The Highlander - Issue 4 - February 2017 by The Highlander

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Volume LXI • Issue 4 • February 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

Beyond GENDER

Tutoring Club of McLean is in Your Corner Since 2010, Tutoring Club of McLean has been helping your fellow Highlanders thrive. Our award-winning, individualized instruction is guaranteed to help you keep your grades and study skills in peak performance. We’ll help you create a custom plan that sets you up for academic success. From Statistics to Physics and AP History to Foreign Languages, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also help you ace your college entrance exams and applications, and prepare you for college and beyond. Stronger grades and higher scores open more doors, so call today to ﬁnd out why so many students and parents refer their friends to Tutoring Club.

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Call or email today to find out about our free COLLEGE 101 presentation for juniors in March (sophomores are also welcome if there is space), or about our COLLEGE APPLICATIONS SUMMER BOOTCAMP for rising seniors.

CONTENTS NEWS

IN-DEPTH

3 4

Beyond gender: Gender identity at McLean

Senior internships begin McLeadership launches February connect group

22-25

New AP classes next year

TheatreMcLean partners with Sources of Strength

Changes to teacher retirement fund

FEATURES

OPINIONS 29

Editorial: War on facts should not prevail

Does civil discourse 30-31 Crossfire: help enact change?

Automation won’t destroy jobs

Senior has funky farm animals

10 11 12

Student service projects

10 Qs with Kip Rogers

34-35

Leah Horan: outdoor adventurer

Honor your interests Climate change under the new administration

SPORTS

Highlander of the Issue: Sina Naeemi

14 15 16

Teachers tie the knot

FCPS youth survey

38-39

Anna Gamboa: spinning to success

40-41

Winter sports recap

First black teacher at McLean

A&E

Stadium naming rights

Sports’ lasting impact

The Futures: book review

Athlete of the Issue: Rosey Iames

Taco Bamba vs. District Taco

The Finish Line

Political comedy’s influence

Netflix Original shows

Review: John Wick Chapter 2

Fashion Lookbook

38-39

Dear McLean, As our snowless winter nears its end, keep this issue of The Highlander handy for information on new opportunities this spring and coverage of McLean’s ever-active student body. Check out our News section for details about the inaugural Highlander Internship Program and a look at two new classes McLean will offer next school year. Our Features section includes a profile of McLean’s first African American teacher, who has returned to the school as a substitute. Be sure to flip to Arts & Entertainment for reviews galore, including one concerning local taco options. Our editorial this issue rejects hostility toward the press, a problem the Editorial Board felt compelled to cover because of our perspective as student journalists. As the Supreme Court prepares to consider a case that could determine federal standards for treatment of gender nonconforming students in public schools, our In-Depth examines gender identity through the experiences of two students at McLean. We hope their stories humanize a topic that can be difficult to understand. As always, make sure to follow @MHSHighlander on Twitter and check out thehighlandernews.com for updates until our next issue. Come by room R133 or email us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, or Letters to the Editors. Yours truly, Bryan Chung, Carlyn Kranking, Melanie Pincus & Ingrid Morse

highlander

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Letter from the Editors

Volume LXI • Issue 4 • February 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Editors-in-Chief

Carlyn Kranking, Ingrid Morse & Melanie Pincus

Design Editor-in-Chief

Bryan Chung

Managing Editors

Sri Medicherla, Sanskriti Neupane, Young In Seo & Aisha Singh

Photography Editor

Shanzeh Umerani

Website Editor-in-Chief

Sophie Mariam

Copy Editor

Imani McCormick

Advertising Manager

Seth Eshraghi

Cartoonists

Courtlan Grinder & Dasha Makarishcheva

Section Editors News Editors

Christine Cheon & Siddarth Shankar

Features Editors

Anjalie Chauhan & Olivia Mooney

A&E Editors

Alex Mandanas & Shanzeh Umerani

Opinions Editors

Rustin Abedi & Helen Bloom

Sports Editors

Colin Edson & Ed Walters

Reporters Jessie Friedman Tyler Grobman Miranda Johnson Jiwon Kim Justin Kim Kyuree Kim Maren Kranking Adviser

Anjali Kumar Amanda Laporte Kon Matheoudakis Julia McElligott Anna Murphy Laura Opsahl-Ong Jackson Payne

Michael Redding John Roth Jack Stenzel Eva Zarpas Conor Zeya Catherine Zysk

Lindsay B. Benedict

Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions. Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate. To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16 First Class; Hall of Fame

Cover photo by Shanzeh Umerani

‘14, ‘16 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place ‘16 Crown Finalist; ‘15 Gold Crown Winner ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 CSPA Gold Medalist

‘14, ‘15, ‘16 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

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NEWS

NEW

Senior internship program kicks off

Carlyn Kranking Editor-in-Chief cLean is aiming to start a new tradition this year with the Highlander Internship Program (HIP), which will give seniors the opportunity to participate in internships at the end of the school year. HIP was suggested by the Class of 2017 as a senior privilege and subsequently approved by the administration. “I think [seniors are] ready to move on, and I think this kind of gives you an opportunity to try something with more responsibility in a safe area,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. The current class of seniors came up with the idea based on similar programs at other high schools including the program at Langley High School called Langley Leap. “It was one of the senior privilege requests...and when our administration realized that we were very interested in it as a class, they really took note and they’ve really done a lot to get the effort going here,” senior class president Olivia McAuliffe said. “We’re grateful to them for listening to what we wanted.” Seniors who apply and are selected for the program would participate in an internship from May 24 to June 7. Participating students’ grades would be finalized by the time they begin their internships. These students would not return to McLean to take final exams for their classes.

FEBRUARY

“You have to find an internship on your own, contact employers and make sure that’s all worked out and then you apply here at school. You have to list where you’re going, to what company and what exactly you’ll be doing,” McAuliffe said. McLean will offer resources to students who would like assistance in finding their internship. Career Center Specialist Laura Venos has set up a LinkedIn group with 350 local McLean alumni who are interested in connecting students to internships. “We want to empower our seniors who are interested in the program to find their own internship placement but if they do need a little help, we’re here in the career center to help,” Venos said.

“The hope is that we start with a little grassroots movement and then it goes up and up and up each year.” -Math teacher Crissie Ricketts To be eligible to apply, seniors must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Interested students can not have more than three excused absences in third quarter and three excused absences in fourth quarter. However, two additional absences are permitted for college visits and school trips. Student performers in music programs

will still be expected to attend rehearsals and concerts during the time they are out of school for their internship, otherwise students will not have any schoolwork during those days. While no one can predict exactly how many seniors will be interested in this opportunity, committee members hope to accommodate as many interested students as possible. “We don’t know how many people will apply since it’s the first year, but the hope is that we start with a little grassroots movement and then it goes up and up and up each year,” said math teacher Crissie Ricketts, a member of the HIP committee. In order to continue interest in the program next year, there will be an exhibition on June 8 when seniors get to present a part of their internship experience. “At the end of the internship process, there will be a science fair [style] open house. We’re hoping to bring in classes of juniors to do a walkthrough and talk to the seniors about what they did,” Ricketts said. The administration is planning to announce HIP application details to the senior class on March 1. “I think it’s a great opportunity for seniors to test out a field that they might be interested in for college,” HIP committee head Jamie Lane said. “I would’ve loved that opportunity.” Page design by Carlyn Kranking

Letter to the Editor

Connecting the Dots — Senior Big Mac Caroline Lewis meets with her

Little Macs on Feb. 16. The group discussed courses for next year. (Photo by Shanzeh Umerani)

McLeadership launches new connect group Big Macs help freshmen with course selections Young In Seo Managing Editor or the first time in the program’s history, McLeadership organized a final connect group between Big Macs and freshmen in February. This last meeting, which took place during Highlander Times beginning the week of Feb. 13, was intended to help freshmen discuss their course selections for next year. The student services advisory council came up with the idea for a connect group to discuss course selections in January. “When we met with [the] advisory council, we talked about how we see a lot of students signing up for heavy courses, and we tell them they don’t have to do them...but they don’t always listen to adults,” counselor Jessica Grenfell said. “So we came up with the idea that maybe Big Macs could meet with [the freshmen] and reflect upon their course selections.” Freshmen had already met with their counselors and done their course selection, now available on their SIS accounts. At the connect groups, Big Macs reviewed the rising

sophomores’ course selection for next year. “The Big Macs can give [the freshmen] some ideas of how much work to expect because there’s typically a big jump from freshman to sophomore year,” Grenfell said. Through the last connect group of the year, McLeadership hoped to help freshmen choose courses that they would both enjoy and be challenged by. “I think it’s really beneficial for rising sophomores just to get an idea of what classes are best for them,” McLeadership executive mentor Katie Hoskins said. “Everyone has different interests so whether they want to take their first AP class or if they want to take another honors class, it just kind of helps to have that advice.” Rising sophomores can also grasp an idea of how different classes function. “[The connect group was helpful because] I had a lot of questions about online gym,” freshman Sarah Levy said. “[My Big Mac] did it his rising sophomore year too so he was able to tell me how Driver’s Ed worked online and how many hours a day it was.” Freshmen who determined that the

ow is about the time of year that for seniors the reality of college being just around the corner sets in. But before you begin to worry about college, I implore you to reflect on your high school experience. One of the keys to being successful in college is immersing yourself in topics you are passionate about. Too often during my time at McLean I noticed people taking a class because it was the hardest class available instead of taking a class because of an interest in the subject matter. I too was guilty of this, and now in hindsight I realize one of the best decisions I made was to not take an AP English class senior year and instead take Honors English, a class which I genuinely enjoyed and that did not add stress to my already stressful life. Not until you step outside of the pressure cooker that is McLean will you realize how much unnecessary stress can be added to your life in such an environment. When it comes time to select your courses for next year, I hope you ask yourself two questions: Am I interested in this subject? Do I think this class will enrich my life? If the answer is yes to both of those, then consider taking an AP class. For the underclassmen reading this, while I understand how stressful the college application process can be, I hope that you will make the decision that is right for you. If you do not think you would enjoy an AP class, don't take it, regardless of how many of your peers are. Jake Barnett McLean High School Class of 2016 Kenyon College Class of 2020

courses they chose weren’t right for them after the connect group had a chance to make changes. “If [the freshmen] decide that they need to challenge themselves more or maybe they need to step down a level or they need to pick an elective that’s not going to have as much workload...then they can make changes really until the beginning of March,” Grenfell said. The success of this connect group will establish whether McLeadership will hold it again next year. “Depending on how well this goes, if it’s something that works, then yes, we’ll be revisiting it,” Grenfell said. Page design by Young In Seo

NEWS

New classes come to McLean Two AP courses will be introduced next year Siddarth Shankar News Editor

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES

P Computer Science Principles is tailored toward students who wish to learn the fundamentals of computer science. “I’m taking [this class] because I want to major in computer science,” junior James Gao said. “It will teach me the skills necessary to succeed.” Principles focuses less on math than AP Computer Science A and will not be taught in the Java coding language. According to business teacher Karyn Kolly, who is planning on teaching the class, Principles also teaches creative thinking skills necessary for success in college and beyond. “This will give [students] another look at what computer science is, because it’s not all just programming in Java,” Kolly said. “In engineering, you’re going to have to learn how to think in a different way...and this would be a good course for

[learning that].” Since Geometry is the only prerequisite for the class, sophomores, juniors and seniors are able to participate in it. Another unique part of AP Computer Science Principles is its AP exam. “This AP exam is so different... Part of it is multiple-choice questions, but the other part is you actually do a project,” Kolly said. “One person made an app that taught young children ABCs...because they wanted to maybe go into early childhood [education] when they went on into college.” Kolly is optimistic about the class. “I think it will be fun,” Kolly said. “It will get people more excited about computer science, and open it up to a lot of people.”

AP SEMINAR (Part 1 of AP Capstone)

P Seminar is the first part of AP Capstone, a two-year sequence of courses which teaches academic discussion and research skills. The second part of AP Capstone, called AP Research, will start at McLean in the 2018-19 school year. Seminar is a class geared toward the discussion and research of broad themes. “There’s a list of over 50 different themes that can be chosen, of which four will be studied throughout the year,” AP Coordinator Cynthia Hawkins said. Teachers have the flexibility to adapt the course to suit students’ needs. “The teacher has a lot of freedom with the Seminar class to bend the topics to reflect what the students are interested in,” government teacher Ian Howell said. “If an English teacher gets the class it can be lit-based [and] if a science teacher gets the class it can be science-based.”

In order to offer AP Seminar, the school had to meet many requirements set by the College Board. “They’re only accepting a certain number of schools each year… [and] teachers who teach Seminar...have to have an extensive summer training prior to teaching it,” Hawkins said. The AP exam for Seminar includes a team project, individual essay and an oral defense. At the sit-down exam in May, students respond to four essay questions in two hours. “Seminar is just trying to set you up to handle more independent study,” Howell said. “If you’re hardcore into something that you really like, and you want a chance to do a big research project...this will let you do that.”

Page design by Siddarth Shankar

FEBRUARY

Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters.

Gold ($200+)

Silver ($100+)

The Zeya/Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Grady The Abedi Family Family The Mizusawa Bronze ($50+) Family Susie & David Venkat & Sadhna French Shankar Brian Wilkerson If you would like to become a patron, please send a check to: The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Rd. McLean, VA 22101

Rumor Has It — Freshman Rachel Kulp and sophomores Ariana Colder and Carenna Slotkoff play the roles of Peggy, Evelyn and Mary in TheatreMcLean’s The Children’s Hour. The play raised issues of mental health awareness through a collaboration with Sources of Strength. (Photo by Shanzeh Umerani)

TheatreMcLean partners with Sources of Strength Students work to raise mental health awareness with The Children’s Hour Olivia Mooney Features Editor

heatreMcLean and Sources of Strength have combined forces to promote a dialogue about mental health. TheatreMcLean’s most recent production, The Children’s Hour, is the result of the joint efforts by the two groups. The play follows the lives of two headmistresses, Martha and Karen, after a devastating rumor is started by one of their students. The rumor threatens their livelihoods as parents begin to take their children out of the school in response to the rumor. “The play does a good job of opening up a conversation that we don’t usually have,” said senior Grant Herzberg, a member of Sources of Strength. “You don’t have those serious heart-to-hearts all that often and [the] play opens an avenue for that.” In the play, a student named Mary warps a conversation between Karen and Martha to make it sound like the women are having an affair and manipulates other students into corroborating her story. Rosalie, another student, goes along with Mary’s story because she feels isolated and lonely. The anguish felt by the headmistresses FEBRUARY

increases as the rumor circulates and the school is eventually forced to close. “The lesson that you learn from Martha is that by not resolving issues, by not talking things out, by not fixing things, nothing will get better,” said sophomore Jordan Prather, who plays Martha in the show. TheatreMcLean’s collaboration with Sources of Strength came about naturally once the play was announced. Sources of Strength seeks to help the emotional wellbeing of students by identifying people in their communities who can give them guidance. “[Several theater students] thought that it was important to be proactive and let the students of McLean know the importance of having positive sources of strength in your life and how that can lead to the prevention of bullying,” Sources of Strength sponsor Nick Corsi said. Before the play debuted on Feb. 16, a week-long program of mental health awareness kicked off on Feb. 13 with a mental health awareness day. Students pledged to be a voice for those struggling with mental health issues. The week also included a McLean family photo booth and information on healthy activities. The focus of the program was to help

students develop connections with family and friends to improve their emotional wellbeing. “My goal is for everyone to identify at least three sources of strength in their lives,” Corsi said. During the performances of The Children’s Hour, Sources of Strength had a table with information on mental health resources for students. In addition to that, the Safe Community Coalition presented students with information on mental health resources at a table outside the theater. After the last showing of the play, Bobby Donohoe, a speaker from Strength in our Voices, came to McLean to talk about mental health. Sources of Strength also created an anonymous tip line on the school website to report cases of bullying and a registry of student-recommended teachers for students who feel they need to talk to an adult. The dark, scholastic setting of The Children’s Hour gave a chilling, familiar feel to the play. Students were able to sympathize with the characters and learn from their shortcomings. “In a scary way, it’s pretty realistic...every person in the audience can relate to someone in the show,” Prather said. Page design by Olivia Mooney

School board considers changes to retirement New structure could increase teacher turnover Anjalie Chauhan & Melanie Pincus Features Editor & Editor-in-Chief

ince 1973, Fairfax County Public Schools has supplemented the Virginia Retirement System for teachers with an FCPS-specific program known as ERFC. In May 2016, the School Board began discussions to decrease ERFC benefits in order to save money. Potential changes to the program include a minimum retirement age of 55, a change to the cost-of-living adjustment and lowering the interest crediting rate. The board has been considering ERFC amendments since May 2016. At a work session on Dec. 5, many board members voiced opposition to making changes that would affect vested members, or employees who have been with FCPS for five or more years. “They have put their time and effort into our system...and I do hope we can help them retire and if they so choose to live here in Fairfax County when they do that because that is not an easy thing to do,” Providence District school board member Dalia Palchik said at the session. Board members were more open to decreasing benefits for new hires and nonvested employees. However, teachers and faculty at McLean have concerns over the potential results of this change to the current retirement plan. “[Loudoun County has] higher salaries than we do, but our retirement benefits are

better, which is one of the main reasons that a lot of us are still in Fairfax County versus moving out to Loudoun where the cost of living is much less,” said math teacher Emily Jaffa, who is in her fifth year in Fairfax County.

“This whole attack on ERFC is a short-sighted solution for people who want easy answers.” -Physics teacher Dean Howarth For young teachers, retirement is decades away, but is still a relevant issue. “You want to stay where you are, you want to stay where you bought your house and where all your friends are, so if they cut that retirement, it’s going to affect whether or not I can live here when I retire,” said computer science teacher Lesley Frew, who is in her fourth year in Fairfax County. “I know it’s far away, but it’s still something to think about.” With lower salaries compared to their counterparts in other counties, teachers have relied on the retirement system to supplement their cost of living after retirement. “This retirement system, ERFC, was meant to be a bridge program to sort of hold people over from the time they retire after 25 or 30 years of service until they can

collect their Social Security. So it was meant to fill a gap. It was designed for the benefit of the employee,” said physics teacher Dean Howarth, who has taught at McLean for 30 years. ERFC also helps McLean attract good teachers despite comparatively lower salaries. “One of our big benefits is our retirement, and it is a reason why so many people stick in Fairfax County,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “Granted, yes, we’re one of the top 10 school systems in the entire country, but if we don’t put our money into our teachers...we are not going to maintain that status.” If the retirement plan were to offer the same benefits as surrounding counties, interest in teaching positions may diminish. “[If ERFC is changed], I’m not going to have as great of a choice of teachers because a lot of people come to Fairfax County for our retirement system,” Reilly said. The School Board voted on Feb. 9 to postpone any decision about ERFC until April 27. Ultimately, Howarth said FCPS should consider making cuts to other school programs instead of cutting teacher benefits. “This whole attack on ERFC is a shortsighted solution for people who want easy answers,” Howarth said. “If they really want to save money there are better ways of saving money... Should we cut band? Could we cut sports? Should we pay for APs? All these things are issues, but nobody wants to talk about those.”

ERFC Benefit Change Proposals Lower the interest rate on member accounts from

5% 4% 55 YRS Minimum retirement age

Change the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to equal 100% of Consumer Price Index, as long as it doesn’t exceed 4% Increase the period to calculate the final average salary from

3 yrs 5yrs Infographic & page design by Bryan Chung

NEWS

Home on the range

FEATURES

Senior Margaret Kim spends weekends on family farm Ed Walters & Conor Zeya Sports Editor & Reporter

mu encounters are rare in Northern Virginia, but for senior Margaret Kim, hanging out with emus is a normal part of her life. The emu is a large flightless bird native to Australia. Kim’s family owns a farm in Manassas, Virginia, with several emus and other animals including chickens, peacocks, quails and geese. “We have one emu, nine geese, 42 quail, four guineafwowl, nine geese, five chickens, two peacocks and one turkey,” Kim said. Kim has grown up living with animals that most students have never seen before, and in many cases haven’t even heard of. “I wanted a dog when I was 6, and my dad decided to get a chicken instead. He got chicken and geese and it all [started] from there,” Kim said. Most of her time is spent here in McLean, but every week she visits her unusual pets. “I just go there for the weekend. [I] go

Curious, Large and Docile — An emu stands in front of Margaret Kim’s

house on her farm in Manassas, Virginia. Emus are the second largest flightless bird species in the world, behind the ostrich.

there Friday and come back Sunday,” Kim said. The farm lifestyle is a strong deviation from the average suburban lifestyle in Northern Virginia. Unlike the chores done by most students in suburban households, Kim has an array of odd jobs that she has to complete every weekend. “As soon as I get to the farm I check the water levels...and then I have to check if [the animals] have food, and for the quails I have to check if they have sand to bathe in,” Kim said. Unlike many farms across the country, the Kim farm doesn’t grow many crops, in large part due to the limited amount of space they have. “We only have five acres, and growing [crops] takes [up] a lot of space. We have a small yard where [we] grow tomatoes and some other fruits and vegetables,” Kim said. To make up for the lack Birds of a Feather — Margaret Kim takes a selfie with her pet emu on her family farm. FEBRUARY

of fresh produce, the Kim farm is home to many egg-laying animals that provide some of the food the family needs. “Usually we get maybe 20 to 30 eggs per [season]. Emu eggs are bright blue and about the size of two closed fists, but a little smaller than an ostrich egg,” Kim said. Despite only seeing these animals a few times a week, she has forged a special bond with many of them. “I really like the peacocks—we would definitely consider them as pets. Some of the other animals, like quails and chickens, we see more as livestock,” Kim said. One major challenge is keeping the animals safe from predators. The Kim family has had encounters with many predators, including possums and raccoons. “Raccoons are the worst—they know how to unlock doors, so we had to get electric wires to try and keep them out,” Kim said. Kim’s time on her family farm has given her a different outlook on life that much of McLean will never get to experience. “People here can get a dog, but that’s just not really the same,” Kim said. “At my place, there’s wide open space, a lot of air and it doesn’t smell like gasoline every day. I definitely like it a lot better.” Page design by Ed Walters Photos courtesy of Margaret Kim

T N E E D C U I T S RV E S Music Connection — Caroline Brunner talks with a resident at Lewinsville Retirement Residences after a performance on Feb. 12. Brunner created Music Connection to combine earning her Girl Scout Gold Award with her passion for music. (Photo courtesy of Josh Leong)

Bringing music to the elderly

or her Gold Award project, junior Caroline Brunner started an organization called Music Connection. Through this organization, student volunteers put on monthly concerts for people in retirement homes. “The mission of Music Connection is to bring together the elderly and the youth in our community through music,” Brunner said. “Just by doing this program, you can see firsthand all the wonderful effects of music on these people. Their faces light up when they hear the songs. It’s a really great thing to witness.” Students from McLean High School and Longfellow Middle School have performed at Lewinsville Retirement Residences, Arleigh Burke Pavilion and Chesterbrook Assisted Living.

A knack for knitting

ince she was in the fifth grade, senior Olivia Powell has had a passion for knitting. She learned basic skills from her family, then expanded on those skills to make hats and quilts. “My grandma taught me how to knit a square, and then I taught her how to do the other stuff like make hats,” Powell said. Powell began knitting hats for her family and friends, but she had soon made more than they needed. Upon realizing this, Powell put her talents toward making hats and quilts for children at INOVA Children’s Hospital. “If I have the time and I have the means, instead of just using it for myself and my friends...why not give it to someone else who needs it?” Powell said. Despite becoming busier as she got older, making a difference for others kept Powell motivated. “[I knew] what I did would benefit real living people and it made me feel like I could contribute something special and unique,” Powell said. Beyond knitting and quilting for the hospital, Powell has extended her impact through teaching others. She taught classes at the Old Firehouse in the wake of Superstorm Sandy to teach middle schoolers how to knit their own donations. “The things you learn from even the people you’re teaching are really cool,” Powell said. “I’m always learning.” Over the years, Powell has done more than a thouand service hours as a part of this project. “Everyone that performs is so talented. People will “I love what I that I know that play the flute in band class have do,” Powell said. will whip out a guitar and sing a song at Music a “It’s relaxing and Connection,” Brunner said. “It’s amazing to see l a s t i n g I love creating the wide variety of talents the people that I know i m p a c t , something out from school have.” and plans of nothing.” Junior Daniela Montalvo, who sang with to train an Music Connection in its February and December concerts, praises Brunner for her organization and enthusiasm. “Caroline is amazing. Her wanting to do this is just incredible and so inspiring... Without her we would be so disorganized,” Montalvo said. “She makes the program so special.” A key component of a Gold Award project is that it’s sustainable. Brunner has hopes her work

underclassman next year so that they can take over Music Connection after she graduates. Brunner is also seeking to expand the program to other high schools in the area.

Reporting & page design by Carlyn Kranking

FEATURES

There’s always gonna be another mountain Sophomore Leah Horan defies stereotypes in exploration of passion Maria McHugo Reporter hat is left of the waning day is illuminated by the dim glow of the lasting sunset. Billions of stars dot the night sky, each emanating its own enchanting gleam. A storm whirls and quells at a distance immeasurable, yet each lightning strike emits an unceasing radiance. Suspended amongst the heights of Georgia’s Mount Yonah, sophomore Leah Horan scales the mountain face, her fate regulated by the strength of knots she has secured herself. Horan’s affinity for the outdoors is not a recent development. Influenced by her father and brother, Horan first explored the outdoors by hiking. “I remember I would have to be carried at the age of 2, raised on my dad’s shoulders as we hiked the Billy Goat Trail,” Horan said. From the fruitful ranges of Costa Rica to the waters of Zion National Park in Utah, Horan now embarks upon hikes two to three times a month. Generally, these hikes last an average of three hours and she relishes them alongside friends or family.

On Top of the World — Leah Horan and Zoe Skoric stand atop Mount Yonah in Dahlonega, Georgia. Their crews scaled this mountain in August. (Photo courtesy of Leah Horan)

FEBRUARY

Walking Through a Wild Wonderland — Leah Horan navigates the waters

of her favorite hiking destination. The Zion Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah, offers a diverse outdoor experience. (Photo courtesy of Leah Horan) Horan joined a more formal crew this as you shouldn’t assume that you’re faster or past summer at Army Ranger Camp in better than someone simply because they are Dahlonega, Georgia, where she was forced a girl.” to face the prejudice that some of the Eventually, others at the camp recognized participants in her most-loved pastime hold. the girls’ true talents. “There were four girls there and over 30 “The boy scouts thought that the girls boys. A lot of these boys...seemed to have would not [excel], but I think they were this view that girls were weaker than them,” surprised, especially after they shot a rifle,” Horan said. said senior Logan Horan, Leah’s brother. As one of the few girls attending the Rappelling, navigating, marching, camp, Horan naturally felt out of place. shooting and camping beside her, the other Army Ranger Camp was supposed to be a members of Crew 1130 refined their original paradise for Horan—a place where she could opinion of Horan. Based on her experiences hike, rappel and further her passions with at the camp, Horan developed an awareness those who share her interests. However, the of the gender disparity that complicates fulfillment she awaited for so long suddenly hiking and related tasks. seemed adverse. “When I’m looking for hiking gear, a lot “One day, I remember everybody had to of the stuff that I see is, say, ‘men’s hammock,’ do push-ups. This one 17-year-old boy looks but, really, how can a hammock only be for at me and says, ‘I’m sure you can do girl men?” Horan said. push-ups.’ I replied, ‘I don’t need to do girl Horan continued to imperss her push-ups. What are girl push-ups? Do you crewmates during a winter survival venture mean modified push-ups?’ He responded, in January. Army Ranger Camp sufficed not ‘Wow, I didn’t know that girls could do push- only to further her hiking prowess, but to ups,’” Horan said. provide an example for others who struggle Sophomore Zoe Skoric attended Army with judgment based on uncontrollable Ranger Camp alongside Horan. Though factors. they resided in different crews, Skoric “People should not care about what others encountered the same prejudices as Horan. think of their hobbies. Fear of judgment “On the first day we arrived, we had to can really hold someone back from doing run a mile around the track. My group was something that they would have loved,” about eight of us, I was the only girl in it, Horan said. “Stereotypes are meant to be and of course they expected the boys to have broken, because once they are, you can open the fastest mile time. I ended up leading up an opportunity for so many that can enjoy my crew,” Skoric said. “Later, the ranger the same activity that would have otherwise told the boys that they should be ashamed been discouraged.” of themselves. I felt that this was insulting, Page design by Maria McHugo

10 Qs with

Kip Rogers

(Long-term science substitute for Kate Hoefer) By Anjali Kumar Photos by Eva Zarpas & courtesy of McLean yearbook Page design by Anjali Kumar

What did you major in? For undergrad, I majored in Agronomy and Crop Sciences [at the University of Wisconsin, Madison]. For graduate school, I majored in Plant Sciences [at the University of Delaware] and now I’m getting my masters in education at UVA.

What nicknames did you have in high school?

What’s your favorite fossil fuel, and why?

“Kipstopher” was my favorite, but none of the others stuck around for long.

Gasoline because it can be used for a number of other things besides just as a fuel source.

Did you play any sports in high school? I did fencing through the Virginia Academy of Fencing in Arlington.

How would you describe yourself in five words or less?

What McLean teachers did you have that are still here?

We had to do this for Mr. Behm’s class for English, but it was one word. I said “calm” and will continue to say that.

What’s the best part about teaching high school? The questions. Students always have really good questions that push me to learn more.

Favorite weekend activity? Playing video games with friends, or hanging out and getting food. I don’t get to do it much anymore though. 12

Ms. Ruff, Frau and Dr. Ricketts. Some other teachers I recognize, but I didn’t have them. What is your favorite memory of when you attended McLean? The AP Bio trip to Watts Island in the Chesapeake Bay. We went to a marine science station in army barracks.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? I’ve gone rock climbing before. As someone who doesn’t like heights, that was fairly adventurous of me.

FEATURES

Highlander of the Issue

Celebrating Diversity — Junior Sina Naeemi runs @imagesofdiversity, an up-and-coming Instagram account about the diverse McLean student body. With his account, Naeemi strives to create a more accepting community. (Photo by Amanda Laporte)

Junior shares images of diversity Instagram account promotes acceptance in the community Amanda Laporte Reporter

n a school with over 2,000 students, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. Junior Sina Naeemi uses photography and social media to capture some of the diverse personalities at McLean. “Diversity is about the importance of including others who are different from you,” Naeemi said. Naeemi created an Instagram account, @imagesofdiversity, in November 2016. The account is fairly new, but it has a considerable following. “I wanted to have a place where everyone felt equal and have a page that didn’t choose sides, but that was open to everyone’s opinion,” Naeemi said. Naeemi takes all the photos for the account with his own professional camera. Students who want to be featured sometimes approach Naeemi. “For the most part they come to me, and then I ask anyone if they want to share their story and what they’ve gone through,” Naeemi said. The account is similar to the social media accounts of Brandon Stanton, creator of Humans of New York. Stanton takes photos of individuals in New York City and around

the world that feature snippets of strangers lives through quotes. Like Stanton, Naeemi’s photos are compelling and personal. “I like to take photos that show people’s different personalities,” Naeemi said. Junior Kaela Moskowitz, a featured student on the account, said diversity has had a profound impact on her life. “Diversity is important to me because I’m not like everyone else,” Moskowitz said. “It’s helped shape who I am today.” Seniors Olivia Long and John Dieguez were some of the first students to be featured on the account. They appeared as a couple. “I wanted to be featured on the account to help open up people’s minds about loving one another, regardless of what we look like on the outside, even if we are perceived as completely different,” Long said. Long’s family is from Germany and West Africa, while Dieguez’s family is from Guatemala and El Salvador. “Diversity is important because it allows us to be surrounded by those who aren’t the same as us,” Long said. Long is passionate about diversity at McLean and in society as a whole, and she said the account promotes acceptance. “I appreciate that someone in our community is encouraging the acceptance

and appreciation of others regardless of their race, ethnicity, religious belief or sexuality,” Long said. Naeemi’s goal for the account is to provide a safe environment for people to feel equal and accepted. According to Moskowitz, acknowledging and appreciating diversity are essential parts of life. “[Diversity] is what defines you,” Moskowitz said. “With diversity, people are able to gain different perspectives on life.” Although Images of Diversity features McLean students, it can also provide inspiration for others who may stumble upon it. “It’s a place for everyone, not just students, to feel like they have a place where they belong,” Naeemi said. Naeemi said the current political climate makes appreciating diversity even more important. “With recent political ideas and actions in the news, [people] need to focus on lifting each other up instead of putting each other down,” Naeemi said. As his first step on the road to increasing acceptance in McLean, Naeemi wants to continue his account, and he hopes to expand its popularity. Ultimately, by bringing attention to diversity, Naeemi strives to spread love throughout the community. Page design by Amanda Laporte

FEBRUARY

Teachers tie the kn t Laura Opsahl-Ong Reporter

Government teacher Rachel Baxter

Did it take a while to plan the wedding? Yes, I was obsessive about planning it and that’s the teacher planner in me. I had spreadsheets and a timeline of what was supposed to happen on the day of, it was in size six font double-sided, and of course it didn’t go how it was supposed to go. But yeah, I think that the teacher in me really over-planned every aspect of it.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Baxter/Jeff Simpson Photography

How did your students react? They were really excited. This was back when I was teaching in Georgia, but they were all really excited. It was weird because I got married over the summer and then came back to a new school the next school year and the first two weeks they kept calling me “Ms. Baxter” and I wasn’t responding to them. I was like, “I don’t know who that is.” So yeah, that was an adjustment.

Math teacher Steven Walker

How did you propose? I knew she’d want to be dressed up, because everyone takes pictures. I can’t propose when she just woke up because she’d kill me. I was really stressed out about it, like, “Ah, how do I get her to dress up without being really awkward like, ‘So, are you dressing up today?’” But it actually worked out. Her parents were rebuilding a beach house because it had caught fire. I emailed her parents and said, “Why don’t you send out an email to the family and tell them...you want to take nice pictures in front of the beach house?” And then of course Megan was like, “I’m not doing that, that’s stupid.” So then I was really nervous, ‘cause I was doing everything I could to get this girl to dress up. So finally I was like whatever, I’m just going to do it no matter what... So we were taking couples pictures in front of the house, and while they were taking pictures I dropped to one knee and proposed, and she cried and I forgot what I had rehearsed... I didn’t think she’d cry that much. So I’m looking at her crying and I forgot everything I’d memorized.

Photo courtesy of Steven Walker

Math teacher Caroline Cochrane-Braswell How did you meet? We actually went to high school together, here at McLean. I didn’t actually know him in high school, but my best friend...was friends with him. He was moving back to this area, so he was in contact with my best friend and he was asking her about me, like, “I remember her being really nice.” So then she connected us, and we started talking on Facebook, and then we went out. Are you going on a honeymoon? My fiancé bought a house in Scotland, so we’re going to go to Scotland over the summer, and that’s going to be our honeymoon. We might be doing a few other things, maybe go to Spain, and our flight is going to have a layover in Iceland, so we can spend a day in Iceland. Photo courtesy of Caroline Cochrane-Braswell

To read more about the teachers’ weddings, go to thehighlandernews.com! Page design by Laura Opsahl-Ong

FEATURES

PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS REPORTING USE OF SELECTED SUBSTANCES IN THE PAST MONTH

Youth survey reveals McLean studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reality 13.0% OF 12TH GRADERS REPORTED DRINKING ALCOHOL WHILE DRIVING DURING THE PAST

30 DAYS

19.3% OF FEMALE STUDENTS REPORTED BEING SEXUALLY HARASSED BY ANOTHER STUDENT DURING THE PAST YEAR

31.2% ATE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT LEAST FIVE TIMES PER DAY IN THE PAST WEEK

30.9% REPORTED SLEEPING AN AVERAGE OF

8+ HOURS ON

SCHOOL NIGHTS Reporting & page design by Bryan Chung Data obtained from School Year 2015-2016 Fairfax County Youth Survey, the most recent data available

FEBRUARY

Celebrating the first black teacher at McLean High School Substitute is an emblem of overcoming segregation Emily O’Keefe Reporter n African-American man wearing a gray sweater walks calmly into the room. He is substituting today’s class. Rounded rectangular glasses frame his knowledgeable and experienced eyes. They gaze about the classroom. His presence is powerful and radiates throughout the room. He begins to introduce himself: “I was the first black teacher to teach at McLean.” Daniel Richards has been an educator since 1972. Richards has dedicated his entire life to teaching students across Virginia in the vocational education department. At the start of his career, however, schools were just becoming racially integrated. “I never really had teenage years growing up because everything was segregated,” Richards said. “That’s why I’m glad everything is integrated right now and everybody is getting along much better.” Richards was inspired to become an educator while serving in the Vietnam War. He saw disadvantaged kids with disabilities who sparked his desire to teach. “[Vietnam] was a bad and good experience. It wasn’t good because I was so young and it was traumatic, but it got me into education and kids have kept me in good shape mentally and physically,” Richards said.

When Richards first began his teaching career in Virginia’s newly integrated schools, he faced various challenges due to his race. “The hardship was being black and introducing [myself ] into a different society. It’s just like when the Vietnamese came to this country. I guess they felt prejudice and different,” Richards said. However in 1980, when Richards began teaching at McLean High School, he faced little discrimination and was accepted by the other teachers. “McLean was a very united school back then and there seemed to be no impact and no focus on color. Us teachers worked together and all felt we were doing something for the students,” said Spanish teacher and Richards’ colleague Judith Bott. As his teaching career seemed normal at McLean, Richards himself did not even realize he was the first black teacher here until after the start of his work. “I did not know how I felt [about being the first black instructor at McLean], but [when] I finally figured it out, I played about it and joked with it,” Richards said. “I had some colleagues who were really friendly with me and I always had a sense of humor, so I took it pretty well. Now I’m proud of it.” In 2001, Richards retired after 30 years of teaching. He continues to substitute at McLean and other Virginia high schools.

Hands On — Daniel Richards (left) mentors students in shop working on a go kart tire in 1984. Richards and the students worked on the project during a break from renovating the shop room. (Photo courtesy of The Clan 1984 yearbook)

Surveying Sub — Daniel Richards

observes a Special Education class in the main gym. He loves to substitute at McLean as it brings back memories. (Photo by Emily O’Keefe)

“I like subbing so I plan to come back. I’m just enjoying myself—school, talking, getting some of my memories back,” Richards said. Richards’ hard work, dedication and personality are exemplified through his teaching and have been recognized by other McLean staff and teachers. “He’s charming, fun and has a good humor about him,” Bott said. “He was excellent in the Mildly Intellectually Disabled department and was greatly dedicated to the progress of the student—that is what made him a good teacher.” As well as the staff, students also recognize Richards’ conscientiousness and dedication. “He’s assertive, and you notice his presence in any room that you’re in with him,” sophomore Jeremy Siegel said. “He’s an incredible all-around person, and you can tell his eminence and his power as an individual. The fact that he did not shy away from being the first black teacher at McLean is incredible.” Richards is a reminder of the power of education and the changes that have swept through schools over the past decades. His actions as an educator have not only given countless people knowledge, but have also left a mark on McLean. “I think a lot of kids have seen segregation [in] the movies, the videos,” Richards said, “but I’ve lived through it.” Page design by Emily O’Keefe

FEATURES

Pitoniak stuns with breakout novel

A&E

The Futures provides an honest portrayal of adulthood by Catherine Zysk, reporter

nna Pitoniak’s first novel, The Futures, peels back the facade of a perfect postcollege experience with a raw and honest portrayal of the pain and uncertainty that lies beneath. Despite its heavy message, The Futures is not an overwhelmingly dense novel. The mounting tension that leads to a riveting climax makes the 300 pages fly by, and I quickly lost myself in Pitoniak’s work. When reading any new novel, many readers decide within the first few pages whether the book and its author are a hit or miss. I am no exception to this rule and yet, Pitoniak left me wanting more. Beginning with melancholy and retrospective prose like “Young love goes stale and slackens. You change, and you shed what you no longer need,” Pitoniak makes it very clear from the prologue that The Futures will not be a sunshine and rainbows type of love story. This realism, however, is what makes me love this book. With intimate descriptions in alternating perspectives, Pitoniak tells the simple love story of Julia and Evan. After meeting in college, they embark on a quest for normality and, upon graduation, find themselves moving into the expected roles of a couple entering adulthood. In this sense, The Futures is just like every other millennial romance out there. But it is what Pitoniak does next with her bare-bones storyline that transports The Futures from average to stunning. Pitoniak makes the story not so much about a couple, but about two people trying to find comfort and success in a cutthroat world. She acknowledges that love and romance and friendship are not invincible. With a closeness to the reader that made me

Rating

Lee Boudreaux Books/Little, Brown and Company

understand the bitterness that rises within Julia and the stress that overpowers Evan’s laid-back tendencies, Pitoniak forces the

reader to strip back their own layers and confront the darkest part of themselves. The Futures has an honesty that is often lacking in the rose-colored narratives of popular fiction, and Pitoniak manages to reveal all of her characters’ flaws and idiosyncrasies without losing their likability. The Futures, therefore, is an ode to the imperfection and darkness in all of us. While exposing the flaws that make us human, The Futures also provides a sense of hopefulness about the future. As Evan and Julia find themselves sinking deeper and deeper into the crevices of their mistakes and failures, Pitoniak offers a shining light in all the darkness: impermanence. Even at the most dire moments of Julia’s infidelity and Evan’s questionable deals at work, Pitoniak suggests that all their actions and failures have an end date—that the future is the ultimate cure-all. Pitoniak also transfers this positivity to her outlook on love, showing a realistic portrayal of a relationship that can endure. Evan and Julia are not perfect. They avoid each other; they get too caught up in their own lives to make time for their relationship; they hide their faults. And yet, in spite of all their faults and struggles, they maintain a deep and uncomplicated love for each other. This realistic view of a long-term relationship suggests that true, lasting love is achievable. Raw and unflinching statements like “I see him as he was at the very end, his face written with disappointment” remind the reader there is no such thing as perfect in a relationship, and sometimes that’s okay. With this overarching theme of acceptance and hope in the face of adversity, Pitoniak captures the heart of the millennial generation—finding possibilities and love in the future’s promise of something more.

“It was a story that made sense. An old story, but one that felt truer for it. Young love goes stale and slackens. You change, and you shed what you no longer need.” -Anna Pitoniak, author Page design by Bryan Chung

FEBRUARY

TACO BAMBA 2190 PIMMIT DRIVE, FALLS CHURCH

aco Bamba is not an average taqueria. Each taco on their menu has its own unique, tangy flavor that dances on your taste buds with every bite. This hole-in-the-wall spot gives way to authentic eats. If you’re someone who likes a punch of flavor that is not overpowering, then order the Arabe. Unlike most of their tacos, the Arabe is a slice of pita bread, dressed with grilled chicken, mayo, cucumber pico and chipotle yogurt. For a more traditional American approach, order El Gringo, a classic beef taco sprinkled with bacon, cheese, ranch and lettuce. The toppings balance one another to form the perfect taco. Each Taco Bamba location has an exclusive guest chef. Head to Falls Church to experience Chef Danny Lee’s Mandu-I-LoveChicken taco. Savor every inch of this Asian-fusion taco jampacked with a variety of ingredients, including double fried chicken, spicy glaze, Korean radish and blistered shishito peppers. Don’t waste your time hitting up your local Taco Bell— instead make your way over to Taco Bamba to have the best taco of your life.

Taco-rific Flavor — Taco Bamba’s tasty tacos are the

meal to dream of. Pictured on the left is El Gringo and on the right is the Arabe.

Let’s taco ‘bout it Imani McCormick Copy Editor

DISTRICT TACO 5273 LEE HIGHWAY, ARLINGTON

eedless to say, District Taco does not compare to Taco Bamba in flavor and creativity. However, their food maintains its Mexican authenticity. At District Taco, you are given the luxury to customize your tacos to fit your palate. Their tacos will completely satisfy your food preferences—for example, you can create a meat-filled taco or find delicious vegetarian options. If you are new to District Taco, I suggest you order a beef taco, preferably with carne asada or barbacoa, on a flour tortilla. Next, choose between the “Mexican Way,” a combination of cilantro and onions, the “Jefe Way,” which consists of lettuce, pico, veggies, cheese and sour cream, or the “American Way,” which is simply lettuce, pico and cheese. Unlike Taco Bamba, District Taco offers other items including nachos, quesadillas and burritos. Despite their lack of quality presentation, the zesty burst of flavor that encompasses their food makes up for it.

You’ve Guac to be Kidding Me — Two tacos and a

quesadilla hide underneath a mass of flour tortillas. 18

Page design by Aisha Singh Photos by Imani McCormick

A&E

Political TV shows blend journalism and comedy Students have access to unique news outlets Alex Mandanas A&E Editor very Sunday night, HBO subscriptions are put to good use as John Oliver takes the stage to tackle politics. His British accent, indignant attitude and quick wit captivate and educate his five million viewers. Most importantly though, Oliver exhibits journalistic tendencies through his well-researched in-depth pieces. This is not an isolated occurrence—journalism is becoming key to political comedy shows. Political comedy TV shows are nothing new, but increased access to them has made them more influential, espeically amongst high school students. Political comedy shows have taken to YouTube and social media to expand their audience. “I think these political comedies do a really good job of giving you what’s important in an appetizing way,” sophomore Elinor Frothingham said. The information these shows present is substantive and relevant. Foreign policy, tax reform and domestic issues, all seemingly bland, are fused with comedy, and suddenly these “boring” political matters are fun and compelling to consume. “[These hosts] use their show as a platform for expressing their ideas and also giving light to a lot of important things like climate change, terrorism and government corruption,” sophomore Jana Kral said. The hosts and their ideology undoubtedly shape their shows. They cater their programs not only to what their viewers want to see, but also to what they want to produce. “These hosts have a lot of comedic talent, they talk about relatable issues and they definitely have views that resonate with the American public,” Kral said. Hosts also decide the comedy to journalism ratio of the show. For example, Bill Maher, while still most definitely a comedian, focuses his show on political discourse and current events. On the other hand, Stephen Colbert’s network show is more focused on putting a satirical spin on various subjects, including politics. “Saturday Night Live leans toward comedy, but something like John Oliver [is comparable to journalism], though he claims he’s not a journalist,” Frothingham said. “I think they all have a good level of information

FEBRUARY

Last Week Tonight, Today — Sophomore Ashley Winegarden takes a study break to watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on YouTube. (Photo illustration by Alex Mandanas)

and real facts, so therefore I would argue that some of them compare to journalism, even if they claim they are [solely] comedy.” Journalism and comedy blend well, but when political biases come into play, the water gets murky, since journalism is generally unbiased.

“These hosts have a lot of comedic talent, they talk about relatable issues and they definitely have views that resonate with the American public,” -sophomore Jana Kral

“I think most of [the hosts] would say that their primary goal is to entertain, and in that way they are primarily comedians,” yearbook adviser Meghan Percival said. “But, I have seen episodes of, for example, John Oliver’s show, where he’s done exhaustive reporting and he has this incredible group of researchers and reporters who do try to tackle an issue in the way that a major news outlet would in one of the their in-depth pieces.” Though these political comedy shows typically present accurate information, biases can distort the viewers’ perception of the news, creating an environment for small-

scale propaganda to flourish. “[These shows] help engage people who might not always look to other political news sources, so they can be a great starting point, but they definitely should not be our endpoint,” Percival said. For the most part, left-leaning shows have left-leaning patrons and vice versa. “There isn’t any [malintent], they’re just trying to tell people, ‘Hey, this is what I believe, but let me put a positive spin on it. This is what’s going on, but through my lens,’” Kral said. These shows encourage political discourse and awareness. In the long run, however, it is the audience’s obligation to form their own political views, with or without influence from these shows. “I absolutely think that they are shaping our generation, or at least getting them informed about stuff. You don’t necessarily have to agree with the views that are expressed, but at least you’re aware of them and you can make your own choice,” Frothingham said. Politics, however, tend to provide ample material for comedians. “The political world is funny. You have characters like Trump who are very controversial and unpredictable, but making fun of our leaders is really one of the privileges we have in America,” Kral said. “The freedom of speech allows us to do this and allows us to express our views in a way that is entertaining and thought-provoking.” Page design by Alex Mandanas

GET THE HIGHLANDER EVERYWHERE YOU GO! Go to our website www.thehighlandernews.com Follow us on Twitter @MHSHighlandernews Like us on Facebook The Highlander Newsmagazine

Net flix Originals: New TV shows to watch Christine Cheon & Aisha Singh News Editor & Managing Editor

Santa Clarita Diet

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Fast facts Genre: black comedy, drama Best episode: The Miserable Mill: Part One Rating:

A Series of Unfortunate Events chronicles the lives of Sunny, Klaus and Violet Baudelaire, recent orphans moving from home to home while the villainous Count Olaf chases after their enormous fortune. As avid fans of the books, we had high expectations for the series, including the accurate portrayals of characters’ unique personalities. With eight episodes to cover the first four books, the show successfully delves into major plot points, creating a bleak but suspenseful mood. Neil Patrick Harris skillfully expresses Count Olaf ’s poorly disguised desire for the children’s fortune, as well as his over-thetop theatrics. The addition of the narrator role, played by Patrick Warburton, perfectly captures the quirky writing style of the books. For people who are new to the plight of the Baudelaires, the series is worth watching. For fans of the books, the show is a fantastic return to the Snicket universe.

Fast facts Genre: dystopian, drama Best episode: Chapter 04: Gateway Rating:

FEBRUARY

A Brazilian dystopian thriller, 3% follows Michele (Bianca Comparato), whose strong sense of justice is at odds with the current governmental body. As the title suggests, only three percent of the population lives comfortably and opulently in the Offshore. The rest of the citizens live in poverty and destitution but have a chance to reach the Offshore when they turn 20 and enter the Process, a series of intense mental and physical assessments. As the show continues, however, it’s evident that everyone has secrets, and the complex personalities of the characters are revealed. The fervent and savage tendencies of the characters represent the world they live in. Seemingly evil, one-sided characters become more ambiguous as their rugged interiors and pasts are revealed, including the head of the Process, Ezequiel (João Miguel). The intensity of the Process and its underlying implications makes 3% one of the top Netflix originals that everyone should watch.

Fast facts Genre: comedy, horror Best episode: We Can Kill People Rating:

poll:

Married couple Sheila and Joel Hammond live seemingly perfect lives as real estate agents—until Sheila (Drew Barrymore) becomes a bloodthirsty zombie. Although initially, some viewers could be slightly put off by the gore, Sheila’s comedically bloodthirsty nature adds a unique and humorous twist. Diving into the next couple of episodes, we were instantly pulled into the show’s lively atmosphere. Joel’s snarky yet optimistic attitude is a highlight of the series and illustrates the loyalty and lengths he’s willing to go to for his wife. Their nosy neighbors add a sense of urgency to their secret, as Joel and Sheila must kill, store and eat their victims without arousing suspicion. Although the plot sometimes lacks direction with its frequent introductions of new characters, this makes the cast well-rounded and diverse. Adding a fresh breath of air to the zombie genre, Santa Clarita Diet maintains its liveliness with Sheila’s unpredictability and the Hammonds’ struggle to keep up the appearance of a normal family.

What is your favorite Netflix show? Stranger Things

40%

Orange is the New Black Narcos

26%

18%

Santa Clarita Diet

10%

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Survey of 50 students Photos obtained via Netflix Page design & graphics by Christine Cheon & Aisha Singh

Beyond GENDER REPORTING SRI MEDICHERLA, MELANIE PINCUS PHOTOS MELANIE PINCUS, SHANZEH UMERANI DESIGN BRYAN CHUNG

avin Grimm was 16 when he sued his district’s school board in Gloucester County, Virginia. Grimm is transgender, and he objects to a policy that prevents him from using the boys’ bathroom at his school. On March 28, the Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments in Gloucester County School Board v. GG. They will decide whether Title IX’s protection against discrimination “on the basis of sex” in public schools encompasses gender identity. In the midst of this national debate, students at McLean who are transgender or whose identities fall outside of the gender binary continue with their high school lives. “This isn’t a burden to me. It’s not a burden—it’s who I am,” said junior Carmen Beadie, who identifies as non-binary. “It’s no more of a burden than the fact that I have blue eyes, to me, personally.”

“

JUST THIS MORNING, I LOOKED MYSELF IN THE MIRROR AND I WAS LIKE, GOD, I DON’T KNOW HOW I EVER THOUGHT I WAS A GIRL. CARMEN BEADIE

Carmen On Halloween their freshman year, Carmen Beadie gathered Wet n Wild eyeshadow pigments, a red Sharpie, a glue stick and baby powder to transform themself into a zombie version of Peter Pan. “At the time, I really looked exactly like Peter Pan. I had the haircut and I had the stature,” Carmen said. “I basically used the glue as fake skin, I used the Sharpie as blood and I used the eyeshadow as irritation and pigmentation.” This was Carmen’s first experience with special effects makeup. Since then, they have worked on makeup in a number of theater productions at McLean, and they are currently doing makeup for Mount Hideaway, a TV show being developed for distribution on Amazon Prime. “I’m interested in the cool fantasy conceptual stuff,” Carmen said. “Like in The Hunger Games...when you look at everyone in the Capital, even though they’re just extras and it’s just one shot, each one has a different makeup design and it’s all thought up by someone, and I want to be that someone someday.” Freshman year was a pivotal year for Carmen not only because they discovered their passion for makeup, but also because they determined their gender identity. “I really noticed it when the gym teachers were like, ‘Okay, line up boys and girls,’” Carmen said. “I had been researching this stuff because it didn’t feel right…I was like, okay, if your biological sex doesn’t determine your gender and neither do gender roles, then what does it mean? And I still don’t really know. I just [think] that it’s kind IN-DEPTH

of unnecessary and really limiting to label yourself as one or the other, so I just kind of go with neither. It fits best for me, I think.” Carmen identifies as non-binary—they do not consider themself to be either a boy or a girl. “Just this morning, I looked myself in the mirror and I was like, god, I don’t know how I ever thought I was a girl,” Carmen said. “I didn’t like having my long hair so I would always tie it back, and I didn’t like looking like a girl so I would always wear oversized clothes… It led to a lot of insecurities and that was mostly stemmed from the fact that I didn’t want to be a girl but I couldn’t admit it.” Facing aisles full of gendered toys when they were younger, Carmen matched dinosaurs with doll houses and action figures with Polly Pockets. “They market the pink princess toys to young girls and they market the cool action figures and dinosaur toys to young boys. That can be pretty limiting, I think, because when I was little I liked to play with both of those things,” Carmen said. As someone who has never felt comfortable being identified as a girl, Carmen said seeing representation on television when they were younger would have helped them. “I was big on Teen Titans. If there was one of those who was In the Black Box — Carmen did makeup designs for maybe gender nonconforming...or something like that...if that TheatreMcLean’s production of The Children’s Hour. “This was there when I was a kid, that would’ve helped,” Carmen takes place in the 30s, which means period makeup, which said. is fun,” Carmen said. As they got older, the internet helped them develop their “As a parent, the most important thing to me was that [Carmen] identity. be happy, and everyone needs to find their own definition of happy,” “You can find great outlets online to read about it and talk about it Wright said. “So I’d say that you have to trust that your child is not and see other people that feel the same way you do when no one else doing this to rebel or to irritate you or anything else—they’re just does around you,” Carmen said. looking for their own happy.” When they came out, Carmen faced mixed responses. For Carmen, becoming comfortable with their gender is only part “Coming out was in some aspects very liberating but in others of their happiness. really horrible. It was great, like my friends were immediately very “A lot of people see me and they think, ‘Oh, that’s the trans kid,’ supportive, some of them didn’t quite understand it at first and or, ‘That’s the non-binary one,’” Carmen said. “There are other people still mess up on the pronouns, which is okay, but the hardest qualities that people...have about them.” part was my parents and grandparents, I guess,” Carmen said. In addition to their passion for makeup, Carmen can label every Carmen considers senior Emily Swett to be one of their best country in the world on a map. They play ukulele and enjoy baking friends. Swett said Carmen has helped her learn about gender. and acting. “Carmen has made me more aware of a lot of gender issues in “I just kind of like learning about whatever piques my interest,” a way that I was not at all before and has taught me to be more Carmen said. “Like there was a one-month period when I was really understanding of people with the same identity or other identities,” into the ukulele… There was a while when I baked a lot, there was a Swett said. while where I knitted a lot.” Carmen’s mother, Rachel Wright, said she struggled at first Wright sees Carmen as someone who is empathetic and unafraid. to reconcile her child’s identity with her beliefs about women’s “They have a remarkable ability to put themselves in someone empowerment. else’s shoes, with empathy,” Wright said. “And more than anything, “As someone who has worked very hard to prove that women can I find Carmen to be incredibly courageous. They will stand up to succeed in male-dominated environments and traditionally male someone they feel is being unkind or unfair, and they’re not hindered careers, it was upsetting at first. It felt like a rejection of the gender by a fear of saying or doing the ‘wrong thing.’” I worked so hard to redefine, like Carmen was asserting that to be Carmen hopes to pursue a career doing makeup for film. They female was somehow ‘less than,’” Wright said. “But I know it was don’t see gender as a defining factor or a limitation. never about me, and I suppose in some ways that my rejection of “If you find a pronoun that fits you, go for it. If you find a label gender roles in my own life might have made it easier for Carmen. that fits you, go for it. But it’s not that important. I don’t say that That makes me more proud than anything.” to be rude or anything, but what helped me is the thought that this San Francisco State University’s Family Acceptance Project doesn’t really matter in the long run,” Carmen said. “It doesn’t affect analyzes the effect of family rejection on LGBT youth. In 2009, they my talent and it doesn’t affect the things I can do as a person. It’s just found that highly rejected young people are more than six times as an arbitrary factor when it comes down to it. Gender is just another likely to report high levels of depression. way to separate yourself from others.” FEBRUARY

I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT’S NOT THAT STRANGE; IT’S JUST A PERSON DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE [THEM] MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THEMSELVES. ROWAN WOOLDRIDGE

“

Rowan

enior Rowan Wooldridge came out as transgender to his family and friends the summer before his junior year, but he came out at school only this fall, switching to male pronouns and asking to go by a different name than was on the roster. “I just kind of casually told my teachers [this] year, and then slowly slipped things in,” Rowan said. “But a lot of people are really confused, especially people who knew me, because I’ve been in this school system since I was in kindergarten.” Rowan says this past year was a time of learning about himself, and cites the internet, his friends and PFLAG, a national advocacy and education organization for the LGBTQ+ community, as resources that helped him learn about gender identity. “Watching [YouTube] videos helped me, just hearing someone describe everything. I’ve talked to someone in a PFLAG group before and [explained] what non-binary was and someone else in the room was like, ‘Wait, can you say that again, I think that’s me,’” Rowan said. “So going to these things is not corrupting you, it’s not making you gay or trans, it’s helping you understand your feelings.” However, taking time for himself meant that Rowan had to sacrifice some aspects of his life before the transition. “I [used to play] really competitive softball but then I couldn’t play anymore because I didn’t identify as a girl,” Rowan said. “When I quit I couldn’t really tell anyone why because I didn’t feel comfortable telling them...but it wasn’t something that I stopped just because of my transition. I just needed to take a few months and not have to do 24

something every single day so I could figure myself out first.” During this time, Rowan has turned to his friends for support. “I’ve found [the] most community among my friends who are also LGBTQ+,” Rowan said. “Even though I don’t have a lot of other trans guy friends, just having people who understand how hard it is to come out and have everyone think you’re just a complete outsider is just really helpful.” While his transition has been a time to learn about himself, Rowan recognizes that it is a learning experience for people around him as well. “A lot of people are kind of just like, ‘Okay, you changed your name, but why? And you don’t look the same, but why?’” Rowan said. Rowan also fosters an understanding of his identity. Principal Ellen Reilly, who has met with Rowan about making accommodations for his identity, said Rowan has been helpful in helping her learn more about gender. “[I want students to] educate me on what it means, and I think Rowan is excellent at that,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “He just gives you a great understanding… He’s educated me.” Expectedly, it wasn’t easy for Rowan from the beginning. “My parents did take a little while to understand but I guess I understand their confusion,” Rowan said. Rowan’s father, Paul Wooldridge, said that there were some initial challenges, and some that have persisted. IN-DEPTH

“You have to adjust rapidly to many abrupt changes, from using a new name and new pronoun references to making time for research [and] educating yourself to get up to speed on a whole new set of unfamiliar, complex concepts,” Paul Wooldridge said. “Everyday work-life balance is stretched to the max. It is a struggle to empathize directly with what your kid is going through because you have no direct experience to draw from. It can leave you feeling helpless at times about what to do to help and support them.” Now, Rowan says his parents’ support is something he is grateful for and has relied on during his journey. “My dad’s side of the family has been supportive, because my dad made this Powerpoint,” Rowan said. “He sent it to me the other day and I was almost crying—it was really sweet. He kind of explained everything to people… It was really cute.” Beyond fostering an understanding in his immediate community, Rowan says he finds reward in being a part of a bigger movement. “I like to spend my time trying to help other people,” Rowan said. “I go to a lot of PFLAG meetings. I went to the Women’s March and protests and stuff—I just like to advocate for people.” Rowan even gave an interview for Gloucester County v. GG. When he received an email from his local PFLAG group about interviewing, he hoped to use his experience to facilitate communication and understanding. “Everyone has a bathroom story,” Rowan said. Rowan’s bathroom story in particular reveals some of the struggles gender nonconforming individuals can face in school. Although Rowan’s experiences have generally been positive because of McLean’s accommodations and accepting nature, he initially didn’t have ready access to a gender neutral bathroom at McLean. “I would either have to choose between going into the wrong bathroom or I would just not drink water so that I didn’t have to go to the bathroom the entire school day,” Rowan said. “That’s not good, because a lot of trans guys who do this—it’s not an uncommon thing—get urinary tract infections just because they can’t go to the bathroom for like seven hours. It’s hard to explain the fact that it hurts me more to go into the girl’s bathroom than it would to just not go to the bathroom the entire day.” Rowan hopes that his experiences can help other young people struggling with their gender identities. “I just found myself being really interested in being able to pass on what I’ve learned because I’ve had such a hard time transitioning and it’s really good just to pass [on] my information,” Rowan said. The constants in Rowan’s life, like his family and friends, ensure that any struggles he still faces are bearable. “[Rowan’s] interests are the same as many kids his age—he tolerates school, loves animals, likes TV shows, movies and memes, and likes to hang out with his close friends,” Paul Wooldridge said. “He even might like his parents more than many kids. I admire his work ethic—he is one of the hardest working people I know. He is also very caring and loyal.” Rowan’s desire to foster understanding in his community is based on the idea that his gender does not define his identity. “I mean, when you think about it, it’s not that strange. It’s just a person doing something to make [them] more comfortable with themselves,” Rowan said. “And I feel like anyone who doesn’t agree with me is basically saying, ‘I don’t want you to actually like yourself and be who you are,’ when that’s all I’m trying to do.” FEBRUARY

Reminiscing — Rowan holds a picture of himself at age 4 (right) with longtime friend senior Sam Peters. “All of my close friends are obviously really accepting,” Rowan said.

John Wick: Chapter 2 goes bigger, bloodier and better The man, the myth, the legend is as deadly as ever Justin Kim Reporter

eople planning to see this movie can rest easy—no dogs die this time. When John Wick was released in 2014, audiences praised it to no end, immediately warranting a sequel. However, I was highly skeptical about the next film. I loved the first one, but it seemed like a one-shot idea that would lose its initial charm with the next 12 sequels. The movie proved me wrong by achieving the impossible—a Keanu Reeves action flick sequel that doesn’t suck. Chapter 2 is another highly enjoyable movie that surpasses its predecessor in nearly every regard. The biggest question about the film was this: what was going to bring Wick out of retirement this time? After avenging his dog’s death and taking in a new dog, it seemed that the ex-hitman had no reason to continue his bloody crusade. What were they going to do in the second one, kill off an entire dog shelter? Thankfully, that doesn’t happen; just as he puts the lid on his old life, a “friend” of his arrives, asking for his help on an even deadlier mission. As he is bound by a blood oath, Wick has no choice but to comply, and he goes off to Rome in pursuit of a

new target and pursued by new enemies. However, for a good chunk of the movie, it feels like Wick is there simply because he has to be, whereas in the first one he had a very clear-cut reason: revenge. The movie attempts to fix this toward its second half, but I could not connect with him as I did in the first film. While the motivation is less compelling than before, the plot itself is still simple and easy to digest. The story trims unnecessary fluff, focusing on Wick and the world of killers around him. Yet the plot is far from shallow, as it still finds time within its 122-minute runtime to expand upon the intriguing mythology of the franchise. One of the things that elevated the first movie was its society of killers that made me swear off setting foot in New York again. I mean, there’s literally a hotel full of assassins. I will never be able to walk through Times Square again without glancing back every 10 seconds. Chapter 2 expands beyond New York to the rest of the world, with banks, tailor shops and even special telephone networks of killers. It’s seemingly insignificant details like asking the number of buttons on a tactical suit that make this world feel real, as terrifying as it may be. Even if it didn’t have such a strong mythology, watching this movie would still be a good time, as every shot in this film is worthy of a screensaver. The color palette serves to highlight the gritty but simultaneously refined atmosphere, and those visuals highlight the action, which is the main star of this movie. It’s easy to tell the people behind this movie put their hearts into these

action scenes. Director Chad Stahelski is a professional stunt man who understands the virtues of an exciting and coherent shot. He films every bit of gun fu, knife play or car chase with absolute integrity; I mean, a fight scene with no jump cuts, five angle changes per second or shaky cam? It brings tears of joy to my eyes. The settings have improved quite a bit as well. Other than a spectacular scene at a club, the settings in John Wick were a bit pedestrian at times—a random construction site and a warehouse? Not particularly riveting. Chapter 2 has risen to fix that wonderfully. The party scene in Rome and the following catacombs chase is nothing short of spectacular, and even back home, places like a bizarrely pristine subway station or a bustling plaza serve as more interesting backdrops. Topping it all off is a great performance from Reeves. While his acting range is rather limited, he makes the best of what he has here, as the amazingly choreographed action couldn’t have been pulled off without him. Other actors such as Laurence Fishburne, Franco Nero and Ruby Rose bring their A-game as well. The ending does rather blatantly set up another sequel, but at the same time, that set-up is so interesting that I couldn’t help but make a mental note to rush to the theater the moment the next chapter of John Wick comes out—though I hope they can refrain from killing another puppy. While it didn’t come with the same pleasant surprise as the first one, John Wick: Chapter 2 did something else; it succeeded in getting me fully enraptured with this franchise with better action, better worldbuilding and with only a slightly weaker plot. It also convinced me to take Rome off my potential travel list. Why? Go watch the movie and see for yourself.

Rating

Verdict: John Wick: Chapter 2 reloads its action, set-pieces and mythology for pretty much a repeat of the first movie— which means another exhilarating symphony of violence. Thunder Road Pictures

FEBRUARY

Page design by Bryan Chung

Fashion Lookbook

Diana Suk

Steal her look: Shirt: A boutique in Ireland Pants: Primark Choker: Missguided

Where do you get inspiration from?

Cher from Clueless 100%. She can mix edgy with cute and take risks.

How do you describe your style?

I think my style is all over the place, but it is usually girly. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun to try out different styles so I never get bored with clothing.

What makes your winter style special?

For the most part, I keep things simple so I can build my outfit with accessories or makeup and still be comfortable.

Annie Przypyszny

Steal her look:

Shirts & skirt: Nordstrom Rack Scarf: Borrowed from a friend Shoes: Urban Outfitters Jewelry: Handed down from her mom

Where do you get inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from my aunt, who is basically the snazziest dresser I know.

How do you describe your style? I would describe my style as being eclectic.

What makes your winter style special? Even though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freezing, I still wear Crocs religiously.

Christian Flocos

Steal his look: Glasses: Warby Parker Sweater: Vince Pants: ASOS

How do you describe your style?

My style is simple yet cohesive. I aim to make my outfits work together and be clean-cut.

What makes your winter style special? Layers definitely make my style special. They add dimension and appeal to anything.

Do you typically rely on trends or your own personal choices?

While I like some upcoming trends, I still aim to be original and different. Photos & reporting by Eva Zarpas Page design by Bryan Chung

A&E

War on facts should not prevail Trump administration lacks respect for free press

OPINIONS

The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

ince his inauguration, President Trump and members of his administration have promoted decreased trust in and respect for journalism. Members of the Trump administration propagate “alternative facts” and tell the media to “keep its mouth shut.” Combined with the president’s criticism of mainstream news outlets, these attacks are frightening, as journalism truly is one of the most important facets of democracy. “In our busy day-to-day lives it is impossible for us to know all of the goingson in government and all of the decisions being made that will impact our lives in really profound ways,” yearbook adviser Meghan Percival said. “The press serves this important function of letting us know when decisions are being considered that we might need to voice concerns or support to our representatives.” This vitality is highlighted in the First Amendment, which clearly states that press freedoms shall not be abridged by the federal government. Despite this, during his presidential campaign and his tenure as president-elect, Trump expressed his misunderstanding of this foundational fact by threatening violation and abuse of it.

“It becomes difficult to discern fact from fiction.” -Sophomore Asia Kurtalic “Donald Trump has an unacceptable relationship with journalists,” sophomore Kristen Wagner said. “One of the core freedoms of America is freedom of the press, and Donald Trump’s actions in criticizing and discrediting news media outlets that portray him in a negative light is not only unAmerican, but sets a dangerous precedent.” Trump has also had an improper FEBRUARY

relationship with individual journalists. During his campaign he refused access to certain journalists by revoking their press credentials and limiting reporters to pigpen-like structures at his rallies, making it impossible to interview his supporters. In addition, press pools, groups of journalists who follow and report on the presidential staff, have been shunned by Trump on multiple occasions. A disregard for the truth has become prevalent in the last month, in large part due to the Trump administration. We now live in a world where our president communicates largely through a personal Twitter account and argues against experts about the turnout of his inauguration. Trump’s tweets burst at the seams with half truths and obvious biases against certain news outlets like CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Though this most likely appeases some of his supporters, it encourages a closed-off and restricted relationship between our president and the news media. The media is not the “opposition party,” as Stephen Bannon, chief strategist of the Trump administration, claimed. Journalism informs and empowers citizens and holds leaders accountable, all of which gives power to the people, the point of democratic and republican governmental systems. Not only does journalism accomplish all of this, it can

allow politicians to acquire support within their constituencies for the issues on which they are pushing for change. “The presidency and governmental officials do not have to deal with the press in an adversarial fashion,” Percival said. “It is unwise to think of the press as an adversary for leadership—oftentimes we can actually be a strong tool when used by leaders as well. But those leaders will only be trusted if they allow a free and robust press.” As high school journalists, we understand the importance of the symbiotic relationship between government and journalism. Having the ability to inform the public of the triumphs and failures of our government is a large responsibility that should be treated with dignity. The freedom of the press offers citizens a view into politics without obvious or meaningful distortion, therefore bestowing the power unto people to make well-informed decisions about their government. It truly is frightening to see these ideals being degraded by an administration and creates fear about the more extreme infringements that could occur. “Trump’s ability to change or alter the way we receive our information is very unsettling, as it becomes difficult to discern fact from fiction,” sophomore Asia Kurtalic said. Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Reporting & page design by Alex Mandanas

CROSSFIRE:

No talk, no action

Civil discourse is the necessary first step toward change Sanskriti Neupane Managing Editor

fter the recent presidential election, the political process in the U.S. has largely shifted in favor of action instead of civil discourse. However, now more than ever, civil discourse is crucial in enacting the positive change many want to see in government. Americans on all sides of the political spectrum have become deeply divided on major political issues. The Women’s March on Washington was a protest where those who felt that President Donald Trump’s policies would hurt a wide variety of groups (particularly women and minorities) marched in the nation’s capital. However, just the day before, Trump supporters came into D.C., excited by the policies he planned to implement and to watch his inauguration. Although Trump won the electoral vote by a wide margin, the popular vote was close. According to The New York Times, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won 48 percent of the vote to Trump’s 45.9 percent. This nearly even split of what is arguably “the people’s vote” highlights the deep division in opinion that exists among Americans today. The only way to understand the opinions of those with differing beliefs is to engage in civil discourse. “I really like talking to other people because it gives me a sense of what everyone else’s opinions are,” senior Calen Chung said. Engaging in civil discourse allows Americans to become knowledgeable on multiple sides of an issue. “It’s important to voice your opinion and listen to other people’s opinions so you know all perspectives of the issue to develop your argument,” junior Zita Venetianer said. Furthermore, engagement in civil discourse can help individuals understand why others hold the beliefs that they do. “I usually try to keep an open mind when listening to people who share different views than me,” senior Vanessa Barlow said. “Most 30

people try to debate and argue why their view is right, but I usually listen and try to see in the perspective of the other person.” Civil discourse has become more accessible to everyone through social media, allowing people across the world and of all ages to contribute to the political conversation. By digitizing these discussions, the conversation is able to take on a greater breadth in terms of diversity in those actually partaking in the dialogue. “Civil discourse is an important tool in our democracy when all parties are discussing in good faith,” senior Ben Pratt said. Many important conversations have begun due to social media. According to CBS News, in December 2016 a California public school teacher posted about how some students in her school do not have proper gym shoes. After seeing her post on Facebook, strangers and friends alike donated hundreds of shoes to her, in the hopes that those students would get the equipment they needed for gym class.

Although protests and action can help enact change, they do so in a way that depicts American democracy in a negative light. It is possible to reach the same conclusion through civil discourse and compromise. “By being able to socialize in a civil manner, our character as humans grows stronger and more mature,” freshman Soren Andrews said. “Without it, what would humanity be?” Democracy is about creating legislation that benefits a majority of the people and ensuring that all voices are heard equally— it’s not about protesting or debating. Civil discourse is the only way to begin to understand the beliefs of other people. Although the country is divided by its differences, talking about these differing opinions is the first step towards enacting change and working towards compromises. The next time someone brings up their opinion, talk with them and try to understand their perspective before judging them or dismissing their opinion.

OPINIONS

Does civil discourse help enact change?

Effective conversation is paired with action Civil discourse is ineffective on its own Anjalie Chauhan Features Editor

he discussion of differing opinions is an integral component of current politics. However, one cannot walk away after having their views recognized with the expectation that their words will be enough to catalyze change. “I think that just talking about an issue isn’t the most effective strategy for bringing about change,” senior Annie Xie said. With no subsequent action, no amount of discourse is sufficient enough to result in change—action is needed. “I think that this was seen very clearly in this past presidential election,” senior Krishma Poudel said. “Despite the huge dissatisfaction against Donald Trump, he was still able to win the presidency because people didn’t take action on their anger by voting for the candidate they preferred.” Action against President Trump did not really begin until the election had already taken place. Rates of voter turnout remained approximately the same as previous

elections, yet this election saw the expression of immense dissatisfaction on both sides of the political spectrum. However, the great surprise of Trump’s victory served to show the inadequacies of many people’s conversationoriented approach to this election. “This [past election], and many other instances like it, show that actions truly speak louder than words,” Poudel said. Political action goes beyond voting, however. Long-term social change can only be enacted when constituents have pushed for causes on a political and cultural front. This involves moving past simply making declarative statements against politicians, and on to doing things such as reaching out to local representatives and donating to organizations that help to alleviate the causes people have concern for. There are more options to enact change other than simply using words. Social studies teacher Tom Casey notes the other resources people can use to make a statement. “Your money and your time are also political—they send a message,” Casey said.

“What you spend your money on sends a message and what you spend your time doing sends a message.” Political issues are not the only ones impacted by civil discourse. Time and money can be allocated to non-political causes that arise as well, especially to ensure that the issues are being addressed in a more effective manner beyond talking. “Like with the issue of hunger, you can donate money, you can donate food,” Casey said. Although recognizing issues in discourse is essential to raising awareness, it is important to take action on those issues as well. Simply addressing an issue does not bring its resolution. “I think to recognize a problem doesn’t solve it...to solve hunger you can tweet about it and say ‘people starving is bad,’ but what are you going to do about it?” Casey said. “I think words are a starting point to recognize a problem but...it does require subsequent action.” Other courses of action people can take to expand on their civil discourse is to protest. Not only does the idea of protest resonate with the integral role of advocacy in civil discourse, but it acts as a call to action for the masses. “You can sign an online petition, post something on Facebook or tweet about [an issue], but I think there is a difference in actually going to something like [a march], regardless what the issue is, because you are physically there and your presence is a statement,” Casey said. Conversations will not suffice to ensure that change actually does take place. Not only can conversations become counterproductive on social media platforms, but without action no one can expect the world to change on the basis of a few words.

Comics by Dasha Makarishcheva Page design by Anjalie Chauhan & Sanskriti Neupane

FEBRUARY

Fears of automation are overblown Automation will change jobs, not destroy them Rustin Abedi Opinions Editor

ith recent outcry from both ends of the political spectrum about automation, people have begun to worry about what recent developments in technology will mean for their livelihoods. Students are grappling with potential career choices and wondering whether or not certain fields will be hiring. In his final speeches as president, Barack Obama discussed his concerns about the economy’s reliance on technology. “The next wave of economic dislocations won’t come from overseas. It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes a lot of good, middle-class jobs obsolete,” Obama said in his farewell address. These worries are overblown. In the past, technological innovations have been met with prophecies about the replacement of man by machines. However, despite the endless supply of predictions, people are not jobless today. This is evidenced by the agriculture industry, which now only employs two percent of the workforce. A century ago, it employed half the workforce. Although the majority of those in the agricultural industry were replaced by machines, unemployment did not spike to unprecedented levels as the economy shifted. It is true that more jobs are likely to be affected by this new wave of automation. A 2013 analysis of 702 occupations conducted by the Oxford Martin School found that 47 percent of workers in the U.S. had occupations with a high-risk of potential automation. This assessment shows that our economy has to diversify job availabilities in the future. Thankfully, development in other countries demonstrates that such diversificatoin is possible. The same study showed that countries such as Great Britain have a smaller percentage of jobs threatened by automation than the U.S. because more people are employed in more skilled professions. Only 35 percent of jobs in Great Britain are likely to be affected by automation in the near future. Since the Industrial Revolution, people 32

have feared that technology will render human labor meaningless. Back then, textile workers worried that automation would destroy their livelihoods. In a 1928 article, The New York Times declared that the “march of the machine makes idle hands.” To continue to prevent job polarization, education must revolve around providing skills for current jobs. The Obama administration promoted this idea by supporting proposals to provide two years of free community college for all students in

“In the past 16 or 17 years there’s already been a big shift that I’ve noticed to more specialized and advanced classes.” - Career Specialist Lauren Venos

order to provide opportunities for people to learn skills that will assist them in technologyrelated fields. However, the government spends half of what it did 30 years ago on apprenticeships,

despite the current rise of automation. These efforts must be improved in order for our society to minimize the number of professions that are affected by automation. “I think having a...focus on math and technology would help me get a [sustainable] job,” junior Sungmin Kang said. Greater attention to STEM classes, particularly in higher education has been accompanied by an expansion of STEM careers. Automation is a reality for this country’s economy, and many companies are recognizing that by searching for job applicants who have taken these types of courses. “In the past 16 or 17 years there’s already been a big shift that I’ve noticed to more specialized and advanced classes,” career center specialist Laura Venos said. More federal funding for STEM classes at the high school level will allow teachers to propel students onto careers that can work with the rise of automation. If the government fails to fund the expansion of STEM fields, then the rise of automation will become a threat rather than an asset. If the government continues the steps it is already taking in regards to education and career building, students can feel confident that there will be opportunities for them once they enter the workforce.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

OPINIONS

Honor your interests

Students should choose honor societies based on their interests Seth Eshraghi Business Manager

hen applying to college, students try to highlight their merits and their hard work from high school. That pushes students to work hard and achieve as much as possible. Honor societies are a great way to show work in an area of interest, but students should not join honor societies just to strengthen their applications. The biggest honor society at McLean is National Honor Society, which has 407 members. In a survey of 100 upperclassmen, 55 said they joined honor societies like NHS for their college applications. At a school that offers honor societies like Art Honor Society, English Honor Society, Omega Phi Epsilon (Computer Science) and Tri-M Music Honor Society, it can be difficult to choose which honor societies to join in order to impress colleges. The easiest way to decide is to choose whichever one(s) appeal to a student’s interests.

“It’s about doing a few things with all your heart.” -school counselor Gregory Olcott “Being in an honor society should not be about what is going to be impressive [to] colleges,” counselor Gregory Olcott said. “You should be in it because it’s a content area that you’re legitimately interested in.”

Students like senior Rahul Mani and junior Tommy Schilder joines honor societies due to their interests rather than to impress colleges. It is easier to commit to anything in life when there is interest and passion. “[Students] shouldn’t pick honor societies that they don’t like just for colleges,” Schlider said. Furthermore, joining a plethora of honor societies can mean an addition to the already heavy workload students have. This workload is particularly hard to manage when students do not have an interest in the projects they are spending hours working on. Students should limit the number of honor societies they join to ensure they will not spend all their time under a cloud of academia-induced stress and anxiety “It’s unhealthy to tax your mind and your body all the time,” Olcott said. By joining honor societies out of interest, colleges will naturally fall into place. “I didn’t join any other honor societies because I kind of figured I had enough of them on my plate, and I thought it wouldn’t be as genuine to become a member of an honor society which I wasn’t fully invested in,” said Mani, a

member of the Computer Science, Math, English and National Honor Societies. Mani has been accepted into the University of Virginia and Georgia Tech. A common tendency for students is to do as much as possible in all areas of academics. According to Olcott, students should not apply to honor societies, or become involved in any extracurricular for that matter, just to “check off boxes.” “It’s about doing a few things with all your heart,” Olcott said. Colleges do not look for specific honor societies. They will not select one student over another just because of the honor societies that they are enrolled in. “It’s a matter of what you choose to do in that honor society that will have a major impact,” Olcott said. Colleges care more about what a student does in his or her activities than in the number of honor societies the student joins. “If you do what you want to do when you’re deeply involved in these honor societies, that’s what colleges are going to be looking for,” Olcott said. Regardless of which classes students take, they should try to get involved with any honor society that they are interested in. “Don’t be afraid to apply to an honor society you don’t think you would get in to, since you never really know what may happen,” Mani said.

Page design by Bryan Chung

FEBRUARY

Climate change in the wake of Trump

New administration poses serious threat to environmental protection Jessie Friedman & Sophie Mariam Reporter & Web Editor-in-Chief

limate change is an imminent threat that lurks in the background of political discourse and threatens to permanently alter the state of our planet. In our day-to-day lives, the creeping effects of human-caused global warming are seldom acknowledged, yet the clear rise of global temperatures threatens our long-term prosperity. The election of Donald Trump and his cabinet appointments that deny the effects of climate change will only accelerate the arrival of this serious threat. The Problem Recent research has indicated that climate change is indeed a serious threat. The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998, with 2016 charted as the single hottest year on record since 1880. “Scientific evidence for the warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in its Fourth Assessment Report in 2007. This warming has been scientifically proven to be largely human-sourced. The increase in carbon dioxide emissions since the Industrial Revolution has caused more of the sun’s radiation to be reflected back to Earth, which has led to a steady rise in average global temperatures. Since humans are clearly the cause of global warming, it

will not disappear unless we are a part of the solution as well. However, there is currently clear partisanship surrounding climate change, in which the Trump administration and the majority of Republicans in Congress deny the importance of addressing the problem. This denial will prevent emission reduction necessary to limit long-term damage, especially since many voters are unaware of the scientific evidence. “Environmentalism is kind of an odd thing. It’s one of those topics where if you can’t see it, feel it, smell it, taste it, people think it’s not a problem,” government teacher Ian Howell said. Attempted Change One attempt to solve this critical problem was the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement, which set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and established the U.S. as a leader in global efforts to fight climate change. Under Trump, there will not likely be any such actions, and global temperatures are predicted to rise three degrees Celsius this century according to the IPCC. However, the goal of the Paris Agreement is to reduce the long-term repercussions of climate change and limit the rise in temperatures to less than two degrees. “Where is the push? This climate deal doesn’t have an enforcement mechanism,

Earth: 2050 34

which is the flaw to it,” Howell said. “It’s more about collective guilt. It isn’t like every other member of the group [of countries that signed the agreement] will immediately put sanctions on you for not trying to comply. Don’t think of the agreement as this major success story.” Potential Actions The Trump administration is expected to bring a significant change to U.S. environmental policies. Trump’s record shows him to be a climate change denier. Trump claims that nobody really knows if climate change is a legitimate threat. One of his more disturbing tweets claimed that climate change is a hoax created by the Chinese, illustrating his inability to accept the reality that is widely affirmed by the scientific community. Trump’s pending decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement could be devastating for the global community. “If you believe in the science, then there’s no doubt that if we don’t progress on the path that’s been designated by the international community, then it won’t work,” Howell said. “Because if we don’t follow [the Paris Agreement], why will China? Why will India?” Yet, several members of the new administration continue to deny the existence of climate change. “Climate change is real and it is something that the federal government should be concerned with in order to protect future generations. It serves the Trump administration no purpose to say that climate change is not real. Why lie about something that has been proven by scientists and data?” senior Maddie Scherer said. This widespread denial threatens the global effort to decrease emissions. “The movement [the Trump administration] has made to want to leave the Paris Agreement does not give me much hope. I think in the next three to five years we’ll start to see an increase in carbon emissions. It’s setting us on a different trajectory,” environmental science teacher Kip Rogers said. Scott Pruitt, Trump’s nominee for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, spent his time as the attorney OPINIONS

general of Oklahoma suing the EPA a total of 14 times. This nomination signals Trump’s plan to move away from Obama’s legacy of climate change prevention. Pruitt harbors extreme hostility toward the very agency he is now nominated to serve as chief administrator for. He has been vocal about his opinion that climate change may not be real. Based on his nominees, Trump’s approach will be centered around promoting business competitiveness in the fossil fuel industry, completely ignoring the threat of global warming. Dangers On top of the nominees Trump has appointed, he also issued an executive order freezing all EPA grants and contracts. “[Trump] could do it—Reagan did it,” Howell said. “Reagan put the EPA and Interior back 20 years. He gutted it. Even simple stuff like taking the solar panels off the roof of the White House.” This is largely due to the leeway the Trump administration has in enforcing environmental legislation and using the budget that Congress allots the EPA. “A lot of the EPA and these agencies [use] discretionary money. So if Congress, with the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act, says to the President ‘clean the air and water,’ they’re not telling him which compounds or which particulate matter, or to regulate diesel engines or gas engines,” Howell said. “They’re just saying, here is our base goal, now do this. So, as a result, presidents have incredible leeway.”

However, Congress does have some ability to check the president’s power. “Congress doesn’t have to agree to the budget cut [of the EPA’s budget]. Congress can actually award the EPA more money than the president requests,” Howell said.

“Environmentalism is kind of an odd thing. It’s one of those topics where if you can’t see it, feel it, smell it, taste it, people think it’s not a problem.” -Ian Howell, government teacher The Trump administration could potentially initiate a complete shutdown of the EPA and its most basic regulatory powers, such as its ability to enforce the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Trump will put businesses first, meaning major increases in carbon and pollution emissions from the fossil fuel industry will occur. “We are going to have the Petroleum Institute take priority for the next four years.

Participate in political discourse and activism March for Science in D.C. – April 22 People’s Climate Movement in D.C. – April 29 Have discussions about the issues and explain the science and facts to others

FEBRUARY

We already had that with [George] W. Bush.” Howell said. These dangerous emissions have affected McLean residents and the greater area for years. “We were in violation of the Clean Air Act for a long time. For 10 years running, Congress every year had to pass an addendum to the Clean Air Act allowing us to be above the legal pollution limit,” Howell said. This will undermine the Obama-era efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advance clean energy sources and deter global efforts to reduce long-term repercussions of global warming. “[Trump] will put us back 20 years. We take so many steps forward and a couple steps back,” Howell said. Change It is essential that students who are concerned about the future of the planet step up and challenge this rebuke of widespread scientific evidence. “You can join groups, but if you do this don’t just give them 20 bucks. You have to go to the meetings and take part,” Howell said. Students can participate in grassroots outreach efforts to engage in political discourse on environmental issues and ensure that it is a critical issue in the campaign process. “Find an issue you really care about and find groups online or elsewhere in the local community,” Rogers said. “They will need all the help they can get in the coming four to eight years.”

Environmentally friendly habits for your everyday routine Ride your bike or walk instead of driving Take shorter showers Carpool CarInfographic by Bryan Chung Page design by Sophie Mariam & Jessie Friedman

School board vs. scoreboard

McLean advocates passage of groundbreaking naming rights proposal Jackson Payne Reporter

n 1989, McLean installed three new, stateof-the-art scoreboards for the school’s football, baseball and softball fields. Nearly 30 years later, the same scoreboards still stand, although they are barely operational. “Every Friday night before a football game, I have to cross my fingers hoping that the scoreboard will come on,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. Replacement parts for the scoreboards no longer exist, leading the McLean Athletic Boosters to launch an effort this past April to raise funds for new boards through a sponsorship deal with local plumbing, heating and air specialists F.H. Furr. “F.H. Furr has been a sponsor of McLean athletics for years, and they’re willing to give us $25,000 a year for the next 10 years for the naming rights to our stadium,” Miller said, “and over the next 10 years [they] will allow our boosters club to take out a loan and purchase three brand new scoreboards—one for the stadium, and one for both baseball and softball.” The field, currently named in honor of former McLean basketball coach Basil Harless, who tragically drowned while saving a player’s life on a team boating trip in 1963, would be renamed Basil Harless Memorial Stadium at F.H. Furr Sportsplex.

“Every Friday night before a football game, I have to cross my fingers hoping that the scoreboard will come on.” -Greg Miller, Director of Student Activities “F.H. Furr has a foundation called F.H. Furr Cares, and they believe strongly in giving back to the community,” said Glenn Goldenhorn, boosters chairman of corporate sponsorships. “They were aware that students at McLean excel in many different areas, so when they wanted to choose a school from Fairfax County to focus their energies on, McLean was very appealing to them.” FEBRUARY

Furr the Love of the Game — An artist’s rendering of the proposed

scoreboard for McLean’s football field. The softball and baseball fields would also receive new scoreboards if the naming rights proposal is approved by the school board. (Image used with expressed written consent of Daktronics)

F.H. Furr made a similar naming rights deal with Stone Bridge High School this past fall, which was unanimously approved by the Loudoun County School Board. The Fairfax County school board must also vote on McLean’s deal. The vote, originally scheduled for the board’s meeting on Jan. 26, was a late scratch from the agenda, but Miller, Goldenhorn and boosters president Jeff Grammes were still granted time to speak at the meeting to lobby for their cause. “We only had three minutes to speak so it was challenging to articulate everything I hoped to say in such a short amount of time, but we got a lot of positive feedback from some people on the school board,” Miller said. “Our hope is that we just educated the board a little more on why we need these scoreboards and the process we have to go through.” A new video board for the football field would be able to generate revenue for the athletics department and hopefully pay for itself by running advertisements during games and encouraging more fans to attend games to see the new board in action.

“[A new scoreboard] will create a great atmosphere for each game and make things more exciting for the fans,” said sophomore quarterback Logan Johnson, “and hopefully next year our team will be able to put up points on a new scoreboard.” The Jan. 26 vote’s postponement was no accident—the board is taking extra time to discuss a possible equity split that could take place should they approve the deal. “An equity split is definitely being discussed,” Goldenhorn said, “but we aren’t sure if the money taken from us would just be kept by the county or distributed to all of the other schools in the county. As of now, everything is arbitrary.” Despite the looming possibility of having thousands of dollars taken away from McLean by the school board, Goldenhorn is optimistic about the future of the deal. “The booster club of McLean is going to go to bat for these students because the student body here means the world to us,” Goldenhorn said, “and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that the Highlanders get what they’re entitled to.” Page design by Jackson Payne

Spinning to success Junior Anna Gamboa joins elite winter guard Sanskriti Neupane Managing Editor

SPORTS

ancing across the tarp-covered gym floor, junior Anna Gamboa spins her rifle through the air and catches it gracefully. Twirling strategically, Gamboa continues to jump through the air. Although color guard is a fairly unknown sport, Gamboa knew it was something she wanted to try after seeing her sisters play in the marching band. “An announcement came in at Longfellow and I just took a risk and went to one of the [guard] camps not really knowing what was going to happen,” Gamboa said. After the camp, Gamboa realized color guard was something she wanted to pursue. “I really enjoyed it from the first moment I started,” Gamboa said. “It’s just something I’ve come to love and it has become a part of who I am.”

touring with Jersey Surf. “A lot of it was...she’s on the younger side for her grade and she would be gone essentially all summer with people who were as old as 21. There’s some adults but you’re still kind of on your own,” Anna’s mother Julie Gamboa said. “We changed our minds after we got a little more involved. It was something she really wanted…[and] I don’t think you get very many chances to do something like this when you’re older.” Gamboa had to leave school two weeks before summer break started to join the drum corps. “It’s really quite an experience,” Gamboa said. “Jersey Surf helped me gain a higher skill level than I was the season before at McLean.”

in high school, they’re better performers, better spinners, but that’s just because they’ve had more experience,” Gamboa said.

Future

Gamboa’s teammates and friends are familiar with her personality and charisma. She hopes to use such characteristics to her advantage to excel at Stonewall Independent and further her career. “I’ve known Anna since middle school which was when she convinced me to join the McLean guard,” junior Smritee Thapa said. “It’s been amazing to see her grow from spinning umbrellas for fun in middle school to going on tour around the country with Jersey Surf and being a part of an exceptional guard such as Stonewall.”

“I really enjoyed [color guard] from the first moment I started...It’s just something I’ve come to love and it has become a part of who I am. It’s probably the most important thing in my life that isn’t family or school right now.” — junior Anna Gamboa Next Steps

Following the camp, Gamboa joined the McLean color guard, where she learned basic spinning and tumbling skills and became a vital part of the team. “High school color guard, such as McLean color guard, helps you build skills mostly. It helps you build a strong foundation,” Gamboa said. Gamboa joined the McLean High School color guard team when she was in seventh grade. After four years on the team, she knew she wanted to try something new. Last summer, Gamboa auditioned for an elite drum corps group known as Jersey Surf. “I spent two months away from home touring the country with a world class drum corps. We competed in DCI, or Drum Corps International, while on the road,” Gamboa said. Although her parents were reluctant at first, they allowed Gamboa to spend time FEBRUARY

Stonewall Independent

After learning higher level spinnning and dancing techniques at Jersey Surf, Gamboa decided to join Stonewall Independent Open Winter Guard instead of continuing with McLean color guard. Stonewall Independent is an elite color guard program that recruits talented athletes onto their team. Gamboa had to complete an intense audition process in order to join the team. “[During auditions] we learned a dance routine…a flag routine and… [a] weapon routine. At the end of the audition day, everyone went out in small groups and performed each of their pieces of choreography that they had learned,” Gamboa said. Now, Gamboa is the youngest member of a nationally ranked color guard team. “Most people on Stonewall are older, so they’re usually 18 or 19 or 20, there’s some 23-year-olds, they’re a lot older than people

Gamboa decided to leave McLean color guard for Stonewall Independent to hopefully accelerate her journey to success, even though that meant leaving her friends. Fortunately, Gamboa’s past teammates have remained supportive. “My friends in the McLean color guard... they were very supportive of me. When you’re around other people who love something as much as you do it really helps you strive to improve,” Gamboa said. Even on the difficult days, after grueling allweekend practices, Gamboa still remembers the reason she enjoyed color guard when she first started spinning umbrellas. “I like that it’s different. It’s a combination of something that shows strength as well as something that’s a performing art. It’s really important to me,” Gamboa said. “It’s probably the most important thing in my life that isn’t family or school right now.” Page design by Sanskriti Neupane Photo courtesy of McLean High School Band

Winter sports cool down

Results of the 2016-2017 winter sports season Maren Kranking, Julia McElligott & Jack Stenzel Reporters

SWIM & DIVE

INDOOR TRACK JaneAnne Tvedt broke the school record for 55m hurdles at 8.97

seconds

Caroline Howley broke the school record for the indoor two-mile at

11:22.70

Sinead Eksteen and Tim Dorje Wu both

5 swim records and 1 dive record

broken this season

23 seniors were on

the swim & dive team RECORD: 7-7

se juniors

15%

WRESTLING

WINTER SPORTS

152 lbs Brendan Grammes 170 lbs Gavin Legg

HOCKEY

RECORD: 1-9

9th at states for diving

The boys freshman team ended with a 15-1 record, the best in school history The girls varsity team won the Rotary Cup against Langley HS on Jan. 31

VARSITY RECORDS (regular season): Boys: 0-22 Girls: 12-10

sop33% homores

GYMNASTICS

placed 2nd in the Liberty Conference and 7th in the region REGIONAL CHAMPIONS:

Zazi Halla placed

BASKETBALL

placed 1st at the Sweetheart Invitational with both their pom and jazz routines

% n 30shme

% rs 22 nio

DANCE

placed 1st in their events at regionals

REGION 6A NORTH CHAMPIONS 2017 QUALIFIED FOR STATES: Anna Brower

Tara Stewart

Carolyn Brown-Kaiser

Sam Simon

Sara Vavonese

RECORD: 4-1

CLUB SPORTS

WINTER GUARD

varsity placed 1st in the movement category at their first tournament SPORTS

Varsity basketball rivalry recap

cLean’s basketball teams had mixed results against rival Langley High School this season. On Jan. 31, the varsity girls team took back the Rotary Cup from Langley after a long dry spell, while the varsity boys team fell just short of a win. “During my three years of varsity, the team has never won against Langley. So, this was my and the [other] seniors’ last chance,” senior Hannah Smith said. At the previous match-up with Langley on Jan. 6, the girls’ team suffered a tough loss by nearly 20 points. The girls rebounded from the loss with a new strategy for their next face-off with the Saxons. “Our key approach was to shut down their shooters, play solid defense and let the offense come to us. Our coach told us to not rush our offense and just be patient so that we could tire them out, creating an easy basket for us,” junior Kaela Moskowitz said. With both schools’ bleachers filled, the intense rivalry made for an exciting atmosphere. Langley started off with an early lead in the first quarter. Although McLean started behind the Saxons, the team fought hard and tied up the game by the end of the fourth and won in overtime, 38-37. This was

GIRLS

Legg Up On the Competition — Sophomore Tucker Leggett floats

on the perimeter and looks to attack the basket as McLean tries to fight their way back into a tough game on Jan. 31. McLean went on to lose with a score of 56-52 after a hard-fought battle. (Photo by Imani McCormick)

an important win for the Highlanders. “It had been a while,” varsity girls coach Jen Sobota said. “To beat [Langley], who was at the top [of the conference], was a huge confidence boost for us.” With energy still flowing throughout the gym, the boys opened the scorebook with both sides scoring many points. The gym was loud and packed, requiring the team to maintain extra focus while playing. “Making sure we take care of the ball and run the floor well are always some big points

of emphasis for us,” senior Robbie Denton said. “Against them we knew one of the keys would be our perimeter defense.” Senior Sean Senft led the Highlanders, scoring 21 points for the game, but it wasn’t enough as the Saxons held on in the fourth quarter, putting up 14 points to clinch a 5652 win over McLean. “We gave our all and left it all on the floor,” Senft said. “At the end of the day, all you can do is to work your hardest for the colors you represent.”

McLean vs. Langley results

> FRESHMAN Dec. 8: LOSS 25-53 Jan. 30: LOSS 35-50 > JUNIOR VARSITY Dec. 8: LOSS 12-36 Jan. 30: LOSS 32-61 > VARSITY Jan. 6: LOSS 35-54 Jan. 31: WIN 38-37

BOYS

> FRESHMAN Dec. 8: WIN 54-42 Jan. 30: WIN 51-41 > JUNIOR VARSITY Dec. 8: WIN 56-53 Jan. 30: LOSS 26-51 > VARSITY Jan. 6: LOSS 46-60 Jan. 31: LOSS 52-56

“Sweeping Langley this year was a top five moment of my life. You can’t spell Langley without two Ls.” -Charlie Olifer, freshman boys team Statistics obtained via The Washington Post Page design by Maren Kranking, Julia McElligott & Jack Stenzel

FEBRUARY

Lifelong impact of high school sports Students reflect on their time playing sports in high school Anna Murphy Reporter s the school year rolls into second semester, students who only play fall and winter sports find their competitive athletic careers coming to an end. Hours devoured by sports practices and games suddenly become an activity of the past. Seniors especially have begun to come to terms with a life that is not built around sports. They have recognized that change, while both exciting and scary, is something they have to face. “Ever since our volleyball season ended this fall, I have missed the friendships that come along with playing on a team,” senior Natalie Luu said. “That being said, all of the players keep in touch outside of the season, which is one of the great aspects of high school sports.” Athletes have time to reflect on the highs and lows of practices, strenuous games and relationships between players and coaches. “The best part about being on a high

school team was the sense of community with people just as passionate as you about a sport,” senior Noah Huffman said. “However, the swim team had to travel all the way to Spring Hill [Recreation Center] to practice, so it was difficult having to deal with the cold and driving home in rush hour traffic.” With the end of high school near, student-athletes are starting to look back on the lessons that sports taught them and the attributes they developed along the way. “Playing a competitive sport taught me that the player’s attitude when playing the game plays a key role in success,” senior Bridget Greenwood said. “It is important that the team has a positive attitude so they can work together well and win.” Other factors, such as support from peers, have been influential to athletes in their pursuit of success. “I learned how important it is to never give up,” Huffman said. “Sometimes things will get hard and you’ll feel like stopping,

Playing the Court — Senior Robbie Denton passes the ball to a teammate at a home basketball game. Denton has been on the varsity team for three years. (Photo by Imani McCormick)

but with the encouragement of coaches and teammates you can always persevere.” Likewise, students found that playing a sport throughout their high school career has changed their perception of themselves. “Over time, playing volleyball made me more of a leader,” Luu said. “My high school experience would be completely different if I didn’t try out for volleyball.” Many of the graduating athletes believe the lessons they have extracted from playing competitive sports will aid them in college, and even more so in the future. “I plan to take the positive attitude I learned from sports and apply it to my future endeavors by staying positive even during tough situations,” Greenwood said. “It will help me keep going even when I feel like quitting.” According to a study done by the National Center for Education Statistics, participation in school athletics is correlated with many positive educational achievements, behaviors and aspirations. The positive outcomes included school grades, self-esteem, subsequent college enrollment and eventual educational achievement. Despite the time that has passed since they played high school sports, alumni still express appreciation for the impact sports have had on them. They point to sports as the source of their emerging self-confidence, improved health and academic discipline. “I was a girl who used Title IX to try out for the boys baseball team in 1979,” said Sandy Rector, McLean Class of 1981. “Being on the team took me from being a shy girl to a leader. I went on to become senior class president, captain of three varsity sports and now oversee hundreds of people in my current job.” No lesson learned is too small for high school athletes—wrestler Owen Karickkoff, McLean Class of 1981, recounts something he learned that may not have changed his life forever, but definitely stuck with him. “I learned in wrestling the importance of clean laundry,” Karickkoff said. “There was one guy on [the] team that never washed his clothes; it was horrible to get matched up with him during practice.” Page design by Anna Murphy

SPORTS

s e m a I y e e u s s s I o e R h t f o e Athlet

enior Grade: S ountry , Cross-C ld ie F & k c Sports: Tra ition: Captain Pos

What sports and events do you participate in? In the fall I run cross-country 5k, for indoor [winter track] I do distance [the mile, two mile and the 4x800 relay]. In spring, I also do the mile, two mile, 4x800 and 800. How long have you been a captain for each of these sports? I am currently a captain for all three [sports] seasons, running all year long. I run all year long [and have been] part of cross-country and winter track since freshman year, then added spring track sophomore year. What got you interested in these distance sports? I jogged occasionally in middle school and I had terrible mile times, so I wanted to improve. It’s a great stress reliever—I’m stressed when I’m not running.

Accolades:

Why do you prefer distance as opposed to sprints? I tried sprints in freshman year, and was not fast in winter. So I thought I should stick with distance and improve on that instead. I actually tried to do the 400 and tripped, so I walked the rest of the way. Coming back in the spring, I stuck with distance events. Do you have a pre-game ritual or routine? I’m usually really happy and cheering for my teammates, [and I] jump around and do a couple push-ups. Whenever I talk to my coach and tell him I’ll have fun, I get some of the best times. It’s all about mindset. How does it feel to have people tell you that you are their role model? I have gotten that a few times this year, and it’s one of the best feelings.

, winter track y tr n u o -c s s cro Captain for ack Page design by Bryan Chung and spring tr

Reporting by Shanzeh Umerani

Finish Line Charlie Olifer Freshman Basketball

Alexandra Kim Sophomore Color Guard

Who is your dream Valentine’s Day date?

Taylor Jackowski Junior Dance

Rebecca Bennett Senior Crew

What is your favorite flightless bird?

Julie Johnston

The penguin because penguins are savages

Someone who actually picks up my calls and texts

Kiwi

Chris Hemsworth

Penguin

My laptop and Netflix

Penguin

What is your favorite ‘chick flick’?

What is your go-to karaoke song?

Mean Girls

“Congratulations” - Post Malone

Legally Blonde The Musical

“Chandelier” - Sia

Sixteen Candles

“Bohemian Rhapsody” - Queen

Mean Girls

“TRNDSTTR” - Black Coast Page design by Bryan Chung Photos & reporting by Sanskriti Neupane & Shanzeh Umerani

SPORTS

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THE McLEAN HIGHLANDERS Bring in your student or faculty ID for a 10% discount on your check

Mylo’s Grill 6238 Old Dominion Dr. McLean, VA 22101

“Nothing says loving like cooking from our oven!”

Phone: 703-533-5880 Fax: 703-533-7768 www.mylosgrill.com