November/December Issue by Lightning Strike

LightningStrike Taking Miami-Dade by Storm

Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High • 1410 Countyline Road • Miami, Florida 33179

www.lightningstrikenews.com December 20, 2016 • Issue 3 • Volume 19

TRUMP’S CABINET PICKS

A glimpse into the President-elect’s closest conﬁdantes for the next four years Jacob Singer online managing editor The American people elected Donald Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, but along with them comes a cabinet of people that will shape the future of this country for years to come. Here are some of the major nominations that Trump has made so far.

Secretary of State As Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson will be responsible for handling United States involvement in foreign affairs. Tillerson is currently the CEO of ExxonMobil, the second ranked company on the Fortune 500 list. As the CEO of a large, multinational, oil and gas corporation, Tillerson has experience dealing with leaders from countries

around the world. Like Trump, Tillerson will have to transition from the business world to the public sector. While generating revenue was his major interest as CEO, as Secretary of State, security and the country’s well-being become his most important interests. Unlike some on the right, Tillerson believes that humans are contributing to climate change and has come out in support of the Paris climate agreement and a tax on carbon. However, those concerned with climate change are worried that a Secretary of State with a background in fossil fuels may not be the most environmentally friendly appointment. If Tillerson’s actions reﬂect a more moderate stance on climate change, and he is able to use his international business acumen to safeguard American interests, he may be able to appease

those on both sides of the aisle.

Secretary of Treasury The Secretary of Treasury is responsible for handling the country’s economic policy. Steven Mnuchin is a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs. He is also a founder of multiple hedge funds and a ﬁnancier of movies such as Avatar and American Sniper. Another pick from the private sector, Mnuchin will also look to adapt his business success to a position of public servitude. Mnuchin has said that his top priority is tax reform. He wants to reduce corporate taxes in order to stimulate job growth. Mnuchin also plans to cut taxes for the middle class and simplify the tax system in order to reduce loopholes. Reforming Dodd-Frank is another priority for Mnuchin and the Trump administration. He believes that

the legislation is too harsh on ﬁnancial institutions that help boost the economy. Ultimately, the administration wants to emphasize job growth and retention. Mnuchin’s involvement in helping the Trump administration orchestrate the Carrier Air Conditioning deal that saved 800 American jobs could be a sign of success in the future.

Secretary of Defense The job of the Secretary of Defense is to oversee military operations, and James “Mad Dog” Mattis’s background made him a clear choice for the job in the eyes of the Trump administration. Mattis, a retired general, has been an outspoken critic of the Obama administration’s stances on conﬂict in the Middle East. Like Trump, Mattis believes that the withdrawal of troops from the Middle East opened

the door for ISIS and other extremist groups to take control. However, there are several key differences in opinion between Trump and Mattis. Mattis is not as inclined as Trump to develop a friendship with Russia and believes that some of Putin’s actions are disconcerting. He is also in favor of a strict enforcement of the Iran deal instead of discontinuing it like Trump prefers. There is a rule in place that says the Secretary of Defense must be a civilian, so as a general, Mattis would need a congressional waiver to assume the position. These three individuals will play an enormous role in creating important US policy. Trump is continuing to ﬁll his cabinet before he is inaugurated on Jan 20. For more political updates, including the full list of Trump’s appointments, visit lightningstrikenews.com.

EDUCATION

Eighth graders visit school in “Lightning for a Day” Michael Katz editor-in-chief Eighteen cheese wagons loaded with over 800 wide-eyed eighth graders from seven of Krop’s feeder schools arrived at Krop Senior High for the second annual “Lightning for a Day” orientation on Dec. 16. They were greeted by the dance-inducing sounds of the drumline and led by the over 50 Student Government and NJROTC volunteers through an array of somersaulting cheerleaders to the auditorium, where they watched performances by the Dance, Drama and Chorus Magnet programs. “I loved the cheerleaders,” Aces eighth grader Gabriel Belfer said. “Their energy was electric.” After being split into groups of 15, they were taken on tours of

Krop by volunteers from SGA, National Honor Society and NJROTC in groups of 15 – but not before Ms. Clappier sent an overexcited Highland Oaks Middle student to CSI for shouting at a dancer to “take her clothes off” in the middle of her performance. On the way, students stopped by Science Department Chair David Buncher’s room, where they saw him swing a tube to recreate the sound effects in Brittany Spears’ hit single “Toxic,” along with the student ﬁtness room, where Coach Caron Schiffman and her students lifted weights, stretched resistance bands, and practiced swinging rope training. Students also visited a club fair in the media center, where 17 clubs and nine electives, including the chess club, philosophy club and fashion club, showed off the

various extracurriculars students can join. After the tours, the 800 middle schoolers and over 500 Krop students who volunteered to help run the event kicked back in the gym and ended the day by watching a classic Krop pep rally, from the Presentation of Colors by the NJROTC to the Black and Silver cheer by the cheerleaders. “I love the fact that [Krop] is not just academic,” Highland Oaks Middle administrator Rosanna Phylactou said. “I was shocked by the variety and the quality of the activities Krop offers. The orchestra sounded like a symphony, and the dancers looked like professionals. But what shocked me the most is how the school is so big and has so much going on, and yet everyone knows what they’re doing.”

MICHAEL KATZ/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

HIGH SCHOOLERS FOR A DAY: Eighth grade private school students watch a pep rally hosted by Krop students. Over 800 eighth graders visited the school in “Lightning for a Day.”

‘TIS THE SEASON

The perfect gift for every occasion!

More inside:

• MDCPS must offer more mental health resources- page 5 • Eric Quinn: From student to staff member- page 7 • Check out these movies (again) - page 12 • Prioritize what is on your plate- page 15 • O’Connor returns for senior year- page 18

Pages 10 - 11

• Let your choice be heard- page 5 • 10 things about Dr. Blucher Menelas- page 8 • From behind desks to behind cameras- page 13 • Soap chemicals banned by FDA- page 16 • Students share their best sports experiences- page 19

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News

Page 2 Compiled by Mikaela Mendez

tops KROP’S

Juniors Mayra Rodriguez and Mark Itkin recieved third and fifth place, respectively, at a math competition in Florida Gulf Coast University. The Speech and Debate Team is in the Top 23 percent in the nation, according to the National Speech and Debate Association. Krop GSA Spectrum’s Living Rainbow was invited to perform for the entire high school student body at Gulliver Preparatory and, in response, recieved a $100 award from Safe Schools South Florida. Sophomores Jacqueline Hatch and Jordan Singer recieved first place in Duo Interpretation, seniors Tomas Korn and Jacob Gale recieved first place in Varsity Public Forum Debate at the Falcon Invite Tournament. Junior Christina James recieved third place in Oral Interpretation, and sophomores Jaqueline Hatch and Jordan Singer were semifinalists in Duo Interpretation at the Princeton Tournament. Florida Scholastic Press Association placed the school’s Ink Magazine, run by Nazla Lara, Alexis Fried, Aaron Abeid, Dominique Hardy and Sydney Warsing in the Gold category with two Marks of Distinction for Reader Services and Design. Compiled by Mila Sicorsky

TheTheLightning Strike • September 2008 Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

From local to global:

What’s going on around the world?

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA.: In honor of World AIDS Day, Apple has given more than 400 of its stores a makeover in red. The movement is called Red, and plan to raise money for charities relating to the disease.

WASHINGTON, D.C: Presidentelect Donald Trump is aiming to repeal ObamaCare, but half of Americans aren’t so eager to have the reform law removed. Some 49% of Americans prefer the expansion or continuation of the law, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: Four protesters were arrested after news broke out that the ofﬁcer who fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott will not be charged.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Amazon is opening up its first grocery store, but it doesn’t have checkout lines. It is supposed to sell grocery essentials and ready-made meals. In a video unveiled by the company, it shows the customers checking in at the entrance of the store with a new app called AmazonGo.

UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA: In the city of Agra a cafe called Sheroes Hangout Cafe was opened by acid attack survivors. Founded by the Stop Acid Attacks, the cafe aims to bring awareness about acid attacks and give conﬁdence to survivors of the attack.

RIYADH, SAUDIA ARABIA: Prince Alwaleed bin Talal wrote in a blog post that “it is time that women start driving their cars and it is high time that we turn the page on this issue.” Talal believes that the ban infringes women’s rights and drags on the economy. sources: CNN The Miami Herald

Compiled by Mercedes Hipolito

ENVIRONMENT

Activists protest Dakota Access Pipeline construction Mila Sicorsky news editor

Just over a year has passed since environmental activists blocked construction of the Keystone XL project, a 1,179-mile-long oil pipeline that would prove disastrous to the environment. But they didn’t expect to be met with the Dakota Access Pipeline, which was approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers in late July. The Dakota Access Pipeline, also known as the Bakken Pipeline, is a 1,172-mile-long oil pipeline designed to stretch from North Dakota to Illinois. Energy Transfer Partners, the company in charge of the project, claims that besides

making oil transportation much easier and quicker, the Dakota Access Pipeline would add an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 jobs. Although the pipeline provides economic incentives, activists worldwide, namely the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which has its reservation near the construction zone, have bashed it. Sioux natives assert that the Dakota Access Pipeline threatens their health and culture. While the pipeline doesn’t fall on their land, it is true that a potential spill would prove catastrophic to people living on the reservation. Besides its environmental impact on the Sioux, the project would pass through native grounds of cultural

signiﬁcance, like burial sites and sacred spots. In the name of disturbance to their lands, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to halt construction. While the federal district court that heard the case didn’t stop construction of the pipeline, government ofﬁces like the Department of Justice temporarily banned further building near Sioux lands. But Sioux natives aren’t the only ones protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. Celebrities, like actresses Shailene Woodley, who was arrested for trespassing during a demonstration, and Jane Fonda are outspoken critics of the project, even going as far as organizing a dinner for

those affected by the pipeline. An additional estimated 5000 people have camped outside the construction zone. Months of demonstrations paid off on Dec. 5 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would reroute the pipeline and look for alternate locations to construct it. Although protestors rejoiced at the announcement, there are fears that a new presidential administration will revoke the decision. “If the incoming administration tries to undo this and jam the pipeline through despite the need for an analysis of alternatives, we will certainly be prepared to challenge that in court,” Jan Hasselman, an attorney for the Sioux tribe, said.

HEALTH

Despite rumors, school water tested safe to drink

Jonah Muchnick bussiness manager

Walking through the halls or listening to discussions in class, students may get the impression that Krop’s water is unsafe or “gross.” But recent water contaminant tests completed by the Lightning Strike staff have conﬁrmed that our water supply meets EPA standards. When Señor Gonzalez saw the janitorial staff cleaning the water ﬁlter, he became suspicious that the water quality was not up to snuff.

“They were cleaning the pipes, and I saw some dark red water in the pipes,” he said. In addition, the water’s taste has led many students to claim that the water fountains supply water that is not up to standards. To test this, we used a water test kit from First Alert that provides data on pesticide, chlorine, lead, pH, hardness, nitrate, nitrite, iron and bacteria levels in the water. The tests have shown that all harmful contaminants, including pesticide, chlorine, lead, nitrate, nitrite, iron and

bacteria, were well below the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards. However, the tests also showed that the pH levels were approximately 10, with EPA standards being 8, and water hardness was between 120 and 250 ppm (parts per million), with EPA standards being 50 ppm. But both pH and water hardness levels do not have health detriments. According to APEC Water, a high pH causes an alkaline, or bitter, taste in the water, while a high water hardness only affects the water’s

ability to dissolve solutes. So, the bitter taste in the our water is explained by its high pH levels, while its high hardness levels have no effect on humans’ health or taste. Since the tests for water contaminants have shown that they are well below EPA standards, it is safe to assume that our water is safe to drink. Don’t listen to the rumors, listen to the science. Don’t let anybody tell you to stop drinking from the water fountains, and make sure to correct them when they claim it will “kill you.”

News Page 3

TheLightning LightningStrike Strike• •September November/December 2016 The 2012

Students celebrate the NEWS BRIEFS arts in Open Mic Night Jacobson Sinai Academy to close

CLUBS

Tiffany Schram staff writer The Creative Writing Club held its monthly Open Mic Night on Nov. 28 in the auditorium. Students volunteered to recite poetry, sing, rap, play instrumental music, dance, perform skits/scenes, monologues or do stand-up comedy. Open Mic Night gives students a voice and an outlet for their creative talents. 20 students demonstrated their unique talents, with six students reciting original poems, six rapping, and eight singing. During the performances one could hear the passion in

their poems, the power and influence in their raps and the emotion in their singing. The audience became very involved and its energy gave the performers the courage to share their talent. Junior Chaniya Wilson said that seeing students who don’t usually go out of their comfort zone got the chance to share their talents in front of more than 50 students was inspiring. Wilson and two of her friends were the first performers of the night. They did a freestyle rap and got the audience laughing as they broke the ice to start off the show. “I performed along with my

friends and it gave me a chance to express myself, have fun and give the crowd a few laughs,” Wilson said. All poems performed showed empathy. Sophomore Gregory Pierre shared a poem regarding race, adolescents, society in the modern generation and how humans are living in today’s world. The show closed with Krop’s well-known rapper Loaded Ambition, formally known as Joshua Altenor. The crowd was on their feet as he performed “Look At Me,” an original rap. The next Open Mic Night will be on Dec.21, and all students are encouraged to participate.

-Alexis Sanford

TERRORISM

Fires bring destruction, fear to Israelis Ariel Hartzy staff writer

Terrorists in Israel have implemented a new tactic of setting ﬁres, leading to over 1,773 ﬁres that have destroyed over 32,000 acres of Israeli land. Cities, including Haifa, Neveh Shalom, Zichron Ya’acov, Modi’in, Neveh Ilan and Nataf received the most damage, leading to displacement of over 80,000 people. According to Jerusalem Online, in the city of Haifa alone over 700 houses were destroyed. Junior Maor Pilo moved to the United States from Haifa two years ago. He says that his family and friends

Due to financial instability, Jacobson Sinai Academy will be closed after the 2016-2017 school year. School President Murphy Leopold announced in his final decision that both the middle school and the lower school division were closing. “I went to Jacobson Sinai Academy for 13 years and hearing that my little sister, who is in seventh grade, won’t complete her final year at Sinai is upsetting,” junior Naomi Litwak said. “I know it’s best for Sinai to close, but it’s still sad and crazy.” The school was founded in 1973 and has over 500 students from pre-k through eighth grade. It’s the only accredited liberal Jewish day school in the Northeast Miami-Dade area that offered full-time education for early childhood, elementary and middle school students, as well as parent/child classes. The early childhood center at Temple Sinai will stay, but the middle school and the lower school division are no longer financially sustainable. BridgePrep Academy, a non-denominational charter school, will lease the space, serving kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. The enrollment will be open to the public. The possibility that one day the school would close was always there, but when it became a reality, former students like junior Ella Zaron that now attend Krop were shocked. “I grew up at Sinai, and went to school there since I was only three,” she said. “Now it will be almost impossible for my friends and I to go back and relive all of our childhood memories.”

were directly affected by the disaster. “I had friends and family that were removed from their homes by army members due to the intense fires in the area,” Pilo said. “I feared for their lives and worry that it will be too difficult to undo the damage caused by the fires.” According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israel Tax Authority agreed that a majority of fires were politically motivated arson and will provide citizens with minimal compensation for any property damages. Right now the set amount is $650 per person, but citizens are pushing to receive full compensation for lost homes. Over 20 possible suspects for the wide range of fires around the country are in custody and

being investigated. High winds spread the fires across Israel, causing even more damage to forests and wildlife. Some fires required as many as 10 firefighter teams to be put out. Families all over Israel have been left with no home and little property. Senior Ben Katri lived in Israel for 14 years and most of his family remains there. “Luckily my family wasn’t involved, but I take this very personally,” Katri said. “Israel is one unit, and I feel sorry for those who were hurt during the fire.” According to Israel Today, it is expected to take 30 years for Israel to rebuild the infrastructure required to return to its original state.

Research shows effects of social media

It comes as no shock that phones have changed the way humans communicate, specifically because of the constant access they provide to social media. But research shows that the new format of communication may have negative effects on our relationships and “people skills.” According to Paul Booth, an assistant professor of media at DePaul University in Chicago, interactions through phones, specifically social media, only foster “weak ties” between people. He explains that, with so many “friends” on social media sites, it can be easy for people to forget what a real friendship with face to face communication and in-depth conversations is like. Additionally, research points to the negative effect social media has on conversations. According to a study done by doctors Andrew K. Przybylski and Netta Weinstein, the presence of communication devices during conversations can negatively affect their closeness, connection and quality. They claim that the mere presence of phones hinders listening, an essential communication skill, as people may be paying more attention to their device than the person they’re speaking to. Yet studies also show that the recent evolution of communication may also bring benefits. Some teens say social media helps them form relationships with friends because of the constant ability to connect. According to commonsensemedia. org, 69 percent of the teens surveyed said social media helps them to get to know other students at their school better, and 57 percent of the teens said social media helped them to connect with new people who shared a common interest. Still, no one knows for sure the change in the way humans communicate is beneficial or harmful to society. Even Google chairman Eric Schmidt left a cautionary note to unplug at least one hour a day. “Life is not lived in the glow of a monitor,” he said. “It’s not about your friend count. It’s about the friends you count on.”

-Hannah Bregman

Fidel Castro dies at 90 While much of America shopped for Black Friday deals on Nov. 25, the world got news of Fidel Castro’s death. Castro, the President of Cuba from 1976 to 2008, died from undisclosed health problems. He was 90. Besides standing as the globe’s longest standing ruler in power, second only to Queen Elizabeth II, Castro remains world-famous for his involvement in the Cold War. His national policies, which sympathized with the now splitup Soviet Union, angered U.S. presidents for decades and resulted in hostility between the two nations. While Castro’s death devastated many Cubans, it was met with mixed emotions from others. Some Cubans considered Castro a tyrant who delivered false promises on economic and social progress. Still others, particularly younger and second-generation Cubans who felt no attachment to the island nation and its former ruler, said they felt nothing when they heard of Castro’s death. Whether or not Cubans took to the streets in celebration or mourning after news of Castro’s death, there’s no denying that it jolted the island nation. “History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular ﬁgure on the people and world around him,” President Barrack Obama said.

-Mila Sicorsky

Editorial Page 4

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Faithless electors for a hopeless election

Electors should perform their duty and deem Trump unqualiﬁed for presidency IN MY OPINION eric hafter

guest writer

On Monday , the electoral college will meet to vote for the 45th President of the United States. When the Framers of the Constitution included the electoral college as the mechanism for choosing the president, they wanted to ensure the people’s choice was qualified. In other words, the electoral college was instituted to provide the people a buffer against their own fickle whims. The intent of the institution grew from the distrust our Founders possessed toward a public tempted by a popular figure who lacked the credentials for the presidency. Alexander Hamilton explained the reasoning for the electoral college in Federalist Number 68: “The process of election affords a moral certainty, that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity, may alone suffice to elevate a man to the first honors in a single State; but it will require other talents, and a different kind of merit, to establish him in the esteem and confidence of the whole Union, or of so considerable a portion of it as would be necessary to make him a successful candidate for the distinguished office of President of the United States.” If there was ever a case for the

HILLY YEHOSHUA

Electoral College to do its job---its constitutional duty---as the Framers intended, it is this year. Members of the Electoral College who refuse to vote for their party’s candidate are called “faithless electors.” Few would debate Donald Trump’s lack of “requisite qualifications” or that he possesses the “confidence of the whole Union.” Hillary Clinton, after all, procured more than 2 million more votes than her billionaire opponent. Electors must acknowledge Trump’s affinity for Twitter ramblings, failure to receive daily intelligence briefings, and his propensity to take unilateral actions that threaten this nation’s security offer sufficient evidence that he has “talents for low intrigue.” Communicating with Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen,

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STAFF WRITERS FEDERICO WALDMAN, MERCEDES HIPOLITO, ARIEL HARTZY, LIKEM BONEY, HANNAH BREGMAN, HILLY YEHOSHUA, ALEXIS SANFORD, TAMIA STREETER, TIFFANY SCHRAM, LIBBY SZLAIFER, ZACHARY WEINBERGER AD POLICY

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EDITORIAL POLICY

The Lightning Strike is the student newspaper of Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School: 1410 Countyline Road, Miami, FL 33179; (305) 652-6808 Ext. 238. Opinions expressed in the editorial section do not reﬂect the viewpoints or ofﬁcial policies of the school. The Lightning Strike welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. However, we will NOT print anonymous letters. Please keep letters under 150 words and saved to a computer if possible. The editor reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to Room 2-233.

without any consultations with the current administration or anyone with foreign policy expertise demonstrates a recklessness that threatens a return to brinkmanship. Moreover, the extortion behind the Carrier deal as well as Trump’s personal conflicts of interest warrants every elector to be “faithless.” That Donald Trump is the most unqualified candidate for president in the history of the republic is not denied even by his staunchest supporters. As he names people to the most powerful positions in the American government, Trump frightens all those who value civil rights, human rights, and an impartial legal system. Naming Stephen Bannon, the mastermind behind the altright white nationalist website Breitbart News, as chief strategist sends a clear

message that a Trump Administration not only endorses but empowers racial extremism. Michael Flynn, nominee for National Security Adviser, has personal and financial connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish authoritarian President Erdogan. Flynn has repeatedly espoused anti-Muslim bigotry, recently refusing to denounce waterboarding as an interrogation technique. Jeff Sessions, nominee for Attorney General, was rejected for a federal judgeship by a bipartisan Senate Judiciary committee for a long history of racist behavior and beliefs, including comments that the only problem with the Ku Klux Klan was marijuana use among members. At this critical juncture, many questions need resolution. Where is the mainstream media; why has the national interest taken a backseat to a transition that should never occur? Will Republican leaders who abandoned their nominee because of his lack of qualifications, call for the Electoral College to vote their conscience? Has the Democratic leadership considered that its credibility is at stake by providing a case to the Electoral College to do the right thing and vote for Hillary Clinton despite the results of November 8? The Democratic Party’s credibility is at stake if it cowers in silence, failing to provide the constitutional case to the Electoral College. If the Electoral College validates Donald Trump as president, then it fails its constitutional duty. It will then be time to support Senator Barbara Boxer’s bill to abolish the Electoral College forever.

DEAR READER, Despite the thirty-minute trip to find a Barnes and Noble, it’s all worth it to see what’s new in the literary world. Yet, this isn’t the case with many of my peers. More often than not, my friends gawk at me like I’m an alien when I hold a book, let alone read one. This lack of interest in reading outside of the academic environment is a depressing insight into today’s society. Reading is not an antiquated practice. Pursuing books provide people of every age, religion and ethnicity an open door to any subject imaginable and exposes us to the lives of others, including their history, hopes and despair within different cultures and times. Novelist George R.R. Martin simply put it, “A reader lives a hundred lives before [he/she] dies. The [individual] who never reads lives only once.” Literature instills knowledge that takes years to acquire. Our recently appointed Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis, is an avid reader and believer in literary merit. In fact, before being stationed in Iraq in 2004, he required that his officers study his selected list of books on strategy and warfare. Mattis asserted that reading has allowed him to learn through others’ experiences, which has in turn made him a successful general. Mattis’ words are refreshing and should be instilled in the minds of young students. Robust reading habits must be formed early and practiced frequently, which would develop better reading practices than the sporadic habits of the rest of society. It is no wonder both Barnes and Noble and Borders, the only book stores located within ten miles of the school, were closed in 2013. While we all can’t have a library of 7,000 books like General Mattis, we can at least start with one… for now.

Sabrina Dillon

Opinion

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

Page 5

POLITICS

DEBATE

Loss for the democrats is not a loss for democracy

Teachers should be allowed to voice political views

IN MY OPINION megan orlanski

megan orlanski

Sharing political opinions in classrooms IN MY OPINION

lifestyle editor

We lost with the bases loaded. We had our share of strikes, so did they. They threw their curve-balls, we caught their pop ups. Our democracy, America and it’s people, had to face that we lost the big game, the election. It’s too late now. One side played dirty and so did we. Their coaches pushed, so did ours. They had good equipment, we thought we did too. With each state we lost it was like another runner caught trying to steal a base. When we lost Florida it was a swing and miss. When we lost Ohio it was a failed attempt at a bunt that turned to a mess of tears and pain. It’s already clear who the winners and the losers of this game are. Even though Hillary did win the popular vote, our nation runs on a different system, and a recount will not change the outcome. If you wanted join Jill Stein’s team, it didn’t work, so accept the fact that our President- Elect is Donald Trump and come to terms with it. Sure, we mourn the loss of the championship game we call the election. Maybe if we played catch just a little more in the yard, pushed a little harder and wanted the trophy just a bit more, we could have made it. However, mass protests are still being held around the nation demonstrating the fact that the electoral system dictates the victor of this game. Now is time to show sportsmanship, to shake the hand of the other team and promise to regain that trophy four years from now. We can’t walk away now. Do you turn your back on something both our ancestors and today’s generations have given their blood, sweat and tears to create? No, because you don’t leave democracy standing alone on the pitcher’s mound while their head hangs low and the other team celebrates. You dust yourself off and admit, “This is rough, but we did our best and sometimes that’s just not enough.” The results of this election are a test on how to preserve our nation. Do we walk away or do we stay strong? Do we give up when things don’t go our way? No, we treat democracy like a kid after a bad loss. Embrace the American ideal of being young, scrappy and hungry. We are youthful in our spirits, scrappy in our beginnings and hungry for constant change. And don’t forget to tell yourself, “It’s just a game.”

hilly yehoshua

staff writer

Lobbyists are paid to persuade legislators, but a ninth grade teacher telling her students that she supports Trump is considered crossing boundaries. Teachers should be allowed to state their political views, but should stray from indoctrinating students. Teachers can use polarizing issues to stimulate discussion to provide students with learning opportunities. Classroom debates inform students about both sides of an issue, which forces them to form an opinion on different matters such as abortion and politics. But there is a fine line between stating political views and influencing students. They should encourage discussion with their audience so that two sides of a story are presented. Teachers should be allowed to state their own opinion, but not in a way that leaves students feeling trapped and unable to express their own opinion. Miami-Dade Schools allow teachers to educate their student about their political opinion. Article XXII of the Teacher’s Union Contract states “The Board acknowledges that a free society is dependent upon the education afforded its people and, therefore, affirms the right of teachers to freely pursue truth and knowledge.” Teachers should create an atmosphere free from bias and prejudice, yet be allowed to state their views. Further guidelines state that as long as educators do not attempt to persuade students to side with them, expressing political, religious or social

views is allowed. The contracts guideline “Standards of Ethical Conduct” states that teachers cannot “unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning” or “deny a student access to diverse points of view.” Restricting teachers from expressing their political opinions violates their First Amendment right. The United States Constitution states “congress shall make no law prohibiting free exercise or abridging the freedom of speech.” It is unlawful for the government to ban teachers from wearing campaign stickers, pins or from sharing their political opinion in class. If we want to foster a true democracy, we must encourage all members of society to share their opinions. It makes sense for teachers refrain from political speech with elementary or middle school students; young students are easily influenced by older figures. But, high school students are able to formulate their own opinions; therefore, teachers should be allowed to introduce their views without fear of influence. A high school student who says that they will choose a political candidate to represent them because their teacher did is ridiculous. Most students don’t think to themselves, “I will vote Hillary because my teacher supports her.” There are constant debates regarding student rights, but no one has stopped to think about the rights of the people that educate them. Teachers should have the right to voice their political stance and create interactive exercises to inform students on current issues.

Teachers should allow students to voice their views freely

IN MY OPINION jacob singer

online managing editor

And the Time Person of the Year goes to... Donald Trump, the President-Elect of the Divided States of America. We live in a country more torn than ever. I’m fairly open about my support of Donald Trump, but there are times I’ve felt threatened because of it. After being harassed multiple times for my Donald Trump bumper sticker, I was forced to take it off my car. I also find it difficult to wear my “Make America Great Again” hat to most places in fear of being ridiculed for my political ideals. I always thought I would be free to express my beliefs in the classroom, but under the current political climate, it has become increasingly difficult to do so. Throughout my time as a student, I’ve come across many students who rarely, if ever, spoke in class. They did their work and earned presumably received fine grades. I have never been one of those students. I simply cannot sit still in a classroom without being actively engaged in class discussions. Often, I hold the less popular opinion and have even taken stances opposite of the entire class and held my own. But the polarization of Trump is different. The divisiveness is so strong that I have found myself less willing to share my opinions. I have been singled out in classrooms

for my support of Trump, and that impairs my ability to think freely. The irony of the situation is, however, that politics aside, these teachers foster free and critical thinking in their classrooms. The very fact that political bias is present means that discussions do occur. But when the discussions get political, I have to take a backseat because the teachers are dismissive of my opinions. I am writing to ask teachers to give me and others like me a chance to voice our beliefs. Right now, discussions cannot fully develop in your classes

When

the discussions get political, I have to take a backseat because the teachers are dismissive of my opinions.” because without entertaining multiple sides of an issue, argument, debate and discourse simply cannot happen. The foundation of our country comes from how we choose to educate our children. And if our society teaches children to not entertain the opinions of others, we will continue to live in the Divided States of America.

MENTAL HEALTH

MDCPS must offer more mental health resources IN MY OPINION alan imar

online editor

It is an illness that could kill, but does not register on a thermometer. The symptoms are often disregarded as irrelevant. But it is a real issue with life-altering effects. It’s called a mental health disorder. For students like Jordan, struggling with mental health is part of everyday life. In seventh grade, Jordan was bullied by friends, and rumors circulated about s/he being queer. Originally an A and B student, Jordan knew that there was a problem when failure notices began to pile up, as A’s and B’s turned to D’s and F’s. Soon, s/he felt hopeless and lost, and in eighth grade, Jordan attempted to commit suicide. “I just did not care anymore,”

Jordan said. “ My grades were falling, I was constantly questioning everything about myself and I felt insecure when my ‘friends’ would laugh at me in the hallway as if I had done something wrong.” Jordan’s case isn’t uncommon. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in ﬁve children ages thirteen to eighteen have, or will have, a mental illness, and approximately 14 percent of high school students contemplate suicide. Jordan is part of the seven percent of teenagers that have tried to take their own lives. To combat the mental health epidemic, Miami Dade County Public Schools implemented the TRUST program. Through federal funding, a TRUST counselor was hired to work at Krop to help students cope with harmful behavior and prevent substance abuse. However, the position evaporated along with the

program’s funding. Guidance counselor Lisa LaMonica describes the TRUST program as life-saving. But for the past seven years, the responsibility of helping students cope with everyday stress fell to the guidance counselors. The narrative of Jordan’s story may have been different with the presence of a TRUST counselor. After failed attempts to get better, Jordan resorted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Jordan explains that the alcohol is a distraction, one s/he does not like. But Jordan feels there are no other options, and that drinking is a distraction from the real problems of everyday life. Preventing situations like these was the TRUST counselor’s job. With the absence of a TRUST professional, some students resort to speaking with the guidance counselors. However, while counselors feel an obligation to assist students, it

becomes unrealistic to talk to them with the amount of other work that must also be done. MDCPS recommends 250-350 students be assigned per campus counselor. However, counselors are given roughly 500 students each, exceeding the recommended ratio by about 200 students. Students like Jordan realize with numbers this high, regular therapy at school is nearly impossible. “I do not think that there are enough [mental health] resources at school,” Jordan said. “Counselors have too many people to see and too much work to do. Refunding district programs like TRUST are key to solving the mental health epidemic. By doing so, struggling students like Jordan will have the necessary resources to cope and heal. * student’s identity has been kept anonymous and replaced with the name “Jordan.”

Calendar Page 6

MONDAY

Second week of winter break begins

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

January

TUESDAY

Annual Festival of Sleep

Trivia Day

Human Trafﬁcking awareness day

Peculiar People Day

16 MLK Day

WEDNESDAY

Senior Breakfast ticket sales begin

Winnie the Pooh day

National Pie Day

Round 2 of Senior Breakfast sales begins

National Kazoo Day

National Cornchip day

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

National Freedom Day Lame Duck Day

13 World Radio Day

20 Cherry Pie Day

National Bird Day

7 Send a Card to a Friend Day

14 Valentine’s Day

21 Card Reading Day

8 Boy Scout Day

15 Presidents’ Day

George Washington’s Birthday

FRIDAY

Last day of winter break

12 13 Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day

Friday the 13th

Senior Breakfast ticket sales end

Round 2 Senior Breakfast sales ends

Inauguration Day

Holocaust History Remembrance Day

February

MONDAY

THURSDAY

Groundhog Day

FRIDAY

National Wear Red Day

Toothache Day

Do a Grouch a Favor Day

23 27

Tennis Day Polar Bear Day

Umbrella Day

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Senior Breakfast @ Newport Hotel

Bash 28 Grad ticket sales

begin (Cost: $135)

Feature

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

Page 7

FACULTY

Eric Quinn: From student to staff member Naela Foureau opinion editor Unlike most staff members, when Technician and Administrative Assistant Eric Quinn took his first steps on Krop’s campus, he was a freshman. Now Quinn, 20, is in charge of everything from running the sound and lights system in the auditorium to prepping the gym for events. He is assigned to Coach Thompson, but assists anyone from Ms. Torano to Ms. Russell. His interest in technology and stage production began 13 years ago as a student at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City. “I was a bad kid at camp when they sent me to the theater teacher who was the only one who could get to me. She was behind on changing plugs for a show and taught me how to do it,” he said. “So I plugged one of the wires in and a light flashed, that was basically the ‘light’ that made me fall in love with stage production.”

MICHAEL KATZ / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: Eric Quinn sets up the audio sound board for the “Lightning For a Day” pep rally held on Dec. 16. Quinn’s love of stage production and unique technical abilities landed him a job as Krop’s Technician and Administrative Assistant.

Quinn pursued stage production as a hobby, eventually turning a fun pastime into a career, when Krop staff approached him about a position during his senior year. But Quinn’s dedication to Krop began long before he earned his first paycheck. Arriving as a freshman in

2011, the seniors had already known of Quinn’s skills. They brought him into the auditorium to showcase his talent to the faculty. “I saw the board being used and thought, ‘This is a piece of cake,’” he said. “Lights started strobing and the seniors were asking how I knew this stuff. I re-

ORGANIZATIONS

Student Voices program battles intolerance

member telling them “It’s just two buttons,”— it’s always two buttons,” Quinn said. Since then, Magnet teachers allowed him to recruit theater students for the Magnet Department’s “Tech Crew.” By Quinn’s senior year, the group doubled from 6 to 12 students. Today, the group has grown to 20 students. But the magic Quinn made on stage didn’t translate onto his report card. When Quinn sustained a burned hand, broken femur and crushed pelvis after being pinned under a bus in 2012, his grades suffered. The accident had him out of school and in the hospital for weeks, injuring him and five others and killing an elderly woman. However, the experience turned out to be a positive life-lesson that Quinn uses to teach students and athletes that the “worst isn’t always the worst.” “I never suffered any emotional trauma from it,” Quinn said. “It’s something I teach the athletes that even a career-ending injury

isn’t a big deal, at least it’s not life-ending.” Quinn’s relationship with students and student-athletes is what makes his day. He sees himself as a brotherly and motivational influence for the students who aren’t comfortable going to the office for help. “We met when he was mentoring the JV football team. Our relationship grew from that point and we became great friends,” sophomore Keshauwn Roberts said. “Anything I need he gets—he even got me a tablet for my birthday.” It may seem like Quinn never leaves campus, but he actually did stage production for P.Diddy and Robin Thicke. He’s also run tech for Ultra Music Festival during his junior and senior year, and is set to work on Justin Bieber’s New Year’s Eve concert downtown. “People go crazy when they find out, everyone asks me for tickets,” Quinn said. “I have to tell them I don’t have it like that—but I will someday,” Quinn said.

STUDENT LIFE

Nicolas Chmielewski spread editor It’s really easy to judge other people, but when you listen to their story your perspective may change. That’s the goal of Student Voices. Counselors Lisa La Monica, Sandra Manfredi and Melissa Falco-Diaz facilitate the annual Student Voices program, which became a part of Krop in 2002, nearly since our doors opened. The annual student organization, formerly known as Heritage Panels, is a leadership program that hopes to reduce prejudice and bullying in the student population. Students who are recommended by teachers go through a two day training to prepare them to tell their stories to the student body. The training consists of trust building and conversations about personal experiences that will enhance the panelists’ confidence when speaking in front of a crowd on private topics. “You meet so many different kids from different backgrounds and different ways of life,” senior panelist Syed Haider said. “I used to be so judging of other people and what their gender was. But when you finally get to know their struggles and who they are, your outlook really changes.” Once training is completed, five panelists visit ninth grade social studies classrooms with

ARIEL HARTZY / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

ROCK BAND: (From left to right) Guitarist Stephen Reddy, bassist Eli Navarro, guiatrist Lucas Estrada and drummer Sean Sharit play “Sunshine of Your Love,” by Cream. They record themselves playing for their YouTube channel.

Students share passion for music, form bands COURTESY OF LISA LAMONICA

TOLERANCE: Then-student panelists gathered in 2005 for a Dignity for All Students event where the students held a convention to enact the Jeffery Johnston Stand Up For All Students Act that was passed three years later.

one of three counselors who organizes the program. The teacher will stop classwork for that day, and the trained panelists speak about a personal experience in hopes to enact change in their listeners. The speakers only ask for attention and respect. “I spoke about when I was in middle school and moved to Chicago and was the only Mexican person in my school” said senior Alina Mizrahi. “The people in my school weren’t used to seeing any diversity, so I got made fun of a lot for my accent and being from Mexico when no one else was.” The program hopes to make students aware that they are not alone in what go through. They teach students through their ex-

periences not to judge others on the basis of their appearances or beliefs. Their motto is “you can’t hate someone whose story you know.” “What you say to people can really make a big impact,” said senior Alina Mizrahi. “Even if people are different from you, they have a lot of similarities that you should look at instead of the differences.” Student Voices will attend various classrooms after winter break throughout most of January and February. “If every kid in this school had a chance to experience [what I did], then everyone’s opinion would change on the entire matter of gays, transsexuals, and bullying,” said Haider.

Zachary Weinberger staff writer Music is a medium where people can express their talents and their emotions. Some Krop students formed their own bands to improve their skills and have fun with their friends. Senior Alejandro Preschel and junior Andres Birnbaum formed a band where they cover artists like Jimi Hendrix and Radiohead. While Preschel knew how to play guitar, Birnbaum learned how to play the drums without any lessons. He was inspired to play since his dad collects drum kits. “With a few tips and guidance, we were able to keep up and have rhythm when we play,” Preschel said. Preschel and Birnbaum experiment with others so they can test out different methods with their music. “We play with other musicians to have more opportunities to expand our sound and meet

other people that can contribute to our projects,” Preschel said. Formed Last May, juniors Stephen Reddy and Eli Navarro, along with sophomore Sean Sharit started another band at Krop. They play at Sharit’s house anytime they get the chance from four to five hours each time. “We wanted to start a band mainly for the fun of jamming together,” guitarist Reddy said. “Being in a group and cooperating to make music just gives off a feeling of satisfaction when it turns out right.” They play songs that they have a common interest in, which is mostly rock and blues. The band covers different song from “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by The Beatles, to “Say it Ain’t So” by Weezer and “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream. What both of these bands have in common is the passion for what they do while sharing that enthusiasm with friends.

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The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

SCIENCE

Manley siblings present TED Talks Jonah Muchnick business manager Siblings Ben and Marissa Manley have taken “#siblinggoals” to a whole new level. The Manley siblings are both active members in their community that have developed programs to better it. Marissa Manley’s love for robotics and music inspired her to develop a robot that moves to the sound of her ﬂute, which she calls Marci. Marci uses a sound sensor, which detects the decibel of sound and uses its programming to move. When Marissa saw her friends’ poor musical knowledge, she was determined to educate children about both music and robotics. “I have been lucky enough to be exposed to the world of music, but due to budget cuts and the lack of music courses in schools, most students aren’t,” Marissa said. “I pulled out my ﬂute once, and one of my friends thought it was a clarinet. This was kind of a wake-up call.” Marissa has made presentations at local elementary schools to young children to get them interested in robotics, music, or both. “My goal is to get at least one child to recognize the amazing worlds of technology and music and become interested in pursuing them,” Marissa said.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Henry combats diversity, starts “Gifted Girls”

Tamia Streeter staff writer

COURTESY OF BENJAMIN MANLEY

PRESENTATION: Sophomore Marissa Manley (left) and senior Benjamin Manley (right) present their research topics at the Books and Books Film Screening. Both siblings conducted TED Talks to relay their ﬁndings, as well.

In addition to her desire to spark a child’s interest in music, Marissa says her brother is a huge source of inspiration. Senior Ben Manley’s Ted Talk was based on the idea that people should pursue their passions in the community instead of doing community service only because it “looks good on your college application.” Ben Manley has also taken his Ted Talk to heart, and built a community service project around something that hits close to home—hearing loss. For four years, Ben has been working with the “EarPeace: Save Your Hearing Foundation” to give presentations about NoiseInduced Hearing Loss (NIHL). “We are exposed to noises every day loud enough to damage our hearing, like concerts or blasting music

through headphones.” Ben said. “Our goal is to spread the word about their dangers.” After Ben’s diagnosis of NIHL, he was inspired to take action. “In my 7th grade band class, I had a substitute teacher that wasn’t paying attention and one of my friends blasted his trumpet in my right ear,” Ben said. “My ear hurt, and the doctor told me I’ll have hearing loss later in life.” Ben plans to expand to an online format in order to impact a larger audience in hopes to broaden his organization beyond high school. With siblings Ben and Marissa both hosting Ted Talks, both creating their own community service projects and both inspiring each other to strive for the best, they are truly the epitome of #siblinggoals.

Two years ago, Raniya Henry noticed the lack of companionship between girls when she lost a group of friends and knew she needed to take action. She then started a mentor program at age 14 called “Gifted Girls,” a sisterhood, whose values are giving, integrity, respect and leadership. Gifted Girls holds a series of summer conferences for girls between the ages of 12 and 18 regarding topics ranging from confidence to relationships and personal finances. At these conferences, the girls mingle and build their sisterhood, play games and listen to various guest speakers that present information to the girls. “I realized how much of a gap there was between girls and that there were no diverse groups around school and in my community,” Henry said. “I decided to change that by creating a platform for girls of different backgrounds to come together and learn from one another.” Gifted girls began with only 10 members, but has grown to 25. Henry and her friends sold donuts at school to pay for their first conference at a near-

by community center. When Henry needed a right hand woman, she knew just who to call—junior Kameron Clarke, her friend of almost 10 years. “As co-director I think that Gifted Girls helped me realize that nothing should limit me,” Clarke said. “We’re only 16 and not backed by any major organizations, but were still able to organize and run a four week summer camp.” During the school year, the girls volunteer at Feeding South Florida, Camillus House and Garden in Dania Beach. “When I first joined Gifted Girls, I was insecure and felt alone,” said junior Alysha Michel. “After a while I learned that there were other girls who felt just like me and how to handle my insecurities.” Gifted Girls is now in the process of becoming an official school club and are recruiting new members to join and spread more awareness to diversity among teenage cliques and groups. In the meantime, they will continue volunteering in the community. Girls can join the sisterhood by simply going to the Gifted Girls official website, www.giftedgirlsunite.org where they can access registration forms and monthly event calendars.

10 Things About Dr. Blucher Menelas 1. Future Plans

Menelas’ dream is to become a scientiﬁc researcher to study the nitriﬁcation of dead zones of the Gulf of Mexico.

2. Seven and Counting

He grew up in Cap-Hatien, Haiti, where he was the ﬁfth of seven kids, but doesn’t know how many other stepsiblings he has because his dad had many with different people. He was always very close to his siblings and kept in touch even after leaving home for the States.

6. Cheating the System

Menelas came here illegally from Haiti by using another person’s passport and was stopped. He had one with his picture on it but with a different age, so the immigration ofﬁcer questioned him and realized it was fake. But they still let him through to America and he became a citizen in 2008.

7. S.T.E.M. and only S.T.E.M.

In high school he loved math, physics and chemistry, and didn’t care about other subjects. He even refused to take other state exams, yet remained the top student in his class.

3. Music Shufﬂe

8. Broadway Baby

4. Taxi Man

9. Scrabble Suitor

Despite his Haitian background, he loves country music. He regularly listens to country singers such as Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson, as well as other artists ranging from Michael Jackson to the Goo-Goo Dolls and Bob Marley. In New York, he drove a taxi cab during the weekend for extra money. During one ride, he realized he picked up famed scientist Jane Goodal and ended up exchanging contact information with him so she can one day work with Menelas in Haiti.

5. Politically Disinclined

He was always politically active in Haiti, but lost his faith in politics when he elected a corrupt priest in Haiti, and doesn’t incline himself with a political party line.

Menelas’ all-time favorite thing to do is watch Broadway shows. He would go often when he lived in New York City and would drive to Minnesota from Iowa State University during his Master’s to watch shows. His favorite show is “Bring the Funk, Bring the Noise” and “Rent.” He loves to play Scrabble. He spent a gap year after high school doing nothing but playing Scrabble and Haitian card games. He would study the most complex words for when his friends would challenge him. NATHANIEL MANOR / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

LECTURING: Blucher Menelas uses his laser pointer to help his students clearly identify different molecules in a lecture. At Krop, Menelas has been teaching chemistry at the regular, Honors and AP levels for a nearly a year and a half.

10. Self-Proclaimed Foodie

Menelas is a big foodie and loves to try new foods. In New York, he and a friend used to go to a new restaurnt every weekend, but he loves Indian, Carribean and Jamaican food the best, as well as the famous Halal Cart on 53rd Street in NYC. Compiled by Nathaniel Manor

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The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

FACULTY

Teachers’ paths to the classroom Hannah Bregman staff writer

Teachers play an integral role in the education of students, the future of our world, an important job that is often underappreciated. However, most teachers didn’t always think that their career path would lead them to the classroom. While it may have been a childhood dream or a mistake-turned-success, some of the teachers we see every day have a unique story to their journey to the school from when they were last in sitting in one. When chemistry and forensic science teacher Ashley Munzenberger was in sixth grade, she was in danger of being left back because she was failing math class. While always being the type of student who was afraid to ask for help, Munzenberger was scared of being ridiculed and called ͞stupid.͟ As a result, her grades slipped and she was on the verge of being left behind. She was in dire need for help, so she hired a math tutor which became one of the most amazing and inspirational people she has ever met. “She helped me grow as a student,” Munzenberger said. “She challenged me, was never condescending and was always ﬁnding new incentives for me to do well, which helped bring my grades up and made me strive to do my best in everything for her.” . She realized her true potential and went from the failing student to the top of her class.

COURTESY OF BENJAMIN MANLEY

ATTENTION: Algebra and geometry teacher Rosanne Mishan takes the time to explain a concept to her students during tutoring hours. Mishan makes sure every student gets extra attention, if needed, to master the given material.

“From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “I wanted to help struggling students succeed, as my tutor had done for me.” In a similar situation, algebra and geometry teacher Rosanne Mishan had a teacher that turned her worldview upside down. “My sixth grade teacher at Crestview Elementary, Mrs. Martin, was the teacher that inspired my career path,” Mishan said. “She was kind and concerned for the welfare of all her students, which inspired me to help anyone who needed some extra attention.” Mishan’s goal has always been to make a difference in the lives of others, just as her teacher did for her. Because of her experience in sixth grade, Mishan has held the same ideals of kindness and genuine desire to help her students, that her previous teacher had instilled in her to do the same. She even holds tutoring sessions every week for her stu-

dents that have problems grasping certain concepts, hoping to provide the extra attention to her students that Mrs. Martin had provided her with. United States history teacher Steven Groothius had a family experience that led him to the classroom. “My father worked as a defense attorney until his mid70s, not out of his love for the profession but out of the need to provide for his family,” Groothius said. “I did not want to face those same pressures as I approached that age, if I am lucky to make it that long, and teaching afforded me with that opportunity.” Groothius always had a passion for helping others and inspiring peers to become better versions of themselves, something he was is able to do every day as a teacher. “While teaching has its challenges, and I am relatively new to education, I look forward to a long career in the classroom,”

Uncle Jake wants YOU to know that the Lightning Strike has entered the 21st Century! Visit LightningStrikeNews. com to check out the school’s online coverage of everything happening at Michael Krop that you want and need to know!

NUTRITION

When we go through loss, we grieve. We go through a process where we let our emotions get the better of us; it’s what makes us human. Demolition is a film where a man loses his wife in a car crash and, to cope with his loss, he vents his frustration in complaint letters to a vending machine company. It is this grief that sells the movie, as it allows you to experience the man’s journey from start to finish. Demolition centers around Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhall), an investment banker in New York. It isn’t Gyllenhall’s best role, but he plays it to full effect. The film follows him as he deals with his wife’s death, something that happens in a variety of ways. He finds solace in a customer service representative, Karen Moreno (Naomi Watts), the woman who reads his letters. The movie’s premise seems to point to a romance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, the supporting characters play a part in Davis’ journey. We witness his stages of grief,McCarthy. from his attempts to continue Mercedes Hippolito hisstaff daily life to the intentional “demolition” what life once writer Some of days thethat demand was. Through interactions with hisislate wife’s (Chris Cooless. Thefather second most There’s so much more popular dishes, like arroz per) and Karen’s son (Judah Lewis), Chris, you see the transition to Krop whatthestudents conwife pollo and chees-and Davis goesthan to from moment his dies to mini the weeks see on a day-to-day basis. burgers, usually sell months later. In a world where movies like to play up death apas the Here’s moment a map towithout one ofmuch the focus proximately 870. climactic on its aftereffects, Demolithe unknown and not-so“High school students tion shows us the path, not the known places at school: the are hard to feed because endgame. cafeteria. their likes and dislikes are The lm owes itsthe strengths script. When you a movie In fiplaces like cafete-to its most difficult to tap into,”focuses death, it’s easy characters as, manager well, characters. ria, on students show uptotowrite the thefood service DiTheir motivations written to suit the story, with linefeelings for theirand meal, but how areane Williams said. theit’s humanity as a result. What works with menu Demolition made suffering isn’t witnessed. The school also is At 6:00 a.m., while most has meals that appeal that these characters aren’t just written as characters; they’retohustudents are between hittingDavis the and vegetarian students. mans. In scenes Chris, you believe that these snooze button, the school’s “We try a the variety of are two actual people talking, not ones made up for screen. breakfast is being prepared. foods to get them to eat, Unfortunately, the film’s weakest point is its ending. While we The breakfast cycle rotates and we’ve been successful do see progress in Davis, there is no payoff to his journey. In one every four weeks. in doing so,” Williams said. specifiApproximately c montage, you300 are stulead toMeals believesuch thatasDavis chef seemingly salads, reverts back to his life before his wife’s death. This have dents attend breakfast in veggie lasagna andcould yogurt been through but are the movie theexplained morning. Oncea simple 7:30 scene, parfaits some mistakenly of the decides to take theladies easy way out. This leads to confusion ultihits, the lunch check dishes available for and vegemately weakens its message. the menu and calculate the tarians and they’re offered number lunches they everyisday. Despite of these flaws, Demolition an important film. It need based on meal par- suchThe lunch has also captures the gravity of a topic as grief and delivers it in ticipation from the previbrought about positive a human way, something many films seem to forget tore-do. By 8:00 it’s see actions frombutthe students It ous isn’tday. the best film a.m., you may this year, it may be the crunch time. Each item who have a particular likmost personal. must be prepared and heat- ing towards certain items ed, and by 10:15 a.m., ev- off of the menu. erything is ready for first “The lasagna is very lunch. favorable and a particular In the cafeteria, lines favorite of mine,” senior can be pretty steep, depend- Jasmine Peterson said. ing on the menu. Popular The menu isn’t the only foods like pizza, roasted thing that has brought an chicken, lasagna, alfredo impact on the students. and lime chicken are popu“The kind lunch ladies lar with approximately 900 is one of the best parts servings. Because chicken about the school lunch”, wing count is highest, they sophomore Zajah Green are sold in their own line. said. “No matter what, they “The chicken is fan- always leave you with a tastic because of its zesty full stomach and a huge taste,” said freshman John smile.”

Parts of Krop You Don’t See Everyday: Cafeteria

KEVIN BAUERNFEIND / THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

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The Lightning Strike • December 2016

‘TIS THE “My plan for winter break is to go on a one-week college tour where I visit Boston University , U Mass, Boston College and Berkley School of Music. I’m going for an audition to Berkley School of Music, UMass is a college tour/ meet the professors because I got an email from the professors. For BU and BC it’s a general college tour. I sing, and I love it, I have been doing it since seventh grade. I started where I tried out as a joke, and I practiced and got in.” - Bjorn Bryan-Anglin, 12

Top 5 movies to get into the holiday spirit Jonah Muchnick bussiness manager The holidays are a time for family, friends, gifts, and most of all, good movies. There are so many holiday movies that it can be hard to ﬁgure out what to watch. Here are ﬁve to watch to remind you what the holiday spirit means.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

An iconic holiday ﬁlm, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is about a Grinch who attempts to ruin the Christmas holiday for all in Whoville. This classic shows us exactly what to avoid on Christmas, and brings out our childhood holiday spirit.

Home Alone

Home Alone is about a young boy whose family leaves for Christmas vacation without him, leaving him behind. While celebrating Christmas alone, the boy manages to keep his holiday spirit alive despite being beset by burglars. With slapstick comedy and the underlying message that the most important thing on the holidays is being with family, Home Alone makes us appreciate that we are not alone.

The Nightmare before Christmas

A Christmas movie disguised as a Halloween movie, The Nightmare before Christmas is set in a world where each holiday exists in their own universe, and a citizen of Halloween is teleported to Christmas. The Halloween citizen is amazed at the wonders of Christmas and attempts to make Halloween more like it. With its great soundtrack, this movie embodies everything we love about the holidays.

The his the ho

Sophie Muchnick print managing editor

Whether we’re lighting the Hanukkah meno traditions behind these two holidays date back Hannukah is an eight day festival of lights that cele their Greek-Syrian rulers in the revolt of the Maccabees dur In 200 B.C., Judea came under the tyrannical control of A traditions and forced them to pray to Greek gods. In 168 B.C Jerusalem and defile the Second Holy Temple. These soldiers kosher, within its holy walls. Mattathias and his five sons lea and his son, Judah, took over the rebellion. Two years later, J Second Temple’s altar and lit the menorah. According to Jewish records, Judah Maccabee and his fo enough olive oil to keep the menorah burning for one day, b which inspired Jewish sages to celebrate this eight day festiva Christmas, on the other hand, is the celebration of the an foundations of the Christian religion. For mo of winter has often been celebrated. Before winter solstice, which indicated longer day Yule in Scandinavia. Christ was a Jewish relig main religious figure of the Christian religion. Ch ticipated Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, significant to religious followers. In a year so solely divided, let us rem brought us peace and don’t forget, w drinking eggnog, to menti you and you’re family toge dinner table.

Elf

When a human raised by elves at the North Pole ﬁnds out of his heritage, he is determined to go to New York City to ﬁnd his father. This “elf” brings the Christmas spirit wherever he goes and is oblivious to the hardships of the world around him. A feel-good comedy, Elf brings back the child within us and reminds us of the magic of Christmas.

Die Hard

The holiday’s principles of being kind and giving can be overwhelming, so it can be gratifying to watch Bruce Willis ﬁght some bad guys. When a Christmas party is taken over by terrorists, it is up to John McClane to save the hostages and, in the process, save Christmas. This classic action ﬁlm takes the Christmas principles of giving to a new level by giving plenty of people a faceful of lead.

“I’m excited for winter break because I’ll be sleeping. I’ll also be binge-watching Gilmore Girls, Bones, and rewatching scrubs. For Hanukkah, I will have a family and friend gift exchange and have a family dinner.” - Gabriela Gotsman, 11

“For New Years, I am going to be home and set things on ﬁre. We have a Peruvian tradition of making a human-size dog stuffed with paper and setting it on ﬁre. Most of my family is older, so we celebrate Christmas just with food, nobody gets gifts anymore.” - Leon Luna, 11

Page 11

The Lightning Strike • December 2016

SEASON “I have a soccer tournament in Orlando for four days, and I have been there before. I have played soccer for about seven years, and the last tournament we had there, we got to the ﬁnals and we won. It was a great experience, and after the game the entire team (18) had dinner. I love going because it’s fun to spend time with my team.” - Sebastian Baredes, 9

story of olidays

orah or decorating the Christmas tree, the at least two millennia. ebrates the Jewish people’s uprising against ring the 2nd century B.C. Antiochus IV Epiphanes who forbade the practice of Jewish C., Epiphanes ordered his soldiers to massacre the people of rs created an altar of Zeus and sacrificed pigs, which are not ad an unsuccessful rebellion. But in 166 B.C., Mattathias died Judah Maccabee rid Jerusalem of the Syrians and rebuilt the

Top 5 gifts to get a loved one

ollowers witnessed the miracle of Hannukah. There was only but the menorah kept burning for eight successive days al. nniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who formed the ore than two millennia, the end of the gloomy months e the time of Christ, Europeans celebrated the ys an ample sunlight, and the Norse celebrated gious frontrunner and preacher who is the hrist is believed to be the Son of God and anwhich makes his birth from the Virgin Mary

member what historically while spinning your dreidel ion the stories that brought ether around the holiday

Ariel Hartzy staff writer

Make a playlist

Gather some of your favorite songs and share them with your loved ones for the holidays. Making a playlist is simple and requires little money and time. Sharing your favorite songs is simple yet personal and a playlist can be distributed to several people within seconds.

Food

A great gift for the holidays are sweets. There are several easy snacks that you can make on your own with inexpensive candy. Chocolate Dipped pretzel sticks are a fast and an easy way to express holiday love. Simply dip pretzel sticks into chocolate and decorate with festive sprinkles. Another quick treat for the holidays are KitKat sleighs. Place a wrapped Kit Kat bar ﬂat onto two candy canes. Glue the candy canes to the Kit Kat bar and wait for it to dry. An additional decorative gift is a clear vase or mason jar ﬁlled with an assortment of holiday styled candy.

Picture

A picture is worth a thousand words, and even more with a decorative picture frame customized for your loved one. Simply purchase a plain picture frame and add glitter, words, or any other decorations to personalize it. Complete the gift by adding a picture or collage.

Mugs

Customize a mug this holiday season with just a couple sharpies. Purchase an inexpensive white mug and decorate with holiday drawings or meaningful messages. Using these inexpensive materials, you are still able to achieve a personalized gift at a low cost.

Letters

Sometimes keeping it simple means the most. Writing a personal letter either on a store bought card or a homemade card can make the perfect gift. Writing a letter is not only thoughtful, but a personal one of a kind gift.

“I’m counting down the days for winter break. I’m honestly just going to chill out because of all the pressure we have had with college applications. I’m just going to have a good time and enjoy Miami. During the holidays, I celebrate Hanukkah but I love Christmas too. I celebrate Christmas with friends and Hanukkah as a family barbeque.” - Rachel Mizrachi, 12

quotes compiled by Hilly Yehoshua

“This winter break I plan on going to my country overseas, Haiti. I came from a great department of Haiti, and when I go there I plan to feed some of the people who can’t afford food and gifts during the Christmas time. I will be with family and neighbors, who I left in 2008 to come to the U.S. ” - Clermeteus Josama, security

drawings courtesy of Hilly Yehoshua and Megan Orlanski

Entertainment Page 12

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

MUSIC

Upcoming miami concerts Ariel Hartzy staff writer

Miami’s cultural diversity has made it a hotspot of international entertainment for years. With the sheer number of performances and events, it can be hard to know what’s out there. Here are some of the must-see performances and events this holiday season and into the new year. Ultra Music Festival Ultra is a worldwide electronic music festival that will make its way to Miami for its eighteenth year in a row on Mar. 24-26. With artists like Major Lazer and Tiesto, Ultra has become one of the most long awaited events of the year. Tickets are on sale now for around $300. The music festival includes seven different stages at Bayfront Park with live performances ensuring a good time from 12 p.m. all the way to 12 a.m. Billy Joel Award-winning pianist, singer, and songwriter Billy Joel will perform at the BB&T Center on Dec. 31. Joel has come a long way from his album “Cold Spring Harbor” to his now award-winning music in the album “Piano Man.” During his career Joel sold over 150 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of his time. Due

When we go through loss, we grieve. We go through a process where we let our emotions get the better of us; it’s what makes us human. Demolition is a film where a man loses his wife in a car crash and, to cope with his loss, he vents his frustration in complaint letters to a vending machine company. It is this grief that sells the movie, as it allows you to experience the man’s journey from start to finish. Demolition centers around Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhall), an investment banker in New York. It isn’t Gyllenhall’s best role, but he plays it to full effect. The film follows him as he deals with his wife’s death, something that happens in a variety of ways. He fiCorbin nds solace Boliesin a customer service representative, Karen Moreno entertainment (Naomi Watts),editor the woman who reads his letters. The movie’s premise seems to point to a romance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, the supporting characters play a part in Davis’ journey. We witness his stages of grief, from his attempts to continue his daily life to the intentional “demolition” of what that life once hasinteractions been, without to stand out.(Chris Coowas.2016 Through with hisenough late wife’s father a doubt, a crazy year. BeWhat “Sing” does do, per) and Karen’s son (Judah Lewis), Chris, you see the transition loved celebrities died, Donald though, is go from a noun to Davis goes to from the moment his wife dies to the weeks and Trump became president and a verb. Egerton easily espemonths later. In a world to play uphis death the the world mourned the where loss ofmovies ciallylike moves from spy as days climactic moment without much focus on its aftereffects, Demolia zoo gorilla - needless to say, in “Kingsman: The Secret tion us the path, not the the shows world has changed. Thank- Service” to behind the microendgame. fully, the animated “Sing” pro- phone with ease, belting out vides from theto its hits like When Sam you Smith’s “Stay Theafimusical lm owesrelief its strengths script. a movie foinsanity of 2016. With Me” and Elton John’s cuses on death, it’s easy to write the characters as, well, characters. film centers on theater are“I’m StilltoStanding.” The rest TheirThe feelings and motivations written suit the story, with owner Buster Moon (Matthew of the cast adds to that enjoy-is the humanity suffering as a result. What works with Demolition McConaughey), a koala whose ment, with Witherspoon’s renthat these characters aren’t just written as characters; they’re hutheater is about to be repos- dition of “Shake It Off” a surmans. In scenes between Davis and Chris, you believe that these sessed by a bank. In an effort prising delight. Even with its are two actual talking, not ones made upthe for film the screen. to save the people theater, which subpar story, manages Unfortunately, the fi lm’s weakest point is its ending. doubles as his home, Buster to immerse the audience While in its we do see aprogress organizes singing incompetition Davis, thereforis his no town to with a prize payoff his journey. $100,000. That Inofone specific monproduction attracts tage, you are lead to local talent (and believe that Davis talented actors) seemingly reverts like Rosita (Reese back to his life be-a Witherspoon), fore his wife’s death. stay-at home pig, This could have Macbeen Mike (Seth explained Farlane), through a mousea simple the with ascene, voicebutfrom the 50s, mistakenly Ash (Scarmovie lett Johansson), decides to take thea punk-rock easy way out.porcuThis pine, Johnny (Taron leads to confusion Egerton), a young and ultimately weakcriminal gorilla and ens its message. Meena (Tori Kelly), Despite these an elephant doubtflful aws, Demolition of her voice. is The an important best part fiabout lm. It “Sing” captures is the its characters. McConaughey gravity of a topic suchmusical as griefmoments. and delivers it in a brings a cool nature to Buster, What director Garth Jen-It human way, something many films seem to forget to do. an instantly likeable character nings does pull off is the isn’t the best film you may see this year, but it may befeel the who personal. proves a suitable anchor of the film as a whole. The most

Corbin’s Critique Sing

TAKEN FROM EDMKEVIN

A CROWD ROARS: A perfomance at the 2016 Ultra Music Festival. The festival is one of many music events coming to Miami.

to last years success when Joel performed for three hours straight at the BB&T Center singing his top hits and popular covers, this will be Joel’s second New Year’s Eve concert in a row. Life in Color One of the world’s largest paint parties, Life In Color (LIC), will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Jan. 28. In the past, Life in Color always took place at The Sun Life Stadium, but this year, the new venue Mana Wynwood will provide a fresh scenery. Life in Color has been known not only for its music but for its interactive activities like ziplining and

paint squirting. This year, 14 artists including Diplo, Solano and Young Thug will perform. Dancing with the Stars ABC’s hit reality “Dancing with the Stars” is coming to Miami for their tour “Dancing with the Stars: Live! – We Came to Dance.” Watch professional dancers perform some of the most elite choreography from around the world at Hard Rock Live Dec. 29. Tickets are available starting at $70. From electronic music to classic rock, Miami has a wide range of performances to enjoy in the upcoming months.

FILMS

Watch these childhood movies (again) Megan Orlanski health & science editor Movies have the unique capability to create memories and traditions, especially for children. Three movies from our childhood are being recreated or revived for future generations in 2017. Beauty and the Beast A Disney Princess classic, “Beauty and the Beast,” animated in 1991, is being remade into a film with both elaborate sets and a star-studded cast. Emma Watson is set to play Belle along with other British actors like Emma Thompson and Ian Mckellen. “As for the Beauty and the Beast, I’m expecting a realistic depiction of a fictional story. I’m hoping that it will bring back some memories as Belle was always my favorite princess,” junior Miranda Lample said. “Beauty and the Beast” comes out on March 17, 2017. Cars 3 Just when Lightning McQueen was about to drive off the tracks, Disney’s Pixar studios have added onto the racing story with Cars 3. The animated film is a tale of how McQueen gets badly injured on the racing track but pushes to pursue his passion while competing with Jackson Storm to win the Piston Cup.

MOVIES

COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

OLD IS IN: The posters for “Cars 3,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Mummy.” All three reboots and revivals are set to be released in 2017

The film will keep its original voices for McQueen, his love interest Sally Carrera and Mater, played by Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Larry the Cable Guy respectively. “It’s like another Toy Story, it has potential, but there’s still a chance it could be a repeat of the past movies,” senior Jada Charlot said. “Cars 3” comes out on June 16, 2017. The Mummy This is the third remake of the film that first came out in 1932, featuring Egyptian mythology in the form of mummies coming back to life and wreaking havoc amongst archeologists and commoners alike. The movie features an Egyptian princess played by Sofia Boutella that comes back to life seeking revenge for her

future that was wrongly taken from her. The movie also features a star-studded cast including Russell Crowe and Tom Cruise. “I’m anticipating the release of the movie, but I don’t expect much more than a bunch of Tom Cruise action shots, so we’ll see if it can stack up against the older versions,” sophomore Versailles Celicourt said. “The Mummy” comes out on June 9, 2017. For better or for worse these remakes could provide big revenues for production companies that are hoping to juice out as much profit as they can get from these once blockbuster films. With the release of new trailers and media, fans of these childhood classics wait for 2017 to prove itself as the movie remake year.

for its story. That extends to the contestants, whose lives we follow throughout the film. Whether it’s Rosita’s attempting to manage her rehearsals with her home life or Johnny’s differences between his kingpin father, “Sing” adds its layers through the people that sing. Its story, however, isn’t the most original. We open on Buster going through his daily life until, one day, that daily life doesn’t work out. That cliche continues throughout the movie and, while parts of it work, it’s still something we’ve seen before. In a year that’s given us instant classics like “Zootopia” and “Finding Dory,” the story doesn’t do

standard music, composed by Joby Talbot, holds its own against the pop pieces surrounding it. The animation itself dazzles, with a demolition scene in particular standing out. For the second film released released by Illumination Entertainment this year, afterthe overrated “The Secret Life of Pets,” that’s an accomplishment. With its talented cast, enjoyable musical numbers and decent production values, “Sing” adds up to an allaround charm. While it may not be the best film to come out this year, it may be the one we need right now.

Rating:

Entertainment Page 13

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016 STUDENT FILMMAKERS

From behind desks to behind cameras Seniors Nicolas Chmielewski, Benjamin Manley, Or Dori pursue film in their own ways - and their own films Corbin Bolies entertainment editor Even in a school with a magnet program, it can be hard for students to manage their passions outside of the classroom. But for student filmmakers Nicolas Chmielewski, Benjamin Manley and Or Dori, that’s not the case. “Film is like another dimension which allows me to get out of reality,” said Chmielewski, a senior. “It’s a whole other world to step into.” That other world captured Chmielewski from an early age. After years of using it for regular pictures, at seven, Chmielewski began making short films with his younger brother, freshman Martin Chmielewski. “At the time, we were just having fun,” Chmielewski said. “Outside of friends, we didn’t have an audience to show them to.” That view changed in sixth grade, when Chmielewski discovered iMovie, a film editing software. Since then, he has made numerous award-winning short movies, all published under his YouTube ac-

MICHAEL KATZ/ THE LIGHTNING STRIKE

A LIVING LEGEND: Senior Nicolas Chmielewski participates in a question-and-answer session for his ﬁlm, “On a Sunday Afternoon,” at the Miami Short Film Festival (MSFF). Chmielewski spent a month working on the short.

count “NicoCFilms.” This includes the experimental short “On a Sunday Afternoon,” which screened at the Miami Short Film Festival (MSFF) on Nov. 15. When not in production, he spends most of his time with friends, giving him life experiences necessary to make his movies. “As a ﬁlmmaker, you’re telling

stories,” Chmielewski said. “If you don’t have stories to tell, what’s the point?” That’s the question senior Benjamin Manley wanted to answer in his documentary on his greatgreat aunt, acclaimed architect Marion Manley. Manley, along with his sister, sophomore Marissa Manley, doc-

umented the story of his long-deceased family member and her involvement with the design of the University of Miami. The two spent over a year working on the project, ranging from doing research on their aunt to getting in touch with the right interview subjects. That led to a self-organized premiere of the film in Coral Gables before screenings at seven local film festivals, including MSFF. “We wanted to raise awareness on our aunt and her contributions to Miami,” Manley said. This was not the start of Manley’s interest in film, however. He made short films with his sister, enjoying it so much that he incorporated it into his homework assignments. “In my 9th grade English class, my friend Chase Feldman and I made videos instead of PowerPoints,” Manley said. “All you need is other people to make [your story] a masterpiece.” While Manley plans to major in computer science, he hopes to remain involved with film in the future.

AWARDS

POP CULTURE

Kevin Bauernﬁend online video editor

IN MY OPINION

“Every university and college I’ve applied to has a film club,” said Manley, the Silver Knight nominee for general scholarship. “I’m definitely hoping to continue with it, even if I don’t major in it.” Senior Or Dori incorporates film in a different way - through vlogging and Snapchat. In the two videos posted on his YouTube channel, which have reached over 75,000 collective views, Dori’s films range from getting into the Ultra Music Festival to pranks with friends. His goal, he says, is to reach the widest audience possible. “I really like seeing people smile,” Dori said. His other outlet is his Snapchat account, where Dori posts daily glimpses into his life for thousands of viewers. He hopes to continue his posts on both pages after high school, all in an effort to tell an enjoyable story. “One frame of a picture says one thing, but the many frames of a video can tell a story,” Dori said. “If a picture’s worth a thousand words, then a film is worth a million.”

The Recording Academy announces Celebrities should not be our idols 2017 Grammy nominations Every year, the Grammy committee chooses the best musical artists and songs to be nominated for a Grammy award. The 2017 Grammy Award nominees were announced on Dec. 6, ﬁlled with the year’s hottest artists including Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Adele and Drake. The four main categories are ﬁlled with new and familiar faces, Before getting into the categories, the nominees are chosen by way of committee and each committee member votes for a nominee. To ensure quality of voting, they are only allowed to vote on categories in which they are based in. After the vote, the nominees are picked. This year’s nominations were announced by singer Meghan Trainor, the recipient of last year’s Best New Artist Grammy, on the morning news program “CBS This Morning.” The nominations listed are the four general categories. Album of the Year rewards the best albums in a year. Record of the Year and Song of the Year differ, however, in that Record of the Year recognizes the most all-around composition while Song of the Year is awarded to the best written piece of music. This explains the difference in nominess. The Grammys will be on Feb. 12 at the Staples Center where the winners from all 84 different categories will be announced.

GRAMMYS: HERE ARE THE NOMINEES Album of the Year: “25” - Adele “Lemonade” - Beyonce “Views” - Drake “Purpose” - Justin Bieber “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” - Sturgill Simpson

Record of the Year: “Formation” - Beyonce “Hello” - Adele “Work (ft. Drake)” - Rihanna “7 Years” - Lukas Graham “Stressed Out” - Twenty One Pilots

Song of the Year: “Formation” - Beyonce “Hello” - Adele “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” - Mike Posner “7 Years” - Lukas Graham “Love Yourself ” - Justin Bieber

Best New Artist: Kelsea Ballerini The Chainsmokers Chance The Rapper Maren Morris Anderson .Paak

Compiled by Kevin Bauernﬁend and Corbin Bolies

naela foureau

opinion editor

I’m not ashamed to admit that, when I’m not swamped with college essays to edit and exams to study for, I spend my nights (and the mornings that follow) with a good book— closed beside my laptop with the latest installment of celeb gossip opened in my main tab. Pop-culture’s obsession with following celebrities fuels a $3 billion dollar industry made of paparazzi, gossip blogs and reality shows that attempt to capture the most intimate moments of their lives for American society to obsess over and judge. The fact that I can read six news headlines on the Kardashians alone before reading one on the Turkish bombings that killed 30 this morning is a sad indicator of America’s priorities. What concerns me, however, is the belief taken on by Ph.D. Azadeh Aalai that celebrities must hold themselves to a certain standard because of the impressionable young fans. Ph.D. Aalai and others, believe that celebrities should take responsibility for their positions as role models” whether or not it is part of their job description. Citing the media’s inﬂuence on the making of a celebrity, Ph.D. Aalai claims celebrities should be aware of their major subconscious inﬂuence on the youth and adjust their behavior

accordingly in her Psychology Today article. Although I agree that the media influences who we follow, we ultimately make the click the mouse that keep our favorite celebrities in the news. The problem lies not with the “idols” but our perception of them. If our society wasn’t so obsessed with these depraved role models, their 15 minutes would’ve been long expired. Cameras are smoke and mirrors. The way the tabloids make situations appear on the surface is rarely what it turns out to be in realty. So we shouldn’t even judge let alone worship a celebrity’s true character based on what landed them on the front page of the Star Magazine last week. Society needs to realize we admire only cut-outs and not real people. Those who critique “bad” celebrity behavior based on its potential to influence followers should recognize that celebs are human and not exempt from flawed actions and thinking. If American society really valued youth influence, Pakistani teen activist Malala Yousafzai would be one of the most followed people on Instagram, not Kim Kardashian. Teaching our youth positive values and actions isn’t the responsibility of Kanye West and Miley Cyrus. Their jobs are to entertain us. At the end of the day we make these people famous, and that says a lot more about our priorities and morals as a collective than it does about their personal character.

Fun & Games Page 14

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

New Year’s Word Search

Sudoku e a s y

m e d i u m

Holiday Crossword ACROSS 1. Parties, galas and parades, for example 6. State where Paul Revere’s house is located, abbr. 8. Month when Presidents Day is celebrated, abbr. 9. Another name for Easter bunnies 11. One of the colors in the U.S. flag 12. Day before the first of the New Year 13. Time when we enjoy buds flowering 15. Gift 19. Use an oar 20. Breakfast, lunch and dinner 23. Kind of roll 24. Roman numeral six 25. “Just __ _ thought!” 28. Scary holiday 30. Everything 31. Month when St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated 35. Halloween wear 38. Brides walk up it 40. African-American festival 41. To toast (two words) 42. Segment of a flower 43. Cinco de ____ 44. The Mayflower was one

h a r d

e x p e r t DOWN 1. Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ 2. September “day” 3. Church recess 4. Holiday celebrated with parades and fireworks (two words) 5. It’s a time for many resolutions (two words) 6. Was introduced to 7. President who ended slavery 8. Substance found in plants we eat 10. There was no room for Jesus here 14. “___ say!”

16. Month of Thanksgiving, abbr. 17. Parade baton spin 18. Cincinnati’s home 21. Large tree 22. “My gal” of song 26. Cunning or deceitful 27. Jewish holiday 29. Education basics 31. Jan. 19th is a holiday in his honor (initials) 32. Bake a turkey 33. Nut-producing tree 34. A sacred song 36. A kind of rotisserie 37. Excessive pride 39. Midwestern state, abbr.

a n s w e r s

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

Health & Science Page 15

NUTRITION

Prioritize what is on your plate

Eating balanced meals proves more beneﬁcial than taking dietary supplements Hannah Bregman staff writer Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on dietary supplements when research is still unclear on whether taking them routinely helps or hurts in the short and long run. Dietary supplements are products designed to be ingested to supplement a person’s diet with added nutrients. They include of vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and other products. Dietary supplements are available in different forms, such as tablets, powders, and liquids. Some of the most popular supplements are vitamin D, minerals like iron, and herbs such as garlic. They are not drugs and are not intended for uses such as treating, preventing, or curing diseases. Dietary supplements cannot be used to replace the variety of food we are supposed to eat. Their purpose is to provide nutrients you may not be getting enough of from your diet.

Food incorporates phytochemicals, fiber, and more that your body needs to be healthy that cannot be replicated with a pill or a combination of supplements, according to dietitian Karen Ansel. There are visible benefits of dietary supplements. For example, vitamin D and Calcium are responsible for promoting strong bones, folic acid reduces the risk of some birth defects, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils may help those with heart disease. Some dietary supplements can help lower the risk of disease while others help provide you with essential nutrients your body might be lacking. Although certain dietary supplements in recommended doses may be helpful, they do pose risks. Taking more than you need may increase your risk of side effect and interfere with the absorption of nutrients. For example, taking an excessive amount of vitamin A can cause headaches and liver damage. Iron in excess may cause vomiting and damage the liver and other organs.

Make sure to talk to your doctor about what supplements you are taking or want to take to determine what is best for your body. Research on dietary supplements is still unclear as to whether they help or hurt when taken on a regular basis. According to Scott Gavura’s article “Who Takes Dietary Supplements, and Why?” there is hardly any evidence that suggests dietary deficiencies are widespread.

Also, there is a lack of good evidence to advise that vitamin supplements are beneficial without a deficiency. Neither he nor his children take supplements routinely. Look at the potential benefits and risks before taking supplements, and read results of well-designed studies. Make sure you look into what vitamins or minerals you may actually be deficient in. It is impractical to think a vitamin or mineral is the way to achieve good health. The

real power comes from your plate, not a pill, according to Roberta Anding, a spokesperson for the Americans Dietetic Association and director of sports nutrition at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. So when your mom taught you all these years to “eat your fruits and veggies,” she was giving you very good advice, as it is the nutritious food we eat that really provides what we need for good health and wellness.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS: BY THE NUMBERS

1/3

of Americans take supplements regularly

$11

billion dollars Americans spend annually on supplements

www.publix.com,

HEALTH

50% of Americas take multivitamins

of vitamins are spot-checked by the FDA

Michelle Russell SOURCES: healthline.com, Huffington Post

TECHNOLOGY

Coffee promotes longevity deFUNKit: Forever fresh Studies show coffee has numerous health beneﬁts and prevents serious illnesses

Jonah Muchnick business manager Despite the claims that drinking coffee at a young age can have health detriments, new studies show that coffee can actually help prevent life-threatening diseases. People who are unaware of these new studies often criticize regular coffee drinkers. “I drink coffee almost every day, and people always tell me that it’s bad and that I’m addicted,” junior Alara Guvenli said, “I don’t think of it as a habit, it’s just something I do in the morning to wake up, like brushing my teeth or getting dressed. Besides the obvious benefit of being able to wake up faster and stay awake longer, there are actually a lot of benefits that come from drinking coffee. For one, a recent study has shown that drinking coffee in moderation can actually reduce your risk of diabetes and cancer. According to Neil Osterwell with WebMD, more and more studies show a trend that indicates that coffee drinkers less

like to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Coffee drinkers also have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes. In addition, coffee is rich in nutrients that are essential to the human body including Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Folate, Manganese, Potassium, Phosphorous, and Magnesium.

drinks can’t be full of too many unhealthy liquids. Sugar, artificial sweetener, and creamer can not only nullify coffee’s benefits, but can be detrimental to your health. Coffee chains like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts can overfill coffee with sugar, sweetener, and cream and can add hundreds of calories to their cups of coffee, so it’s better to make coffee at home. However, one should

“I drink coffee almost every day, and people always tell me that it’s bad and that I’m addicted.” Alara Guvenli, 11 Depending on the contents of the coffee, one cup of coffee a day can provide up to 10% of the recommended daily intake of these nutrients. Regular coffee drinks also create a lower risk of falling victim to depression and suicide, and a tendency to live longer. However, in order to attain these benefits, the coffee one

always use a paper filter, as unfiltered coffee contains cafestol, a substance that increases cholesterol levels. Although coffee has numerous advantages besides keeping you awake, they can only be attained with moderation. So, pour a mug of this caffeinated beverage and welcome it’s healthy benefits.

TAKEN FROM deFUNKit.COM

DEEP CLEAN: deFUNKit, A revolutionary long-lasting clothing freshener is tested by University of Oregon student, Lila. The company targets both athletes and college students with their product.

Michael Katz editor-in-chief ATTENTION ALL COLLEGEBOUND SENIORS: For those of you who have nightmares about learning to use washing machines, fear not -- scientists at the University of Oregon have recently developed a laundry detergent that’ll keep your clothes clean up to seven times longer. The detergent, called deFUNKit, costs $10 for a seven ounce pouch, which can keep up to four shirts clean for as long as three months. All you have to do is wash your clothes with the right amount of powder -- by hand, or in a laundry machine.

The scientists wanted to reduce the impact of the environmentally unfriendly clothing industry -- each wash cycle uses anywhere from 15 to 45 gallons of water. The detergent ﬁghts off bacteria that stink up your clothes and prevents new odorcausing grime from accumulating for up to seven uses. Each treatment lasts up to 20 wash cycles, which means that you can reuse a piece of clothing up to 140 times before having to treat it with deFUNKit again. The company has also created their own shoe and gear deodorizer, perfect for keeping your helmets, pads, gloves and shoes from smelling, well, like feet.

Health & Science

The Lightning Strike • December 2016

Page 16

SANITATION

Chemicals in anti-bacterial soap banned by FDA Alexis Sanford staff writer It turns out that antibacterial soap may be doing more harm than good. In Sep. 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the banning of the most commonly used chemicals in antibacterial soap and wash: triclocarban and triclosan, as well as 17 other active ingredients. According to the FDA, manufacturers haven’t provided enough evidence that antibacterial soaps are more efficient in preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Blank Children’s Hospital says that regular soap is designed to decrease water’s surface tension and lift dirt and oils off the surfaces so that it can be eas-

ily rinsed away and although regular soap does not contain added antibacterial chemicals, it is effective in getting rid of bacteria and other germs. The benefits of using antibacterial hand soap haven’t been proven and the wide use of these products over a long period of time have surfaced questions on the possible negative effects on health. Companies have been given a year to remove the ingredients from their products or they will be banned from the soap market. According to a news release from FDA, companies can’t sell antibacterial washes with these ingredients because manufacturers didn’t show that the ingredients are safe for long-term daily use and are more effective than plain soap and water at pre-

venting infections and illness. Triclosan, the most common chemical in antibacterial soap, was originally intended to be used in hospitals to kill microorganisms like bacteria. Lab tests show that bacteria have become resistant to triclosan and other animal studies suggest that exposure to triclosan can upset hormones in the body, trigger allergies and are linked to forms of cancer. The final rule given by the FDA only covers consumer antibacterial soap and body washes, not hand sanitizers or hand wipes. The rule also doesn’t apply to antibacterial soaps used in healthcare, including nursing homes and hospitals. However, future bans covering these products are expexted to arrive soon.

LEGISLATION

LEISURE

How to...

Enjoy Miami on a budget Miami is the 11th most expensive city in the world and it can be hard to enjoy it without breaking the bank, but this article lists fun things that can be done in Miami for little to no money. Every Miami-native knows that living in a big city is more uneventful than it may seem, especially when you don’t have a lot of money but there are ways you can enjoy Miami on a budget.

cooking classes.

Go to a Museum

Museums are fun, informative and inexpensive. Consider going to the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum if you’re an art lover or the Bay of Pigs Museum in Little Havana for history buffs. Both museums are free and open Tuesday through Friday. The Jewish Museum of Florida is also free every day.

3 Youth lawsuit against government on climate change policy Zachary Weinberger staff writer The government and President-Elect Donald Trump are being sued by 21 plaintiffs from the ages of 9 to 20, and they are coming forth to sue the U.S. government for lack of action on climate change. A federal judge denied the government’s motion to dismiss the case which means that the lawsuit will go to trial in federal court next year in Oregon. The initial intent of the plaintiffs and their attorneys from “Our Children’s Trust” was to direct the allegation toward the Obama administration, but when Trump assumes the presidency on Jan. 20, he will be automatically named a defendant. The plaintiffs allege that by the government leasing federal

property for fossil fuel extraction, the government is actually creating warming. “Our government seems to care more about money for the fossil fuel industry than our futures,” said thirteen year old Jayden Foytlin, one of the plaintiffs. “But money isn’t going to matter if we can’t ﬁx our planet.” According to the youth group, the federal government’s environmental policies have infringed upon the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources. “It’s important to spread awareness about climate impacts,” Zealand Bell, 11, one of the plaintiffs said. “I’m suing the federal government because they need to be doing more to protect our futures.”

MEGAN ORLANSKI

Because most of the plaintiffs cannot vote and have little voice on climate policy, they argue that they have more to lose when it comes to global warming than adults do. They are the ones who will inherit the effects of climate change. Other topics that deal with the case are on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and vehicles, tax breaks for fossil fuel industry and construction of marine coal terminal projects. “The most concerning thing to me is that our planet will be destroyed, and I would have done nothing about it,” Aji Piper, 15, another one of the plaintiffs said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We are bringing this case because we need to have a stronger voice and right now that’s through the legal system.”

Gulfstream

Gulfstream isn’t just a casino and racetrack. They often hold free holiday events like their Symphony of Lights Christmas show, free weekly live music and free cartoon drawing and

Free Yoga at Bayfront and Samson Oceanfront Park

De-stress after school or work with free yoga at the Tina Hills Pavilion, Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 P.M. Classes are taught by Urenergy Yoga owner Nicolay Del Sato. Another free yoga class is held at Samson Oceanfront Park every full moon. You can contact the park’s ofﬁce to register and a parking pass will be provided after registration.

Outdoor ﬁlms

Every Wednesday at 8 P.M. the Miami Beach Soundscape Cinema series screens free movies from recent ﬂicks like “The Jungle Book” to classics like Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride.” Just bring popcorn and a friend!

Free pool parties

The Conﬁdante Hotel in Miami Beach holds a weekly pool party called “Frankie Says” hosted by radio station KLANGBOX FM, every Saturday from 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Frankie Says hosts a lineup of local DJ’s including Terence Tabeau and Mystic Bill. Students have to spend money on ﬁeld trips, college applications and their own personal needs, so it is important that they can have fun and enjoy their city without breaking the bank. Between free yoga and art classes, pool parties and movies, students should not run out of things to do without having to dig in their pockets. Compiled by Tamia Streeter

FREE SAT & ACT PREP!!! AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENT MEMBERS!!!

Membership applications can be found in the main ofﬁce or on kropseniorhigh.org in the PTSA tab.

*These are the answers to the crossword puzzle found on page 14. HondaOfAventura.com

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Sports Page 18

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

COMEBACK

- MYTHBUSTERS

O’Connor returns for Top sports senior year myths Ethan Curtis sports editor

Last year’s basketball team looked poised to make a run at states with a senior class that featured two players going on to play college basketball. The team was then knocked out of the first round of the regional playoffs. Yet, there was still hope as Timothy O’Connor was en route for a breakout season and would be the team’s leader. That was until he transferred to Mater Academy for his senior year. O’Connor transferred to Mater Academy because their coach is well known in and out of the state. This would give O’Connor better opportunities to play college basketball. Without O’Connor, the team lacked the talent to compete at a level they once were. But then, O’Connor decided to transfer back to Krop to finish out his high school career. His decision to return was first prompted by the rules at Mater Academy. Boys can’t have long hair, something O’Connor was not willing to give up. After four weeks of sitting in CSI, he met with the principal to work out his transfer back to Krop. “I was disappointed at first because I thought this was my next chapter in life,” O’Connor said. “But at the same time, I knew I was com-

MYTH: Most college athletes specialized in one sport as a child. FACT: In 2012, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) published a survey that found 88 percent of surveyed college athletes, participated in more than one sport as a child. MYTH: Colleges in the United States, in comparison to foreign countries, give full-ride scholarship to athletes.

COURTESY OF FOX MAR

TAKING THE SHOT: Senior Timothy O’Connor drives in for a layup in a game against the North Miami Beach Chargers. His dedication and talent will lead the team in the success they ﬁnd this season.

ing back to the Krop family.” O’Connor will be the team’s biggest contributor as they hope to go further than they did last season. “It’s big shoes to ﬁll, and I’m getting better and better every day,” O’Connor said. “It’s not easy, but I’m willing to take on the challenge and make my teammates around me better as well. Not only will he have to contrib-

ute on the court this season, O’Connor hopes to leave a legacy on the team for years to come. For example, not giving in at any point throughout the game, no matter how many points the team is down. “I have to give it my all every night, take no plays off, and work harder than I did the last day,” O’Connor said. “Most importantly, don’t settle for good – be great.”

HELPING OTHERS

Special-education students trained for sporting events Federico Waldman staff writer Pride, happiness and support are a short list of the goals the special-ed sports program hopes to achieve through various events and trainings. Students who assist in this athletic program give up an hour of physical education every day to entertain, interact with and keep special-ed students shape. A typical day of ﬁtness consists of lap running, basketball and softball toss. Student volunteers help prepare special-ed students for state viewed events like the Special Olympics. “The idea of the trainings is to make sure they have the proper techniques so that they can succeed as much as possible,” senior Vaughn Lightbourn said. This year senior Nick Gulliksen and junior Latrell Fussell, both special-ed students, have won silver ribbons in the basketball tournament that took place on November 17. “The mentors have played a huge role in the success I had in the basketball event.” said Gulliksen. Though practices may seem to be all about the special-ed students for trainer Lightbourn, the takeaway is an unforgettable lesson. “It’s a different experience be-

FACT: It is widely believed that colleges in the U.S. provide full scholarships to athletic prospects, which is absolutely not true. Many people from other countries think it’s easier to be an athlete in America than any other place in the world. The truth is, getting a full scholarship for sports in any American college is just 1% according to Sporteology. MYTH: Athletic scholarships cover the full cost of college attendance. FACT: In addition to the multitude of partial scholarships given out in sports like baseball, where full scholarships are rare, many basketball and football players on so-called “full rides” often find that their scholarships fall short of covering the cost of attendance by a few thousand dollars. A 2010 study conducted jointly by the National College Players Association and Ithaca College found that Division 1 student-athletes on “full” scholarships were left with an average shortfall of $2,951 per year, or $14,755 over four years. MYTH: Distracting players at the Free Throw Line prevents them from scoring. FACT: Everyone has seen the inflatable noisy sticks that fans bang together at basketball games. You may even have a few. They are used to distract the player while they shoot free throws. Many people will tell you that this trick works, but it doesn’t. Research has shown that the opposing team might actually do better at the line than the home team. All that noise and excitement does more good than harm for the opposing team. MYTH: Gatorade and other sports drinks are the ultimate during-workout and post-workout beverages. FACT: The best thing to drink when your body is losing water is, well, water. Sports drinks are packed with calories and sugar, which can be beneficial after an extremely strenuous workout during which the body loses lots of electrolytes. However, too much consumption of these sugary energizers can easily contradict the amount of calories you just burned in your workout – all that work for nothing.

COURTESY OF KIM FERREIRA

TAKING THE SHOT: Alexandra Wilk practices her shooting during the warmups of the Special Olympics. With the help of other students and her peers, she has gained the skill and conﬁdence to play basketball.

cause most people are normally reticent to approach special-ed students and even talk to them.” Lightbourn said, “For me, they are like regular people; people just like us.” Elissa Rubinowitz, the former department chair of special-ed and current gifted advisor, understands Ligthbourn’s views as she “feels a connection,” to the

special-ed students. The program also works on making the day to day life of a special-ed student better and introduces mentors with a population of students they might have never encountered. “The best part of the day is when I’m playing sports with my mentors.” Nick Gulliksen said.

MYTH: Only athletes in aggressive contact sports like football, hockey and lacrosse suffer concussions. FACT: While football has the highest number of concussions, and concussions are common in hockey, lacrosse and wrestling, they also occur frequently in boys’ and girls’ soccer, basketball, and cheerleading. While participating in any physical exercise you should always be aware that a concussion can occur at any time. Compiled by Tiffany Schram

Facts taken from: www.momsteam.com www.hufﬁngtonpost.com www.nesn.com

Sports

The Lightning Strike • November/December 2016

Page 19

REFLECTIONS

Students share their best experiences Students share their most memorable times and experiences from this past season GOLF:

BOWLING:

FOOTBALL:

SWIMMING:

CROSS COUNTRY:

‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ Senior Ben Manley

This golf season held a different meaning to me this year than any other. Golf became more of a tool than anything since it became my best way to escape all the work school gave me. Helping my younger teammates has been a new experience for me because when I came to Krop, I was in the same situation with tons of work and I used golf as an outlet. The most memorable part of the year was when the younger students I was teaching began to get better than me. It was very exciting because I felt like I left a little bit of me with them for at least the next year.”

Sophomore Michael Kopel Senior Justin Korakakos This year was a huge year for me in bowling. I pulled off some of the best performances I’ve ever had, including a game where I had seven strikes and my highest score ever. Also I managed to make States, which is great because I started playing competitively only last year. States was an experience I’m never going to forget and it’s one of those things that I plan on telling my kids in the future. Next year I hope to make states again and I also plan on carrying my team to states with me. The only thing the team needs to reach states is to work a little harder throughout the year, and not stop practicing after the season is over.”

In my four years at Krop, there has been nothing that thrilled me more than being on the football team, and leaving it is something I’ve come to peace with. In my time here no moment has matched the play against Miami Beach last year when I caught the game winning touchdown with eight seconds left. This season’s best moment was the pick-six I got against Hialeah which set us up for the win in the second half after trailing. Football has provided me with opportunities to play for division one colleges, and I feel conﬁdent saying that this school has built the foundation for a great player.”

Senior Luis Parra

This year was one of my best ever performances in the water. I never felt this comfortable while swimming and I think it’s because of the dedication that I put in. The saying “hard work pays off” really did it for me this year. My goal this year was to make it to the regional round, which I did. I managed to pull it off by beating my record every time I hit the water. Even though I didn’t advance past regionals it still felt pretty good that I was able to achieve my goals. This will be a season I look back on for a long time.”

Senior Malik Watson Cross country is an amazing sport for me because of the amount of work it demands. After the cross country season, almost every other sport seams easy since we are in such good shape. I hope to instill the idea that the winner of every race is the one that works the hardest, which is how I made it to districts. This year made me realize that I’m a lot stronger than what I originally perceived. The most exciting part of the year for me was when we ﬁnally got a tent to relax under for our meets because it’s been something I’ve wanted since I started competing, and I got it before my high school career was over.” Compiled by Federico Waldman

HOBBIES

Keil, Tennen discover passion through taekwondo and mixed martial arts Ethan Curtis sports editor For two students, taekwondo and mixed martial arts has become more than just a hobby -- it’s a way of life. Junior Jared Keil has participated in taekwondo for 11 years while competing in sparring competitions for eight years. He is a five-time state champion, three-time bronze medal winner at nationals and took home the gold in the Junior Olympics. The amount of training he puts in speaks for itself. Keil trains five days a week with drills ranging from running laps to perfecting his roundhouse kick. But competing in a sport that focuses on kicks to the head and body brings injuries with it. Keil has suffered from broken fingers, a torn hamstring and bone bruises, but that hasn’t kept him from the sport he loves. “The only injury I never trained through was my torn

meniscus,” Keil said. “It’s just about how much pain you are willing to ignore to get the gold you want.” Senior Emilee Tennen also found success in the sport until she was forced into an early retirement caused by head injuries. She competed in taekwondo for about 11 years and has transitioned into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) style Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). She is a four-time state gold medalist and a two-time bronze medalist in the Junior Olympics and has appeared at the U.S. Open. Over the years, Tennen grew bold in the ring. At one point in her career, she felt as if she lost all mercy for her opponents and developed a confident attitude that anyone was beatable. “You build up a certain kind of confidence knowing you’re entering a ring with someone who wants to knock your head off and you have no one else to protect you,” Tennen said. Like many great fighters,

Tennen used toughness and grit to block out many distractions and injuries that her teammates faced as well. I don’t want to look weak in front of my friends and teammates, so I just had to push through it,” Tennen said. “When you fight, you’re bound to get hurt. It’s how you pick yourself up when you’re down.” After years of leaving a mark as a fighter, Tennen experienced what many athletes in this sport face – concussions. In one fight, Tennen took a kick to the eye and broke her orbital bone. Ever since then, she has developed concussion disorder symptoms. She no longer competes, but continues to train to stay in shape and continue to practice the techniques of UFC. “I look back and think of all the weeks leading up to a fight where I’d have to drop ten pounds in seven days,” Tennen said. “I used to think I was crazy, but honestly, it was the best time of my life.”

COURTESY OF EMILEE TENNEN

INTENSITY: Senior Emilee Tennen closes her eyes, thinking about her next opponent in a match at Nationals. She uses this same intensity and focus before each match which has led her to success.

Taekwondo and UFC competitions have begun to pick up popularity and looks as it has no intentions to slow down. “I’ve played so many sports growing up and always had

anxiety, but this was the only sport that took my mind off things,” Tennen said. “Through the years everything built my conﬁdence and mentality on life more than any sport could.