer stadium in Paris.

And just a few weeks prior to that, the group claimed responsibility for the crash of the Russian plane in Sinai.

Many may not realize the full extent of ISIS’s reach in the Middle East. Its long history has allowed it to develop and put down roots in the East.

Coupled with the territory it controls there, the militant group is surprisingly well-funded.

In ISIS-controlled areas, taxes and tolls must be paid on everything. ISIS can demand payment from people in its territory. Locals also pay “voluntary” donations to the organization. But there are wealthy sympathizers who

really do pay them of their own will.

Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force in Washington says, “They're taxing the people; that's a huge revenue... They've got the cotton and the wheat and all these other things.

All of these serve as sort of economic powerhouse or funding for ISIS.” ISIS also makes money through other illegal ventures, with oil smuggling at the top of the list. The group was initially developed by the criminals and thugs of a defeated Iraq. Therefore, their main enterprise is funded by organized crime within its territory.

ISIS formed in the void created by the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the retreating Iraqi army, says Moustafa.

In the lawlessness that followed, he says, ISIS took over, robbed banks,

began taxing and extorting the population, and now funds its war and expansion across Iraq and Syria almost independently.

For example, in Mosul, Iraq, ISIS looted the central bank as well as other local banks and made off with tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.

Matthew Levitt, director of the Stein Program on Counter terrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says ISIS operates as a massive organized crime group with virtually no law enforcement to rein it in.

Levitt says, “Controlling territory has given them opportunities that other groups like Al-Qaeda, who haven't controlled real territory, haven't had.”

“The brutality of terrorists in Syria and Iraq forces us to look into the heart of darkness.”President Barack Obama

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World Under Fire:

THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG N

Terrorist attacks increase in many countries Sarah Horne Broadcast Editor in Chief

From 2001 till 2013 350 U.S. citizens were killed due to overseas terrorism, while terrorist incidents inside the U.S. killed 3,030 individuals.

Isis, or also known as the Islamic There were at least State 129 people killed of Iraq and Syria, has been on the rise for comminiting terrorist attacks and injured in Isis’s on other nations. attack on Paris on In 2014 there were 32, 658 deaths due to terrorism, and there is an 80 November13. percent increase this year. Also, due to Isis’s violent actions, there have been 4, 288,672 refugees that have Lebanon had two fleed Syria, in order to seek safty. recent attacks, killing Of these refugees, 17.3 percent of them are children, less than four 49 individuals. One on years old.

November 5 and another As refugees are fleeing, Isis is growing and is declared in Algeria, on November 12.

Libya, Egypt, Nigria, Syria, iraq, Saiudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afganistan.

Refugees around the world

2,181,293refugees in Turkey 1,075,637refugees in Lebanon 632,762 refugees in Jordan 244,527refugees in Iraq 127,681refugees in Egypt 26,772 refugees in North Africa

49 were killed and 140 others were wonded in Nigeria in the month of noveber alone after two different terrorist attacks

On November fourth, egypt was attacked by Isis and three individuals died, while 10 were wounded.

In Somalia, at least 12 individuals were killed in a car bomb attack on November first.

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N THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015 |SHSLEAF.ORG

El NinOH NO! Unusual storm indicates warm weather NATHAN ZHANG opinion chief

I

n 1997, an event known as El Nino struck, causing weather-related havoc across the globe, ranging from mudslides in California to fires in Australia. This case of El Nino, the strongest ever, is expected to be rivaled by another strong El Nino this year.

This El Nino, an unusual warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean along the equator, is expected to be one of the strongest on record. Additionally, winds that typically blow to the west tend to weaken or reverse course during El Nino.

El Nino has already had various effects on climate. One such effect is

How El Nino functions:

!

6

!

Hurricane Patricia.

The unusual warming and reverse courses of wind caused by El Nino can set off a cascading series of events, one that has the ability to generate and sustain a hurricane.

This was evident during the hurricane that has become known as Patricia, the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, reaching up to 200 miles per hour.

Hurricane Patricia, occurring in midOctober, weakened even more quickly than it had strengthened along the coast of Mexico.

In an interview with CNN, Anthony Perez, a representative of Save the Children in Mexico City, said, “A lot of these homes, especially in the rural

areas, are made of flimsy materials, and with the wind being so strong and then there being so much rain... Many of these families will probably be losing everything.”

Another result of El Nino is the warmer weather in the Western Hemisphere. Due to El Nino, the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region is expected to have a warmer and drier climate this winter.

In an interview with cleveland. com, Michelle L’Heureux, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s El Nino team leader said, “A strong El Nino makes us more confident, tilting the predictions in that area [Ohio] toward a more dry and warm winter.”

CAUSE

Variations in sea surface temperature over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean.

Normal Year

Colder water along South American coast.

EFFECTS Extreme weather patterns consisting of droughts and floods in many regions in the world. Areas bordering the Pacific are likely to be heavily affected.

Equatorial winds gather warm water toward west.

TIME OF ARRIVAL

Usually around Christmas.

El Nino Year

DURATION

Warmer winter.

Six months to two years.

FREQUENCY Every two to seven years.

Easterly winds weaken. Warmer water to move eastward.

Sources: onecallnow.com, riskmanagementmonitor.com

Designer: Harsimran Makkad

Staff Editorial

Leafing through the masses:

What do you think it means to be a Millennial?

“

“Millennials love cooperative learning, talking, discussion, and integrating technology into whatever they’re doing,” Mrs. Beth LeBlanc, English teacher

“A Millennial is someone who uses technology a lot and tends to give a lot,” Adam Pelberg, 9

Photos courtesy of Caroline Gao

“I think Millennials are very creative and dependent on technology,” Sarah Thompson, 12

“

A

s the Millennial generation makes its way into adulthood, it has become obvious that significant changes are coming. As we speak, Millennials are striving to become the future leaders.

According to Forbes, there are currently over 80 million Millennials, a number larger than any other generation.

Millennials have experienced the consequences of Sept. 11, the financial meltdown, and the housing bust. However, they survived with student loans, no jobs, and debt.

Millennials are diverse, connected, tech-savvy, and they tend to be activists for personal rights.

While they appear to come off as extremely strong, Millennials simply want to make a difference and leave a lasting effect on everyone’s lives. They want the world to move forwards, not backwards.

Even in the midst of a crumbling economy, Millennials strive to give back to society. They aim to support causes that are parallel to their values and personal belief systems.

Millennials have had and will continue to have a positive impact on not only our workplace and government, but our culture as well. That is why society should strive to recognize them for their efforts and support them as they help build a better world.

Millennials are also more concerned with issues of social justice than their predecessors were. This can act as an advantage in the workplace because these values embrace diversity.

We are more likely to be completely okay with a team comprised of multiple cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Most of us grew up in an integrated American society.

We believe in a future in which cultural differences are celebrated and encouraged. In doing so, we come together and bring forth the betterment of humanity in its entirety.

“The people of this generation are very accepting and have a good heart, even if they don’t show it,” Reed Aleson, 9

7

Image by Ceboidea

column:

[ opinion ]

JOSHUA PATTERSON staff writer

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Leelah’s lanes ELIZABETH RICKERT co editor-in-chief

O

n Dec. 28, 2014 Leelah Alcorn stepped in front of a semi truck heading down 1-71 at 2:20 a.m. Following this tragic suicide, the transgender teen’s public suicide note went viral. It was originally posted on Tumblr and was later shared by millions of people.

Alcorn wrote in her letter, “The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was; they’re treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights...

My death needs to mean something.”

One individual took these words to heart. This man is Chris Fortin, a 2001 graduate from Kings High School, Alcorn’s former high school. Fortin led the Adopt-A-Highway effort in Alcorn’s memory.

As far as I know, Fortin never knew Alcorn, he never interacted with her or shared a connection with her beyond Cincinnati and Kings High School.

Why then was he the one who took action?

I remember Alcorn’s death. I remember thinking that if I had stayed at Kings, we could have been in the same grade, have shared classes, and she could even have been my friend.

8

However, I did switch schools, I did not know Alcorn, and I did not take action.

Fortin and I read the same words, and shared the same connection with Alcorn, but he took action. He decided to make a difference.

His inspiration came after seeing countless homemade memorials.

Fortin told the “Cincinnati Enquirer,” “If she hadn’t written in her note ‘I want my death to mean something’ I wouldn’t have felt as strongly. I just felt like something needed to be permanent.”

Personally, I’m amazed by the human kindness he has shown. There are few rare moments when your faith in humanity is restored, and this is one of those moments.

Fortin, a total stranger to Alcorn, took time and money to make sure her final wish came true.

A highway sign might not have been what Alcorn had in mind when she said she wanted her death to mean something, but we need to look at the big picture. Fortin decided to organize this sign because he had passed so many memorials on a daily basis. He was constantly reminded of Alcorn’s words and that is what has really been created. A reminder.

As the political season continues, a major issue that has been approached by the candidates is the idea of gun control.

This issue is very controversial and has been met with a lot of backlash from conservative republicans and people who emphasize the use of the Second Amendment.

As this discussion goes on, the frequency of events like the Oregon campus shooting and mass killings in general are increasing with a frightening rate.

New statistics, according to the Washington Post, show that a mass shooting, that kills four or more people, occurs each day in the United States.

Gun control should be a no-brainer, but it seems the arguing point on the issue is the Constitution.

Those who are against gun control claim that the Second Amendment gives them the right to bare arms, which means they can own guns for whatever reason.

While I do not think there should be a gun ban, in which firearms of any kind would be banned, I believe that there should be strong consideration of an assault weapons ban or at least limiting guns to ones that are smaller, one-handed firearms.

I also believe that anyone who wishes to buy or own a gun should be screened for mental stability and limits should be in place for the use of weapons larger than handguns.

The Constitution was put in place to give freedom and order to a growing nation, not to allow people to walk around with a grenade launcher.

We should act on this issue before any more of these needless mass shootings happen because guns found their way into the wrong hands.

O

THE LEAF| December 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

and bus drivers on the way to and from school. This also includes safety at school, where ice and piles of snow can result in various injuries.

Not only that, but snow days are fun!

It is a time for sleeping in and relaxing!

Daytime TV! Wearing pajamas all day!

Sledding, snowball fights, snow angels, and building snowmen! Unlimited snacks! Even igloos!

Students and staff can spend time with family, catch up on work, or just take a break from school.

Lately, there has been controversy over the necessity of snow days.

Educators say that closing school means there is less time to learn. They are especially concerned for those in Advanced Placement courses.

On those days, more students missed

class, because of parental decision and transportation issues, and classes suffered as teachers attempted to catch students up or move them on.

However not all learning is lost when school is out. Teachers now assign homework in advance if there is a suspected snow day on the horizon and school districts try virtual school days taught at home on school-provided laptops and tablets.

At Sycamore, students received blizzard bags for school work for the snow days last year. There were also resources online for them to continue their learning.

So, is there really an issue with snow days? Or are they essential for schools when the weather gets rough?

‘Do you want to build a snowman?’

Schools need snow days HARSIMRAN MAKKAD web editor-in-chief Even Elsa and Anna could not agree more with the wonder of winter and snow. With the season just around the corner, there is one thing that comes to mind of students and administrators alike: snow days.

Recently, the district released information about the policies for snow days this upcoming winter.

Administrators have decided to change from a 90-minute delay to a two-hour delay; the switch will provide extra time for the assessment of road conditions before deciding whether or not to call in a snow day.

Snow days are meant to maintain the safety students, teachers, parents,

A

wkward

JACOB ENGLANDER news chief

W

hen Principal Doug Mader redid ACE Bell this year, he transformed it from a bimonthly occurring joke to something much better. That something was a hybrid- 15 minutes of a study hall, and 15 minutes of reading.

Sophomore Alex Newberg said, “I really liked the new ACE bell. It gives me a chance to do little homework assignments.”

Many students, including me, loved this ACE bell. Any homework assignment I had forgotten to do was done then. Alternately, if I had to meet with a teacher, or make up a quiz/test I could do that.

Sophomore Nikhil Sekar said, “I always meet with teachers if I was absent the day before during ACE bell.

It helps me stay on track.”

C

lassroom

E

On 11/12/15, students in ACE Bell were told a surprising announcement.

This was that students couldn’t leave ACE Bell at all, with the exception of class-wide field trips. Obviously, people could leave to go to the bathroom.

It’s not just that people can’t leave during reading time, but during the study hall time as well, negatively affecting SHS students’ abilities to stay on track.

The announcement was specifically aimed at ensuring that students get to read during ACE. The administration has made it clear that reading on paper is both relaxing, and helps increase performance in school.

While I agree with the importance of reading, there are things that are more important- such as doing homework,

xperiences

or making up tests. At the very least, students should be able to leave ACE and do school-related things before reading time starts.

After all, it really isn’t possible to relax if you know you are missing a test grade, or haven’t done work. So the effects of reading are basically null and void in those scenarios, which given the gargantuan amount of homework students are given here at SHS. Sophomore Nathan Powers said, “I want ACE bell to go back to what it was. I really liked getting to do homework.”

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O THE LEAF| Dec.11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

50 shades of Santa:

Holidays lack multiracial representation JENNA BAO associate editor

A

s the chill of winter comes, so does the flood of holiday celebrations. From ugly sweaters to lit-up neighborhoods, ridiculous excesses of food to gift-giving, it seems that the whole world is buzzing with the festive spirit.

And by world, I mean Caucasians, of course.

It is frustrating that winter break includes Christmas and New Year’s, but anyone celebrating Hanukkah, Diwali, or the Lunar New Year is expected to observe their cultural traditions while plowing through homework and seven hours of school.

However, I understand that approximately 90 percent of Americans reportedly celebrate Christmas, and obviously not as many celebrate the other holidays. So that is not the subject of this article’s strife.

Rather, it is the lack of representation in holiday culture, my primary target being everyone’s favorite milk-andcookies machine and judge of morality, the jolly (white) inhabitant of the

North Pole, Santa Claus.

No one can say exactly what race Old St. Nick is, for many reasons, including the fact that (spoiler alert) he is not exactly real. However, most stores only sell white Santas.

Technically, the North Pole is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and covered by constantly shifting ice. Thus, it does not have many inhabitants to base our cartoons off of.

As for the history of Mr. Claus, he was based on St. Nicholas, who lived in the third century somewhere near modern-day Turkey.

Then, the American image of a round old man came about in 1823 from the poem now known as “The Night Before Christmas.”

I am not suggesting we scrap our current depiction of Santa Claus and burn it with shame, but maybe some black Santas in department stores would be nice. Heck, throw in an Asian or multiracial one, if you are feeling like a daredevil.

And yes, I am aware that culturally diverse decorations do exist. For instance, in John Green’s “Paper

“Heck, if I saw a diverse Santa Claus, I would buy it just because it was different. “

10

Towns” one of the characters’ parents had the world’s largest collection of black Santas. But, I would be willing to bet that many people did not know those even existed before the novel/ movie.

It gets more depressing when one tries to find Asian Santas, considering that my online search for one came up with a Santa Yeti ornament and one that is presumably Asian because it is holding a parasol.

If businesses are concerned that no one would purchase these worldly giftgivers, they would be mistaken. Heck, if I saw a diverse Santa Claus, I would buy it just because it was different.

Nearly 40 percent of Americans are not Caucasian- there is a definite market there.

In fact, on a broader scale, it would not hurt anyone to see some menorahs or Kwanzaa colors along with the Christmas trees and poinsettias in public places. But hey, baby steps.

As more and more kids are getting to see people who look like them on TV and in movies (and that is a whole other land mine), they deserve to see their holidays represented, or at least a Santa Claus that looks like them (besides the fact that he is hundreds of year old, bearded, and disastrously overweight).

O THE LEAF| Dec.11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Schools stop student suicide Suicide rates do not fall; despite school programs HAJIME MINOGUCHI staff writer

S

tress lurks in the shadows of every corner. People are constantly living along stress, both beneficial and detrimental, and these stresses have many side effects; one of the them is suicide.

Suicide is not a foreign occurrence.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 24 and according to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), it is estimated that Americans die by suicide every 12.95 minutes.

Despite the fact that suicide is a detrimental issue, school institutions and adults are not doing anything to fight this. Even if they are trying to make a change, it is insignificant considering that the suicide rates among teens are increasing.

Freshman Max Guo said, “I often wonder why schools don’t talk about suicides in general.”

According to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health in 2014, suicide does not make the list of top 10 health concerns adults have on teens along with mental health and self-harming, although obesity, bullying, and alcohol abuse do.

The lack of attention given to suicide is alarming. Especially according to a survey done by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 16 percent of high school students have reported “seriously considering” committing suicide. 13 percent of these students have reported that they have made an attempt to commit suicide.

Sophomore Matthew Swartz said, “Since school is a place where teenagers spend most of their time, institutions really need to take important roles in affecting the high school students in a beneficial way.”

Schools are disregarding the devastating problem of suicide and are developing ignorant tactics in fighting suicide. What should schools do to

BY THE

NUMBERS

5

people die by suicide every hour

44

billion dollars are expected to be lost every year for suicide

22.2

student coined the term “suicide.”

Harris was notified on the spring of 2014 that two students searched suicide online and he quickly contacted their counselors. The counselors were able to provide the two students with support, ultimately leading to the lives of two students to be saved.

School is an important factor in a teen’s life.Schools including SHS need to make a change in their tactics for suicide prevention.

Among young adults aged 15- 24 years old, there is approximately 100 attempts for every committed suicide

percent of suicides are comprized by veterans prevent suicide among their students?

The use of technology might be one of the solutions to suicide prevention.

Research from the RAND Corporation shows that preventing suicide or other mental disorders depends on identifying early warning signs. The main problem is that only a handful of children seek help proactively from an adult about their mental problem.

Some aspects of online activity such browsing history, search history, and social media interactions, can help educators identify those students at risk of attempting suicide. Some schools are already using technology to their advantage.

Scott Harris, Technology Director for Neosho R-5 School District, created alerts from his monitoring and filtering software to notify him whenever a

11

O THE LEAF| December 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Students stress

New exam schedule causes pressure LILAH FOLEY staff writer

S

12

Exam Schedule

tart reviewing notes and making flashcards, because exams are coming up in less than six weeks!

This year, exams are before winter break, beginning on Dec. 14, 2015.

This is a significant change from last year and all the years before that, when exams were a week after winter break ended.

First bell’s exam will be on Dec. 14, 2015, along with shortened bells for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, the day is not shortened, but it will be the rest of the week!

They pick up on Dec. 15 with second and third bell’s exams. Each exam period is ninety minutes, which means students are able to leave school around 11:50am.

Next, on Dec. 16, fourth and fifth bell’s exams take place. Another exciting factor of exams is that if students have a study hall, they can either come in or leave early, depending on the period.

Exam week ends on Dec. 17 with sixth and seventh bell. Then, students can go home and let the break begin!

For some students, this is a great thing, but others are already beginning to stress out over their overall first semester grades.

The new exam schedule this year allows students to have an actual break from all their classes with no studying involved. It might really be a homework free two weeks.

Although some classes require homework over break, such as advanced placement and accelerated courses, the majority do not, thus making the break enjoyable, relaxing, and fun for students this year.

The main point of schools having winter break in the first place is to allow students to be able to relax during the holiday season and not have to worry about studying.

The only thing a student should be worrying about during the holiday season is whether there are enough marshmallows in hot cocoa or if there is

Tuesday, Dec. 15 7:20-9:10...1st bell exam 9:15-9:53...2nd bell 9:57-10:35...3rd bell 10:39-11:17...4th bell Lunch A 11:17-11:47 Lunch B 11:47-12:17 12:21-12:59...5th bell 1:03-1:41...6th bell 1:44-2:20...7th bell

enough snow to build a snowman.

Sophomore Brycen Gwynn said, “I like the fact that exams are before winter break this year. All I did last year during break was study, so I couldn’t really enjoy it that much. This year I actually can!”

This schedule is not all good, though.

There are many drawbacks to it.

For example, students have over three weeks less time to study. This can cause stress, and, for some, poorer grades.

Students also might tend to be worried about their grades during the break, causing them to not be able to have fun or relax.

Freshman Rachel Izworski said, “I’m nervous for exams this year. Since it’s my first ever high school exam, I’m automatically stressed. The fact that they’re way earlier this year just adds to it.”

Overall, there are both benefits and drawbacks to either side. Whether exams are before or after winter break, some people will be all for it, while others will be opposed.

Wednesday, Dec. 16 7:20-9:10...2nd bell exam 9:15-11:05...3rd bell exam 12:30-2:00...Exam makeup Thursday, Dec. 17 7:20-9:10...4th bell exam 9:15-11:05...5th bell exam 12:30-2:00...Exam makeup

Friday, Dec. 18 7:20-9:10...6th bell exam 9:15-11:05...7th bell exam 12:30-2:00...Exam makeup

column: TAYLOR CLOSE columnist

Whenever I find a new artist that I really like it is a breath of fresh air. And that is what Parson James is for me right now. His voice is one that is not easily forgotten.

The newly-discovered singer was featured on Kygo’s song “Stole the Show” and has two released singles with record company RCA Records.

“Sinner Like You” and “Temple” have a sort of Sam Smith mixed with Ed Sheeran sound.

James considers Smith one of his inspirations as an openly-gay singer songwriter who is doing well in the music business. Growing up in a very Christian community, it was hard for James to express his own sexuality.

James’s song “Sinner Like You” was based on his fear of coming out to his mother, the only person whose opinion mattered to him. You can feel his desperation for her acceptance in the rawness of his voice.

His name has a special meaning, using his last name, Parson, as his first instead of his real one, Ashton. Parson means an independent parish priest.

The singer says he is like a priest, independent and people can choose to follow him.

His last name, James, is also special, being a reference to James Dean, who was thought to be a non-open bisexual, deciding between being a rebel or a good boy. James liked the idea of dueling the two names.

“Stole the Show” is about one of James’s relationships that ended with them deciding that they were not working anymore, but it was good while it lasted.

James has become more popular through the Spotify Emerge contest and is currently at spot number five.

This contest counts how many people are streaming James’s music and compares it to other newly-discovered artists.

[ entertainment ] THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Dance Good; not well Q&A with freshman Katie Good BROOKE LANDRUM co editor-in-chief

W

hen did you start Irish dancing and how?

I started Irish dancing when I was around 7 or 8 years old because one or two of my friends had started and loved it. Also, my grandmother Irish danced in England and Ireland when she was a child and I wanted to live up to that legend.

How often do you practice?

Before a competition, I practice 6 days a week for at least two hours. Since we never have an offseason, during my “off months” I have practice 4 days a week for at least an hour and a half.

Describe your ‘path’ to Worlds.

Around 3 years ago, I qualified to go to my first regional competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While I didn’t place very well, I knew that I wanted to work hard and get up to someday qualify for worlds. After about 3 months of working hard at home and dance, I fell at a class and severely sprained my ankle. While it was a setback, I bounced back quickly and continued to work hard after a month of no dance. That regionals, I placed 18th in the region and qualified for worlds. I knew that I wanted to do the same or

even better this year, so I worked even harder by doing extra studio time and weight training. In the end, I got 14th this year and qualified to go the World Irish Dance Championships in Scotland!

What part of Irish dancing is important to you?

Irish dance has been a part of my life for nearly 8 years and I haven’t regretted any bit of it. Since our dance school is a community school, I meet so many people from different schools.

Some of my closest friends are the people I dance with, and I’m so glad I met them.

13

E THE LEAF|Dec. 4, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Make way for Broadway New characters steal show

play characters such as; Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Thomas Jefferson.

Another highlight of the season was the debut of “Fun Home.” Based of mid all of the sightseeing and the memoir of Alison Bechdel, Ben tourism spectacles in New York, Brantley of The New York Times said, New York, shows on Broadway “It’s the best new musical to open on remain some of the most popular Broadway.” attractions in the city. The excitement Telling the story of Bechdel at three and spectacle of Broadway draws different ages, “Fun House” tells the audiences from all over the world to story of Bechdel’s dysfunctional family the Big Apple. members as they connect with her in In 2015, it is possible to find interesting new ways. performances of all types and genres to The theatrical Tony Awards, are entertain any individual. A show that the equivalent of Oscars to movies or stunned audiences include “Hamilton.” Grammys to music. “The King and I” This hip-hop adaptation of the and “Skylight” won for best revival and writing of the Constitution gives new “Fun House,” who’s debut to Broadway appearances to the traditional images was this year, won the Tony for best of the founding fathers. musical.

The colorblind casting created Other debuts include the new musical a diverse cast of different races to “Amelie,” starring the actress Samantha

STEPHANIE KIDD staff writer CHRISTINE MACKE staff writer

A

Jan. 26, 1988

The Phantom of the Opera made history for being the longest running musical ever to take place on Broadway, and for winning the Tony award for best musical in 1988.

14 10

Source: Playbiill.com

Barks, who portrayed Eponine in the London touring company and in the feature film of “Les Miserables.”

When people think of Broadway, they picture over the top shows, filled to the brim with glitz and glamour.

However, Broadway did not have such a dazzling origin.

In the early 1900s, the area that now comprises the theater district was merely owned by a few families and contained little more than a few farms. When transportation via subway and train began to become more mainstream, a demand for nightly entertainment increased, and thus, Broadway was born.

Over time, what started as one singular theater now refers to the famous district in Manhattan that has become the worldwide leader in stage entertainment.

Nov. 14, 1996

Mar. 12, 1987 The magnificent score of Les Miserables includes powerful and heartfelt songs such as “I Dreamed a Dream,” and “Bring Him Home”.

D E B U T S

O N

c

kjlkjkljjjjjjjjjj

Set during the roaring “jazz hot” 20s, Chicago is the winner of six Tony Awards, including best revival of a musical.

B R O A D W A Y

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

THE LEAF|Dec. 4, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

E H T RS Y B BE M U BE TS D TO Y N A E S WA IRE

40

0 0 5

theaters in

total are in way distric t

the Broad

D U EQ BROA R M A IMU ATED N I M IGN S DE ATER THE

tually c a e r ers a dway theat d on Broa e locat street.

4

THEATER DISTRICT RUNS FROM 40TH STREET TO 54TH STREET AND FROM WEST OF SOUTH AVENUE TO EAST OF EIGHTH AVENUE INCLUDING TIMES SQUARE

Nov. 13, 1997

The energetic stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 Disney film, Lion King recently became the third longest running musical on Broadway.

Mar. 15, 2012

Oct. 30, 2003 Wicked spotlights the untold stories of Oz’s most famous characters, the Wicked Witch of the West, played

by Idina Menzel, and her unlikely friend, Glinda the Good, played by Kristin Chenoweth.

T H R O U G H O U T

All Images Designed by: Stephanie Kidd

Based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, Newsies was a favorite among audiences, winning a Broadway. com Audience choice award.

Aug. 6, 2015 The brand new Broadway musical, Hamilton is an astonishing exploration of the political mastermind, Alexander Hamilton, who shaped the United States into what it is today.

T H E

Y E A R S

15

E

E THE LEAF|Dec 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Music matters

Music affects body and mind

AMY DENG feature chief HANNAH LOFTSPRING staff writer

E

dison Research conducted a study concluding that of the American population of 12-year olds and older, 47% report listening to online radio every month; that is approximately 124 million Americans.

The amount of online radio users rises to 75% when specifically referring to 1224 year olds. Online radio is similarly popular among students.

Junior Anais Cabello said, “I haven’t listened to the

downloaded music on my iPod in so long. It is just a lot easier to be able to search for any song I want on Spotify, since I have Spotify Premium. I can literally listen wherever and whenever I want.”

Edison Research also discovered that the average American listens to music, or any audio, for approximately four hours daily. Though four hours may come off as excessive and wasteful, music can provide health benefits.

Some of these benefits include providing a decrease in stress levels and an increase in memory.

Junior Rebecca Holdren Holdren said, “Whenever I am

studying for exams or a big test, I listen to my ‘chill’ playlist on Spotify. It calms me down from the pre-test stress and anxiety.

I’m scared to not listen to music when i study now because what if it’s been helping me pass all my classes!”

Senior Maddie Driscoll said, “Sometimes I listen to pretty funky music that is far from mainstream. I’ll go on Billboard. com occasionally to see what the popular songs are becasue I don’t know what other people are listening to.”

Music can also increase the mood of happiness. Listening to music can increase the experience of extra emotional feeling.

The tunes you told us 10.2%

16%

Twenty One Pilots

Cage The Elephant

Imagine Dragons

Maroon 5

Fall Out Boy

Arctic Monkeys

Cold Play

One Republic

10.2% 14.5%

10.2% 11.6%

13.8% 13.1%

16 Infographic by: Hannah Loftspring

THE LEAF|Dec 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Current top 5 songs and artists 1:17 PM

AT&T

12:35 PM

PANDORA

STARRED SHUFFLE PLAY

Create Station

Available Offline

Shuffle

1. Hello Adele - 25 2. Sorry Justin Bieber - Purpose 3. Love Yourself Justin Bieber - Purpose 4. Hotline Bling Drake - Hotline Bling 5. What Do You Mean?

Justin Bieber - Purpose

1

Justin Bieber Radio

2

Adele Radio

3

Drake Radio

4

Chris Stapleton Radio

5

The Weeknd Radio

6

One Direction Radio

7

Taylor Swift Radio Information by: Billboard Top 100

Energy - If You’re Reading This...

Drake

Information by: Billboard Top 100

Information by: Billboard Top 100

Spotify vs. Pandora

Now Playing

Stations

Spotify is a digital music service that allows users to discover millions of different songs from laptop to mobile devices. Songs can be streamed for free but when subscribed to the premium feature, a lot more benefits become available.

Feed

Profile

Settings

Pandora is a music streaming and automated music recommendation service that plays musical selections of a certain genre based on the user’s artist selection.

Information by: Techopedia

19

E

E THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

TEENS on

EMILY CHIEN leaflet designer/writer

27

TEENS HAVE AN AVERAGE OF

OVER MILLION FACEBOOK USERS IDENTIFY AS MOMS

145 FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK ,

10

20 15 10

LESS THAN ADULTS

70

5

60

21-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

HIGHEST % OF USERS IN STATE

1. WYOMING 2. WEST VIRGINIA 3. IOWA 4. SOUTH DAKOTA 5. IDAHO

LOWEST % OF USERS IN STATE 1. NEW YORK 2. CALIFORNIA 3. VIRGINIA 4. HAWAII 5. NEW JERSEY

50

40 30 20

72% OF MOMS HAVE FACEBOOK

10 0

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Snapchat

TY PES OF SOCIAL MEDIA MOMS INCREASED ACTIVITY

18%

Design by: Emily Chien

0

MOTHER’S AGE RANGE

18

OF TEENS HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA

PERCENT OF TEEN USERS

% OF MOM USERS

25

81%

Information by: Pew Research Center, Social Times

social MOMS vs. media

Artists on the rise

THE LEAF|Dec 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

E

2015’s most successful artists TAYLOR CLOSE Columnist

Sycamore

Real listings

Sycamore vs. the real world: top albums of 2015

TOP 10 01 1989 02 X 03 Wilder Mind Hour 04 InHowtheBigLonely How Blue 05 How Beautiful 06 Wanted on Voyage 07 Hozier and the Calm 08 Chaos 09 Chasing Yesterday 10 Title Music Stats:

Selling Albums of 2015

Sam Smith

Ed Sheeran

Mumford & Sons Sam Smith

Florence & the Machine George Ezra

James Bay

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying

X by Ed Sheeran

George Ezra James Bay

Hozier

Mumford & Sons

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying

Florence & the Machine

Source: http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40biggest-selling-artist-albums-of-2015-so-far__8818/

Source: http://www.mtv.com

Designer: Taylor Close

5 SECONDS R OF SUMME

Designer: Taylor Close

Longest Song Song of the Summer: Funk by Mark at #1: Uptown Ronson f t. Bruno Mars She’s Kinda Hot by 5 Seconds of Summer Source:http://www.billboard.com

T h e N ew Album Featu rin g th e hit sin gl e ‘Sin g’ & ‘Do n’t’

Designer: Taylor Close

Source: http://www.officialcharts.com

Ed S h e e ran

Taylor Swift

Meghan Trainor

Hozier

Top Album:

Ed Sheeran

Taylor Swift

Meghan Trainor

Albums TOP 10 Selling of 2015 01 X 02 In the Lonely Hour 03 1989 04 Wanted on Voyage 05 Chaos and the Calm 06 Hozier 07 Title Wilder Mind 08 Chasing 09 How Big Yesterday How Blue 10 How Beautiful

19

TV Time with Sam

SAMUEL RUSKIN staff writer Welcome to TV Talk with Sam. And to clear the air, I do not like green eggs and ham. I’m here to talk to you about TV shows.

Today, we will be talking about an older show, How I Met Your Mother, starring Josh Radnor, Jason Segal, Neil Patrick Harris, and others. The show began in 2005 and ended in 2014.

How I Met Your Mother, more often referred to as HIMYM, follows Ted Mosby as he tells his two kids the story of how he met their mother. Ted not only narrarates his “quest” for love, but his other adventures with his friends, Marshall, Lily, Barney and Robin.

After watching the pilot episode, I found it hard to take my eyes off the TV. This sitcom will have you laughing, crying, and speechless as some times.

Freshman Jess Levitt said, “It is my favorite show. It makes you want to watch it over and over.”

On a scale of one to five stars, I would rate this a four and a half. Although every season kept me intrigued and laughing, I felt that the show ended poorly, practically making everything that the season had built up to be irrelevant.

I would definitely reccomend this show to anyone who loves a good laugh and enjoys binge watching hilarious comedies. Of every sitcom I have seen, HIMYM has been my favorite by far.

20

Image courtesy of WARPAINT Media, Inc. from Noun Project

E THE LEAF| Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Dancing on stage Stephanie Lunz tells story on dance career ALLYSON BONHAUS staff writer

M

y heart beat with anxiety, I thought of how far I’ve come.

From my two years old self at Weeby’s dance studio when I danced for my grandmother who loved watching me. Now, at The Studio of Dance.

Pacing backstage in my elaborate costume I looked at my feet. My ballet shoes were a far cry from when I came to my first dance class, tap. The only shoes my mother could find were pink tap shoes.

Waiting to brave the stage, I remembered my first solo. I was so surprised when my teachers chose me to be in a solo. There was only one other girl in my level that was picked to do a solo.

That was the second year I went to Nationals, this time as a soloist. My teachers had just came in to give me a pep talk, telling me that there was a reason they chose me to do the solo.

As I wait to brave the stage I remembered Music Hall. The last four years I have performed with professional dancers and orchestra in their “Pops” productions.

If I can perform with professionals and in front of that many people, I can do this. The music ended and I came on the stage.

My solos always have a story in them, and this one would be one of the hardest characters to become. This is my fifth solo, “Racing Against the Sunset”, which has a darker feeling,

with some happy moments.

My teachers and dance friends are like family to me, and I saw them backstage smiling at me. I’ve danced with them since I was three and will continue until I graduate at 18.

By my third solo, the song Sorcerer, I got my first tutu which is every girls’ dream. Performing had always come naturally now.

From the corner of my eye I see Jenny, who is smiling at me, like she did the first time I completed my first solo without mistakes.

Throughout the dance, I think of my fourth solo, the first time I felt like a professional dancer. When the seamstress came out with my costume, I was speechless, it was the most beautiful costume I’d ever had.

I move through each action, working as hard as I can, and my shins burn from my ongoing problem with shin splints.

As the lights shined on my every moment, I thought of my uncle and how he taught me everything about Maddy, his beloved horse. Him and my aunt had to give Maddy away though.

When I showed me a video of me dancing, he told me I looked like her.

I was so touched by what he said, I think of it to calm me down during competitions.

The song ended and I left the stage with the performance lingering in my head.

[ cover story ]

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | SHSLEAF.ORG

THE MILLENNIALS

C THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015 |SHSLEAF.ORG CAROLINE GAO executive editor-in-chief ANNA ZHOU executive managing editor

Millennium’s millennials:

New generation brings change

T

he people of the millennial generation are those born after 1980 and make up the first generation to come of age in the new millennium.

Millennials are characterized by a variety of traits, tending to be relatively unattached to organized politics and religion, connected by social media, burdened by debt, distrustful of people, in no hurry to marry, and optimistic about the future.

English teacher Thomas Gaffigan said, “A Millennial is someone who has probably grown up with a lot of screen time, doesn’t read as much, whose attention span is diminished from other generations, but is charming none the less.”

Millennials are also known as America’s most racially diverse generation. This trend is driven by the large waves of Hispanic and Asian immigrants who have come to the U.S. within the past half-century and whose U.S.-born children are now coming into

22

adulthood.

In a sense, Millennials are a transitional generation. Around 43 percent of Millennial adults are non-white, the highest amount of any generation.

According to Pew Research Center, half of Millennials also now describe themselves as political independents, and around 29 percent say they do not affiliate themselves with any specific religion.

Those statistics are, or come close to, the lowest levels of political and religious affiliation recorded for any generation in the last quarter-century.

Millennials have also taken a stance against another core institution of society: marriage. Only 26 percent of this generation is married, which compared to earlier generations, is an extremely low percentage.

When they were the age that Millennials are now, 36 percent of Generation X, 48 percent of Baby Boomers, and 65 percent of the members of the Silent Generation were married.

Senior Ted Vlady said, “It’s very interesting to look at the trends of Millennials compared to other generations. These trends can show how we have evolved over time.”

Millennials are also the first in the modern era to have higher levels of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment and lower levels of wealth and personal income than Generation Xers and Baby

Boomers had at the same stage of their lives.

Despite their financial burdens, Millennials are still the nation’s most stubborn economic optimists. More than eight in ten millennials say they either currently have enough money to lead the lives they want, 32 percent, or expect to in the future, 53 percent.

Some of the Millennials’ optimism may simply reflect the timeless confidence of youth.

The Millennials’ liberalism is apparent in their views on a range of social issues such as same-sex marriage, interracial marriage, and marijuana legalization.

In all of these realms, they are more liberal than their elders.

However, on some other social issues, including abortion and gun control, the views of Millennials are not much different from those of older adults.

Senior Astrid Cabello said, “I have full faith that this generation can make a big difference in the world and make it a better place.”

“I have full faith that this generation can make a big difference in the world and make it a better place.”

THE LEAF| Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG C

THEMILLENNIALSFACTS BENJAMIN RUSKIN social media manager

Millennials will comprise more than one in three adult Americans by 2020.

$

Teachers’ Takes:

“What defines the Millennial generation?”

Source: www.brookings.edu

$1

trillion dollars in debt

To me, they always want things very quickly, and they have a lot of access to and knowledge of fast-paced technology.

Mrs. Valerie Nimeskern, history teacher

They’re very opinionated, and they question the status quo, so there’s a lot of complaining, for improvement or not.

Mr. Daniel Frank english teacher

Cell phones. They are And social always awareness. looking Ms. Meredith Blackmore, spanish teacher

down.

Mr. Michael Geyer, chemistry teacher

6 in 10 Millennials have jobs, half are part-time

Internet runs through their blood.

Mr. Peter Griga, photography teacher

They have a greater social conscience.

Mrs. Laura Miniard, psychology teacher

23

WHO MILLENNIALS C

ARE THE

THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015 |SHSLEAF.ORG

hispanic

white

black

5% 1%

asian other

MALES

THE ECHO BOOMERS:

15%

34%

35%

15%

THE NET GENERATION:

< high school

high school

some college

4+ years of college

refers to the generation that succeeds generation X

MANY MILLENNIALS ARE CHILDREN OF BABY BOOMERS

MILLENNIALS GREW UP WITH THE INTERNET AND TAKE IT FOR GRANTED

THE BOOMERANG GENERATION: Millennials have the tendency to move back in with their parents after college

TH E PE TER PA N G ENER A TI ON: Millennials delay the rites of passage into adulthood longer than other generations

FEMALES

15% < high school

40%

Millennials say the important things in their lives will be:

28% 20% some college

high school

Millennials ages 18-28

GENERATION Y:

educational attainment

Other names for MILLENNIALS

14%

20%

60%

4+ years of college

How often Millennials visit the social networking site they use most:

Once a week or less

25%

Several times a day

29%

Every few days

20%

Being a good parent

52% 24

Having a successful marriage

30%

Helping others in need

21%

Owning a home

20%

Living a very religious life

15%

Having a high-paying career

15%

Once a day

26%

Source: Pew Research Infographics by: Caroline Gao and Anna Zhou

[ fun&games ]

BROOKE LANDRUM co editor-in-chief

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Where is Anna?

Tell us where in the building Anna is hiding, and the first three people from each lunch to do so will each receive an out-to-lunch pass. Stop by room 115 to give us the answer.

Sudoku 8 6

7 4 1 3 5 9 4 1 7 9 2 8 5

4 6 9 1 3 4 2 5 3 6 7 1 3 4 6

Thank you to our supporters:

The Schwegmann and Nartker Families 25

[ feature ]

BATTLE OFPREVIEW THE SIBS

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11| SHSLEAF.ORG

THE LAWSONS

Jodie Lawson, 10

Kevin Lawson, 11

THE FOYS

Jenna Foy, 9

Cameron Foy, 12

1. If you could go to dinner with one famous person who 1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? would it be?

Kevin’s Guess

Tyler Joseph

Jodie’s Answer

Jimmy Fallon

2. What is your spirit food?

Jodie’s Guess

Mo Farrah

Kevin’s Answer

Frank Shorter

Kevin’s Guess

Jodie’s Guess

Jodie’s Answer

Kevin’s Answer

Ice cream

Ice cream sundae

Chicken quesadillla Apple

3. What would you go to jail for?

Kevin’s Guess

Breaking curfew

Jodie’s Answer

Eating ice cream right out of the carton

Jodie’s Guess

Speeding (Running too fast)

Kevin’s Answer Trespassing

Cameron’s Guess

Jenna’s Guess

Jenna’s Answer

Cameron’s Answer

Flying

Flying

Transport

Freeze Time

2. What 3 things would you bring stranded on an island?

Cameron’s Guess Phone, soccer ball, nail polish

Jenna’s Answer

Phone, soccer ball, duct tape

3. What is your pet peeve?

Cameron’s Guess

People. Just people.

Jenna’s Answer My mom exaggerating stories

Made by Caroline Gao

Jenna’s Guess

Phone, soccer ball, Woody

Cameron’s Answer

Phone, soccer ball, solar panels

Jenna’s Guess

Me burping at the dinner table

Cameron’s Answer

People mispronouncing Spanish words, like “hombre”

Running so “Fly like a G[utekunst]6” ANNIE MARSH staff writer MEGGIE DIGIOVANNA staff writer

W

ith six half marathons and eight marathons under his belt, Mr. Mike Gutekunst is always running. While Gutekunst teaches physics by day, he spends countless hours outside of school training in preparation for his 26.2 or 13.1 mile races.

Gutekunst began running in junior high in order to keep in shape for soccer. However, once he entered high school, he committed fully to running and joined cross country and track.

Later, Gutekunst coached cross country for 11 years.

After years of running independently, Gutekunst decided to participate in a real marathon.

26

Gutekunst said, “[My first marathon] was back in 1998. It was the year they first started the Flying Pig and my brother and I ran it together. I didn’t plan to run the whole thing, but I just kept going.”

Now, Gutekunst begins training in preparation for his races three months in advance, following a strict training plan. Despite the hard work, he finds running quite enjoyable.

Gutekunst said, “Running is a freedom; your body feels unrestricted and independent, and you feel that you can do anything. Your mind has nothing to do except think... you make yourself stronger and are able to do things you normally wouldn't be able to do.”

Although most of his training is done on his own, Gutekunst often runs with friends or siblings. He also runs relays, which he has done four times.

Gutekunst said, “Last year I did a relay with my two brothers and my sister; the four of us covered 26.2 miles but the part I ran was only about 7.7 miles.”

The hard work has payed off.

Gutekunst has placed well in races, his best being a half marathon in Columbus in which he placed 62nd out of 2,500 runners.

For Gutekunst, running has become an outlet and a way to develop discipline and strength, no matter how he compares to other runners. For him, marathons can be a fun challenge.

Gutekunst said, “For those who want to run marathons, I’d say make sure you have the time to commit to it, gradually build up to a full marathon, and find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. Do not expect your first marathon to go well...it’s a tough race, but it’s worth it.”

THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG F

NEW YEAR’S TRADITIONS ZOE SCHLOSSER leaflet editor-in-chief

Circles have long been considered sacred in the Philippines; as such

ORION SCHLOSSER leaflet editor-in-chief

they feature heavily in New Year celebrations with people wearing polka

dots, eating round fruits, and tossing coins into pans. It is believed that The traditional Thingyan festival involves these practices will bring prosperity.

On New Year’s Eve, Budapest’s people splashing water on one another Time Wheel runs out; it is then in order to start the new year with a mechanically rotated so that the purified body. sand can run through it for another year.

An onion is traditionally hung from the front door of a house on New Year’s Eve as a symbol of rebirth for the coming year. Parents then wake their children the next morning by tapping them on the head with an onion.

As the bells ring in the New Year, it is tradition to open your front door and sprinkle salt on the doorstep. The act is thought to bring peace and abundance to your home or business.

A desert called ‘kransekage’ is eaten to celebrate the new year in Norway and Denmark. Traditionally a tall cake of many layers, it is made with marzipan and decorated with flags and features a bottle of wine in the center.

Since 1907, thousands of people have gathered in Times Square every New Year’s Eve to watch the New Year ball drop; its minutes descend starting at 11:59

In the hope that the new year will bring them a husband, some single women place mistletoe under their pillows. Meanwhile, some people bang bread against the wall to drive away evil spirits.

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Trends are falling

O THE LEAF| Dec.11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest fashion trends:

faux fur vest Forever 21 $57.90

chunky scarf American Eagle Outfitters $29.95

oversized sweater Nastygal $48.00

fold-over boots Mossimo Supply Co from Target $37.99

ankle booties Jack Rogers $127.95

knee-high socks Nordstroms $8.00

ripped jeans Forever 21 $22.90 Source: www.instyle.com

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Infographic by Sydney Weiss

THE LEAF|Dec.11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

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The brief history of a Leaf Evolving through the ages SYDNEY EVANS managing editor

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ince the first day SHS opened its doors our success both academic and athletic has been marked by a myriad of medals and awards. However these have also been marked and recorded by the ever changing voice of SHS: The Leaf.

The Leaf started out when the high school was actually the junior high and originally it was called The Tattler. The Tattler consisted of school gossip and new chants that showed the SHS spirit.

It eventually became a club and was widely popular, though it was passed out on an irregular schedule. As its popularity grew, The Tattlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff grew as well, with more and more students staying after school to help design and research for the school paper.

As time passed, both the design and content of The Tattler began to change.

A move to the newer and bigger high school building also constituted a new Tattler, which began to cover SHS news and international news.

It continued to evolve, changing formats from the original form -just a few pages stapled together- to an actual newspaper format. This evolution continued further as the name changed to The Leaf. It gained a few new counter parts such as, the official website, shsleaf.org, and the online magazine, The Leaflet.

New programs such as, the Adobe software enabled students to create better infographics and slick page designs that have won multiple national awards.

The road to where The Leaf is now has not been an easy one. The Leaf

staff has always wanted their work to reach as many people as possible and they pride themselves in the fact that The Leaf is their own.

Students start the year raising the money for their paper and it is a constant struggle to receive enough funding to keep it in print. However, the student are efficient, a trait carried by staff members since the time of The Tattler, and consistently get the money to allow their work to be shown to the world.

The Leaf will continue to change, however, the underlying principles of it will always remain the same; The Leaf is the voice of Sycamore and despite all odds, it will continue to show the world the Sycamore spirit, through its staff and their devotion to their work and their school.

Most Influential Stories

April 2000 In 1999 a tornado swept through Sycamore destroying the community.

Sept. 2001 This slip cover was made last minute to cover the events of 9/11.

Sept. 2002 This issue focused on the year after 9/11 and the War on Terrorism.

Jan. 2003 The teacher strike in 2003 dealt with the insurance plolicy of Sycamore.

March 2003 Staff covered the play Paradise Lost, which wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t performed due to controversy.

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O THE LEAF| Dec.11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Psychology to the Holidays: A look into what makes you happy and sad CAROLINE BRUNS web editor-in-chief

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s lights and holiday decor begin to show up in many public places, so does holiday cheer. The holiday break and celebration is one of the most anticipated breaks for all students.

Senior Sarah Thompson said, “I’m always so excited for the break. I love being off school and I’m pretty excited because I get to binge watch netflix.”

Holidays bring back memories, and often a sense of nostalgia for good times that have come and gone, as well as some family members.

This bittersweet nostalgia helps us feel connected, both around the holidays and at other times. And, it can be a salve to those suffering through hard times, according to nostalgia expert Krystine Batcho, a professor of psychology at Le Moyne College in New York.

Nostalgia has been described as many different things throughout history, but today theorists have pinpointed two distinct types of nostalgia: historical and personal. Both are considered

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psychological entities and both are viewed as emotional states.

Historical nostalgia refers to feeling good sentiments or feeling attracted to times in the past when the individual might not even have been alive yet.

The second type is the type most people report experiencing, personal nostalgia. As you might suspect from the name, it means someone misses or feels emotions toward the past they themselves lived through, you might call it the autobiographical past.

Personal nostalgia is most likely to occur during the holiday season because you memory is triggered by many of those same decorations, faces, etc. from a great time that has passed.

Junior Allie Kohltoff said, “During the holiday season I get really happy when I think about what’s going to occur soon and also I love to reminisce about past holidays.”

We tend to define ourselves in terms of our relationships, in terms of how we are connected to other people, that helps us identify our sense of self, and nostalgia helps us maintain those connections and a sense of belonging.

That is one of the primary benefits of personal nostalgia.

Holidays bring together people when they cannot be together and traditions carry on even when someone dear is lost. Although it is no longer possible to physically re-unite with the deceased loved one, nostalgia can become a psychological substitute, and all of those good memories that revolve around the time spent with the person really help us to cope with loss.

For one thing, loneliness has been shown to be a trigger for heightened nostalgia. It is interesting because then the nostalgia helps someone feel connected again. It helps to decrease the negative feelings of being alone. The holidays make many feel happy and whole again.

Although this is not always the case, nostalgia is one of the leading causes of happiness, and sometimes sadness among people during the holiday season. The memories you associate with this time of year will affect your perception of it for many years to come.

[ sports ]

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DEC. 11 | SHSLEAF.ORG

Spotlight: swimming senior Christopher Seger CAROLINE VERALDO staff writer Senior Christopher Seger has stepped up to fill the leadership void on the swim team for the upcoming season.

Seger said, “The size of our team is so much smaller than last year’s, which has its advantages and disadvantages. It is good that some of us can rise up and become leaders, but not good that we have many people with little experience.”

In contrast, a large group of firstyear swimmers-or any athletes-can be a good thing as well.

Seger said, “It is good to have a lot of new people because we have a lot of room to grow this year as a team. I am very excited for the future years of SHS swimming.”

Regardless of the amount of experience the team has, Seger says he is looking forward to the upcoming season.

Seger said, “I am really hyped for this year because it is my last chance to make state championships, the best part of the season.”

The state championships for swimming take place in Canton, Ohio on Feb. 24-27.

Seger also discusses the friendship and dynamics of this year’s team.

He said, “Since our sport takes place in the water, we can’t really talk during practices. Instead we do our team bonding at meets, pasta parties, and in team-wide group messages.”

Seger hopes that a more united team will lead to their success in and out of the pool and thinks this season will be the best one yet.

Splashing seasons:

Swim team begins training HANNAH MAY sports chief

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fter graduating ten seniors, the SHS swim team faces not only the physical challenges of replacing five state competitors and two individual qualifiers, but also the difficulties of compensating for the loss of leaders on the team.

Junior Matthew Schuetz said “With the seniors gone, a lot of swimmers are going to have to step up to fill their leadership positions. I think we will see a lot more people being leaders on the team.”

Regardless of the obvious obstacles the team has to overcome this year, they are hopeful for a successful season.

Senior Jory Gould said “We have really talented freshman on both the boys and girls side. Even though we lost a lot of seniors, I think we will have a good season.”

As the season progresses, coach Dr. Daniel Carl will begin to implement both morning practices and weight lifting into the training regime, in hopes of building strength and stroke technique.

Gould said “We will probably lift three times a week. Weight lifting is really helpful with swimming because it helps to build muscles, which translates to more power in your stroke.”

As well as weight lifting, the team will have optional morning swims before school, usually two times a week.

These practices focus on specific stroke techniques for specialty swimmers

and longer sets for the mid-distance to distance members of the team.

Looking forward, the team will endure its most trying practices during winter break. With the two-week vacation from school, it is common for swim coaches to take advantage of this time off.

Regardless, the swimmers are excited to be back in the water and have high hopes for the outcome of the season.

Schuetz said “We have a lot of team goals, and everybody has their individual goals. Ultimately, I think that we will have a successful season.”

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THE LEAF|Dec. 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

column:

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DAVID WERTHEIM business manager

I H

ps for hope

ELIZABETH RICKERT co editor-in-chief

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woosh. The Aviator basketball team has been hosting a charity event, Hoops for Hope, for the past three years, and it is no different this year. On Jan. 23 and 26 the girls and boys teams will compete against Mason.

The two teams are working hard to raise the most amount of money for the Duke Clinical Research Institute in honor of the Lothrop Family. At the girls game on Jan. 23 there will be a pancake breakfast and raffle baskets to help raise funds.

In addition, t-shirts will be sold at lunch the week prior. All proceeds from shirt sales will be donated as well.

Senior Amy Bitzer said, “I’m really excited to see how this year turns out.

I’ve been in charge of the event twice before, but we’ve never done it on such a large scale. We’re including the Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT) and several Mason students in the event.”

When:

Girls varsity starts at 2 p.m. on 1/23.

Boys varsity starts at 7:30 p.m. on 1/26.

What to look forward to:

Surprise at the boys halftime, pancake breakfast before the girls game, raffle baskets, and a rowdy crowd.

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SALT, Student Council, and the Mason students have met on several occasions to talk about how they want the event to run.

They have decided upon inviting the Firecrackers, a competitive jump roping team, to come to the boys game on Jan. 26.

Junior Matthew Miller said, “It’s a great event for a great cause. People should look forward to both the girls and boys games. [There will be] lots of festivities and even a surprise at the boys game at halftime.”

All of the proceeds will be contributed to the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

This is where math teacher, Mr. Randall Lothrop’s daughter, Elizabeth Lothrop, is being treated for a brain tumor.

In the past, Hoops for Hope has been able to raise a thousand dollars for the chosen charities for Multiple Sclerosis and autism. The coaches Mr. David Moss and Mr. Andrew Ovington decide

How to support:

Purchase raffle tickets for one of the 30 baskets.

Buy a t-shirt. Shirts are sold the week of Jan. 18 and at the door for $15.

Come to the game and bring friends. All profits from the game are donated to the Duke Research Center.

t has been a tough year for Waka Flacco Flame. Yes, my fantasy football team, named after a combination of rapper Waka Flocka Flame and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, has not lived up to expectations.

After a solid (or so I thought) draft, a couple of players have fizzled out, and my team is now a lowly 4-8 and on the outside looking in for the playoffs. But, regardless of how well my team does, I have a good time playing.

My starters this year were drafted in the 1st, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, and 16th rounds. All of my current starters began the year with Waka Flacco Flame. I do not think drafting was the problem, but it might have been.

When I took Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the second round, I thought I was set. He was going to be my QB the whole year. That lasted for about 15 minutes when I took thensuspended New England quarterback Tom Brady in the 14th round.

Knowing full well Brady was going to get off, due to the NFL’s horrible suspension system, I decided to take him. He was the best player on the board, and it was really a no-brainer.

When Brady indeed had his suspension overturned, I suddenly had arguably the top two quarterbacks in the league on my team.

What I neglected to think about was that with the acquisition of Brady, Rodgers, my second-round pick, was suddenly worthless. Brady has done a remarkable job for Waka Flacco Flame but unfortunately, the team lacks a running back that could have been added instead of Rodgers to compliment Mark Ingram.

I was so desperate that I even picked up Orleans Darkwa. Do not ever pick up Orleans Darkwa.

It is all fine though. Mediocrity is normal in Cincinnati, so I guess I will be okay with it too.

THE LEAF|Dec. 11 2015 |SHSLEAF.ORG S

Photo courtesy of Gary Traub

column: LAUREN KURTZER associate editor

Traub trumps

BROOKE LANDRUM

co editor-in-chief

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enior Gary Traub finished his previous wrestling season undefeated and finished fourth in the state tournament, placing himself in an elite circle of top-tier Ohio wrestlers.

This year he expects to surpass his past accomplishments and place higher up at state. Traub also hopes to place at or win the Ironman tournament in mid-December.

Traub said, “I know I will see two state champions at Ironman, so that will be good for me before Columbus.”

He has a strong belief in his abilities as a wrestler; however, he does acknowledge that there are other strong competitors within Ohio.

Ohio has been recognized as a state with one of the most difficult wrestling circuits.

Traub said, “I been thinking about going to wrestle at Notre Dame College in Cleveland. They have a really good program. I’ve also been thinking about going to do both football and wrestling.”

He has received offers to wrestle at the collegiate level as well as play football. He does intend and hope to wrestle in the future, even if he does not attain Division I status.

Regardless of his status as the team leader, he has no worries about the future of the team once he moves on. He has been working to cultivate leaders who can step up in future years.

Traub said, “I try to be a good example in the weight room and at practice. Just showing them what you should do and should not do.”

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For me, the 2015 sports year has been the best one yet.

On New Year’s Day, it started when the Ohio State University Buckeyes ran down Alabama in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans with a stand out performance by running back Ezekiel Elliott.

They went on to win the national championship against Oregon. This was the first time that I remember that one of my beloved teams won it.

I went to my first Opening Day game for the Cincinnati Reds, and although it was pouring rain, I had an amazing experience.

Though the Reds had a terrible season, I had one of the greatest moments of my life when I saw the best of the best in baseball play each other at the AllStar game in my hometown.

To top off the unforgettable All-Star week, I screamed my heart out when Cincinnati Red’s player Todd Frazier won the Home Run Derby.

I then traveled to Boston with my dad, and we saw the Green Monster at Fenway Park, enjoying a game and the atmosphere of the timeless park.

In Cooperstown,the home of Baseball’s Hall of Fame, I was mesmerized by all of the history and glory of America’s pastime.

The lovely small town provided an amazing experience as I was surrounded by people from all over the world who love baseball as much as I do.

As fall rolled around, the Buckeyes had to figure out their dramatic quarterback situation. They went on to a 11-1 record, in a devastating loss to Michigan State University but beat down their archrivals Michigan University.

The Bengals started the season, to my extreme surprise, 8-0 for the first time in history. Andy Dalton has actually played well, but we are all waiting for that playoff win.

I savored all the incredible sports memories 2015 had to offer to me, and I cannot to see what 2016 has in store!

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S THE LEAF| December 11, 2015|SHSLEAF.ORG

Running through obstacles NATHAN ZHANG

opinion chief

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he numerous sports, clubs and activities during the winter decorate the SHS facility each day after school. One sport, winter track, began Monday, Nov. 16 and can be seen running on the track and in the school.

Practice occurs Monday through Thursday for all runners, and Friday morning lifting for the varsity team.

Sophomore Ashwin Chidambaram said, "Every practice is divided into short distance and long distance runners, and drills and exercises differ based on the event you run."

Mentored by Coach Hank Ray and Coach Steve Nestor, hopes of winning the state championships this season are high for both the boys and girls teams.

Sophomore Matthew Isakson said, "From last year we have a junior, miles, who finished 10th in the state who should help lead us in doing well at state this year."

Last year, junior Miles Menyard was the only boy from SHS to make state. However, Ray and Nestor are confident in the talent on the team this year.

Isakson said, "Going to state in cross country should also shows that we can definitely do well during track."

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The chess team won GMCs on Dec. 7, 2015. Senior, Divyesh Balamurali “I think we did particularly well this year because we really worked as a team.”

Balamurali also said that he feels the four freshman on the team played a vital role in the teams success. They had an undefeated season against the other GMC teams. They consistenly won 5-0 against their opponents. Photos courtesy of McDaniel’s Photography and Mrs. Beth Quiones.

[ spotlight ]

THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11| SHSLEAF.ORG

Patterson impassioned Diving into life as a Freshman on Varsity LAUREN SHASSERE spotlight chief

Not only did this dedicated freshman continue swimming into his first year of high school, but he has already ince 2006 freshman, Noah Patterson has dedicated himself shined, earning himself a spot on the Varsity team. Being a younger swimmer to the world of competitive surrounded by older talent is something swimming. First learning to swim at Patterson is very proud of. He feels a young age through his preschool, privileged and excited to have this it instantly became apparent that the uncommon opportunity. water was where he belonged. Taking Patterson said, “In my opinion, being this realization, he then decided only a on a varsity team as a freshman adds few years later that he would swim for pressure, but at the same time it adds Evendale and begin his journey in the relief.

I feel that I need to perform at pool. my highest level no matter what grade At his first swim meet for Evendale, I’m in.

But being a freshman can be a Patterson competed at a higher level stress reliever.

It’s my first year, and I than most of the other kids his age. still have three more years after this to Patterson said, “That was the spark make my mark on the team.” that got me into swimming for most Taking steps toward leaving this of my life, and the spark that kept me mark, the young swimmer has already going into high school. I have always began setting goals for himself, both had a competitive drive in me, and a specific time goals and general goal. drive that keeps me going.”

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These include dropping time in the 100 butterfly (where he would like to achieve around a :57 or :58), and the 100 freestyle (where he would like to break :54). His more general goal is to simply work harder and push himself everyday, believing that any practice, any meet and any season cannot be successful unless you work harder than the one before.

Whether they are professionals or high school students, athletes are asked all the time what they owe their successes to.

Patterson said, “If anyone has helped me the most along the way, it would be my dad. He has been the coach for most sports that I’ve played, but most of all for swimming. He’s always been my motivation to work harder, and get faster.”

Photo courtesy of Josh Patterson

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