Issue 3

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018 Vol. 64 Issue #3

Annandale High School’s

THE A BLAST There was confusion among students who recently received an email that announced that x2VOL Official Service Transcript is no longer available to FCPS students.

“The purpose of x2VOL is for two purposes. One is to track volunteer hours for students that are required to report. We also have to report that data to the school system so this provides us with a way to do that,” resource teacher Laura Wells said. “The other purpose for x2VOL is to have students sign up for volunteer opportunities so it makes it easier to find opportunities on the community or organizations.”

Any student can use x2VOL to track hours of community service for honors societies or government hours. Additionally, students can use this program to fulfill service requirements to acquire the Service Learning Cord and Civic Seal; both are optional. x2VOL is still available to all FCPS students.

However, it has been providing a feature that allows students to pay for an official service transcript, similar to academic transcripts that are sent to colleges.

“The county just wanted to clarify that nobody needed an Offical Serivce Transcript.”

--MEAGAN PADGETT

x2VOL Coordinator

“You don’t need an official service transcript for a college. For the most part, you list all of your activities in the common app even a scholarship,” Wells said. “All you do is go to x2VOL and print out the activity log.”

FCPS decided to discontinue this feature because it isn’t necessary for students applying to college or in general.

“There was a mix up in the x2VOL. It should have never been an option in the first place. Students who registered in x2VOL with an email that wasn’t their school email where given the option to order an official servicelearning transcript,” x2VOL coordinator Meagan Padgett said.

The school’s transition from Family Connections to Naviance impacted the set up of x2VOL and was a factor to this mix-up. Those who happened to order the Official Service Transcript will receive a refund.

This year, the coordinator of x2VOL, Middle Years Program, and Service Learning are being passed from Wells to Padgett.

SPORTS X-TRA 15

BEYOND STRESSED

Senior Jasmine Phan works for hours on an overload of assignments every night after getting home from extracurricular activities and clubs at school.

Are students being overworked?

BY JUDE NANAW Co-Editor in Chief As senior Jasmine Phan roams the halls every school day going from class to class, she can’t help but think about her loaded agenda of tasks to complete. An IB Diploma candidate, Phan has adapted to having a schedule comprised of some of the most difficult classes available.

The typical school day yields Phan about four to five hours worth of assignments from homework to projects to studying for tests and quizzes. However, being such an involved student, there is hardly enough time in one day for her to fulfill all of her academic responsibilities.

“The most stressful part of school is trying to stay on top of my school work and to do well in my classes while also trying to maintain my other responsibilities,” Phan said.

“The process this year of being an IB Diploma candidate and applying to colleges at the same time hasn’t helped in reducing stress either.”

Being an IB Diploma candidate means that students take the most challenging courses available from junior to senior year. In recent years, AHS has seen its highest number of

IB Diploma candidates with 47 students graduating last year and 49 seniors and 50 juniors being candidates this year.

“I think that each IB class students take gets them more prepared for college,” IB Diploma Coordinator Linda Bradshaw said. “I try to support any student no matter how many IB courses they are taking.”

Students view being a diploma candidate as coming with its shares of positives and negatives.

“The best part of being an IB Diploma candidate is being surrounded by other students that are as academically motivated as me,” Phan said. “However, the worst part is definitely the anxiety and pressure that builds up with IAs, IB Exams and essays.”

Not only do diploma candidates have the most rigorous coursework, but many are involved in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs and honor societies that play a role in adding to students’ agenda of things to do.

Phan is no exception to this as she is in the Philharmonic Orchestra, a varsity tennis player, the Co-President of the Just World interact club, the secretary of the National English Honor Society and a member of a

plethora of other clubs and honor societies as well as being a volunteer at local hospitals.

With this being said, it begs the question that with many responsibilities on their plate, how has stress increased for these kinds of busy students?

An NYU study revealed major insight to the daily occurrences of students across the nation and how their stress levels and coping mechanisms may be driving them towards a direction of long term chronic stress and

“No doubt about it, not having as much homework would definitely relieve a lot of stress.”

--JASMINE PHAN

senior mental health issues.

The study shows that many subgroups of youth experience high levels of chronic stress to the extent that it impedes their ability to succeed academically. Not only this, but the chronic stress continues into the college years of these adolescents contributing to issues regarding mental health functioning and academic

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JUDE NANAW

BY KIMBERLY VAIDES Co-Editor in Chief

Senior Sarah Hawkins speaks on her transition from Field Hockey to Basketball

Informing the Atoms since 1954

4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003 www.thea-blast.org

FCPS removes offical service transcript

“FALL TO WINTER!”

disengagement.

The study mentions school work, college applications, extracurricular activities and parental expectations as all contributing to teenagers’ stress. The pressure for students to want to be accepted to top tier colleges and institutions is also noted by the study as a stressor for students.

“Having pressure from those around me to be accepted to a top school or university has only added to the pressure and strain on me this school year,” senior IB Diploma candidate Zuhair Rahman said. “There is just so much going on and I always feel like there is not enough time in the day to complete my work.”

The study continues by noting that a significant percentage of students surveyed have turned to substance use when under increased pressure.

38% of respondents mention alcohol use as a means of stress relief and 34% noted use of illegal substances such as marijuana in order to relieve their stress levels.

These unhealthy means of stress reduction can rather easily harm students in both the short and long term as the body can easily become reliant on these substances and access to them on a daily basis.

CONT. Page 5

Winter formal planned

Depression Awareness Program during W4

Leadership class advertises and introduces new idea for school event

MATTHEW DINH

BY JUDE NANAW Co-Editor In Chief This year’s Leadership class has been eager to implement new and creative ideas. Whether it has been pep rallies, Spirit Week or Homecoming, students have been working hard to enhance and add more to school activities.

One event making a comeback to AHS is the winter formal, which has not taken place for a number of years.

Earlier in the school year, Leadership students brainstormed different potential activities for the winter. A number of students suggested the idea of holding a winter formal.

“Other schools have winter formals and seem to enjoy it a lot,” Leadership president Vitalina Fuentes said.

The dance will feature a white winter theme as the jock lobby and gymnasium will be decorated and filled with snowflakes and lights.

“We want to keep the theme for the dance simple and cute,” Fuentes said.

Entry to the dance will be low-cost as prices are only $2 per ticket. Also available at the dance will be Chick-filA catering. Ticket prices for Chick-fil-A to be included with entry are $5.

Also featured at the winter formal will be AHS alumni Danny Nguyen as the DJ. Nguyen had a memorable performance as the DJ at this year’s

to take if one notice these signs in a friend or themselves.

“Depression is very preventable among teenagers and it’s something a During an extended W4, AHS lot of people deal with. It’s important for will hold a Wellness screening today them to get the help they need because and Thursday for current 10th gradsuicide is very preventable,” Otteheners as part of the SOS Signs of Suining said. cide Prevention Program.

There are other mental health supThroughout the years, this annuport systems in addition to school counal program has shown to be effective selors. The overall message is to inform among students as an increasing students about who to go to if they or a number seek help for either themfriend needs help. selves or for a friend.

After the video, there is At AHS, there are four a screening with a couple of clinicians available to questions. The answers are support students. Social evaluated to see and meet worker Christina Ferrari with students who need any and psychologist Andrea additional support.

Chambers are located “It’s really just a converin the cafeteria office. In sation about what’s going on addition, social worker and to see if they need any Alissa Green and psycholextra support,” Ottehenning LAURIE ogist Laurie Ottehenning said. “There’s a reason we OTTEHENNING are located in the Learnhave four mental health clipsychologist ing Center. nicians at school. It’s really The wellness screening Ottehenning is one of to provide support and that is provided throughout the the two school psychol- students are aware we’re county and at AHS it is ogist who is located at here. It’s our job to talk to given to 10th graders. the Learning Center. kids. We’re happy to help.”

“It feels like a good She is always available Students can reach out year because you have to help and support for help at any time throughadjusted to high school,” students. out the year. If a student Ottehenning said. “It is comes to a clinician, they will also good because we start be supportive if available or to notice those kinds of signs at this reach out to the student as soon as posage. You can be on the lookout for it sible. Resources at AHS have many and have the knowledge of what to connections in and outside of the school do for a friend” to make sure to a student is not alone The video in the presentation disin the process. cusses the signs of depression and warning signs of suicide. The video informs students appropriate actions

BY KIMBERLY VAIDES Co-Editor In Chief

Senior Han Gyul Chang paints a poster promoting the upcoming winter formal during pride time.

Homecoming.

“I’m really glad to hear that DJ Danny will be back at the winter formal because he was lit at homecoming,” senior Sam Abourakty said. “His freestyle was epic so I’m looking forward to going to the winter formal to see him perform again.”

For students interested in attending the winter formal, tickets will be sold in the cafeteria leading up to the date of the formal on Dec. 8. The event will last from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“I think the best part of having a winter formal is that we will see more students attend because the price is

very low when compared to homecoming,” Fuentes said. “The formal is also another thing to look forward to before the holidays.”

Following the winter formal, Leadership has scheduled a Spirit Week between Dec. 17 and Dec. 21.

Monday will be “PJ Day” day followed by “Ugly Sweater Day” on Tuesday. Wednesday will feature “Decades Day” where students can dress up in an outfit from a different time period.

Thursday will be a class colors day with freshman wearing green, sophomores wearing grey, juniors wearing blue and seniors wearing black.

2 EDITORIALS

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Midterms bring about mixed results

Hazing leads to deaths An underrated problem continues to rise in colleges

SOURCE OF DATA:ELIAS MOURA, 270TOWIN.COM

BY ABEL SAMSON Staff Writer

Democrats retake the house, Republicans further lead in Senate

Election night was exciting. The night started with people thinking Republicans were going to defy all expectations of political gravity. By the time the night was over, it looked sort of like what most people predicted.

The most important thing was historic voter turnouts. About 113 million people voted, around 48% of eligble voters. That is up from 83 million votes in 2014. The voter turnout is actually more comparable to the presidential elections in 2016 with 138.8 million voters. Overall, we believe that the historic midterms will leave a positive effect on the United States.

Wheter it’s the new balance of power with the House, the widening Senate gap, or the impressive number of women and races in Congress, the midterms proved interesting to say the least.

It was predicted that Democrats would win 45 seats, turned out they won 34. It was also predicted that Republicans would pick up 2-4 seats in the Senate, which they did. This has lead to a lot of puzzlement, how could the Republicans lose the House, but pick up seats in the Senate?

The math was uniquely bad for Democrats this time around in the Senate. Republicans did overperform, and yes President Trump had something to do with that. President Trump visited a bunch of battleground states in hotly contested Senate races, and

Man on the Street

Why do you think it’s important for everyone to go out and vote?

every place he visited, that candidate still lost his race. won.

All that said Beto O’Rourke and President Trump has a unique gift other candidates still lost their camfor getting the base revved up, particpagins after spending tons of money. ularly in close Senate elections that do On top of that, Andrew Gillum goes matter. down in Florida, who was another perSo he does have coattails when it son according to polls, was going to comes to getting the base out, he does win. Ron DeSantis instead, comes from have reverse coattails however, when behind and snatches victory from what it comes to House races. Virtually should have been a defeat. DeSanevery purple seat that was contested, tis and Scott will come up and prove every seat in the suburban district that why they’re great represtatives for the Republicans held, state. went to Democrats As days passed, last night. That it looked like the is deeply troumidterm results bling for Repubwere not all in and licans. Howevrecounts have taken 41% Health Care er, a Democratic place. Florida and house is overall Arizona are both 23% Immigration good for the counstates in which the try, as it will limit GOP have achieved some of the execbig victories on the 21% Economy utive power in the night of the eleccountry. tions.

11% Gun Policy More localHowever in the ly, Senator Tim following days, Kaine won big thousands of mysover Republican candidate Corey terious votes began to appear in mostStewart. Personally, we have never ly Democratic leaning areas and the agreed with Tim Kaine in the past, Democrats demanded a recount. and I doubt I will in the future. HowevThis seems just a bit fishy and it er, he is the representative Virginians brings up the question to what is actuselected. As expected, Northern Virally going on. ginia went completed Democratic, with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida Gerry Connolly and Jennifer Wexton tweeted out, “Now democrat lawyers winning in Districts 10 and 11. are descending on #Florida. They have The good news for Republicans is been very clear they aren’t here to that the ‘beloved’ campagins of canmake sure every vote is counted; They didates Beto O’Rourke of Texas and are here to change the results of the Andrew Gilliam of Florida came to an election and #Broward is where they end. Beto O’Rourke had spent more plan to do it.” money than God has, $70 million, and The Democrats basically confirmed

Issues that voters care most about:

Source: msnbc.com

BY ELIAS MOURA AND JUDE NANAW Editorials Editor and Co-Editor in Chief

this in a press conference where they said they aren’t just here to recount, they’re here to win.

I don’t believe anyone has a problem with the recounts taking place, the problem lies with them focusing just on two counties. Bay County got hit by a category 4 hurricane four weeks prior to the elections and they still had a 52% voter turnout and got all the ballots in on time.

Broward County wasn’t hit by a catastrophic hurricane or anything of the sorts, so people don’t see a reason to why counting is still taking place 48 hours later.

Another problem is the amount of votes that have happened. They don’t know how many votes they have gotten and neither do we. How many ballots are left to count? They won’t make a mention of it and tell nobody. Results still came up with a Rick Scott victory however, and it appears the Democratic candidate is now leading in Arizona.

There was no “blue wave,” if there was, the Senate would be under democratic control, which it isn’t. In governor elections, Republicans won big as well in Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts, all blue states that were supposed to win those races.

The Republicans defied most expectations and actually grew their majority in the Upper House, which has not been a common occurrence in the past 100 years. The loses in the House were a lot less historical than what people predicted as well.

TIM THOMAS principal “I think everyone voting is crucial because it represents how our democacy comes to life and that’s one of the most valuable oppurtunities that we have in the United States. It’s should be taken seriously and is a great oppurtunity to influence our leaders.”

ANGELA FLORIO Instructional coach “I think it’s important to vote because you can put people that share your viewpoints in power and that is important for our future. “

EPHRATA YOHANNES senior “I think it’s important to vote because for the first time, you aren’t the future, for the first time you are the present. You have one powerful voice to be heard and this is the time where you can make change. You don’t have to be rich or go to Harvard.”

WILLIAM TIPPINS safety and security specialist “I think it’s important because that way whoever you may vote for, you’re getting a choice to choose a candidate to hear your voice and put plans into action.”

LIM BAHAR freshman “You can get your voice heard and what you really care about out. If you don’t vote than what you wanna say is never going to be heard.”

LILLI DALRYMPLE freshman “I think it’s important because we can our own saw in who runs our countryu and that means our opinions could be heard and put into action.”

MANAGING EDITOR Casey Nguyen NEWS EDITOR Jude Nanaw Kim Vaides

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Cameron Foti Christian Reyes Matthew Dinh Ayman Elhag

AD MANAGER Ethan Zimmerman

ADVISER Alan Weintraut

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Kayla Holcomb

LIFESTYLES EDITOR Maryam Dereje

CIRCULATION MANAGER Ethan Zimmerman

Annandale High School Vol 64. Issue No. 3 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

PEOPLE EDITOR Jamie Hamadeh

STAFF WRITERS Ladan Abdi Robin Han Jasmin Harris Bismaa Khan Fatima Mohamed Marian Osman Manoucher Precht Thonny Anwar Dilan Yousif Ivanna Perez Mia Antezana Garcia Jane Elkins Tyler Plank Abel Samson Eyob Dagnachew Shyeim Campbell Jacqueline Claros Lopez Abraham Kebrom

EDITORIALS EDITORS Elias Moura Luke Elkins

ARTS EDITOR Galilea Sejas

COPY EDITOR Thomas Ray

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Yabi Bereket

IN-DEPTH EDITORS Suad Mohamed Henry Hoang

HEALTH EDITOR Manny Precht

SPORTS EDITORS Alex Burita Eric Rivas-Martinez SPORTS X-TRA EDITORS Fares Ayoub Adam Shawish WEEKEND EDITOR Katie Pope

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Jessica Salisbury ACADEMICS EDITOR Khadija Ahmed SPANISH EDITOR Frances Montevilla SPANISH ADVISER Mauren Hunt WEB EDITOR/MASTER Victor Nguyen

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Published monthly, The A-Blast will not print any material that is obscene or libelous; or that which substantially disrupts the school day, or invades an individual’s right to privacy. The A-Blast is an independent, open forum for discussion that is printed at the Springfield Plant of The Washington Post.

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“It’s crazy to think that some people would actually hurt their teammates in any way outside of sports.”

--ALEX BELLEM

senior

assaulting a teammate.

After a practice during the team’s football season, the Tuscarora players held their teammate down and allegedly “inserted objects into the victim.”

The event came unexpected to the team as they were completely thrown off and felt as if they weren’t safe anymore. The team cancelled practice for two days, but none of their games were cancelled.

Incidents like these raise concern for other schools, students, and coaches.

If you would like to see a perspective of what being hazed is like, watch the movie Burning Sands. It is a Netflix Original which is based off of a group of friends that attend Frederick Douglass University. They are pledges for an African-American fraternity group who undergo a series of violent hazing tactics.

In conclusion, the prevention of hazing must be spread in schools throughout the country. Students must report to authorities if they experience or witness an act of abuse towards a pledge or a teammate.

Monthly Poll

THE A BLAST STAFF CO-EDITORS IN CHIEF Jude Nanaw Kim Vaides

Another case of hazing has occured.

Hazing is broadly known as a type of initiation for newcomers participating in clubs or sports in both high school and college. Hazing is nothing new.

Fraternities have been beating and torturing pledges as part of initiations the last 200 years.

A highschool in Maryland had the same problem. Damascus Highschool, a football powerhouse, has been in the news for a sexual harrasment form of hazing. Teammates were assualted with a broomstick and Montgomery County has taken disciplinary action with charging three teens with second degree rape.

“It’s crazy to think that some people could actually hurt their teammates in any way outside of sports,”senior Alex Bellem said. “ Coach Maglisceau does not allow hazing. He warned us last season that he doesn’t want to see or hear any type of actions regarding that.”

College students are all aware that fraternities include actions of hazing. But it is guaranteed that no high schooler expects their teammates to violate them in such a way.

Cases regarding hazing have risen in recent times. In the month of October, eight cases related to hazing have been reported. Tuscarora High School, located in Leesburg, Virginia, was put under investigation after three football players were accused of sexually

Look out for the next poll @theablast on Twitter to vote for the next issue!

29 people voted 34% said that turkey is their favorite.

21% said that stuffing is their favorite.

10% said that pumpkin pie was their favorite.

35%

said that mashed potatoes and gravy was their favorite.

AKLESIYA ABEBE senior “I love Thanksgiving because it gives us the opportunity to come together as a family to celebrate traditions that we have and it’s nice to be grateful for all the things we have.”

KIDUS AYELE senior “I have a lot of family members who live in different states, so this holiday is the perfect time to catch up. Also, I love Thanksgiving food, especially turkey and mashed potates; It’s the perfect excuse to overeat and not get judged.”

EDITORIALS 3

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Daylight Saving Time: Is it worth it?

Timeline of Daylight Saving Time

BY LUKE ELKINS Editorials Editor Daylight Saving Time ended this weekend, and clocks around the U.S. were shifted an hour back, giving everyone an extra hour of sleep.

Everyone loves getting an extra hour of sleep, but many people question whether Daylight Saving Time is worth the headaches it causes.

Contrary to popular belief, Daylight Saving Time was not introduced to benefit farmers. Many farmers actually opposed the initial introduction of Daylight Saving Time when it was first experimented with during World War I to increase productivity during wartime. The sun, not the clock, dictated farmers’ schedules, so daylight saving was very disruptive to them.

Therefore, the argument that Daylight Saving Time exists for the agriculture industry isn’t really valid, as most farmers have their own schedule based around the sunrise and sunset.

Many advocates of Daylight Saving Time argue that it saves energy, but that really isn’t the case.

A U.S. Department of Transportation study in the 1970s concluded that total electricity savings associated with daylight saving time amounted to about 1% in the spring and fall months. This was supposedly due to the lessened usage of indoor lighting due to the adjusted hours from Daylight Saving Time. In modern society, our use of technology is so extensive that any saved energy from usage of lighting would be negligible.

According to a study by University of

1784 Benjamin Franklin comes up with the idea of Daylight Saving Time

1914-18

Britain becomes the first country to actually undertake Daylight Saving Time during World War I

1918 The Standard Time Act is passed and it establishes Daylight Saving Time. But, it was repealed a year later, although some states continued to follow it

1966 The Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes Daylight Saving Time throughout the United States, although states can exempt themselves if they would like to

1974-75

Turning it back Senior Sam Phan displays his Apple Watch, which automatically changed to the correct time during Daylight Saving Time.

California Santa Barbara economists, they calculated that Indiana’s move to statewide daylight saving time in 2006 led to a 1% rise in residential electricity use through additional demand for air conditioning on summer evenings and heating in early spring and late fall mornings. This shows the uselessness of Daylight Saving Time in terms of saving energy, as in this case it actually increased energy usage.

Daylight Saving Time is also negative for our health. Changing the time, even by an hour, disrupts our circadian rhythm, also known as our

sleep/wake cycle.

The resulting tiredness can be just an inconvenience for some, but it can be more serious for others. A study by two professors from Michigan State University concluded that Daylight Saving Time causes a 67.6% decrease in productivity at workplaces and a 5.7% increase in workplace injuries.

If this is the result in a workplace, imagine the effect in the U.S. population as a whole.

The loss of sleep thanks to Daylight Saving Time can contribute to other health issues like heart attacks and

traffic accidents. Daylight Saving Time also contributes to seasonal affective disorder, which is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. This is thanks to the early evening darkness, which can negatively affect the mood of some people.

Daylight Saving Time has caused non-stop debate on if the function should even exist. It’s quite evident that it has many drawbacks, and not many positives. Daylight Saving Time would not be missed.

Congress extends Daylight Saving Time to save energy during the energy crisis

1986-2006 Policy sets Daylight Saving Time to be from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October

2007 George Bush signs the Energy Policy Act which extends Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November

2018 Currently, Arizona, Hawaii, and U.S. overseas territories do not observe Daylight Saving Time

Students should think twice about Black Friday

BY THONNY ANWAR Staff Writer Stampedes, fights and severe exhaustion. Black Friday may seem like an innocent day to purchase items at their lowest prices, but that cannot be further from the truth. The attraction to sales make people crazy and greedy rather than thankful, resulting in a violent day where all common sense is abandoned.

There have been many deaths and injuries over the past years on Black Friday. For instance, in 2016, a shopper shot someone over a parking spot in front of Walmart. Despite the tragedy, the store stayed open for other Black Friday shoppers while police officers investigated the scene.

In 2013, a teenager named Patrick Henry Boyd died because he fell asleep at the wheel after a late night Black Friday shopping spree. He ran off the

What is your opinion on Black Friday?

road and hit a sign in front of a gas station, landing himself and the four other passengers of the car in the hospital.

Some people remember Black Friday solely as the day they bought that cute pink sweater from Forever 21 or scored a pair of usually expensive sneakers from Foot Locker. What about the vast majority of people who get into a brawl or slammed into a wall?

“When I was ten years old, I walked into Best Buy thinking I would come out with a new iPad,” sophomore Kalkedan Gashaw said. “I was there for a good five minutes before some stranger running to the checkout line slammed his hand into my face knocking me off balance. My face was so red, I never even got an apology.”

Senior Onik Anwar shares the same uneasy feeling toward Black Friday.

“Last year, I was at Tysons Corner with my baby sister,” Anwar said.

ADWOA OWUSU freshman “Black Friday is way too busy. You can’t even go to any stores on Black Friday because everyone else is trying to get good stuff for those low prices, so you can’t get anything. I do not plan on participating in it, not at all.”

BILAN OSMAN freshman “I don’t really care about Black Friday.

I don’t go shopping enough to really care about getting stuff for cheaper. I think the extent that people go to during Black Friday is pretty dumb.”

“There was this guy who was pushing his way through a store, and he tripped over my sister’s stroller. I guess he hurt his wrist badly because he started moaning and holding onto it while rocking back and forth. His friend started yelling and telling me to watch where I was going. We started arguing for a long time, but I decided to be the bigger person and walk away.”

Black Friday sales aren’t just available in stores. They can also be found online for a longer period of time.

Why freeze in the cold when you can shop from the comfort of your home?

“I hate walking around, especially in a crowd and when there’s so much noise. Online shopping is the way for me,” sophomore Elsa Amoya said.

There’s no denying that Black Friday helps a lot of people save money and get a start on their Christmas shopping, but people should be able to do that without putting themselves at risk.

MELITA NKEMBE sophomore “I think it’s really good, there’s a lot of stuff on sale that we can get for a good price. Shops are open, and there’s a lot of stuff to do. As far as crazy crowds, I’ll do anything to get my presents, so anything goes.”

MAKIN’ THE GRADE Midterm elections reach new milestones

1. Element 55-inch smart UHD TV for $199.99 (originally $399.99) on Target.

2. Sony PlayStation 4 1 TB Spiderman Bundle for $199.99 (originally $299.99) on Target.

3. iPad Pro 64 gb for $125 off on Meijer.

4. Beats Pill+ Speaker for $129.99 (originally $229.99) on Best Buy. 5. GoPro HERO5 Black 4K Action Camera for $249.99 (originally $299.99) on Best Buy.

ZUHAIR RAHMAN senior “It’s definitely overrated, espicially with people trying to kill each other over it and going to stores and camping out. It is very efficient thanks to the prices and the discounts you get, but it’s ridiculous how early you’d have to get up.”

SAM ABOURAKTY senior “I’m not a big fan of Black Friday because I don’t like big crowds.

I tried once and the deals aren’t that big of a bargain. I do not plan on going this year, safety comes first.”

EPHRATA YOHANNES senior “Black Friday is pretty dumb in my opinion.

It’s so materialistic, and it really bothers me the extent that people go to to get deals.

People really turn into animals.”

JULIA HANNEMAN english teacher “I don’t particularly care for Black Friday.

I have never gone Black Friday shopping.

I’ve never been one of those people who go to the store when it opens. People get a litte animalistic with the pushing and stampeding.”

Cartoonist Corner

As election results came in on Nov. 6, many milestones were reached across the U.S. The first Native American women were elected in Congress in New Mexico (Sharice Davids, D) and Kansas (Deb Haaland, D). Also, the first Muslim women were elected to Congress in Michigan (Rashida Tlaib, D) and Minnesota (Ilhan Omar, D). Also, in Colorado, the first openly gay governor was elected (Jared Polis, D).

Amazon’s new HQ in Arlington Amazon is in advanced talks about putting its second headquarters in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, VA. It’s a likely candidate due to its proximity to the D.C. area and lawmakers as well as its proximity to CEO Jeff Bezos’s house. The other proposed location is Austin, Texas, but Arlington appears to be a more likely choice. The new HQ will add a lot of job possibilities, but it may disrupt housing and transit in the area.

2nd quarter begins After a stressful last couple weeks in the first quarter, the quarter ended and now students and teachers have to get ready for a whole new quarter. The first quarter is often considered the easiest quarter by many as it is like an introduction to the topics that will be studied over the year, so teachers and students will need to buckle down and get ready to teach and learn.

Motel 6 After a class-action lawsuit, Motel 6 agreed to pay upwards of $7.6 million to guests who accused the chain of distributing their private information to U. S. immigration agents. The lawsuit came after a 2017 Pheonix New Times report that ICE agents made at least 20 arrests at two different Motel 6 locations in Arizona.

ERNEST OWEN

A B C F

MITCHELL EGGERT junior “I think it’s great. They have good deals.and it’s good for buying stuff like new clothes and electronics. People shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to get good stuff for such a cheap price.”

Five Black Friday deals you can get online

4 NOTICIAS DESTACADAS

REPRINTED UNDER PERMISSIONS OF PEDRO PARDO / AFP / GETTY

Martes, Nov. 13, 2018

Comenzando su viaje el 13 de octubre, la caravana de migrantes de Honduras deja Arriaga en el sur de México y se dirige al norte hacia los Estados Unidos.

Caravana de migrantes viaja hacia la frontera de EE.UU. POR FRANCES MONTEVILLA Editor de Noticias El 13 de octubre en San Pedro Sula, Honduras, una caravana de migrantes comenzó su viaje al norte hacia Guatemala, México y los Estados Unidos. Las razones por las que la gente huyó de Honduras fue para escapar de la pobreza extrema y la violencia en el país.

Hombres y mujeres de todas las edades están participando en este movimiento. Algunos viajan con su familia, otros viajan sin amigo o familiar.

Según Univisión, hay la posibilidad de que la caravana de migrantes fue llamada a través de publicaciones en sitios web de los medios sociales bajo el lema “no nos

vamos porque queremos: nos expulsan la violencia y la pobreza” desde el 5 de octubre.

“La gente huye porque no tiene trabajo y el violencia es insostenible”, dijo Bartolo Fuentes, un periodista independiente que es exdiputado del Partido Libre.

Añade que es más seguro que los migrantes viajen en grupos grandes en vez de solos debido a la posibilidad de ser violados o asesinados.

El actual Presidente en poder en Honduras es Juan Hernández, parte del Partido Nacional quien es en su segundo mandato después de ser reelegido en 2017. Sin embargo, se suponía que era ilegal postularse para el cargo por segunda vez, debido a que la Constitución hondureña lo afirmaba, pero Hernández fue

capaz de desafiarlo. Esta es la razón por la cual muchos hondureños creen que su democracia gubernamental se está deteriorando con Hernández como Presidente.

Desde su perspectiva, cree que la caravana de migrantes es un medio para que los hondureños desestabilicen al gobierno.

“Es de todos conocido que existen grupos interesados en desestabilizar el país, pero creo que han rebasado los límites al usar seres humanos, niños y ancianos como bandera de lucha sin importar poner en riesgo la vida de estos compatriotas,” dijo Hernández.

Actualmente, hay 4.000 migrantes en la caravana, previamente predichos para ser 7.000, pero el número

de octubre: “¡Esto es una invasión de nuestro país y nuestro ejército lo está esperando!”

Sin embargo, esto es una idea errónea. La intención de la mayoría de los migrantes es buscar asilo, no entrar ilegalmente en el país. De hecho, algunos ya tienen documentos de viaje y visados válidos, lo que significa que pueden viajar libremente.

Cuando los migrantes se unen a la caravan, son muy conscientes de los problemas que están esperando por delante. A pesar de ser rechazado por la oposición, la caravan de migrantes es un poder que no para y forma un sentimiento de unidad entre personas de diferentes orígenes para una meta: la paz.

podría ascender hasta 15.000, según el Washington Post.

Mientras la caravana viaja hacia el norte, otros grupos migratorios de Guatemala y El Salvador se han unido para sentirse seguros.

Aunque los migrantes dicen que buscan asilo, el Presidente Donald Trump no piensa lo mismo. Según el Washington Post, Trump dice que la caravan es una inmigración ilegal y consiste de criminales y terroristas que traen enfermedades.

Debido a esto, él culpa a los demócratas por no aprobar más legislación estricta sobre las políticas migratorias estadounidenses en el Congreso.

Donald Trump se dirigió a la caravana sin parar en un Tuit realizado el 29

España está a punto de ser el país con la esperanza de vida más larga POR FRANCES MONTEVILLA Editor de Noticias Actualmente, Japón es primero de todo los países con la esperanza de vida más larga, tendiendo 83.4 años. Según el análisis de CNN del reporte del Instituto de Métricas de la Salud y Evaluación en la revista Lancet, esto cambiará con la predicción de España tomando el primer lugar en 2040 con una esperanza de vida siendo de 85.8 años, bajando Japón a segundo lugar.

Sin embargo, esto no es predeterminado, sino que depende en las costumbres de las personas en esos países, y también la asistencia de sus gobiernos. Los factores que más afectan las esperanzas de vida son la presión arterial alta, el alto índice de masa corporal, el alto nivel de azúcar en la sangre, el consumo de tabaco y el consumo de alcohol.

En España, las personas siguen una dieta mediterránea. Esta dieta incluye comidas a base de plantas, con sólo pequeñas cantidades de carne magra y pollo y más porciones de verduras, frutas, legumbres, granos sin refinar, aceite de oliva y pescado. Según CNN, seguir la dieta mediterránea puede reducir el riesgo de muerte en un 25% para las personas mayores.

Además de esto, España tiene un sistema de asistencia médica que es considerado uno de los mejores del mundo.

Esto es debido a que el país gasta casi el 10% de su producto interno bruto (PIB), según Expatica. El sistema de asistencia médica garantiza una cobertura universal que no necesita gastos de los pacientes, aparte de pagar una proporción de los cargos por prescripción.

El estado de salud que tiene España muestra que es posible tener un país saludable del que pueden beneficiarse a las personas que viven en ese país; simplemente necesitan la ayuda del gobierno.

Esperanza de vida para 2040 en años 85.8

Inmigrantes regresan a sus países nativos POR BRENDA HUAMANI Escritor de Personal En 1990, El Salvador fue el primer país en recibir TPS (Estatus de Protección Temporal) por el Congreso como programa humanitario. Permitió que las personas de países en estado desestabilizado por catástrofes y guerras vinieran legalmente a los Estados Unidos.

También les dio la posibilidad de renovar un

permiso de trabajo cada 18 meses, permitiéndoles obtener trabajos legales y cumplir con sus necesidades, no sólo las de ellos pero las de sus familias. Además de eso, les dio la oportunidad de viajar de ida y vuelta a sus países en casos de emergencias sin sanciones.

Después de 28 años, se está revocando el TPS en varios países debido a la suposición de que estos países ahora son suficientemente estables y seguros para que puedan regresar. Muchas de

las personas con TPS han creado familias y amistades y junto con eso, se han adaptado a la sociedad de los Estados Unidos.

Para muchos, les permitió estudiar y trabajar al mismo tiempo, lo que les permitió desarrollarlo en una carrera.

Según USA TODAY, además de El Salvador, el TPS también se está revocando para los países de Honduras, Nicaragua, Sudán, Nepal y Haití, con un total de más de 300,000 personas en todo el país.

Dado que miles de ellos pudieron trabajar legalmente, varios abrieron pequeñas empresas que tendrían que cerrar en todas partes del país debido a la retirada del TPS. Estas mismas personas mezclan en nuestra sociedad porque han vivido aquí más de la mitad de sus vidas y se han adaptado a la vida diaria.

Con las numerosas familias creadas y los niños traídos a edades tan jóvenes, tendrán que irse involuntariamente de un

lugar que consideren su hogar.

Según AFSC, a lo largo de una década, la pérdida de trabajadores le costaría a los Estados Unidos más de 45 mil millones de dólares en la pérdida del PIB, además de otras contribuciones a varios programas.

A partir de ahora, el TPS está programado para ser retirado, pero se han presentado varios proyectos de ley en el Congreso que podrían detener y proteger a los recipientes del TPS.

85.7

85.4

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84.5 SOURCE CNN

¿Crees que después de 28 años es correcto revocar el TPS?

Humanos de Annandale Señor Carlos Profesor de español DANIELA AVENDANO freshman “Creo que está mal que se los regresen a sus países porque tienen a su familia aquí y está mal.”

FERNANDO MACHADO sophomore “No, porque separa a las familias y destruye vidas para las personas que vinieron aquí hace mucho tiempo.”

MADISON CRUZ sophomore “No, porque muchas personas han puesto en incontables horas de trabajo para llegar hasta aquí y revocar el TPS básicamente quitaría todo lo que estas personas han puesto.”

KARLA MERCADO junior “Creo que esto está mal porque los receptores de TPS obtuvieron la protección que necesitaban y, al mismo tiempo, contribuyeron a la economía y la vida en general del país.”

CRISTIAN ALFARO junior “No, porque muchos de los países todavía están en malas condiciones y es inhumano mandar a las personas de regreso a un lugar donde no estarían seguros.”

GRICELDA MOLINA senior “No, porque estas personas tienen toda su vida aquí en los Estados Unidos y tendrían que dejar todo para volver a un lugar que probablemente apenas recuerdan.”

Ex-delincuentes de Florida luchan por su derecho a votar en la cuarta enmienda POR FRANCES MONTEVILLA Editor de Noticias

millones delincuentes liberados quedan excluidos de la votación, lo que incluye al menos 180.000 hispanos.

Entre estos hispanos están Caridad Galán y Ángel Sánchez, quienes fueron entrevistados por Univision para discutir su situación.

Caridad Galán es una intérprete que vive en

UNIVISIÓN

El 6 de noviembre, las elecciones de medio término se llevarán a cabo. Sin embargo, esto no incluye a los ex-delincuentes de Florida.

En Florida, la ley dificulta que los delincuentes recuperen sus derechos civiles.

En la votación de la Florida de este año, los votantes tienen la oportunidad de votar para alterar la cuarta enmienda, Caridad Galán y Ángel Sánchez son que es la iniciativa de la uno de los miles de ex delincuentes restauración de que no tienen derecho a votar. los derechos de voto para los Pensacola con su segundo delincuentes. La enmienda esposo, su hijo Carlos de 16 4 restablecería el derecho de años y su hijo adoptivo de 2 voto a los ex delincuentes, a años. En 1991, fue condenada excepción de los condenados a 18 años por un cargo de por homicidio u ofensa sexual. conspiración relacionada con Según Univisión, el tráfico de drogas de su aproximadamente 1.4 esposo colombiano. Debido a

su buen comportamiento, sólo cumplió 10 años y fue liberada en 2000.

Sin embargo, Carlos y ella no están en buenos términos porque la habían condenado cuando tenía 6 años, lo que le causó mucho sufrimiento y problemas de enojo.

Además de sus problemas familiares, luchó por encontrar un trabajo después de ser liberada, ya que se identificó con ser una convicta criminal. A la edad de 53 años, las consecuencias de sus acciones continúan, ya que todavía no puede votar desde 1992.

“No tener voz es horrible.

Es como tener una mordaza en la boca,” Galán dijo.

Angel Sanchez reside en Florida como estudiante de derecho, quien se graduó de la Universidad de Florida Central en ciencias políticas.

Ahora, estudia derecho en la Universidad de Maryland y fue invitado a la Universidad de Harvard para dar un discurso.

Sin embargo, durante su adolescencia, se involucró

en pandillas y, a la edad de 16 años, estuvo varias veces en detención de menores, lo que lo llevó a ser condenado como adulto a 30 años.

Sin embargo, luchó por su educación a través de preparatoria en la prisión.

Solamente sirvió 15 años debido a que había errores en su proceso de su sentencia, lo que lo llevó a inscribirse en el colegio comunitario.

Ahora a los 36 años, sigue pagando por sus acciones inmaduras en su juventud.

Sánchez dijo, “Algunas personas dicen que cualquier prisionero puede sobrevivir en la sociedad si realmente lo desea, pero creo que estar dispuesto a hacerlo es solo la mitad de la historia; sin la ayuda compasiva de quienes están en posición de ayudar, cualquier sacrificio en el mundo no tendría sentido.”

La única manera que pueden cambiar la situación de los ex-delincuentes es por los floridanos estadounidenses que van a las locaciones de votación a votar para la enmienda 4.

El Sr. Carlos fue un veterano militar por 28 años. Comenzó como un soldado alistado y luego se convirtió en un coronel. Ha estado en países como Vietnam, Corea, Panamá, Perú, España, Turquía y Grecia. Después de ser coronel, regresó a la universidad, donde el ejército pagó una licenciatura y una maestría, también usó el GI Bill para asistir a la escuela de leyes y obtener un título de abogado. ¿Cuál es su país de herencia?

“Yo nací en California, de padres y abuelos que también nacieron en California, Texas y Colorado. Pero como hay una influencia hispana tan grande en esos lugares, siempre me he sentido como parte de la experiencia hispana en los Estados Unidos. Y como me case con una española de Madrid, entonces la influencia hispana se ha reforzado.” ¿De qué manera contribuyes a la comunidad hispana?

“Fui tesorero y encargado de las becas de la organización Hispanic Leadership Council of Fairfax County. Y en mis clases en Annandale intentó impartir el conocimiento de las diferentes culturas que comprenden lo que se llama la cultura hispana Como bien sabemos, los sabores, la música, y las costumbres caribeños, centroamericanos, andinos etc. forman ese gran mosaico que contribuye a lo que orgullosamente somos.” ¿Está orgulloso de ser hispano?

“Estoy muy orgulloso de verme como hispano dentro de este maravilloso país. Espero que ese orgullo se traslade a todos. Y como mi familia y yo fuimos militares, pudimos representar no solo a nuestro pais, sino tambien a esa parte tan importante como es la cultura hispana.”

Why is this page translated in Spanish?

This section was created with the intention of expanding our reach as a publication towards the growing population of Spanish-speaking students. As one of the most diverse schools in Fairfax County, Spanish has become the second most spoken language at our school, accompanied with an extensive ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program.

The goal of The A-Blast is to inform and entertain the largest possible group of readers. Las Noticias Destacadas is a collection of articles of relevant news affecting the hispanic community, written in Spanish. We hope that this section will allow the A-Blast to be a more inclusive and diverse newspaper.

NEWS 5

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

First Monopoly tournament a success New board game contest draws attention as participants enjoy competitiveness

Clausen Hall filled with competitive spirit on Nov. 10 as the first ever AHS Monopoly Tournament took place.

A classic fast-dealing property trading board game, Monopoly is a staple across the country.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. teachers, students and parents battled it out to earn the grand prize of $200 and a Monopoly board game.

English teacher Bill Maglisceau was the victor of the tournament and received the grand prize.

Registration for the contest was $15 for adults and $10 for students with all proceeds going to the PTSA. The PTSA raised approximately $150 from the event and 10 Monopoly board games were donated by AHS families for use in the tournament.

The contest began with Assistant Principal Brian Valentine who is ranked within the top-three Monopoly players in the world, explaining the rules and process of the tournament.

After this, the 24 participants were divided into six randomized table groups. In the first round, the groups went on for an hour and 15 minutes. Valentine filtered around the room answering player questions about game rules.

At the conclusion of the first round, each player totaled their amount of assets.

After a short break, players were organized into new table groups for another round that lasted another hour and 15 minutes. After the second round, the top 16 players were selected and advanced to the semi final qualifiers round with Maglisceau, senior Alex Bellem, and safety

JUDE NANAW

BY JUDE NANAW Co-Editor in Chief

Senior Alex Bellem (left) moves his piece on the Monopoly board after a turn and Math teacher Evaristo Martins (Right) deals money as the broker for the first round of the day at the Monopoly tournament. and security assistant Carl Klein leading the pack.

“I would say the Monopoly tournament went really well,” Bellem

“I was really grateful that the PTSA set up the tournament. It was a cool event and something new.”

--BILL MAGLISCEAU

English teacher said. “I really enjoyed the competition between everyone.”

The group of top 16 semi final qualifiers were then whittled down to the four final competitors for the championship game. The championship game

he clinched victory.

“I was really grateful that the PTSA set up the tournament,” Maglisceau said. “It was a cool event and something new.”

With the success of the first ever Monopoly tournament at AHS, there is potential for the PTSA to hold a second contest in the spring.

“The Monopoly tournament was very successful,” PTSA President Norma Foti said. “During planning, I wasn’t sure what to expect or how it would come together, but I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome for our first tournament.”

“I would most definitely participate again if there were a second tournament,” Bellem said. “I really started to enjoy the game of Monopoly and strategizing more and more as the tournament went on.”

included Maglisceau, Klein, freshman Patrick Diconi and Millbrook high school senior Luke Churchill.

After the results were tallied by Valentine, it was determined that Maglisceau was the official winner of the tournament.

The rankings were scored by total assets including properties, buildings, etc. so players strategized the best way to be in the lead after each respective round.

“I realized that other players throughout the game were looking to have money rather than properties,” Maglisceau said. “I decided that I was going to try to have as many buildings on my hotels and houses as possible because ending the game with a bunch of cash didn’t mean a lot for winning overall.”

Maglisceau led throughout the first two rounds to the championship where

CONT. Stress Often times as a school day progresses, students can be seen as sluggish and tired. This lack of sleep or sleep deprivation of high school students is largely due to academic and school work keeping students up very late into the night.

“I usually end up not getting home until pretty late in the day throughout a regular school week,” Rahman said. “I either end up staying awake until 1 or 2 a.m. working on my assignments or I decide to go to bed at 12 a.m. and just wake up earlier the next morning to complete my work.”

Being drowsy and fatigued throughout a school day is by no means a positive plan for student success. Moreover, students have attempted to counteract this in an unhealthy manner.

“When I don’t get enough sleep or I know that I’m going to be staying up late, I make sure to have something with caffeine in it like a coke,” Rahman said. “In the morning I’m usually really sleepy so I either drink coffee or have an energy drink like Red Bull or Monster to wake myself up a bit.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that data from Youth Risk Behavior Surveys revealed that 73% of high school students across 30 states are not receiving enough sleep. The CDC noted as part of their report that adolescents who did not get the recommended amount of sleep for their age group would be at increased risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and poor mental health.

With this data being extremely problematic and concerning for high school students across the country, there are a number of things from organization to planning that can help in stress reduction.

“I try to prioritize what I believe are the most important things for me to do first by making lists because it makes me feel more organized,” Phan said.

Despite different things students can do to be more organized, the greater issue is yet to be resolved.

All signs point to students being overworked by the very way in which the school system has been set up.

News briefs Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Break will start on Wednesday, November 21 until Friday, November 23.

SAT Administration The SAT will be administered on Dec.1.

Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. and doors will close at 8:00 a.m.

Another will be on Nov. 3.

Fall Play ATC will be presenting their fall production of “(Anon) myous” on Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m in the auditorium. Tickets are being sold at all lunches and at the door.

IB Information Night An IB Information Night will be offered on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at Clausen Hall. Underclassmen and parents are welcomed.

College Information A College Information Night for Hispanic families will be offered on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. at Clausen Hall. Underclassmen and parents are welcomed.

Course Orientations Course orientations for juniors will take place on Dec. 10 during W4 and Pride Time in Clausen Hall. Orientation for sophomores will be on Dec. 12.

Class of 2013 alumni Julia Copenhaver is currently detained at Brunswick County jail in Nortwithout bail. worked. She will be missed. Her family will be in my thoughts and prayers.”

According to Wilmington Star News, Julia Copenhaver is currently being detained at Brunswick County jail without bail, where she has already been charged with a malicious conduct due to spitting at a jailer.

Alumni basketball game planned

BY KIMBERLY VAIDES Co-Editor In Chief The athletics department and boosters club announced a new annual alumni basketball game that will take place on Jan. 5 in the main gym at 6 p.m.

“It’s the Saturday before we come back from school. We felt like students would be itching to get out of the house because they’ve been at home for two weeks without anything to do,” Student Activities Director John Ellenberger said. “It is going to bring the community together just to have a fun night.”

Any alumni women or men basketball player, young or old generation, is welcomed to join and register. The registration fee is $5 for each player.

The announcement of the alumni team draft for women and men teams will be Dec. 10 on the AHS Athletics Twitter.

Teams must have at least 5 players to

qualify. Basketballs and jerseys will be provided for players.

Depending on how many alumni register, there can be two games that have games between the older and younger generation.

The inspiration for this fundraiser event came from Coach Fawn Tucker.

Tucker recalled that in Alabama there had been an annual alumni basketball game that fundraised for boys and girls basketball teams. Tucker brought up the idea to the boosters and to Ellenberger.

“The coaches are always looking for ways to raise money. They want to have stuff for their kids whether it’s warm-ups, shooting shirts, spirit wear, and uniforms,” Ellenberger said.

Instructional Assistant Mohamed. Khalid is going to DJ throughout the event and the Dance team will perform at halftime.

The game will be coordinated as any other professional game with officials and clock personnel. The game will consist of two 20

Studens will have an early release on Friday, Dec. 14. Teachers will use this time to plan for the remainder of the quarter and collaborate.

BY KIMBERLY VAIDES Co-Editor In Chief

WECT NEWS

Class of 2013 alumni Julia Copenhaver, was charged with first-degree murder of her mother, Susan Copenhaver, who was also an AHS alumna from the class of 1973.

To most of the people who graduated alongside Julia Copenhaver in 2013, the murder was a total surprise coming from a classmate who didn’t seem like the type do such a crime.

“I knew Julia throughout middle school and high school and she never showed any signs of mental illness or the potential to hurt someone,” alumni Sierra Ashley said. “This is still so shocking to me and I hope that she gets the necessary treatment she needs.”

Alumna Samantha Bowers was a victim of Copenhaver’s bullying since they were in 5th grade and continued for the rest of the years they spent together in school.

“I feel terrible for her family and particularly her mom since she was the true victim,” Bowers said. “As a fellow classmate, it’s tough hearing that kind of news from someone you knew. Unfortunately, you can never tell how someone is feeling on the inside no matter

how they look on the outside.”

According to StarNews, on Thursday, Oct. 25, the Oak Island Police was met with Julia Copenhaver, who was wearing blood-covered clothing.

Officials found Susan Copenhaver dead in the bedroom closet of her home in Oak Island, North Carolina, around 10 a.m, all while the younger Copenhaver sat on the couch of her living room.

Later, she was arrested and held on no bond.

Julia Copenhaver checked out not long ago from a state mental hospital before the murder, which was highly against doctors orders. According to her brother Eric Copenhaver, she was also not taking her antipsychotic medication the week leading up to the murder.

“She’s been having this delusion that my mom is public enemy number one,” Eric Copenhaver said in regards to the paranoid delusions his sister was suffering at the time of the murder to local news organization in Wilmington, North Carolina WECT TV6.

Co-workers of Susan Copenhaver shared words of remembrance on her Dignity Memorial website page.

“Hearing Susan enter our office always brightened my day. Work was somehow easier to tackle. Her perspectives, her laugh, and her anecdotes of her beautiful family will be missed each and every day. Chris, Eric, and John: Love never dies,” Elizabeth Snyder said.

“Susan was such a wonderful person,” Donna Echols said. “She was so kind to me when I started working at the same place where she

The band department will hold their annual winter concert featuring all band ensembles on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The concert will be held in the auditorium at 7 p.m.

3-Hour Early Release

FCA grows on and off the field

Alumni charged with murder

BY FRANCES MONTEVILLA Spanish Editor

Winter Band Concert

minute halves with a running clock. Free throws awarded on shooting fouls and at 10 team fouls. In total, each team will have 3 time-outs.

Alumni coaches, such as Amy Lipicky, Patrick Hughes and Ramano, will be coaches for the teams.

Coach Tucker and Coach Deidrich Gilreath will be referees for the game.

There will be no formal practices for the teams. All students and the surrounding community are welcomed to join and support the athletics department.

Check out how to register for the alumni game here.

In the early morning of Halloween, before most students were at school, Junior Nate Peters began setting up for the first FCA meeting of the year.

Students who arrived at the event were welcomed with Christan music and a light breakfast. Peters led a warm-up game where everyone held hands in a circle with a trash can in the middle. The objective of their game was to pull others to touch the trash can to get them out.

Then, they all read a small passage together and had application questions, and downtime to talk with one another then went off to their first period classes once the bell rang.

“My goal is that students can come to FCA for a meaningful discussion with other students about how we can live a life serving Christ, and that people outside the club might see what we’re doing and want to be a part of it,” Peters said.

This is the new event FCA has introduced this year “Growing On and Off the Field.”

Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been a club treasured at AHS. This year, it was made active again

by Co-leaders senior Han Gyul Chang and Peters, their sponsor Coach Hook and FCPS FCA Advisor Steve Able.

“The aim of this club is to unify athletes and coaches to have strong faith together while journeying in sports,” Chang said. “Everyone is welcome, but it’s geared mainly towards athletes who can strengthen their faith while playing a sport.”

The early morning meeting of the club is set to be more convenient that after school where there are practices.

Additionally, it serves as a calm start to the school day with prayer and fellowship.

“I look forward to getting close with club members and getting to meet together to have fellowship,” Chang said.

The next FCA meeting will be Nov.14 at 7:20 a.m. in the upstairs gym.

New monthly event combines Bible study and games for all students

6 ACADEMICS

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Understanding learning styles Take this quiz to find out what type of learner you are 3. Which social media apps do you use the most?

5. Which study method is most effective for you?

a) Drawing and labeling a map b) Participating in a Socratic Seminar c) Taking notes d) Performing a skit

a) Instagram, VSCO b) YouTube, Snapchat c) Twitter, Reddit d) I don’t use social media.

a) Looking at notes in a graphic organizer b) Watching videos c) Rewriting notes d) Doing practice problems

a) Using a rubric b) Using a verbal meeting c) Using a written description d) Using examples

If you selected mostly A’s, you are...

6. Which elective interests you the most?

8. What makes you want to read a book? a) The cover looks nice b) A friend likes it c) Reading an excerpt d) It contains real-life stories

a) IB Film Studies b) Leadership c) Journalism d) Academy classes

11. How would you plan a road trip with friends?

a) Go on Pinterest to find something b) Ask friends c) Use a cookbook d) Pick something familiar

a) Show them a map of the places b) Call, text or email them c) Show them the itinerary d) Describe highlights

10. What would you do to decide what food to order?

12. What is your zodiac sign?

a) Look at what others eat b) Ask the waiter c) Read the menu d) Order the usual

KIM VAIDES

If you selected mostly D’s, you are...

If you selected mostly C’s, you are...

If you selected mostly B’s, you are...

a) Cancer, Capricorn, Pisces b) Gemini, Libra, Scorpio c) Leo, Virgo, Aquarius d) Aries, Taurus, Sagittarius

KHADIJA AHMED

a) Watch a television show b) Talk with a friend c) Read a book d) Practice a sport

4. How would you prefer to receive feedback?

a) Draw a map b) Tell them the directions c) Write down the directions d) Go there with them

9. What would you do to decide what to cook for dinner?

KHADIJA AHMED

2. What do you prefer to do in your free time?

7. How would you help someone that got lost on their way to the airport?

EVA GOMEZ

1. Which activity is appealing for you to do in history class?

Senior Jiafu Li looks at artwork of The Handmaid’s Tale in Julia Hanneman’s English class.

English teacher Justina Butera uses Quizlet Live where students work together to win.

Senior Kora Coker reads a history textbook from her IB Topics class.

Sophomore Han Le experiments to learn about the effect of air pressure on sand’s fluidity.

Visual

Auditory

Reading/Writing

Kinesthetic

Being a visual learner means having a preference for resources that involve the sense of sight. It is a general fact that the visual learner remembers 75 percent of what they read or see. They are likely to make use of graphs and diagrams when studying and find them more appealing rather than frilly language.

There are two kinds of visual learners.

Analytic visual learners process printed word before iconic (pictorial) information, and vice versa for global visual learners.

Both types prefer to see words written down and to have something to view when a topic is explained. Some study methods for this type of learner include reviewing presentations, graphic organizers, and flashcards with pictures. Visual learning is an important technique to utilize as 75 percent of a student’s education occurs through vision, according to the Virginia Vision Therapy Center.

An auditory learner has an affinity toward the sense of hearing. They learn best through lectures, discussions, and videos. According to Tech News, 25 percent of the school-age population are auditory learners.

They generally remember verbal instructions well but find it challenging to work quietly for long periods of time. Although being easily distracted by noise, auditory learners are equally put off by silence. Another pitfall is when a word’s pronunciation is known well, but the spelling of it is hard to recognize due to such a focus on hearing it, but not seeing or reading it.

Since videos are an integral part of this learning process, auditory learners can benefit from using YouTube channels, such as Crash Course, Khan Academy and Ted-ED. Enticing illustrations meet helpful explanations in verbatim for a combination that makes all the difference when cramming for one test or another.

The reading and writing learning style means precisely that. It’s for people that like reading and writing to understand the material that they are learning. The work of Roger Sperry, an American neuropsychologist and Nobel laureate, suggests that people possessing this learning style have left-brain dominance.

Reading and writing learners are more logical, analytical and objective.

These learners tend to see finite details more so than the big picture; they are more tree seers than forest seers. As a result, they like to do things one at a time and also work in an organized, uncluttered environment.

Reading and writing learners should use a study method that emphasizes these strengths, but also provides visual reinforcement. Quizlet is a great fit because there is a multitude of ways to use it such as flashcards, practice tests and games to help memorize key terms.

A kinesthetic learner gains knowledge through simply doing. Their experiences are not only hands-on, but also involve an array of senses. Tech News reports that kinesthetic learners make up 15 percent of the school-age population.

Although their attention tends to wander easily, they are also usually gifted in a sport or musical instrument. These learners generally perform well in laboratory classes, like chemistry, and enjoy field trips because of the opportunities they provide.

To combat attention deficit issues, kinesthetic learners can study in blocks with short breaks in between. Some other techniques on staying focused are listening to music in the background while studying, and studying wherever is comfortable, which is probably not the traditional desk.

Abbey Yared breezes through IB Thanksgiving Meals Word Search

BY KHADIJA AHMED Academics Editor

Q: What clubs are you in?

A: I am Vice President of the Black Cultural Awareness Association. I am also a member of Just World, FBLA, and honor societies such as NHS, NEHS, MHS, and NSSHS. Q: What is your favorite IB subject?

A: My favorite IB subject is IB Topics, because I enjoy learning about history and how it affects the world we live in today.

IB Spotlight: Profiles of Diploma Candidates

Q: How have your friends and family supported you this year?

A: They’ve supported me by encouraging me, but also by pushing me to reach my full potential.

They understand the stress I go through and help me to relax by doing other things besides schoolwork.

Q: What is your extended essay topic?

A: My extended essay topic is comparing the methods of Martin Luther King Jr. to the methods of Malcolm X, and seeing which was more effective in gaining civil rights for African Americans. I chose this because these are two influential figures who fought for their lives in what they believed in, and without them, today’s world would be very different.

Q: What colleges are you applying to?

A: I am applying to UVA, Columbia, Virginia Tech, and William and Mary. I’m applying to these schools, because I feel like these will be able to challenge me and help me find a path to a successful career. I will also be applying to George Mason and VCU as safety schools because they are close to home, and can also guide me to future success.

ABBEY YARED

Q: What skills do you think the IB program has taught you that can help you later in life?

A: The IB program has taught me how to handle adversity and how to manage my time effectively which will help me later in life.

Senior Abbey Yared shoots a free throw during a basketball game last season, representing the varsity team.

Q: How are you preparing for IB exams?

A: I am preparing for IB exams by making sure I understand all the material. If there is something I am unsure of, I don’t hesitate to ask my teachers for assistance.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

A: Honestly, I have no idea where I’ll be, what I want to study or what I want to pursue as a career. I do see myself doing something I enjoy in a city that best suits me.

Q: What advice do you have for future IB candidates?

A: You can avoid a lot of stress by managing your time efficiently. Putting everything off to the last minute may have worked earlier in high school, but the IB program is no joke.

Asparagus Corn Cranberry Gravy Jam Pie

Potatoes Pudding Steak Stuffing Turkey Yam

HEALTH 7

Tues. Nov 13, 2018

Photo Illustration by Manny Precht

Do you think that opioid addiction is a problem in our community?

ABEL MEHARI freshman “No, because I don’t know of anyone who’s died or overdosed on opioids.”

ABBY ESTRADA sophomore “No, because I haven’t heard much about opioids effecting others in the community.”

EMILY SHAWISH junior “Yes, because it’s a nation-wide problem and it can’t just be effecting one community. Just because we don’t see it happening doesn’t mean that it’s not.”

CRISTIAN ALFARO junior “Yes, because if people are dying from opiod overdose, it can cause serious problems for the community.”

FUAD KOMORA senior “It depends, if we help those who are addicted then it’s not a problem, but if we don’t then it will be a problem.”

FEVEN LEBAMU senior “No, because I don’t really know of people or see people that are addicted to opioids.”

NO ESCAPE: Opioid addiction shocks America

BY MANNY PRECHT Health Editor Every day, more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.

Despite the opioid epidemic being widely reported, little has been done to change the current state of the issue. It seems that this epidemic skyrocketed out of nowhere. To fully understand the epidemic, it is first important to understand how it started.

In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers. Due to this, healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates.

The rising rate of prescription painkillers being sold resulted in the widespread diversion and misuse of these medications before it became clear that these medications could indeed be highly addictive. This caused the rate of opioid overdoses to rise dramatically.

In 2015 alone, 33,000 Americans died as a result of an opioid overdose.

That same year, an estimated 2 million people in the United States suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.

Within a suburban community like Fairfax County, problems such as opioid

In response to the opioid crisis, HHS addiction is often overlooked.

When AHS students were asked is focusing its efforts on five major priabout whether they think that opioid orities. addiction is a problem in our commuThese priorities are improving access nity, many students said no and were to treatment and recovery services, proeven confused to what an opioid actual- moting use of overdose-reversing drugs, ly is. strengthening our understanding of the This, however, is not the case. epidemic through better public health According to fairfaxcounty.gov, Fairfax surveillance, providing support for cutCounty has more than 100 drug-related ting-edge research on pain and addicdeaths, 80 of which were related to opi- tion and advancing better practices for oid overdose. pain management.

The numThe NIH, bers are evia component dence: the “I believe the of HHS, is the issue of addic- Food and Drug nation’s leadtion and overing medical dose to opioids Administration research agenhas become a continues to cy helping public health solve the opioid crisis. Health have an imporcrisis. care provid- tant role To help, the ers know the NIH met with effects of the to play in addressing this pharmaceudrugs that crisis.” tical compathey mass pronies and aca--SCOTT GOTTLIEB duce but little demic research FDA Commissioner centers to disis done to stop the flow of precuss safe, effecscribed pain tive, non-addickillers. The profit that comes from high- tive strategies to manage chronic pain, ly addictive painkillers is too great for new, innovative medications and techthe corporations to resist. nologies to treat opioid use disorders and improved overdose prevention and With little to no help in the pre- reversal interventions to save lives and vention of opioid sales, government support recovery. departments such as the Department In a statement by FDA commissionof Health and Human Serivces, the er Scott Gottlieb, he discusses what National Institutes of Health and the needs to be done in order to limit the Food and Drug Administration work to flow of prescribed opioids. stifle the epidemic.

“Patients must be prescribed opioids

only for durations of treatment that closely match their clinical circumstances and that don’t expose them unnecessarily to prolonged use, which increases the risk of opioid addiction.” Gottlieb said.

In another statement by Scott Gottlieb, he discusses what actions the FDA has already taken to help reduce the cases of opioid addiction.

“First, we set out to cut the rate of new addiction. We did this in part by taking new steps to rationalize the prescribing of opioids, and amounts dispensed, as a way to reduce exposure to the drugs in the medical setting,” Gottlieb said.

“Second, we’ve stepped up enforcement of the marketing and sale of illicit opioids. One way that we’re doing this is by targeting online sites that enable the illegal sale of these drugs and their shipment through the mail,” Gottlieb stated.

“Finally, we’ve undertaken new efforts to support novel product innovation. This includes innovation in treatments for opioid addiction, and efforts to promote their more widespread use. It also includes steps to advance the development of non-addictive treatments for pain. We have great concern for the millions of Americans who live with chronic pain and for whom traditional treatment options have been exhausted,” Gottlieb said.

Despite the actions taken by various government departments, highly addictive opioids are running rampant in the streets of America.

Roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them

Opioid Related Overdose Deaths (per 100,000)

Between 8 and 12 percent develop an opioid use disorder

< 5.9

An estimated 4 to 6 percent who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin About 80 percent of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids.

Source: Drugabuse.gov

> 15

Photo Combiled by Manny Precht

6.0-9.9

10-14.9

STATISTICS

Flu shot vaccine proves to be essential

BY MANNY PRECHT Health Editor It’s flu season across America. People across the country are getting vaccinated in preparation for the risk of catching the flu. Like many schools, AHS is vulnerable to the widespread infection of students. AHS has already seen a case of the flu this school year. Some Americans have their doubts about the flu vaccine. Before vaccinating it is important to know the facts.

What is the flu?

The flu is caused by a virus. Common symptoms of the flu include: Fever and chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache and feeling very tired.

The flu is worse than the common cold. It’s a common cause of problems like sinus or ear infections. It can also cause serious complications such as pneumonia or worsening of longterm health problems, like asthma or heart failure. However, these serious complications only occur when the flu goes untreated.

Who needs to get the flu vaccine?

Everyone age 6 months or older needs to get the flu vaccine every year. It’s part of the routine vaccine schedules for children, teens, and adults. No one under the age of six months should receive the flu vaccine.

What are the side effects of the flu vaccine?

Side effects are usually mild and go away in a few days. These side effects aren’t the flu

— the flu vaccine cannot cause the flu. Side effects include: Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given, headache, muscle aches, fever or upset stomach Where can you receive a flu vaccine?

Flu vaccines are offered in many doctor’s offices, clinics, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers, as well as by many employers and even in some schools.

Even if you do not have a regular doctor or nurse, you can get a flu vaccine somewhere else, like a health department, pharmacy, urgent care clinic, and often your school, college health center, or workplace.

Why should you get the flu vaccine?

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and the influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flurelated causes every year.

An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.

Getting your flu shot is a very important part in staying healthy.

To prevent the spread of flu and keep healthy, get your flu shot as soon as possible.

CDC.GOV

Why is the vaccine so important for teens?

Flu Bacteria Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year.

8 PHOTO

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Choir students hold a car wash fundraiser at the Shell gas station in Annandale on Oct. 6. “Fundraising is really important for the choir program because it allows us to raise money so that we are able to do more things and travel more places,” senior choir student Hemen Besufekad said.

Looking into

Electives

These courses give students a hands on learning experience with subjects they love

ALL PHOTOS BY JESSICA SALISBURY

TOP: In their Theater Arts class, junior Michael Brown and sophomore Nareg Boghosian rehearse a scene for the upcoming play, Anonymous. Opening night will be on Nov. 14.

ABOVE: Juniors Gerson Espinoz and Jose Garcia change the oil of a car in their Auto Tech class.

Freshman Mollyanne Nguyen works on sketching a self portrait in her W2 Studio Arts class. “I enjoy this class because it allows me to improve on my drawing skills while also being creative,” Nguyen said.

In his engineering class, Mazin Iqbal builds a robot for his STEM project. “Engineering is something that I am interested in and could possibly be something that I want to do as a future career,” Iqbal said.

Seniors Jessica Vides and Marlin Zavala work on their clay masks in their Ceramics class. “This is one of my favorite courses because its really relaxing and chill, especially having it in the morning,” Zavala said.

Senior Marlene Angel, sophomore Jayden Joya, and freshman Yusuf Nur work together in their W6 Gourmet class. “This class is great because we get to cook and experience what it is really like to be a chef,” Nur said.

Freshman Stephanie Alvarado takes photos of objects throughout the school for her project in Photography class. “This class is a lot of fun because we get to do a lot more than just sit at a desk for 90 minutes,” Alvarado said.

Senior Antonio Johnson works on a self portrait project using a program called Adobe Illustrator in his Computer Graphics class. “This class is cool because we get to work with different programs that allow us to overlay photos and play with different color patterns,” Johnson said.

ARTS 9

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

motif is of oppression and control, specifically that of the white characters.

One such character includes Calista, the self-centered and utterly rich teenage girl who tries to lure Anon to her beach house, and presumably keep him there forever.

Fortunately, he is saved by a beautiful goddess, Naja, who helps him become focused on his main mission.

Through Anon’s expedition, he befriends people of his age such as Nasreen, a confident Indian girl, who gives him nourishing yet spicy cuisine to appease his hunger.

Nasreen, along with her dad, Ali, give Anon the much-needed hope and nourishment to continue his search for his mother, who has been distraught ever since she lost him due to a storm at sea.

While Anon is meeting new people who help him in his adventure to find

BY GALILEA SEJAS Arts Editor A grieving mother, an egotistical teenage girl and a cannibalistic butcher: these are all people who the lost boy, Anon, encounters on his journey to find his grieving mother, Nemasani.

The play, which debuts Wednesday Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m., circles around the people that Anon meets and befriends on his quest throughout the United States. He learns about various people, their cultures and the struggles that they face as immigrants.

“It allows different types of people to be featured, because there aren’t many plays who have a cast mostly composed of the minority population,” said senior and assistant director Feven Lebamu.

Despite having a play centered around the immigrant story, the main

his lost family, he also gains new cultural experience.

On the other hand, his mother continues to cling onto the last bit of memories she has of her son and hopes to embrace him once again. She is a sewing lady working at a sweatshop, with her fellow female, trying to appease her desperate boss, while also continuing to mourn over the forever loss of her son.

“With all of the mini plots that create the story of Anon, they are all centered around the idea of diversity,” said Lebamu.

Through the dramatic irony, comedic moments, and awe-inspiring scenes, the Annandale Theatre Company (ATC) cast and crew is sure to expand your understandings of the true immigrant story; all of which is centered in Anon(ymous), on Nov. 15th, 16th at 7 pm, and Nov. 17th at 12pm and 7 pm for $5.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNANDALE THEATRE COMPANY

Anon(ymous) Fall Play: Unity in Diversity

Different countries that represent the immigrants involved with the show form a silohouette of Anon’s face (the main character of the play).

Highlights of the #ATCBackstage and other featured immigrants of the production Eurasia *Everyday in October, the Annandale Theatre Co. posted the stories of immigrants who inspired the fall play using the #ATCBackstage on their Instagram page.

Africa w

Latin America Domican Republic Immigrant What is your favorite thing about your culture?

My favorite thing about my Dominican Republic culture is the food and music.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

We are not that different from any other family, there are nine of us in total (aunts, uncles and grandparents not included) and we (the seven children) were born and raised in a mainly white household, we didn’t know much about our culture and we still don’t; we are still learning.

Lena Iglesias (12) is a part of the

Kenneth Anderson (9) is a part of the

Ensemble

Columbian Immigrant What is your favorite thing about your culture?

The kindness and joy of the people, and the big celebrations of holidays and carnivals.

Gabriela Alarcon (11) is a part of the

Tech Crew

Ioana Marin (12) plays

Sersa (Tattoed Barmaid)

Pakistani Immigrant

Rabia Lodhi (12) plays

Nasreen

Ephrata Yohannes (12) is one of the

Dramaturgs

Indian Immigrant What is your favorite thing about your culture?

The festivals and the rituals I get to participate in during certain times of the year.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

I can relate to kids that have grown up in America and kids that have the same experiences for the rituals in the festivals in India. For example, I celebrate Fourth of July and I can also relate to celebrating Diwali (Indian festival of lights).

Kidus Haimonot (12) is one of the

Assistant Stage Managers

Sierra Leonean Immigrant What is your favorite thing about your culture?

The closeness between individuals within a community, it feels like one big family. Also the food because it’s the best!

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

There is no one experience that comes to mind, but overall being an immigrant family can feel like being caught between two worlds.

Your life is centered around your cultural values, yet you also live in an American society. It can seem as if the two labels are battling each other.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

I go back to Romania about twice a year to see my family and friends, because my mom is the only person who I moved here with.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

My family and I go to a lot of weddings, so we always are dressing up. Many people see us in our dresses and compliment us, because I love spreading the culture and sharing about where my parents are from.

What is your favorite thing about your culture?

My favorite thing about my Ethiopian culture is the spicy food.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

I like being able to integrate parts of our Ethiopian culture into my American life. I get to enjoy the best of two interesting cultures.

What is your favorite thing about your culture?

How everyone values family, and that everyone is accounted for; we all have each other’s backs.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

Living in a diverse country and still carrying out my Colombian culture. It makes me feel like I am representing it and it makes me feel proud of where I come from.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

Ethiopians eat food with their hands, and I rarely use a fork unless it’s for American food. When I go to restaurants, I find it a bit humorous because I wonder how non-Ethiopians eat food like omelets or meat with a fork, whereas I eat solely with my hands.

What is your favorite thing about your culture?

Sarmale and Ciorba, two types of food that I love eating.

What is your favorite thing about your culture?

I love the fancy dresses; they have so much detail with all the beading and threading.

What is your favorite thing about your culture?

The diversity within just one nation.

We have over 80 languages that practice all three of the monotheistic religions, and yet we still recognize that we are all one blood; Ethiopian. I love how close we are to another. Even if we are total strangers, we still walk up to each other to hug and greet one another on the street or at a store. We treat each other as if we are family.

Ensemble

Ecuadorian Immigrant

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

Dominicans love to shout wherever they are, and it’s just a weird quirk that we all share.

Ethiopian Immigrant

Romanian Immigrant

Tanvi Kalyani (12) plays

Ritu (Indian mother)

Vietnamese Immigrants What is your favorite thing about your culture?

My favorite thing about Vietnamese culture is the tasty food.

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

Sometimes, as a first generation American, you’re too American to be Vietnamese but too Vietnamese to be American. You’re stuck in the middle of a cultural war of ideologies.

Al Tran (11) is a part of

Tech Crew

What is your favorite thing about your culture?

The music and the food.

annandaletheatre

Kadijah Janneh (11) plays

Nemasani (Immigrant mother of Anon)

Is there one personal experience about being from an immigrant family that you would like to share?

Being able to wake up to traditional music on Sunday and doing karaoke at night with my father.

atctheatre Han Le (10) is a part of the

AtomsTheatre Ensemble

10 IN-DEPTH

IN-DEPTH 11

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING F R? Procrastination tales

Time management queen

Morning: Nguyen wakes up at 6:30 a.m. in order to prepare for her day. She gets ready and eats breakfast. She then walks to school.

R1/W2: For R1, Nguyen has IB Spanish I.

“This year, I have learned how to prioritize and get things done in a timely fashion."

--CYNTHIA NGUYEN

junior R3/W4: For R3, Nguyen has a free period.

"During both of these periods, I try to finish up all the homework that I get in R3 and W4. I try to not talk to my friends too much," Nguyen said.

R5/W6: Nguyen has IB History of Americas for R5, and IB Social Anthropology for W6.

"I get very long packets for HOA, and projects in IB Anthropology," Nguyen said.

R7/W8: IB Math HL I takes up Nguyen's R7, while IB Literature I takes up her W8.

"I get a lot of math homework, but

minimal homework for English," Nguyen said.

2:55 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

During this time period, Nguyen tends to have practice for sports.

"Practices don't run too long, compared to other sports," Nguyen said.

Nguyen focuses solely on preparing for meets and races during practice.

"I do not think about my homework during this time."

BY SUAD MOHAMED In-Depth Editor

4:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Nguyen uses this time period to complete her homework for all her classes.

"I try to do my homework the day that I get it," Nguyen said. "This is to ensure that I have the maximum amount of time possible."

Nguyen does simple tasks first, then completes larger assignments.

"I do simple worksheets, then I work on studying for tests and doing big projects, like," Nguyen said.

9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

During this hour, Nguyen prepares for bed. She sets out her backpack and outfit for the next day.

Nguyen's daily routine is very well managed and she gets the perfect amount of sleep for any teenager.

With this routine, Nguyen never has to stress about staying up after midnight working on school assignments.

"Getting in bed at 10 is a must-have in my daily routine," Nguyen said. "It helps me maintain the energy needed to succeed in all of my classes."

Junior Emily Shawish tries to not procrastinate, but it can be hard with distractions. "I do all of my homework in my room, but I have so many things that take my attention away from my work," Shawish said. "I have my computer, phone, a lot of posters on my walls, and little trinkets on my desk that take my focus away."

Student Survey Results What subject do you procrastinate in?

Science 26.4%

Math 18.0%

Language 8.8%

English 23.5%

History 12.9%

How often do you procrastinate?

Everyday 32.9%

A few times a week 27.6%

Once a week 12.9%

BY SUAD MOHAMED In-Depth Editor Anyone who says that they have not procrastinated a little before is not being truthful.

Everyone has pushed at least a few assignments back a bit.

Maybe it is because you wanted to hang out with your friends, or maybe it is because you just really hate the class.

Doing a few things late is normal.

Procrastination is not.

Procrastination is when people push multiple large tasks until the last minute.

It is a chronic problem that affects all parts of the affected person’s life.

Many students tend to procrastinate on completing homework and studying for exams.

This is a big problem, as it can lead to poor grades and high levels of stress.

While it may be possible to get away with procrastination in middle and high school, it can lead to big issues in college.

A report published by the Centers for Disease Control noted that 90% of college students procrastinate.

Of this percentage, 25% are chronic procrastinators.

The report also noted that there is a trend that suggests that these people do not end up graduating because of the insurmountable amount of pressure.

While some believe it is just lazy students who procrastinate, there are adults that deal with the issue in their day to day life.

Some adults wait until the last minute to do things like fill out forms and pay bills.

This can lead to massive issues such as job loss and debt due to unpaid late bills.

Nobody wants to work with or trust an adult who cannot manage their

"A lot of the time, I will sit down to start my work, but I just cannot. I get distracted with my phone or thinking about other stuff."

--HEMEN BESUFEKAD

senior

and just not do it.

Often times, these people have the knowledge, but the stress causes them to stop believing in themselves, which just sets them up for failure.

Another issue that can cause people to procrastinate is issues with paying attention and focusing on objectives.

Students who have poor attention spans and trouble focusing, often have the intention of getting work done, but their wandering mind inhibits them from fulfilling their aims.

Problems with focusing are only exacerbated by things like phones, video games, and social media.

It can be very hard to focus when phones and computers keep buzzing with notifications every second.

“A lot of the time, I will sit down to start my work, but I just can not,” senior Hemen Besufekad said. “I get distracted with my phone or thinking about other stuff, and I can not focus on

4:30-7:00 Le spends this time period doing fun things, like hanging out with friends and watching Netflix.

"This is sort of my time to unwind and relax," Le said.

7:00-1:00 a.m.

This is the time period where Le works on her homework. "It can be very hard to focus some days, especially when I have my phone laying around," Le said.

--MEGAN LE

junior R5/W6: Le has IB Math SL I for R5, and IB History of Americas for W6.

"Math is a bit confusing this year, but the homework is not that bad," Le said.

"But the HOA homework takes a long time.

R7/W8: IB Biology HL takes up Le's R7, while IB Literature I HL takes up her W8.

1:00-1:30 Le uses this time to prepare herself for bed. She prepares her backpack for the next day and sets out her outfit.

"Most nights, I'm up this late, which is really bad since I have to be up early in the morning," Le said.

Le's daily routine is very packed and ends up giving her roughly four to five hours of rest each night.

With this work pileup, each time she uses her phone, minutes to even hours go by.

"Once I wake up, I always feel so tired and I want to stay in bed," Le said.

"I wish I could just keep my hands off of my phone but it is so hard."

Most of the time 22.3%

Manage your time better

Neutral 29.4%

Never 21.1%

About 200 surveys were distributed during PT/W4 on Oct. 24, with 50 to each grade level. About 170 were tabulated and returned.

BY HENRY HOANG In-Depth Editor Everyday, people tend to put things off to the side.

Sometimes it’s those little things like cleaning up the house, doing chores, or delaying homework and studying.

But often times procrastinators avoid large and difficult tasks by putting distractions before important tasks to waste time. Procrastinators usually give them something to do before facing the fact that they have these tasks at hand.

Procrastination is a horrible habit to pick up at an early age and is detrimental later on.

There are many different ways like doing your work on time or manage your time wisely but here are tips to start now.

do later.

Starting with the hardest and most challenging task first will relieve yourself of the most stress making the rest of the day more positive.

Also, you'll feel good about yourself and a sense of relaxation.

“If I had an essay due the next day, I would start it first," freshman Jasmine Covington said.

"It really helps that doing the hardest thing makes the rest of the day easier and my to-do list even lighter.

4

SMALLER TASKS FIRST, BIGGER TASKS LATER Similarly, you should do small assignments, then larger ones. Breaking down tasks is quick and easy.

First, take out all of your assignments and break them down from sheets of paper, packets,

1

USE YOUR AGENDA Agendas are very useful to keep your tasks tidied up and have everything sorted out.

It's easier to remember what you have to do if it is written down “I think that having an agenda will really help you manage your time,” junior Sydney Wuhrer said. “I use my personal agenda for everything since the school didn’t give us agendas at all.”

At AHS, agendas used to be given out to every student but this year, they changed that policy.

The agendas are now given to the freshmen class and are also sold separately to upperclassmen for five dollars.

“As a freshman, I don’t really use my agenda,” freshman Stephanie Alvarado said. “I feel as if they should’ve given the agendas to every class and not just ours.”

and study guides.

Then, make a note of how long it will take to do each. If it takes less than ten minutes to do a sheet of paper, start on that.

Then proceed to tackle everything else.

“Once I get home, I do the homework that takes five to fifteen minutes first” freshman Jasmine Covington said. “Then, I start on my bigger tasks like packets or study.”

5

LIMIT ELECTRONIC USAGE Once you plop down on your bed, resist the temptation of using anything electronic.

With the amount of time you already get from going to school and going home, time management is key to getting your work done and getting the grades that you want.

Playing games and using social media will take up your time before you know it.

This is really hard when you use your phone for

2

Stress is both a cause and an effect of procrastination. "When I have too much to stress about, I can't do my work , and I put it off to the last minute," junior Abby Kitila said. "At the same time, the act of procrastination just adds on to my stress." the person.

All the tasks that were pushed until the last minute will close in and drown the procrastinator in a wave of pressure and guilt.

The work will not be sufficient for a good grade, and most times, it will not be completed at all.

The CDC report also noted that 85%

of procrastinators feel regret for not doing things in a timely fashion.

Once all this information is looked at, it is clear to see that while there are valid causes of procrastination, it has terrible side effects, so it is best to try to let the habit go.

3

START WITH THE HARDEST TASKS FIRST Starting the day with your biggest tasks will lighten up the workload that you will have to

In what subject do you procrastinate the most?

hours at a time.

This tip will really help you stop the urge of procrastinating by cutting down the usage of your electronics.

“I tend to use my phone a lot and it takes up a lot of time out of my day,” junior Kevin Calix said.

“I see the outcome of it since I don’t do my homework.”

6

STOP THINKING, START DOING Instead of contemplating about doing something and wasting time, start doing

them.

This is the easiest and simplest tip that you can start doing now.

Simple and quick actions is really time consuming if it all adds up.

When you think about something, you're wasting minutes and even hours at a time not doing the work that you should be doing.

"With all of these new game releases, I don't like saving all of my work for later but I have to," junior Lucas Tewolde said. "The amount of time that I have spent procrastinating is too much to comprehend."

7

KEEP A SCHEDULE You should keep a schedule along with your agenda.

Once your teachers give you dates for when assignments are due, you should plan out how long it will take you.

Try your best to write down what times of what days you are going to work on an assignment.

If you write this sort of information down, you will feel more motivated to not only do your work, but do it in a timely fashion.

"I keep a schedule of what I'm going to do during the day," junior Emily Shawish said. "I keep track of what time my practices are, and how long I'm going to spend on each assignment."

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION OF ABBY KITILA BY SUAD MOHAMED

Top reasons for delaying work includes low self esteem

what I am supposed to be doing.”

Some people even work to distract themselves.

These individuals will complete unnecessary tasks, such as doing an assignment due in weeks or offering their time to someone else.

This is done in the hopes of giving themselves a pass on doing the work that should be their first priority.

While there are many cons with procrastination, it can be a pro, too.

There are people who tend to do better on assignments when they procrastinate because the pressure encourages them to do better.

“Personally, my best work is done at the last minute,” junior Elizabeth Dula said. “The things that I procrastinate always have more quality, and I earn better grades on them.”

People who procrastinate tend to be extreme perfectionists.

They want to ensure that their work is in tip top shape before they turn it in.

Sometimes, this is a good character trait. It ensures that their work is always great.

These types of people tend to go through their work multiple times, so they notice more errors along the way.

At the same time, perfectionism can lead to trouble.

Since perfectionists seek to reach unrealistic goals, they are often met with disappointment when their work and grades do not meet their ultra high expectations.

Perfectionism can also lead to the belief that it is better to not do a task, rather than do poorly at it.

While procrastinating may seem like a good idea at times, it will just lead to more issues.

Chronic procrastinators report high levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

These are all terrible for both physical and social health.

They can lead to physical symptoms, such as coronary disease.

They also have the ability to lead to poor relationships with others Other people, including employers and teachers, have a hard time trusting procrastinators.

Employers will not want to give procrastinators hard tasks that can move them up career-wise.

Teachers will expect poor work and effort. Both will not have sympathy for

“Some days, I find it very difficult to do work, especially after I've been tired out by after school practices and meetings."

2:55-4:30 Some days, Le has swim practice during this time. "It's kind of hard to have practice after school because it makes me so tired," Le said.

Eight tips to help you

I do my homework the day it is assigned.

Why do people procrastinate on tasks? time.

Most people do not know what causes procrastination, and often chalk it up to bad character.

Often, procrastination is a sign of deeper issues.

The number one cause of procrastination is poor time management.

Most procrastinators were never picked up the ability to map out schedules, so they never get things done in a timely fashion.

Procrastination can be a sign of low self esteem.

Some people believe that they are bound to do terribly on an assignment or task because they do not understand it completely, so it is better to save time

Morning: Le wakes up at 4:00 a.m. in order to attend morning practice for swim.

"Sometimes, it can be really hard to wake up, but it's very important to attend this practice," Le said

R3/W4: For R3, Le has a free period.

"I spend most of this time talking to friends," Le said. "My W4 is very noisy, so it's really hard for me to focus in there."

"I get a lot of math homework, but minimal homework for English,” Le said.

= 10%

Once a month 10.5% All the time 17.0% Sometimes 10.0%

Never 17.0%

Days packed with homework and practices.

This is the norm for junior Megan Le, an IB Diploma candidate and swimmer for the school’s swim and dive team.

Le is a participant in several clubs, such as Science Olympiad and Key Club. She is also a member of Math, National, and Science Honor Societies.

However, one factor in Le’s life that makes her involvement in so many clubs so difficult is her struggles with procrastination.

“Some days, I find it very difficult to do work,” Le said. “Especially after I’ve been tired out by after school activities.”

Sometimes, Le forgets that assignments are due, or underestimates how long that they will take.

Most nights, she has to stay up to do her homework. Regardless, her work is always done on time.

“It’s very hard to do, but I stay up nearly every night to ensure that my work is done on time,” Le said.

Below is the schedule of a typical day in the life of Le:

R1/W2: For R1, Le has IB Spanish I. For W2, Le has IB Physics I. "The hardest part about Spanish is studying for the tests," Le said. "Physics is pretty straightforward."

PHOTO ILLUSTRAITION OF CYNTHIA NGUYEN AND MEGAN LE BY SUAD MOHAMED

Junior Cynthia Nguyen is a busy student. Along with being an IB Diploma candidate, she is also a year-round athlete, running for the school’s cross country, winter, and spring track teams.

Even will all of these extra-curricular activities, Nguyen is also a member of Social Studies Honor Society.

Even though her days are packed with a million deadlines, Nguyen has always been able to successfully manage her time and avoid procrastination.

“In the past years, I struggled a little with finding time to do things,” Nguyen said. “But this year, I have learned how to prioritize and get things done in a timely fashion.”

Nguyen does her homework as soon as she gets home, and prioritizes her tasks in order to ensure that the important things get done.

“I’ll put more focus and time on studying on a test, rather than putting all that effort into a simple worksheet for homework,” Nguyen said.

Below is the schedule of a typical day in the life of Nguyen:

For W2, Nguyen has IB Physics I. "Some days, I get a lot of homework in Spanish, other days I have none," Nguyen said. "For Physics, I don't get homework often."

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION OF EMILY SHAWISH BY ADAM SHAWISH

BY SUAD MOHAMED In-Depth Editor

DO A POWER HOUR First, take an hour out of what you are doing and do as much work as you can in that one hour.

This one hour is very helpful because once you get home from school the free time that you have seems like a lot but is very little if wasted.

This hour you have a wide variety of things to get done.

"Personally, I have gotten so much work done in an hour," Tewolde said. "From study guides to homework, all done when I took an hour out of my day from everything, even including games."

8

CHANGE YOURSELF At the end of the day, all these tips are helpful.

However, you need to change yourself.

Procrastinating takes a toll on your life and how you manage your time.

Changing this habit can be very beneficial to your everyday life.

Stop beating yourself up about the past tasks.

Thoughts such as “I should’ve started this earlier,” or “I need to stop procrastinating,” are negative and will only make matters worse.

Instead of focusing on other things such as playing games or hanging out with friends, strive for excellence, creating excellence.

At the same time, make sure to take a look at yourself, and focus on getting your tasks done.

Juniors Cynthia Nguyen and Megan Le both take a power hour to get their work done. Le reads her book while Nguyen works on her Physics homework.

ADAM KERFAL freshman "I procrastinate in almost all of my classes because I am so caught up with training for basketball. But, knowing that there is a lot of work needed to be done, I need to manage my time wisely and make sure to be on top of grades."

MICHAEL BEKELE freshman "I think I procrastinate in my math class the most since the homework is just too much for me to handle. I tend to play games a lot so that might be the reason why."

KELLY ROSEL sophomore "I procrastinate in all of my classes because I don't like doing a lot of my work since I have cheer and all of that.

This winter season I might not do any sports because I see the outcome of that on my grades."

JERVER TORRES sophomore "I really don't do my English work all that often so I think that is the subject I procrastinate most in. The work that I get is a lot and I have too many after school activities that I need to do and get on with. I feel like we don't have enough time."

JAMIE BAKER junior "I don't tend to procrastinate that much but when I do, it has to definitely be math since if I don't have the time to do it in class, I most definitely don't have the time outside of school."

MIKYAS SEHLU junior "After school, I run and with that, I don't have that much time to do my work. So the class I procrastinate the most in has to be English since the work is very hefty and too much.

I would like to manage my time wisely but maybe next quarter."

ALONDRA GONZALEZ senior "I procrastinate in all of my classes because I don't have the time to do any of my work."

KEVIN TRAN senior "Most of my IB classes I tend to do my work in but sometimes, I just can't. Now that I think of it, the class that I procrastinate the most in is probably history since I play a lot of games at home and hang with friends."

12 INTERNATIONAL

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Around the world Child hostages released On Nov. 7, all 78 of the child hostages in Cameroon were released back into the custody of their families after being held by armed separatists for two days. The school prinicpal and one teacher still remain held by the kidnappers and people are still awaiting their release.

5,000 immigrants head to America PHOTO CREDIT: SESEN BEYENE

Thousands of asylum seekers from Central America have been making their way to the U.S. border, due to an increase in homicide rates and crime in their home country. A majority of these people are from Honduras, who are seeking a better life in America.

Thanksgving for senior Sesen Beyene consists of reuniting with family members while eating a combination of traditional Eritrean and American foods.

Ebola outbreak in The Congo In a crime-ridden city in the Congo, an uncontrolled outbreak of Ebola has resurfaced. Since there social unrest in the Congo as well, spreading of this disease has increased rapidly. Over 100 people have died from Ebola, and 300 cases have already been admitted.

Bar shooting in California A former U.S. Marine opened fire at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California on Nov. 7.

The shooter was identified as Ian David Long, whose body was also found after the shooting. This area has failed to own up to its name as being one of the safest cities in the country.

Thanksgiving in Eritrea How senior Sesen Beyene celebrates her Thanksgiving with friends and family

BY YABI BEREKET International Editor For senior Sesen Beyene, celebrating Thanksgiving means a little more to her than what the holiday tradition typically holds.

After coming to the U.S. from Eritrea in 2006, Beyene has had to leave behind many of her family members back home. Beyene and her family have had to make do without them, but this somewhat worked out in the long run.

“Thanksgiving is very important to my family because we don’t have a lot of blood relatives here. The concept of being grateful has now really grown on us because of this,” senior Sesen Beyene said.

This hasn’t stopped Beyene and her family from attempting to connect with other friends that they have made while being in the U.S. “We have made many new friends

What are your Thanksgiving traditions that you celebrate with your family?

LAYLA BUENDIA OCHOA freshmen "My family and I are the ones who are in charge of making dinner for Thanksgiving, and we go all out. We cook a chicken rather than a turkey, and invite some family over. We then go to Delaware and rent a hotel room so we can go Black Friday shopping all day Friday."

who have made us feel welcomed into their home, so we spend this holiday with them,” Beyene said.

The growing relationships that she and her family has developed throughout the years with these people is what makes Thanksgiving important to her.

Attempting to find a balance between her Eritrean and American customs used to be difficult for her to deal with, but years of practice has taught her how to accommodate to both ends of the spectrum.

“We make sure to include foods such as kay tsebhi, which is a spicy meat stew, and doro wet, which essentially is the same thing, but is made with chicken and eggs instead,” Beyene said.

Traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as turkey and pie are included

ANNIE NGUYEN sophmore "My family does a big reunion on Thanksgiving day. Me and my other family members all meet up at my grandmothers house, and we eat turkey and mash potatoes, this takes us about 3-4 hours. My family isn't very religious, but we do say prayers nand give thanks for the year.

Then at 12 a.m. we go Black Friday shopping."

SALMA NAGILA sophmore "On Thanksgiving day, I wake up extra early with my mom and I help out by setting up the dining table. My mom takes care of the main dishes, while I only worry about mash potatoes and lots of greens. I have a very large family, and they all come over later on in the day to hang out. We steer away from Sudanese foods since we really enjoy the American vibe."

into their menu for the day as well, which only represents one aspect of their attempts to combine two cultures into one.

Within the Beyene household, their Thanksgiving combinations haven’t changed much since they first began.

“My cousin and I first get together a week ahead of time and plan out what foods to make for Thanksgiving, we have at least one new dish to try making each year,” Beyene said. “From there, we divide up the work between families, and start the actual cooking about two days in advance,” Beyene said.

Family bonding is very important in the Eritrean culture, and the kitchen is always symbolic of the food and memories which are being made.

DUC NGO junior "My entire family goes over to my uncles house since it's pretty big, and we do the usual of turkey and pie. I get to reconnect with my cousins who I don't see often and we play football all together. I'm not fully assimilated into American culture, so the fact that I get to enjoy this aspect of it is interesting for me and my family."

MELAT HAIMANOT junior "I first start out my day by watching the Thanksgiving day parade with my family. We then drive to Maryland to go to my aunts house and eat an excessive amount of food, most of it being vegetarian and Ethiopian since my family is fasting. Usually, I end up sleeping over at their house and make meals with the leftovers the next day."

RAYMOND RAMIREZ senior "My whole family goes over to my aunts house in the morning, and we eat two meals together. Each meal includes some American foods like pie, but mainly we enjoy hispanic foods like bon con pollo.

We all watch football together, but the main event is going Black Friday shopping the next day."

“Every year, my siblings and I make wings for the holiday. It’s our long standing tradition, and this is one of the things we have to have,” Beyene said.

Once food preparations are taken care of, the rest of the Beyene family begins to arrive in the late afternoon.

The Christian faith is heavily implemented in the Eritrean culture, so including this aspect into their day is considered to be a major portion of their traditions.

“One of the elders in my family will lead a long prayer to bless the food, then we all dig in,” Beyene said.

Afterwards, a coffee ceremony is held in the living room, which consists of preparing the coffee beans at home, and drinking multiple rounds of it in miniature sized cups.

This then leads up to the Beyene family then sharing among one another what they’re thankful for, as a way to keep the Thanksgiving tradition in their routine for the day, and to express their gratefuleness for one another.

HLINA WONDWOSSEN senior "I go to my aunt and uncles house in Maryland, and we eat the usual turkey and rice. I get to hang out with my cousins. An interesting tradition with my family is my older brother and I get paid by my aunt and uncle to go in their backyard and rake all of their leaves. Usually, we get paid around $50 for doing it."

SAMIR HOSSAIN senior "I start off Thanksgiving by watching the parade in the morning, and then later in the day all of my family comes over. We all eat dinner, then play football outside. Later, all of the women sit around the dinner table and look through magazines for Black Friday shoppping, while the men continue playing their game outdoors."

Immigrant stories: coming to America

BY YABI BEREKET International Editor Having a small-scale identity crisis when moving to a whole new country is common among immigrant students.

Senior Bashudha Dhamala faced her own dilemma of sorts when she first came to the U.S. from Nepal with her family.

After many years of contemplating whether or not to make the voyage to the U.S., Dhamala arrived to the U.S. in 2011 when she was only 10 years old. She traveled with her older brother and sister, and was met by her parents who were already in the States at the time.

One memory which Dhamala remembers from the trip was how long everything took, from getting processed, to the long plane ride.

“The plane ride was unimaginably uncomfortable and I just wanted to finish all of this quickly. Processing was ridiculously long as well,” Dhamala said.

Upon her arrival, Dhamala made notice to certain things in the country, that made Nepal seem very different from the U.S. “The biggest thing I noticed were the abundance of trees. Nepal is definitely a country of nature, but

deforestation sadly has become more and more common over the years,” Dhamala said.

“So therefore, the biggest thing I noticed after first exiting the airport were the amount of trees in the area I was moving to,” Dhamala said.

Making adjustments to her new life did not prove to be as much of a hassle for her as it can typically be for immigrant students.

“Considering I was fluent in English when I first arrived, I had it easier than others,” Dhamala said.

Speaking English in other countries is seen as a resourceful tool to know, and starting at a young age, Dhamala was raised learning to speak English and Nepali.

“I learned English basically as a first language as a child. In countries like Nepal, there is a stress to teach English to kids since it is considered a language of business,” Dhamala said.

“I did face an identity crisis like every other student of immigrant parents has had at least once," Dhamala said.

Dhamala felt as though she had to find a compromise between holding her Nepali values and customs, while trying to wedge in American values as well.

This is common amomng many students who have to travel to a new country, and faace the instability of figuring out how to fit two customs

and cultures into one.

Despite that calamity which she encountered when coming to America, she was still able to excel academically, all while maintaining an above 4.0 GPA. When living in Nepal, Dhamala attended an all-girls international school, which positively impacted her ability to do well in school when coming to the States.

“My old school in Nepal did have some similarities with school for me now in America. The only major difference was that it was an all girls school, but the basis of the curriculum was roughly the same,” Dhamala said.

Leaving behind a whole world in Nepal was hard for Dhamala and one thing she misses were the scenic mountains.

Nepal is known for bordering one of hte largest mountains in the world: Mount Everest.

“They were always visible in the background and it made the country so beautiful, especially in the morning when the sun was rising,” Dhamala said.

Fortunately, Dhamala has been able to return to Nepal to visit all of her family and friends there, and she has future plans to return again to be able to do humanitarian work in small villages in Nepal.

PHOTO CREDIT: BASHUSHA DHAMALA

How senior Bashudha Dhamala made her journey from Nepal to America

Senior Bashudha Dhamala first came to the U.S. when she was ten years old.

LIFESTYLES 13

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

PHOTO CREDIT: YABI BEREKET

PHOTO CREDIT: KALKEDAN GASHEW

Four places to go on dates under $30

Get the ball rolling

Chinatown: The heart of it all Chinatown is a little historic area in down-

singing that follows every corner of the streets.

at Annandale have sets of promotions that allow

Bowling is a fun way to interact with your

This is perfect to set the tone for you and your

date without that awkward feeling lingering in

unlimited bowling for 11 dollars or sometimes

ly since you can take the metro train there.

date. Although there aren’t any places to shop in

the background.

even less.

You and your date would have an adventur-

Chinatown, not too far away you will find great

Especially in the later stages of a relationships

The hours are also very convenient, so, if you or

ous day. Chinatown consists of 20 Chinese and

shopping center to shop at that consists of plac-

when you and your partner are looking for a

your date are busy during the day, local AMF is

other Asian restaurants. Whatever your crav-

es like Urban Outfitters, Loft and Bed Bath &

change, bowling can be the exactly the to add the

open until midnight, so you won’t be forced to cut

ings may be, you will be sure to find it in one of

Beyond. Whether you are looking for a day full

fun you may be looking for.

your fun short.

the many restaurantes available. If you and your

of fun and adventures, by taking the metro and

With a fun competition you and your date can

So if you are into an inexpensive, yet fun expe-

date decide to go to a concert, the very notori-

walking around looking for different places to

have fun while still getting to talk to each other.

rience that will get rid of that uneasy pauses in

ous Capital One Arena is right in the heart of it.

see or a classy date Chinatown is the definitely

Bowling is also not a hard activity to take part

between, bowling is the perfect choice for you.

You would be able to walk around and enjoy the

the way to go.

in. Anyone with the will and motivation can do

Location:- 3019, 4245 Markham St, Annandale,

busy streets right before your meal. One of the

Website:- https://www.mapquest.com/us/district-

it. In addition to that the enjoyment does not

VA 22003

amazing things about Chinatown would be the

of-columbia/chinatown-dc-282015802

come for a huge price. Local AMF bowling center

Website:- https://www.amf.com/

PHOTO CREDIT: YABI BEREKET

PHOTO CREDIT: MARAMAWITE ALTASEAB

town D.C. It’s not too far from AHS, especial-

Skate into their hearts If you are waiting for a moment that can

a great way to enjoy oneself.

Old Town: Have a historic date If you are into movies, strolling through a

stores. This allows you to get something spe-

Whether it is laughing at one’s own failure to

park, or going for ice cream, you can all do that

cial to commemorate your date. The variety of

ing is the way to go.

skate or your partner’s, it is a great way to have

in a day at Old Town.

options at Old Town allows you to spend your

With skating, it is inevitable to have physical

a gleeful time. Especially now that the winter

The family friendly compound is the perfect

money at your own expenses.

contact with your partner. Whether you want to

season is coming up, there is no other date that

place for dates, with a variety of options avail-

In addition to that, there are multiple restau-

or not, you are going to end up holding hands or

celebrates the theme of that cold season better

able to choose from. If you and your date would

rants and other eating places that allow you and

leaning on each other in some way or another.

than ice skating. The pricing on top of that is also

like to spend a day watching a new movie that

your date to have a cozy and comfortable one-

This can be a great activity to spice up the

affordable.

came out, the Old Town Film center, located at

on-one time. Old Town is a great attraction spot

romantic side of a relationship.

Admission at the Pentagon Mall ice skating rink

the heart of Old Town, allows you to explore the

especially during Christmas time when the dec-

If your relationship is not progressing in the

costs anywhere from $8-9. Ice skating at Penta-

movie option. If you are the athletic type and

orations are hung and the lights are shining

physical level then ice skating can be a way to

gon is also convenient, because afterwards you

would like to jog hand in hand with your date,

bright. It sets a perfect romantic mood for you

force interactions. Ice skating is also a great way

and your date can stroll around the mall, watch

the beautiful scenery allows you to exercising

and your date that can be used to be remem-

to break the ice on the first date. There is no

a movie or eat.

while enjoying your date. If you are into shopping

bered for a long time.

other perfect way to remove that awkward feel-

Location:- 1201 S Joyce St, Arlington, VA 22202

with your date, there are clothing stores, such

Website:- https://www.visitalexandriava.com/old-

Website:- http://pentagonrowskating.com/

as The Hive and also multiple vintage shopping

town-alexandria/

cause a spark in your relationship, then ice skat-

ing than embarrassing oneself. Laughter can be

Fashion Spotlight:

Junior Maramawit Altaseb wears a white hoodie with blue semi ripped jeans, and pairs it with white shoes.

Q: How did you learn to dress?

A: By watching other people dress up. I usually go on website to see how the outfits are put together and I try copying it with the cloth I have.

Q: Where do you like to shop?

A: I usually shop at simple places like Forever 21, American Eagle, Papaya, H&M and Charlotte Russe. These are the places I shop the most.

Q: What is your favorite accessory?

A: My watch is my favorite accessory. No matter what I wear, I would never leave the house without my watch on me.

Q: What is your typical outfit for school?

A: I usually wear a big hoodie with leggings or jeans. I match it up with my adidas shoes or uggs depending on how the weather is outside.

Q: What do you wear on bum days?

A: Almost everyday is a bum day for me.

However when I go full on bum I wear one of my dad’s huge shirt with black or grey leggings and slides with my hair in a bum.

Q: What's your favorite season to dress for?

A: Fall is my favorite season to dress for because I don’t usually have to try everyday in the morning. During fall I just usually wake up, check the weather and get dressed depending on that. I dress up more when it's summer or spring.

Q: How long does it take you to get ready?

A: If I have my outfit planned out the night before it just usually only takes me 25-30 minutes.

Q: How much do you invest in clothing?

A: I try not to spend that much on clothing. I tend to shop seasonally, so I just spend about $50 every season.

Q: What is your favorite pair of shoes?

A: My favorite pair of shoes are my uggs and black adidas superstars.

Q: Do you dress to impress or for yourself?

A: I definitely dress for myself. I like looking good.

Q: Who is your fashion inspiration?

A: I don't really have a specific inspiration.

PHOTO CREDIT: MARYAM DEREJE

PHOTO CREDIT: MARYAM DEREJE

Maramawit Altaseb , 11

Altaseb wears a black full sleeve top tucked into black jeans and black converse.

14 PEOPLE

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

MESSY HAIR? DON’T CARE. Students express themselves through different styles Senior Sesen Beyene

Senior Rohan Miah

BY CASEY NGUYEN Managing Editor

BY CASEY NGUYEN Managing Editor

How do you express yourself through your hair?

For me, my hair is a part of me. It is not something that I use to express myself, it is me.

A lot of people think I have my hair the way it is because I want to give off a political message or make a statement, but in short I grow my hair now because I can do it and I want to do it. It does have meaning for me, but it’s personal and only I know what that is.

How do you express yourself through your hair?

I think my hairstyles show that I like to try new things. I like doing bold colors like silver and new styles like dreads, and locs. My family also says that my styles show my patience and my ability to pick up skills quickly.

I see things on Twitter and Instagram and I like to try it out either on myself, my family, or acquaintances.

How long does it take to get your hair ready?

When I go natural, I just have to wake up early and wash my hair which takes a good 20 minutes. If I do braid outs, I take between 20-30 minutes to braid my hair the night before and about 10 minutes the next morning to unbraid it before school. Really quick styles, only take 5 minutes and they look like they require more effort than they actually do. I love that because I can wear it to elegant events like weddings and I look really dressed up. The style that takes the longest amount of time is my box braids. It takes me from 8-12 hours to do. I usually do them when we have a break from school or dedicate a Saturday to it.

How long does it take to get your hair ready?

Against contrary belief, I do not use hair gel to make my hair stay up. I do not get my hair ready because it is natural. I do not comb it or cut it or anything, I just wash it. After I take a shower, it takes about an hour or longer for it to dry.

Do you get criticized because of your hair?

I get criticized about my hair on a daily basis because I feel like many people are uncomfortable seeing something they don’t see everyday. My hair is pretty uncommon and many people don’t know how to react when they see my hair.

Also, they assume I’m dirty or illiterate or uneducated without actually knowing me because of social norms that try and decide how hair “should” look in order to “look” educated or clean. Basically it’s judging a book by the cover. Often times people are uncomfortable with their own selves, so they try to target me because of how different I look. There are many reasons why I get criticized, but I think it’s because people do not try to understand each other, instead they want to try and create division.

When did you start getting into doing different hairstyles?

I started getting more into my hair sophomore year. I was trying to learn protective styles because my hair had heat damage from straightening it too often during middle school. Sophomore year I wore my hair out in curls pretty often, but over the summer I was going to a summer camp so I decided to try braids. I wanted something low maintenance that would last me the whole week and look good at the same time. I watched a YouTube video and tried it out and since then I have been learning and switching up styles.

What makes your hair unique?

I think the thing that makes my hair unique is the fact that I change it so often.

I get bored and tired of styles about every two weeks so I switch it up pretty often.

Last month I switched styles four times including going natural for a Beyene decided to try out new hairstyles when she was a week. sophomore. Ever since, it has changed her entire life. She believes her braids are low maintenance, but beautiful because they spark her confidence.

What is your go-to hair style and why?

JOSCELYN VENTURA freshman “My go-to hairstyle is a messy bun, because it is really simple and easy for me to do. It is convenient when you are in a rush.”

GABBY URBINA sophomore “My go-to hair syle is a high pony tail, because it is easy to do and manage since I have long hair.”

ZARIYAH BROWN sophomore “My go-to hairstyle is my two puffs, because it is easy and it does not require that much gel.

When I do it, it looks tough.”

HUMANS OF ANNANDALE Stability is not the word to describe my childhood, I was constantly moving.

I didn’t get the chance to have a best friend from kindergarten that I could go into high school with but I made many friends throughout the years of high school that I have had by my side.

I met new people every year since I have always been switching schools.

Which is what brought a personality trait of mature to myself. I became independent because I never had a close friend up until recently.

I have always been the “big sister”, whether it’s my older brother or youngest sister. I have always been the sibling to take care of them all.

I am the youngest in my family to have a job which is another reason why I always considered myself the big sister.

I began to work because it meant that I could get my own spending money and have money that I could save up for my future expenses.

I was offered a job at Arlington County when I turned 13. I still work there to this day, instead of getting trained I now do the training.

I have many hopes and dreams for myself in the future and right now. I hope to be successful in college because after I graduate my goal is to go to Virginia Commonwealth University also

What makes your hair unique?

My hair is unique because it is my own. My hair is simply my hair. In terms of how it looks, it is different from the norm because I do not mess with it. But, I let my hair do what it wants and I also pay attention to it through washing, using oil, etc.

Miah started embracing his natural locks when he was a junior and ever since, it has put his whole life in perspective. Not only does his hair require minimal time and effort to maintain, but he is able to let it do its own thing.

VY LUU junior “My go-to hairstyle is a half braided updo, because it is cute. It is also really easy to do, especially when I do not have much time in the morning before school.”

PETER EPPERLY junior “My go-to hairstyle is really short on the sides and kinda short on the top. I cut my own hair because it saves time. and money. I used to have somewhat medium hair length, but then I had to cut it because of football.”

RUTH SEYOUM senior “My go-to hairstyle is braids because it is a protective hairsyle that keeps my hair from damaging. I also don’t have to worry about my hair in the morning because it is already in braids. I also can different colors in my braids, like sllver and gold.

So, it is not always the same.”

DAVID BETANCO senior “My go-to hairstyle are braids, because I can wear my durag. A lot of my friends think I look good in braids because the design for a guy is really unique and different. Also, the girls love it, so why not?”

SADAF MARZI senior “My go -to hairstyle is curls, because the waves suits my face the best. It also makes me look put together. Honestly, it is the easiest hair syle to do and I do not have a lot of time in the morning because I live far away from the school.”

WHO AM I? I attended: George Mason University.

The extracurricular activities I did were: Dance Team all four years and being the captain my senior year, Chi Omega Sorority four years.

I was born in: Williamsburg, VA Before teaching at Annandale: I was at college at GMU.

AILEEN OBREGON SENIOR

known as VCU. As of right now, I would like to major in either political science or English but eventually, I will narrow my decision down to my top option.

Cheer has always been my go-to sport here at AHS. I have been in cheer for 3 years and I have made bonds that I desire to keep for my whole life.

Cheer was definitely an important part of high school for me and I am going to miss having my team with me every day.

I am upset that I am graduating because I will miss AHS a lot but I am also really looking forward to see where my future will take me.

Favorite movie is: Sound of Music and Newsies, they are both equally my favorite movies because they are musicals and musicals are AMAZING. Sound of Music also has Julie Andrews as the lead and she is one of my role models in life.

the cheerleading coach and I am also currently going back to school.

My greatest fear is: Claustrophobia, it is more specific of small dark spaces. I do not like not being able to see in front of me and not having my own space to be in.

Favorite quote is: “Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday Today it is Friday, Friday We-we-we so excited We so excited.” - Rebecca Black

I teach at Annandale because: It is the best high school in the country and it has the best staff and students. I would not trade Annandale for any school.

This is the answer key to Who Am I?

What I do in my free time is: Coach the best team in the school! I am

Use the QR Code app on your phone or camera.

SPORTS X-TRA 15

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

New season, new sports

MLB Playoff Recap

Fall sports pave way for winter season

BY EMAN JARADAT Staff Writer

BY TYLER PLANK Staff Writer

COURTESY OF RICH FINK PHOTOGRAPHY

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, the fall sports season is coming to a close. From football to cross country to field hockey, the fall season had a few ups and downs, but overall was a great start to the school year.

There are many sports that students can participate in the fall season including cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, and volleyball.

Although football had a decent season, with a 4-6 record, the players bonded through their long hours of practice. The highlight of football season was most likely the Atoms’ victory in the homecoming football game against the Washington-Lee Generals by a score of 42-28. The Hype Squad was also very supportive and increased the audience’s team spirit.

Field hockey also managed a strong season with a record of 6-9.

“I think that the season went pretty good,” senior field hockey player, Ankita Bhurtel said. “Everyone hustled hard but we were missing the mental component on how to strategize our plays. There was a lot of heart and hustle throughout the season though, so for that, I am thankful to work with girls that worked almost as hard as I did when I play.”

Field hockey players also built lasting relationships with their teammates. Especially through the Big Sister-Little Sister program, where one varsity player and one JV player were paired together to bond through shared experiences.

“My favorite memory from the season was when I drove the ball in the corner during a tournament, and ultimately assisted because Emily hit the ball straight into the goal cage, making us like 4-0 against Justice HS.” Bhurtel said.

Volleyball, although they did not have the best season with a record of 2-12, still enjoyed the time they spent playing with each other. The highlight of the fall season for volleyball was the Dig Pink game, where the team raised both money and awareness for breast cancer ($900). They also had unique handshakes before the game, as well as celebrated their ritual of selling baked goods.

Cross Country had an excellent season, especially during regionals.

“The Cross Country season was very successful and the girls on the team were super dedicated, supportive, and focused. The team put in the effort

Senior Sarah Hawkins jumps for the ball during an AHS field hockey game. and it really paid off.” Senior cross country runner, Nadya Droujinsky said.

They attended the Gunston District Championship, where Sophomore Julia Ghiselli came in first, running two miles in just over 6 minutes. Similarly, Junior Mikyas Sahlu, also came in first for Boys, with a speedy time of 5:11.

“My favorite memory was seeing the consistent growth and improvement of the girls from one race to another.”Droujinsky said.

The fall sports season had a good run, but the winter sports season are fast approaching. Winter Sports include Basketball, Wrestling, Track, Swim & Dive, and Gymnastics. Everyone is anticipating an excellent Winter season, especially for Basketball, Wrestling, and Track.

The Red Sox are attempting to be recognized as the team of the century. Over the past 15 years, we have now seen them win four times.

The Dodgers, who lost last year lost to the Houston Astros, were hoping for redemption. Houston wanted a repeat of 2017. The Yankees were looking for their 28th ring. All these potential outcomes could only end with one conclusion.

The Playoffs had a total of 10 teams participating, five from the National League and five from the American League. The five and the four seed played in a quick one game wild card. The winner of that game played the one seed in a five game series, as well as the two and three seed.

The winner of those games played in a seven game playoff and then the World Series which is also seven games.

Baseball has a 162 game season but sometimes two teams are tied at the end for the division title.

The first game was between the Cubs and Brewers, and the second game was between Dodgers and Rockies. The loser of this game was to play in the wild card and while the winner would go straight to the divisional playoff game.

After two crazy games, the Cubs lost to the Brewers and the Rockies lost to the Dodgers.

MVP

Red Sox player Steve Pearce is named MVP of the 2018 World Series because he made two homeruns in

Wrestling coach competes in races Carl Klein runs15k obstacle course race Safety and security assistant Carl Klein is a conditioning and strength coach for wrestling. However, he is also a obstacle course racer.

Recently he qualified for the world championships of obstacle course racing (OCR Championships). The race took place in London on Oct 20, 2018.

To qualify for the championships a racer has to go through smaller obstacle course races.

Some of these races are Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Warrior Dash and hundreds more. Klein qualified through Spartan Race. To qualify, he went to Nationals Park and placed top 20 for his age division in the elite class. There are also certain specifications one must meet to qualify.

During the OCR Championships, Klein had to go through nine and a half miles and 100 obstacles. Some of the obstacles were carrying a 100 pound sandbag for three quarters of a mile while going over and under hurdles, climbing on monkey bars over a 30 yard man made lake, and climbing underneath large staircases.

“I felt really good during the race.” Klein said.

“There were times when I would come up to difficult obstacles, and I would have blank out any pain to get through it” Klein has been participating in these races since 2015. He placed 42nd in his age division and 289th out of all males. There were over a thousand men competing.

Most of the competitors wear their country’s jersey as they race. However, Klein wore his AHS wrestling jersey. The racers started off clean, sparkly, and spotless. Yet they finished the race caked with mud and their jerseys could not even be seen.

Which NBA team do you think has most improved?

COURTESY OF CARL KLEIN

BY ADAM SHAWISH Sports X-tra Editor

Carl Klein before and after the OCR Championships in London.

There were no breaks during the race.

Klein ran continuously for three hours and 13 minutes. He stayed in excellent shape as the race got closer, so he could keep his endurance up. The amount of work he put into this race is incredible.

“I’m glad that I qualified for world championships the year it was in London,” Klein said. “The people were super nice and friendly. The weather was perfect for running and the food was amazing.”

LEOULE YEARED freshman “The Denver Nuggets because last year they did not even make it to the playoffs and now they are second in the West.”

ZACK PACAK freshman “I think the Celtics have most improved because all their players are healthy and they have Kyrie Erving.”

PATRICK MIRO sophomore “Ever since Lebron moved to the Lakers they have improved a lot. Their team work has improved. Although they still have to improve with the rookies.”

The race went through farmland and forest.

The terrain was tough and the obstacles were constantly hard. Some obstacles were designed and influenced around the terrain they were on.

These races take a ridiculous amount of effort and skill. They are amazing to watch, so check them out the next time they come to town.

SEBASTIAN FLORES Junior “I think the Bucks have improved a good amount. They are dominating the East and are playing good so far.”

ERIC VENTURE LOPEZ junior “I think the Lakers have improved a lot because they have Lebron James.”

On the American League side the Yankees played the Athletics in the wild card, whoever won that game was to play the Boston Red Sox. New York won and went out to Boston as the Athletics returned to Oakland. On the other side, the Rockies pulled off a 13 inning win in Chicago to beat the Cubs even though the Cubs had one of the best records in baseball.

With the Cubs and Athletics out, there were eight teams remaining: the Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Indians, Brewers, Rockies, Dodgers, and the Braves.

Then it was time for the best of 5 divisional round, Yankees vs Red Sox and Astros vs Indians on the American league side, and Brewers vs Rockies and Dodgers vs Braves on the National League side. Houston swept Cleveland 7-2. The Dodgers almost beat the Braves but they couldn’t quite hold on with a score of 3-0. The Brewers won against the Rockies 4-0. The Yankees only managed to win one game before the Red Sox beat them in New York with a final score of 4-3.

That left only the Red Sox vs. the Astros and the Dodgers vs. the Brewers. The Red Sox defeated the Astros in 5 games, but it took the Dodgers a full seven games to beat the brewers.

The world series was between the Dodgers and the Red Sox. In Game 1 of the World Series the Red Sox took the win, 8-4 with a key home run from Red Sox Second baseman Eduardo Nunez.

In Game 2 The Red Sx with a good start from David Price, some good bullpen work as the Dodgers, only being able to score 2 runs, and the Red Sox with clutch hitting and fielding from Andrew Benintendi.

In Game 3, the Dodgers and Red Sox were tied at one for 12 innings before the Red Sox scored, but it didn’t last very long until the bottom of the 13th inning. Yasiel Puig hit what could’ve been a near game ending out.

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ALEJANDRO CASQUINO Senior “I tink the basketball team that has improved the most is the raptors, because they have Kwahi Leonard and they are number one in the East.”

HEMEN BESUFEKAD Senior “I think the Nuggets are really becoming more of a team now and are doing really well early on in the season.”

DAVID BETANCO senior “I think the Mavericks are pretty good and they have really good players that can shoot the ball.”

Your best bets for week 11 in fantasy football Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End

Patrick Mahomes

Todd Gurley II

Julio Jones

Travis Kelce

#15

#30

6’ 3”, 230 lbs Kansas City Chiefs Born Sep. 17, 1995 in Tyler, TX (Age: 23) Drafted 2017: 1st Rnd, 10th by KC Experience2nd season College Texas Tech 2018 Season

RAT YDS 116.7 2,901

TD 29

112.7 3,185

29

2018 Season TD 12

ATT YDS 182 868

#11

6’ 3”, 220 lbs Atlanta Falcons Born Feb 8, 1989 in Foley, AL (Age: 29) Drafted 2011: 1st Rnd,6th

by ATL Experience8th season College Alabama

4,164

#87

6’ 5”, 260 lbs Kansas City Chiefs Born Oct 5, 1989 in Westlake, OH (Age: 29) Drafted 2013: 3rd Rnd, 63rd by KC Experience 6th season College Cincinnati

2018 Season REC YDS 60 933

Career 968

Career

6’ 1”, 224 lbs Los Angeles Rams Born Aug 3, 1994 in Baltimore, MD (Age: 24) Drafted 2015: 1st Rnd, 10th

by STL Experience4th season College Georgia

2018 Season TD 1

REC YDS 51 741

44

358

Career 41

645

9,987

TD 6 Career

4,641

28

16 SPORTS

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Football wins in final game

BY ALEX BURITA Sports Editor For their final conference and regular season game, the AHS varsity football headed to T.C. Williams to challenge the 4-5 Titans on Nov. 3.

The Atoms played with dominance defensively as they held the Titans to only seven points and forced multiple turnovers.

The final score was 23-7 favoring the Atoms, who rallied to score their 23 unanswered points after trailing by seven.

Both teams finished their seasons with records of 4-6.

The Atoms dominated the Titans, whose only score was off of an AHS mistake on the opening kickoff.

“T.C. Williams elected to kick into the wind for the first half kickoff and one of our guys on the second line went in to block and didn’t field the ball,” head coach Mike Scott said. “So, they recovered the ball and eventually drove it in for a touchdown.”

Fortunately for the Atoms, the open

ing kickoff mistake which led to a touchdown was the Titans’ only points of the day.

After the error, AHS seemed to learn from their mistake and dominated the game thereafter.

Overall, it was a great game on the team’s part when it came to turnovers, which have paid the price for earlier in the season.

T.C. had noticeably more turnovers, which fed into the Atoms’ successful performance.

The big win secured the team’s second place finish in their region with a conference record of 3-1, while T.C. Williams finished in fourth with a conference record of 1-3.

The Atoms’ only loss in the conference came the week before when they were routed by the Hayfield Hawks by a score of 14-53 on Oct. 25.

“In order to finish the season off on a win at T.C., our guys came back after the disappointing loss to Hayfield and kept working to get better every day,” Scott said.

The win at T.C. Williams was a great note to end the season on, but unfortunately, the Atoms did not advance out of their region to the 6A State Championship Tournament.

In fact, only two out of the five teams advanced out of the Gunston district. They are the Mount Vernon Majors and the Hayfield Hawks.

The Majors (with an overall record of 8-2 whose only two losses were in-district losses) are seeded sixth in their group. Hayfield, who are seeded

Record: 4-6 Place in the Gunston District: 2nd

Schedule & Scores: COURTESY OF JUSTIN SCOTT

Strong defensive performance clinches a victory for Atoms

Varsity football’s regular season

Aug. 24 @ Justice - 26-47 L Aug. 31 @ Woodson - 2-39 L Hall of Fame Game: Sept. 8 vs. Robinson - 21-58 L

The Atoms pose for a picture to celebrate a dominant 23-7 win against T.C. Williams and successful season where they finished second in the Gunston District.

Sept. 21 vs. Fairfax - 8-15 L

third in their group with a record of 9-1, also advanced.

The two teams are set to play each other in the first round of the tournament.

Nonetheless, it has been a great season of pure improvement as expressed by Scott.

“We had a great season this year,” Scott said. “Overall, we have gotten a lot better, especially our younger players who have made great strides so far.”

This improvement can be shown in the team’s schedule this year.

They started the season off by losing their first four games against Justice, Woodson, Robinson, and Fairfax. Then,

Homecoming Game: Sept.

28 vs. Washington-Lee 42-28 W

they bounced back to win four of their last six games, including their recent win against T.C. “Even though we were not going to advance out of our district, we still wanted to get out and win on the road by having a good week of practice,” Scott said.

Despite not finishing first in the district or moving on to the state tournament, AHS has still had a great season and their talent will only improve next season.

Oct. 5 @ Marshall - 15-18 L Oct. 12 vs. West Potomac 30-16 W Senior Night: Oct. 19 vs.

Mount Vernon - 41-35 W Oct. 25 @ Hayfield - 14-53 L Nov. 3 @ T.C. Williams - 23-7 W

BY ALEX BURITA Sports Editor After the Gunston district finals at Burke Lake Park, cross country, on both the boys and girls side, moved onto the Occoquan Region 6A finals.

Overall, the Atoms were successful in districts as the boys placed first in the district and the girls advanced after placing fourth above Mount Vernon.

The highlights of the district finals include a first place finish for AHS in both the boys and girls races.

For the boys, junior Mikyas Sahlu won the race with a time of 15:32 and for the girls, sophomore Julia Ghiselli finished first with a time of 18:03.

“In order to qualify for the regional meet, the girls had to improve their average time [the average time among the first five finishers on the team] by about forty seconds and we did just that,” coach Phil Harris said.

Overall though, the skill levels of each team for both the boys and girls side should have been no surprise to AHS as the Atoms had faced them in multiple in-district meets and some invitationals.

For example, all Gunston district teams participated in the Monroe Parker Invitational, which took place on the same course that was run for both the district and the regional finals.

From the district meet, the Atoms noted all improvements that needed to be made before regionals which was held under almost identical conditions with many of the same teams.

For the regional meet, the Atoms faced the other three teams that advanced along with other teams that advanced from other districts.

The districts that participated in the meet are the Gunston, Patriot, Cardinal and National districts.

The results of the regional meet are as follows.

ALEX BURITA

Cross country finishes season at states

Junior Mikyas Sahlu kicks away from Mount Vernon’s senior runner, Hunter Fowlie, during the end of the race to win the Gunston District Championship.

The AHS boys placed fifth and the girls placed tenth overall. Unfortunate

JV Football’s season summary

ly, neither team qualified for state in which a third place or better finish was needed.

“The Atoms did alright in the regional meet, better than last year.

But, we still could have made some further improvements,” Harris said.

However, the top five times for each the boys and girls races are permitted to the state meet, which was held on Nov. 9 in The Plains, to compete individually.

Due to their stellar performances and finishing times at the regional meet, the Atoms had two individuals, Mikyas Sahlu and Julia Ghiselli move on to states.

“I felt positive about the future performance of Mikyas and Julia at the state meet. However, I predicted Mikyas to finish top ten and Julia to finish top five in their events,” Harris said.

At the group 6A state meet, Ghiselli li placed fifth with a time of 19:04 and

Sahlu placed 36th with a time of 17:05 in their respective events.

“Overall, most of AHS closed off the season on a good note. I believe that we put in a lot of great work, achieved our goals, and will look to improve even more before track season,” Harris said.

From cross country, the Atoms will have to shift gears to head right into indoor track season.

They will have to train for their first meet against T.C. Williams, Edison, Robinson, Marshall, Chantilly, and Herndon at Episcopal High School on Dec. 12.

“Based on our success during our cross country season, I feel confident about the team this [indoor track] season, however, we should increase speed training,” Harris said.

Injury of the Issue - Alison Scott Q: What sports do you play for AHS? A: I play volleyball and soccer for AHS.

JV football celebrates after beating Hayfield off of a clutch Hail Mary touchdown on Nov. 5.

Overall Record: 6-2

Place in district: tied 1st

Schedule and Scores: Sept. 4 @ Robinson - 34-60 L Sept. 20 @ Fairfax - 22-12 W Sept. 27 @ Washington-Lee 30-0 W Oct. 4 vs. Marshall - 45-19 W

Oct. 18 @ Mount Vernon 14-12 W Oct. 29 @ West Potomac - 21-48 L Nov. 1 vs T.C. Williams - 33-6 W Nov. 5 vs Hayfield - 34-27 W

Q: What is the injury that happened to you and when did it happen?

A: I tore my ACL during my junior year on the socccer team.

Q: What were the injury’s effects on the team overall?

A: Both sports [volleyball and soccer] lost a player on the field or court, but they never lost the spirit of me being there. The only effect this injury had on the teams was me being unable to play.

Q: Overall, how has the rehab process been?

A: The rehab process has been difficult overall. I started off not being able to walk, but now I am able to jog, which I think is a huge achievement. Setting and reaching little goals makes the process a lot easier and manageable.

Q: How much longer do you plan to be out of sports?

A: My goal is to get back before soccer season tryouts. So, my plan is to only be out of sports about two more months.

Q: How will the injury impact you in the future?

COURTESY OF ALISON SCOTT

COURTESY OF NICHOLAS BELLEM

Q: How long have you been playing those sports for Annandale?

A: I’ve been playing these sports since freshman year, so this would be my fourth year playing.

Senior Alison Scott boots the ball away on defense A: This injury will not have a huge impact on me in the future. I will have to be more careful because I do have the risk of tearing my ACL again. However, I am doing rehab to put myself in a position to play sports again so it doesn’t set me back.

Q: What is the worst part of being injured?

A: The worst part of being injured is not being able to play sports that I love. It is a difficult challenge sitting on the sidelines watching plays go by and be unable to do anything about it because I know what it is really like to be out there playing.

Atoms try out for a spot on the varsity team before the first tournament

BY ALEX BURITA Sports Editor After having a respectable season last year with a district title under their belt, AHS wrestling heads back into another season. Currently, they are going through the preparation phase by training and designing the roster for each weight class.

“The varsity roster will be decided in the future by wrestle offs,” coach Damico said. “These will occur for each of the weight classes that have more than one

wrestler competing. The winners will be awarded with the varsity spot.”

The results of these wrestle offs and the roster will be finalized before the first tournament that the Atoms will enter.

AHS wrestling’s first tournament of the season will be the NOVA Classic at Fairfax High School on both Dec. 7 and Dec. 8.

Following their first tournament, the Atoms will host a match on Dec. 12 against Lake Braddock and C.D. Hylton.

However, AHS has lost some

talent due to the graduation of last year’s seniors Allen Kokilananda and Uriel Sejas.

Fortunately though, there are numerous freshmen and underclassmen that have been training hard and preparing for the upcoming season with talent to be reckoned with.

“The freshmen bring a lot of new energy and a hunger to learn, most of them have never wrestled before but some are quick learners and could be challenging for open varsity spots soon,” Damico said.

The team has already sought improvement to embrace the challenge of defending their district title as many of the wrestlers have been working with conditioning and strength coach Klein.

“I am feeling very good so far about this year’s team,” Damico said.

“This season, we are looking to defend our district title, take all 14 weights to the regional tournament, improve on our regional tournament from last year and get at least five state qualifiers.”

Coach Damico also expressed that the team’s goals should include those who qualified for states to place in their weight class.

Nevertheless, AHS wrestling is set to have two scrimmages to help them identify improvements that need to be made to have another remarkable season.

ADAM SHAWISH

Wrestling prepares for upcoming season

Conditioning and strength coach Carl Klein spots for freshman Yofthae Hailu during a weight room workout.

SPORTS 17

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Upcoming Games

Coach’s Corner: Deidrich Gilreath

Boys basketball

PHOTO COURTESY CASEY NGUYEN

AHS vs. South County (Home) Thursday, Nov. 15 7:30 p.m.

AHS vs. Thurgood Marshall Academy (Home) Monday, Nov. 19 7:30 p.m.

AHS vs. Fairfax (Home) Tuesday, Nov. 27 7:15 p.m.

AHS vs. Stonewall Jackson (Manassas) (Home) Thursday, Nov. 29 7:15 p.m.

AHS vs. Falls Church (Away) Tuesday Dec. 4 7:15 p.m.

AHS vs. Thomas Jefferson Science & Tech (Home) Wednesday Dec. 5 7:15 p.m.

Senior Alejandro Casquino is a returning player on the varsity basketball team this year. This is his fourth year playing basketball for the Atoms and he hopes to be captain.

New basketball season set

BY MIA ANTEZANA GARCIA Staff Writer With a new season comes new players and new opportunities to improve. The basketball team is looking to live up to last season this winter. With a steady record of 13-4, the boys varsity basketball team led by coach Deidrich Gilreath is poised and ready for this year’s team to take the conference by storm and fully showcase their skills and capabilities.

Tryouts for the team were held from Monday, Nov. 5 to Wednesday, Nov. 7.

“We have eight returning players from last year, but seniors Junior Lotongo, Mo Kanu and Devin Gill are three guys who are back that were starters last season,” Gilreath said.

Some other returning players this year are seniors Alejandro Casquino and Abbey Yared. Their desire to be on the team and willingness to go the extra mile

Which winter sport are you most looking forward to?

to work hard were key traits that coach Gilreath was looking for during tryouts.

According to Gilreath, the defense that the boys played last year is a large factor that influenced their decent season. Despite this and the fact that there are many returning players from last season, Gilreath looks to improve their team both mentally and physically.

“Something that we will do different this year is play a lot faster on offense,” Gilreath said.

However, speed is not the only factor that needs improvement in. In addition to speed, Casquino believes that the team needs to play position less basketball. This will allow the boys to play not only at a faster tempo, but also get their number shots up. The team also already has their objectives for this season clear by knowing exactly what needs to be done to improve.

“Since a lot of us are seniors, we all have the same goal in mind,” Casquino said.

They want to give it their all

ABEL MEHARI freshman “I’m most looking forward to winter track because winter track is really interesting and there is more then one activity.”

on the court and have an excellent performance in the tournament.

“If we improve on our mistakes from last year, I think we have a good shot at making districts.”

--ABBEY YARED

senior “This season, we are hungry for the district championship, something that AHS basketball has not seen since 1994,” Yared said. “We also want to play well throughout the regional tournament and advance to the state tournament, where we want to win it all.”

LEOULE YARED freshman “I’m most looking forward to basketball because I am a basketball player and I love to play basketball and I’m excited for the games to start.”

BRITTANY REYES sophmore “I’m most looking forward to basketball because the intensity the guys use is exciting and they always have a big turn out for the games.”

Although last year the basketball team finished with a winning record, players still know how they are going to approach the season differently.

“This year we want to play hard throughout the entire season, and postseason with some momentum,” Yared said. “Last year we took our foot off the gas a bit towards the end, but we hope to work harder and advance further.”

“We prepare for games by having intense and effective practices,” Deidrich said.

The team has their first test of the season Nov. 15 against the South County Stallions.

“I’m expecting us to play hard and together,” senior Junior Lotongo said. “[Also to] do what our coaches have taught us and have a positive outcome.”

DAYANA UMANA sophmore “I’m most looking forward to basketball because the games are really exciting and are fun to watch and I just have a really good times at the games.”

HAKIM IDRIS junior “I’m most looking forward to basketball because the basketball games are fun and I get to hangout with all my friends.”

Q: Where are you from and how did you first discover your interest in basketball?

A: “I’m from Arlington and I started to really love basketball while in middle school.”

Q: When did you start coaching?

A: “I started coaching in 2008.”

Q: Did you play basketball when you were younger?

A: “Yes. I began playing basketball at the age seven and played until I graduated from Wakefield High School.”

Q: What do you like most about basketball?

A: “The things I like most about coaching basketball is teaching the game and seeing kids competing.”

Q: Who is your favorite player?

A: “My favorite players right now are Kyrie Irving, Jason Taytum and Damiem Lillard.”

Q: Where did you go to college?

A: “I went to Norfolk State University which is located in Norfolk, VA.” Q: Is AHS the only school you have coached at?

A: “AHS is not the only school I have coached at. I coached at Wakefield for 8 years before I was hired to be the head coach here at AHS.”

MARISSA JOHNSON junior “I am most looking forward to basketball, because I play basketball myself and it is a really fun sport to play and watch.”

MAISHA MALILA senior “I’m most looking forward to wrestling because I want to see Eva Gomez beat people up and she is really good. Watching her wrestle is inspiring.”

GEORGE SANDY senior “I’m most looking forward to wrestling because we have a new coach, coach DiConi is from a different school and we are going to have a new experience with him.”

Gunston district announces football honors

Baseball and wrestling holds leaf raking fund raiser

Athletes recognized for outstanding performances throughout the season

Student athletes participate in community service activity in order to raise money for respective sports

With Atoms’ football season coming to a close. The Gunston District football awards have been distributed to different players on the team.

Head coaches from the Gunston District have voted and the awards have already been given out.

Many teams in the Gunston District that have received awards are Hayfield, West Potomac, T.C. Williams, and Mount Vernon.

Some players earned first team, meaning they are the best player in that position in the district.

While other players earned second team, which means they are the second best player in that position in the district.

The following players earned first team congratulations to senior offensive line Kevin Reyes, senior tight end Alex Bellem, senior defensive end Oussama Bougria, junior defensive back Ryan Adams, senior defensive utility player Ayman Elhag.

Athletes who get onto the first team in the district are eligible to get the All Region Awards for first or second teams.

These following players earned second team congratulations to senior quarterback Devin Gill, senior wide receiver Ayman Elhag, senior wide receiver Anthony Carter, senior running back Barron Davis, junior kick returner/ punt returner Ryan Adams, senior defensive back Traimne Allen, senior linebacker Karam Said, junior linebacker

Danny Flynn, junior defensive end Pat Lee. There were also recipients for honorable mentions, such as center junior Brian Fuentes, junior running back Dylan Weaver, sophomore linebacker Justin Scott, sophomore defensive back Robert Laatour, sophomore defensive back Idrissa Kargbo.

These players did outstanding during the season. Throughout the whole season they have shown hard work in games and practices.

“We have all worked hard as a team to achieve greatness,” sophomore Justin Scott said. “I would like to congratulate everyone for receiving an award and to thank my team also.”

BY ERIK RIVAS Sports Editor

PHOTO COURTESY JUSTIN SCOTT

BY ERIK RIVAS Sports Editor

Sophomore Justin Scott, number 9, and senior Abel Samson, number 35, discuss the previous play.

The air is getting crisp, and as the fall season comes to an end, the gold, red and orange leaves are scatted across lawns everywhere. This means it is that time of the year again when the AHS wrestling and baseball team hold their annual leaf-raking fund raiser.

The teams offer their leaf raking services to houses in neighborhoods nearby the Annandale and North Springfield area, who sign up beforehand.

This festive fund raiser will take place on allday Saturday, Nov. 17.

For many, raking leaves can be an extremely time-consuming and back-aching chore.

However, this is nothing to players on the wrestling and baseball teams.

“It can be either easy or hard depending on the size of the yard,” sophomore Justin Scott said. “But since we had a lot of people it made every yard easy.”

Through this activity, the raking crews will not only raise essential funds for their upcoming season, but the fund raiser also builds teamwork and spirit.

“It creates a stronger bond between all of us,” Scott said. “This is because it does not feel like a job or any other fund raiser at all. It is more like a hangout with all your friends.”

The fund raiser also serves as physical conditioning for their bodies in preparation for the season.

“We sometimes have small competitions between one another to see you can rake the

fastest or clean the fastest,” Scott said. “It really works your muscles.”

Those who receive the teams’ services can donate any amount of their choosing.

However, the teams usually make about $100 per house and sometimes even more. The minimum donation amount is $100.

The money is later split fairly into two, between both the baseball and wrestling team.

Last year, the baseball team was able to raise a total of over $1,000, which went into their new uniforms and equipment.

Senior Joe Courtney, a varsity baseball player, has participated in this event for the past three years, and he will continue to do so this year to help his team. Last year, the fund raiser had a decent turnout.

“I would say about 40 athletes participated,” Courtney said. “[For] roughly about 15 houses.”

With much hope and enthusiasm, AHS will be cheering on the wrestling and baseball teams all day Nov. 17 as they break a sweat and work hard to raise the necessary funds to allocate to their needs.

One can register online at AnnandaleAtoms. com. There is a Boosters form that can be fill out. Contact Brian Zimmerman at AnnandaleBoosters@gmail.com or call at (703)407-6087 for more details or to schedule a time for the teams to come. There is limited availability, which will decrease as slots are filled.

18 ENTERTAINMENT

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

New video game excites students

BY PATRICK BROWN Staff Writer

Queen movie recieves high praise

Rami Malek cast as Freddie Mercury

BY ELVERA MILLER Special to the A-Blast

Bohemian Rhapsody captured a great deal of Queen’s journey, and Freddie Mercury’s life.

Rami Malek portrayed Mercury in a phenomenal way by picking up on his mannerism. I watched the movie because I have always loved the band. When I found out they were making a movie about it, I got really excited. I went with my mom because we’ve always listened to Queen together and we decided to go check it out.

My favorite part of his movie had to be the montages of each concert they had, because I enjoyed watching them grow and seeing Mercury’s character in a different light. I believe the most iconic scene in my opinion was the making

What is your favorite Queen song?

of the hit song “We Will Rock You” because the movie did a great job at showing the reasoning as to why Queen made the song in the first place.

Another scene that made the movie iconic and amazing was the last scene where Queen performed during Live Aid at Wembley Stadium. Live Aid was a musical festival in 1985.

The movie did a fantastic job at replicating the performance in real life by having actor Rami Malek imitate Mercury’s movements and energy. It was very emotional and it left the whole theater in tears.

Personally, I did not find any mistakes in the movie, but instead I see Mercury in a different light because I am educated on his life. Besides Mercury, I really enjoyed the character Mary Austin. She was the love of his life and stood by him even though she knew he was bisexual, and even after they broke up. It is a very difficult thing to do when you love someone romantically, but it showed how much love she had for him.

She was able to put aside her feelings and

KAYLA CORTES freshman ‘I personally think that Bohemian Rhapsody is the best song. It’s their most popular one.”

MOIASSR MOHAMED freshman “My favorite song is all of them. I am a huge fan. I love them.”

CARLA CANIDO sophomore “I like Queen’s hit song We Will Rock You. I think everybody knows this song.”

always be there for him. Mercury’s sexuality wasn’t something he liked to talk about. He was about his music and the band, and he didn’t feel as if it was fair that he be judged on the fact that he was straight or gay. He never came out officially, which was well displayed in the movie. It shows him only coming out to his parents rather than the world.

Mercury also tested positive for HIV in 1987.

He was in complete denial and refused to believe he had caught something that spread at such a high rate in the 1980s, especially in homosexual relationships. Although the timing wasn’t completely accurate in the film, it still fit into the plot of the movie well. Just like in Queen’s performance at Live Aid, the film did a phenomenal job at showcasing Mercury’s strength and keeping up with his high energy and extroverted stage presence due to a great performance by Rami Malek.

I would recommend this movie to students specifically because I believe they should be educated on how remarkable Queen was. They should value the band.

MIGUEL OROZCO sophomore “Personally, I think that Queen’s greatest hit is We Will Rock You or Radio Ga-Ga.”

KANI KHALED junior “My favorite Queen song is Killer Queen because it is catchy and fun to listen to.”

CARTER MCGRAW junior “Their biggest song is Bohemian Rhapsody , but my favorite is Somebody to Love.”

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a high flying adventure game that was recently released on Oct. 26. The game is set in the wild west in the late 1800’s. The setting of the game features several fictional states and does not include real locations.

“All in all I’ve enjoyed the game,” senior James Gore said. “The open world atmosphere that spans across five states is so big that I never get bored while I was playing.”

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the sequel to the first Red Redemption as it follows the main character, Arthur Morgan throughout the plot. The game begins as Morgan and his gang are about to rob a train. After the team robs the train, Pinkerton detectives are hired to arrest them and they must evade capture while still having to complete the other heist.

The game was created by Rockstar Studios, which is also the same company that produced the Grand Theft Auto.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on both Xbox One and Playstation 4. The game is available in all stores and online for $59.99.

“Although I didn’t play the first Red Redemption I really enjoyed the second one,” senior Alex Brennan said. “It’s very similar to GTA and it makes sense since it’s from the same country.”

EFRATA TECLE senior “My favorite Queen song is Fat Bottomed Girls because of Freddie Mercury’s vocals.”

ALEX OHENE senior “Queen’s biggest hit is Bohemian Rhapsody, but personally I like Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Takeoff’s journey on going solo Playlist of the Issue

Third member of Migos drops his debut album

CASPER Takeoff The Last Rocket (2018) Off his first debut album, Takeoff delivers a banger. This is one of 12 songs off the album.

BY MATTHEW DINH & ABEL SAMSON Entertainment Editor & Staff Writer

As 2018 comes to a close, Takeoff has pleased the Hip-Hop community and released a solo album called The Last Rocket. It includes 12 songs produced by Quality Control’s DJ Durel, Murda Beatz, TM88, and others.

“I think that Takeoff’s album is a lyrical masterpiece because he does very well by himself,” senior Devin Gill said. “Takeoff is ranked the top out of the three Migos in my opinion and it will stay that way.”

Before his debut album, Takeoff could be identified as the third member of Migos.

Takeoff is a rapper that is apart of the trio group, the Migos. He was born Kirshnik Khari Ball on June 18, 1994 in Lawrenceville, Georgia near Atlanta. He was raised by his mother who also raised Kiari Kendrell Cephus and Quavious Marshall who are Takeoff’s uncles.

In 2008 all three men changed their names to Quavo, Takeoff and Offset to form the rap group Migos.

They initially called themselves the Polo Club.

Migos released their first album which was considered a mixtape titled, “Juug Season,” in 2011. The group took a year off to write 20 songs and ended up releasing their second mixtape, “No Label.”

Migos made their big debut when they released their hit single, “Versace,” in 2013 which was later

SPACE CADET (FT. GUNNA) Metro Boomin NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES (2018) Producer Metro Boomin comes through with a great feature by Gunna.

Takeoff’s album contains 12 songs and has no features. It is his first solo project.

remixed by Canadian pop star and rapper Drake.

“The remix by Drake was really good,” junior Jane Kim said. “I really like the way that Drake added his voice and really changed the tune and melody of the song.”

After the remix, the song peaked the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart for weeks.

After the song blew up, many artist wanted to have a collaboration with the Migos such as Chris Brown and Young Thug.

Migos released their debut studio album, “Yung Rich Nation,” which peaked as no. 17 on the Billboard 200.

Migos’ biggest success was in 2016 when they released their hit single, “Bad and Boujee,” featuring rapper Lil Uzi Vert. The song was certified platinum four times. In the music video, Takeoff was featured in the

background but seemed to not have a large contribution to the song as he was not credited in the song.

“Takeoff is the key and is a significant part to the group. Migos wouldn’t be the same without him,” Kim said.

“I don’t know why he wasn’t credited because his verse was really good.”

Social media has noticed that the group has made a slow yet noticeable split up.

The most well known rapper of the three, Quavo, was the first to release a solo album titled “Huncho.” It is also been rumored that Offset is set to release his own solo album.

Takeoff has had a significant decrease in music related activities and the reasons as to why is unknown.

Critics have speculated that the recent marriage of Offset and female rapper Cardi B has been a major contribution to the split-up of the group.

MIA (FT. DRAKE) Bad Bunny Single (2018) Drake’s part in fluent Spanish tops off this track, which is a mix of Spanish and English. thank you, next Ariana Grande Single (2018) Grande releases this shortly after her split with Pete Davidson. It mentions all of her past relationships.

TRIP (QUEMIX) Jacquees Quemix 3 (2018) Jacquees’ remix of Elle Mai’s trip is bigger and better than the original. It is off his third mixtape of remixes.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Queen A Night at the Opera (1975) This upbeat rock song is our present day Sicko Mode. Don’t sleep on this oldie.

ENTERTAINMENT 19

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

Shane Dawson strikes again The Mind of Jake Paul reels in millions of views

BY MARIAN OSMAN Staff Writer Shane Dawson recently released a documentary about popular YouTube star, Jake Paul. Dawson’s intention with this eight-part documentary was to find out if Jake Paul is a sociopath or has sociopathic tendencies like his older brother, Logan Paul. Along the way, Dawson racked up over 141 million views on the series.

There has been a lot of controversy over the videos because many disliked the way Dawson gave Paul a platform and more publicity. Many viewers believe that he’s racist who doesn’t deserve a second chance.

In the first episode, Dawson received a voicemail from Paul who said that the series would be a great idea, but that he didn’t want him to do it if it would hurt his reputation.

Dawson said that the only reason why he was doing this series was to find out the truth of why viewers dislike Paul.

“I do not think that it was a good idea for Shane Dawson to make this series,” sophomore Siryet Girma said, “Now a lot of people dislike him for favoring a guy like Jake Paul who has made so many mistakes and never

apologized for them.”

In the second episode, Dawson watches some of Paul’s videos and is trying to determine if he’s a sociopath. Dawson even gets a text message from Logan Paul saying that he’s going to be making a reaction video to his series.

Then Dawson asks Logan Paul for an interview, but he rejects kindly and says that people are just quick to diagnose someone and mention that he has sociopathic tendencies.

In the fourth episode, Dawson meets with the former COO of Team 10, Nick Crompton. He explains to Dawson that he liked being on Team 10. Crompton also mentions that he left Team 10 because of the Paul brother’s dad. Crompton said that he wanted to tell him what to do and how to handle the company and that Jake was too scared to say anything to him.

In the fifth episode, Dawson goes to the Team 10 household to talk to Paul and live a day in his life. He gets to experience all the crazy things that happen in the Team 10 mansion, and what Paul does when he isn’t vlogging.

Paul also tells Dawson that he has taken a break from YouTube because his girlfriend, Erika Costell, has told him to. He also admits that he and Costell’s relationship is real and nothing about it is fake.

In the sixth episode, Dawson asks Paul about his former assistant, Megan Zelly and the assault

Paul has been widly criticized for his antics in the past, but this series clears up many allegations against the YouTube star. allegations gainst fellow YouTuber Faze Banks. Paul admits that he should have done a little more investigating to know exactly what happened instead of releasing a video talking about the assault. Paul and Costell both admitted that they know that something happened to Zelly, but don’t know what happened and even let Dawson listen to the voicemails that were sent by Zelly to Costell.

Dawson gets an interview with Costell lone and she explains to him that he has been played many times before by his family members and

friends, but that he still likes them and forgives them.

In the last episode, Paul reveales that he’s asked his dad to move back to Ohio so they could have more of a normal father-son relationship without him being involved in the businesses of Team 10. He explained his side of the Martinez Twins controversy, and said that they were lying and exaggerating about some things.

Paul also finally talked about the situation with his ex-girlfriend, Alissa Violet, and how much it hurt him, but admitted he was also at fault.

Students rave over FIFA 19

BY DAVID SOLOMON Staff Writer FIFA 19 has returned and is one of the hottest games out to date.

This game is taking over because of its many new game features such as adding the most prestigious club competition in the world. From the champions league, to the group stages, to the finals, players can set up their own own rules and visuals that can provide a very realistic and mesmerizing experience.

One of the new game modes is “House Rules” which is literally anything and everything FIFA fanatics could have asked for.

One segment of House Rules is “Survival Mode” meaning that when a team scores a goal, that team must then remove a random player from their team not including the keeper to give the other team an advantage. This process continues in this mode until a team is either down to one player or until the full 90 minutes of game time run out.

The new Long Range mode

Fifa 19 will feature multiple new Champions League teams. introduces the feature of if a that must be scored in order to team scores a goal from out- win the game. For example, if side the opponents box, the goal the pair of players were to select would count as two instead of three goals, the first to reach one. If the goal is scored from three goals would win it all.

One of the most exciting inside the box, then goal would new features there is under the just count as one.

The next mode is “First to…” “Headers and Volley” mode. This which is usually played with a mode is where players can only friend. Under this mode, players score via header or volley in order select a certain amount of goals for the goal to count. Penalties

Free apps of the issue and free kicks are the only exceptions to this rule.

A fan favorite that has been gaining in popularity is the “No Rules” mode which takes away yellow and red cards resulting in no fouls being called throughout the duration of the game.

In the updated Career Mode, Alex Hunter is back for his third and apparently last season.

This year’s career mode revolves around his once rival turned best friend Danny Williams and his half-American sister Kim Hunter.

FIFA 19 knocked Spider-Man of its pedestal as the best ranked game in the United Kingdom.

The game also won some awards such as 11th most discussed PS4 game of 2018 and the seventh most game shared PS4 game of 2018.

FIFA 19 could be possibly be the best game that EA has released for the FIFA franchise.

The new game features and the updated graphics are just the cherry on top.

Shy Glizzy continues DMV reign Fully Loaded surfaces with unexpected features

BY WENSLIE KODUA Staff Writer Shy Glizzy recently released Fully Loaded. His album features a variety of artist such as Rick Ross, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, and many others.

Shy Glizzy has always felt overlooked in the hip hop game.

His recent album Fully Loaded is full of energy and he raps throughout his album and sings here and there.

He had a majority of collaborations and which made perfect sense as they blended very well.

What intrigued most fans about this album was when they rapped instead of trying to be on key.

Shy Glizzy is a very intense artist. His music is respected just as much as his lyrics, if you listen carefully he raps about his past, being overlooked in the rap game and he raps about what he wants.

This is important because it allows you to enter his world and be engaged as much as possible.

This project featuring 19 tracks is by far one of the top albums of the year. He’s been eager to get all the attention as much as possible since day one.

This album is a true showcase of his effort.

“Shy Glizzy is from the DMV

Shy Glizzy represents his home town of Washington D.C. with vintage Washington Bullets shorts. and he represents the area well.

He speaks against violence and turns his inspirational words into a nice rap song that can be related to,” sophomore Taylor Poe said.

“Do you understand” is the most noted song on the album it features Tory Lanez who did a number on this feature and incorporated various aspects when it comes to tone. The video matches the vibe of the song as to how laid back it is.

Shy Glizzy has unique style in regard to song structure, many times delivering lengthy hooks that work really well with his strong delivery. Fully Loaded is

a strong release from Glizzy that ranks high in his current discouragement towards himself.

Nevertheless, Glizzy is a unique figure in hip-hop. He tends to rap emotionally when he makes music. “Gimmie A Hit” is a great way to better understand the way he raps, as it displays Glizzy’s rapping about his come up, his motivation towards money and the ways of the street.

What makes his album fascinating is the balance between his life of luxury and the life behind it all. Through his music he raps about how he came to be, where he is now, the struggle it took to

Jake mentioned Logan’s suicide forest video and the impact it had on him such as, losing brand deals but also that it brought their family closer together.

“I liked this series that Shane Dawson created about Jake Paul, because it lets people see how Jake Paul acts when he’s not filming,” sophomore Kristina Regmi said.

This series has been emotionally exhausting for Dawson who has been criticized for even putting his time in effort into making people realize who the real Jake Paul is.

get there. He also talks about how he is grateful to be receiving his awards slowly but surely.

On his track “Gimme a Hit”, he raps about how he made it.

Well enough for his kid not to go through the struggle, he’s had to rob from others and starve himself. He carries his past with pride without it he wouldn’t be where he is today Being overlooked is truly an understatement and Shy Glizzy continues to impress the public with each and every release. All throughout Fully Loaded, Glizzy showcased his story in a diverse way.

Flip Trickster Feel the adrenaline as you are flipping in the air after jumping down some crazy heights. Do insane jumps and flips down obstacles.

Reigns: Game of Thrones Navigate the complex relationships of the Seven Kingdoms. Employ ruthless tactics to maintain the balance and favor of the people to extend your reign.

FaceTune 2 In only a few taps, you can whiten teeth, remove blemishes & pimples, smooth out skin, contour & slim faces—and so much more!

Spinrilla Spinrilla is the world’s first mixtape music app, giving you all hip-hop, all the time. Discover independent and emerging hip-hop artists before anyone else.

reacts

20 WEEKEND

Tues. Nov. 13, 2018

GIVING THANKS FOR...

ENTERTAINMENT

Sugar Shack serves special sweets and snacks

Find fresh produce at Falls Church for Thanksgiving

little more expensive, these flavors worth it.

Not only does Sugar Shack have very tasty seasonal donuts, but the hundreds Looking for a local place with great of other flavors they have are popular too. donuts and coffee? Well, look no further, Want bacon, fruit loops or gummy worms the Sugar Shack is a great option for those on your donuts? How about Harry Potter who want delectable fall treats and drinks. themed donut? All of those unusual donut The Sugar Shack is a Richmond-based themes and many more are periodically donut shop that makes scrumptious home- served at the Sugar Shack. made donuts with very unique flavors.

Aside from donuts, they offer cofLocations have spread all over Virginfee, specialty lattes, drinks, pastries and ia, Maryland and DC and now have many breakfast sandwiches. A favorite for many different locatios with over 300 flavors is the “Luther Sunrise Breakfast Sandof donuts. The shops in Alexandria and wich” for a very reasonable price of $3.90.

Arlington are the closest to AHS, located Another incentive for people to go to within a short ten-minute drive. the Sugar Shack is their vegan options.

The Sugar Shack has a wide variety of All of the classic flavors and a couple very interesting donuts to choose from at other specialty donuts are vegan. Almost different prices. One donut starts at $2 and all of the classic flavors like the Cinnaa dozen donuts start at $20. mon Sugar, as well as a couple other speThey have more expensive donuts cialty donuts, Pumpkin cream filled and called specialty donuts which are seasonal. apple fritters, are vegan. Most donuts are Every October to November, the “Speciality not healthy, but the donuts at the Sugar Donuts” they offer include fall flavors like Shack come very close.

Pumpkin Cheesecake and Pumpkin Spice Even with their delcious food, the scenLatte. By the end of October they have ery and atmosphere of the shop is very spooky Halloween specials called “Moninviting. sters.”

Their donuts have intricate designs Each season or month, the featured with sprinkles and frosting. It is easy to donuts change. Coming this Decemsee that each donut is handmade and decber Sugar Shack will begin selling winorated elegantly. ter themed donuts. In previous years, they So, if you are looking for decorated and have had winter donuts like the Cinnamon delicious fall-flavored donuts and coffee, Apple Cake. They do, of course, still have the Sugar Shack is a place you should go their classic donuts like the House Glaze to. and Cinnamon Sugar. Although they are a

BY JANE ELKINS Staff Writer

COURTESY OF FARMERS MARKET FACEBOOK

FOOD

BY KATIE POPE Weekend Editor There are plenty of farmers markets around town, but few can compare to the one in Falls Church. It has been recognized as “Best Farmers Market” in the area three times. The market is up and running all hroughout the year, even in the coldest winter months. From April to December, the market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m.12 p.m. From January to March, they are open from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Admission is free and is a great place to go for all ages.

The Falls Church farmers market usually has about 40 vendors during the cold winter months and 50 or more when the weather is warmer. Some of the vendors that appear at the market are Blue Ridge Dairy from Sterling, Donut Heaven from Fairfax and Kate’s Crepes from Falls Church. There is even a vendor called Sexy Vegie from Baltimore that sells vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free food.

Often, vendors offer free samples that people can grab as they shop. Customers can come to buy one thing, but get a variety of free samples from all sorts of vendors.

The Falls Church market provides goods from fresh fruits and veggies to dog treats to meat, eggs and cheese. Another great thing to get from the market is flowers for special occasions or delicious, freshly baked goods for breakfast.

Purchasing products from local farmers and vendors really helps support the farmers. They work hard and provide organic, fresh food that deserves to be enjoyed and shared with the community. Another reason to buy from the farmers market is that it helps protect the environment by

A variety of fresh, locally grown apples are available throughout most of the year. decreasing production and packaging costs.

Not to mention, the food and products available are fresher and tastier than what’s typical provided at grocery stores.

In addition to foods and goods, what’s unique about the Falls Church market is that it has a monthly chef series. Every month a chef from a nearby restaurant comes and shows off their skills. They create recipes before the customers’ very eyes and provide tips on using fresh and locally grown seasonal food.

But that’s not all, the Falls Church farmers market also has fun activities on select Saturdays, such as dancing and yoga.

On Nov. 17, make sure to attend the “dancing mind” event at 9 a.m. where an intense session of power flow yoga can refresh the mind and body. Bring a mat if possible, if not there is a limited amount available to borrow.

Take advantage of this free opportunity and help local farmers while purchasing organic, delicious food. The location is 300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22043.

Tackle the Turkey Trot to enjoy.

“Last year at the Alexandria race, there were about ten large tables piled high with bananas and granola bars,” Courtney said.

Looking for a way to burn off all those cal- “I could just grab as many as I wanted and ories from the mashed potatoes, stuffing and leave.” pumpkin pie that you consume on ThanksIn addition to having fun, the races are giving Day? Search no more, the Turkey Trot organized to raise donations for organirun/walk is a fun and effective way to stay fit zations in need. A couple of the organizaand open up the opportunities to eat as much tions for the 5k this year are the Arlington as possible.

Food Association Center (AFAC), BridgThere are two race locations close to AHS; es to Independence and others. The 5-miler the 5k in Arlington and the 5-miler in Alexrace is raising donations for a nonprofit food andria. The Alexandria race starts promptorganization called ALIVE! Aside from cash ly at 8 a.m. and the Arlington race starts at 9 or checks, they will be collecting non-pera.m. on Thanksgiving morning. Registration ishable food items like canned and boxed is currently open for both races. The 5k costs goods. $45 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-17 Register quickly and secure a spot in the and registration is only available online. terrific Turkey Trot before it’s too late.

The 5-miler costs $25 (in person on race For Alexandria the address is George day) or $20 (online) for adults, $20 (in person Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Veron race day) or $15 (online) for young adults non Ave. For Arlington the address is ages 13-21, and $10 (in person on race day) or Christ Church of Arlington, 3020 North $5 (online) for children 12 and under. T-shirts Pershing Dr. are included in the registration fee for first come, first serve runners. Otherwise, there are t-shirts on sale that can be purchased while registering or on the day of.

In past years, runners have worn costumes like turkeys or Santa Clause. There are no limits to this race, in fact kids, strollers and dogs - dressed up or not, are more than welcome to run/walk the race too. Even the less experienced can join.

“I don’t usually run, but I signed up for the Turkey Trot last year and had a blast,” senior Joe Courtney said. “It was cold, but I felt really good afterwards and it was fun looking out for silly costumes and cute dogs.”

At the end of the race, there are mounds of Some runners take the race seriously, complimentary snacks available for everyone while others dress up as turkeys for the fun of it.

BY KATIE POPE Weekend Editor

PHOTOS BY JANE ELKINS

COURTESY OF TURKEY TROT FACEBOOK

The Sugar Shack displays are filled The festive scenery attracts people to the shop with decorative and aesthetically and their colorful and varied menus offer delicious appealing donuts. treats for everyone.

The Halloween white chocolate sprinkle donut is a hit during the fall season. “The donut was really pretty and their fall flavors tasted really good,” freshman Katie Murphy said.

Virtue Feed and Grain provides juicy burgers The delicious and creamy mac ‘n cheese appetizer came in a small skillet pan and was enjoyed by everyone at the table. The cheese pull was decadant and there were several types of cheeses in the sauce. It was a perfect comfort dish and a great way to start the evening.

BY KATIE POPE Weekend Editor

The grilled chicken tenders and broccolini ordered off of the “Young Diners” menu was healthy, but the portion was not very large even for a kid. The flavor of the chicken was bland and no kind of sauce was included in the order. It still got eaten, but this dish is not worthy of $7 or a re-order.

PHOTOS BY KATIE POPE

It was warm and sticky out, so the local restaurant Virtue Feed and Grain looked appealing. The small, country-like bar and restaurant was packed with satisfied customers. Just like the rest of Old Town in Alexandria, everything was rustic from the food to the seats to the decorations.

It all began in 1786 when it was a feed house and only beer and alcohol were served. In 2011, it was transformed into the modern American tavern that it is today.

At the tavern, they serve all kinds of food from breakfast steak and eggs with buttermilk biscuits to late night teriyaki glazed chicken wings. With specialized menus for breakfast, all day, late night, and dessert, there is bound to be something that even the pickiest of eaters can This burger is a custom burger with bacon, cheddar cheese, enjoy. lettuce, tomato, onions, and a hamburger patty and it is burstThere are even a few dishes for kids ing with flavor. to gorge on like the $6 pasta, $7 chickcheesy that we could see the mouth like the quinoa salad and the little gem leten strips and $9 salmon. Older teens and tuce, and starters like the blistered shishi- watering cheese pull that every mac adults can order off the “Young diners” and cheese dish should strive for. to peppers and brunch basket of bananamenu too if they are low on cash or not We continued the night by ordering bran muffins. interested in anything available on the reg- Nevermind the prices, from my experi- a $15 custom burger and the $7 chickular menu. ence the food comes in a fashionable man- en strips. The burger was large and Admittedly, the food is not the cheapest ner and the service is very professional and juicy with a good amount of flavor and with entrees ranging from $16 pasta put- cordial. fries on the side making it well worth tanesca spiced up with cherry tomatoes, My server was very willing to split the the cost. olives, capers and crushed red peppers to tab and he even gave us a drink of pink However, the chicken strips were not $32 slow roasted prime rib with mashed lemonade, free of charge. My table startas delicious. When ordered, they come potatoes, broccolini and horseradish sauce. ed off with the $10 baked mac and cheese with a side of any vegetable, so we chose Some of the cheaper dishes include salads starter. It was very rich and broccolini.

To our disappointment, the chicken was plain and unflavorful with no sauce and the broccolini was not much better. It was seasoned with lemon juice which made it sour and it seemed undercooked and watery.

Obviously we couldn’t complete our night without some dessert. We got a $7 slice of the vanilla cheesecake with fruit and a $8 slice of pecan pie.

They were both pretty good, especially the cheesecake with lemon curd, blueberries, huckleberries, and blue

berry sauce. The pecan pie was not the best I’ve ever tasted, but it was still decent and sweet.

Overall, I would recommend Virtue and Grain because it’s a great place to hang out with friends and some of the food is really good. The one and only location is in Old Town, Alexandria at 106 S. Union St. open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. most days.