Issue 10, Vol. 48

Zoom In page 3 Seniors discuss their college selections.

Entertainment pages 8-9 Students choose summer festivals to attend.

After Hours

Dance-a-thon raises cancer awareness Danielle Eriksson The first Huskie Dance-athon takes place tonight; the community is invited to come out and dance. Hosted by the poms team, the event goes from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Teams (composed of five participants) must dance for four and half hours straight and are permitted to take shifts dancing-as long as at least one team member is out on the dance floor at all times. People may also dance the full four and half hours on their own.

With the help of a DJ, pizza, and raffles, participants can enjoy the night while fundraising for cancer.

Donations for the American Cancer Society can be made anytime througout the night. “The best part about it is we can all make a difference and stand up together against cancer simply by having a fun night of dancing, food, and raffles,” senior Jen Wrzala said.

Wrazala initiated the fundraiser, along with the help of the poms squads. “I have lost many important people in my life due to this terrible disease, and when I found out someone’s mom on our team is fighting cancer currently, I just felt something needed to be done,” Wrzala said.

“To me, the dance-a-thon means so much. After my mom was diagnosed it made me look at the word ‘cancer’ a lot differently. Cancer is just a word until it affects yourself or a loved one,” junior Bevin Radecki said.

Students can register during their lunch period with a fee of $10 per person; family and friends may also register at the door. Those who cannot make it to the event can donate at lunch today or bring their donation to room 140.

the Correspondent • Volume 48 Issue 10 • May 20, 2016 •

• John Hersey High School •

• Twitter: @Hersey_corre • Snapchat: hersey_corre • • Instagram: @hersey_correspondent •

Gender identity back in spotlight Jamie Anderluh Kelly McCarthy

Transgender students at this school and others have sparked debate concerning gender identity.

Many students are reflecting upon the way gender is perceived in the school setting, particularly when it comes to transgender students’ places in locker rooms and restrooms.

“Transgender students should be able to change in whatever locker room they identify with,” sophomore Jimmy Rodriguez said.

Close to home, District 211 is facing legal resistance regarding its decision to allow a transgender stu• Sneh Pandya dent to use the locker and restrooms he choice of locker room usage by transgender of her choice. Earlier this year, this students has sparked debate across the country. student was told she would not be allowed to use the locker rooms and desires of other students. transgender students,” social work restrooms of her preference. AfThey fear that their children will intern Monica Dorgan said. ter she protested her lack of choice feel uncomfortable or even threatAs controversy heightens, many and the federal government threat- ened by the presence of a student students consider what gender ened to withhold federal funding, who, by definition of his or her bio- identity means to them. “Gender District 211 ruled that the student logical sex, doesn’t necessarily be- identity is different than biologiwould be able to use the facilities of long in those facilities. cal sex; it’s which gender a person her choice.

“I know even when I came out to feels more closely aligned with. It In other school districts, several my friends, [as a transgender] like can sometimes be an awkward topic claims regarding the rights of trans- even my closest friend, he couldn’t to talk about, but if we keep talking gender students have been made. really differentiate between sex and about it a little bit at a time, people Chicago Public Schools have de- gender... I told him gender and will become more comfortable with clared that students can now access sex were different,” senior Henry it,” junior Sophia Cacioppo said. bathrooms and locker rooms ac- Trettenbach said.

Though some believe that biocording to their ‘gender identity.’

Action regarding the wishes of logical sex should place students in This decision comes in concur- transgender students here is ap- a specific restroom, others believe rently as the opposition of the recent proached on a case-by-case basis. that these placements should be passage of a law in North Carolina “I have worked with our transgen- made by students’ gender identifiobligating transgender individu- der students here...We did an eight cation. als to use the public restrooms that week group [where] I got to know “People should be whatever genpertain to their biological sexes. a bunch of our der they are comfortable with. I When the United States Depardon’t understand why other people ment of Justice (DOJ) declared that care about what gender someone this law violates part of the Civil identifies as,” Rodriguez said.

Rights Act, North Carolina GovThis issue becomes evident in of students believe their ernor Pat McCrory filed a lawsuit the school environment with parents would be bothered against the DOJ, arguing that the implications of societal if transgender students this law is non-discriminatogender roles. Some insist were allowed to use ry. the facilities of their that females and males are choice.

Some families have opdetermined to act a certain posed this decision, arguing way, use a certain locker that such an arrangement room, or abide to certain disturbs the privacy rights of social norms; others beg other students. to disagree, suggesting that “I personally would not be bothgender is not biological. ered by [using the same facilities “Being transgender is not a as transgender students]. I believe repulsion to gender roles; it’s that girls would be more accepting also about identifying with than boys, but that’s just my idea,” whom you’re labeled as, junior Sophia Cacioppo said. [what] your sex is,” TrettenIn a school-wide Corresponbach said. The desire of sevdent survey, only 16 percent of feeral transgender students to males would definitely be bothered be able to use the facilities if they knew that transgender stucorresponding to their gendents were allowed in their locker der identity often leads to the 108 students polled rooms, compared to the 33 request to use the locker rooms percent of males who and rest rooms would definitely be of choice–this, as bothered by this. argued by many, Parents in 211 have of male students would of female students would would allow stuprotested the decibe uncomfortable if be uncomfortable if dents to feel more transgender students accepted. sion, arguing that ca- transgender students were allowed to use were allowed to use tering to the request • Joshua Irvine the same locker the same locker of the transgender contributed to rooms as they rooms as they student is comprothis story. use. use. mising the safety and

T

39%

47%

of students believe transgender students should be allowed to use the facilities of their choice.

33%

16%

2 the Correspondent

?

D d you KN W? London mayor criticizes Trump’s policies

London’s newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, has made criticisms regarding presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s comments regarding Muslim immigration and travel to America.

Khan is the first Muslim mayor of London.

Khan criticized the ban on all Muslim immigration and travel to the United States. When he learned that Khan was elected mayor, Trump issued a statement saying that, Khan would be exempt from this ban.

“Our relations with London will be negatively affected if Trump is elected. His actions against Muslims and other groups of people might change the way people think about Americans,” junior Anthony Anton said.

After calling Trump’s attitudes towards Muslims ignorant and uncalled for, Khan cited that this ban isn’t just about his not being granted entry into the United States; it’s about all the Muslims around the world who are being discriminated against on the basis of religion.

•Kelly McCarthy

Robot surgeons are now a reality In recent breakthroughs in robotics, researchers have developed an autonomous (unmonitored) robot capable of performing surgical operations.

The “Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot” or STAR, has carried out surgical operations on soft tissue and on living pigs. Not only is STAR the first robot to be able to perform such delicate operations, but its results have surpassed the caliber of human surgeons who have performed similar procedures.

“It’s amazing that science has progressed this much. I do think it’s a bit disturbing that the robot can perform surgeries on its own, but it will definitely be saving more lives,” sophomore Almin Masinovic said.

Despite this machine’s capabilities, it still requires some human supervision to ensure the safety of the patient and the efficiency of the operation.

According to researchers, the robot required assistance for 40 percent of its trials, but was able to complete the procedure alone for 60 percent of the trials.

Although it is unlikely robots will be replacing surgeons in the operating room, this breakthrough certainly shows how far medical science has come.

•Nathan Kim

News

May 20, 2016

Calendar proposal causes discussion Kelly McCarthy

Marlena Kot said.

However many students feel the later start times The district emailed out a proposed calendar last would be beneficial. “On an average night, most kids Monday and daily schedule for the 2017-2018 and go to bed around 11:30 or 12:00 and have to be up 2018-2019 school years. The new changes include a 50 in the morning at 6:00. that just isn’t enough sleep minute later start to the school day, shortened periods, for kids to be able to focus on what they’re learning,” sophomore Mara Slosar said. and no Thursday late starts.

Along with making each student’s lunch period Earlier in the fall, students, faculty, and teachers were emailed a survey that asked what they would only 35 minutes comes the challenge of bells ringing all throughout periods 4,5, and like to see change and 6 to signal the beginnings and what they would want endings of lunch periods, and to stay the same. the different classes that are all After the more than on slightly different schedules for 6,500 responses were those three periods. evaluated by a district“I think it is a little frustrating appointed calendar that the lunch periods would be committee, sample so much shorter, especially for schedules for the the people who want to go out or 2017-2018 and 2018take a test. It would be challeng2019 school years were ing for them to do it all in one created and then reperiod,” Slosar said. leased to the public.

Not only would this be slightly These changes, and 6th Period Lunch 4th Period Lunch 5th Period Lunch disruptive in the classroom, but more, were presented 1 8:20-9:08 1 8:20-9:08 1 8:20-9:08 it would also make scheduling to the Board of Educa2 9:13-10:01 2 9:13-10:01 2 9:13-10:01 classes much more difficult. It 10:06-10:58 tion by superintendent 3 10:06-10:58 3 10:06-10:58 3 11:03-11:51 4 11:03-11:38 4 11:03-11:51 4 would mean that everyone in Dr. David R Schuler 11:56-12:44 5 11:43-12:31 5 11:56-12:31 5 fourth period lunch would have on the evening of 6 12:49-1:24 6 12:36-1:24 6 12:36-1:24 the same bell schedule for periMay 12. However, the 7 1:29-2:17 7 1:29-2:17 7 1:29-2:17 ods 4-6, everyone in fifth period Board will not vote on 8 2:22-3:10 8 2:22-3:10 8 2:22-3:10 lunch would have the same bell the proposed calenschedule for periods 4-6, and the dars until May 26. same would go for those in sixth For Schuler and the district’s calendar • Lauren Theisen period lunch.

The shorter lunch periods are committee, the main also in place to appease some reason behind these changes lies in the best interest of students. “We really complaints of parents that were filed under the survey want to view this work through the lens of the health this fall. “We think that [the shortening of lunch peand wellness of our students and our adults. When you riods] addresses a number of concerns that we heard, really think about health and wellness in children and and that is some parents not wanting their kids to be adults, it really transcends that conversation [about out [of the building] for 50 minutes,” Schuler said.

Another aspect to the proposed schedules that start times and end times] to a whole other level,” some overlooked when quickly browsing through the Schuler said.

According to the proposed schedules, late-start changes was that a cap would be placed on the amount Thursdays would be completely eliminated, but the of time students could spend at an co-curricular activschool day would begin and 8:20 and end at 3:10. ity, including athletic practices, each day.

As the new schedule is being considered and waitClasses would have to be shortened to 48 minutes ing for approval, many different considerations will each, and lunch periods would be made 35 minutes.

“I actually don’t like the change in start times. I’ve have to be made.

Over the next school year, the administration will made a habit of waking up at the same time [everyday] and leaving at the same time, and I feel like the new have to deal with transportation options and therefore time is going to throw off my whole day,” freshman start times may vary slightly.

August 2017

Journalism team takes on IHSA meet Jennifer Lechowski Senior Paige Pannozzo finished first overall at the state journalism meet in yearbook caption writing.

She and three other journalism students qualified for the IHSA state meet which took place on April 29 at Eastern Illinois University.

“I had no idea what to expect.

It was so fun. I could not believe I won state. Knowing that my hard work paid off made me really proud of myself,” Pannozzo said.

These students earned their spots by placing in the top three at the sectional meet on April 22: senior Colette Tangney (first overall in feature writing), junior Sneh Pandya (first overall in photo story telling), sophomore Jennifer Lechowski (second in broadcast news), and Pannozzo (second in yearbook caption writing).

The journalism students competed at Roosevelt University for the journalism sectionals.

At sectionals, the journalists competed in various competitions such as headline writing, editorial cartooning, news writing and more.

They each got a medal with their place and category engraved, as well as their picture taken.

“Going to state was a great experience because I got to meet journalism students from all over the state and learn how to better my writing,” Tangney said.

Journalists from all over the state came to Eastern Illinois for the chance to place in the top six in 17 different categories.

“Going to state taught me that there’s always going to be be a competitive playing field, and if you practice hard then you can make it,” Tangney said.

Pannozzo is the fifth Hersey student to earn a state championship at the IHSA journalism meet in its 11 year history.

S

•Correspondent file photo

tate journalism competitors: Sneh Pandya, Colette Tangney, Jennifer Lechowski, and Paige Pannozzo stop for a photo before heading to Eastern Illinois University for state IHSA competition where senior Page Pannozzo took the state title in yearbook caption writing.

May 20, 2016

•From left to right: photos courtesy of seniors Jake Caputo(University of Arizona), Carley Kruchten (University of Alabama), and Olivia Bordenet (University of Illinois).

Zoom In

the

Correspondent

3

any seniors have made M their final decisions on where they will be at-

tending college next year and post pictures on social media to announce these decisions. For some, the decision relied on many different factors.

Students reflect on college choices Andrea Cannon In light of the passing of National Decision Day on May 1, most seniors are now decided on which colleges they will be attending next year.

After a stressful year of filling out applications, waiting to hear back from colleges, and applying for financial aid, they have settled on their final decisions.

In this Q&A, we explore the factors that influenced the college decisions of seniors Nathan Lebherz,

Jake Caputo, Katherine Jaffe, Maribeth Broms, Caleigh O’Neil, Claire Niemcyzk, and Katie Kalble.

Q: What college will you be attending next year?

Lebherz: University of california-berkley Caputo: University of Arizona in Tucson Jaffe: Northeastern University Broms: Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale O’Neil: University of Illinois NiemczyK: Indiana

university Kalble: Ohio State University Q: What was the factor that influenced your college choice the most?

Lebherz: How well they ranked compared to other schools.

Caputo: Weather.

Jaffe: Location because I wanted to be in Boston because I have family there and they have a good business program.

Broms: I wanted a school that had a good marine biology program.

O’Neil: Distance and money because I got a lot of scholarships.

Niemczyk: Size because I wanted a bigger school, and they have a good business school that I applied to.

Kalble: When first looking at schools, I was trying to find a football school in a city so there would always be something to do, but my final decision came down to scholarship money.

Q: How much influence did your parents have on your decision?

Lebherz: A big influence because California is so far away, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.

Caputo: Very little; I ultimately chose where I want to go.

Jaffe: Very little; my sister does go there, and we are close, but that was not a deciding factor for me.

Broms: They let me decide for the most part.

They just told me to consider the scholarships I received from each school.

O’Neil: They told me I could go wherever I felt happiest, but they did help me figure out what school would be good for my major.

Niemczyk: A lot; they said they would support me no matter what.

Kalble: My mom helped me get started on the college search process but to make the ultimate decision she left it completely up to me.

Q:What will you miss most about Hersey?

Lebherz: All the people I met through the four years at Hersey Caputo: Everyone being in one place and seeing all my friends Jaffe: The teachers.

Broms: Knowing everybody because I will know no one at my college.

O’Neil: I’ll miss the CLS program and the kids I’ve met within my four years at Hersey. They’ve taught me so much and I honestly don’t know what I’ll do when I don’t see their smiling faces everyday.

Niemczyk: Seeing all of my friends and the teachers.

Kalble: I will miss the feeling of Hersey being like a family. Because Ohio State is so big, I won’t be able to get to know a majority of the school like I did at Hersey.

Q: What are you most excited to take on during college?

Lebherz: It’s a whole newfound freedom and I’m excited to start something new.

Caputo: Learning about my future career.

Jaffe: Being on my own.

Broms: That I can actually study something I am interested in rather than subjects that do not help my major.

O’Neil: I’m excited to take on a whole new level of responsibility. I’ll be living on my own and making my own choices.

I’m just excited overall to take on this whole new experience.

Niemczyk: Starting a new chapter in life and meeting new people; I’m excited to start over and start a new chapter in my life totally new experience.

Kalble: I am very excited for all the sporting events at Ohio State.

4 Correspondent

Opinions

May 20, 2016

Abstinence presentation detracts from sex ed Joshua Irvine

To point out that sexual education is c ont rove rs i a l is redundant; the mere mention of the term in the title of this publication will likely merit no less than four angry emails.

Jokes aside, there is a significant issue in the sexual education unit of the school’s health class, that being the presentation by the Abstinence and Marriage Education Partnership.

It should be clarified beforehand that I recognize the benefits of abstinence; I am fully aware of the variety of the risks involved with sexual intercourse, and I agree with more than a few of the program’s talking points. Why? Because I have had this information presented to me in a classroom setting by a qualified teacher. To have to spend two days on an additional presentation that provides

absolutely no new information is some sort of taboo practice. redundant at best (Note: this artiThe solution, the presentation cle does not intend to criticize the claims? Marriage. Besides the obviuse of such a program as a parent- ous fact that this still does not guarrequested alternative to the typical antee safe sex, it makes a number of sexual education unit). facetious arguments to support an But it’s worse than a waste of already questionable claim.

Consider the following: the time. This presentation presents program premarital notes the sex as a metincrease aphorical ro a d b l o c k . in rates It warns of of birth the supposa m o n g edly inevitaunmarble physical, ried wome m ot i on a l , en from mental and 1940 to social issues 2010, prepremarital senting sexual activ•Sneh Pandya the arguophomores in health classes were given ment that ity is bound a presentation last week on the benefits more and to incur. Beof an abstinent lifestyle. more chilsides the obdren are vious fallacy of implying that these consequenc- being born in single parent housees are unavoidable, the program holds (a bad thing, apparently). Besuggests that premarital sex will ir- sides the fact that the evidence the revocably affect one’s life plan and presentation cites doesn’t support goals. Premarital sex is presented as the single parent claim (consider

S

unmarried couples), it makes the further argument that unmarried parent(s) will experience greater challenges than married ones. Marriage isn’t inherent to the parenting process; it’s a legal contract.

Furthermore, the presentation claims that marital status is also tied to wealth; it argues (in its most obtuse statement) that waiting until marriage for children will reduce the likelihood of childhood poverty. Marriage does have some benefits, yes, but to make such grandiose claims about its value discredits it more than anything.

The same can be said of the rest of the presentation; yes, some of what it says bears some legitimacy, but it contributes no new information and clouds what good advice it does give through exaggerated and divisive statements.

The school already provides adequate support of abstinence; this presentation does at best nothing and at worst discredits the greater sexual health program.

Procrastination proves to be ultimate struggle

Sports unjustly dominate identity

A week or so before deadline, a heap of stories sit on my computer waiting to be finished. I’ve touched on all of them, accept for this one; aptly named “Procrastination”. As students, we procrastinate on everything from the physics homework, to returning that library book in the bottom of our backpack, to asking people to prom. As a society, we’ve made a joke out of procrastination, and it’s coming back to bite us.

There have been jokes floating around about being too lazy to do the homework, even with the answers right in front of us.

Snapchat stories are littered with times drifting into the early hours of the morning when an essay is due the next day. My classmates have laughed countless times about not starting a project until the night before, only to complain the next morning when they can barely keep their eyes open. If we, as students, continue to procrastinate, we have to suffer the consequences.

I, myself, procrastinate on assignments too. I’ve been in the same boat, frantically texting my friends for help and complaining about a teacher’s copious amount of assigned homework, instead of criticizing

Here is a delayed and semi-relevant flashback to February: the critically acclaimed and life-consuming Super Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching. As I can recall, the homework load was strikingly low.

Flash forward to President’s Day, a holiday that is often rarely discussed or celebrated, and things, including homework levels, have reverted to normal.

And as other holidays have come and gone, it seems we rarely recognize any event more so than those of the consumerist sports-stuffed world.

The idea that we often hold sporting events on a pedestal seems to be a bit questionable to me. This is not to say that a love and support of sports is at all a bad thing. It can bring people together; it can create friendships and healthy competitions; it can be a dependable source of entertainment for years to come.

But when, in extreme occasions, a sporting event becomes the sole director of life, things begin to go downhill. A person will hate another person because he is a rival fan; if a team loses, it can make a fine day a disaster; it can leave a person with nothing more to think of than a sport he cannot control.

Again, it is only in extreme cases when this becomes a reality, and I must make that clear. But there is something to be said for all things in moderation.

Just as the world of school should not entirely consume our identity and just as a passion for athletics offers an abundance of benefits, we should not allow sports to dictate all parts of our lives, opinions, and characters, as often these events are far from the reaches of our control.

Lexi Wachal

“What do you think

about the proposed 2017-2018 schedule change?”

my own awful work habits. The problem with this outlook is that it not only reflects the student’s own poor work ethic, but also shows a lack of respect towards teachers.

Students have to understand the problems with procrastination. When homework is placed at the bottom of a student’s priorities, the message sent to the teacher is that the student simply does not care.

The student appears spiritless, and therefore the teacher is less inclined to offer an extension or round up at the end of the semester, or will simply take more points off.

In order to fix this, students need to realize that they are responsible for their work. Part of being in school is to learn, and in order to learn, work is required.

A small change like starting homework right when a student has arrived home, instead of that night, is something small that can change work ethic incredibly, and over all just take away from that last minute, stressed feeling.

Overall, when a better work ethic is established, both students’ and teachers’ stress levels will improve. Gone will be the feelings of panic and lack of preparation, along with the even more hours grading late work that could’ve been avoided.

Fighting procrastination is the simplest way to earn a teacher’s respect.

Jamie Anderluh

hersey sPeaks “I think it’s unfair that they’ll change the starting time in the morning after my class graduates.”

-Junior Jennifer Lutz

“I think it’ll be good; we’ll get more time to sleep and get to do more homework in the morning.”

-Sophomore Michael Manniello

“I think that restricting the practice times for sports is ridiculous and when we go to compete against [Township High School District 211 schools, we will do poorly.”

-Junior Melissa Pollina

“It’s awful. Sports are going to be delayed, and that’s really bad.”

-Freshman Daniel Manosalvas

(( ( (

The Correspondent

Staff Speaks

Opinions

Proposed schedule will fail students, staff

App arent ly we as a student body are experiencing some sort of mass crisis of stress, if the Board of District 214 is to be believed. 214’s Board is planning to vote on a proposal to revise school schedules for the 2017-18 school year, with proponents claiming the change will reduce the immense stress students allegedly encounter under our current system.

Other than the late start times, most of the proposed changes will backfire, and the ways through which people will get around these rules will end up causing students more stress.

Firstly, the board intends to shorten lunch periods when compared to other academic periods.

Besides surface problems of an even shorter period to eat, students now will have to contend with a staggered schedule that effectively divides the student populace into thirds; fourth hour lunch periods will have schedule that will not match that of fifth and sixth hour.

Beyond the annoyance of having a bell go off every couple of minutes, such a staggered system will severely complicate matters for students who wish to take any sort of elective or specialized class (this includes Honors and Advanced Placement courses).

Furthermore, the board intends to place limits on the amount of time cocurricular students can spend practicing; this will render all teams within the district incapable of competing effec-

tively outside 214. Students are already leaving groups because of similar shortcomings; this proposal may very well trigger an exodus of the district’s few elite competitors.

A facet of the proposal seems to cater to students’ claims that the proposal will reduce homework loads on weekends and holidays. Teachers won’t reduce their work loads (just ask any of them), but rather concentrate the work within the school week, at best doing nothing to alleviate stress students encounter and at worse intensifying it.

F i n a l l y, limiting the access to school facilities past 7:30 (with certain ex•Joshua Irvine c e p t i o n s ) will compromise a number of activities.

Either the proposal will severely inconvenience student activities or the administration will be swamped with requests to extend this exception every day of the week, or both.

The question remains of who will police every single classroom, sports practice, and extracurricular activity to make sure these policies are enforced.

This is the reality of the proposal that the Board will vote on next Thursday; it intends to replace a poor schedule with a broken one, under the good intention that this will alleviate students from excessive academic stress.

If the calendar committee really wants to help its students, it should focus on removing district-mandated requirements from the already-full schedules of students on high level academic tracks.

Past preference limits current connections Nate Horne I’ve always been the kind of kid who listens to his dad’s music; I was raised on rock ’n’ roll, and now it’s the genre I identify with.

My preferred music varies across five decades, so there’s an insane amount of music for me to choose from when attempting to expand my musical palette. But rather than investigating new bands or searching for something different, I’ll merely listen to a “Greatest Hits” album- an album compiled of only the best songs by a specific artist.

And that’s when I begin to feel lazy; because my favorite music is from the past, I hardly enjoy the experience that modern music offers. I sit back, listen to the oldies, and let the test of time choose the good songs from the bad. However, I’m sick of that, as any student who admires the arts should be.

There’s something special that stems from finding the perfect piece of art- a song, band, photograph, etc.- at just the right time. And although being able to enjoy and relate to a piece of historic art creates a sense of interconnectivity amongst generations, it doesn’t compare to the pride that is sparked when finding a relatable icon in modern culture.

When finding such a thing, the feeling of isolation and loneliness is eliminated because it becomes clear that there are other people living similar experiences. I’m missing out on the hunt; I’m losing the potential to connect with something at an even greater level.

The hunt is rewarding. Scavenging through YouTube, for example, searching for a band or song with just the right sound and lyrics that delve into an emotional side untouched before is unlike anything else on the planet. It delivers a memory, a new chapter of life categorized by this art or artist. So when I put on a “Greatest Hits” album and it’s all right there for me, I don’t have to work to try to find the best music, and I lose the ability to connect to the music through this “hunt.”

Even though I was privileged with the luxury of being handed a plethora of inspiring and impactful music from the past, it doesn’t mean I’m musically indulged. And this goes for more than just music: art, literature, relationships can also apply. Don’t just sit back, but go hunt for the indulgence of life, and happiness and satisfaction will come along with the search that concludes with a stronger connection to life itself.

Go find something to connect to, or better yet, become a person that others can look at and feel connected to. Whatever it may be, find it, and connect to it, and never just sit back and wait for “it,” because “it” may never come.

the

Correspondent

Speak UP

5

((((

May 20, 2016

Arbor Day promotes environmental change Jamie Anderluh

The concept of Arbor Day (sister holiday of Earth Day) gives me great happiness to celebrate. It is a beneficial idea–that of taking time to respect the environment and taking time to consider our influence on the natural world.

But the reality of this is that making strides for the environment is an everyday task.

Thinking about sustainability and encouraging a respect for nature should not be practiced sparsely or only when prompted.

If we are to work to make a difference, we should not expect rapid and monumental change. Bettering the planet comes from small actions, those that can be practiced habitually and persistently, those that should not simply fall under the accepted activities of a holiday.

In other words, let every day be Earth Day, and don’t be afraid to hug trees constantly.

AP courses substantiate priority Caroline Stiefbold The time leading up to AP tests is always stressful. Studying for the final exams that come before the AP test, and writing countless practice AP essays can be difficult, without mentioning having to balance this with other classes.

Teachers of other classes need to understand that during this time, AP classes take priority. The night before an AP test, students should be reviewing, not doing homework for other classes.

It is even more frustrating when the day after an AP test, teachers expect the work for their class to be done. Students should not be punished for taking AP classes by being overloaded with work in other classes when they are absent because of AP tests.

In the weeks of the AP tests, students should be prioritizing AP tests over other classes and teachers need to be understanding of this.

The Correspondent

is published 10 times a year by the journalism students of John Hersey High School, 1900 East Thomas Street, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. Call for advertising rates. Phone (847) 718-4945.

The Correspondent welcomes a free exchange of ideas. Letters to the editor may be sent to correspondent@d214.org. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of The Correspondent is determined by, and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

The Correspondent will not publish any material determined by student editors or the student editorial board to be unprotected, that is, material that is libelous, obscene, materially disruptive to the educational process, and unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright or a promotion of products or services unlawful (illegal) as to minors as defined by state or federal law.

All unsigned editorial area the opinion of The Correspondent staff. Materials in this newspaper are the property of The Correspondent 2015-2016. The Correspondent is a member of numerous press associations. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

One thousand eight hundred copies are made each issue to be distributed to students during their second hour classes.

Editors-in-Chief Entertainment Kelly McCarthy News Editors Editors Danielle Eriksson

Executive Board Jamie Anderluh Lexi Wachal

Managing Editors

Joshua Irvine

Lauren Theisen

Jennifer Lechowski

Gracie Scannell

Zoom In Editor

Features Editor

Opinions Editor

Sports Editors

Andrea Cannon

Jordan Slonke

Indepth Editors

Editorial Board

Heidi Freitag

Ellen Bakal

Wiemold

Nate Horne

Zoe Strozewski

Caroline Stiefbold Kayleigh Padar

Claire Durand

Nathan Kim

Katherine

Kristina Tajiri

Katie Lindgren

Tommy Lumsden

Photographer Sneh Pandya

Adviser

Janet Barker Levin MJE

6 the Correspondent

Indepth

May 20, 2016

Expecting the

Students compare high s

Stereotypes targeting mental health more harm than help

Katherine Wiemold

Mental health is a subject stereotyped daily, whether students realize it or not.

Through Hollywood TV shows and movies, the internet, and books, stereotypes are formed on the appearance and actions of mentally ill people.

Pop culture may give the impression that those with mental issues are completely incapable of taking care of themselves and have little help of recovering; however, the truth is nothing of the such.‍ A study conducted by the ‍

National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions concluded 97 percent of people with mental illness aren’t violent. Most people diagnosed with mental disorders improve and are very able to take care of themselves; the real problem comes when people

are left undiagnosed.

Learning to avoid stereotypes may benefit people suffering from illness, and help to to stop prejudice of others. “Someone who has a mental illness shouldn’t be looked upon as different, they’re still a person,” sophomore Gavin Cylderman said, “The only thing is, you want to be careful of what you say to

someone so you don’t trigger anything.”

Stereotypes on mental ill‍ nesses may emerge due to a lack of education on what mental illnesses consist of. ‍“Chronic depression, lack of sleep, an inability to focus, and abnormal day to day function are symptoms of many mental illnesses,” sophomore Joe Nudo said.

“Their mood may be up and down or nothing may seem wrong at all,” sophomore Lilly Durec said.

People with mental illness‍ es can get away with masking their symptoms from day to day.‍ ‍ If it’s known that a certain ‍‍ person has medical issues, the best thing to do is treat them normally but be considerate

while interacting with them.‍ “I would be very careful about how I word my sentences, so they wouldn’t be offended about something I say,” Nudo said.

“When I know someone’s going through something like that I try not to bring up anything that maybe triggering to them but for the most part I try not to treat them any differently,” Durec said.‍ Avoiding stereotypes of ‍ mental illness helps to dismantle the stigma that surrounds diseases like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. It can also help stop discrimination towards individuals who have to live daily with these illnesses.‍

Students react to high school stereotypes Claire Duramd

though these things might have been exaggerated.

“Teachers in middle school definitely stressed Today’s generation of students is busy with homework and studying for tests and quizzes. that there would be a much heavier workload The present and the future are all that matters. than what it actually is,” freshman Kate KalaHowever, taking a look into the past may pro- fatis said, “My dad told me stories of when he vide interest when comparing how students ex- was in high school that upperclassmen would pected high school to be versus how it really is. pour hair remover on students from the roof as Students come here from many different mid- they walked out the door. I don’t think I expectdle schools and backgrounds. “Coming from a ed things to be that bad, but I wasn’t expecting to be friends with small school, I anyone older expected there than me.” There’s to be a ton of a common belief people I didn’t that upperclassknow,” sophomen mistreat the more Kathryn underclassmen in Gerardi said. high school.

Students’ gen“My brother eral expectations talked about how for high school upp e rcl a ss me n are similar in would throw penthat they thought nies at students they were enterall the time,” Kaing a much larger lafatis said. realm and adaptOver time, ing to it would students have retake time as well alized that their as consequences. eighth grade ex“Going into pectations didn’t high school, I truly explain how thought it wasn’t high school realgoing to be fun at ly is. “Hersey has all, and I kind of •Katherine Wiemold been so much dreaded going. eniors Matt Tortarello and Kelli Konsewicz hold their better than I exI felt like it was babies from the “Baby Think About It” project. pected. I’ve met going to be very so many people hard, and for some reason, I felt like I was going to lose my through everything I’ve done in my two years connections with all of my friends,” sophomore so far. Everyone I’ve met has been so friendly,” Gerardi said.

Xiao Hua Hoffman said.

“Everyone was really nice when I got to high In middle school teachers and even parents warned students of things in high school, school, and all of the teachers were really understanding,” junior Sarah Nalepa said.

S

S

opho their

Although the social aspect of high school was mostly misinterpreted, the workload and pressure of high school remains the same in expectation and reality.

“I think that maybe if I had been exposed to the amount of homework that we would have to do in high school after my first year in middle school, then it would have seemed like a big difference. Instead I feel like homework was gradually added on each year throughout middle school, so the amount of homework in high school isn’t as overwhelming-not that I want any more homework,” Kalafatis said, “ I thought I would be staying up way past midnight in a rush to get all my homework completed like my brother did.”

Students weren’t the only ones with high school expectations. The school has expected students to be able to get between eight and nine hours of sleep per night.

“I think that the expectation of eight to nine hours of sleep is not very realistic. It’s really impossible. If you are involved in something after school, (like Hersey encourages students to be) school nights can get pretty long. However, I get good grades. I guess that’s the trade off: good grades or sleep,” Gerardi said.

“I feel like teachers don’t understand that we have to balance every activity we do and then get homework done, too. Sports, work, and family responsibilities don’t go away even if you have four hours worth of homework,” Nalepa said.

Without the issue of little sleep and teachers expecting students to reach such amount, high school turns out to be much of a more social and open atmosphere for students than expected, with little fear of flying pennies in the halls.

“High school is a lot more stressful than middle school, but it’s definitely manageable,” Hoffman said.

May 20, 2016

Indepth

the

Correspondent

7

e unexpected

school to the stereotypes

•Katherine Wiemold omores Olivia Kusio and Sam Alonzo do push ups during gym class. Some people say that girls can’t do push ups.

Athletes summarize club and school sports expectations

Heidi Freitag When it comes to the overall expectations of playing a high school sport, students can have certain thoughts about how their high school sport will compare to their club sport.

Moreover, students may be indifferent when comparing the overall atmosphere between their club and high school sport.

“I think that high school and club soccer are equally as intense,” freshman Emily Song said.

Some students may say the opposite. “High school sports are very different from club sports.

High school sports are less intense,” sophomore Jaden Park said.

For some students it’s their first year actually pursuing a high school sport. “Before coming to play a high school sport, I was a little nervous to be playing on a totally different team. At the same time, though, I was excited for the season and to be able to play with some of my school friends,” Song said.

Coming into all the fuss and bus of high school sports can be intimidating for some students. “Going in to play high school soccer, I thought it would be more serious than it actually turned out to be. It’s still serious and disciplined but a little more relaxed than I expected,” Song said.

Students who have joined a high school sport and still continue to play club during the off season have seen a distinctive difference between the two; they continue to panel out their expectations for the season.

When it comes to the coaching staff, on the other hand, students begin to have stereotypical thoughts about what their coaches will be like personality-wise.

Students either believe that their high school coaches will be very relaxed or very stern. Some

students are even frightened when the word “coach” comes to mind. “When I went into playing high school volleyball, I thought that the coaches would be very mean and that it would be a very frightening experience. I thought the coaches would be like those scary gym teachers in the movies,” Park said.

Going to play with a different coach may be an uncomfortable feeling at first, but many students have developed strong relationships with their high school coaches.

“During the volleyball season, the coaches were very understanding and had a very good amount of knowledge about the sport. It was totally different than what I thought they would be like,” Park said.

The stereotypical high school atmosphere in general can be intimidating, especially when it comes to leaving a club sport for a season to come play with new people.

However, many students have been benefited by doing so. “I have met some of my closest friends on my high school team. All the girls are so nice and it’s not scary at all. I didn’t expect them to be as kind as they were,” Song said.

Usually, expectations regarding high school activities are completely different from reality.

Furthermore, students tend to think of the worst outcome before they even start to play with a high school team. This may be because they don’t want to get their hopes up. “When I was a freshman I was so nervous to play a sport at Hersey, and I thought that everyone was going to be mean, but it ended up to be the total opposite,” Park said.

While students continue to predict what’s going to occur in their future, they can never be quite sure- reality may be shocking. Whether it’s a sports team or a job interview, students must expect the unexpected.

Did you think that high school was going to be like the movies?

Yes: 48% No: 52%

Has high school been different than what you expected?

Yes: 74% No: 26% •out of 90 Twitter responses

8 the Correspondent

Entertainment

May 20, 2016

Summer music festivals attract students Gracie Scannell

Summer is a time for fun, freedom, and in Chicago, concerts. The topic of concerts is a buzz in the hallways when the extended break comes closer. Furthermore, the frequent question arises, what cool festivals are there to go to?

The first and most popular festival is Lollapalooza. “I’m going to go to Lolla because I love a lot of the acts that will be playing,” senior Christian Majio said.

The Lollapalooza lineup this year consists of popular artists such as J. Cole, Lana Del Ray, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The event takes place in Grant Park on July 28 through July 31, and attracts not only teens and students, but also loads of celebrities, such as One Direction.

Another known festival:Warped Tour has music more on the alternative side. In the past, it has featured bands like All Time Low and Blink 182.

“I’m going to Warped this year, and I’m super excited. I was drawn to it because even if you’re not real-

ly into the music, there’s still loads of stuff you can do,” sophomore Jodie Hermann said.

Warped Tour, along with a loaded lineup, has plenty of things to do such as a slip and slide and slam poets. The festival takes place on July 23 in Tinley park.

A lt hou g h this next festival d o e s n’ t t a k e p l a c e in Chicago, it’s a common one for people of the Chicago area to attend.

Country Thunder. I go all weekend with my friends, and it’s just a really good time,” sophomore Stefanie Pawlis said.

This experience differs from festivals that take place near the Chicago land area; It takes place in a corn field and attracts thousands of country music lovers.

W i t h the most famous country music artists in their l i n e u p, the festival draws lots of country music fans.

The general admis•Colette Tagney sion is $160 eniors Paige Pawlis and Delaney Parker enjoy the outdoors at music for a four festival Country Thunder. day ticket.

A cheaper festival, Country Thunder takes place in Summerfest, takes place in MilTwin Lakes, Wisconsin during the waukee. This year it will feature weekend of July 21-24. varying artists such as Weezer, Elle “I’m super excited for King, and Selena Gomez.

S

Tickets start at $20 for Summerfest. “I go to Summerfest because it’s cool to see all of the different music tastes coming together in one big festival,” sophomore Zak Karman said.

The festival lasts about two weeks. In that time there’s a rotation of over twenty artists.

One more festival that comes to Chicago is the popular EDM festival, North Coast music festival.

This gathering attracts a different type of crowd- mostly young people who are around the college age who are looking for new music with a good beat.

Those who attend the North Coast music festival are known to play up their outfits and also frequently accessorize with glitter. It’s led by DJs and new up-and-coming rappers.

People from all over come to experience the endless amount of summer festivals in the Chicagoland area. Even those not very into music can have a good time with the communities of these events.

BBQ invades social media Zoe Strozewski

Daniel Caporusso

What are you planning on doing with all of your free time?

I feel fortunate to be able to continue coaching boys golf at Hersey and I will also be working at Old Orchard CC as a golf instructor for junior camps and special needs students.

What are you going to miss most about teaching?

I went into the field of education because of a love for history, but it was the friendships with Hersey students and working with Mr. Borghoff that truly sustained me. I will miss all my CHOPS. What went into your decision to retire?

I fullfilled all the pension requirements regarding years of service.

ward sophomore Asia Solomianko, who created and runs it.

“One day during class, Mr. Marquette menTwitter is a versatile kind of social media. It can be used to connect with friends, stay updat- tioned that he barbecued and was even a judge ed on trends and news, and, lately, barbecuing for some competitions. Then someone said that someone should make a Twitter account, so I tips.

This is made possible by English teacher Kyle did,” Solomianko said.

Despite the account’s uncommon subject, Marquette’s fifth period World Literature and Composition class; the students created a Twit- many students have found the account to be fun ter account dedicated solely to posting daily and entertaining.

“Some people come up to me, ask me if I run barbecuing tips that are provided by Marquette the account, and tell me how funny they think it himself. is,” Solomianko said.

The inspiration While the account itself is for the account an enjoyable and humorous comes from Marundertaking, it proves that quette’s passion for even though social media barbecuing. doesn’t always benefit soci“What’s interestety, it has the ability to make ing about barbecusomething like school a liting is how different tle more enjoyable and imit can be on any givprove relationships between en day depending on students and teachers in a weather conditions, non-acedemic manner. the meat, the rubs, “Obviously, the Twitter etc. It allows me account hasn’t been used to to be creative with assist academics; however, it the combination of has made the environment flavors that can be of our class more conversacreated depending tional and informal, which on marinades, rubs, is good,” Marquette said, “I wood used, or cuts think that the connectedof meat,” Marquette ness between students and said. teachers will continue to Although the grow and that’s good.”

Twitter account is At the end of the day, only a few months tudent led account, ‘Marquette the Marquette barbecue old, Marquette’s inBBQ’ currently has 49 followers twitter account, appropriterest in barbecuing ately named “BBQ Tips and has been alive for and continues to gain popularity.

Facts,” is simply a fun (and many years. informative) project as well “I started experimenting with barbecuing about 10 years ago, as being a unique addition to both Hersey’s but in the past five years it has become a hobby,” identity and Twitter itself.

Marquette said.

Much of the credit for the account goes to- Correction: in the April 22 issue of

S

The Correspondent, senior Andrea Kim’s name was misspelled as Andrew Kim; we apologize for the error.

Reviews

May 20, 2016

‘Cloud Nine’ changes music

the

Correspondent

9

Ellen Bakal

Never in a million years would I have thought that such a successful artist could be a one man DJ. Kygo has become my favorite artist for the time being strictly because of his album, “Cloud Nine.”

The music on this album is fresh. The songs all take on a completely different vibe. The recorded techno tunes are matched perfectly with the featured artists on the track.

Kygo has had a few hit songs in the past, including “Stole the Show (feat. Parson •kygomusic.com James)” and “Stay (feat. ygo released his new album ‘Cloud Nine’ on May 13.

Many Noyes)”.

His album contains 15 songs, including popular song Kygo, of course, had ‘Stole the Show’. the decency to incorporate them in his almove either. Kygo’s beats were matched surprisbum. Artists doing this normally annoys me as ingly well with John Legend’s insane amount of itseems to be a waste of space, but this time it soul. “Happy Birthday” is one of my favorites on was genius. the album.

Another aspect to the albums success is the The musical genius placed just the right fact that there is an “Intro”. The synthetic muse amount of ring and smoothness necessary. The is all apart of the album, seeming like a story song is all about an endless love, rather than a rather than a mix-tape. sort of party, fun vibe that Kygo normally conThe second song on the album is “Stole the tributes to the music world.

Show,” which is upbeat and powerful; the beauMy absolute favorite song on the album has tiful lyrics and voice of Parson James exceed to be “Raging”. It was released a few weeks prior anything I’ve ever heard. The upbeat tune melto the entire album release. I had been listening lows out slowly throughout the album, almost to this song, featuring Kodaline, to get myself losing a slight amount of happiness with every ready for the anticipated album release. song. The album ends with “For What it’s Worth Kodaline’s sympathetic and heartfelt songs (feat. Angus & Julia Stone)”. This ending is on have always made me happy, and Kygo’s peppy a rather sad note, but provides a perfect sort of tunes mixing in with that, are beyond soothing reflection. to the ear.

Having a legend on the album wasn’t a bad

K

Freaky

Fast REVIEWS

Kesha shows true colors Radiohead makes a After years of absence from the music scene, comeback Kesha has returned featuring in Zedd’s newest single “True Colors.”

The song is a direct jab at producer Dr. Luke, who promised to allow her to record again if she claimed she lied about being sexually and verbally abused for years.

She promised to show her “true colors” and they didn’t disappoint. ‍Missing is the old Ke$ha, a girl obsessed with glitter, parties, and substances. In return we have Kesha- a more raw, open, and truly musically gifted person.

From Zedd’s expert mixing and Kesha’s powerhouse vocals, this is one song not to miss.

•Lexi Wachal

Radiohead has released their newest single “Burn the Witch.” It is intriguing; a symphonic melody overlays a bass rhythm that stays consistent throughout the entire song with very little variation in structure.

This consistency creates an eerie feeling that is appropriate for the subliminal inspiration: the European refugee crisis. A Claymation music video was released synonymous to the song, and it’s equally as darkly fascinating.

The video follows a man as he is guided through a town, leading straight to his execution. There are many deeper messages hidden in the video that I have yet to understand, but all in all, the new single is sure to turn heads.

•Nate Horne

Civil war breaks out in theaters On a streak producing impressive films, Marvel can add “Captain America: Civil War” to the list.

The film is about the iconic Avengers facing two challenges: the Sokovia Accords, a plan that regulates the Avengers’ actions and where they can operate, and tracking down Captain America’s old friend Bucky Barnes.

Captain America disapproves of the Sokovia Accords whereas Iron Man strongly supports it. The Avengers are split in two and new heroes are introduced to take their sides. “Captain America: Civil War” masterfully introduces classic superheroes like the Black Panther and

Spider-Man, revealing important tidbits of their backstories to the audience along the way. The action is clean-cut and immediately captures the audience’s attention.

The film remains unbiased, showing Captain America and Iron Man’s side of the argument and why they believe in their side. One of the biggest surprises in Marvel history (so far) is also disclosed, that leaves fans baffled.

Overall, “Captain America: Civil War” is an astonishing movie with the perfect amount of fascinating action and intense plot.

•Claire Durand

with Joshua Irvine

‘Monster’ or man?

One of the most common criticisms of hostage movies like “Money Monster” is that there’s never any real tension. The good guys will live, the bad guys will die, and all will be well. “Money Monster” differs, not because it avoids the concept, but because it never quite tells us who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy.

George Clooney is Lee Gates, a financial pundit who hypes Wall Street trading on his show Money Monster under the supervision of director Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts), who acts as a glorified “babysitter for a stunted eight year-old,” to paraphrase.

Patty, tired of Lee and his antics, is moving on from the show, so the cinema gods that dictate that every professional on their last day on the job is screwed, send in Kyle (Jack O’Connell).

Kyle is a very angry man, (if the gun and explosive vest he brings into the studio are any indication), and he wants Lee and another man to pay. That other man is Walt Camby, the CEO of a Lehman Brothers stand-in whose company has just experienced a massive crash. He is also nowhere to be found, but his absence is compensated by the menagerie of characters that will parade out of the film’s surprisingly brief hour and 40 minute runtime.

From here, the plot only gets more complicated, but director Jodie Foster does an excellent job of keeping up with Jim Kouf, Jamie Linden and Alan di Fiore’s hectic script cohesive as it rockets sometime literally across the globe.

The film does occasionally get ahead of itself, but its rarely detracts from the story.

And what a script. The movie spends most of its time faking its characters (and audience) out, never quite letting in on who the real villain is, if there really is one.

It’s actually so brilliantly done that it’s almost a shame that when the film does finally give in and hand us a villain in the third act, who’s framing as a bad guy, is so by-the-book it’s almost surprising he doesn’t have an eye scar and a white Persian cat.

This is a problem throughout “Money Monster” - it spends much of its time building itself up as one thing, then tearing that down in favor of something more conventional. Nowhere is this more obvious than in O’Connell’s Kyle, whose diluted Travis Bickle impression manages to elicit emotion ranging between nuanced sympathy to outright annoyance as the film goes on.

By the time “Money Monster” meets its painfully honest conclusion, we’re almost too worn out to actually care what happens to anyone involved.

“Money Monster” is a movie that requires some suspension of disbelief, mostly in the idea that any man who straps a bomb to George Clooney could merit any sort of empathy.

On a more honest note, the film does deal in some very serious truths that it never can really address, often retreating to its ever-changing plot when things get too real. “Money Monster” is an excellently directed and well-acted thriller, but its vain stretches to be something more come across as hollow.

10 the Correspondent

Features

Prom preparation occupies students

May 20, 2016

Kayleigh Padar

planning starts. “I definitely think spending the time on things for prom is important; it makes you enjoy As prom quickly approaches, and so does all the and feel more confident the day of prom,” senior Danipreparation, stress, and spending that come along with ella Montella said.

Students can spend their time on a variety of difit. Students can spend hours working out prom details ferent things. “The only thing I’ve really spent a lot of including finding a dress or tux, deciding on a group, time on is finding and buying my dress. Plus, getting choosing where to take photos, and plenty of other alterations done and finding shoes and all that takes a things that have to take place before the actual dance. lot of time,” Montella said.

Usually, the entire process starts with getting asked Not only does prom preparaor asking someone to the tion take time, it also requires dance, which can be done in a lot of money. Of students ata variety of ways. Some stutending prom, 41 percent spent dents are asked with posters or between $150 and $300 on prom candles, but other ‘promposals’ preparation.

Twelve percent are more extravagant. “We had of students spent over $500 on been friends for awhile, our prom preparation. whole lives actually, and reflectHowever, many students claim ing on all the time we had spent that money doesn’t determine together I did not think a postthe experience.

“I don’t think it’s er would have meant enough,” necessary to spend a lot of monsenior Jonathan Phelps said. ey in order to have a good time Asking someone to prom in at prom.

It’s more about the exa special way can be a difficult periences than the money spent,” task. “[The experience was] Ashley said. stressful because some of it was After considering all the endown to the wire and nerveergy and funds it takes to prewracking because, of course, I pare for prom, some might wonwanted it to all go off smooth•Courtesy of Stephanie Surkin der if attending is even worth it. ly and successfully, and I was eniors Jonathan Phelps and “I think it’s important to go to pretty excited,” Phelps said.

Stephanie Surkin pose for a prom.

It’s a good experience to Despite all the nerves, some picture after deciding to go to have and one that you only get students feel that all the extra prom together. while in high school. You may rehard work is worth it. “I don’t gret not going later on. I decided even think what I had done to to go because it was something my boyfriend and I ask her meant enough considering I hadn’t realized I wanted to experience together with all our friends. We had so much to say,” Phelps said. didn’t want to regret not going later on,” Montella said.

While ‘promposals’ can be fun, meaningful and Overall, the entire ordeal requires a lot of effort for earn lots of likes on social media, some say that how everyone involved, but prom is something that stupeople are asked doesn’t matter as much to them. “I dents only have the opportunity to do twice in their don’t think it’s too important for guys to ask girls to lifetimes and definitely seems to be an event worth prom in a special way because it is a lot of pressure. considering.

It’s the thought that counts,” junior Jenna Ashley said.

After people have found dates, all the hard work of

S

Students give personal dating definitions Kristina Tajiri

ing the one and being with someone that makes you really happy Accompanying, courting, es- and having a best friend to talk corting, going with; these are all to,” senior Jenny Delgado said.

There isn’t a common definisynonyms for one word: dating.

According to urban dictionary dat- tion for dating amongst people. ing is “to be in the early stages of a “Dating to me is when two people relationship where they go out on are committed to a relationship together and go out on dates,” dates to find out sophomore Celeste what each other is Makara said. like, as a prelude It can also be to actually being a based off of personal fully fledged coubeliefs. “To me datple.” ing is having a bond Dating may be with a person you thought as an excare about intimateciting word. It has ly and spiritually. To a different meanyounger people dating to everyone. ing means just hav“Dating means ing a boyfriend or always being there Senior for the person •Courtesy of Jenny girlfriend,” Delgado Sam Mendez-Celaya when they need eniors Jonathan said. you and having Garcia and Jenny It’s not really easy fun with each oth- Delgado have been er,” freshman Tim dating for a year and to understand or three months. define what dating Huff said. actually is. It’s about Many things run through peoples’ minds while how the couple feels towards each dating someone. “I definitely don’t other and about where they want think of it [dating] as hooking up. I the relationship to end up; dating like to think of it kind of like find- is whatever people make of it.

S

Hiroshima forum math problem contest:

Go to Correspondentlive.com for answers to the questions.

Over 30 students got the answers correct, therefore the following students were drawn randomly as the winners: Jack Casey, Jonathan Lapid, Anna Linscott, Jake Irwin, Monika Smaga, and Mimi Shaefer.

Flannel trend flares Zoe Strozewski

In the past, flannel shirts have often been associated with lumberjacks or grunge, but these button-down, checkered shirts made their way into the 21st century and have become a major trend among teens.

One of the main attractions of flannels is how easily they can be added to an outfit. “I love flannels because they’re comfortable and don’t require a lot of time to put on in the morning,” junior Jane Kannookaden said.

Another reason for the flannel craze is that they’re available just about everywhere. “I think they’re mainly popular because they aren’t expensive, and plus, you can purchase them from any store,” Kannookaden said.

The flannel fad is especially unique as it’s being embraced by just about everyone. Most trends are specific to one gender, but because of their simplistic design and popularity, flannels have become popular with among both girls and guys.

Because of the effortless style they add to an outfit, the school hallways seem to be littered with flannels.

Sports

May 20, 2016

the

Correspondent11

Track goes the distance to state Danielle Eriksson

towards long-distance running and, likewise, train neck and neck at a close skill level. The runners formerly ran together in the two-mile race at meets, keeping up with one another while pushing each other throughout the race.

“It’s always a lot easier when you have another person to run with you, and it’s nice that

After a long and wet sectional meet last Friday, four students on the girls track and field team qualified to compete in the state meet which begins today at Eastern Illinois University.

Senior Maggie Berigan will be throwing in shot put, sophomore Barbara Rydzewski will be throwing in discus, junior Sarah Harden will be running in the 1600 meter (mile) race, and junior Hailey Bowes will be running in the 3200 meter (2 mile) race.

The girls have put forth extensive training leading up today’s meet; their opportunities were earned because of their commitment throughout, not only this season, but also in past seasons.

“Practicing with the boys over summer and during cross country season made us very strong; when track season started we continued practicing really hard in addition to having Fonz [Coach Danielle Freeman] as a coach-pushing us every single day. We always showed up at every practice, worked hard and were really committed,” Bowes said, speaking for herself and her teammate Harden.

In addition to success in many of the meets this season, Bowes came in second at the conference meet in the 3200 meter race during both indoor and outdoor season, making her all-conference.

Nevertheless, at sectionals Bowes finished the 3200 meter with a 22 second PR (personal record), getting 5th place. Harden, too, placed and medaled at most invites throughout the season, whether it was individually in the mile/two mile or with the 4x800 relay team. At sectionals she PRed by 5 seconds with a time that went from 5:16 at conference to 5:11 at sectionals-one week apart.

Bowes and Harden share an ardent attitude

•courtesy of Hailey Bowes uniors Sarah Harden (left) and HaiJ ley Bowes run together in a duel meet. The girls continue to support each other as they head to the state meet.

Sarah and I both have the same mind-set with running; we both want to improve together as a team and individually, so we push each other,” Bowes said.

The throwers, as well, have obtained an ongoing commitment to track and field; they look forward to getting to compete at a state level in result of dedicated work this season.

“It was a sense of relief when I qualified. I was just happy,” sophomore Barbara Rydzewski said. Rydewski placed second at conference and fourth at sectionals for discuss while senior Maggie Berigan came second at conference and third at sectionals for shot put.

All four athletes share a common excitement in achieving state qualifying lengths and times.

“It was pretty exciting when I qualified because it’s something that I’ve been working on for a pretty long time now. It was kind of a surreal feeling, like it was just a dream and I was going to wake up,” Harden said.

“It was pretty dramatic, but so fun because a lot of people got to see it,” Berigan said, describing when she threw a qualifying 39 feet at sectionals.

After an already successful season the girls remain enthusiastic heading into their last competition. They plan to compete at their best ability, yearning to further excel as athletes. “I would like to get a new PR, breaking 11 minutes and hopefully I can get into the top 15; I’m going to run as hard as I can,” Bowes said.

“We want to do our best and maybe be able to break into finals [Saturday] and shock people,” Berigan said.

The state meet will consist of the most intense competition in the state; furthermore, it’s an experience the qualifiers anticipate. “It’s going to be a great experience. There’s so much tension in the atmosphere, just being there will be coolthere will be many great athletes,” Rydewski said.

Gymnasts stick it and compete at state Caroline Stiefbold

The gymnastics team headed into the post season with high expectations. They had been improving their routines and won the MSL East for the second year in a row.

“This season we scored some of the highest team and individual scores in the history of Hersey gymnastics,” senior Jon Phelps said.

“The team accomplished and acquired an incredible team chemistry amongst a sport that can become highly focused on the individual,” senior Matt Phelps said.

They had a goal to qualify as a team for the state meet. However, they placed third at sectionals and didn’t qualify as a team.

“Despite a relatively strong performance, we

came up short,” J. Phelps said.

Though, four of the seven gymnasts qualified as individuals for the state meet. M. Phelps qualified for all-around, floor exercise, pommel horse, vault, parallel bars, and still rings; Senior Will Nicholson qualified for all-around, pommel horse, vault, parallel bars, and still rings; J. Phelps qualified for floor exercise and vault, and freshman Matt Bednar qualified for pommel horse.

Earning a state qualification requires countless hours of training. “It took a lot of work and difficult routines this season. Sometimes we do 10-20 routines in a row before moving on to the other events and state qualifying routines are not easy,” M. Phelps said.

M. Phelps placed fifth in the vault finals.

Soccer Sophomore Taylor LaFayette

• Compiled by Lauren Theisen

5 4 3 2 1

5 Facts

“We hit each other’s heels with our shoes during the national anthem.” “[Coach Darrenzx Llewellyn tells us motivational stories about the most random things.”

“We are a young team because we only have two seniors.”

“We put in a lot of effort and work together as a team.”

“We have really good pasta parties.”

5 4 3 2 1

“Placing at state for an event has been a dream of mine ever since I started high school gymnastics. I went to vault finals my sophomore and junior year without placing, so being able to make it to finals and finally place for my last season was an overwhelming fulfillment of that dream,” M. Phelps said.

The three senior state qualifiers were able to end their high school careers competing at the state level.

“I’m sad that gymnastics is over, and it will be weird not to do it anymore, but being able to finish with many of my goals accomplished and my dreams fulfilled, I have no regrets. It feels awesome to end with no regrets,” M. Phelps said.

Volleyball Sophomore Jake Mailloux

“Our practices are full of fun and there is never a dull moment.”

“The team gets along very well, and we always have fun together.”

“The pasta parties we have are fun filled and full of laughs.”

“Before games we cheer on our JV team to give us motivation and energy for our game.”

“The seniors make up one fourth of our team and provide us with skill and leadership.”

• Compiled by Katie Lindgren

12 the Correspondent

Sports

Junior Jackie Bednar lays down a sacrifice bunt. The girls came up Above: short to Elk Grove 6-5.

•Tennis elow: Junior Kaitlyn elow: Senior Dan photos by B B Denten rounds first Belcastro rips a shot Katie base after a hard hit down the line.

May 20, 2016

bove: Junior Katie Wingerter A catches a pop up to end the inning. They play again today at 5:00 at home against Evanston.

Lindgren

single.

•Softball photos by Sneh Pandya ight: R Junior Patryk Kot

hits backhand while warming up for a match against Palatine. The team plays today in the sectional meet at Highland Park.

Huskie

HWhat’s uddle: unique?

Water Polo “We worked well as a team and didn’t let losses get to us.“

-Junior Brian Prior

Track and Field

Soccer “We are a young team but still came in third in the MSL East.”

-Junior Erin Smetana

“Track is unique because even though the team is broken up by event, the family atmosphere is still present; everyone cheers on other events at meets.”

-Senior Maggie Berigan

Volleyball “I love that my team is like a family both on and off the court. We are able to be serious while also having fun during practices, and we’re all close friends. Pasta parties are a big deal for us as well.”

-Senior Angelo Coniglio