THE @THEHURONEMERY
HURON EMERY HURON HIGH SCHOOL, 2727 FULLER RD., ANN ARBOR MI 48105
VOL. 7 ISSUE 2
FEATURE PAGE 5 The legendary $5 bill
The cafeteria has become a holding location for classes when there is a shortage of substitute teachers. RIDHIMA KODALI
After Effects: The costs of going back in-person
NEWS PAGE 8-9 Filling the food pantry
AAPS faces new challenges of sub shortages, late buses, and quarantine Amidst returning fully in-person, Huron High School has been challenged with more than just the transition back to the classroom. On Oct. 22, about 25 percent of AAPS’ 2,400 employees were absent. Buses are late. Students are being sent to the cafeteria. Not to mention, the recent surge of COVID-19 cases at Huron are forcing teachers and students to spend about
a week at home in quarantine. This is all due to a shortage of staff throughout AAPS. “Our sub-pool has been bigger than it’s ever been,” Superintendent Jeanice Swift said. “The COVID mitigations where we’re supposed to all stay home if we have any symptoms, it’s just making it where the number [of absences] are big.” Staff absences change day-to-day, according to Swift. “The concern about the distress of needing to close schools for inadequate staff is a significant concern,” Swift said in the Oct. 27 board of education meeting. “The concern
A tough transition back to school SAMANTHA GOLDSTEIN STAFF WRITER
According to the CDC, high school students’ stress levels have skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With rising COVID- cases, four additional classes each day and an increased workload many students have struggled to adjust to in-person school. “A lot of times it feels like we’re trying to force them back into normalcy after a year that was anything but normal,” English teacher Alison Eberts said. “Going from that structure of a block schedule where they had just the three classes a day and time to work on assignments for those classes, to all of a sudden seven classes a day, boom, boom, boom, multiple homework assignments a night -- it feels very forced, and I
is far greater that if as a result of a short staff situation, a student or a staff member would be placed at greater risk.” Swift said in the meeting that since Monday, Oct. 25, there is a new batch of 687 substitutes that have been through the application process but cannot always teach. Parent and current substitute for AAPS, Tamara Mayrend says that having school fulltime was paramount and AAPS is doing an amazing job balancing things. “The staffing challenges around the area have been difficult for everyone,”-
Mayrend said. “There simply are not enough substitute teachers to make that happen right now. As a substitute when I work now, I don’t get breaks, I eat lunch with the kids in the classroom and overall am asked to do more. It’s to the point of rethinking picking up substitute assignments. The teachers are having the same experience. They are being asked to cover extra time all day, with no planning period or lunch break. If I am rethinking taking a day, they have got to be be
See AFTER EFFECTS, PAGE 8
ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 12 “Squid Game” review
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NEWS
RIDHIMA KODALI AND LYDIA HARGETT MANAGING AND NEWS EDITOR
Students use their student ID for lunch Yearbook adviser Sara-Beth Badalamente tell the third hour “yearbookers” the agenda for the day. RIDHIMA KODALI
worry about students getting very overwhelmed.” Junior Sophia Fatchett agrees that the return to in-person classes has been stressful for many students. “The workload and keeping up with due dates has been a lot harder than last year,” Fatchett said. “I feel like we get a lot more work assigned this year now that
See TRANSITION , PAGE 4
GINA KO STAFF WRITER
Students need their ID number for lunch. RIDHIMA KODALI
Starting on Monday, Oct. 25, students are required Although food service staff to provide their student ID can access student IDs usnumber in oring the student’s der to receive name, students lunch, accordare encouraged to ing to a meshave their student sage released number ready for by ninth grade smooth processing Dean Salvain the service line. dor Barrientes. “I think it’s fine,” freshman For more information, “Students Marty Bailey said. scan the QR code. do not need “It just takes longer their school ID,” Barrien- to get lunch.” tes wrote. “They just need In accordance with the free to know their ID number.” USDA meal offering system,
students who want a second meal will need to purchase it and must take all the options offered in the meal plan.
2024 exec board plans Friendsgiving SAMANTHA GOLDSTEIN STAFF WRITER
During the 2024 Executive Board first meeting on
See BRIEFS , PAGE 2
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 2 | NEWS
Choe returns to teaching high school after a year and a half RIDHIMA KODALI MANAGING EDITOR
School. She taught Math 6, Algebra 1, Geometry AC, Science 8 and Math Strategies. It was the Friday be- “My principal, Dr. fore the first day of school, Anglin, was amazing,” Choe Aug. 27, when former Huron said. “I learned and grew so Chemistry teacher Veroni- much working for her because ca Choe received a call from she’s another woman of color. Huron’s assistant principal She saw something in me that Michael Sumerton . maybe I didn’t even know was “We have this posi- there and gave me leadership tion,” Sumerton told Choe. positions even though I was “We’d love to have you back and new to the school. She was able you should apply for it.” to see my skills and it was nice Choe left Huron for to be acknowledged for that the betterment of her mental and to be given the opportunihealth. She felt that being in ty to do those things.” the education field was really Being at Slauson, hard to work in. Choe grew professionally and “It’s not just like, ‘Oh personally. But teaching midwe don’t get paid enough,’ but dle-schoolers wasn’t the right it’s like we work so hard every fit for her. She liked teaching hour of the day,” Choe said. “ high-school students betI learned ter. a b o u t “The midmyself dle school that, rekids are gardless so sweet,” of where Choe said. “I I am or think in high what my school, kids job is, I’m have a betgoing to ter idea of go extra who they are hard 110 , or they’re percent thinking all the about who time. I they want just realto become, ized that w h e r e VERONICA CHOE I need to as middle Teacher be able school stuto live dents seem my own personal life while too young to me. But it was a still existing as an educator. really, really positive experiIt’s my job. It can’t be my ence. I can’t say anything bad life is basically what I came about working there.” to realize.” Choe is also the assis After leaving Huron in tant coach for the Huron volJanuary of 2020, Choe became leyball team since 2016, when a teacher at Slauson Middle she was a student teacher at
“
I learned about myself that regardless of where I am or what my job is I’m going to go extra hard , 110 percent all the time.
Teacher Veronica Choe dressed up as Boo from “Monsters Inc.” for Halloween, and she posed with many students throughout the school day. COURTESY OF VERONICA CHOE Huron. Coaching and coming to practice every day last year, undoubtedly was the best thing Choe said she had in terms of socialization. “It was really great to be part of something during remote learning,” Choe said. “All of my favorite experiences [with coaching and teaching] are when my students learn about themselves, a new thing, like ‘Hey I can do this,’ or they learn a skill and they’re proud of it. That brings me the most joy, because whatever part I had in makes me feel like I’ve done something in this life. I’m a person who needs purpose in life and I think part of that is satisfied with students getting to grow and progress. I think that’s the most wonderful, wonderful thing about this job.”
Choe did enough soul searching during the pandemic that helped her make the decision to come back. And so she ended up applying for the position. “I know that I’m a high school teacher,” Choe said. “Not a middle school teacher. So I applied and was at peace with my decision. I was really hoping that I would get it. This is a good opportunity to come back to a different department and try something new. I just love Huron and it’s a super special place to me. That’s why I came back.” Choe currently teaches Credit Recovery, Web Design and Personal Project at Huron, working closely with Jonathan Cook (of the CTE department), who is another Web Design teacher.
With Credit Recovery, Choe’s in a lot of different spaces as many people are working on different subjects and it’s her favorite class to teach this year. “I think that the students who typically end up in that class have previously decided something about themselves as a student,” Choe said. “I want them to think differently from what they’ve decided because sometimes it could be like ‘I’m not a math person.’ And for me, I’m not saying I’m gonna make you a math person, but I don’t want you to think you can’t do something just because you haven’t been successful before. I want stuREAD THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM
THE EMERY STAFF EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Vish Gondesi 408215@aaps.k12.mi.us Allison Mi 403010@aaps.k12.mi.us ADVISER Sara-Beth Badalamente
The 2024 exec board is selling Turkey Grams outside of the cafeteria during both lunches. SAMANTHA GOLDSTEIN
Ridhima Kodali Managing Editor Lydia Hargett News Editor Anita Gaenko Feature Editor Quinn Newhouse Sports Editor Amy Xiu Design Editor
Gregory Auchus Noor Allah Ismail Suhybe Awwad Muhammad Ba Kandyce Barnes Jaden Boster Kaylee Burton Carlos Castrejon Zain Charania Aleila Chun-Elliot Eliot Dimcheff Dominick Douglas Anna Esper Emily Fasing
Tarik Fermin Maya Fu Sandra Fu Mya Georgiadis Nora Gibson Samantha Goldstein Julia Gray Trey Green Chloe Griffths Mihail Gueorguiev Robert Hall Carson Hawkins Isabella Hernandez-Bernabe
Zachary Hildebrandt Shakira Hughbanks Braedon Ingarm Kantaro Inoki Braedon James Cameron Jarvis Mark Kerekes Hyo Won Ko Jaia Lawrence Daniel Lee Justin Meath Jonathan Mendez Anthony Neyman Tayla Nesmith
BRIEFS | FROM PAGE ONE
Quinn Newhouse Iva Panyovska Kelly Park Jackson Pollard Leela Raghavendran Visruth Rajendiran Micah Robertson Kyren White Jewel Storrs Jose Vega Stacy Viurquiz Ky’ell Williams Annabelle Ye Chase Young
Oct. 10, the club’s members discussed planning bonding events. “I decided to join this club because I’m really into planning and leading events,” sophomore Sri Jayakumar said. “I like to do the things I want to see. If you’ve heard of the quote ‘Be the change you want to see in the world,’ that’s kind of like me.” Through the board, Jayakumar hopes to improve the school environment for all sophomores. “We plan events that would benefit the sophomores here,” Jayakumar said. “Basically, we try to do things
that make school a fun experience for sophomores.” Last year the group hosted virtual “We connect Wednesday,s” where students participated in virtual games. This year, the board will be selling “Turkey Grams” during both lunches over the course of the week of Nov 1. Handwritten turkey notes are being sold for $2 to raise money for a sophomore “Friendsgiving” event on Nov. 12. “It’s basically a get together for all the sophomores to come and meet new people and make friends,” Jayakumar said.”
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 3 | NEWS
Huron welcomes new college and career center advisor NADIA TAECKENS GUEST WRITER The path was already paved for her, but then she noticed something. “Other students had to climb a mountain and deal with rocks in their way,” Huron’s new College and Career Center Advisor Emily Herzog said. “I wanted to make sure that when I left college, I could do something to help students get where they wanted to go and also not feel any pressure to do what anyone else wanted them to do.” Herzog, who is a Wayne County native and a University of Michigan (U of M) Ann Arbor graduate, has previously worked in college admissions and college readiness programs in Wisconsin. She recently m o v e d back to Michigan, and she says that s h e ’ s happy to be home. “Huron is great,” Herzog s a i d . “Everyone has been so nice. All the staff that I’ve been working with have said to come to them if I needed anything, and I could tell it wasn’t an empty offer. I feel supported, and the building itself is really nice.” Herzog is looking forward to working with students at the College and Career Center, and she already has advice prepared for those trying to figure out what to do after high school. “You have to look inward, as hard as it is, and do some self reflection, because there are so many outside distractions,” Herzog said. “I like to do self assessments
, which help you to identify the fields that are going to be the best for you.” However, Herzog is also cautious not to rely on technology, because she says that when she was in high school website assessments were her only tool for figuring out her future. “I think you need a combination of support,” Herzog said. “I got the resources, but I didn’t get the people to talk me through the resources and have follow-up conversations about the results.” In order to best help her students, Ms. Herzog has employed a variety of tactics, including the use of social media. “It’s no secret that high schoolers spend a lot of time on social media, and I don’t think this always has to be seen as a bad thing,” Herzog s a i d . “They’re accessing important i n f o r mation t h i s way, like TikToks w i t h advice on writing college essays or Instagram stories about student life at a certain college.” Herzog says that she thinks it’s important for her to meet students where they are at, so she shares information about scholarships, college visits, upcoming timelines and more via Instagram (@ HuronCCC). While at U of M, Herzog majored in psychology and sociology, was an active member of the Do Random Acts of Kindness club and met her husband, Josh. However, she felt very pressured when
Huron’s new college and career adviser Emily Herzog has brought in new resources, like using social media, to help students make their post-high school plans. RIDHIMA KODALI considering her post high school plans, which is one of the reasons why she is so passionate about helping students determine what is right for them. “It felt like it was the expectation that I would go to U of M or a school like U of M,” Herzog said. “My siblings went there, and I went to a school where there was definitely a 4-year college-going culture.” Herzog also places an emphasis on finding the right fit for each college-bound student and highlights the importance of location, size and programs offered. “It makes a big difference if you’re going to college in a city versus a really rural area or anywhere in between,” Herzog said. “I also think the size of the school is a big one. You get a very different
experience going to U of M Ann Arbor versus Michigan Tech, for example. The last thing is specific programs. If you’re looking for something specific, there might only be a few colleges in the state that have it.” While she enjoyed her previous job teaching a college readiness course, Herzog is looking forward to the environment that her new job offers, w h i c h she feels is more
compatible with her personality. “It was really tiring for me to be in the classroom all the time at my old job,” Herzog said. “If you’re an introvert, you have limited social energy, so you can see it being sucked from you. That’s why I like being in the College and Career Center. You can talk to people one on one or in a small group.” Herzog says she hopes students will come in multiple times so she can get to know them over the course of the year. She loves making students feel seen and heard, and she’s already prepared to listen and offer advice to those at all stages of planning their future. “If you don’t know, it’s okay” Herzog said. “Keep your options open. Sometimes the decision is not making a decision.” Herzog hosts seniors every day in the college and career center. RIDHIMA KODALI
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 4 | FEATURE
Huron’s marching band concluded their 2021 season on Oct. 1, where they played Viva La Vida, Poker Face and Daft Punk medley. SANDRA FU
One band, one voice: Marching band returns to the field ANNABELLE YE STAFF WRITER “Band Ten-Hut!” The drum major calls to the marching band. “ H o ! ” The band responds. Members assume the position of attention: heels together, stomachs in, shoulders back, chins in, heads up. Marching season has begun. Each football season, over 100 members from the symphony band and concert bands join
together to put on halftime shows consisting of popular music and unique formations at home football games. However, the tradition was halted due to the COVID -19 restrictions in place during the 2020 school year. Although a necessary precaution, the members of the band program were faced with many challenges following this discontinuation as
The drum majors for this years Marching Band are Senior Chris Stocking and Junior Catherine Li SANDRA FU
TRANSITION | FROM PAGE ONE
we’re in person, so that proven by a survey conducted also means a lot more by the Princeton Review, work due every day, so which showed that teens just staying caught up has spend an average of one third been a challenge.” of their study time feeling According to the stressed or anxious. For American Psychological Schuitman, communication Association, 83 percent of and building relationships teens reported school to is the key to combating be a significant cause of this stress. stress. Math teacher Jeremy “It’s not that school Schuitman believes that many is easy,” Schuitman said. students’ “School has desire for never been independence easy, but is another when you set contributing your goals, It feels very forced, you factor to the work increased towards those and I worry about strain on goals and students getting students. communicate, “One you’re very overwhelmed. then thing that I’m on your way, noticing is on your path Alison Eberts students are to get there. putting a lot If you’re English Teacher of pressure on struggling, themselves to talk about answer questions,” Schuitman it. If you’re doing well, let’s said. “They think they have to celebrate together.” go to YouTube or Google to Although the get math questions answered, drastic change in the school whereas they could ask me, environment has been they can ask their neighbor, demanding, according they can have a conversation to guidance counselor with another person.” Caitlin Van Cleve, it has Schuitman’s theory is further also provided the structure
“
they reintegrated back into their previous marching season traditions. “The one thing I was expecting was a lot of uncertainty,” band director Robert Ash said. “You never know where the district is going to stand or what the health department is going to mandate, so you have to take everything day by day and you
have to plan knowing that your plans might have to be totally re-evaluated.” The experience gap within the marching band proved to be another challenge. About 55 percent of the band consisted of members who had never marched before. On top of having no marching experience, many of these members had not played in a band ensemble since seventh grade so transitioning to high school band was a “huge leap” according to Ash. However, the new marchers were not the only ones experiencing this “huge leap.” For junior drum major Catherine Li, her last marching season was
that many students need in their daily lives. “I definitely learned how much school is a grounding, concrete place for a lot of kids,” Van Cleve said. “Last year when students didn’t have that, it was really hard. I heard before that school is about so much more than just the academics, but that was especially true last year, when it became evident that school is also about social growth, having adults in a student’s life that they could count on, having something stable every day.” Junior Ava Kunnath agrees that routine and stability are essential to success in school. “I really missed feeling like I had somewhere to go every day,” Kunnath said. “Now that we’re back in person, just having a more solid routine keeps me a lot more grounded and motivated.” Returning to in-person
school has also been a learning experience for Kunnath. “It’s important to try to add in one thing every day that just makes you happy,” Kunnath said. “Definitely take mental health days or just breaks from school to recharge. Let yourself take the time to get used to school because it’s going
in her freshman year. Now, she is one of the leaders of the marching band. “Back then, I was marching with the trumpets,” Li said. “Going into this season as the junior drum major was a whole new arena that I did not have much experience in.” For the senior drum major, Chris Stocking, the absence of the 2020 marching season introduced an unprecedented challenge. Stocking was chosen for the position of drum major in August of 2020 — a time READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY.COM
be hard. It’s okay to ease back into things after so much time off and not jump head first into everything.”
The increase in workload from online to in-person school is a prevalent stressor amongst students. GRAPHIC BY ALLISON MI
to
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 5 | FEATURE
Invaluable friendship: The story of a $5 bill ALLISON MI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Sumerton was midway to his car when he realized he had made a grave error. “Like a crazy person” he bolted back to Taco Bell and yanked open the door. “I need the register,” Sumerton ordered the cashier. Immediately, he realized how he was likely perceived: a frantic man demanding for cash. He may as well have been attempting robbery. “I don’t want money,” Sumerton clarified. “I just need that $5 bill.” Sumerton pointed to a wrinkled bill, covered in random scribbles — dates actually, stretching back a decade. The cashier looked frazzled, debating whether he should hand over the frail bill or, more logically, phone the police. The clerk indecisively shifted back and forth, making no progress in his decision, until Sumerton decided there was only one way out: to tell the whole story. And he did. It began in 2012: Sumerton was teaching a credit recovery course, where he met his best friend, or as Sumerton describes her, his “twin separated at birth. Star Wars style.” In 2012, Sumerton met Christy Garrett, Huron IB, CP and Business teacher. “The first time we ever co-taught, within five minutes, we were dangerous together because we just had so much energy between the two of us,” Garrett said. When not teaching students, Garrett and Sumerton could often be found ricocheting teaching ideas off of each other, while munching on a quick-bought lunch, often Jimmy John’s or Qdoba, but on this notable day, Chipotle. Usually, they alternated between who bought — an unspoken pact. However, there was a point when Sumerton had bought the past four lunches. “You gotta let me pay you some money,” Garrett insisted. “C’mon! It’s plus one, plus two, plus three. Unacceptable.” Garrett did not have much cash that day, so she offered him a $5 bill. “Nope,” Sumerton instantly shot down. “Friends don’t keep score. Your money’s no good here.” So, naturally, Garrett did what any friend would do: when Sumerton wasn’t looking, she hid the bill in the pocket of his navy Columbia coat. Later that day, after classes, Garrett called Sumerton when he was in his car, a 17-year old Honda Civic whose days were numbered.
“Back then, his car was an old beater,” present-day Garrett added, “so he probably wore his coat in the car to keep from freezing.” “Check your coat pocket,” Garrett said through the phone. She knew that Sumerton, who admits to being very absent-minded, would have never found it on his own. After a second of shuffling, Sumerton could be heard complaining through Garrett’s iPhone 4 speaker, “I told you I didn’t want the money.” In Garrett’s mind, this teasing exchange would end there. She would
person once it’s hidden, drop clues every week, and the bill has to be hidden in the person’s teaching space. Lastly, Sumerton added, “Only the person in possession of the bill can retire. “Just to be clear, only you added that last rule,” Garrett retorted. “You’re going to try and retire from teaching and I don’t want you to,” Sumerton said. “So, since I have the bill right now, I can just hold onto it and keep you here forever.” Soon, students joined the game. They would devise plans during lunch, passionately staking
erton’s office. Rather, Sumerton would unintentionally place it there himself. There had always been talk that Sumerton should receive an award for having started Huron’s engineering program, but when asked by students, he would respond humbly, “No, this is your program.” However, when Garrett told him they would present the award during the annual Engineering Expo, Sumerton acquiesced. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, engineering students were building a plaque with a crevice where the $5 bill could sit snugly and secretly. To top
kids are kind-of laughing behind his back. And you should have seen how proud he was. He was like ‘I am such a stud,’” Garrett teased. Beyond the jokes, however, Garrett wholeheartedly believes this award was well-deserved. “That’s the reason the punk worked,” Garrett said. “Sumerton is an amazing teacher. The parents definitely love and respect him. It was real. And I was happy as his friend, someone who loves him, that he got that moment.” The ploy went smoothly. After the awards ceremony, the plaque, including the $5 bill, was hung in Sumerton’s office. It was back in play. Garrett had big plans to Notify the person once the start dropping clues in bill is hidden The Emery and around the building once school reopened in the fall. HowDrop clues every week ever, there was one loose end Garrett neglected to The bill has to be hidden tie. She forgot to inform in the person’s teaching Sarah Blake, the 11th and 12th grade secretary, of space this cunning ruse. During the summer of Only the person in 2020, Blake planned to redesign Sumerton’s ofpossession of the fice. Everything was mobill can retire t h e i r mentarily removed from claim on the walls: Sumerton’s team hide or kids’ pictures, photos of find, troupe former students and, of GRAPHIC BY KELLY PARK Sumerton or course, the plaque. While Garrett. it off, the pic- Blake was dusting the plaque, “The ture bolt- she accidentally found the $5 game was ed to the bill, unfortunately ending the born from wooden game before it could start. friendship, plaque Currently, Sumerton from love, was of is in possession of the $5 bill, from reSum- looking to recruit a team to spect erton top off Garrett’s past extravag r i - ganza.
Rules:
pay for a Jimmy John’s “Pepe” next, and Sumerton would buy the Qdoba chicken queso burrito the day after. Little did she know, Sumerton saw her sneaky trick as much more. “The way his brain works,” Garrett sighed, looking back on this moment. Sumerton tucked the $5 dollar bill back into his coat pocket, while his head tensely sank into his sizable outerwear. As Sumerton drove out of the Huron parking lot, the steam sporadically escaping his rusted car’s muffler, he thought smugly, “Game on.” It started small: Sumerton hid the bill behind an award plaque in Garrett’s room. Garrett slid it in the crevice in Sumerton’s classroom number sign. Sumerton taped it under Garrett’s iconic swivel chair, which said “Ms. G’s assets here” in pickle green Sharpie. “It was punny humor for accounting students,” Garrett said, “so Sumerton knew that if a student stole my chair, I would turn over the chair and show them the message.” Four months later, a student finally stole the chair. “I actually planted that kid,” Sumerton added with a satisfied grin. When Garrett held up the chair, anticipating a roar of laughter, the class was silent. “Why is there a $5 bill?” the student asked. “What do you mean?” Garrett questioned, leaning over to find the notorious bill. “Oh, my God.” Over the past decade: The game was refined. Rules were made: notify the
and from wanting to have a bonding activity with our students that would make them laugh,” Garrett said. Deep alliances formed, requiring secret handshakes as passwords to access brainstorming sessions. “Now this is the kind of thing I stand for,” a student once announced to Garrett during a Team Hide meeting. The grand finale: With more brains at work, the hiding spots became more and more devious. Garrett’s group dismantled Sumerton’s computer, placed the bill in a slit, then re-assembled it. Sumerton’s circle hid 200 counterfeit xeroxed $5 bills in Garrett’s classroom, at one point luring students to crawl into the ceiling to search for the real bill. But the true showstopper was the cache of 2019, the last time the bill was hidden. Garrett’s crew decided this time they wouldn’t sneak the $5 bill into Sum-
m a c ing, and the projected image on t h e big screen was of him in oversized glasses and a knotted ginger-colored wig. This part of the awards ceremony, which involved hundreds of audience members, was orchestrated with the main objective of sneaking the $5 bill into Sumerton’s office. “The hiding spot has to go up a notch every time,” Sumerton said. “At a certain point, the Goodyear Blimp is gonna fly this $5 bill over Michigan Stadium.” During the ceremony, Garrett made sure to capture pictures of the engineering teachers making funny faces behind Sumerton, so that after the grand reveal, he would marvel at the various layers to Garrett’s master plan. “They’re about to give him the award and the
It’s about friendship: No matter who devises the most confounding plots, the $5 bill is about Sumerton and Garrett’s friendship. “It’s in some ways a term of endearment like how much time we put into this,” Sumerton said. “We are so close that I’m willing to cut 200 fake bills and hide them in her room at 10 o’clock at night. Friendship is more important than money, which is why we’ve spent countless hours trying to hide it.” At the end of the interview, before Garrett left Sumerton’s office, he stood up, walking towards the door, his back to the $5 bill on his desk. “Wait, now I’m getting emotional,” Sumerton said. “I love you.” They hugged. “I love you too, man,” Garrett said.
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 6 | ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
VIDEO GAMES @HURON Why do Huron students play video games? “In my opinion, it’s the best way to interact with friends while away from each other physically. It’s a great escape from reality especially when you have so much stress and responsibility.” - Senior Dave Kim “I get to play with my friends and it’s also a good way to relieve stress. It gives me a goal to work towards and it’s also nice to see how much I’ve improved.” - Junior Aico Miao
Huron’s favorite console is
PC Students spend anywhere from
1-16 hours per week gaming
*poll taken from Huron Instagram
About Zhongli, a character from Genshin Impact, has generated mass popularity from his status as the oldest archon, the most powerful characters in the game. ANEESA REDISSI
What games are huron students playing? OSU! -Kelly Park, 11
VALORANT -Aico Miao, 11
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS -Daniel Huang, 12
GENSHIN IMPACT -Felicia Sang, 12
OVERWATCH -Caitlin McCullough, 11
Jett is a duelist character in the video game Valorant. KELLY PARK
85% of teenagers play video games *According to a 2021 study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
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THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 8 | NEWS
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Between late buses, pink notices to go to the cafeteria and days off— partly due to staff shortages— the mid-term effects of COVID-19 are starting to reveal themselves.
‘Just the mom in me’: counselor helps create Huron’s own food pantry RIDHIMA KODALI MANAGING EDITOR Emily Mashal is a food pusher. She’s always telling people to eat. She’s always trying to give people food. And she’s always the one ordering lunch and asking people what they want. It’s just her personality. “I think it’s the mom in me,” Mashal said. “I just want everyone to have food and for me food is love.” So when she witnessed a student wearing slides in a Chemistry class because they could not afford to buy closetoed shoes for Chemistry labs, she jumped on it. “In our community that has so many resources,” Mashal said, “we should be able to provide more to our students than what is available, or at least access resources in our community and bring them into our school.” Although with the help of teacher Veronica Choe, she was able to get that student shoes, and after hearing they suffered a major food shortage, she felt that she needed to do more. “I thought in my
head ‘Oh no, we have to do better, we have to do better, this shouldn’t be happening,’” Mashal said. “Our whole community came together and was able to support the student, but we know there’s a lot more students who need support, and this is just one way.” So Mashal made a visit to Neutral Zone, a teen center and community partner. With the help of Assistant
Left: Counselor Emily Mashal showcases the food pantry in its early stages. Right: During sixth hour, counselor Emily Mashal has senior Vis Rajendiran and sophomores Josh Gernant and Will Cook-Diomand carry in donations from The Food Pantry. LYDIA RUSTIA Principal Michael Sumerton, cares about them, and they’re The food pantry got she started the application important. It is just one approved February of 2020. process to implement a thing in a really tough time “ I think of every student in food pantry at Huron High right now that we can do, to the building as my student,” School onOct. of 2019. support our community.” Mashal said. “I try to take “If we’re giving food This process care of every student as if they to students,” Mashal said. took about five months to “We’re just showing them complete and Mashal had to READ THE FULL STORY ON in a small way that someone go through certain trainings. THEHURONEMERY.COM
Since g n i n e p reo MAY 12
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th hr Go to the Cafeteria
OCT. 22
AUG. 30
AAPS Board of Education announces plan for full in-person return
OCT. 31 Total of
First day of school back in-person
AUG. 27 First COVID-19 case at Huron
OCT. 4 Pi sfield Elementary School closes in person and moves to remote learning for five days
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up to this date
NOV. 1 AAPS cancels classes in light of Halloween, voting on Nov. 2 and staff shortage concerns
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 9 | NEWS
See AFTER EFFECTS, FROM PAGE ONE burning out.” said. “In the end they were not. Mayrend also However, the weeks when the noticed an effect on her substitute was in class, there daughter’s learning when was not a lot of learning and a she had a substitute teacher lot of frustration and anxiety.” for her math class at Huron. Mayrend also “The sub would hand them suggests that parents papers and tell them to do should become substitutes the work,” Mayrend said. or consider volunteering. “My daughter became “It certainly doesn’t frustrated because several work for everyone,” Mayrend times the substitute would said. “It is one Band-Aid say ‘You learned this in school that could be applied. There already.’” seems to be a challenge with The thing is my the teaching profession that daughter needs to be l i k e l y addressed learned that at a higher material level. As Until you walk into the during the consumers, classroom and realize start of the we need to what’s happening, it’s pandemic, be patient. harder to understand. w h i c h As parents, means she we need to Solutions seem to be few probably be patient. and far between unless we d i d n ’ t U n t i l get people to help with the actually you walk learn the into the classrooms as teachers or concept.” classroom otherwise. and realize TAMARA MAYREND, Substitute w h a t ’ s AAPS PARENT AND SUB teachers happening, are not it’s harder necessarily certified to to understand. Solutions teach the subject matter seem to be few and far in the classrooms they are between unless we get people assigned to. This means that to help with the classrooms students are in a tough spot as teachers or otherwise.” needing to rely on themselves AAPS observed that and external resources. Mondays and Fridays had AAPS teachers use the most staff absences, Schoology to communicate so they increased sub with students while they payments, making AAPS are in and out of school. hold the highest sub rates Each teacher has a calendar, in Washtenaw County. daily lessons and handouts “We are making in their course pages. progress together through “My daughter was this fall,” Swift said. “The very frustrated and concerned team is working incredibly that those worksheets would hard to navigate this COVID be in the gradebook,” Mayrend time. We do believe that
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things are going to improve.” Additionally the AAPS leadership team is also redeploying staff across the district and they have five full-time subs at the elementary level and six at the secondary level. The other new challenge this year is buses running late. Swift said it should be getting better. More drivers are in training now to solve it. “It’s similar with all the positions,” Swift said. “We are a little bit lower on drivers. It’s just that people have to be asked.” Each morning, there are 100 bus routes, according to Swift. AAPS has 90 drivers and is short of 10 drivers. Five leadership team members are driving everyday and 15 drivers are in training. They will be brought to duty in the coming weeks. “The cushion for substitute drivers still remains thin,” Swift said. “That’s where we continue to have our challenge, but we are consistently delivering our students far better than we were at the very beginning of the year.” According t o the AAPS COVID-19 dashboard, as of the week of Oct. 24, Huron is leading with 45 COVID cases, more than half of the cases of the monthly total of all the AAPS high schools. Junior Natalie Muenz was recently quarantined at home after herself and other family members tested positive for COVID-19.
“I was really sick for about five days, “ Muenz said. “I could not taste or smell, and I was always exhausted.” Muenz and her family each “took a floor” to distance themselves from each other as much as possible. “Many teachers just gave me reading assignments,” Muenz said. “ And things to look over, but there were not a lot of things that I needed to turn in.” While at home, Muenz did attend some Zoom calls for classes. Many teachers were understanding of the situation and did not give out that much work. Even though she was extremely bored, Muenz did find some things to do with her time. “I binge watched six seasons of Grey’s Anatomy,” Muenz said. “I also FaceTimed my friends frequently so I had people to talk to.“I rate my overall experience a 2/10; I did get to chill out and watch a lot of TV, but now I am swamped with work and struggling to catch up.” According to Swift, we are not going back to remote learning due to vaccinations and AAPS watching the cases. Schools (individually) may go remote for a period of time, but not the whole district. Parent Allison Jeter is an active helper in her childrens’
schools -- King Elementary School, Clague Middle School and Skyline High School. As a substitute, she says she is elated to have a bit of normalcy but is sad when it came to hearing about the staff shortages. “ I have a great deal of understanding about both the teacher/staff shortages and the bus driver shortage [and route adjustments],” Jeter said. “I think the people to blame -- at least for the teacher shortage -- are not just AAPS leadership and their poor leadership skills throughout the pandemic, but our Government leaders for failing to increase state education spending for far too many years. Jeter is also part of the A2 Reasonable Return (A2R2), “a grassroots advocacy group of parents, students, and community members concerned that virtual and hybrid learning leaves many Ann Arbor children and families behind.” “The teachers, principals, and staff have been our saving grace during this pandemic,” Jeter said. “They’ve been constant, professional, strong and graceful even as all my faith in the district leadership waned and then disappeared. The teachers and staff are why we kept our children in AAPS instead of fleeing to a neighboring district or private school.”
Graphics by Vish Gondesi
OCT. 7 Bus #40 and Bus #142 30-60 min. late
OCT. 8
Bus #96 an hour late
OCT. 11 Bus #90 15-30 min. late
OCT. 25
OCT. 14 Bus #90 and Bus #128 unspecified time
OCT. 12 Bus #90 30 min. late
OCT. 15 Bus #128 30 min. late
Bus #18 an hour late
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 10 | OPINION
Top four Questions I Get as the Black Student Union President Black Student Union (BSU) is a club for those who are interested in learning about African American culture, their contributions, their history and traditions.
JEWEL STORRS GUEST WRITER
3. Is it necessary for BSU to be the largest activity/club in the school?
1. Is BSU only for black people? There has always been a stigma associated with BSU -- that it’s only for African Americans. It’s not. All are welcome. As a student that is interracial (black and white), so many people have told me that I shouldn’t be president because of the color of my skin. That didn’t stop me from being president of BSU. So please don’t be intimidated. Join us.
As president of BSU, I think that this club is important because there is so much BSU does for the school and community. Our vice president, James Thomas agrees. “I believe that the club should be the largest club because we provide so much for the school community by providing a safe space for students to express themselves and their ideas,” Thomas said. BSU is a very popular club at most schools, which makes it important. Huron BSU leads Black History Month and the Multicultural Assembly, which are two of the biggest events at our school with dedicated release time from class.
4. What does it mean to increase awareness of suppressed voices? 2. Is BSU a safe environment? This is implicit bias. Not sure what that means? Basically, it is when your brain takes shortcuts without you even being aware of it. It means that the media has been feeding you images and stereotypes for years, especially when it comes to race. So, of course our club is safe. Since BSU is a space to create ideas, learn about their culture and to embrace it, of course it is a safe space. When I was a freshman, I joined BSU to go see what it was about, since I just needed something to do in school because I was having a hard time. As soon as I walked into the room, I was welcomed and everyone was happy to be there and learn.
Many people use their voices everyday—to talk to people, to communicate their needs and wants—but the idea of “voice” goes much deeper, which is why people ask, “What does it mean to increase awareness of those suppressed voices?” Having a voice gives an individual agency and power and a way to express their beliefs. But what happens when that voice is expressed differently from the norm? What happens when that voice is in some way silenced? Huron BSU is going to raise that awareness in our school by having our members hold a poster in the hallway throughout the day of someone whose voice had been silenced.
On Oct. 29, BSU president Jewel Storrs participated in a silent protest against police brutality. RIDHIMA KODALI
Adjusting to in-person school: it’s time to work together Staff Editorial: Post-virtual learning challenges call for your flexibility Ever since COVID hit, AAPS lived through a year and a half of online school. It’s an understatement to say that things have been different ever since we came back. Not the obvious differences, such as wearing a mask in school at all times, free lunch, moving to a seven hour day or even the change in our email addresses. But AAPS is faced with major staff shortages. Buses are coming late. Students are going to the cafeteria because there aren’t enough sub-
stitutes. We all know these problems need to be fixed, but in reality, we need to be more flexible. Teachers take time to make sub plans and prepare perfect lessons for the substitutes. But even with the increase of pay for substitute teachers, there is still a shortage. On Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, with a sudden absence of teaching staff, Huron, Skyline and Forsythe could not simply send students to the cafeteria, so the in-person day was changed
to asynchronous. It happened again, a week later, except this time the entire district did not meet in person. While this is not ideal, it is still better to be in-person and have a day off than be at home all the time. Another significant issue is the lack of bus drivers. On multiple occasions routes are combined, causing tardiness up to an hour for students, equivalent to missing an entire class. As a community, this is another unprecedented
transition, in which we need to gradually learn how to hold the district accountable in the right way. There is only so much a social media rant can do or demanding answers from the subs, drivers and people who aren’t directly responsible. Being late to a class due to transportation the school provides is something students can’t control. A lack of substitute teachers is something students can’t control. Students should not be the ones punished.
It is time for our community to step up to help in any way possible. Whether it be a temporary sub or working out a transportation schedule with others, there is something we can all do to mediate the prevalent issues that COVID-19 has still brought on. Ultimately, if this in-person plan continues to be a viable option, it will require us to reacquaint ourselves with working together instead of apart like the past year and a half.
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 11 | OPINION
Why you should truly care about the homeless problem guidelines. Homeless people aren’t dangerous. They aren’t scary. They aren’t a problem. Not every interaction I’ve had with ELIOT DIMCHEFF people asking for money on Staff Writer the streets has gone as well. Downtown Ann Sometimes I see loud verbal Arbor isn’t known for fights amongst a row of men people who are homeless and women sitting against the way that Los Angeles a mural, their belongings might be, but if you take a strewn across the sidewalk walk through the sometimes in front of them. In Liberty quaint, well-appointed Plaza, people smoke and and art-covered streets, wear trash bags. These you’re bound to see some. things aren’t bad. Nobody is Groundcover volunteers perfect, and how could I, or stand on busy street corners anyone, judge the desperate with their newspapers, and actions of someone without weary men and women sit a home when we have a roof on milk-crates and stare over our heads and food to out of alleyways. It’s easy eat? for a lot of people to turn In our own county, their heads, keep walking we have plenty of possible and ignore the issue. If they solutions. Ann Arbor really can’t ignore it, they only has one shelter for might drop a couple of cents adults, the perpetually into a cup. Not even enough overwhelmed Delonis money to buy a Center. But pack of gum. the center In late doesn’t have Nobody is perfect, and September, enough how could I, or anyone, passing an room. judge the desperate alcove down the People actions of someone street from the aren’t CVS, that’s what getting the without a home when I did. A couple help they we have a roof over our cents into a need. We heads and food to eat? cup, and a curt need better “Thank you, housing Have a nice day.” options, and we need At the CVS, I bought them fast. Something that a club soda and then turned everyone reading this can back. I dropped $5 into do: donate to local the cup and then the man, charities. who had haggard, crooked teeth, formed a welcoming, weathered smile, asking me for a big favor. He needed $20 for insulin, he told me. I fished for the remainder of the bills and gave it to him. He fist bumped me and I parted, then turned. “I gotta go the other way,” I said. The man laughed. According to a 2018 report from the Washtenaw County Continuum of Care, 3,312 people are homeless in the county. Nearly 500 of those are considered “chronically homeless,” are experiencing long term homelessness or have experienced repeat homelessness in the recent past. Almost 200 homeless are veterans. 661 families are homeless. 1 in 5 homeless individuals are survivors of domestic abuse. These people are not in envious situations. And COVID-19 has only made it worse. No housing means the homeless can’t self-isolate, and many do not have access to the necessary resources to follow CDC
Sophomores Anna Esper and Skye Scott took a road trip to Cleveland, Ohio to watch a Harry Styles concert in October, 2021. COURTESY OF ANNA ESPER
The secret life of a fan girl ANNA ESPER Staff Writer Ever since I was a little girl, I have heard to not be that crazy fan. “Don’t be the girl who screams for boy bands or pop singers.” “Don’t be that girl who lines up at the crack of dawn to see your favorite artist.” “Whatever you do, don’t talk about your favorite artist as much as you talk about hobbies.” I believe that it is time to get over it. Society has come too far in the world of music for girls to get hated on for just liking what they like. It’s not them who needs to grow up, it’s you. Let’s start from the beginning. The Beatles. Now, don’t get me wrong, there have been fans of different artists or bands for years before The Beatles, but they had a big impact on teen culture. When The Beatles started to become popular, it was teenage girls who started listening and following them. It wasn’t just the music they made. It was who they were as people. During the time period it was something new. They helped bring people together. This could be compared to modern day stans who would line up for hours to hear this band. Now, The Beatles are considered one of the greatest bands of all time. They have broken records, been given numerous awards and made it to the halls of fame. Who are we to judge when these people are considered amazing among generations? These teenagers loved The Beatles and were called over-dramatic and crazy. Now, The Beatles are considered the best of the best. Additionally, I hear a lot of people ask “Well, what do you learn as a stan?” This is a good question because there are a lot of things that you learn. Some examples are marketing, community building, organization,
social media editing and management and video editing. Something big about being a stan is trying to get the artist’s song or album to the top of the charts. There are many different ways to do this, but the main way is streaming music, which can do a lot in the music world. It’s how artists make money, get their songs on the radio, get nominated for different awards and gain a larger following. So as you can see, streams are a big deal. Now there are many ways that stans do to get artists’ streams up. One way is creating a streaming party, a type of fan project that gets artists’ streams up while listening to your favorite artist with others. To add on, these streaming parties are all organized by the stans during their free time. It helps many teens develop communication and organization skills. It can also help teach time management and give teens a way to be creative with the things they enjoy. Another phrase that I hear a lot is “Well, why do you have to be so over-dramatic?“ Let’s picture this: you are at a sports game for your favorite team. There is always a winner and a loser in sports. When your team wins, everyone around you starts screaming. You can also see fans of the losing team screaming and sometimes fighting. This is a huge gendered issue. With things that can attract a larger group of male fans, no one bats an eye about their behavior. There is a difference between the way society views sports teams and music artists. Girls are found “emotional, overdramatic, embarrassing, and obsessive“ when men are found “normal.“ Additionally, being a stan is a way to find people who like the same things as you. There are many different ways to connect with others. One way is to create a Twitter account. Twitter is one of the main social media platforms stans use to connect with each other. There is actually a side of Twitter called
“Stan Twitter,” where stans communicate and streaming parties happen. If you feel alone, there are others who you can relate to. The music that you love, others also love. Music is a way to express yourself and connect with others. It is an outlet for so many teenagers to not feel alone. I have been a fan of Taylor Swift for seven years. I first listened to her when I was in third grade after her album 1989 was released. I remember listening to my CD in the car with my mom. I also became a huge Harry Styles fan at the beginning of the pandemic. The pandemic was something new and scary. In a time when everything felt so cold and alone, music was a way to escape. When I first listened to Harry Styles’ album Fine Line, it was a reminder that everything would be okay. I have been made fun of numerous times for the music I like. It hurts when people make fun of you for something that is so important to you. When I found out that other girls my age felt the same way about music, it made me feel normal. What I liked was okay. Now I know that there are others that feel the same way and that if someone makes fun of me, it doesn’t matter because it’s what’s important to me. That is what counts. It is about time that we stop hating on teenage girls just because they like something different than you do. Just because someone is different doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the same respect as you do, especially if you are a fan of something. It is time to understand instead of judging “Who’s to say that young girls who like pop music - short for popular, right? Have worse musical taste than a 30- year old hipster guy,“ Harry Styles said. “You gonna tell me they are not serious?“
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Coin graphic by Kelly Park Cup: Creative Commons
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 12 | ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
The newest Netflix obsession
A few unexpected discoveries
curiosity or fear. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk also includes lots of explicit and implicit gore, which adds to these suspenseful MARK KEREKES and fearful feelings. An STAFF WRITER example of this would For the last sevbe cutting away from a eral weeks, there has character right before they been a new craze floating are killed. This happens around the world. It’s several times and it builds not a song, a video game a sense of unknown and or even a movie. It’s the fear in the viewer. It uses revolutionary new Korean these angles just right, drama-action series Squid so as not to disorient or Game. Squid Game is one confuse the viewer, but of the best new shows, just enough to tell them given that it has received what is going on, and let hype and praise from the viewer guess what millions of viewers and will happen next. critics. In terms of critical The plot of the reviews, it has been show is simple: a group of reviewed incredibly 456 people, all of them in positively, serious debt or financial receiving some of hardship, are placed onto the highest ratings an island where they play of any recent TV various children’s games show. On Rotten for their lives. One of the Tomatoes, it interesting parts of the received an show is that it doesn’t impressive 91 focus on just one or two percent, and characters; it focuses a whopping on several: Gi-Hun, the 96 percent gambler in debt to loan of viewers on sharks, Sang-Woo, the Google users corrupt businessman, said they Kang Sae-Byeok, the North liked the Korean defector, and Ali, show. the Pakistani immigrant, Many to name a few. All of these of these different focuses add reviews praise its many perspectives to the excellent character show, showing us how development and its these games are affecting layered, interesting everyone in different plot, and I have to situations. It creates say I agree with a large scope for us them. If I am not viewers to spectate going to give this the games from show a number many different or star rating, angles. I’ll leave that Another reason job up to you. why this It’ll be easily show is a new one of your obsession is its best watches cinematography. of 2021. If The use of certain there is a second camera angles, season coming, such as long shots I am excited to and framed angles, see what it will are phenomenal at bring. generating feelings of suspense,
GINA KO STAFF WRITER
“Have you watched the show ‘Squid Game?’” my dad asked me on Sunday evening. He started talking about how “Squid Game” was brought up in his work conference, questioning me with a curious look that wanted me to introduce him to the story. Unfortunately, that was the first time I ever heard of “Squid Game,” and I was not able to meet his expectations. My mom, who stood in the kitchen making dinner, joined the conversation immediately as she heard the words ‘Squid Game’. She recalled the squid game that she played a lot in her childhood, not noticing he was talking about it as a Netflix series. They shared their childhood experiences, playing the various games while I was eating dinner silently. The next day, when I faced an awkward moment from my friends as I confessed I had not watched “Squid Game,” some kind of bad feeling took place inside my mind. Maybe it was that the feeling of embarrassment of not knowing a popular Korean show or my desires of wanting GRAPHIC BY KELLY PARK
to be on trend. As my Korean friends started posting on their Instagram stories about the show, the nervous feeling grew increasingly, and later, I found myself in front of the screen watching the trailer of “Squid Game.” On Wednesday night, I logged into my Netflix account, which had not been activated for nine months and started to watch the first episode. Overcoming my negative preconception toward the Netflix series, I finished the entire show in two days, staying up until 3 a.m. Now, I was able to introduce the story to my dad, join the reminiscing conversation at my dinner table and understand the memes posted on my friends’ Instagram. More importantly, six games on the episode—which are commonly played in Korea— reminded me of a precious memory that I had forgotten for a long time. Throughout my childhood, playing various games in a small playground near my house was my favorite thing to do. Every time I realized my parents would come home later, I immediately sensed a silence that made me think of strangers inside my closet. Trying to get rid of this fear, I stepped out of the house and arrived at the most comfortable place in the world: the playground, where many kids were playing games altogether. The easiest game for us was READ THE FULL STORY ON THEHURONEMERY. COM
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THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 15 | SPORTS
My own diagnosis: The journey to walking “normally” LYDIA HARGETT NEWS EDITOR
flared up, even creeping up to my hips. Others noticed my discomfort and even began As I was about to to comment on the way I jump in the ice-cold water at walked. My knees turned practice, my coach held up in unnaturally and knocked my ringing phone. “Hospital,” against each other. Stairs read the caller ID. This was it. became a struggle. I returned “Yes, I’m Lydia to Emily, and we focused for Hargett,” I answered, and was several months on my knees immediately told I needed a and hips, concluding with my parent. Still in my swimsuit, promise that I would again I left the pool, hopped in my persist with home exercises. car and drove home, where By now a high schooler my mom was waiting. After standing just under six feet, discussing details with the I was increasingly selfhospital representative for conscious about my walking. an hour, we finished. I drove Swim season, particularly back to practice grinning junior year, was a nightmare ear to ear and burst through full of pain. I returned to the doors with a triumphant Emily (who now affectionately shout: “My surgery is on July called me “a frequent flier”). 9th!” I was on my way to We were both mystified about overcoming my life’s biggest my pain, but I knew there was challenge. a solution. It was up to me to It began at eight discover it. Next step? X-rays years old, when a mysterious of my hips and knees. Simple, ankle pain worsened after right? I advanced to travel soccer. Not simple. Multiple scans revealed “Futile,” my doctor nothing unusual. claimed. “People your age “You just need more rarely have hip problems.” I strength,” one orthopedic was persistent—even angry. surgeon told me. Sighing and shaking her head, Months of working the doctor finally relented, with Emily, a physical but it was Emily who noticed therapist, followed. Little did something amiss on those I know the films. Her crucial role observation she would led me at play in my last to my journey. diagnosis: At home, I hip dysplasia. continued Severe, and my exercises of an order diligently rarely seen in and resumed adolescents. soccer, but Hip dysplasia the pain was is a condition unabated affecting and I had to about 1 of quit. Since I every 1,000 had always babies born, loved water, but many I joined a people never competitive find out they swim team. I Senior Lydia Hargett had the have it because thought since surgery on July 9, 2021 at Beauit causes them mont Hospital. COURTESY OF LYDIA there was no harm. It is HARGETT no running an abnormality involved, my joint problems in the hip joint, and the femur would cease. I was wrong. and pelvic bones do not fit For a few years, together like they should, swimming was going well. My causing pain. I have dealt ankle pain was gone. I loved with the pain and feeling of my teammates and coaches. unstableness my whole life. But a new pain in my knees My research led me
Up north at the Crystal Lake Alpaca Farm, senior Lydia Hargett uses her forearm crutches. COURTESY OF LYDIA HARGETT
to the possibility of surgery. Emily and my P.T. team agreed that despite the long recovery, it would be worth it. With the name of a surgeon in hand, I picked up the phone. Soon afterwards, a video call with him affirmed that to eliminate my pain and correct my range of motion, two surgeries would be required: one on my femur, and the other, on my pelvis. The first surgery I needed was a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), and the second was a femoral rotational osteotomy. My next obstacle was my skeptical parents. I persevered, scheduling the needed tests and an in-person surgeon visit. One month later, my dad — unconvinced and nervous — and I —giddy — went to the office. As the surgeon talked, my dad began to relax and accept my plan. The morning of July 9, hair in French braids as
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directed, it hit me that my self-advocacy had made this happen. Even when my doctor doubted I had something worth fixing, I had initiated my own medical care. As I began to go under, I heard my mother’s worried mutterings, but I was happy. I had done everything: appointment scheduling, research, persistence through opposition. Thanks to Emily and her team, the Internet and my own diligence, I had found the solution. I knew that when I woke up, my life would be different. Better. Easier. And I was the cause of the change. When I woke up, the first thing I felt was pain, and I immediately fell back asleep. After a few hours, the drowsiness began to go away as doctors and nurses talked to me. The scars on my leg were huge: one on my outer thigh is 8 inches long, the other, over my hip bone, is 4 inches long. Only 12 hours
I knew that when I woke up, my life would be different. Better. Easier. And I was the cause of the change.
later, the physical therapist at the hospital had me standing up, attempting to walk around, which was extremely difficult. I quickly realized that before the surgery, I had not fully processed what was going to happen to me. Months later, the crutches have finally been ditched, and I am back at physical therapy with Emily and her team working to gain my strength back. As my surgeon said, “The surgery is the easy part. It’s the recovery after that is hard.” I do exercises and stretches twice a day to keep my leg from cramping up. I wish I could say my journey is near its end, but that is not true. I have to get the same surgeries on my other side next summer, and the process will start all over again. Even though this has been one of the hardest periods in my life, I am very happy with my decision to go through with the surgeries, and I am confident that I will one day regain all my strength and finally be able to walk normally.
Back in season THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 2: NOVEMBER 16 | SPORTS
A Huron fall sports season rundown ZAIN CHARANIA STAFF WRITER
Freshman soccer With a winning record, the freshman boys’ soccer team had a great season. Freshman coach, Sara Badalamente, shared her thoughts and aspirations for the program. “I can 100 percent say that all of my boys are faster than the beginning of the season and that’s important,” Badalamente said. The team finished their season with a 7-2-2 record. The first game the boys played against Ann Arbor Pioneer ended with a tie of 0-0, but in their second matchup, the Huron boys pulled through with a 5-0 win. “The second thing was just gaining confidence on the field and scoring goals,” Badalamente said. “As you can see, we were successful in those efforts. And then it was just learning to pick up the pace of the game in general so just like quick passes so that’s something we’re still working on. But it’s definitely improved from the beginning.” Varsity Volleyball Losing to Canton in the fifth set, the varsity volleyball team was defeated by the Chiefs in the semifinals for districts. The Rats had a strong season according
to head coach Toney Cummer. “Varsity has won 10 of their last 12 matches including a tournament Championship at the Walled Lake Northern Invite a couple weeks ago,” Cummer said. “We are currently tied for 3rd in the SEC Red with Dexter (Skyline and Saline are 1 and 2). We are 14 -6 at the moment with all of our Losses coming to teams that are ranked in the top ten in the State in their Division.” Varsity Tennis The boys ended their season at Kalamazoo at the State Tournament. “Our team did better than expected,” junior Ahmed Hejazi said. “We got sixth place at states and we had some players make finals and semi-finals.” Varsity Field Hockey The varsity field hockey team is known for its success on the field. Their season started with two-adays. Their morning practice was 7- 9 p.m. and their afternoon practices were another two hours. The Rats finished with a 5-8-2 record. Their standout memories came from their tournament in Illinois. The girls took an over night trip to Chicago to play in the Husky Tournament. “We stopped on the way at Lake Michigan where we ate lunch on the beach,”
junior Sanora Manthey said. “The bus ride was really great because we had team bonding.” In district play, the field hockey team lost in their first match up against Dexter with a score being 1-0.
GRAPHIC BY ANNABELLE YE PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE YEARBOOK STAFF
Huron crew teams compete in one of the largest regattas in the world JADEN BOSTER, LEELA RAGHAVENDRAN, ANNABELLE YE STAFF WRITERS On Oct. 21-25, the Huron rowing team took two boats to the Head of the Charles in Boston, one of the most famous and largest regattas in the world. The women’s varsity four, junior Abby Steele, junior Eliza Van Ee, senior Maddie Kieft, senior Audrey Wu and junior Anika Lautenbach,
placed 19 out of 84 teams, re-qualifying the varsity girls for next year. As the team takes home this victory, some members reflect on their victory. “The best part of Head of the Charles Regatta was honestly the environment,” Van Ee said. “Crew isn’t a sport many people know a lot about, so getting to be surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people who have just as much, if not more love for the
sport than I do is such an amazing experience.” Audrey Wu agreed. “I loved that it was a big event of people who all loved rowing,” Wu said. “It was awesome seeing everyone having the same love for this sport, while having fun racing.” Van Ee described the environment as “exciting, as well as a healthy amount of nervous energy,” as they watched boats
narrowly miss bridges and as Huron’s team rowed up to the start of the race. The men’s varsity four, junior Simon Shavit, senior Theo McGovern, senior Lee Fingar-Myers, senior Nico Pontius and senior Tyler Parrish put up a fight, but didn’t re-qualify for next year. As the fall season ends, the women’s
varsity coach, Maggie Zimmerman-Parsons, specified what the main goals were this past season. “Some of our main goals this season were ‘fast is fun,’ and the ‘shine theory,’” ZimmermanParsons said. “You have to help others shine in order to make yourself shine.”
The Huron women’s varsity eight speeds to the finish line at the first main regatta of the season. CARLOS PEREZ