Issue #8

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ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME #62 ISSUE 8

Informiing the Atoms siince 1954 4

Chance of Rain

58 54 TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017

BY SADIE MODICA Co-Editor in Chief

PHOTO COURTESY OF YVONNE WHITE

Seniors reign at Battle of the Classes Color clash themed pep rally brings tough competition

BY TEAGAN FOTI

(703) 642-4229

SOLD FOR SEX

Students Prepare for Heritage Night

Heritage Night is an annual opportunity for AHS's diverse student body to gather and celebrate its many cultures and backgrounds. This year's Heritage Night will be on Friday, April 28 in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets will be sold at lunches and at the door for $5.

Senior Fatmata Kamara will be hosting the event along with Salima Khan, Mikael Mechal, Salima Khan, and more.

"I've been doing [Heritage Night] since my sophomore year," Kamara said. "This year, Salima and I decided to host a fashion show right before for the very first time with people wearing their cultural attire."

Kamara will be not only hosting, but also dancing and modeling in the fashion show. Kamara said she got the idea for a cultural fashion show from other schools who had added it to their own Heritage Night.

At Heritage Night, groups of students show off their culture in some way. Activities include playing a cultural instrument, singing a cultural song, doing a cultural dance, and this year there will also be a stand up routine. This year, eight groups will be performing.

The countries represented include Sudan, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Bolivia, Vietnam, and more.

"You can see everything from traditional Somali dances to more modern Hip-Hop style dances from our other kids," Whitney Hardy, Heritage Night coordinator and History/ Psychology teacher said.

Hardy sees Heritage night as a chance to get to know peers in a different way.

"We only really see each other in games or in classes, so to see this different side of people is really cool," Hardy said.

Heritage Night is the perfect representation of AHS and the values the community holds.

"I think Heritage Night defines AHS as a whole, even though not every single country is represented, but it shows how well we can work together to show our community of different cultures, and how diverse we are," Kamara said.

Today’s Weather

Trafficking on the rise in suburbs

BY TEAGAN FOTI Co-Editor in Chief A sixteen-year-old girl has dinner with her parents before sneaking out of her house in the suburbs to go to the dimmer part of town where she will engage in forced sex and drug use with men much older than she.

Her "night" won't end until 4 a.m. when she will creep back up to her room to sleep before her alarm sounds for school.

On the other side of town, another girl waits alone for the school bus. A man approaches and tells her she looks nice. She blushes and a relationships blooms.

She, too, is then sold into sex being paid in drugs or money for a fraction of what she is worth.

This is sex trafficking; the modern form of slavery.

Although it is often associated with physical abduction, and still can be, sex trafficking has evolved to children sneaking out at night and being flattered into thinking that what they are doing is normal. The scenarios described above were discovered through news reports of court testimonies and happened to high school aged girls who live within 10 miles of Annandale High School in the past six years. The epidemic of human trafficking, especially young girls for sex, is growing while the warning signs seem to be diminishing.

"The girls will usually lie about where they are going and say they are going to a friends house or to practice after school and end up being trafficked," said Anna Hanson, case manager and assistant to the director of human services at the northern Virginia (NoVA) Human Trafficking Initiative (HTI) said. "Some warning signs would be if someone seems anxious or scared or not as personable as they typically are. Or

especially if they start lying about where the are going or posting different things on social media."

Virginia ranks fifth amongst the states for the number of total trafficking cases and 44 percent of all trafficking involves a juvenile being sold for commercial sex. Half of the reported cases of sex trafficking in the state of Virginia occur in NoVA; out of 465 calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 232 were from NoVA.

"Trafficking doesn't care how old you are or if you're a guy or a girl" Anna Hanson Case manager and assistant to the director of human services at NoVA HTI "Girls often try to find their worth in guys and think it's cool to have a boyfriend and then it just spirals out of control," Hanson said. "Most people in northern Virginia are very wealthy and there is a type of esteem related to that and a lot of girls are looking for love maybe because their parents aren't around or because they are trying to prove themselves."

Annandale, located in the heart of Northern Virginia (Nova), is no exception to sex trafficking. In 2012 Susan Lee Gross, the owner of an Annandale massage parlor, called Peach Therapy, pled guilty to sex trafficking.

She was reported "transporting women from other states to perform sexual services for patrons of her Annandale-based massage parlor."

Peach Therapy was located on Backlick Road and served as a prostitution ring in a busy office park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YVONNE WHITE

the

4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003 470

Gross advertised on sites such as craigslist.com and backpage.com and decorated her welcoming storefront with two cameras mounted above the paper covered windows that sandwiched the door.

Once in court Gross admitted to her wrong doings and was sentenced to 30 months in prison but she still just one of thousands of pimps and traffickers located across NoVA and the District.

"Trafficking doesn't care how old you are or if you're a guy or a girl, it doesn't care how much money you make. Your trafficker will be aware of those things and will use those things against you," Hanson said. "[Traffickers] do their research; they know what buttons to push."

A survey conducted from 2013 to 2015 was able to identify 290 victims of this modern day slavery and recover 115 victims. Gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) have be charged with human trafficking and the growing gang has helped to put NoVA in the top ten areas for teen trafficking in the Nation, with the average victim age being between 12 and 17 years old.

In 2012, a 16-year-old girl was raped at Springfield Mall by members of a barbaric gang known as the "Underground Gangster Crips" (UGC) who use sex as a form of gang initiation, threatening the teenage girls with violence if they attempted to leave the prostitution ring.

But that crime just scratches the surface. The five gang members who were arrested in the incident all attended Lee High School or Bryant Alternative School.

The Crips were also known to abduct girls from bus stops and take them door-to-door in Arlington where men would pay for intercourse with them.

"These gang members are alleged to have lured see TRAFFICKING pg. 5

Co-Editor in Chief

Teacher of the year nominee Orchestra teacher Angela Ammerman recognized as number one teacher in FCPS

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAGAN FOTI

The gym floor was flooded with students as they all gripped and ripped at the large, twisted rope attempting to pull it to their side. Shoes went flying and students fell the the ground all in an attempt to have bragging rights as the strongest class.

The annual Battle of the Classes (BOTC) competition was held on April 21 in the downstairs gym. All the classes came decked out in their respective colors and the competition was a fierce as ever. The senior class earned the coveted title of champion with a slim 200 pt margin over the juniors.

Sophomores earned the third place title and freshman followed close behind in fourth.

"Winning was awesome because it was our last ever high school pep rally," senior Madie Walsh said. "Everyone in the crowd was super hyped during the events and I think that helped us to win."

The class teams were decided prior to the competition as students were given the opportunity to sign-up during lunches for each of the activities. Each team had 12 participants who competed in events such as tug of war, class sing along, trivia, a septantine relay race and a fast paced penny pick up game called rainbow fiasco.

"Every year we have some form of fundraising in an effort to get students excited and hyped for BOTC but also so that we can decode which W4's get to attend because the whole school can't fit in the main gym at once," BOTC committee leader Lennon Wuhrer said. "This year instead of having students purchase snowmen or flames for their class door for $.25 we decided to give back and collect soda tabs. We collected over 10,000 tabs, which is amazing."

All of the soda tabs that were collected will be sent to Shriners hospital and will be recycled into wheelchairs for children.

BY JESSIE SALISBURY News Editor You can always see her smiling when you walk into her class, always ready to tackle her lessons, cracking jokes and having fun, as well as teaching her students to be the best they can be with every instrument they play.

Angela Ammerman, Annandale High School's orchestra director, has worked extremely hard throughout the year and is loved by many students. All of her dedication to the school will not go un recognized this year, as she was recently announced to be the 2017 Washington Post Teacher of the Year Nominee.

Out of the total of 22 high schools, 3 secondary schools, 24 middle schools, and 196 elementary schools Ammerman was recognized as the number one teacher in Fairfax county.

Ammerman has been recognized for her innovative

Ammerman shows students a technique on the violin during one of her classes.

and successful teaching methods, as well as her passion and dedication to music education and every single student that she instructs.

"It feels so wonderful to have been selected as the FCPS 2017 Washington Post Teacher of the Year Nominee," Ammerman said. "I love teaching in this county so much and to be recognized in this way is such a great honor," Ammeran found out that she had been nominated when she received a call from the Fairfax County

Awards office.

"I did not expect it at all! I was just thrilled for another opportunity to show off the great things we are doing at Annandale High School and in the Annandale Orchestra program," Ammerman said.

Ammerman's students were just as thrilled as she was when they found out. They were told the news when they returned from spring break and were extremely happy for her. When Ammerman walked into her classroom the day after spring break she was see AMMERMAN pg. 5

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2 EDITORIALS

April 25, 2017

Fox shields Bill O'Reilly

Internet privacy gone Congress allows service providers to sell user data

BY BINQI CHEN Editorials Editor

Advertisement companies will continue to obtain personal information from internet users through new legislation.

or sale of call data.

The new rules would require internet providers to notify consumers of what data providers are collecting from them and the reason behind the collection. Service providers would also have to take steps to inform their customers of data breaches.

These steps are monumental in ensuring that large companies do not abuse their power and also to protect the privacy of millions of Americans.

The rollback of these rules only sets the country back. This particular issue has also become more politicized within the two major parties in government.

But how exactly do service providers obtain access to people's information?

Most major service providers are considered broadband, which gives customers their connection to the internet through an IP address that is unique to every individual device.

IP addresses are identifiers for the device and internet companies have the ability to know which IP addresses exist and are being used through every individual's accounts.

Normally, citizens only have the option between a few broadband companies that are in their residing

area.

When a customer surf the web, the service provider guides the device that is being used to different websites. This essentially leaves behind a footprint of internet traffic for the service provider and they have the choice to keep this browsing information or not.

The retainment of browsing information often leads to the ads that pop up on the side of your computer screen which just so happen to be the exact same item you were just looking to buy online. It is no coincidence, but a part of the larger picture of how service providers are taking advantage of their customers without their consent.

It is disappointing to see that progress for the safety of users has once again been delayed. These protections have been stopped before they can even be enforced. However there are still ways to protect your personal browsing data, albeit not foolproof.

Two popular options are the use of a virtual private network (VPN) or Tor. A VPN secures browsing information from internet service providers, it also makes it seem as if consumers are accessing the net

from a different location.

However, VPN providers can share data with larger service providers, so it is important to choose a VPN that has strict privacy agreements.

Tor helps people cover their user identifications online and their locations as well. The system encrypts user data and bounces information between servers, making it difficult to pinpoint where the request for access came from.

The main argument for stopping these new protections is that Internet providers would have a disadvantage against companies such as Google and Facebook that already make billions by selling user data to advertisers.

This argument should not be valid because the privacy of citizens should always come before large companies making money.

This proposal from Congress is set to hit the President's desk, and he is expected to sign it into law. The rollback of these specific regulations has caused concerns over other internet concerns and consumer privileges including net neutrality.

FOX.COM

Over 85 percent of the American population uses the internet to stay connected, obtain news and shop.

The constant usage of the internet naturally leads to a wide range of consumer information being uploaded and shared.

For many Americans, having government protection of their personal data seems obvious, but this soon may be impossible.

Congress recently voted to dismantle historic online privacy regulations created by the Federal Communications Commissions, which aimed to protect consumers against their internet providers from selling their behavioral data to different companies.

Now, the country's biggest internet providers including: AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, could gather, without permission, their consumers' movements online in order to build a lucrative business of trade with advertisement companies.

This sharing of information would all happen while the manipulated personal user has no idea that their private information is being shared.

Some of the data that is in danger of being shared include: internet history, mobile location data, app usage, content of emails and messages, and health and financial information. Social security numbers could also be obtained.

Through this series of rules created only in October of last year, the FCC had hoped to regulate internet providers the same way that they have treated telephone companies-prohibiting them from the unauthorized use

BINQI CHEN

BY BINQI CHEN Editorials Editor

Amidst the exposure of numerous cases of sexual harassment, Bill O'Reilly, the most popular political cable news show host, has been fired from Fox News.

The scandal began after The New York Times published an investigation of a series of settlements to at least five women who were either guests or former employees for O'Reilly. The women were paid by 21st Century Fox or O'Reilly himself after sexual assault claims.

These settlements were in exchange for the women to not pursue further legal charges against O'Reilly. This total paid by Fox racks up to over $13 million.

After O'Reilly's accusations had surfaced, over 50 advertisers halted their support for his popular show "The O'Reilly Factor." Only then did Fox News decid to cut O'Reilly from their channels.

Why did it take so long for Fox to do the right thing?

Fox has constantly shielded and backed O'Reilly during years of sexual assault allegations. It is wrong for a company to protect its employees from public disgrace just because he or she brings in large amounts of revenue for the company.

It is absolutely disgusting to see that one of the most well recognized figures in American news and conservative politics has been committing these harrassments for years. It is also disappointing to find out that 21st Century Fox has repeatedly tried to silence the vic-

The now former host of the popular show "The O'Reilly Factor" was fired from Fox after sexual harrasment allegations.

tims of O'Reilly's abuse.

The company for years now has been using this tactic to help O'Reily soar and thrive. People like O'Reilly are supposed to be role models and inspire rising politicians in their party. This is definitely not the type of encouragement that the next generation needs or deserves.

This is not the first time that Fox News has come under fire for claims of sexual harassment. Just last year, Roger Ailes resigned from his position as CEO due to sexual harassment allegations.

Workplace sexual harassment must not be ignored and more actions should be taken by large corporations to prevent future assaults. Companies and public figures should have to face the crimes and injustices they have committed instead of hiding from them.

Time to appreciate our counselors Department works hard behind the scenes

BY BINQI CHEN Editorials Editor The school year is coming to a close and plans for the following school year are being finalized. Seniors have received their college acceptances, and underclassmen have chosen their classes.

What many students do not realize is that in order to achieve success in transitioning to the following year, our counselors have put in numerous hours of hard work behind the scenes.

Counselors are often underappreciated by both students and parents. They exist to support us during both rough and positive situations throughout the four years of our high

school careers.

"I enjoy helping students, whether it is answering a simple question or helping them through a tough personal time," counselor Rebecca Lockard said.

The nine counselors have been working tirelessly since the start of the year. Each counselor is assigned hundreds of students, and among them, there are a group of seniors that will be applying to college or other endeavors after high school.

Along with individual teacher recommendations, colleges require their applicants to include a letter of recommendation from their counselors. These recommendations are no easy task to complete. Since every recommendation is unique, this means that the counselor has to write a specialized recommendation for all of their seniors.

For underclassmen, picking classes can be an intimidating task. Counselors are there to help their students select the classes that are appropriate fits.

Along with selecting classes, counselors are often faced with a plethora of course change requests both at the end of a school year and at the start of the following year.

The switching of one course could affect the student's entire schedule and more often

than not, multiple classes would have to be changed as well.

Amidst all the paperwork, counselors also work hard to make personal connections with their students, they are genuinely interested in their students' lives.

"No matter what else I am busy doing, a student stopping by my office is the best and most important thing in my day," counselor Mark Vitelli said.

For Vitelli, he enjoys listening to his students' fascinating stories from around the globe. Vitelli has a map of the world in his office where all students are welcomed to place a pin to the places they have been.

In conclusion, counselors truly represent the hardworking and talented environment.

The whole student services department helps us in ways that we often do not realize.

The work of our counselors put forth is crucial to the success of every student and we should take the time to thank our counselors in person for all their hard work.

"Each day is different and I never know who will walk in my door or where that conversation will lead," Lockard said. "I like the variety and the different types things I have to deal with. It makes almost every day interesting."

Staff CO-EDITORS IN CHIEF Teagan Foti Sadie Modica MANAGING EDITOR Sabrina Hawa VIDEO EDITOR IN CHIEF Crew McCarthy NEWS EDITORS Nancy Evora Jessica Salisbury EDITORIALS EDITORS Binqi Chen Aseal Saed COPY EDITORS Yvonne White IN-DEPTH EDITORS Ruth Mekonnen Kim Laura SPORTS EDITORS

Cameron Foti Jude Nanaw SPORTS XTRA EDITORS Ryan Gammon Grace Hogye PEOPLE EDITORS SoulisaPathammavong Marilyn Rivas WEEKEND EDITORS Mohamed Elhag Conrad Shartel INTERNATIONAL EDITORS Lina Al-Taii Tooba Siddique ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Julius Miller Hussein Salem LIFESTYLES EDITORS Sheila Aguirre Lucie Lefbom

HEALTH EDITORS Judy Nanaw Julie Nguyen PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS Alaina Garay Kailyn Garay ART EDITORS Serene Ghul Kavi Shamdin ACADEMICS EDITORS Rachel Shogren Halley Thadeus WEB EDITOR/MASTER Alex Tran AD MANAGER Mauricio Reyes CIRCULATION MANAGER Mauricio Reyes SOCIAL MEDIA

ADVISER Alan Weintraut

Mark Vitelli "Helping when someone needs help, listening when someone needs to talk, making a joke" when someone needs to laugh."

Olivia Hess "The most rewarding part of being a school counselor is watching students grow in confidence and wisdom as they overcome life's obstacles."

Rebecca Lockard "Feeling like you have made a difference in the life of another."

Heard in the Twitter-verse...

MANAGER Lennon Wuhrer STAFF WRITERS Jordan Adams Kidus Ayele Fares Ayoub Yabi Bereket Laura Clemons Luke Elkins Diego Feliciano Brandon Ho Kayla Holcomb Mahdi Larhmari Arzoo Marzi Suad Mohamed Casey Nguyen Ivanna Perez Katie Pope Sharon Sanchez Ashleigh Storm Kimberly Vaides Andrew White Ethan Zimmerman

What is the best thing about working at AHS?

Look out for the next tweet @theablast on Twitter for a chance to be featured on the next issue!

Annandale High School Vol. 62 No. 8 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003 703.642.4229 April 25th, 2017 The A-Blast is an award-winning newspaper that strives to inform, educate and entertain the student body and community.

Published every three weeks, 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.

Signed letters to the editor of 250 words or less may be emailed to theablast2016@gmail.com or submitted to room 262 or mailed to the school.

The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements.

All submissions become property of The A-Blast, Copyright, 2017.

EDITORIALS 3 Personalize Letter to juniors, from a senior our parking April 25, 2017

Advice for the next school year SADIE MODICA Editor-in-Chief This summer, I fell in love. The object of my affection was everything I d ever dreamed of-- beautiful, mid-sized, close to a city and filled with passionate, intellectual people. I gained a lot of knowledge the summer I studied journalism at Northwestern University, but one thing is for sure. When I left, my head remained in the clouds for the majority of my senior year.

I knew all of the facts and the stats. I d played by the rules, I d checked all the boxes, so I could be pretty confident about college decisions, right? Yes and no.

Pretty much everything I did in high school had either a primary or periphery contribution to the me I wished to present to admissions counselors. Cross country, IBDP, honor societies, and other extracurricular activities.

My SAT scores, while not perfect, were within acceptable range. My GPA was well above a 4.0. I mention all of these things not to brag, but just to make it clear how unpredictable this process can be. Because ultimately, I got rejected or waitlisted from several of the eleven schools I applied to, Northwestern among them.

I have several pieces of advice for juniors in similar positions preparing to enter this process. First of all, be mentally prepared for every eventuality. Never say the words I know I m going to get into X school, unless it s a community college (which is a perfectly valid option). The truth is, you don t. You can spend all day on College Confidential comparing people s stats to

Senior Sadie Modica gives advice on the college application process and what to expect in this process for upcoming seniors.

your own, but in the end, it might come down to factors that are out of your control.

Be ready for your second, third or fourth choice. And-- I cannot stress this enough-- don t just slap your list together at the last minute.

When I got deferred Early Decision from Northwestern, I had only applied to two other schools (A safety and a match). Shortly after, I was also deferred E.A. from the match. You can imagine the panic I was feeling as I Googled best journalism schools and then proceeded to apply to all of them. Not a good strategy.

A better strategy would be to spend the summer simultaneously narrowing and broadening your search. This sounds counterintuitive, but it s not. You need variety in your choices, a clear idea of what you want, while not going bankrupt in the process. College applications are expensive if you re extra like me and apply to 11. Your fees may include: actual college application fees, FAFSA, CSS profile, stamps to place on that artifact called an envelope containing your transcript which the front office will send to colleges for an additional $5 fee. If you can get any or all of these costs

waived, do so.

If you re only interested in Virginia schools, that s way narrower.

If you re interested in going out of state or abroad, look into that. This is your time to figure out what you want in a school, and what you can afford. This brings me to another point: be realistic about money.

Look into the price of the school, and then look into how much money they generally give to students.

Some schools, like UVA, guarantee they will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. UVA gave me good money. Boston University, on the other hand, costs $40,000 more and gave me $0.

Once you have a realistic list with reaches, matches and safeties, you apply. Your counselor told you about the things you need, and depending on where you would like your path to lead, his or her information might be more than enough. It s important not to write off any aspect of the application process-- it all matters.

And If you don t get into the school you want, the parts you slacked on might be your regrets. In order to make it easier on yourself, start now.

Getting the SAT/ACT out of the way now, or finishing your Common App essay over the summer will save you a lot of trouble during your senior year. It s hard to get in the zone, but if you do it earlier you ll thank yourself later. But this doesn t mean become a robot.

Enjoy all of your firsts and lasts.

Even though many believe high school sucks, this is your last time to depend on the framework that has supported you for 18 years. Pretty soon, you will have the freedom you ve always desired.

The prospect might seem rather enticing to you right now, but I promise a year from now you ll be shaking in your boots. Do all of the fun teenager things while you still

can. Make new friends, join a new club, start a new hobby. Senior year is NOT too late for this, and new experiences are conducive to forging a path in life.

That said, study hard (as hard as your senioritis will permit). School primarily is, and always will be about learning. Make use of the incredible opportunities afforded to you, and if some of those opportunities aren t, make it happen for yourself. If you slacked in high school, there s always time to change your course. It is never too late to start anew. Just do what you need to do to get where you want to be.

Don t compare yourself to others in terms of stats and admissions-- it s a dead end. You will be surprised by who got in and who didn t, because the reality is there is no metric for what colleges want.

Colleges will contradict themselves and each other all of the time. It will be physically and mentally easier for you not to stress about what is happening with those around you and to focus on yourself.

Ultimately, where your college places in the Forbes rankings will matter a lot less than what you do there. If you develop good studying habits and initiative at AHS and carry that into your future, you will be successful and satisfied.

Most importantly, do not stake your self worth on academic recognition. Always remember that admissions counselors are looking at a piece of paper, not you. It does not matter if you are rejected, accepted or waitlisted. Your accomplishments are your accomplishments and no one can take them away from you.

Be proud of yourself, and embrace the wild ride that is your senior year.

Classes are too large for students Students can t focus in class

BY SUAD MOHAMED Staff Writer As students begin preparing for final exams, IB exams, and other forms of testing, students are going to need more one on one time with their teacher for additional help.

However, with many large classes, some larger than 30 students, many students will have a hard time doing so.

Many students at AHS struggle with large classes, some classes not even having enough seats in the room.

I have several big classes, but my biggest is Theory of Knowledge [TOK], junior Meron Samuel said.

In all of my big classes it is hard to get the teachers attention because they have so many other students to worry about.

One of the biggest problems students face while working in a large classroom is the fact that teachers cannot give the one-onone help that students need, especially in their Honors and IB classes.

Large classes can be difficult

Ola Layaly s R7 Arabic 2 class is one of her largest with 37 kids. She struggles to keep students focused on on task.

because you want to give individual attention to each person. Not just in class but also to their work, TOK teacher Timothy Kelly commented.

It s still manageable though. Instead of having the whole class do a seminar together, they work in small groups.

TOK is not the only large class, but several others as well, including Ola Layaly s Arabic class in which many of her classes have over 30 students.

The main problem with having this many students is the fact that there isn t any physical space., Layaly said.

Large classes like these can

make students more rowdy and harder to keep on task. When students get talking it is often hard for them to get back on track.

Large classes do not just hinder students achievements, but students can focus better in smaller groups. It is harder for students to hide among students if there are less students to focus on.

I have mostly regular sized classes, but my geometry class is pretty big, freshman Karla Mercado-Dorado said. It makes it difficult to focus and learn sometimes because there s so many people doing different things.

The problem is not just in

Annandale, but it is a county wide problem as well. Over the past few years, Fairfax County has seen an increase in student population, and how much to spend on each student.

In the last year, FCPS started the year with approximately 186,842 students.The average cost of each student is $14,432 as compared to 2009 which was $13,340.

With the budget and funding not making up for this steady increase, it is cheaper for students to be in bigger classes rather than accommodate smaller ones.

The County has been working for the past few years to tackle the

problem. In January of last year, now former superintendent Karen Garza put together a $2.7 billion budget plan for the current school year. It increased the spending on teacher wages by $40 million.

The goal of this was to try to get more teachers to come into the district to teach. It also called for spending $10 million solely on shrinking class sizes. A nearly identical proposal is being discussed for the 17-18 school year.

The problem with these new budget plans is that the cost is too much. There is a nearly $50 million difference in what the plan proposes and what the county has available.

In fall of last year, a tax on prepared meals was proposed. 70% of the revenue would have gone to schools, but it was voted against.

Now, the county is struggling to find a way to fill the $50 million gap.

People have proposed starting the music program in 5th grade instead of 4th, cutting money allocated for teachers pensions, and slowing down the hiring rate of county police officers. As of now, no solution has been decided.

Until a decision can be made, students will haev to stuggle with large classes.

spaces Would increase purchases

BY ASEAL SAED Editorials Editor

One of the best parts of getting your license in high school is the opportunity to drive yourself to school and parking in your own parking space, and not having to wait for the bus anymore.

To encourage more students to buy parking passes and garner more excitement for the school year, high schools all over the country have allowed students to paint their own parking spaces.

Last summer, when students in West Orange High School in Florida and James Bowie High School in Texas were allowed to paint their parking spots, their creative parking spaces became viral.

Students all over the country were astonished by the creativity and individuality of the students.

Allowing students to paint their own parking spaces would encourage shcool spirit and allow students to express themselves.

This would not only be good for students, but would make the parking lot look better.

Additionally, allowing students to do so creates the incentive for students to buy more parking passes because they want the opportunity to personalize their own space.

Students could abuse this privilege by painting obscenities and inappropriate things. However, if officials make sure that there are rules agaisnt it, it can be avoided.

A few days should be allocated in August, a few days before the start of school, to allow students who purchased a spot to paint their own spot.

Students would provide their own paint.

Students will then be able to mark their own space with the paint and their own designs.

At the end of each year or before the start of the next school year, the school or students would paint over the previous year s space.

The days where students paint their parking passes would allow the opportunity for different clubs and classes to sell food and raise money.

Problems may arise because the selling of parking spaces would have to be done before school , so there can be specific days where students paint their spot.

Students would get excited to start the school year with colorful spaces.

What is your largest class? What problems arise because of the

Cartoonist Corner

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ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN LEE

"Photography. It is "Band. Students "Physics. Teachers harder for students to struggle to pays have a hard time settle down." giving you one-on-one attention."

SASHA SILVA ANDREW HARTLEY help. " senior junior VIDHI PHADUMDEO freshman

"English 12. It is hard for the class to all focus."

ROBERT FRANKFURT senior

NEWS 5

April 25, 2017

CONT. TRAFFICKING many area high school girls into the vile world of prostitution, and used violence and threats to keep them working as indentured sex slaves," said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride in a written statement regarding the arrests.

The "CEO" of the sex trade was Justin Strom, who would pick girls up at Metro stations, in high school hallways and on street corners and "brainwash" them to think having sex with older men for money was normal. Strom was 26 when he was arrested and sentenced to 40 years in prison. "[Strom's] a con artist, a monster and a manipulator," a woman who was sold into sex by Strom said in a court testimony. "I still feel broken and worthless. I feel like I'm at the bottom, and I can't get out."

The unfortunate fact of the matter is that although Strom and his accomplices are in prison there are still many more culprits who live off of selling sex.

According to the NoVA HTI there are currently more than 500 open investigations surrounding sex trafficking in NoVA and in 2016 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimated that 1 in 6 runaways reported were most likely a victim of sex trafficking.

The recent outrage over missing girls in D.C. circles around the same ideals. 14 girls have gone missing in the past two months and the posters that read "critically missing" are failing to help bring the girls home. The red and white banner atop the flier, which is designed to gain attention, is often overlooked as the absence of minority women and children is usually reported as "running away from home" rather than kidnapping or sex trafficking and Amber Alerts will only be sent out in the case of abduction.

The "#MissingDCGirls" went trending on Instagram and Twitter attracting attention from celebrities such as Viola Davis and LL Cool J as well as masses of the public but have failed to help find the girls.

The use of social media is a two way street; it can help to bring attention but also can serve as a trap for human trafficking.

The digital age has increased youth susceptibility to sex trafficking, allowing traffickers and

kidnappers to use social media to stalk and capture their victims. Pimps have been reported to use Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Kik as "virtual brothels."

Although the danger of human trafficking is seemingly growing so are methods used by law enforcement and school employees to educate and protect young children.

"Starting this year students in grades six through twelve will receive human trafficking awareness in the classroom," said William Woolf, a detective tasked with investigating human trafficking in Fairfax County, in an online letter to the community in 2014. "This will not only serve to raise awareness among the students, but give them practical steps to prevent themselves from being victimized, and empower them to help those around them that may be on the path of getting themselves trapped in this horrible lifestyle."

Organizations such as the JustAsk campaign are also avidly working to combat trafficking through a variety of governmental and community groups. In 2014 the organization helped to stop Tayron Weeks, a 24 year old man, from exploiting a 14 year old he met at the Braddock Road Metro Station. Weeks pled guilty in court.

"It is unknown how many children were saved from being future victims because of the courageous efforts of this teen and the awareness raised by the efforts of the JustAsk campaign," Woolf said in the online letter. "My hope is that the community becomes reinvigorated in our fight against human trafficking and that we all remain ever-vigilant."

If you or someone you know is being trafficked contact the following services: Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative Hotline: (703) 634-6061 National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888

Class color clash

PHOTO COURTESY OF YVONNE WHITE

Human Trafficking

The senior class poses with their 2017 banner. "We decided to combine the spring pep rally with battle of the classes, instead of just picking one or the other," BOTC committee leader Lennon Wuhrer said. "In an effort to do this we announced all of the spring sport seniors as well as the leadership seniors at the competition."

Ammerman recognized CONT. AMMERMAN greeted by a whole group of students who had been waiting for her, they all shouted "congratulations" and gave her many hugs.

"My students are truly the reason I was given this recognition, they have promoted me in so many ways and are always nominating me for these awards," Ammerman said.

Ammerman has great relations with many of her students as they thoroughly enjoy the way she teaches and instructs her lessons.

"She is a great teacher who goes above and beyond everyday to help her students, I definitely think she deserved to be nominated," sophomore orchestra student Kora Coker said.

Many students find her different teaching methods and the way she approaches her exercises to be very helpful as they practice and improve on their skills.

Whenever we're learning how to play a song with a particularly difficult rhythm, she likes to have us make up

song lyrics to the tune of the rhythm" Coker said. "It's a different method, but I find that it really helps me to understand certain music, it's also one of my favorite parts of her teaching."

Ammerman says that as she continues in her teaching career she wants to continue to work hard with her students and garner additional opportunities for them.

"This recognition is a great reminder for me to continue to work even harder and to always strive for greatness," Ammerman said.

There are many great opportunities coming up for the orchestra program as the year continues.

One exciting upcoming event is a premier performance of a piece of music by Tony-Award winning composer Jeff Marx. Jeff Marx commissioned an arrangement just for Annandale High School's orchestra of his song, featured on Glee "You Have More Friends Than You Know" and it will be performed at their upcoming concert on May 25th.

"This opportunity has been absolutely incredible and we are truly honored to be the first orchestra to perform this piece," Ammerman said.

NEWS BRIEFS ART SHOW The Upper Level Art Show will be held on April 25, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., in Clausen Hall . Come and view level 3 and 4 students exhibit their art work.

EARLY RELEASE On Friday, May 26, there will be a 2 hour early release to start off Memorial Day weekend.

PHYSICAL NIGHT

WRITING WORKSHOP

AHS Physical Night will be held on Tuesday, May 23 for the 2017-2018 school year. It will be focused on athletic teams, tryouts, green days, Marching band, and Dance.

On April 25 and April 27 there will be a essay structure writing workshop in room 274 during pride time. Ask your english teacher to sign you up.

NO SCHOOL There will be no school for students and staff on May 29, it will be Memorial Day.

END OF YEAR SHOW Theatre Arts will preform their end of the year show on Tuesday, May 30, from 7 to 9 p.m.

RED AND WHITE GOLF CLASSIC The annual Red and White Golf Classic will be on Friday, May 19 at 8:00 a.m.

SPRING CHORUS CONCERT The Spring Chorus Concert will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door.

SUMMER FEST Summer Fest Auditions will be held on May 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.. Go to room 210 to sign up to audition.

GRADUATION AHS Graduation will be held on Thursday, June 15, at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.

6 ACADEMICS

April 25, 2017

SAT vs ACT: Which one is for you?

By SUAD MOHAMED Staff Writer While both the SAT and the ACT are accepted by all colleges for admissions and merit based scholarships, there are many differences between the two, which should be considered when deciding on which one to take.

The SAT is offered seven times per school year: in January, March or April, May, June, October, November, and December. Scores are between 200 and 1600. It has four sections: reading, writing, non calculator math, and calculator math. There is also an optional essay that is not counted in your score.

The questions on the SAT increase in difficulty as you go on. The questions are more intricate than the ones on the ACT. Most questions are multiple choice, but both sections include questions that aren t.

The reading section has 52 questions that are to be completed in 60 minutes. In this section, test takers read and answer questions on passages.

The writing section is 35 minutes long includes 44 questions. This section consists of correcting grammatical errors, punctuation, and sentence structure.

Test takers have 25 minutes to complete 20 math questions without a calculator, and 55 minutes to complete the other 38 math questions with the ability to use a calculator. Questions on the non calculator question are supposed to be easier to solve. Both math sections are more centered on less advanced math, but also cover algebra 2, trigonometry, and pre calc.

On the optional essay, test takers are given an argument and have to evaluate it. Test takers have 50 minutes to complete it.

The ACT is available to take six times during the school year. Test takers can choose to take it in February, April, June, September, October, or December. It consists of four sections, as well: English, math, reading, and science. The ACT has an optional essay as well. Scores from each section are scaled to a score ranging from 1 to 36.

Questions on the ACT are more straightforward than the ones on the SAT, but test takers have less time to answer them. Every question is multiple choice.

The English section has 75 questions and lasts 45 minutes. It covers grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and organization.

The math section includes 60 questions. Test takers have 60 minutes and can use a calculator for

every question. It incorporates pre algebra, algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, trigonometry, and pre calc, focusing more on the advanced levels.

The reading section takes 35 minutes and there are 40 questions. Test takers are tested on reading comprehension using reading passages, amongst other tools.

The last mandatory section is the science section. It has 35 questions that are to be completed in 25 minutes. Test takers are to view graphs and use the data to answer question on analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving.

For the optional essay, test takers are to read three arguments on the same topic, evaluate the material, and give an opinion. The time limit is 40 minutes.

The SAT tends to be easier for those who are able to decode questions with complex wording.

Students who are better at reading comprehension and grammar also tend to do better on it. The SAT is also recommended for those who are better at mental math.

On the other hand, the ACT is meant for fast test takers. The wording of questions is more simpler, but the content in the English, writing, and math sections are harder. People who tend to use calculators in math should take the ACT, too.

Do you plan to take the SAT or ACT?

SAT Dates

ACT Dates

May 6 June 3 August 26 October 7 November 4 December 2

June 10 September 9 October 28 December 9

What to bring on test day: Admissions ticket (Printed) Photo ID 5 #2 Pencils (No Mechanical)

Eraser An Approved calculator Drinks and snacks (for breaks)

Class takes field trip to Amish Country

BY RACHEL SHOGREN Academics Editor

"Im going to take the SAT because I don t need science so there s no reason to take ACT."

"I m going to take both because I want to see how I do on each."

I plan on taking both because colleges where I want to apply are looking for both.

"I plan on taking my SAT in May and after that I will decide if I m taking my ACT as well ."

Rebecca Kindling Junior

Amani Muntu Junior

Hoang Tran Sophomore

Jennifer Chavez

Both because I want to go to Harvard to become a doctor."

Jack McCrossin Junior

"I am taking the SAT because it is numerically easier to do well on.

Kyle Koppie Junior

"I took both because I wanted to see which one I would score better on."

Katie Garrish Senior

"I am taking the SAT because it is more recognizable for colleges."

Youssef El Boukri Senior

IB Spotlight: Nancy Evora

IB Anthropology took a trip to the Amish Country in Intercuse, Pennsylavnia on April 19. They left AHS on a charter bus at 6 am.

We went on the trip to learn about amish culture bc it s one of the cultures we study, junior Shirley Chu, said.

The field trip was optional: although, many chose to go.

I went on this field trip because... why not? But not only was it fun it was really cool to be able to see the culture and meet the people that we have been studying for the past year in anthropology, Senior Bitania Endalkachew said.

The field trip consisted of a bus tour of the amish farm and school house. They also toured through an amish house and learned about how it was set up. The students looked at Amish clothing and were given the opportunity to pet animals.

The tour guide told us about the Amish community and pointed out Amish structures until we stopped at an Amish shop, Endalkachew said. There, an Amish man explained a bit more to us about buggies and their way of life and we were able to look around.

Although the students had been studying the Amish for months, the trip furthered their knowledge.

They learned about the individual people in Amish communities. Including how the Amish lived with english men and were not totally separated from society. They go to Costco and have neighbors who are regular people.

They also learned about the three languages that the Amish speak and the scooters that they ride.

We learned about the Amish homicide committed by an English man, which I had never heard about,

Student poses for a picture on an Amish wagon while on the Amish field trip in Pennsylvania.

Endalkachew said.

Students not only learned a lot about what they d been studying for months, but also got to experience new things.

My favorite thing about the trip was walking around the Amish village and looking at the farm tools and animals, Chu said.

My favorite thing was the little Amish kids we saw, they were adorable, Endalkachew said.

The trip tied in closely with the curriculum students had been learning all year and helped students understand the material more and go more in depth.

This ties in perfectly to my class. We have learned about them all year and it was nice to be able to really see what we were learning about. It made it seem more real, concrete, and relevant, Endalkachew said.

Sudoku

Q: How do you keep up with your academics and social life?

A: It s difficult to have a social life when all of your classes are IB. However, since junior year I set this rule where I do not allow myself to go out or watch Netflix until I m done with all the assignments. But, by the time I got to senior year, I decided to focus on my mental health instead and take each class at the time. I focus on the most difficult ones first and then relax.

Q: What are your studying habits?

A: Studying for me is painful because I always get panic attacks especially if I wait until the last minute to study.

With IB I learned that I cannot learn and memorize an entire unit the day before the test no matter how many IB Student, Nancy Evora holds a heart in one of her hours I study. I have to at least study 2 to 3 days before the assessment. I m extreme when it comes to studying helped me in the process. My teachers support became because I always feel like my life is at stake. also essential because they were just so supportive through the whole process.

Q: What is your favorite IB subject?

A: It actually varies by year. But. senior year, as painful as Q: What advice would you give future IB diploma canit is to write this, I have to say that IB Topics with Mr. York didates? is my favorite class alongside IB biology. Both classes are A: Don t stress too much. In the end things will fall into challenging, but fun and interesting to learn in the end. place no matter how ugly the situation looks. Also, do not I repeat DO NOT procrastinate over the summer on Q: What are your plans after high school? your EE. Get it done before senior year starts, trust me A: I have the intention of attending college and major in when I tell you this. You will be busy with IAs and college Biology with a minor in Anthropology. Since I was little, I apps and having to finish your EE on top of TOK and other have always wanted to work in the medical field. activities and all the homework is just too much and unnecessary, be smart and use your time wisely. Best of Q: How are you going to prepare for the IB exams? luck and don t quite! Always remember why you decided A: I have focused mainly on Biology because is my first to take this path in the first place. test and I want to do well on it. As usual, I rewrite my notes and make study guides according to each topic. Q: What skills do you think the IB program has taught I m also working with other of my classmates to help you that can help you later in life? each other out and make the process less painful and A: I have learned to manage my time for the most part toxic. compared to who how I was before. It s easier for me split my time when I have multiple assignments and take Q: What is your extended essay topic? things little by little so I can also have time for myself in A: I wrote my extended essay on History supervised by the end. I have also learned to work in groups as well beMr. Jepson and my research question was: How did the cause working with people has not always been my favorBay of Pigs invasion in 1961 lead to the Cuban Missile Cri- ite part to do, but I realize that it cannot always be a bad sis of 1962? idea to get support from others.

Q: Is your only focus academics?

A: Yes and no. at the beginning all you care about is to get a good letter grade even if that means going to bed at 5 a.m. However, I learned that you can indeed have fun and still have good grades, all you have to do is apply yourself when needed and then go out with your best friend and be a normal teenager.

Q: Who has helped you on your IB journey?

A: I could have never made it without my friends, they basically became my life support. There were times when I was just so ready to lose it, but their support and knowing that they were also going through the same helped me in

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: This is hard to predict because sometimes things don t always go the way you plan them, but I would like to see myself doing what I love the most which is helping others. From 20 years from now, I hope to someday travel to underdeveloped countries and help those in need. I can see myself joining some organization that helps those who lack the proper medical care in the future.

Directions: 1. Place numbers where they do not already exist.

2. The game only contains numbers 1-9.

3. The goal of sudoku is to place 1-9 in the empty spaces so that each row, column, and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

Get the Answers!

On your smartphone, scan this code using the application QR Code get the answer to the Sudoku.

HEALTH 7

April 25, 2017

Teens realize tanning is Best apps for staying healthy not worth the risks Fitbit Using a bracelet that is required in order for the app to work, Fitbit allows people to track their steps taken, calories burned, heart rate and amount of sleep. Also, Fitbit lets users set up goals for themselves, including weight, water intake, and sleeping goals.

Why staying pale will keep you safe this summer

Sleep Cycle If you have trouble waking up in the mornings, the Sleep Cycle app can be a great solution. This app works by analyzing your sleep patterns and finding the moments in which you sleep your lightest in order to wake you up gently. This way, you can wake up each morning feeling well rested and relaxed.

Blogilates Fitness Star Cassey Ho has a YouTube channel called Blogilates that contains videos with fun exercises and healthy food ideas. The Blogilates app allows viewers to keep these videos handy at all times. The app also includes a workout calendar that plans your daily exercise routines for you.

MyFitnessPal MyFitnessPal is a popular and free diet app that helps people lose weight by using a conveniently fast and easy calorie counter. The app allows you to enter the foods you eat as well as the exercises you do in order to maintain a healthy weight.

Life Life is a period tracker that lets women track their periods and schedule cycle reminders to let you know when it's that time of month! This helps when attempting to plan events around your period. The women's health tracker also gives you the helpful option to track your symptoms and moods.

My Water Balance Drinking water is important to keep our bodies functioning and to flush out toxins. To ensure you are continuing to drink water regularly, My Water Balance is a daily drink tracker and reminder so you can never forget to stay hydrated.

Teens cannot wait until school is out so they can get their share of the sun by playing sports, spending time at the pool, and being outside all day-- free of small, suffocating classrooms during the day and dim lamp lighting over their homework at night.

"I plan on going to the beach and spending a lot of time with friends and saving up to move to Florida," senior Ceilidh Williams said.

The warm weather is also making it tempting to dream about laying by the pool under the hot sun with hopes of getting a nice tan this summer.

Due to pale skin being an unpopular desire among most people, especially girls, tanning is something many look forward to doing once the weather gets hotter.

Everyone knows of the dangers that tanning can bring, including diseases such as skin cancer and premature skin aging such as wrinkles and brown spots.

These high risks have become known among teenagers as according to a new government study, the number of U.S. teens who use indoor tanning has dropped by half in recent years.

Results from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey reveals that about 7 percent of high school students use indoor tanning, significantly lower than the 16 percent of students who used it in 2009.

Still, even with this drop, more than 1 million teens are still putting themselves in danger by going to tanning salons and laying inside tanning beds.

Also, although the amount of teenagers who are using tanning beds has decreased, the same cannot necessarily be said about the amount of adolescents who are tanning outdoors.

Even though tanning beds and lamps can expose you to even more harmful ultraviolet light than the sun does, tanning outdoors is no better than doing it indoors because you are still under the same risks.

"I'm not a big fan of the idea of tanning beds. I feel that it's really fake and makes people want to change the way they look drastically" Williams said.

Most people do not realize that tanned skin

A teenager's worst nightmare: acne Tips for keeping your skin healthy and blemish free

TYPES OF ACNE · Comedo: A hair follicle that is clogged with oil and dead skin cells.

They can develop into whiteheads or blackheads.

BY JULIE NGUYEN Health Editor

· Whiteheads: A comedo that stays closed at the surface.

As a teenager, acne is an inconvenient reality.

Next time you wake up and see a new blemish on your face, do not freak out because it is important to know that it is a common occurrence.

Due to rising hormone levels in teenagers during puberty, more oil is produced and secreted through the pores of the skin which ultimately leads to the formation of acne.

Throughout the day, you touch various different surfaces and objects that are dirty and contaminated whether they are visible or microscopic.

Especially in a public environment like school, bacteria is widely present so it is important to avoid touching your face with your tainted hands as you may be transferring the dirt and oil from your fingers to your face.

In case you do end up touching your face more often than needed, it is essential that you wash your face every day to remove any excess oil.

Although this should be done gently, simply splashing water on your face and quickly patting it dry is not effective.

Take the time to thoroughly wash with a warm, clean towel and avoid scrubbing too hard. Using a face wash can help clean dirt from deep within your pore, but some of the chemicals can also be harsh on certain skin types so it is important to be aware of how your skin reacts to certain products.

"I wash my face when I shower and I make sure not to pop any pimples," senior Karla Mejia said.

Touching your acne will only aggravate your pores even more and increase the possibility of infections.

Improperly popping them can also lead to scarring of your skin.

If completely necessary, visiting a dermatologist is the better option if you need acne removed or have extreme problems with your skin.

According to WebMD, acne appears when the oil combines with dead skin cells and clogs the pores.

This happens mainly on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. These areas are more prone to acne because of the present glands and exposure to hair.

Mainly for teens with long hair, oil and sweat tends to collect throughout the day and your hair often rubs against those areas around your face, neck, and back.

Washing your hair frequently is recommended and to ensure that your hair does not get unreasonably oily throughout the day, avoid using products

· Papule: Inflamed area of the skin that forms a red or pink bump. Better known as a pimple. · Nodule: Large, imflamed bump that is firm and is often painful. Nodules develop deep within the skin and require professional care.

like mousse or gels since they contain high amounts of oil.

Although these preventative steps may not guarantee a clear face, there are also methods for home treatment if acne does become an issue.

Coming up with a face care routine can be beneficial in keeping your skin hydrated and clean. Using a face wash or a scrub once a day and following up with a cooling moisturizer can keep your skin glowing and healthy. Not moisturizing can lead to excessively dry skin which contributes to dead skin cells.

"I mix coconut oil with honey and scrub my face with it every other day and I wash my face off and the morning I shower to wash it off," senior Kimberly Romero said.

Other home treatments include purchasing acne creams like Proactiv that help alleviate blemishes and reduce the amount of acne present. Creating your own original exfoliating scrub or face mask is also common as several ingredients are known to have antibacterial components that are good for your skin such as honey, yogurt and vinegar.

As a teenager, your skin glands expand and produce more oil resulting in the mix of dead skin cells that become trapped within the pores, carrying bacteria along with it. The trapped bacteria results in the redness and swelling of the skin.

Because teens are more prone to acne, taking care of your skin and body is necessary to prevent any unwanted blemishes on your body.

Self-care is important for keeping your skin clean and healthy and following these tips will help reduce acne. Consistently keeping up the habit of cleaning your face, hair and hands while following daily skin care routines will help you achieve the clear face of your dreams.

WEBMD

· Blackhead: A comedo that is open at the surface rather than closed.

ESCAMBIA.FLORIDAHEALTH.GOV

BY JUDY NANAW Health Editor

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that half as many high school students use indoor tanning beds now compared to the amount reported in 2009. is actually damaged skin. The more that area of your skin gets tan, the more it is being burned, and the more likely skin cancer can arise there.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, just one sunburn during adolescence is enough to double one's lifetime risk of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer.

"I do burn pretty easy at the beginning of summer," Williams said. "I used to not care about it, but now since I have my tattoos I put

"I'm not a big fan of the idea of tanning beds. I feel that it's really fake and makes people want to change the way they look drastically," Ceilidh Williams senior on lots of spray sunscreen to protect my skin."

The likely cause for the drop in the amount of teenagers who are taking part in indoor tanning is due to state laws restricting teens' use of tanning beds.

Only five states had laws restricting indoor tanning in 2009, but by 2015 such laws had been placed in 42 states.

However, most of these laws are not bans, but limitations that only require parental consent in order to use a tanning booth.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed but has not acted on a federal rule

that restricts access to tanning beds for kids under 18.

In Virginia, anyone under the age of 15 needs permission from a parent or legal guardian to take part in a tanning session.

There are several nearby tanning salons in the neighboring areas like Hollywood Tans Fairfax and Palm Beach Tan in Alexandria.

That said, in order to lessen the amount of young adults that are unknowingly and immaturely risking their lives for the sake of a short-term tan, stricter bans should be placed on indoor tanning.

"Tanning beds should have an age limit of 18," Williams said. "If you're old enough to live on your own, you're old enough to change your appearance."

Avoiding tanning beds should be easy, but in the next couple of months, there is no escaping the sun.

In order to keep yourself and your skin safe, keep hats and sunscreen handy and try not to stay under the sun for more than an hour if uncovered. Sunscreen is most effective with an SPF of 50 and it is important to re-apply-- especially if you are going in and out of a swimming pool.

"There's an extent to how harmful tanning can be, but sunscreen should always be applied no matter the kind of skin tone you have," senior Tran Nguyen said.

Remember that tanning is not worth all the risks and that your natural skin is a beautiful shade as it is. After all, a tan is temporary, but cancer is permanent and fatal.

8 PHOTO Spring breakdown

April 25, 2017

PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER RUSH

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA ROOP

Students share pictures from their spring break vacations

Junior Tyler Rush stands in front of the Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago I hung out with my old friends and went downtown a few times, Rush said. It was really fun and I hope I can go again soon.

Senior Kelsie Licatovich visited Penn State University and ate ice cream at the Penn State Berkey Creamery. My mom and I ate lunch in State college, visited the book store, took photos with the lion shrine and ate at the famous Berkey creamery, Licatovich said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE DALISMER PHOTO COURTESY OF MATHEW MCKIVER

Junior Mathew Mckiver does a back flip in the Bahamas. I got to hang out with my family and I made new friends, Mckiver said.

Junior Michelle Akl enjoys the view of Lac Léman in Yvoire, France. I went to Switzerland and France to spend time with my uncle, Akl said. I went sightseeing and visited a lot of historical places and museums, I also shopped a lot in the city.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GABRIELA JORDAN

Sisters, junior Serene and sophomore Zain Ghul at Stanford university in California. It was so much fun, Zain Ghul said. The city is so lively and it is very

Sophomore Anissa Cheikh went to the Wizards playoff game. She got to be apart of the half time show and meet basketball player Kelly Oubre. I was able to meet him because my friends Dad knows him, Cheikh said. The experience was so fun, he was such a nice person.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE AKL

PHOTO COURTESY OF SERENE GHUL

Junior Alison Colomo walks across a river at Scotts Run Nature Preserve in McLean, Virginia. My sister, her boyfriend and I went to Scotts Run. Once we got there we walked through the trail and saw a waterfall, Colomo said. After we took a few pictures, we sat down on a platform and just admired the scenery.

Sophomore Kyle Dalismer took a trip to the Outer Banks with some of his friends. When we were there we relaxed on the beach and saw the historic landmarks, Dalismer said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANISSA CHEIKH

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALISON COLOMO

Junior Levi Gomez rides Kenny the horse at Sunset Ranch Hollywood in Hollywood, California. I had so much fun in California, Gomez said.

The view and weather was great.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSIE LICATOVICH

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEVI GOMEZ

Junior Jessica Roop and her family went to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the picture above Roop is carried by her older brother. We ve been there before and it s a cute area to just hangout on the beach or walk around and shop, Roop said. We laid out on the beach for most of the trip and we had family

Seniors Gabriela Jordan and Dagim Tigabu looked at a map to Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. We had fun and rode on all the roller coasters until the park closed, Jordan said.

ARTS 9

April 24, 2017

Student Accepted Into Juilliard

Senior accepted into dream performing arts school

BY SERENE GHUL Arts Editor

The month of February was one of the most nervewracking, suspense-filled, and jaw-dropping times for senior Chaz Poindexter.

Hoping to get into the school of his dreams, Poindexter has been applying for scholarships to art schools since his freshman year.

Growing up in a family where art was the main focus, Poindexter developed his passion for the arts early on in his childhood life. In my family, everyone loves to do a lot of different varieties of art, it just simply runs in the blood, Poindexter said.

Both of Poindexter s parents are involved in artrelated jobs. His mom sketches clothes for designs when she can and his dad does work on car bodies.

Poindexter found a way of self-expression by tattooing himself on numerous areas of his body.

Poindexter would sometimes watch his older brothers do art and learn from them.

He gives his family all the credit when it comes to where he gained his inspiration to pursue

The campus of Juilliard school of arts in New York where Poindexter plans to attend for the next 5 years.

art. Poindexter is still constantly improving on his art as he struggles with drawing hands and faces.

Art being a big component in his life, it was clear to Poindexter that he wanted to go to a school where he could express his talents. Yet, there was one specific school that Poindexter always had in mind.

The Juilliard School, also referred to as Juilliard, is located on the upper west side of Manhattan and is a performing arts conservatory.

A very competitive school, it has a very low acceptance rate of 7.2 percent.

Poindexter knew that getting into Juilliard would be very difficult but he still did not give up when it came to applying.

After applying to Juilliard four times since the start of ninth grade, once each year, he received a phone call in February from someone from the admissions office telling him to check his e-mail.

After checking his e-mail and seeing that he was accepted, he couldn t believe it. I got a call from someone there and they told me to check my e-mail and it was there. I was so shocked that I didn t believe it at first so I called back and found out it was real, Poindexter said.

Poindexter knew that the cost of Juilliard would not be cheap. So when he applied to the school, he made sure to apply for a scholarship as well.

Not only was Poindexter accepted in Juilliard, he was offered a scholarship as well.

He looks most forward to graduating high school this year as he cannot wait to go and pursue his dreams at the perfect school for him. He believes that Juilliard will be the right fit for him as the people who go there have very similar interests.

I like working with music and people I am comfortable with, Poindexter said.

Poindexter is also still deciding on whether he will live on campus or in a nearby apartment. He visited the campus during the summertime in New York and knew immediately after seeing it that it was the place for him.

In five years, Poindexter hopes to have earned his degrees and double major in art as well as in management.

With his art and management degrees, in ten years, Poindexter hopes to see himself working, hopefully owning his own shop where he can continue to pursue art.

Museum Spotlight: Kreeger

BY KAVI SHAMDIN Arts Editor This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kreeger Museum building, which was designed by the world famous architect Philip Johnson. He began constructing in 1964 and completed three years later in 1967.

The Kreegers were fanatics of the DC art and cultural community, and their love of art, music, and architecture is extremely evident throughout this museum today.

They began their formidable collection of modern art in 1959 and assembled most of the museums holdings for 15 years.

The Kreegers chose to purchase the pieces held in this museum after coming to an agreement together and they did it more for the love they had for the piece verses for the investment.

The Permanent Collection includes paintings, sculptures, outdoor sculptures, prints, works on paper, illustrated books, as well as African, Asian, Roman and Pre-Columbian artwork.

The Kreeger collection consists of works from the 1850s to the present. Impressionists include paintings from Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Camille Pissarro.

The Sculpture Terrace features pieces done by Jean Arp, Aristide Maillol, Jacques Lipchits, Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi and Francesco Somaini.

Six vast works by John L. Dreyfuss grace the Reflecting Pool Terrace through April of 2020. The Sculpture Garden features work by Carol Brown Goldberg, Rainer Lagemann, Dalya Luttwak, George

Rickey, Lucien Wercollier and Washington, DC artists like Kendall Buster, Ledelle Moe, Wendy Ross, and Foon.

The collections in the museum may seem broadbased; however, any insightful viewer will realize the unifying elements throughout the museum are color and texture.

Not only is this museum special for the works, but there is also a connection with music. The building itself has symphonic inflection that intensifies the collection without being overpowering.

The connection with music in the collection comes from the fact that the Kreegers were both amateur musicians.

The Kreegers intertwined music, paintings, sculptures and architecture into the tapestry of their lives and they put this museum together to try and recreate that experience for their visitors. The current exhibition in the works at Kreeger Museum is known as RE-VISION. In honor of it being the anniversary, the Museum has asked two Washington architects, Michael E. Hickok and Yolanda Cole, to conceive a special exhibit celebrating this fantastic occasion.

When asked what visitors should expect from REVISION it was said that, Our vision for this anniversary exhibition goes beyond the expected historic sketches, photographs of construction and archival correspondence between Mr. Johnson and his client.

Instead we have asked artists to create entirely new artistic material based on the inspired design of the building We want the public to see the Museum in new and fresh ways; through the eyes of some of the region s

KREEGER MUSEUM most prominent art photographers..

Each artist creates images that will engage the public and challenge them to look at Philip Johnson s work from the artist s unique point of view.

In that way, the building itself transforms from being the subject of the exhibition to becoming the inspiration.

The Kreeger Museum is definitely the place to go if you have the opportunity considering it holds so many

Here s an image of the outdoor portion of the Kreeger

different works and styles of art.

If interested, you can get a tour reservation Tuesday-Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., or Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m..

Address: 2401 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007 Contact them: (202)337-3050 Hours: Sunday & Monday- Closed Tuesday-Thursday- Open 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

-Optional tours starting at 10:30 and 1:30 Friday & Saturday- Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

-Optional tours starting at 10:30 and 1:30 on Friday and 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday Admission: Parking: Free on museum grounds Adults: $10 Members of the military, students, and seniors: $7 Members and a guest: Free

Featured artist: Annelise Schader Featured artist: Ian Mclleland Q: What's your favorite thing about art?

Q: Why did you take this photo and where was it taken (first photo)?

A:. I really enjoy organizing a concept and then making it come to life with color and style.

A: I took it spontaneously while in DC. I just walked out of the building and thought that it would make a cool piece.

Junior Annelise Shader has been interested in painting for

Junior Ian Mclleland enjoys photography because he plans on focusing on architecture once done with school.

Q: What advice do you have for aspir- many years now. ing artists?

PHOTO COURTESY ANNELISE SCHADER

A: Draw what you see, what you feel.

Don t ge too wrapped around the axel about drawing/painting the right way. Art is all about personal expression, not perfection.

Q: What style of painting do you enjoy best?

A: I usually paint with a semi-realistic style. To be honest, I m not really sure what it s based off of, but I always try to use a lot of color.

Q: Where is your style of art inspired from?

A: My style is inspired by my cousin.

I have been told that my photos are sort of emulate Warhol pop art.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

A: I would tell aspiring artists to explore different mediums and find one that you d prefer.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN MCLLELAND

A: I wanted to give someone a gift for their birthday, but I wracked my brain trying to figure out what. Finally I realized that I should give them something that connected us-- a painting by me done of something they dearly loved (their dog.)

PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN MCLLELAND

PHOTO COURTESY ANNELISE SCHADER

Q: What gave you the idea to create these pieces?

Q: What style of photography do you enjoy best?

A: Since I want to become an architect, I like to take pictures of buildings and street scenes.

Q: What inspired you to do art?

A: I wanted to be in art because I want to be an architect and architecture has an artistic element.

Mclleland took this snapshot of the city in order to highlight the busy city life and differrent architecture.

A: When I was little, I wanted to be an artist, but I felt like I wasn t any good at it. My mom supported my work and decided to enroll me in art classes.

Q: How long have you been practicing art?

A: I really enjoy painting animals, plants, and nature scenes.

Schader used water colors to create this piece of a a smiling dog.

Mclleland kept the photo in black and white in order to highlight the different aspects of the architecture.

Q: How long have you been practicing photography?

A: This is my first year taking photos. Before being in art class I copied drawings by hand.

Q: What do you enjoy about art in general?

A: I enjoy art because the profession I want to pursue requires art.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN MCLLELAND

Q: What do you enjoy working on most?

Mclleland took this photo with contrast bewteen the dark PHOTO COURTESY ANNELISE SCHADER

A: I ve been painting since I was 8, so 9 years.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN MCLLELAND

Schader used paint to create this drawing of a human

Q: What inspired you to do art? and animals laying upon the ground.

10 IN-DEPTH

IN-DEPTH 11

April 25, 2017

DRESS CODE April 25, 2017

Are dress codes necessary at school?

Dress for integrity

Girls wear tops with straps that are at least two inches in width

Dress for yourself

Remove hat and hoods

BY RUTH MEKONNEN

BY KIMBERLY VAIDES In-Depth Editor School fashion has evolved throughout the years introducing new revealing clothing and style.

Looking in the halls, you can spot various dress code violations because of latest trends and/or personal comfort. In a recent survey conducted

by The A-Blast, 27% of students see violations everyday at school and 19% have never seen any. From the shortest shorts, sagging, hoods, low V-neck shirts to girls intentionally exposing their stomachs. If we see these revealing trends in public, are dress codes necessary at school?

Dress codes can be found anywhere whether at a restaurant, airline, or at a job. Dress codes bring a sense of professionalism and a polished appearance. At school, dress codes are enforced for discipline, and to prevent distractions correlating to academic achievement.

I think it s important to set a certain expectation and standard for what s appropriate to wear at school so that the focus can be on teaching and learning, Principal Tim Thomas said. Although, I understand fashion is important in the lives of teenagers, it shouldn t necessarily become a focus or a distraction,.

In a majority of private and religious schools, dress codes involve

school uniforms. Students can benefit from school uniforms by not worrying about what to wear and saving money. Apart from this, their restrictions include but are not limited to, nail polish, dyed hair, and specific

“It is not a lot to ask to cover your stomach and take off your hood.� hairstyles. School uniforms limit expression students have with clothing.

The U.S. Department of Education has recognized that school uniforms decrease peer pressure, create a stronger focus in school, prevent gang clothing and identifies trespassers.

The AHS dress codes prevents clothing of sexual nature or symbolizes illegal or violent conduct, such as gang symbols, weapons, tobacco, drugs, alcohol or clothing that contains a threat.

Certain imagery that reflects violence, drugs or alcohol or imagery that could be considered counter to what we work really hard to maintain into a safe and secure environment, Principal Thomas said. That could be distracting for students, teachers and staff.

Compared to private schools, we

are lucky to have the privilege to have diverse outfits and styles.

In terms of school, there is an extent to when dress codes are necessary. It would not be acceptable if students came wearing their undergarments and explicit images on shirts. Principal Thomas does not disagree with any of the dress codes enforced. I m from a different generation too, Principal Thomas said, There have been expectations around dress codes for the 25 years I ve been in education.

Enforcement of the dress codes are not that common at AHS. In fact, 80% of students have not been caught for violating dress code. It is not necessarily rebellion, but rather taking advantage the invisibility of their violations.

Regardless of being caught or not, students should respect rules.

At the end of the day, school is not a fashion show. We may come to school with different intentions, but we should respect the rules and the focus of those who want to learn.

Although there is typically no harm in expressing our unique styles and fashion taste, we come to school to study and learn for six hours, talk to friends for part of it, then leave.

Truthfully, there are better things to focus on.

In-Depth Editor

Shirts that cover the top of their shoulders

NO clothing that exposes undergarments

Clothing that covers their midsection

Clothes are a form of expression.

We are able to showcase our personalities and our true selves through it.

However, clothing is also subjective.

When we are constantly told to dress appropriately, we can t help but wonder, what it truly means.

The Webster dictionary defines appropriate as, meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation. But this is still relative. The appropriate way to dress in a school setting would be casually. But because what is seen as causal to me could be different to what is seen as causal to someone 10 years ago, we are still put in a conflicting situation.

Dress codes are always debated.

We are constantly altering them to fit the standards of the time. But times are changing and we need to revise some of the rules.

For instance, the argument that a girl showing her midriff or her shoulders would distract her from her learning is unfair. In what way would a piece of clothing be a distraction?

The hidden truth is that some of the clothes are regulated to the other students from being distracted. This is wrong. It stigmatizes that girls should dress for others as opposed to themselves. By saying that a girl s

clothing is distracting implies that she is responsible for making someone else feel someway. No one should feel that way.

As long as the person who is wearing the clothes is comfortable, it shouldn t matter what others think of them.

According to the magazine, The

School should be a place where we can safely express ourselves without fear of being judged or citicized.

Nation, The American Psychological Association s Task Force reports that sexualization occurs when a person s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics.

In addition, girls begin to objectify themselves when they learn to think of and treat their own bodies as objects of others desires. This means that when security guards and teachers are constantly telling a girl that her body is a distraction and that she needs to cover up, they are teaching her that her body is

something that is objectified and that harms a girl s self-esteem and her confidence. It shames a girl and makes her feel embarrassed about her body. At what cost should we do this?

In the case, Tinker vs. Des Moines, the Supreme Court ruled that schools should only enforce dress codes if it prevents the disturbance of the school discipline. How does a girl s wearing a spaghetti strap, or wearing headbands going to disturb the school discipline?

I am not saying that completely take out the dress code. Of course some people will take advantage of it. But just like the the Tinker vs.

Des Moines case implied, as long as we are not showcasing gang signs and promoting violence, what is the harm of wearing shorts and spaghetti straps?

Once we leave high school, we will not be enforced with dress codes. In fact, you don t see many of us dressing that differently outside of school. We are old enough to know what is inappropriate and what is appropriate and we certainly don t need anyone to tell us.

Our dress codes should be there to protect us; Not limit us. If our opinions are allowed then why not our clothes?

Student survey results Do you think we need dress codes at school?

Shoes in school at all times

"I don t think we need dress codes because people should be able to MAKAYLA LOPEZ sophomore express themselves "

CHIOMA OKOH junior

sophomore

1942

During the era of WWII, Regulation L85 created the restriction that skirts for women had to be exactly 17 inches above the floor. Two years later, bikini s had the restrictions for women to not show their belly buttons

3 4 %

"I don t care. Just dress how you want as long as it s not ugly."

JUSTIN VO senior

66% NO

The Dress Code is necessary.

As Prom approches, girls hunt for their perfect dress. Should they be worried about dress code?

With Prom just around the corner, girls are scrambling to get their glamourous dresses, as guys try to find both a date and suitable suit.

Prom night can surpass school regulations like dress codes.

Everyone should be able to express themselves and feel confident about what they wear, senior Mery Licona said. I should be able to wear whatever I want.

At Prom, the attention of dress codes are more directed towards the girls than guys. Girls spend weeks to months finding the perfect dress for their special night. They go through the process of trying on piles of dress.The shipping and process of getting a dress can be time consuming and frustrating, but some

"Dress codes are necessary to an extent. Some are unnecessary and others are.

dresses could conflict with regular school dress code.

I guess I would be concerned [about dress code at Prom].

My dress will be formal, senior Jasmyn Le said.

I m not really concerned about dress codes. I m concern who will be my partner, senior Luis Chumpitaz said. Probably for a girl, but not for men.

The style of dresses vary. They could be either too short, reveal too much stomach or cleavage. However, all these violations could be part of the ideal dress of a girl.

In previous years, dress codes have not been strongly enforced. Typically, dress codes are enforced at school ground dances and occasions, such as homecoming. However, last year s Prom, there were dresses that had slits, short length, and backs showing. Girls who wore revealing dresses at last year s Prom did not get in trouble. They enjoyed their night

28% AGREE

without a remark.

I m not really worried about my dress being revealing because this is our time and place to enjoy ourselves. We are seniors and we shouldn t have to worry about regulations. We are going to leave the school shortly after, senior Keyla Portillo said. People shouldn t worry about others. This is not eighth grade formal. We are young adults and some of us are almost eighteen. We should be free to enjoy ourselves without having any authority watching over us.

A few days after Prom, seniors are going to graduate and leave the school. On their last night as seniors and students of our school, seniors should be free to embrace the last memories they have as high schoolers, wearing whatever they feel comfortable with and own their night.

45%

NEU-

I understand why some of the dress codes are enforced.

53% AGREE

29% NEUTRAL

SHIHAN AH senior

NGHIA NGUYEN

Regulation L85

Has the dress code ever stopped you from dressing how you

ABBEY YARED

In-depth Editor

"I am fine with the dress codes. If we do need dress codes we should just limit some stuff like graffiti and violent words."

9% NO

Prom Dress Codes

BY KIMBERLY VAIDES

"I think we need the dress codes because there are some individuals who do not dress appropriately."

NO Sagging or low-cut pants

NO skirts or shorts that are shorter than 4 inches above the knee

"I don t think we need dress codes.

There is no point."

ASHLEY REYESROSALES

KEYONTE HICKS

91% YES

THE EVOLUTION OF DRESS CODES 1968

Upper School Handbook

According to Sidwell Friends School, the 1968 Upper School handbook stated that high school girls could wear makeup, without applying bizarre effects. The handbook also stated that boys were unallowed to wear blue jeans, nor could they have beards or mustaches.

1969

Tinker V Des Moines In the 1969 Supreme Court Case, Tinker v. Des Moines, a group of students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. The principal of Des Moines created a policy to ban the black armbands. The Supreme Court ruled that students don t shed their constitutional rights at the school house gates.

1980s

New Fashion Trends

With the introduction of new trends in 1980s, students were forbidden to wear bathing suits, halter tops, flip flops, and ripped or torn clothing.

Around 2000, there were restrictions for spagehetti-straps, and clothing that made the midsection and undergarments visible.

July 2016

Southern France

In the summer of 2016, 20 towns in Southern France banned the Burkini and head scarves on the beach. Armed police confronted a Muslim woman wearing a head scarf on the beach, then enforced her to publicly remove her head scarf.

March 2017 America

In March, United Airlines stopped two girls from boarding a flight because they were wearing spandex leggings. They made the girls either change or cover their leggings. United has a dress code that can refuse those to board who are barefoot or not properly clothed.

200 surveys were distributed during W4 on April 4. 149 surveys were returned.

"I don t think we need dress codes. I think people should wear whatever they like."

"Adults always tell us to [follow dress code]. I think it's none of my business."

Are you aware of the clothing that you are and are not allowed to

LIFESTYLES 13

April 25, 2017

How to make your college dorm comfy Essential tips on what to buy for your new home next year

8 essentials you need for your dorm

BY LUCIE LEFBOM

A white/cork board to hang pictures and write reminders.

(Staples, $30)

Lifestyle Editor Seniors, you've made one of the biggest decisions of your life; you know where you're going to college. That's just the start of many choices you're going to have to make in this new phase of your life, and one string of them will be how you choose to decorate your dorm. Whether you choose to keep it simple or go all out, here are a few tips on how to fill up your new home.

Find out if your dorm has air conditioning or not, because many colleges require you to pay extra for an air-conditioned dorm. If it isn't, the first thing you'll need to buy is a fan to keep you cool in the first and last couple hot weeks of school. If your dorm is hot, the food and drinks you keep in your room will be too.

"My dorm needed a fridge the most because it gets used all the time and it's just a necessity for college," said alum Cayley Byrne.

For other food purposes, you may also want a microwave for college essentials such as easy mac and ramen.

If you're a coffee drinker, a coffee maker in your dorm could be handy. What's even more versatile is a hot water heater, because then you can use it for tea as well as coffee and other food items.

Having a messy room can stress you out.

Make keeping your room clean easy with a lot of boxes and organizational racks for clothes, shoes, bags and schoolwork. The last thing you want to worry about when you have a big test coming up is how dirty your room is.

"I have way too many clothes, so storage space was a necessity for me. I don't like squeezing my clothes into the closets and drawers the dorm provides me," said alum Julie Swenton.

A mini fridge to store drinks and late night snacks. (Target, $139)

A fan to keep non airconditioned dorms cool.

(Walmart, $29)

Command strips to hang up objects.

(Walmart, $3)

Julie Swenton's decorated dorm at James Madison University.

Going to college is a huge change in your life, you're going from living at home with your family all your life to living by yourself with no time to transition. You should try to make it as cozy and as comfortable as possible.

While there isn't really space for a lot like couches or chairs, a carpet could help warm up your dorm and make it feel more like home as most of the floors in dorms are tile.

"Put up posters and try to make your room feel as comfortable as possible," said alum Kirk Lindberg.

"Bring pictures from home to put up in your dorm. You'll get at least a little homesick and it's nice to see pictures of family and friends from home," said Byrne.

To put up all these pictures, you'll need something to put them up with. You can't cause permanent damage to your dorm, and most of the walls are made of cinder block, so nails are not an option. Command strips are the best way to hang things in

your dorm. To hang pictures, you could use string and clothespins, a memory board, or a corkboard.

Another decorative item to put in your dorm is lights; they help make the room appear warmer. Check with your college's dorm regulations to see if lights are allowed to be hung.

"Talk to your roommate about the decorations you want to have in your room," said Swenton.

Many freshmen coordinate their comforters with their roommate, to have the same color scheme. There may be something that they want that you don't want or vice versa.

Go shopping for stuff together to collaborate on what you need. Make sure to check with your roommate before buying anything too important for your room.

Decorating your dorm can feel like a fresh start, so think through what you want and do your best to make your new home just as comfy as your old one.

A rack to organize papers for different classes. (Staples, $12)

A carpet to put on your tile floors.

(Bed Bath & Beyond, $54)

A desk lamp to study in your dorm. (Target, $24)

A coffee maker for the late nights.

(Staples, $200)

Materials Needed

DIY with Katie Pope SHOE BOX CHARGING STATION

- Power strip - Electric outlet - Chargers - Scissors - Shoe box

-Duct tape/ decorative materials -Masking tape -Pen

A cheap and easy way to organize your electronic chargers

1.

Cut a hole on the smaller side of a shoe box for the power strip cord to stick out of.

5.

Cut small pieces of masking tape and put them under the holes

2.

6.

Cut 6 small circular holes on the longer side of the shoe box for the charging cords to stick out of.

On the tape, label each hole.

3.

Decorate the box with duct tape or other decorative materials

4.

7.

Plug your chargers into the power strip and pull the cords out through the hole and plug your devices in.

8.

Re-poke the holes through the duct tape.

Put the lid on and now you have an organized place to charge electronics.

FASHION SPOTLIGHT Amber Tran, 12

Q: How did you learn how to dress?

A: Watching & following fashionistas (Sophia Chang, Jenn Im, etc) online inspires me to try and establish my own sense of style.

Q: Where do you like to shop?

A: I shop at H&M more than any other stores, but I also love to shop at Francesca's, Lulus, and Madewell.

Q: What are your favorite clothing pieces?

A: Some of my favorites are my bombers, a neutral color knit sweater for the winter or an off the shoulder crop top for the summer.

Q: What is your go to outfit for a date?

A: For a date, I'd definitely wear an off shoulders top with a pair of high waisted shorts, sandals, and sunglasses.

Q: On your lazy days what do you prefer to wear?

A: I usually would put on leggings or Adidas pants and a windbreaker, or an oversized sweater.

Q: What is your favorite season to dress for?

A: Definitely summer and sometimes fall.

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

A: When I want to wear makeup, it usually takes me about half an hour.

Q: How much do you usually invest in clothing?

A: I'd buy 3-4 new clothing pieces or shoes per month as I use most of my paycheck on clothes.

Q: What is your favorite pair of shoes?

A: Currently, my favorite pair of shoes would be my black peep toes booties.

Q: Do you dress to impress or dress for yourself?

A: I would say both. I dress up because it's fun and I enjoy it. However, it's nice to look presentable whenever you're out of the house.

Q: Who is your fashion inspiration?

A:. My biggest fashion inspiration is Youtuber Vivian Vo Farmer.

Q: What's your favorite accessory to add to your outfit?

A: Definitely sunglasses. It usually pulls the entire outfit together

Amber Tran posing in Georgetown with her friend Thuy Tran.

14 PEOPLE

April 25, 2017

Alumni sings around the world

BY SOULISA PATHAMMAVONG Class of 2008 alumni Eric Jurenas is having an amazing career as a countertenor in Europe and in the U.S. Before making a name for himself, Jurenas started here on the stage of AHS. Jurenas was involved in all the performing arts departments at AHS to help balance out the IB classes he was taking. By his senior year, he was part of the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Annandale Singers, Men's Chorale, and Thespian Society.

"It was something I was always interested in, and even then I had no expectations of doing it professionally," Jurenas said, "Chorus, Band, Drama - having access to those classes and making friends through those activities helped me through the stresses of high school."

Overall, Jurenas enjoyed his time at AHS and believed it was an interesting community. After going to college in Ohio and living and traveling in Europe, it made him realize how much the diversity at Annandale positively affected his life outlook.

"Everyone talks about the diversity, and I think the Annandale student body, at least in my day, took it for granted. Diversity wasn't unusual for us, and that's how it should be everywhere!" Jurenas said.

Aside from the diversity, Jurenas believed classes at Annandale weren't that bad either.

"IB English was definitely harder than my college level English classes, so I was prepared, even if I have PTSD from all those sleepless nights doing IB homework in high school," Jurenas said.

From his experience at AHS, Jurenas wished more had stuck with him (outside of social connections). Like most teenagers, he didn't really care about homework or about learning new things.

"I wish I had seen the real world upshots of learning as a teen... but alas...," Jurenas said.

These last few years made Jurenas realize that he wishes he had paid a little more interest in some of those subjects for a more varied education.

"I took four years of Spanish at Annandale, but I didn't really care (and I wish I did)," Jurenas said. "One thing I love now are languages: I'm well versed in German and working on my Spanish, Italian, French, and even Dutch."

Jurenas communicates with people in different languages every day, which has become very important for his profession as a countertenor.

In college, Jurenas was struggling to find a satisfying path and discovered his ability accidentally.

"People loved it at parties, singing high was a great party trick, but people had mentioned that I could actually use it legitimately in the classical music world," Jurenas said.

Jurenas then began his research into the subject, which later grew on him. Many people were very supportive of his decision and a lot of different opportunities became available for him. Jurenas was singing all over the U.S. in places like San Francisco, New York City, the Midwest, and Santa Fe. "I was on the fence about graduate school, but after a year off to discover what I wanted to do with my life," Jurenas said. "I decided to apply to the

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC JURENAS

People Editor

Class of 2008 alumni and countertenor Eric Jurenas performs "Julius Caeser" at Wolf Trap Opera.

famous Juilliard School in New York City, and if I got in, I would commit myself to it."

After a hard year and long audition process, he was accepted into the college. Jurenas had a great time there and it allowed him to make great connections. He received his Masters degree from The Juilliard School and his Bachelors from the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati.

Jurenas later went on to being a countertenor, which is a male singer with the highest adult singing voice and a strong, pure tone. Although this kind of singing has been used in pop singing for so many different kinds of music, such as Frankie Valli, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Justin Timberlake, the countertenor is used predominantly in the operas from the Baroque period, roughly 1650-1775. It had been a fringe element of classical music for 30 years beginning in the 1960s and became more common, especially in Europe, in the late 90s.

"A countertenor is probably one of the oddest things you'll come across today on the opera and concert stages," Jurenas said. "Countertenors sing in the modern female range, so you can imagine the kind of looks and

reactions I get as a full bearded man."

Aside from being a countertenor, traveling and spending months in new cities is something Jurenas enjoys about his profession.

"It can sometimes be tough living out of a suitcase for months, but as a young guy it's very interesting work," Jurenas said.

He also enjoys being immersed in different cultures and meeting people from different backgrounds.

"The first year working in Germany was tough due to the language barriers, but I've gotten a lot better," Jurenas said.

From his profession, Jurenas has been able to work with several groups as a featured artist and has received many awards from several vocal competitions. While being given many opportunities and traveling around the world, Jurenas continues to make a name for himself in both the opera and concert scene.

"My work takes me all over the world. This year I am in Berlin, Vienna, Denver, London, and other parts of Europe. Who knew that I could earn a living singing high?!?" Jurenas said.

Senior Fatmata Kamara decides her future Senior Fatmata Kamara was recently offered scholarships to two of her top schools, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and College of William and Mary. Virginia Tech and the College of William and Mary are both selective schools and offered Kamara a full ride to both schools. The decision to be a Hokie at Virginia Tech or be apart of the Tribe at William and Mary ended in Kamara choosing to be apart of Virginia Tech's class of 2021.

"It was really hard but I visited both schools over spring break and compared where I would best fit and be successful. I tried to forget the fact that some of my cousins went to W&M and that my brother attended Tech," said Kamara.

Virginia Tech was the first school, she was ever introduced to since her brother was a Hokie.

"I see how successful he is, so I strive to be like him or, if possible, better," said Kamara.

The College of William and Mary was constantly promoted to her by her cousins, therefore Kamara fell in love with the school and it became her dream

PHOTO COURTESY OF FATMATA KAMARA

BY MARILYN RIVAS People Editor

Kamara poses for a #hokieselfie during her visit to Virginia Tech.

school. However, she still chose to be a Hokie since she felt she belonged when she went to visit.

Kamara was shocked when she received her acceptance letter, she had to keep rereading it to comprehend the good news.

"For William and Mary, I had to tell my friend Benny Le to read it and explain it to me, especially my scholarship but they were honestly both blessings," Kamara said.

When Kamara told her family the great news, they were extremely happy and proud of her for accomplishing so much. Her cousins that attended William and Mary, as well as her brother, an Alumni from Virginia Tech, were overjoyed with the news that both schools accepted her and granted her a scholarship. "My mom cried because she has been praying that I get a scholarship since I was born (seriously)," Kamara said.

Kamara plans to major in Biology, but hopes to switch within her second year to Biology Mechanical Engineering. Kamara wants to be a OBGYN, which is a Obstetrician and Gynecologist specialist. She wants to travel to African Countries and deliver children after she becomes an OBGYN.

Throughout her four year at AHS, she has been apart of numerous clubs and sports. Kamara is on the Varsity Dance Team, President of the Black Culture Awareness Association and is a member of numerous honor societies,including the Math, Science and National Honor Society.

"I plan on joining the ASA (African Student Association) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority," Kamara said.

Aside from her scholarship, Kamara received $10,000 from Greenspring Retirement home, where she works throughout the week. In order to get the scholarship, you must work over 1,000 hours with no write ups or documentations.

"I've been working at Greenspring for two and a half years, here I am with over 2,000 hours and getting the 10,000 scholarship," Kamara said.

Kamara is content with her decision Virginia Tech and is excited to be apart of the class of 2021. "I am excited to feel what my brother felt at Virginia Tech and to feel the Hokie spirit everyone brags about, and I am excited to be apart of a family apart from my own," Kamara said.

Q&A with Kamara

TITUS' DRIVING SCHOOL 1. The school is bonded and insured 2. Students do not need 45 hours driving time prior to the program 3. Parents and students can Google the Titus driving school for school reviews

I describe myself as: someone who tries to be everywhere at once whether it be school, family, work and activities I always somehow make it work.

My greatest strength: is staying motivated and working under pressure, which is like every day of my life, I kid you not.

What makes me different from everybody else: I am really bold and do what I believe is best I don't allow anyone to do that for me. Plus I do not take no for an answer and I try to compromise to change that no to a yes.

My biggest aspiration: is to visit most African countries and deliver kids since I want to be an OBGYN.

My hobbies are: dancing, attending concerts, trying new cultural foods like all the time, nature walks (no seriously).

My greatest accomplishment was: maintaining a balanced social and academic life.

A motto that I live by: I do not live by a motto but I have told some people that you cannot stop people from talking, you can only correct their assumptions and accusations.

My favorite thing about high school: the variety of opportunities that are given to help me succeed and my friends and teachers!

4. Students don't have to pay until they get their driver's license 5. If you bring your friend along, you get $25 off your payment.

6. If you're 18 years old, you don't have to hold your learner's permit for 9 months.

Phone: (571)-217-1441

Email: titusdrivingschool@gmail.com

VA State LIC # 1503-00634

Othmane Kerfal, senior Video games have had a huge impact on my life. If I'm not playing sports or eating, I will be in my room playing video games.

I started playing video games when I was four. My Uncle James gave me an Atari. The first game I ever played was Pong. It is not the most interesting game, but it was the game that got me into playing video games.

Pong is a stick tennis game that is all about angles and reaction time. I have owned many gaming consoles like PS1, N64, Atari, Sega Dreamcast, Xbox, Gamecube, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance/SP, PS2, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PS4, Nintendo 3DS, and PC. My favorite system are the PS1 and PS2. My favorite games on the Playstation are Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxtar. Jak and Daxtar is my favorite game because it has so many memories. My older cousin and I would race to see who would beat the game the fastest.

Also, it had a cool story line and meaningful characters.

Video games makes me feel like I am in a different world where everything is perfect. The world I live in is very dull compared to the colorful and exciting virtual world.

My favorite video game memories are playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 in the summer with all my friends. We would do many all nighters trying to see who would get the most nukes.

We also played many sport games like Madden, 2K, and FIFA. We used to make franchies where you can draft players from different

teams to make the best team and play against each other. We never finished a season because someone always complained about the player.

Video games have helped me deal with stress. When things in my life are not going well or I am in a bad mood, video games help me to escape reality and forget.

I want to be a video game designer when I am older. In college, I plan on taking computer engineering classes to help me reach this goal. The video games I plan on creating include multiplayer games because from my experience my friends and I play those types of games the most.

I met my best friend from playing video games. It was sixth grade and I joined an Xbox live party and there was a kid I didn't know. We both said stupid jokes and were the only ones laughing so I knew he was a cool cat. His name is Carlos and we still play video games to this day.

SPORTS X-TRA 15

April 25, 2017

Why is Crossfit so popular?

One of the fastest growing exercise methods continues to gain popularity

The Facts Crossfit was founded in 2000

by Greg Glassman

BY GRACE HOGYE Sports X-tra Editor

60% of crossfitters are women Crossfit gyms are called boxes and often look like big warehouses Crossfit started as a method to train Police Forces PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA VOGUS

After seeking improvement in gymnastics, junior Anna Vogus finally found her solution. Two and a half years ago, Vogus discovered Crossfit, a new exercise phenomenon that has changed the way people work out.

Since its founding in 2000, Crossfit has continued to increase in popularity as well as in size. It has now grown to open over 10,000 gyms across the U.S. Although its founder Greg Glassman originally created Crossfit to train police forces, people of all occupations and ages have grown to love Crossfit. But why is Crossfit so popular?

One of the possible reasons Crossfit may be so popular is because of the uniqueness of the workouts . Instead of using generic exercise machines found in normal gyms, Crossfit uses more creative ways to yield faster and better results than normal workouts. Because Crossfit doesn t use normal machines, it creates a unique and intense workout environment focused on the movement and strengthening of the body.

Crossfit workouts usually help to strengthen participants by using various exercises that utilize barbells and other weights. Crossfit also uses exercises without weights such as pull-ups, muscle-ups, and leg lifts. While Crossfit uses more unique workouts, it also incorporates basic exercises that people are familiar with, such as running.

This unique mix of new and old is appealing because it offers participants different methods of exercise while still incorporating somewhat familiar exercises as well.

Although the variety of workouts can be physically grueling, they help to target and exercise many different muscles in the body that more basic workouts would not usually cover.

Crossfit workouts can be a better alternative because they use different areas of muscles that you maybe normally wouldn t use Vogus said. The workouts combine strength and endurance so you really get to push yourself.

Vogus is one of many to join the Crossfit movement.

Over the years of being a crossfitter, she has enjoyed her experience. Since she began, she has noticed positive improvement. She believes she has gotten stronger and improved her endurance since she began. She is now able to deadlift 200 pounds.

Along with Vogus, many other crossfitters have experienced success stories. The fact that Crossfit yields such positive results is another reason it continues to gain popularity.

Crossfit has also gained a lot of popularity because of various competitions it holds. Many people see crossfit

Most crossfit workouts are named after women while others honor fallen soldiers

Junior Anna Vogus, a crossfitter of two and a half years, squats 65 pounds at Crossfit Annandale.

as exercise, not competition. However, there have been many Crossfit competitions hosted worldwide, such as the Crossfit Games which have been held annually since 2007. These games provide great entertainment as well as motivation for people to become crossfitters. Because Crossfit contains this competitive aspect, it provides a good balance between exercise and competition.

Crossfit can be competitive just like all sports Vogus said, but it s more about pushing yourself and becoming better and stronger than before.

Despite the growing popularity, there are still sceptics. Some believe that Crossfit can be very dangerous.

It is important not to jump on the bandwagon before knowing the risks. If not performed properly, it is possible that Crossfit can cause serious injury. There have been many cases of torn ligaments, broken bones, and sprained muscles. In order to perform Crossfit safely, gradual exercise is key.

One of the biggest challenges of doing Crossfit is probably getting comfortable with all of the different

movements Vogus said, it definitely takes time to learn before you can actually add weight.

Another danger is Crossfit can take a huge physical toll on its participants. Many crossfitters get caught up in the workout and work their body too much. If performed too often, Crossfit can cause muscle strains, soreness, and serious fatigue. It is important to know your limits when jumping into a new exercise. However, Crossfit is beneficial if performed correctly and within reasonable limits.

Despite the dangers, Crossfit still remains hugely popular. Its uniqueness and proven success continue to push it forward in the workout world. What started as police training has become an extremely successful method of exercise adopted by people worldwide. Its popularity continues to grow and does not show signs of stopping.

Crossfit hosts many fundraising events The oldest Crossfit competitor was 77 year old William Hosken Celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Jessica Alba are crossfitters The first Crossfit games were held in 2007

Want to get involved?

Here are some Crossfit gyms located near Annandale

Crossfit Annandale (703) 628-9348 $150/month

Crossfit Burke (703) 543-8589 $180/month

What is your favorite way to exercise?

My favorite way to exercise is to run so I can build up my endurance for Volleyball season in the fall.

I play basketball in my free time because it helps me get better.

I like swimming because it helps me improve.

CHRISTIAN NGUYEN

ABBY REYNOLDS

freshman

sophomore

"I exercise through sports, but I don t have a specific favorite way to exercise.

"My favorite way to exercise is lifting a set amount of weights.

I like to do a lot of repetition to build up endurance.

ELVERA MILLER

GEORGE SANDY

freshman

sophomore

Q: How long have you been running track?

A: This is my second year doing the sport.

LYDIA ADISU

MELISSA URQUIZU

junior

junior

senior

BY KATIE POPE Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA KINDLING

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of track?

A: The most difficult part of track is putting in the mileage and the hard workouts after school. Having to do mile reapeats or ladder workouts is death.

Q: What has been your greatest athletic achievement?

A: My greatest achievement in Track was being able to sub six minutes on the mile. I got a personal record of 5:52.

Fuentes races in a meet at Episcopal High School.

Q: What are your goals for the rest of the season?

A: My goal for the end of the season is probably being able to get close to my personal record again or maybe even breaking it.

Q: How do you get hype before a meet?

A: I get hype before a race by listening to music and singing along to my favorite country and trap songs.

"I like to exercise by running as well as lifting weights. senior

Seniors serve, set, spike, and

Sport: Track & Field

Q: How have you seen yourself improve in Track this year?

A: I saw a lot of improvement as soon as I started training with the new distance coach, Coach Ciccarelli. In the first couple of meets in winter, I was able to break six multiple times. I knew it was going to be such a great season.

GRACE HATCH

The senior class prevails in Peach Fuzz

Q: What is your favorite thing about track?

A: My favorite part about track is the day of the meets. The track team is so funny and they honestly give you so much motivation.

"I like to do yoga because it is good for your body and your mind.

SEBASTIAN SALDANA

Player Profile: Vitalina Fuentes,

Q: What was your strongest race?

A: My strongest meet was probably conference for the winter season. It may not have been one of my fastest races, but I had to run the mile and the two mile on the same day. It was very painful mentally and physically.

"My favorite way to exercise is running because it helps me build up my speed.

Cheers filled the air in the gym during the Peach Fuzz volleyball tournament when the seniors defeated the junior and faculty teams and ultimately won the whole tournament.

Peach Fuzz is an annual showdown between male athletes and faculty members who do not normally have the opportunity to participate in volleyball.

I ve always liked volleyball, it s always been a fun sport for me, senior Kevin Huynh said.

The Peach Fuzz tournament started off with a game between a team of juniors and a team of seniors. The junior team consisted of only seven players. Their coaches were Anica Lind, Jessica Roop, and Valeria Salinas.

The senior team consisted of ten players with coaches Iris Arrazola, Katie Garrish, and Maddie McCrossin. The first game was a sweet victory for the seniors with a score of 15-11.

I think we lost against the seniors because we just lacked togetherness and communication skills unlike the seniors who

seemed to work really well together, junior Elliot Alwes said.

The second game didn t turn out great for the juniors either making it their second loss.

I do indeed plan on participating in the Peach Fuzz tournament again next year, but this time I plan to use my length and stay closer to the net. Team wise I hope to communicate better and beat out the bad habits like hitting the ball with ours fists and touching the net, Alwes said By this point, the juniors were eliminated from the tournament, while the seniors advanced to the next set of games.

It is not unusual for the seniors to prevail over the juniors. I feel pretty good about winning this round being that I lost last year as a junior, said Huynh.

Faculty members of the school also participated in the game.

The faculty team consisted of six teachers and coaches and the referee was a counselor, Ms. Hess.

The seniors won the first game against the teachers, 15-9. I m competitive, so that side of me is hurting, but it s never a bad thing to lose to a good group of kids who put in a decent effort, faculty player, Coach Sweet said.

In the second game, the faculty triumphed pulling off a score of

15-3. Our strategy was to basically try not to play harder, but instead play smarter and place it [the ball] where they [the seniors] weren t, but we forgot they were faster and younger, said Sweet.

In the final game of the tournament, the seniors took the win, 7-4, almosted undefeated.

I didn t really expect to win against the faculty, it was actually a really close win Huynh said. I think we [the seniors] worked very well as a team, because most of the players have been friends for a few years, since elementary or middle school so our relationships were good with each other which most likely helped with our teamwork.

In the end, the seniors were victorious and crowned the champions of the 2017 Peach Fuzz volleyball tournament.

Overall, the Peach Fuzz tournament was a great way for students and faculty to interact in a friendly but competetive environment. It was also entertaining for the audience to see boys play in a usually female dominated sport.

16 SPORTS

April 25, 2017

Baseball team falls to Spartans 14-1

Atoms participate in Autism Awareness Night

BY JUDE NANAW

The Atoms baseball team took on the West Springfield Spartans on April 21 on Autism Awareness Night.

The game opened with a ceremonial opening pitch thrown out bystudent Ricky Portillo.

The intention of the ceremonial pitch was to raise awareness about Autism and encourage more measures to be taken in the community to raise awareness.

I really enjoyed how the Autism Awareness Night was embraced by the students and faculty, Head Coach Christopher Bagot said. It is important for our athletes to understand some of the larger issues in the world.

In the match-up against the Spartans, the Atoms fell behind early and trailed 3-0 at the end of the first inning.

The team tried to get back into the game with a double play to end the second inning.

With junior Travis Beacom up to bat at the top of third inning, the Atoms would be able to eventually score and shrink the Spartan lead to 3-1.

The Spartans would come back in the next inning to go back up 4-1 with senior Ryan Peich on the mound.

The Atoms kept the game close throughout the first four innings but with multiple mistakes and too many free bases given up.

The Spartans expanded their lead and never looked back.

The Atoms went on to be defeated 14-1 by the Spartans for the second time this season with the first game against the teams being a 13-0 Atoms loss on March 21.

KATIE POPE

Sports Editor

Student Ricky Portillo (Right) throws out an opening ceremonial pitch on Autism Awareness Night on April 21 with Khalid Mohammed (Left).

We had multiple errors and let a game that was close get out of hand, Bagot said.

The team has repeated the mistake of letting up and taking their foot off of the gas pedal multiple times this year which has caused many winnable games to be lost.

We have gotten off to good starts against South County and West Springfield but both of those games got out of hand, Bagot said. We just need to put seven

innings together.

With the team s record having dropped to 2-14 on the season and only six more regular season games remaining, the Atoms look to make more improvements to their game and put together a winning streak.

We need to be more consistent in our play throughout the whole game, junior Ryan Gammon said.

With putting forth our full effort every inning and

having better consistency we can start to win more games.

The Atom s next game will be an away game on April 25 against the TC Williams Titans. The Atoms faced the Titans earlier this season on March 24 and were defeated by a score of 15-3.

For our next games, we can improve on throwing more strikes, Peich said. We are still giving up too many free bases which has led to games getting too far out of reach for us to win.

One key improvement for the Atoms throughout the season has been the gained varsity experience for the younger players which was problematic early in the season.

The gained experience was key in the team s lone regular season victory against the Lee Lancers 12-11 on April 1.

Since their last victory, the Atoms have been on an eight game slide, a losing streak the team looks to snap in their coming games.

We are confident that we can break our losing streak in our next games, Gammon said.

Following the Atom s game against the Titans, the team will face the WT Woodson Cavaliers on April 28.

The Cavaliers have had a fairly successful season thus far with a record of 10-4.

The teams took on each other earlier this season on March 28, a game the Atoms narrowly lost 9-6.

Picking up more regular season game wins will be vital for the Atoms momentum heading into the first round of the Patriot Conference Tournament on May 12.

How has the weather affected your performance?

"The rain causes me to play and practice slower when I m playing baseball.

"The humid weather is really difficult to run in and it slows me down.

"Its harder to perform well when its colder so I prefer warmer weather for when MEGAN LE playing baseball. freshman ALEX BRENNAN

HAKIM IDRIS freshman

sophomore

It s harder to run when playing soccer and my muscles are worn because it s harder to stretch them out.

"The weather affects my performance because it ruins the pocket on my stick when I play lacrosse.

"When it s colder outside and I am playing lacrosse, it s harder to hold my stick.

AHMAD MOUSSA

JEMELA KANU junior

ANISSA CHEIKH

"When it s rainy outside or not too nice outside it makes me feel more tired.

"When it s really hot I get tired more easily and I feel like I can t run as fast.

YOUNI ESKINDER

LELYS COREA senior

senior

sophomore

Softball defeated by West Springfield 15-2 Staff Writer The Atoms softball team headed into their remaining games of the year with the season more than halfway through, by taking on the West Springfield Spartans on April 21.

In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, the Atoms joined in their attempt to raise awareness by having Senior Brooke Mahoney throw out an opening ceremonial pitch to start the game.

The Atoms had already played the Spartans on March 21 and were defeated by a score of 12-2 and looked to improve as a team going into the a game against the Spartans for a second time.

In the first inning, the Atoms took the field with their pitcher, sophomore Jessica Salisbury, starting on

I feel like we have a lot of room to improve on how we work as a team on field and also how we think mentally during the game, Salisbury said.

Mentality has played a large role in the outcome of the games.

Every time I enter the batter s box I try to be as confident as I can that I will be able be hit the ball no matter how good the opponents pitcher might be, Salisbury said.

With six more regular season games remaining, the Atoms look to improve and pick up a couple of victories.

Results were not available by the Atoms next game on April 24, against the Lake Braddock Bruins.

Following this game the Atoms will take on the T.C. Williams Titans on April 25.

4/25/17: vs T.C. Williams 4/28/17: vs W.T. Woodson 5/02/17: vs South County 5/05/17: vs West Potomac 5/09/17: vs Mount Vernon 5/15/17: Patriot Conference 5/17/17: Patriot Conference Semis 5/25/17: Patriot Conference Finals Senior Brooke Mahoney throws out the opening pitch in the game against the Spartans on April 21.

Outdoor Track prepares for

Boys lacrosse wins two straight

BY ETHAN ZIMMERMAN

BY JUDE NANAW AND KATIE POPE

Staff Writer

COURTESY OF LUCAS MICHAEL

Sports Editor and Staff Writer The Atoms outdoor track season is winding down as the team prepares for the upcoming Patriot Conference Championship meet set to take place on May 16.

Before the conference meet, both the boys and girls teams will be competing at a quad meet on May 3 against the South County Stallions, W.T. Woodson Cavaliers and T.C. Williams Titans.

In the team s most recent meet on April 19, the team took on the Mount Vernon Majors, West Springfield Spartans and South County Stallions.

At the meet, the girls 4x800-meter relay team earned a medal in the event for the first time since 2007.

The relay team composed of sophomore Nadya Droujinsky, senior Emily Pope, junior Janice Milian and senior Karen Lara came in sixth place with a time of 10:35 at the meet.

At conference we are hopefully looking forward to be breaking the 4x800-meter record, Milian said.

To give our relay the best chance of crushing the record, I plan to run on weekends, do long runs and do workouts on my own on day we don t have practice, Milian said.

Despite the team s progress, there is still room for more improvement overall. At the quad meet, the boys 4x400-meter relay team came in second place despite struggling with communication.

Our relay wasn t the best because of our hand-offs and our second leg, senior Lucas Michael said. We still got second place but can improve to a regional qualifying time with more work.

Also at the meet, the boys 4x100-meter team ran a regional qualifying time. Runners are striving to improve their times in order to qualify for coming meets.

Head Coach Phil Harris looks to prepare the team for the coming meets and work to help more runners reach regional and state qualifying times.

We have a major meet coming up with about 40

REMAINING GAMES

KAYLA HOLCOMB

BY KAYLA HOLCOMB

ss SOFTBALL 2017 SEASON the mound. The Atoms struggled early, giving up five runs by the end of the opening inning.

Heading into the second inning, the Atoms looked to get on the board.

The Atoms again struggled with field plays and by the end of the second the Spartans expanded their lead over the Atoms with a score of 10-0.

In the fourth inning, the Atoms executed solid field plays by sophomore Megan Johnson and freshman Allauna Harrison, allowing them to shut down the Spartans with no runs for the inning. When hitting, the Atoms were to be able to get on the board with two runs with the score at 12-2.

In the final inning, the Atoms continued to struggle in the field to make plays and the Spartans pulled further ahead with 3 more runs ending the game with a final score of 15-2.

Despite the team struggling against the Spartans and an 0-14 record, the Atoms still look for this to be an opportunity to improve for the remaining games of the season.

Senior Lucas Michael sprints down the stretch in the 4x100-meter relay event at a meet.

teams and we are going to win, Harris said. It s a big meet and we are going to do very well.

The conference meet will be vital in determining how many runners will be able to advance to the next level, the 6A North Regional Championship.

I will be preparing for conference by increasing my miles and working hard on improving my time with speed workouts, senior Dyanna Rodriguez said.

Following the team s next meet on May 3, the Atoms will compete in the T.C. Williams Invitational on May 6 in their final meet before the Patriot Conference Championship.

The Atoms boys lacrosse team has improved their record to 2-7 following two straight victories against the Falls Church Jaguars on April 10 and the Jeb Stuart Raiders on April 18.

The Atoms defeated the Jaguars by a score of 10-6 with sophomore Cameron Foti leading the team with three goals followed by seniors Matthew Vogus and Michael Nguyen with two goals a piece.

The team would defeat the Raiders 11-5 to pick up their second consecutive victory. Nguyen led the team with four goals followed by sophomore Alex Bellem with three goals.

It was amazing when we beat Jeb, Nguyen said.

It was even better when I scored four goals against them since I have a friend on their team and couldn t let them beat us.

The victories will serve as a confidence booster as the team struggled early on in the season with a seven game slide.

Winning two straight felt great, sophomore Sam Phan said. We re going to use the momentum for our Sophmore Alex Bellem plays defense in a game against the Falls Church Jaguars on April 10. last few games of the season.

The Atoms look to practice hard in the following Jefferson Colonials on May 2.

We are going to focus on the more important asweeks in order to prepare for the final two games of pects of our game to improve for the last regular seathe season.

We are working really hard to continue our streak son games, Kamara said.

The Majors have struggled throughout the season and try to make sure these last few games are worthwhile for the seniors because it s their last season as with a current 1-7 record. The game will be an opportunity for the Atoms to continue their current winning Atoms, Phan said.

There is a total of 10 seniors on the team who will streak and keep the momentum rolling for the final be looking to make the final two games of the regular game of the season against a 3-3 Colonials team.

Following the final games of the regular season, season as memorable as possible.

It s tough knowing that this is my last year play- the Atoms will prepare for the first round in the Patriot Conference tournament. ing, but I use that as motivation to work even harder, With a possible first round victory the team will be senior Billal Kamara said.

The Atoms final two games will come against able to advance the next rounds of the tournament. the Mount Vernon Majors on April 28 and the Thomas COURTESY OF ALEX BELLEM

Team continues losing streak

SPORTS 17 JV Boys Soccer remains undefeated

BY MAHDI LARHMARI Staff Writer

The JV boys soccer team has had a shockingly successful season thus far, the soccer team hopes to finish the season strong. The team is undefeated with a record of 5-2-0.

Last year was a very disappointing season for the boys, as they were only able to come away with 1 win and finish off the season with a record of 1-2-8.

"The season has gone really well this year in comparison to our previous year, we are moving the ball and communicating better," said sophomore midfielder Parraga.

The boys' undefeated record was challenged on Wednesday against the West Potomac Wolverines. The team snuck away with a tie by scoring a late goal with only ten minutes remaining. The tying goal was scored by sophomore Bryan Fuentes, after the game Fuentes was awarded man of the match for scoring the big goal.

It was also Fuentes' first goal of the season.

"The goal I had against West Potomac kept our streak alive and I can't thank anyone but God and the support from all of my teammates," said Fuentes. "We just need to keep focused and our heads up during practice, then make every drop of sweat count against Thomas Jefferson."

The boys would love to remain undefeated for the season, but will has some tough challenges late in the season against Lake Braddock and Mt. Vernon.

The team will play away against the Thomas Jefferson Colonials this Thursday. Last season, this game was cancelled due to the weather conditions, so many of the athletes have never played the Colonials.

"We don't have much time to prepare for Thomas Jefferson but, we have a few practices, so we have to make great use of it," Parraga said.

The success of this team can be credited to the improvements that many of the players have made from last season. Many of the players play on other teams outside of Annandale so they can be in shape and ready for the high school season.

"I think I've improved on my positioning when we were attacking to create a better chance of scoring goals and winning games," Parraga said.

With only three games left in the season, the team will be playing away at Thomas Jefferson, Mt. Vernon, and Lake Braddock.

Field jumping to success

Girls lacrosse ready for the postseason OURTESY OF MATHEW MCKIVER

Atoms showing improvement in recent meets

BY LUKE ELKINS Staff Writer The field team has a couple of meets left before conference, and they will be looking to finish the season on a positive note. Field works much like track does for scoring, where individuals compete to finish first in different events to earn points for their school. The school that collects the most points, wins the meet.

"Field is different than track because the events don't take place running on the track. It is more a test of your jumping and throwing abilities. In track, the winner is the individual/relay team with the fastest time.

In field, the winner is based on how far you throw or jump," said senior Maddy McCrossin.

McCrossin competes in discus, shot put, and long jump. She believes their coach has helped them perform the way they have this season.

"The season is going pretty well. Coach Joel, the new throwing coach, is very beneficial to Annandale's track & field program. He has us getting stronger everyday and shows us the proper technique," said McCrossin.

The field team has two meets left before conferences, and their minds are squarely set on doing their

Sophomore Andrew Izquirdo dribbles the ball through the box before practice on April 18.

Junior Matthew McKiver jumping at the last meet.

bests there. They are changing their practices so they can perform to the best of their abilities in conference.

For conference coming up, he's changing up the workouts and perfecting everyone's throws, so that most of us will be able to make the top six in conference. The Field has one meet versus South County, WT Woodson, and TC Williams; followed by the TC Williams Invitational. They will be giving it their all to perform their best in conferences.

Athlete of the month: Grace Hatch Varsity athlete excited for the postseason

BY CAMERON FOTI Sports Editor

Junior Grace Hatch has played three years of varsity lacrosse for the Atoms. This year, she is working harder than ever to get her team as far as they can possibly go. Hatch is excited to finish the season and is optomistic about teams future for this season and next.

The Atoms are making improvements just in time for the playoffs

BY CAMERON FOTI Sports Editor The girls lacrosse team is coming off a Patriot conference championship from last year. With hopes high, the ladies are looking to make a run in the postseason to become back-to-back champions.

After a disappointing showing at their own Atomic Blast tournament, where the team only came out with one win against Osbourn Park, the girls looked to the regular season and started to focus in on their goals.

"This season, a personal goal of mine is to score at least one goal. I have never scored a in game goal in the seven years i've been playing, so it would be great if I scored one this year," said junior defender Mckenzie Yi. The team went on to beat the TC Williams Titans 11-6 showing their attacking abilities as well as some defensive aspects. Then the girls persisted by beating the Edison Eagles in a nail biter 10-9.

Sadly the team went through a rough patch losing three straight games to WT Woodson, Lake Braddock, and West Potomac.

The losses gave them opportunities to reflect on what they need to improve on in order to finish the Junior Megan Lee clears the ball against Patriot last season. season off right and make a run in the postseason.

"We have improved on our communicating better "In order to succeed we really need to learn how with one another and keeping up the intensity to pick up ground balls correctly and effectively," throughout the game," said senior midfielder Sasha said junior midfielder Grace Hatch.

Silva.

"Throughout the season our team needs to "This season our team has done well on improve on ball movement on the field, and putting communication. When we talk, our team works and a body on the girl when we play defense," said Yi, "We are not the best at all three things yet, but we're plays well together. We always try to remind ourselves to do that. Sadly, we lost some communication, but we getting so much better at them." are working to bring that back again," says Yi. Recently the team took their annual trip down The girls only have two games left on their regular to UVA where Coach Cindy Hook used to play. The season schedule, they will play at home against South County tonight, and then it is Senior Night against Mount Vernon on Friday.

"I love my team so much... we are a family on and off the field."

Q: When did you start playing lacrosse?

A: I started playing lacrosse when I was 9.

Q: When did you first realize your love for lacrosse?

A: I really started to love lacrosse the summer before I went into fourth grade.

Q: How do you and your team deal with a loss?

A: When we lose, we work harder at practice and push each other.

Q: What's the hardest thing about lacrosse?

A: The hardest thing about lacrosse is having to form a solid defense and having a great nondominant hand.

OURTESY OF GRACE HATCH

Q: What do you do usually before a game?

A: To get ready for a game I will listen to music to get focused for her game.

Q: How do you and your team celebrate a win?

A: When we win, we celebrate by cheering on the bus and keeping it up for the next game.

SCHEDULE

Mckenzie Yi junior

Q: What has been your favorite moment in your lacrosse career?

A: My favorite moment in my lacrosse career was when we won the Patriot Conference last year.

ssGIRLS SOCCER 2017 SEASON

Junior Grace Hatch gets set for a face off against West Sprigfield

Q: What do you do in the offseason to prepare for lacrosse?

A: I go to green days and we do drills to get ready for the season.

Q: What is your favorite pregame meal?

A: I don't normally eat a whole meal before a game, I just eat a snickers bar.

Q: What is your favorite part about your team?

A: I love everything about my team and the times we are together. I love that we are all able to be ourselves no matter what.

Q: Is it difficult for you to balance school, sports, and other activities that you have?

A: To balance school and sports it can be difficult at times but once I figure out how to balance it, it isn't that hard.

Q: What is one thing that your team has to do in order to have a succesful season?

A: We need to keep up our team defense and have more movement on attack.

girls got to tour the school with their coach as their tour guide. They also got to play against Western Albemarle High School from Crozet, Virginia.

"My favorite part of the UVA trip was just spending time with my team. I love my team so much because we get along so well. We are a family on and off the field," said Yi. With the postseason just around the corner the team has been grinding during practice and has improved on many things that will lead them to victory.

3/28/17: at Thomas Edison HS [10-9W] 3/30/17: at WT Woodson HS [4-20L] 4/4/17: at Lake Braddock SS [13-15L] 4/6/17: at West Potomac HS [11-20L] 4/19/17: at West Albemarle [2-16L]

4/25/17: at South County 4/28/17: vs Mount Vernon HS- SENIOR NIGHT

Girls tennis winning tough matches Atoms fighting for a winning season with a record of 6-4

BY LUKE ELKINS Staff Writer Girls tennis is going into it's final matches of the season, and they are looking to finish the season strong.

This is an improvement from it's record last year, where they only managed three wins all year.

Head Varsity Coach Hassan Mims believes his team this year is one of the best he's had.

"This season is Annandale High

School's girls tennis team's most successful season since the last decade. We are in third place in the conference," said Mims.

"The season is going better than expected. For the rest of the year, I only expect the team to keep playing as hard as we have been doing," said sophomore Jasmine Phan.

Coach Mims believes the team has great chemistry this year and heapes praise upon the team.

"This is one of my favorite teams during my 17 year career. This group of girls are very coachable, wellrounded, and scholar athletes. Their level of commitment is priceless- the best I've ever coached," said Mims, "We are one big family who unconditionally believes in each other. It was a three year process to get to where we are as an effective collective unit."

Coach Mims believe they have the talent to perform during districts.

"Sophomore and #1 player Ashleen Lee, is undefeated this season so far. Also, Cindy Ma and Julia Sheehy won multiple clutch matches against two formidable opponents," said Mims, "Preparing for districts will involve higher intensity at practices and more match mental toughness preparation, [but] I expect we will do well during district play."

"Even if we don't win districts, we will be a tougher opponent for other teams," said Phan.

Before districts, girls tennis has four remaining games on their schedule. They face off against W.T. Woodson, Lake Braddock, West Potomac, and Mount Vernon.

OURTESY OF MEGAN LEE

The Atoms are grinding out tough wins on the road

COURTESY OF MARIAM MOHAMMAD

April 25, 2017

18 ENTERTAINMENT

April 25, 2017

Kendrick shifts the paradigm with DAMN. Compton-native Kendrick Lamar reflects on his success, shortcomings, and the meaning of his existence

BY TIMOTHY GRAY Videographer "Why, God, why, God do I gotta suffer?" These selfreflective words kick off the introspective and dynamic 12th track of DAMN., "FEAR." The track, resting towards the very end of the album, summarizes Kendrick Lamar's intention for his explosive fourth studio album.

On DAMN., it's apparent that Lamar is, to put it plainly, depressed. The album's most significant moments, namely "FEAR.," "LUST.," "FEEL.," "XXX.," and "DUCKWORTH.," demonstrate a Kendrick Lamar who is overwhelmingly frustrated with himself, his community, and God. If his 2015 project To Pimp a Butterfly Lamar is focused on providing hope to the Black community, praising his roots and solidifying his name as a great; DAMN. is his disappointment upon awareness that his vision for TPAB had fallen short.

"You overnight the big rifles then tell Fox to be scared of us, Gang members are terrorists, etcetera etcetera, America's reflections of me; that's what a mirror does."

Lamar laments on "XXX.," firing shots at Fox news swiftness to label minority groups; clearly frustrated by the manner that TPAB had been received by those outside of music and the lack of progress made in social justice in the aftermath.

On the third track, "YAH.," Kendrick maneuvers through a laid back bass kick and hypnotic snare. "Fox news wanna use my name for percentage" Kendrick states, taking the first of multiple shots at Fox news throughout this album.

There is clearly a stark difference between Kendrick's attitude on DAMN. and that of To Pimp a Butterfly.

While Kendrick illustrated anger and insecurity within himself on tracks like u of TPAB, his attitude

has shifted from anger with himself to a poisonous acceptance of his disposition.

However, the best case scenario is that this is a technique he is using to develop the purpose of the album; as he showcases bravado and self confidence like no other on the killer track "DNA.," in which Kendrick slaughters a DJ Dahi beat with rapid fire boasts of superiority in his genes.

The album is incredibly broad, causing it to fall short in organization and structure.

Exploring themes such as love, lust, loyalty and pride on songs named by their subject matter.

Kendrick effectively utilizes his rapping ability to express these concepts in a powerful and succinct manner, but songs often abruptly end and begin in an awkward manner; most notably the transition between "PRIDE." and "HUMBLE." The former is a croon featuring dreamy acoustics from the likes of Steve Lacy, the latter being the album's first single and biggest banger next to "DNA." One thing is for sure: DAMN. is Kendrick's reintroduction. Surpassing Drake's More Life in having over half a million streams in the first week is no simple feat, especially for Kendrick.

The Compton rapper's fourth full-fledged studio album showcases a driven Kendrick, dominating pop culture and Billboard charts with monsters such as "HUMBLE." Each and every track is crafted in such a way that it both lyrically contains a biblical message and sonically takes shots at the popular rap music of today garnered by the likes of Drake and Big Sean.

Rihanna, a frequent collaborator of Drake's, appears on the song "LOYALTY.," a title almost definitely used ironically to poke fun at the estrangement between her and the Toronto rapper.

Moreover, "LUST." (perhaps the closest thing on DAMN. to TPAB's sound) samples UK rapper Rat Boy's "Kicked down the door and his Nike Air rattles/better rush the fire exit no time for battles" from his song Knock Knock Knock.

The sample is both sonically pleasing and may yet again be a shot at Drake's infatuation with UK grime throughout the past year.

On "YAH.," Kendrick raps "Keep the family close," which is also the title of a track on Drake's 2016 Views.

Perhaps DAMN.'s most left-field venture is the sporadic and chaotic "XXX.," featuring record scratches, alarms, a sample of yelling, and a remixed ambulance siren throughout Kendrick's verses.

While there was plenty of skepticism of Kendrick's use of Bono of U2 on the song upon the tracklist release, the band's talent was safe in Kendrick's hands, as he utilized Bono's vocals to transition into the song's sonically toned down, introspective second phase.

"DUCKWORTH." features a resurfacing of the sweet, brassy production last popular in the era of early '00s rap records such as Kanye West's Late Registration or Lupe Fiasco's The Cool.

Beginning with the statement "It was always me versus the world; until I found it's me versus me," "DUCKWORTH." is an encapsulating track seemingly completing the storyline of Kendrick's family and contemporaries in the 1980s prior to his birth and in his early childhood, explored on his freshman LP Section .80.

This specific track focuses on his father, Ducky, who was spared during a robbery for his generosity towards the robber, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith.

Kendrick finishes the album with the jaw dropping revelation that "if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg'd be serving life while I grow up without a father and die in a gunfight," creating a world without Kendrick Lamar.

Looking back on the Compton star's catalogue, that's a world we would not want. As Kendrick states on DUCKWORTH.," "Who ever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence?"

Kendrick Lamar first week album sales

Section .80 (2011) Section .80 is Kendrick Lamar's debut project.

It was released back in the summer of 2011 but didn't blow up until years later.

5,000

good kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)

To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

untitled unmastered. (2016)

Kendrick's breakout album topped charts and consisted of immaculate story telling.

TPAB utilized jazz funk fusion to portray the black sociopolitical and cultural atmosphere.

A surprise victory lap consisting of B-sides which expanded on all aspects of TPAB's glory.

324,000

174,000

242,000

Netflix's 13 Reasons Why season one review

BY BRANDON HO Managing Editor

Playlist of the Issue

imdb.com

Welcome to your tape Annandale. The new Netflix original series "13 Reasons Why" has skyrocketed with popularity over the last month and has become a trending topic on Twitter, helping to make it Netflix's most popular show ever.

The series, which is based on a New York Times Best Selling book, follows Hannah Baker a smart, funny, attractive and unfortunately taken advantage of, teenager. The show is unique in the way that Hannah isn't really in it, viewers will only see her in flashbacks because the whole plot is centered around her suicide and what led to it.

The main character of the show is Clay Jensen, a socially awkward high school junior, who worked with Hannah at the local movie theater and developed feelings for her that he could never relay. In the beginning of the show Clay gets a package with 13 tapes, which is soon realizes are from Hannah.

The tapes are Hannah's form of a suicide note and each tape is designated to a specific person and how their actions impacted her decision to take her life.

Hannah's instructions in the box with the tapes was to listen to all of them and then to pass the tapes on to the next person. Clay's tape is tape 11, and thus he is one of the last people to get the infamous tapes.

Clay, being the inquisitive and awkward teen that he is doesn't understand why he is on the tapes and takes the longest to get through them. The series shadows Clay as he becomes a detective and tries to figure out what happened to his high school crush.

He is on a mission to avenge a girl he fell in love with by confronting the other students and adults that were mentioned in the tapes before him. Jensen is trying to investigate the truth behind the audio

Dylan Minnette plays Clay Jensen and Katherine Langford plays Hannah Baker in Netflix's popular drama.

tapes and try to repair the reputation of his love Hannah Baker. Throughout the show it depicts the life of high school student Clay Jensen. The show also makes more room for adults by having the drama of Hannah Baker's parents filing a lawsuit on the school for bullying and not doing anything about it. Instead of Clay Jensen listening to all the tapes at once, he listens to them one by one and confronts each individual on the tape in order to find the truth behind why Hannah committed suicide. The only problem is that Clay Jensen confronts everyone one at a time without fully listening to all the tapes which impacts his ability to make judgement calls.

The show tackles the tough topics of rape, mental health, bullying and the inevitable teenage need for

social acceptance all which Hannah Baker is directly experiencing.

Certain scenes in the show are uncomfortable to watch, especially the suicide scene. But the show was designed that way. They are uncomfortable topics that should be uncomfortable for audiences to watch unfold, especially to a girl so young. Jensen is trying to investigate the truth behind the audio tapes and try to repair the reputation of his love Hannah Baker.

Produced by Selena Gomez, a celebrity who has struggled with self image, the show aims to display the power of the little things and how it is impossible to know what someone is going through, so even the smallest actions matter.

Did 13 Reasons Why live up to the hype?

"Yes, everyone was talking about Hannah Baker in the hallways."

"Yeah because it wasn't the same as the book and it was still really good."

"Yes, it created lots of buzz around the school and social media."

"No, because it was a really overrated show and it didn't deserve the hype."

VITALINA FUENTES

JASIEL ALDINO

YOUSSEF ELBOUKRI

TOMMY NGUYEN

sophomore

junior

senior

senior

ENTERTAINMENT 19

April 25, 2017

Theater's Cinderella wows audience

BY YABI BEREKET Stafff Writer Cinderella took to the stage in the Theater s adaption of the classic story.

Participants from all classes put their efforts together in order to create one of the school s best performances to date.

From the days starting up to the show, classes were given the opportunity to watch the preview to get a little glimpse of what was in store for them, and many were intrigued by what they got to see.

The production of the show could not have gone through without being under the direct supervision of co director Patrick Vaughn and the other co director Katherine Brunberg.

All the magic took place in the auditorium, and to make the show a more enjoyable performance, they had live music being played by our very own band and orchestra, who made the show an even more enjoyable experience.

Many people made their way into the auditorium, probably unaware of the amount of hardwork and great efforts that were put into making the show.

The two main characters of the play were Danyom Beyene who had the prestigious role of Prince Charming, and Savannah Gravitt who played Cinderella. This was not the traditional version of the beloved movie, for this one had more of a humorous ring to it; the audience shook the auditorium with laughter.

The show started with the fairy god mother on stage giving a quick synopsis of Cinderella and her life leading up to present day, and continued to open up with a quirky and fun musical number consisting of the whole ensemble and cast.

The stage was decorated with set pieces such as village shops for the village scenes, and a big and beautiful set piece that was supposed to resemble books stacked up side by side; each book was a famous disney movie, which I thought was creative.

The outfits too were well picked out, it made it seem as though the audience too was a part of the show.

One part which I think most people enjoyed was after intermission took place, the audience got to interact with the Prince and his royal Stewardess, by having them come off stage to try and see if the shoe would fit any of the audience members.

Although the show looked to have been a large success, many of the cast members shared their apprehensions before hand, worried about forgetting lines or dance moves for the show.

I did not stress out much, but on the opening night of the show, I last minute just blanked out when it came to the dance moves, said sophomore ensemble member Hemen Besufekad, But my friends helped me get out the last jitters, so it was good at the end .

The two main roles definitely amazed the crowd, and amazed me too.

There acting was well rehearsed, and not a single note off key from either of them or ensemble.

After the show ended, many people from the audience went up to the cast members to ask for an autograph from them, which only makes sense since their performance was well put together.

This is consistent with the theater company, as they show this trend of quality in all of their shows.

Perhaps it is the endless amount of talent found in this very school or the hard work that this cast put in. Regardless, that hard work is shown in every scene that they perform.

I highly recommend going to the next production put on by this great cast and crew, it was worth the time and was a fun experience overall.

Courtesy of Annandale Theatre Company

High school performance shows quality through consistence and retention of a timeless tale

Senior Danyom Beyene (Prince Charming) looks out to the crowd during a performance of Cinderella

Playboi Carti brings little variation to the table Rapper releases his first mixtape after years of anticipation

BY JULIUS MILLER

Courtesy of Oyster Magazine

Entertainment Editor

Playboi Carti has led a new generation of rappers in recent years.

Playboi Carti is an Atlanta-born rapper and rising fashion star. In the last few years, he has undeniably become one of the biggest names in the mumble rap trend. During recent times, he has found himself partnering with the likes of the Harlem based rap group A$AP Mob. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest contributions to his career. His collaboration with A$AP Rocky essentially helped his career to take off.

Surprisingly, it wasn t until recently that he dropped a real mixtape.

Prior to his self-titled tape, Carti released various singles that showed his talents. Among these are Lost, What, Heavy, YUNGXANHOE, and most notably, Broke Boi. All these tracks were characterized by airy, spacious beats with endless bars bragging about Carti s swag.

Carti s debut tape dropped on April 14, ironically the same day the seemingly lyrical genius Kendrick Lamar dropped his album. Carti s tape followed the same precedent as the prior released singles. Though on this tape, the production feels a bit more lazy as does the rapping. Somehow, the tape is saved by the fun vibe that radiates off of every track. Catchy lines and ad libs are what really make the tape great.

Although the tape falls short on tracks such as wokeuplikethis* and dothatshit!, those are honestly the only tracks that really bring the quality down. The problem with this tape is that Carti isn t bringing anything new to the table. As great and as fun as it is, you can t help but notice the style being almost a mirror of Lil Uzi Vert or other mumble rap artists.

For most, this is okay. It seems to be a trend in the mumble rap game to sound a lot like your peers. What makes it unacceptable for Carti is that the

singles he released in years before the tape were actually more lyrical and not so adlib-ridden. As a solo tape, the tape is a bit above average. It is nothing special, but listeners will still find themselves enjoying it. Comparatively speaking, it falls short of music released prior to the tape.

Stand out songs on the tape are Magnolia and New Choppa featuring the one and only A$AP Rocky. They feature the best production on the tape, as well as the best lyrics. On Magnolia, Carti fires off an extremely catchy line with In New York I milly rock, hide it in my sock. On New Choppa, Rocky fires off with his amazing lyricism and shows that he is still one of the best rappers in the game.

I loved New Choppa, senior Mikael Mechal said. Rocky really shows that he can spit.

Overall, the tape falls short on lyricism and production but makes up for it with catchiness and a fun vibe. It is an above average debut tape, but he will have to step it up next time.

Rating: 6.7/10 Scan the code below to listen to Playboi Carti s new, selftitled tape on Spotify

Rap feuds throughout time Drake vs.

Meek Mill Courtesy of XXL Magazine

In late 2015, Meek Mill released his third studio album, Dreams Worth More Than Money. This featured his hit song with Drake, R.I.C.O. After the albums release, trigger fingers turned to Twitter fingers as Meek took to social media to accuse Drake of having a ghost writer.

This ended in Drake s famous Back to Back diss track where he destroyed Meek.

Xxtentacion s Look At Me was found to sound almost exactly like Drake s KMT, fueling the beef

Beef from behind bars Drake is accused of stealing flow from rapper Xxtentacion

BY JULIUS MILLER Entertainment Editor In a time prior to the release of Drake s number one album, More Life, he previewed a very controversial song.

On Jan. 28, Drake premiered what would later be known as KMT, a track with a very similar flow to that of Florida rapper Xxxtentacion. X released a track by the name of Look At Me, which quickly rose from the underground world into the mainstream earlier in 2017.

While Drake premiered KMT, X was in jail for the battery/assault of a pregnant woman, but it didn t take very long for him to hear of the alleged bite on his flow. X took to Twitter and immediately verbally attacked Drake.

This was done by visitors tweeting out what X wanted them to from his account.

It s funny how the industry let this p*ssy n*gga sit at the top for so long. Xxxtentacion said.

During his time in jail, X repeatedly tweeted out various things about Drake. On top of this, he retweeted multiple articles addressing the beef with Drake. All this attention on the subject helped X rise to fame even more.

Once he was released from jail, things really started to

pick up.

One of the first things he did when he got out of jail was go into an interview with radio station 103.5 The BEAT. In this interview, he touched on the Drake flow bite, even calling him out for it.

You could put his verse on my beat and the cadence and tempo are the exact same, X said. It s not off beat at all.

Onwards from this, X stormed to Twitter and disrespected Drake by talking about his mother.

Drake mom kinda cute, X said. She could get it.

In light of all this, Drake finally spoke out in an interview with a British radio show.

I was looking in Instagram and saw comments and was like Yo what s happening to me right now? I went and looked for who they were talking about and found his song. Drake said. I looked at it and saw where people could draw the similarities."

Drake seemed to be in shock of the accusations. Keep in mind that about two years ago he was involved in a ghostwriting scandal involving Meek Mill and Quentin Miller.

It s crazy how after all I've been through they think that I m the type of person to go pre some song thats on Soundcloud, he said. "I'm not stupid I'm not like a sh*t person like that."

Both artists have taken some shots at each other, but X seems to be acting out a bit more. In the end, Drake is the bigger artist so he can brush it all off regardless of if he really did steal his flow.

Tupac vs.

Biggie From friendship to foes, Tupac and Biggie are two of the most prolific rappers in history.

Their beef started when Tupac was shot at his recording studio in New York. Pac suspected that Biggie had something to do with it and it took of from there.

While the two were feuding, Tupac saw success in his career as Biggie suffered losses.

This went on until Tupac s death in 1996.

Jay Z vs.

Nas For almost a decade, Jay Z and Nas had heavy beef between them.

After Nas didn t show up to record a verse for Jay, he simply sampled his songs on Reasonable Doubt.

When Nas released his second album, It Was Written, he took shots at Jay on the first track.

This began one of the biggiest beefs in history. Fortunately, this beef did not end in tragedy like Pac and Biggie s. The two actually paired up and released a song titled Success to settle the beef.

20 WEEKEND

April 25, 2017

Students plan Spring filled with music Nobody Safe Tour Starboy Tour Future will hit Jiffy Lube Live this May with Migos by his side. The concert is set for May 11, and originally had four performers.

It included Future, Migos, Tory Lanez and Kodak Black. The last two have recently gotten in trouble with criminal activity and will no longer be attending. This is good and bad, as the show loses performances but it also means Future and Migos will be on stage more. The prices vary, with lawn seats being around $60 and regular seats around $80.

The Weeknd hits the Verizon Center on May 18 for his Starboy Tour. This will be his third tour in his career, and since Starboy is doing extremely well, this tour is sure be a success. His American tour has unannounced "special guests", but his European tour includes Lil Uzi Vert and Bryson Tiller. He will most likely perform many of his old songs which became very popular, such as The Hills, and the show will be a hit. The farthest seats start at $70, and go up from there.

"I like The Weeknd because he sounds like a Michael Jackson wannabe and his music is chill."

"I want to go to the concert because it is my first rap concert and I want to cross it off my bucket list."

SYDNEY WUHRER

TEHYA MOSS

freshman

senior

Luke Bryan WMZQ Fest Luke Bryan arrives at Jiffy Lube Live on May 15 for his national tour. Luke Bryan has toured multiple times in his career, and all of them have been a hit at outdoor venues such as Jiffy Lube. He'll perform hit songs of his such as Kick the Dust up, Drink a Beer and Crash My Party. Alongside Luke will also be his special guest Brett Eldridge, another country perfomormer on the rise. He has gotten a lot of popularity lately, and the tour will only help. The two will be rocking hard, so make sure to go! Tickets for the lawn are $45, and seats are around $100.

This year WMZQ Fest is back at Jiffy Lube Live (Bristow, VA) with a new lineup of some of the best country artists in the country on June 24. Leading this pack of southern voiced heroes are Lady Antebellum, Kelsea Ballerini, and Brett Young. Like bigger music festivals like Coachella and Firefly, the main event stages will hold the bigger artists. Supporting these huge scenes will be a selection of newer or less known artists. WMZQ Fest will not only be a great way to see your favorite country artists but also to get hip to some of the fresh faces in the world of country. Ticket prices range from general admission at $33 to being in the $200 for the best seats.. VIP packages range from $125-$206.

"I'm really excited because this will be my first music festival and I just started getting into country music ."

Luke Bryan is my favorite country artist, and I really want to see him in concert."

TARA EL-ACHI senior

BRANDON LIEN senior

Weekend Editor This past weekend I took a trip to Cyclone Anaya's Mexican Kitchen at the Mosaic Center in Merrifield.

As a big fan of Tex Mex and fajitas, I have made it my goal to try all of the Tex Mex restaurants in our area.

Cyclone has by far been the best one yet. The location is perfect, as the Mosaic Center is close and easy to get to, and the atmosphere and community of the area is also very welcoming.

I went to Cyclone with my girlfriend as an anniversary date, and we ordered the chicken fajitas to share. The waiter let us know that one order of fajitas, which was $20, would be more than enough for the both of us. This was very beneficial as it saved us a lot of money and made me like Cyclone much more due to the fact that at other Tex Mex restaurants you need to each order your own fajitas, racking the price up very much.

The chips and salsa given as an appetizer were also delicious, preparing us for the even better meal we had ahead of us.

The chicken fajitas were amazing. They came with a ton of cheese on the side, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes, and more toppings to create your perfect meal. Three tortillas were given to each of us, which

Cyclone has a great location, right in the middle of the Mosaic Center, has a great outdoor seating area.

Rating: 9/10 Find Cyclone at Mosaic District, 2911 District Ave #170, Fairfax, VA 22031 Menu: www.cycloneanaya.com/menu

The exterior of Cyclone, located in the Mosaic Center.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONRAD SHARTEL

BY CONRAD SHARTEL

was the perfect amount, almost too much.

Once we finished the main course, we had trouble deciding what to do for dessert. We knew that the Mosaic Center had many options, such as Coldstone and Dolcezza, but we wanted to try something that cyclone had. Each dessert was about eight dollars, which wasn't too bad, but they had a special deal where if you bought three, it was only $14 total.

We took that deal and got a slice of cheesecake, a slice of chocolate mousse, and a slice of key lime pie. I had never been a fan of key lime pie until I tried theirs.

It was delicious, along with all of the slices. Staying at Cyclone for dessert was the right choice.

All in all, I was very happy with Cyclone. The service was really good, the waiter was extremely nice, and the food was phenomenal. It was even more fun to be done with our meal and get to walk around the shops that are in the Mosaic Center. Another huge plus for the dinner was that we sat outside on a beautiful night, so we got to look at the Mosaic Center and all the people there, enjoying ourselves very much. Cyclone is a must for anyone that loves Tex Mex and doesn't want to spend too much.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONRAD SHARTEL

The cheap yet tasty fajitas make this the place to go

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONRAD SHARTEL

Cyclone blows away all other Tex Mex restaurants

Left to right, the chocolate cake, cheesecake and key lime pie.

Class of 2017 Bulletin

51

Days until graduation

To-do list: April Edition Pay your senior dues!

Buy your prom tickets before May 4!

Study for the IB Exams!

Senior Jordan Adams practices his shot at soccer practice. This is his first year on the varsity soccer team, but he has risen to the starting lineup and captain.