HATE 4. LUNCH

TABLE

of

1. HALLWAY

Ode to the high school hallway. Hollywood and TV have made the hallway a place of mystique; the reality is a bit different. Today’s lockers, for example, remain mostly empty: scarcely used for holding books, let alone cowering freshmen. Yet, as one of the few authentic melting pots of school, the hallway is the perfect place to study high school culture.

2. ACTIVISM

In the last few years, teenagers have moved to the forefront of activism. From the courageous voices of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, to the unrelenting tenacity of young leaders throughout the Black Lives Matter movement, we have witnessed the power of the teenage voice time and time again. In Montgomery County, teens carry on the tradition.

5. COVID

The pandemic has plagued us for far too long. This section seeks to examine the wide range of effects that can be attributed to COVID. Only after conducting a thorough analysis of these effects can we seek to move forward from such a wild period in time.

6. REDEFINING OUR GENERATION

Wherever we go, Gen Z receives unrelenting criticism from previous generations. Now, we are taking back the narrative.

9. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Adults, close your eyes. This section might scare you a little. Or take you back to a younger version of yourself. Sometimes, the things we need to hear the most are the things we talk about the least. Life as a teenager is not as glamorous as Hollywood makes it out to be.

the ‘21-‘22 Amplifier Staff

Editors in Chief

Aaron Tiao Michael Shapiro

Managing Editors: Josh Garber Gabe Gebrekristose Elyas Laubach Nathaniel Schrader Sammy Schuchman Sydney Theis

CONTENTS

3. HATE

Bigotry is an unfortunate reality throughout our nation. However, if we want to stop hate in our county, we cannot run from it. Instead, we need to confront it. We must inform and commit ourselves to substantive action to eliminate hatred in our communities. For many students, lunch is the highlight of the school day. You get to sit, eat, and unwind, all while catching up with your friends. What more could one wish for? Over the course of this section, you will read about school “tea” pages, snitch culture, the art of the ratio, and much more.

4. LUNCH

7. SPORTS

This was the first full year of high school sports in Montgomery County since 2019 and, boy, have things changed since then. A generation of MoCo student-athletes have the game on lock, and they are not afraid to make themselves heard.

8. THE PARTY

Trying to emulate older kids, role models, and celebrity personas, it is commonplace for high school students to use parties to engage in activities far beyond their age and maturity. While parties can be a positive opportunity to connect with classmates and friends, they can also be wildly unpredictable.

Section Editors:

Katherine Comer Bennett Galper Hannah Troubh Madison Sherman Sofia Norberte Nikki Mirala Karenna Barmada Samantha Wu Micah Schuchman Kate FitzGerald Mimi Danzis Sophie Hummel Featured Artists: Jack Clauss Sydney Theis Sanjay Fernando Nina Pollak Claire Wang Lawrence Strothers Aubrey Samuels Elizabeth Dorokhina

Sponsor

David Lopilato The Amplifier is made possible through the generous financial support and tireless professional support of MCPS Editorial, Graphics & Publishing Services. EGPS just gets it - the importance of teen voices to solving cultural problems.