The Lion's Tale - Volume 58 Issue 3 - Oviedo High School

Graduation fee increases to cover costs PAGE 2

FEATURES

SPORTS

PAGE 8

PAGE 17

Blood drive encourages donations

Wrestlers strive to meet weight requirements

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LION’S 3 TALE EDITION

NEWS

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 DECEMBER 12, 2017 • VOLUME 58 • OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. Sophomore Sami Kuperberg, president of Oviedo High School’s Jewish Student Union, assists Holocaust survivor Gerald Biegel onto the stage in front of a packed house in the Cassanova auditorium on Dec. 11.

Holocaust survivors share experiences, encourage tolerance PHOTO BY FERN SILVA STORY BY PAIGE SIMPSON Staff, students and interested guests poured into the auditorium as the doors opened for the One Day Starts Today event on Dec. 11.

Friends chatted about the homework they were missing, teachers eagerly signed in students to grant them extra credit at the front doors and members of the Jewish Student Union (JSU) host organization nervously ran around the auditorium like ants, making sure everything was in order for the long-anticipated event.

6:30 p.m. struck. People made their way to their seats while others were forced to stand as people still poured in. JSU members tore tape off seats--which had been reserved for their members, family and friends--to allow more guests to have a place to sit.

The auditorium was officially packed.

“I thought that there wasn’t going to be any people,”

said junior Aviv Cutler. “When we saw people, we were really excited.”

Doors closed, lights dimmed and JSU sponsor and AP English Language and Composition teacher Shayna Hron took the stage to introduce the event.

Everything was silent.

“Tonight we will be hearing stories of the past,” Hron said.

Hron departed the stage as she passed the baton to JSU’s head of Orlando, and sponsor of OHS’s JSU as well as seven other JSU’s in Orlando, Daniel Nabation.

“The students have faced hatred and discrimination, but that’s not what tonight is about,” Nabation said.

“Tonight is about a vision; tonight is the first step in building a community.”

After four board members of the JSU discussed current events, JSU president Sami Kuperberg addressed the audience.

“It has been my dream [to hold this event] since I first started experiencing anti-semitism,” Kuperberg

said. “I heard these Holocaust ‘jokes’ or Jewish ‘jokes’ and realized that a lot of it comes from ignorance and [a lack of] education, and wanted to show them somehow that this was not something to joke about.

That’s when this idea came to mind.”

Once Sami finished telling her story of the hatred, oppression and discrimination she’s faced since being a student at OHS, she and Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldier Rayna Exelbierd assisted Holocaust survivors Genia Kutner and Gerald Biegel onto the stage for their portion of the event.

Biegel launched right into his story as soon as he hit the stage.

“I was 10 years old and I remember it like today,” Biegel said.

Biegel described how, in the beginning stages of the war, things changed when the segregation of the Jews was enacted. Biegel was not able to go to school with the rest of the children because he was Jewish.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

the Scoop

Literary club revives arts magazine, calls for submissions PHOTO BY ISABEL FAIN

MAKING PLANS. Freshmen Amari Jacobs and Carlos Chavez Rami discuss the arts magazine with Literary Lions adviser Rachel Miracolo. Student submissions are due by Jan. 11, 2018.

Graduation fee increases to cover cost of ceremony STORY BY ABBIE WYDRA One by one, students walk on stage to stand before hundreds of classmates who have made it through the past four years. Graduation: the moment they have been working toward for those four years.

But before this day occurs, all seniors have to purchase the graduation necessities.

This year, the basic graduation package rose from $100 to $110. If seniors wait to purchase the items after Feb. 1, the price increases to $135 (compared to last year’s $125). The entire increase is going towards the graduation ceremony itself, which is held at the CFE Arena at the University of Central Florida.

“In 2017, the cost went up $3,500 (from the 2016 price of $14,500), and since we hadn’t had a change in the fee, I approached Mr. Trybus,” said assistant principal Regina Klaers. “He agreed that adding the $10 would help us defray the cost. We don’t make money from graduation.

The fees are to pay for the graduation itself.”

According to Klaers, the basic package includes the cap, gown and graduation fee. The graduation fee covers the cost of ordering diplomas, diploma covers, graduation medallion and spirit hood, cost of printing graduation programs, arena rental, ceremony rentals, security and staffing, video and audio equipment and decorations.

If students have an older sibling who graduated recently, they may be able to reuse the cap and gown, as long as it is approved by administration.

“The graduation fee is about $50 in that packet,” Klaers said. “We have students who are either needy or have a cap and gown from a previous year that has been approved.”

Robes must be from within the past two or three years so that the black is from the same color lot.

“I work with those students,” Klaers said. “If they pay a $50 fee, we make sure they have the 2018 tassel. Some of them already have the spirit hood; if not, we get them one.”

the Month in Photos

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

BIOSCIENCE STEAM. Senior Tiana Kassis shows middle school students the Bioscience station on STEAM night at Jackson Heights Middle School on Nov. 29.

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

ROTC CHECKUP. On Nov. 30, ROTC had their comand inspection, which is part of the ROTC course itself.

STORY BY JOYCE NG The Literary Lions club is reviving the school’s student literary and arts magazine. The digital magazine, Arts Unleashed, is open to all students to submit their work.

The last edition of the magazine was in 2014. Now, the club hopes to display students’ diverse artistic capacities.

“We wanted to give our students a platform to publish their work and really demonstrate their talents,” said Literary Lions adviser and intensive language arts teacher Michelle Millard.

All kinds of art are welcome: poetry, nonfiction, fiction, drama, 2D or 3D art, photography, music, dance or lyrics.

Since Arts Unleashed will be a digital publication, the possibilities are endless-even electronic links to videos can be included.

Literary Lions will accept submissions until Jan. 11, 2018, then select submissions for the final publication, which will be available in May. “The Journalism 1 class with Ms. Carlson will compose the digital magazine for final publication,” said Literary Lions adviser and AP Research teacher Rachel Miracolo.

PHOTO BY EMMA STOKES

SHOWCASE. Sophomores Julia Hoffman and Madison Menoher play the trumpet to practice for the Showcase, which was held Dec. 9-11.

PHOTO PHOTO BY

BY FERN SILVA

TOYS FOR TOTS. Beta Club and National Honor Society helped the anual Toys for Tots donation program by donating new toys.

FRONT PAGE DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

DESIGN BY ABBIE WYDRA

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

Athletic Booster carnival returns after absence Event will take place April 12-15 on front practice field STORY BY CHRISTINA YORK Since the mid-1990s, Oviedo High School has been hosted a carnival--for most years, anyway. The carnival did not happen on last year, but it will be happening this year.

“We will be having the spring carnival on the front field on April 12-15,” said athletic director Jennifer Darty. “It is sponsored by the Oviedo High School Athletic Booster Club.”

Some students remember the previous carnivals.

“I went to the Oviedo fair before with a couple of friends and I had a lot of fun and made great memories,” said senior Peyton Scott.

Younger students, however, are new to the idea.

“I haven’t ever been, but I am going to go this year with my friends and I’m really looking forward to it,” said freshman Adam Miceli.

The Booster Club, which had elections last year for its executive board, hosts the carnival, then donates the proceeds to OHS athletics. The amount of money varies each year based upon attendance.

According to Darty, the athletics department then oversees how the funds get used.

ILLUSTRATION BY DECLAN MCCOY

Sub shortages disrupt learning environment Class helps students STORY BY DYLAN SACHS A scene becoming more and more common at Oviedo High School is students crammed into the Commons, talking loudly with their friends for entire class periods under an administrator’s supervision.

These situations have arisen due to a lack of substitute teachers available to supervise a traditional classroom setting.

Assistant principal Matthew Ackley stated that it is a broad problem.

“It’s been a little bit more difficult this year than it has been in years past, but it is not a problem that is just an Oviedo High School problem, it’s been district-wide,” Ackley said.

Principal Joe Trybus said that there are reasons for the shortage.

“I think that the pay’s not all that great, for a sub either, so there’s not much incentive to be a sub; that’s probably the biggest reason,” Trybus said.

The average salary for a substitute teacher in Seminole County is $73.71 per day, 31% below the national average.

This may factor into the low number of people willing to become substitutes.

As a substitute for a substitute, administration sometimes has to watch classes until a substitute teacher

$73.31 Average daily substitute salary

DESIGN BY CHRISTINA YORK

is available, which can create more problems than it eliminates, according to Trybus.

“Students are not engaged in the learning that was planned for the day,” Trybus said.

Trybus stated that, with substitutes, students are basically just being supervised, not getting extra learning.

“The teacher would have to come in the next day and make sure that learning took place, and keep moving through the curriculum,” Trybus said.

Ackley explained that a student’s education may be put on pause if a substitute teacher is missing.

“When teachers do the preparations and they’ve got lesson plans and things left behind, sometimes those things don’t get carried out, and that’s not OK,” Ackley said.

“We have to work with our teachers and with our subs to make sure that when they’re here, that our kids are still being productive and that they’re still learning.”

Mark McEwen, who has been a substitute teacher for several months, stated that OHS has been his favorite school to substitute at thus far.

“I’ve substituted in a number of different schools,” McEwen said. “I find this school the best one. High school is high school is high school, but there are some that are better all around than others and this is, I think, is top-ofthe-line.”

Average number of substitutes needed each day

10-20

MONDAYS & FRIDAYS Most frequent days teachers are absent

improve study skills STORY BY KATHLEEN YORK

Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) is a high school success course that is geared towards helping students who have the potential to take advanced courses such as honors, AP, and other advanced courses.

“Students master study skills like time management, organization, and planning,” said MTSS teacher Michelle Millard.

According to Millard, MTSS will produce 12 students capable of tackling advanced courses; students will build confidence and skills they can use for a lifetime.

Millard and the students accomplish this by scheduling study times, examining grades and holding conferences to discuss their past and present work in the class.

Assistant principal Tanya Cameron and guidance counselors choose specific students to join MTSS. These students qualify to take advanced courses, but are struggling in areas of GPA or studying skills.

“Every week, these students also participate in a stress management group led by a counselor from UCF,” Millard said.

She also stated she sees MTSS as an opportunity to be a positive voice for these students.

“This course gives me time to celebrate their success, help them reach their goals and overcome personal obstacles,” Millard said.

Yet, Millard stated that the course comes with its own set of struggles.

“It is challenging because our routine in class is really directed by the students and what their needs are at that given moment,” Millard said.

4 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

IN YOUR FACE

Personalities not simple, require understanding Each person in this world is different-each leads a life foreign to everyone else.

Though we may have similar qualities, such as brown hair, or an optimistic attitude, there are always defining factors to each and every person in this world, because no one person is the same as another.

Some of us are athletic; some of us are physically appealing; some of us would rather read a novel than attend a party. But, many times, that is merely a front. Many of us intentionally--or unintentionally--put up a front, out of fear of nonacceptance, failure or mockery.

For example, there could be a girl who, on the outside, seems insanely obsessive; someone who frets over minor, insignificant details that no “normal” person would pick up on. She may be unable to complete certain tasks most others can complete until, for example she ensure all of the lines on her paper are parallel, or ensures that all of her shoes are in line.

To most people, this may seems absurd, frivolous, even ridiculous, that such small details would matter that much to a person.

Yet, what they fail to realize is that this girl has OCD, a disorder that causes her to have an inability to complete certain task

Does you self-perception vary based on others’ influence?

Senior James Lehman

due to the obsessive compulsion to make sure another task is completed. She has no choice in the matter.

Or, for example, an athlete who gives 100 percent on an field, who’s the coach’s pet and always watches his own butt.

This may upset teammates, but what they fail to realize is that this athlete has to be the star in order to get a college scholarship; his parents can’t afford to send him to college without it.

Everyone has a front like those described above--a stereotype that fits them into a mold: an aggressive jock; a petty, optimistic cheerleader; a hooded recluse. Yet, that may not always be the truth about the actual person.

Giving others--and yourself-the chance to appreciate true personalities is a great way to improve relationship and expand your world view.

We at The Lion’s Tale believe that it is important to not “judge a book by its cover,” but to understand that the person they see may not be the actual person, and to dig deeper to get to know the “real” person underneath the facade.

We believe that it is important to look past the casting facade and get to know people, rather than avoid people because of a first glance.

OUR WORD

“Not really, just because I don’t really care what other people think of me. The people that I care about, I care about what they think, but most people, what they say doesn’t really bother me.”

Junior Patricia Alvarado

“Yes, because iI feel like it has to change who you are in different environments.”

Sophomore Bella Langhorst

“No, because I really just don’t care what other people think. It’s my point of view, I don’t need anyone else to bring me down.”

Freshman Joshua Hershman

“Yes. The way I see myself is by the way my friends describe me. Usually my friends see me as a fun person, and that’s the way I like to be. I try to be that way a lot.”

PHOTOS BY EMMA STOKES

The Weird One

“One has not only an ability to perceive the world but an ability to alter one’s perception of it; more simply, one can change things by the manner in which one looks at them.”

-Tom Robbins

The Shy One

Opinion Editor Joyce Ng Features Editor Danielle Griffiths Editors-in-Chief Paige Simpson Gillian Landwehr Online Editors Trey Hargis Bryn Garick

Photographers Isabel Fain Emma Stokes Sravani Thupili Artists Sophia Bloom Alexis Desena Kimberly Penuel

Entertainment Editor Fern Silva Designers Declan McCoy Sports Editor Josh Cordonero Nevada Cullen Chris Keefer Conner Quinlan Business Manager Julian Rios

Reporters Pamela Chapman Connor Compton Tessa Kowalski Jesica Litton Dylan Sachs Emily Vernikos Abigail Wydra Christina York Kathleen York Faculty Adviser Elise T Carlson

Admin Adviser Drew Morgan Principal Joseph Trybus Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 P: 407-320-4199 F: 407-320-4213 Population: 2530 students 29 staff members

The Pretty One

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA BLOOM

INFOCOURTESYWISEOLDSAYINGS.COM News Editor Saadhana Sridharan

The Smart One

Mission Statement The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida.

Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press,

and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA and FSPA. Distribution 1500 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School. Subscriber information is available on OviedoJournalism.com Reader Contributions Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail or

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • DECEMBER 12, 2017 • VOLUME 58 • EDITION 3

dropped off in Room 5-020.

The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor.

Full policy is available on OviedoJournalism.com.

Advertising Policy The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements. The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is available on OviedoJournalism.com.

OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

DESIGN BY DYLAN SACHS

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 5

I’m always here for you.

opinion editor JOYCE NG

Stressed: critical condition of teens today

ILLUSTRATION BY K. PENUEL

Cats can indeed be friendlier than dogs

staff reporter ISABEL FAIN

Dogs have always been man’s best friend, but what about cats? Their independence may seem annoying sometimes, but I believe, deep down, they might be better than a best friend.

I’m not here to debate whether cats are better than dogs. I’m only stating that cats are better at sensing human emotions.

Though dogs might be man’s best friend, there is some difference in personalities and which animal bonds better. In order to really understand the two distinctions of personalities, picture them as two children.

Dogs, or optimistic and energetic kids, may be loyal on the surface, but will most likely abandon you when food is involved.

Cats are loner-type kids who mostly keeps to themselves and can seem apathetic.

But, when called to duty, they will appreciate the independence and freedom you give, and will repay you with kindness.

When I first got my cat, it was a spontaneous adventure. We went to the local pet shelter and walked around the cat section. I knew that if I was going to get a cat, I was going to have to find an emotional connection with it.

DESIGN BY JOYCE NG

I walked by one of the cages with three beautiful black kittens. The female kitten instantly pressed up against the bars, reached her paw out and meowed happily.

I got to hold her and realized I had never heard a cat purr so loudly before.

Her name was “Stormy,” but we called her “Storm” for short. She reminded me of my sister’s favorite X-Man character.

I knew she was the one.

Dogs are more loyal and definitely stimulate happiness when you see them, but there is evidence that cats have a deeper connection with humans. Yes, dogs can be trained to sit, heel and stay; cats don’t really show the same performance.

I have one cat and one dog. Whenever I felt sad or lonely, my first cat could sense my emotions and would always come to comfort me. She would walk up and rub her muzzle on me and circle me until I was okay.

My current cat will sit in my lap or crawl on me and allow me to pet her until I feel better. She’ll purr like crazy to provide a soothing sound that makes me relax.

Also, she always respond to me when I say greet her in a high pitched “Hello!” I’ll look and smile at her. Then, she’ll meow loudly at me. We continue for a couple of minutes. It’s almost like we’re having our very own conversation.

My dog, on the other hand, was not able to detect my feelings, or if she did, she paid no mind.

Every day when I wake up, my cat will hear me and run into my room. She’ll hang out with me as I get ready for school and purr a “good morning.” Then she’ll join me for breakfast downstairs.

That is when I greet my dog, who enthusiastically jumps up to me. Since

she’s only about a foot tall, she reaches just my knees. I do admit that seeing her in the morning sparks more happiness and optimism for my day than does seeing my cat.

Sadly, I have to leave both of them and go to school. When I get home again, it’s my dog who will greet me first at the door, followed by my cat. Both will flounder at my feet and dance around.

When I retire to my room, my cat follows and sits on the floor. She purrs as she basks in the sunlight from my window, and I take breaks from my homework to pet her. When I sit on my bean bag chair, she instantly climbs onto my lap.

Late at night, I take a little time to read.

My cat will jump on my bed and crawl up next to me. I’ll read to her for some time until she falls asleep.

I’ll shut off the lights and sleep with my arm around my little feline friend. She purrs and rests her head on my arm and we both fall asleep soundly.

One time, I fell off my bed by accident.

My cat was sitting on the bed and immediately peered over the side to see if I was OK. That was the first time I really realized that all my cats in the past have been there for me more than my dog has been.

These differing animal personalities can determine the distinction of connection with humans. Most likely, an introverted human will prefer a cat who can support her quietly and match her energy level.

Extroverted people would most likely prefer a dog who’s energetic and similar to them.

Sure, seeing my dog wag her tail brings joy to my heart, but I’ll never be more comforted than by my cat.

The clock is ticking. After trying to multi-task (and procrastinate) on your school assignments, you’re stressed out because they’re still not done. You’ve only finished one assignment. One down, five more to go.

You read the time: 11:00 p.m. You decide to go on your phone to “take a break” from all the work you’ve done.

You then see all your friends venting their academic stress on their social media platforms and you read a few messages saying, “I’m going to jump off a cliff” or “I’m so lost in this class, just kill me now,” or “I’m going to fail this test” or “I give up.”

You sigh and you wonder if you should give up. But then you remember that if you don’t pass this class, you’ll probably never graduate or go to college or achieve your goals or dreams or be happy in life.

So you’re stressed--once again. The clock starts ticking again and you just want to “kill yourself” before the bomb goes off.

If you go on Google and type in the search bar “can stress_____?” some of the searches that show up are: “kill you,” “make you sick,” “cause cancer,” “cause acne.” The sad answer to those questions is “yes.”

Yes, stress can kill you.

It wasn’t until this past summer when I had to consciously think about stress every day. My stress was one of the reasons I had to get surgery in the summer. After the surgery, stress became a critical part of my life. I was told I had to manage my stress, and make sure I wasn’t stressed out, for my health and well-being.

In this process, I’ve learned that stress is simply an illusion: an illusion that simply makes your heart race, your mind feel like it’s about to explode. You slowly, then all at once, let yourself become blinded by it.

But when you finally let yourself step back and take a breath, you realize it’s just another task to complete, a hurdle to jump over, box to check off.

In high school, academically competitive people make being stressed out almost seem like a “bragging right.”

Every day at school I probably hear the words “I’m so stressed” a few times in every class.

The idea of being busy and stressed out has been popularized and romanticized in a way that makes the person sound like they have so much to do--meaning that they have so much to achieve.

Instead of being pressured into stress, just keep your goals in mind and do your best.

Don’t let stress get the best of you.

6 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

sports editor

NEVADA CULLEN

Spiciness, thrills attract adventurers

When I think of hot sauce, I think of the many meals I’ve eaten at Tijuana Flats. I remember seeing the array of flavors at the hot sauce bar. I remember laughing when my brother tried the hottest one there, ghost pepper sauce, and I remember him having to smear sour cream on his lips to ease the burn.

I remember wondering why he would put himself through such pain.

As it turns out, your personality is directly related to your likeliness to try spicy foods or hot sauces. According to a study conducted by Paul Rozin, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, there is a correlation between liking roller coasters and liking spicy food.

This means that a person who goes on the fastest and steepest roller coasters is the same person who orders the hottest wing sauce at a sports bar.

People often try to show off or impress others by attempting to handle a thrill ride or tangling with the hottest of hot sauces.

Others truly enjoy the thrill of adventure or indulging in the heat of spicy food.

The excitement that comes from the first bite into a spicy pepper is the same excitement that comes from the rush of blood to your head as you twist and turn upside-down on a thrill ride.

Spicy food and extreme rides often elicit the same bold and daring feeling in your brain. This hypothesis has been proven, as more and more studies reveal that thrill-seekers are more likely to seek spicy food than those who tend to keep their feet on the ground.

Thrill-seeking and a taste for spicy food are often traits ingrained into someone’s personality.

With that said, I believe people can change. Until recently, I wasn’t much of a thrill-seeker. I was terrified of going upside-down on a coaster. I flipped a switch one day and decided to try it. Since then, I have taken every opportunity to ride the tallest and craziest rides.

The same goes with spicy food. As you get older, your taste buds change.

Foods that you hated as a little kid start to taste good. My taste buds warmed up to trying spicier foods and sauces. I am a different person now.

So instead of laughing the next time my brother makes a fool out of himself by trying a really spicy hot sauce, I’m going to make a fool out of myself with him.

Next time I go to Tijuana Flats, I’m going to try the hottest hot sauce there.

Ghost pepper sauce is my Everest.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS DESENA

Breaking society’s chains improves life

staff reporter

JESICA LITTON

The world that we inhabit is one that has gone through many changes in the past years and centuries.

Everyday, a new trend or fad is being brought to the light, making people want to convert to the societal norm. As teenagers we seem to be the most affected by these different “in-style” things.

In my mind, I imagine a long line of grey people in a beautifully colored world, all on their way to a grey, simplistic coffin.

These grey people forgot what it was like to be different and be themselves.

Around them stand people in color, with bright and forgiving smiles, because they know that the only way to break the chain is to stay committed to being who you are.

Every day I see more and more people,-mostly of younger age- refining their bodies or hair to feel like they belong.

I used to think that I also needed to alter myself to fit into society.

As my mind has matured, a realization

has hit me. My body, my hair, my mind and my soul are all mine, no one can take those things from me.

So many young girls and boys don’t reach that conclusion until it is too late. By then they have completely rearranged their physical appearance and possibly even their mind-set to feel like they are one of the others.

I find myself to now be one of those colorful people. I have stopped hating my body because I have curves where others don’t like them; it’s a part of me and I like them.

I have stopped hating my hair because it’s frizzy; my frizzy hair is me. I have stopped hating my less-than-perfect smile, because its me and it makes me different.

All of these different qualities are what set me apart from those other people. But it doesn’t stop at physical appearances.

My soul and the way I think is different.

I don’t want to share the same thoughts and opinions as other people, I want to have my own side to a story.

At the same time I also think it is important to understand where people are coming from and understand why they do some of the things that they do.

My life has been hectic, and I only truly have myself to fall back onto at the end of the day, and if I lose who I am, I could lose my footing and become grey like the rest of the world.

I think that everyone has the right to love and hate what they want, and be who they want, because we don’t know how long we are given to make mistakes and to fix them. I would hate to look back and

think “wow; I spent my whole precious life trying to alter my body, and who I am to impress people who don’t care what happens to me in the end?”

Your life is not supposed to be lived for others; you should do what makes you happy and comfortable.

I learned at a young age that people wont always like my decisions, but they are my choices, and whatever consequences or rewards may follow are also mine.

When I was younger, I used to be afraid to speak my mind and be my own person. I was this way because of my parents, and because of people I called my “friends.”

Now that I am in high school I have realized I would rather by myself and be content with who I am than try to impress others and be depressed.

Be who you are, because you only have a limited time to be on this earth. You should leave an imprint on this earth that stands out. Too many people spend their time trying to configure what it would feel like to fit in with everyday life.

They should be wondering what it would be like to fit into their own life, and their own little space of reality.

Fall out of the grey line, and spend your life the way that you want to, whether that be bright or dark. The life you live is your own, a precious gem that should be taken seriously but still have room for fun.

Because, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

DESIGN BY JESICA LITTON

HEAD to HEAD

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 7

What is the biggest risk that comes from sports?

Athletes often lose balance of time STORY BY CHRIS KEEFER The high school experience is characterized by late-night studying, stressing over tests, band practices, sports events and a plethora of other student activities.

Among the most common stressors for students are sports activities. In fact, according to childtrends.org, a majority of high school students, at 55.5% participate in sports. Therefore, a majority of students can identify with the high volume of physical exertion and time consumption.

Students athletes often talk about the pressure they are under due to having to balance school and their involvement in sports. This may devolve to complaining, or perhaps excuses among athletes regarding the struggle.

However, this struggle cannot be blamed on anyone except the athletes themselves. It is a student’s choice whether or not he or she has the ability to handle being in a sports program and successful in school at the same time.

A student has complete control over creating his school schedules, including which sport he decides to participate in.

Time is inarguably the number one limiting factor in life. To ensure satisfaction with one’s life, a student must be capable of separating the time she allots to specific activities throughout the day. A student has to be able to know when she should be doing something and be able to accomplish it before she moves on to something else. If she fails in this task, a student will find herself stressed and behind on her life.

Poor time management can lead to more than just stress; anxiety, a foul temper, and a short fuse come from it, as well. If a student wishes to be an athlete

and participate in sports as well as other extracurriculars, this is an essential skill to have. Students who are not proficient in setting time aside inevitably must be forced to make a decision.

If students cannot keep up with their schoolwork and sports, they need to quit sports. Nothing should be valued higher than a student’s education as, after all, that is the real reason he is in school.

Sports are a privilege that only those who are responsible enough to manage their education should be able to participate in.

This doesn’t just apply to sports, but every extracurricular activity as well. This is the priority that successful students must keep. While colleges do take into account the number and nature of a student’s extracurriculars, admissions are mainly determined by GPA and SAT scoring, according to collegedata.com. Any activity outside of school should, therefore, be considered secondary to all work related to GPA and testing.

Still, athleticism is a very important aspect of many students’ lives, and everyone should find ways to occupy their time and remain healthy. Just because students are athletes doesn’t necessarily hurt their grades; there are many academically successful student athletes and students who spend much of their time in other activities outside of school.

In the end, student athletes don’t have a harder life because they compete in sports; whatever struggles they encounter are likely connected to the balance of time consumption.

Athletes who cannot keep up have to understand that they are creating problems for themselves and make the proper decisions. There is no “student athlete” struggle; there is only the struggle of dedication and time management.

Injuries, societal image demand too much STORY BY JESICA LITTON Many student athletes constantly spend their days fighting the pressure of parents and peers. Putting aside their mental health and their wants, they push forward into whichever sports their friends are playing or the ones their parents want them to play. Most of their high school careers will be spent on practices and games.

This means less time for family, friends and general decompression time. These student athletes, more times than not, don’t get to experience life outside of sports. Sadly, the only break they get is if something gets broken.

Ninety percent of student athletes report some sort of sports-related injury, 54 percent say they have been hurt while playing their sport, 37 percent say they have had sprains and 12 percent say they have had sustained concussions, according to atyourownrisk.org.

These are numbers that are very difficult to ignore. Most parents would respond to these numbers by insisting, “it’s for the love of the sport,” but what about the child’s health? According to atyourownrisk.org, 42 percent of students claimed to have hidden or downplayed an injury during a game so they could continue to play.

Not only are the athletes affected, but students with health issues may spend their whole high school experience feeling worthless because they quite simply cannot play any sports.

A boy I know has a heart murmur and, therefore, he cannot participate in any exhilarating activities because they can cause major heart malfunctions. This does not make him any less important than student athletes, but the student body can

85% OF ATHLETIC TRAINERS/ COACHES

42% OF STUDENTS

indicate anxiety affects their student athletes

25% OF STUDENTS suffer from an eating disorder

INFOCOURTESYATYOUROWNRISK.ORG,NFHS.ORG DESIGN BY JOSH CORDONERO

make an incorrect opinion or view of him.

Many times, students become their own enemy. Due to the pressure of the “high school experience,” many students push themselves too far. Jocks, cheerleaders, dancers and color guard all face risks of injury. But they stare the risks right in the face and push through because they are afraid of failing themselves and their peers by giving up.

What are the limitations? Theatlantic. com published the story of a transfer student who came to America from South Korea, who tells the reporter that she has seen a much higher impact of sports on students in America rather than South Korea.

She talks about seeing the soccer team dress in pajamas or Hawaiian shirts just because they are the soccer team.

Reading this made me wonder how many students feel out of place because they weren’t part of this fun activity.

When it comes down to the wire, many students spend their time in high school more worried about being big in sports than taking care of their health. Sometimes these feelings and effects can be linked back to the students themselves: they boast about how good they are, or how bad another student player might be.

When students start to base who they are friends with off of social status and their ranking in sports, we have really fallen far from the path of greatness.

If the quarterback of the football team got extremely injured, it would be a mournful time, but if something happened to a less active student, it would be here and forgotten like nothing.

Many students see what is happening in sports and think, “I want to feel that important.” Is feeling so important worth seriously injuring yourself?

claim to have hidden injury to continue playing

8 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

Students donate blood to aid others

STORY BY FERN SILVA Every two seconds, someone needs a pint of blood transfused into them, according to Red Cross Blood.

Even with over 13 million pints of blood donated yearly, blood shortages are a common occurrence.

To help, the school hosts OneBlood--a nonprofit organization dedicated to the collection and distribution of blood from donors to over 200 hospitals all over Florida, parts of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina--multiple times per year.

Giving with Purpose

mental toll that donating can take on the donator’s body.

Statistics from the National Center for Biotechnology Information show that about 1.28% of people will suffer from some sort of discomfort. Whether that be minimal, such as weakness, nausea or sweating, to more serious situations, such as vomiting and loss of consciousness, donors can be affected.

Wriston believes that there are unproportional stories told about the number of times people are hurt is one of the primary reason that, of the 38% of the population who can donate, only 10% of them actually do.

“I think its mostly just the fear,” Wriston said. “A lot of people have I feel like it’s the right problems with needles, others just thing to do and if you can, have a problems with seeing there own you should. It helps people. blood.”

Senior Jared Winston

’’

Senior Johan Rojas, who has donated six pints of blood since being enrolled at Oviedo High School, has a personal connection to the cause.

“I saw the commercial for OneBlood and I [thought of] a personal friend of mine,” Rojas said. “My friend Hudson, who lives in Arizona, has a type of lung disease that has affected him for a long time.”

Rojas said that Hudson had to have multiple surgeries to help alleviate the pain from simply breathing. His surgeries caused him to need constant transfusions. It’s this that pushed Rojas to first start donating.

Rojas believes that anyone who can donate blood should, as does senior Jared Wriston.

“I donate because I feel like it’s the right thing to do and if you can, you should,” Wriston said. “It helps people.”

Wriston has been donating for as long he can, which started when he turned 16, and he plans to do so once he graduates as well.

Yet, Wriston acknowledges the physical and even

’’

O+

38% of people have O+ blood, making it the most common blood type.

1% of people have AB- blood, making it the most rare blood type.

AB-

Community Contribution

Douglas Shoemaker, account representative for OneBlood, visits the school multiple times a year, but Oviedo is not the only school helping One Blood’s cause.

“Many of the high schools in the area participate on a regular basis,” Shoemaker said.

Aside from the visiting high schools in the area, OneBlood hosts numerous events in the area at large.

“OneBlood runs roughly 400-500 blood drives in Central Florida alone,” Shoemaker said.

Oviedo High School itself has done a lot for the overall program.

“In the last four years alone, approximately 5000 lives have been saved,” Shoemaker said. “[All] because of the life-saving efforts of blood donors at Oviedo High School.”

O-

People with O- blood are considered universal donors, meaning they can donate to anyone.

People with AB+ blood are universal receivers, meaning they can receive any blood type.

AB+

INFOCOURTESYONEBLOOD.ORG

DESIGN BY BRYN GARICK

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 9

Discipline code, responses consider multiple factors STORY BY SAADHANA SRIDHARAN

Levels of Response First Offense: -Zero on assignment -Parent contact -Saturday School Second Offense: -Zero on assignment -Parent contact -In-School Suspension or equivalent -Invocation of Citizenship Standards Third Offense: -Zero on assignment -Parent contact -Out-of-School Suspension or equivalent -Invocation of Citizenship Standards

INFOCOURTESYCODEOFCONDUCT

Referrals, commendations, suspensions and honor codes are phrases commonly tossed around in conversations throughout the hallways; yet, no one seems to know what really happens in the discipline office, a few meters away from those hallways.

Some seemingly contradictory consequences for student behaviors have caused this confusion.

“Honestly, I think it’s not really fair how [the office] handles things,” senior Genesis Martinez said, referring to the different consequences faced by students who have done the same thing. “I think it should just be the same consequences for everyone.”

While this idea of equality is widely thought to be the ideal standard, there are limitations that must be taken into account, according to discipline dean Jason Maitland.

“There might be a student who has had no discipline referrals in their entire year, and there might be a student that has had several referrals in the past month,” Maitland said. “Obviously, if these two students do the same action, there’re going to be different consequences.”

The code of conduct’s lack of specificity may play a role in this conflict of consequences.

“If you dig into the entire code of conduct, and you read what they call the ‘matrix of consequences,’ you’ll see that there are very few mandatory [consequences]; so there is some leeway involved about what consequences we use,” Maitland said.

“There are a variety of factors that go into

play as far as discipline for a student.”

Martinez stated that she feels the code should be made more clear.

Many students are also simply curious about how the office works.

“I don’t know much about it, but I feel that they do a good job getting all the students in check,” said senior Grayson Stein. “But In my four years here, I’ve always wondered what they do. I’ve never even been inside.”

According to Maitland, the discipline team takes multiple factors into consideration.

“We take a look at the referral, take a look at the student’s name, we take a look at the teacher, take a look at what the student did, look at what needs to be addressed, and we determine if it’s something that we need to take action immediately or maybe later on in the school day,” Maitland said.

“Sometimes the student comes along with the referral and, in that case, we need to take action immediately.”

Maitland is the only discipline dean at school, so he handles approximately 95% of the disciplinary cases brought to the office.

Throughout his four years of experience at Oviedo--plus the several years he has spent at other schools--Maitland has handled hundreds of cases.

“I’ve been at ‘A’ rated schools and I’ve been at ‘F’ schools, and I’ve been at highperforming schools and I’ve been at lowperforming schools,” Maitland said. “I’ve interacted with a lot of different types of students, and I think that’s definitely helped me understand students.”

Discipline Code 1. Defines the responsibilities and rights of students 2. Defines the rules of conduct and behavioral expectations for students 3. Establishes the consequences for violations of the rules of conduct 4. Describes the procedures for processing disciplinary violations

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT SCPS.K12.FL.US

DISCIPLINE TEAM

Jason Maitland Dean

Megan Morley Discipline Secretary

Isiah Williams Security

Bonnie Presley Security

Jermaine Alfonso Security

I’m the only dean at the school, so I would say I handle at least 95% of the discipline-related cases.

I maintain information in a database. I receive phone calls, provide information or make referrals to other staff, when appropriate. I also create and maintain files.

My job entails monitoring kids, taking calls from teachers that have discipline issues.

I also monitor the parking lot and do patdowns and searches of students if necessary.

My job is amazing. I get to work with students.

I deal with safety and security, making sure everything goes smoothly.

To ensure the safety of the student body, to ensure they are in class, to ensure they are doing what they are supposed to be, to ensure the safety of the campus and the personnel here.

DESIGN BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR

10 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

SEX ED?

Various sources influence teens’ decisions STORY BY BRYN GARICK Peer pressure is prevalent in all stages of life, though it is especially prevalent in high school.

“I’ve been peer pressured to do a lot of things, big or small: eating, trespassing, drinking, smoking,” said senior Madison Graham.* Sex is also something that students can feel pressured into doing.

“Many people feel that they need to have sex with their significant other to prove something,” Graham said.

Senior Rachel Marrow* stated that teens are expected to have sex after a certain amount of time. This peer pressure, according to senior Dustin Piddle,* pushes teenagers to make decisions early.

“People are rushed to [have sex],” Piddle said. “They aren’t able to arrive at the experience naturally.”

Part of this rush, according to avert.org, is because teenagers believe they are more mature after having sex.

“I think that more and more people are having sex at younger ages, and it puts in others minds that they are ‘maturing’ quicker than them,” Graham said. “That they need to catch up, even if they don’t really want to. I think it stresses teens out more than they should be.”

This stress varies by gender, however. According to NCBI. com, males often see sex as a rite of passage while girls tend to be labeled.

“I believe peer pressure causes people to be harder on girls than guys about sex,” said junior Sandra Paulson.* “If they are virgins, many girls are called prudes, but if they aren’t virgins, then they are called sluts. In society, girls having--or not having-sex is a double-edged sword because they seemed to get judged either way.”

Paulson stated that sex should be a private thing, for both genders, rather than public and stressful.

“There are many people who believe that others do not have the right to privacy about their sex life, which they should,” Paulson said. “Sex should be a private matter as long as it is between consenting, mature people who understand their actions and the potential ramifications of these actions.”

According to avert.org, such ramifications can include Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and pregnancies.

“It’s important to know how to avoid the spreading and getting of STDs [Sexually Transmitted Diseases] and STIs,” said senior Grace Gibson*.

33%

of teen boys feel pressured to have sex

Graham believes that a safe space helps these discussions.

“Being informed about things such as STDs is important,” Graham said. “Safe sex should be able to be talked about.

Although students might think they know or can figure out things on their own, to have a safe environment to talk about it and ask questions is important.”

Parental Influence

For Graham, her safe environment has been her parents.

“I’m comfortable talking with [my parents] about it,” Graham said. “They made it normal to be able to speak about anything.”

Other students feel that their parents give them support on the matter.

“My parents were pretty alright with it,” said senior James Wallace, “They said ‘as long as you’re safe,’ and that was fine with me.”

Vicky Eldridge*, a parent who has two boys in elementary school, has always discussed sex with her children.

“They already know all the names for their parts and for women’s parts, they know what sex is,” Eldridge said. “They are allowed to ask anything. My oldest has access to the internet, so things have come up and he’s come to us and been like ‘what is this.’ We try not to close that door on him--we want them to always be able to ask us.”

Parent of two girls and boys Vanessa Puckett* finds ways to discuss things with her children trying to make them as comfortable as possible.

“I tend to bring up things to talk to the kids about in the car.,” Puckett said. “I allow them to give me short answers or no answers at all. I have given them books to read. My husband and I talk about things we hear other students doing at school which opens up conversation.”

Eldridge’s parents weren’t very open about sex, which has influenced her views upon how to communicate with her children.

“I learned about sex in weird ways; not from my parents,” Eldridge said. “So [my kids] just have the straight up facts.”

Puckett* is worried peer pressure affects her children’s perception of sex.

“I worry that what they believe is the right decision for them, may be influenced by peer pressure, alcohol, or even drugs,” Puckett said. “I want them to make decisions based on what they believe not what other people are telling them they should be doing at a particular age.”

Paulson’s parents have not provided as supportive of an environment.

“The only time my mom addresses sex is to tell me to wait

Senior Grace Gibson

until marriage because it is a ‘sin’ to do otherwise,” “Instead of this encouraging me to wait, this only e to not be honest with my mom about it.”

According to Graham, the religion with which sh influenced her beliefs on sex.

“I think it’s a very intimate thing, not somethin lightly,” Graham said.

Junior Anthony Rodriguez* has a similar viewp “I think that it’s important to wait until marriage Rodriguez said. “I have that opinion because of m Other students stated that their parents don’t knowledge on sex at all.

“In first grade, [my parents] told me how perio was about it,” Gibson said.

Other Sources of Information

According to care and prevention teacher Ke biology teachers are required to teach a two-to-th on STDs. “We talk about a few STDs (some viral and s and we discuss ways to treat and avoid getting Biology teacher Heather Delong. “We will also d female anatomy, trace the flow of ejaculation an differences in the trimesters of pregnancy.”

However, some students feel that this uni informative.

“One week in biology for sex education doesn me anything, and people around me don’t really Gibson said. “I wasn’t really taught formally through system or my parents, so I had to rely on myself protect myself. I learned basic sex ed through Goo Junior James Theo* also relies on information “I get my information online,” Theo said.

Paulson believes that a more in-depth sexual e would be helpful to students. “[Students] need to be informed on the potentia of having sex and the best ways to ensure their choose to do so,” Graham said. “By giving stude about sex, that isn’t encouraging them to have encouraging them to be safe if they choose to hav

*NAME WITHHELD U

23% “People are rushed to [have sex].”

Senior Dustin Piddle

INFOCOURTESYTEENHEALTHLIFESTYLE.COM

“I had to rely on myself to be able to protect myself.”

of teen girls feel pressured to have sex

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 11

peer pressure how to say no

59%

of high schoolers have not had sex

They say: OBVIOUS peer pressure “Everyone’s doing it, so should you.”

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“I want them to make decisions based on what they believe.”

Parent Vanessa Puckett

UNDERHAND peer pressure “You’re a virgin, you wouldn’t understand.”

CONTROLLING peer pressure “You would do it if you loved me.”

education class

al ramifications r safety if they ents education sex, it is only ve sex.”

“You haven’t had sex because no one fancies you.”

You say:

“I haven’t had sex because I’m not afraid of saying no.”

“I’m waiting for the right person.”

They say:

“You’ll get dumped if you don’t do it soon.”

You say:

“We like each other for more than just sex.”

They say:

“You’ll get a reputation for being frigid.”

You say:

“Waiting for the right person makes me smart, not frigid.”

INFOCOURTESYBYNHS.UK

UPON REQUEST

%

CONSENT Consent is necessary in all situations, including between people already in a relationship.

Without sexual consent, sex is called rape.

Statistically, women are more likely to be raped by men, but it is important to note that men can also be victims of rape.

HELP LINES Sexual Health Helpline 0300 123 7123 TeenLine (310) 855-HOPE (4673) (800) TLC-TEEN (852-8336) Text TEEN to 839863 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. (PT)

GET VERBAL CONSENT. INFOCOURTESYBYRIGHTFOREDUCATION.ORG DESIGN BY JOYCE NG

12 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

DRAMA, SPORTS EXPERIENCE SUPERNATURAL ACTIVITY Performers, athletes tell strange tales of mysterious moments in auditorium, on baseball field STORY BY ISABEL FAIN The actors and crew in the theatre department work tirelessly to put multiple shows show for the students, even if they use some superstitions to do so.

Sophomore Ashlyn Hughes, a member of the technical crew, explains the rituals the department takes part in.

“We always have a huddle up before every show,” Hughes says. “Thespians have this thing called Thespis where we do a ‘Dear Thespis’ thing called Hasha. It’s like our tradition before every show and then girls and boys each have their different traditions in the dressing rooms.”

Hughes believes that the rituals benefit their performance.

“Whenever we do Hasha and our rituals and our senior speeches, we always seem to do better than when we do on our run through,” Hughes said. “I would love to keep [the rituals] because the first time I did Hasha I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is like the best thing ever’ because we all feel really close bond afterwards.”

Additionally, some in the department believe in a spirit named Lumiere that haunts the auditorium, including junior actress Riley Houde.

“In the auditorium, I was walking behind the sike, which is the white screen, and, yes the auditorium is cold and windy but

I felt a huge rush of air that blew my hair back and everything,” Houde said. “It was super cold air.”

Along with the auditorium, the dressing room also has some suspicious activity.

“In the dressing room the lights would flicker and I don’t know if it’s just electrical but you never know,” Houde said. “I’ve heard that [the ghost] has green eyes because Mr. Line saw it up in the catwalk after a show one day. I’ve never seen Lumiere.”

Hughes heard of Lumiere because of a story involving the band director, Dennis Line.

“I’ve heard of Lumiere before because everyone has heard of how Line was locking up after one of the performances and then ‘Be Our Guest’ started playing on the loudspeakers and that’s how he got the name Lumiere,” Hughes said.

Houde said the ghost makes her nervous.

“I don’t like ghosts, but other than that it doesn’t really bother me because they’re not really known to be malicious or super evil,” Houde said. “They’re just known to make appearances and stuff like that, so it doesn’t worry me too bad.”

The drama department isn’t the only magnet for ghosts. The baseball fields are supposedly haunted with the spirit of a Native American. This man was possibly

a Timucuan Indian that lived with a small tribe in the area decades ago.

The ghost impacts the baseball team’s practice as well. A practice known as “Indian Runs” are supposedly based off of this spirit.

“Indian Runs is where everyone gets in a line and we might run the whole field and the person in the back starts running and they have to try to catch up to the front of the line,” said senior Alex Figueroa. “The last person tries to catch up to the front of the line, the person in the back follows behind them and they keep running consistently until everyone has gone around.”

Figueroa isn’t sure if the runs are based off the ghost.

“But there’s this little story about the ghost who lives near the woods and I guess that’s what they named them after,” Figueroa said.

Figueroa has had his own experience with the supernatural as well.

“I came to the field one time to hit with a couple of players and we thought we heard something,” Figueroa said.

Figueroa speculated about what happened.

“It was kind of dark but we weren’t sure what it was--it came from behind the field,” Figueroa said. “Maybe it was the Indian. I don’t believe in ghosts but this Indian story makes me believe.”

Ghost Hunting Adventure How do you find the ghost?

I built the detector out of Styrofoam and aluminum foil.

Anything that passes through the will change the meter numbers.

Where did you look?

We went to the baseball field, auditorium and the girls’ and boys’ dressing rooms. Mostly in the girls’ dressing room.

Did you find anything?

We got major readings in the girls’ dressing room after we tried to summon the ghost!

Read the full story at OviedoJournalism.com

DESIGN BY ISABEL FAIN

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 13

Holocaust survivors share stories

What’s YOUR New Year’s Resolution?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Then, that too became nonexistent.

Biegel took up common worker skills, since he could no longer receive an education like the rest of the children.

One day, though, he saw his non-Jewish neighbors lined up in the streets, heeding one life-saving warning: “Don’t go home.”

Biegel and his family spent the next year running from Hitler and his Nazis.

“I lived underground for a year with 20 [different] people because we were always having to move,” Biegel said. “The rest of my family was somewhere else; it was not easy.”

He was soon captured and put into jail because no one discovered he was Jewish.

Yet, when the facade fell, he was taken to one of Hitler’s most infamous concentration camps: Auschwitz.

“I went to Auschwitz and I met my brother,” Biegel said. “My brother was two years older.”

Yet, the reunion was short-lived and Biegel found himself isolated again.

“My brother went to the left and I went to the right,” Biegel said. “To the left...was the gas chamber.”

Biegel traveled from camp to camp in a daze, fighting to stay alive. He found a way to conserve his small daily portion of bread and make it through the Nazis’ fitness test.

In Gutenberg, he was reunited with his father, but was exposed to the truth of his mother and sister’s fate.

“I found my father, but my mother and sister were killed,” Biegel said.

In Dachau, Biegel developed foot poisoning and could no longer walk; he wound up in a cart being taken to a crematory.

“I was half dead; I laid between two dead people,” Biegel said. “One day, someone saw me moving, or else I wouldn’t be here.”

He was then liberated by the Americans and taken to have foot amputation, but refused and kept his foot--much to his pleasure--as a token of his survival of the horrific period of his life.

Echoes of applause circulated the room as Biegel concluded his speech and helped Kutner to the podium.

Gain selfconfidence

Wait, what??

Freshmen Elizabeth Molnar

Check out Holocaust survivor Genia Kutner’s experience during the Holocaust and World War II.

Junior Camden Crowl

To get better grades

Sophomore Rory Vigliotti

Graduate high school

Senior Ashlyn Register

Try something new each month

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

EXTENDED COVERAGE AT OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

Have a positive attitude

HISTORY SPEAKS. Holocaust survivor Genia Kutner shares her past during the One Day Starts Today event on Dec. 11 in the Cassanova auditorium.

Yearbook adviser Alicia Pope

9:00am Take out the trash

11:00am Mow the lawn

1:00pm Take the rest of the day off!

1:01pm “Honey! Can you wash the car and walk the dog?”

“Yes, mother!”

DESIGN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS DESENA

LeeKomics

Reviewed

14 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

Roommates Short Film

STORY BY JOSH CORDONERO

Justice League Movie

STORY BY ALEXIS DESENA After Wonder Woman, DC followed up with another superhero movie just a few months later, called Justice League.

The trailer made me think that it would be one of those reputation-changing movies for DC. Its history of “just OK” movies have been a recurring pattern in the franchise, with a few hits and misses.

In the movie, Batman puts together a group of superheroes to defeat a bigger threat. They had potential for character and relationship-building, but there wasn’t much.

While it was enjoyable to watch, it didn’t seem like the creators wanted to break the mold with this movie.

Lady Bird Movie STORY BY EMILY VERNIKOS Lady Bird is a movie that takes place in the early 2000s, following the journey of a 17-year-old who comes of age in Sacramento, California.

Christine (“Lady Bird”) is preparing to head to college while she faces the basic high school problems such as drama, bad grades, boys, etc.

As she cooks up a drastic plan to leave for New York to attend college, she starts to realize that home is where the heart is.

Coco Movie

Musical Coco provides depth of feeling STORY BY EMMA STOKES Coco,is an animated film that follows Miguel, a boy who loves music--but whose family has banned music--and is inspired by one of Mexico’s greatest musicians, Ernesto De La Cruz, to seize his moment.

With music being banned in his family, Miguel has to sneak out in hopes of performing in the town talent show. After breaking into Ernesto’s grave, he finds himself in the Land of the Dead along with some of his dead relatives.

Refusing their help, Miguel runs off and finds himself face-to-face with a castaway named Hector, who promises to help the young boy find his idol and return him to his living family, as long as he does something in return.

On the journey, Miguel performs in front of an audience for the first time, plus has many other new experiences, in hopes I enjoyed this movie because it has a lot of laughable scenes that mothers and daughters would relate to. I think this movie can relate to a lot of older teens.

Even though Lady Bird is rated “R,” I think it is appropriate for most teens out there because they can relate: bad grades and college applications.

It’s a flittery movie, but with soul. Lady Bird throws herself into situations, like musical theatre at school, but with a touch of angst and confusion.

to have music restored in his family.

Pixar used complex themes in this movie. One is Miguel’s love for music, even though his family has no tolerance for it. Although Miguel doesn’t give up on music, the problem of how to seek acceptance from one’s family is brought to light.

I find this most interesting, because there’re a lot of kids who can relate to not being able to express themselves due to their family’s strict beliefs.

Another theme was the process of death and sickness. Miguel’s great grandmother Coco is very elderly and has forgotten many important things.

She even struggles to remember her own daughter. Although she is old, she brings the family closer together in spirit and in person.

This highlights the idea of celebrating “Lady Bird” is played by actress Saoirse Ronan. The character invented her own nickname, but she considers it her given name because she gave it to herself.

Her mother, Marion (Laura Met), has a dynamic relationship with Lady Bird, and they are always arguing and fighting.

Later, when Lady Bird is leaving for college, they both realize how much their relationship impacted their lives, how Lady Bird has had her mother around during her coming of age.

PHOTO BY PIXAR

Up-and-coming director Neil Watson created a rich and aesthetically pleasing short film titled “Roommates.” Each shot was framed to allow the amazing color palette and equally-as-interesting background to complement the character and script-driven short.

My only complaint would be that of the lack of an actual story or moral. It serves to be comedic, and it certainly delivers, but it’s just that: a sketch comedy video of sorts.

Either way, the film tells a funny story about a man, his new roommate, and how everybody has differences. It is definitely worth a watch.

the lives of the ones you love. These ideas really help this film seem more realistic when compared to other Pixar works.

Another aspect of the film that makes Coco seem more realistic is the characters’ development. Pixar did very well in creating new characters, but there were still some characters that I thought were unnecessary. Mama Imelda made the story slower than it needed to be.

She was also very stubborn, which didn’t benefit the story in any way.

On the other hand, Abuelita was a very well-developed character. Although she isn’t the nicest character, she grabs the audiences’ emotions and sticks to her beliefs. Abuelita isn’t afraid to take charge and show that she runs the family.

Following a Mexican family on the Day of the Dead, Coco captures an excellent blend of self-discovery and growing up.

When Lady Bird is off to college, away from her parents and home that she hated, she realizes how much that place impacted her life and how much she misses it.

Lady Bird and her mother’s relationship is defined by their strong personalities; the movie captures the way women get under each other’s skin.

The closeness between the mother and daughter intensifies the hostility that sometimes borders dangerously on hatred.

Lady Bird falls under the genre of comedy/drama and is rated “R” for language and sexual content.

DESIGN BY JOSH CORDONERO

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 15

DESTINY 2: CURSE OF OSIRIS STORY BY DECLAN MCCOY

EA Responds to consumer backlash with changes PHOTO BY ITM.NET STORY BY FERN SILVA With the rebirth of Star Wars upon us, it is no surprise that the gaming industry will make a new Star Wars game. EA, a gaming giant, infamous and famous for many different brands, titles, and games over the years, has taken the mantle.

EA’s last Star Wars game, back in 2015, Star Wars Battlefront, was plagued with mediocre reviews due to its lack of content, poor gameplay and lack of a campaign.

Has EA learned from its mistakes and made its newest release, Star Wars Battlefront 2, better? Yes and no.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 was surrounded by huge hype from the fan base. The game promised to release with more content than its predecessor, ranging from more maps to more iconic heroes and villains, and even including a triple A campaign. It would be full of diverse characters and implications for the Star Wars universe.

For the most part, EA delivered on its promises. Star Wars Battlefront 2 features a plethora of new content, new maps, all three galactic eras and a campaign sitting

at around five to seven hours to complete.

The campaign follows the tale of Iden Versio during the last moments of Return of the Jedi, all the way to The Force Awakens.

The games excels in introducing Iden as this strong female lead, making her a compassionate and sympathetic character within the Empire. The game surrounds the player with tons of references, all from more obscure sources, such as the books and comic books.

The game also comes with promises of free, consistent DLC patches that will continue to add maps, Star Wars heroes, and much more.

The first of these DLC drops comes out this month, with new content being added throughout the entire month of December following the release of the movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Aside from this, the game features fun and engaging gameplay, centered around a class-based system reminiscent of previous iterations of games in the Star Wars franchise. With game modes such as galactic assault (an objective-based mode featuring over 40 players) or starfighter assault (a 24-person game mode featuring iconic starships from across the eras), the

Up and Coming: Video games

Monster Hunter: World DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

Featuring a huge cast of monsters of varying sizes and aggression, Monster Hunter: World is slated to release on Jan. 26, 2018, alongside vast maps to play on, either by yourself or with friends.

The game will launch with multiplayer access all across the globe.

new game is focused again around more objective gameplay.

While it seems like EA may actually be listening to its community, and was on track to make one of the best games of the year, the game developer also performed one of its most controversial acts to date by attempting to implement microtransactions into the game priced at $60.

This would have been fine if implemented correctly. While microtransactions should not be present at all, certain games have made use of them correctly, such as Overwatch. However, Star wars BattleFront 2 initially required microtransactions in order to progress in the story. The progression is already limited by in-game chance item drops.

Before the gaming giant backed down on microtransactions, huge numbers of people canceled preorders, left negative reviews on multiple platforms, and overall gave the game bad backlash at launch.

Overal, while the game is a fun experience, and worth the money, with a grindy progression and gameplay that can feel repetitive at times, it can be hard to recommend. However, for Star Wars fans, the game is a must-have.

With Destiny 2: The Curse of Osiris, players had high expectations, looking forward to expansions of a quality on par with “Crota’s End” and “Taken King.” That however, is not what Bungie delivered.

For an expansion, a third of the price as the base game, Curse of Osiris delivers a campaign only about a sixth of the length which is problematic, considering that to many, including myself, the campaign fell flat in its own way, delivering over-structured quests that felt less immersive and had none of the flavor of the first game’s loose system of missions that were tied together by a mysterious stranger.

Overall, I was disappointed with both the length and anticlimactic ending whose final boss fell in less than a minute to any players with the “merciless” fusion rifle, much less an experienced fire team.

Fortunately, there’s much more to Destiny than its campaign content; this is where it shines. If you picked up the Prometheus lens from the Exotic weapon merchant Xur or a random drop there’s an unofficial “Laser tag” game mode going on the PvP Crucible, due to a bug with the weapon that makes shots from it an almost one hit kill, leading to laser-tag style gameplay.

If PvP isn’t to your liking Curse of Osiris introduces a raid lair with a challenging series of Puzzles and bosses.

Curse of Osiris has several flaws, some of which Bungie plans to fix in the coming weeks, that said it’s the only Destiny content planned to come out for a while so if you’re an avid fan I suggest dropping the $20 now and leveling up all your Guardians to the new power level cap of 330, otherwise just wait for it to come bundled for cheaper with the next major expansion.

Up and Coming: Events

Movies in the Park: Elf December 17, 2017 Lake Eola Park

Call of Duty II Tournament December 15, 2017 Mall of Millenia

One-Page Low-Down

16 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

App Review: Postmates STORY BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR Postmates is a food delivery system that offers a variety of different delivery options. You can order food from popular chain restaurants such as Chipotle, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc. Or you can order food from smaller, mom-and-pop type restaurants.

As far as delivery goes, I was shocked at how spot-on the estimated delivery times were. Under every restaurant, there is an estimated delivery time. The listed delivery time for me was 55-60 minutes and it took exactly 55 minutes for my delivery. That really impressed me because I’ve never seen a feature this accurate on delivery apps before.

One thing I liked about the app was that it sent me reminders noting when my food order was placed, when my order was picked up and how

close the driver was to my location.

Another thing I liked about the app is that, after the delivery happened, there was a screen that gave me the option to tip the delivery person and leave a rating and any comments I had.

Overall, the app runs very well.

The app never froze or randomly quit itself within the time that I used it. Once you placed an order, you were able to track where your order was on a map that was constantly being updated. I found that very convenient.

Album Review: Reputation STORY BY JULIAN RIOS After a long silence, Taylor Swift has come back into the spotlight with a new look and style of music. Reputation, her new album, features 15 new songs, all with different feels to them.

Her first song that was released from the album, “Look What You Made Me Do,” climbed its way up the charts quickly, getting good reviews from fans.

One of my favorite songs, “Ready For It…” is a completely different style from how she originally started off her career.

Within the upbeat song, she conveys emotions of fantasy and seriousness through rapping as well as singing.

Another song that I liked was “New Year’s Day,” a slower song in which Taylor sings along with a piano, which blends very nicely.

The rest of the songs in the album portray the problems in her personal (and celebrity) life through different beats and tones, which range from upbeat, fast tones to slow and sweet ones.

In the song “End Game,” Swift collaborates with two other big artists, Ed Sheeran and Future. Together, they bring a very new and unique sound to the album.

One thing fans love to do with Swift’s songs is to break them down and figure out the

meanings of the lyrics. For example, some fans will try to find out who the specific song is about, or what event she is referring to.

Another thing about Taylor Swift is that, with every new album, comes one or two new music videos. For example, the two music videos that accompanied this album were “Ready For It…” as well as “Look What You Made Me Do.” They are filled with intriguing Easter eggs and brilliant quality CGI, which makes them truly special. In the “Ready For It...“ music video, she is a robot showing off her powers in a glass cube, while in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video, she battles all her old personalities to be number one.

Reputation adds to the already lengthy list of Taylor Swift albums and fulfills the expectations of all of her fans.

SOUL OF AN ARTIST INTERVIEWED BY EMMA STOKES

Dancer

Sophomore Alex Wagahoff PHOTO BY EMMA STOKES Q: What style of dance do you practice?

A: I practice jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary.

Q: Are you considering pursuing dance after you graduate?

A: I don’t want a career, but I would like to be on FSU’s Golden Girls dance team in college!

Q: What do you feel when you dance?

A: I feel so happy and free when I dance. I know it’s cliché, but it’s true. I’m just a girl putting my heart out on the dance floor.

Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to dance?

A: Do it! Even if you feel like you’re not talented enough. There’s this quote outside the chorus room, “If you can walk, you can dance,” and it’s so true. Anyone can dance.

No matter who you are.

Q: Who has supported your decision in choosing to dance?

A: My mom is my number one fan. She thought I was gonna be one of those girls who dances for two years then quits. Now that she’s seen how in love with it I am, she is, too.

Q: What have you given up for dance? Is it worth it?

A: I’ve given up my free time for dance. I obviously still have some, but most of it is dedicated to dance.

It’s so worth it! There’re times I’d rather be with my friends, but when I’m in the dance room, I realize they’re my family. I’m home.

Local Review: Kung Fu Tea STORY BY EMILY VERNIKOS

PHOTO BY EMILY VERNIKOS

Kung Fu Tea--located at Collegiate Way, Orlando--is the perfect place to settle down and relax. It has a variety of drinks, cold and hot, including coffee and slushes. Every time I go to Kung Fu Tea I get the Oreo milk tea with boba. The Oreo milk tea is similar to a cookies-and-cream milkshake, except it’s not as thick. It is a sweet, creamy tea, textured with Oreo crumbles.

From traditional to tropical the Beverages Kung Fu Tea serve are delicious. The flavor/punch drinks give off a fresh taste, while the slushes give off a dessert/ice cream vibe.

Kung Fu Tea is often very quiet inside and the perfect place to study and enjoy a great beverage!

I recommend Kung Fu Tea, especially on a hot Florida day!

DESIGN BY EMILY VERNIKOS

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 17

To compete, wrestlers struggle with weight daily STORY BY TESSA KOWALSKI Wrestling takes skill, experience and determination.

Behind all of that, however, is the struggle of weight.

Wrestlers have to gain and lose weight to stay in their specific weight classes, which takes a physical toll on the athlete’s body.

“To lose weight is probably one of the hardest things to do,” said varsity wrestler junior Eli Swetnam. “It is probably why a lot of people find it difficult to stay in wrestling, but as long as you’re committed, you can get through it.”

There are many different weight classes.

Swetnam’s weight class is 152 and it is pretty difficult to maintain, according to him.

“You get a lot of people cutting down from heavier weights,” Swetnam said.

For meeting the actual weight requirements, the wrestler has to ensure that he or she stays in his or her particular weight class, or the class below it.

“Either a person has to eat a lot, like in my case, or someone would have to cut weight by not eating or drinking as much,” said sophomore junior varsity wrestler Dylan Davis. “And personally, I have to try and gain weight to stay at my weight class, which is pretty easy for me because I love to eat.”

For those who have to lose weight, the challenge is more difficult. Swetnam is willing to go the extra mile to maintain his weight class.

“I start cutting my foods, skip a couple meals and go for runs, and ’ll wear a lot of jackets and long pants to sweat the weight out,” Swetnam said. “I guess it’s kind of hard, but I keep doing it to make sure I’m in the right weight.”

Junior Wyatt Forsberg, who is on the varsity team, said that cutting weight is hard mentally.

“But you can make it through,” Forsberg said. “I sit in the sauna a lot and wrestle and sweat and diet. It feels like you are constantly drained all the time.”

Freshman varsity wrestler Gabe Rendon has to both

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

WRESTLING IT OUT. Sophomore Dominic Isola is wrestling his opponent from Timber Creek High School who he beat at the Dual Meet vs. Timber Creek on Dec. 6 cut and gain weight to be at the correct amount for his weight class.

“It’s terrible and hard, but it is worth it in the end,” said Rendon.

Swetnam has advice on how to meet assigned weight.

“To meet weight, you just have to eat healthy,” Swetnam

said. “Drinking water and not eating is a good thing to lose a lot of weight.”

According to Davis, going through the trouble of cutting weight is worth it in the end.

“It feels really good when you go to weigh and you make your weight and you get to wrestle,” Davis said.

5744 Canton Cove, Winter Springs, FL 32708

407.699.9831 CHANGING LIVES, ONE SMILE AT A TIME! F.H. COLLINS III, DDS and ROSS REITER, DMD

We proudly sponsor Oviedo High School!

DESIGN BY JULIAN RIOS

LionsDentist.com

18 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

sports editor

NEVADA CULLEN

Injuries take toll on success of sports teams

As a sports fan, the hardest sight to see is a player down on the field or court, then carried or carted off. For the team, the injury hurts even more.

When professional, college or even high school sports teams lose key players to injury, the team starts to doubt itself and fall apart. College football is a prime example of this.

At the beginning of the season, Florida State was ranked at number three and looked to upset Alabama in their season opener. Instead, they lost the game and their starting quarterback, Deondre Francois, for the season.

The team also became thin at wide receiver and on the offensive line due to various injuries. With the loss of Francois and many other key offensive pieces, their season was flushed down the toilet. They suffered losses to North Carolina State, Boston College, Louisville and Miami, games they probably would have won with all of those players back in the starting lineup.

Good teams struggle when faced with injuries. Auburn defeated Alabama in the Iron Bowl, but running back Kerryon Johnson was knocked out of the game with an shoulder injury. Johnson finished in the top ten of Heisman Trophy voting, and was an essential part of the Auburn offense the entire season.

He bravely played through his injury in the SEC championship game against Georgia, but had his worst performance of the season as a result.

A season-ending injury can have a negative effect on the team’s pride and mentality. Last Sunday, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz exited the game with an ACL tear that will end his season. The team, sitting at 11-2 and on top of the NFC East, still has hope. It is hard, however, knowing that their quarterback--and possible Most Valuable Player candidate--is done for the year.

THE BLITZ There are no injuries holding back the Oviedo varsity basketball team.

The team looks unstoppable. The team notched a dramatic win over the highly regarded Orlando Christian Prep in the Hoops for Heart tournament at Oviedo.

Junior Aidan Knight led the team with 23 points, including three three-pointers.

Orlando Christian Prep has six state titles under its belt, so the win meant a lot to the Oviedo program. Although it’s early in the season, Oviedo has its sights set on a state championship of its own.

BROKEN BUT STRONG. Senior Sarah Preston dribbles the ball in a match against Winter Springs on Dec. 5 at John Courier Field. She is one of many student-athletes that is pushed by peers and herself.

AGAINST ALL ODDS Student-athletes pushed to breaking point PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY F.SILVA STORY BY NEVADA CULLEN Sports are pushing high school athletes to the brink of quitting more than ever in today’s world. Student-athletes are overworked, according to MSNBC contributor Jacqueline Stenson, who attributes rigorous training, devastating injuries and overwhelming mental pressure to their wear and tear.

Some athletes are abusing their bodies to the point where they are forced to stop playing sports. Many play sports yearround, with breaks as short as one week out of the year.

Although critics argue that this break is detrimental to the well-being of high school athletes, sophomore swimmer Abby Gibbons thinks otherwise.

“Physically, it’s better to have a small break,” Gibbons said. “I think a week is a good amount of time, because it’s good to have that mental break, but you’re not out for so long that you get out of shape.”

Physical Injuries

Injuries are common among high school athletes, and can have bad consequences if an athlete isn’t careful.

Sophomore Alex Kardamilas dislocated his kneecap twice during the football regular season, and said he could have avoided it the second time around.

“I probably should have waited two to three weeks before I tried to come back,” Kardamilas said. “I came back to practice for Lake Brantley, and I think that just aggravated it because it was still swollen.”

Trying to come back too soon from injury often leads to re-injury. Athletic trainer Erica Zimolzak-Coe explained why it could affect

the future of an athlete.

“If you re-injure something it can become a chronic injury,” ZimolzakCoe said. “Even to the point where it’s catastrophic, where you may blow out your knee and maybe will never be back to playing again.”

Injuries are the not the only way athletes are stretched to their limits. Certain allergies or bodily conditions can cause problems for athletes.

Sydney Fruwirth, a sophomore on the junior varsity girls’ soccer team, has to monitor what she eats before games.

Eating certain foods, such as apples or dairy, could upset her stomach if she eats them too close to game time.

“If I do eat them by accident, then my stomach really hurts,” Fruwirth said. “I can’t play my best, and it’s annoying because I want to play, and I feel good except for that, so I have to be really careful about what I eat.”

Asthma is a common condition among many teenagers and affects any athletes that participate in sports.

Although she doesn’t have asthma, Gibbons has other breathing difficulties that make swimming difficult.

Some swim meets that Gibbons attends are indoors, which means that the pool has chlorine, to which she is allergic. Despite developing a sick cough that could last for at least a month, she looks for the positives in her situation.

“It’s hard seeing other people who are able to breathe and able to perform,” Gibbons said. “At the end of the day, it’s kind of cool to be the person who can’t breathe, but still is winning.”

Another burden that pushes athletes to the limit is the extensive mental toll that

sports can put on a person. Injuries, such as those suffered by Kardamilas, can lead to this mental wear.

“It is kind of stressful because whenever I play now I have to play with a brace,” Kardamilas said. “It just makes you worried about the next injury that happens.”

Having a nagging injury can affect player performance, but the overall mental stress knowing that there is a possibility of re-injuring it can also take a large toll on the athlete.

“You just have to live with it,” Kardamilas said. “There’s a possibility that it happens again, but you have to keep rehabbing it and keep working it out. You can’t let it get weak.”

Mental Struggles

A large mental aspect of sports is the pressure to win. Gibbons said she previously had a coach who pushed her more than she was ready to be pushed, which stressed her out.

“I struggled for a long time with getting over the fear of failing and letting other people down,” Gibbons said. “At the end of the day, you have to remember that you’re the one pushing yourself.”

Student-athletes have their limits that are tested by coaches, parents and other mental or physical obstacles.

There are some athletes that can muster up the strength to overcome anything thrown their way. Those athletes that recognize their personal limitations and work to reach them are able to maintain success.

“It’s so much harder for me to get to the level I’m at,” Gibbons said. “Knowing that everything I did, I had to work harder for than anybody else, I like that feeling, so I push to have it.”

DESIGN BY NEVADA CULLEN

ROARBOARD

DECEMBER 12, 2017 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 19

For more, head to

OviedoJournalism.com

Girls push abilities to lift more weight PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

LIFTING IT OUT. Senior Sami Ross completes a lift during a meet against Seminole on Dec. 6.

SPORTS IN REVIEW: A PHOTO FINISH

DRIBBLING TO SUCCESS. Sophomore Ximena Rosasco dribbles down the court against Lyman’s Varsity basketball team.

COACHING TO VICTORY. Freshman basketball coach Zach Densberger and varsity coach Jason Vallery talk game after a tough match against Lake Howell.

HALFTIME PEP TALK. Assistant varsity coach Anthony Wade runs his team through a positive pep talk during halftime.

PHOTOS BY FERN SILVA & TRENT DANIEL DESIGN BY VANI THUPILI

STORY BY VANI THUPILI Weightlifting is a sport that pushes the boundaries of both mental and physical strength. Constant training helps discipline the body and the mind.

“It impacts your personal fitness tremendously,” said sophomore Sarah Swetland. “When you lift five days a week for two hours, you start to see definition in muscles that you didn’t know you had.”

At practices, the girls’ weightlifting team either has arm day or leg day, and they complete different workouts that help improve their stamina and strength.

“The biggest common mistake about weightlifting is that you are going to get super bulky and that’s not true, especially if you’re a girl,” said sophomore Caroline Preston. “You get toned, not bulky.”

Weightlifting helps tone muscles, which means to get them into shape and make them look defined.

“I think most people are put off because they think you can never make significant gains for meets,” said sophomore Alex Barton. “But there’s such an obvious

improvement, regardless of when you start, and literally anyone can get stronger and improve their fitness with work.”

Mental fitness is just as important as physical prowess.

“The reason a lot of girls miss their second or third lift is not due to lack of strength, but because they got in their head and doubted their ability,” Swetland said.

During meets, the girls are required to step up and lift two events, with three tries for each. They attempt an easy lift, a max lift and push the limit by attempting a weight they have never lifted before.

“You’re really clearing your mind whenever you are lifting and focus on whatever you are doing at the moment, which really helps clear your mind,” Preston said.

Being put under the immense pressure of trying to lift really can train the mind, according to Swetland.

“When you are in the moment, your entire team is screaming, cheering you on to get the lift,” Swetland said. “In the moment, it’s not about physical strength, but if you can push through the fatigue and complete the lift.”

Star Athlete: Kyleigh Thelen INTERVIEWED BY VANI THUPILI Q: What position do you play?

A: I play either center forward or outside forward.

Q: What is it like being a freshman on varsity?

A: It is a big accomplishment being on varsity, especially being a freshman, because we are known to be a really good team.

Q: What advice have you received from upperclassmen?

A: I have received mostly positive things, but being underclassman you have to know where you belong and have to respect the older girls. I’ve known the seniors for most of my life so I’m like a little sister to them, which makes it a lot more fun.

Q: How do you contribute to your team’s success?

A: I think of myself as someone who works hard in practice and in games, which goes through everyone and brings people up to the level of play.

Q: What do you want to improve?

A: Being a leader on this team in the next couple years so I can leave a good example for upcoming players.

Q: What is your goal or the team’s goal?

A: Our team goal is, of course, to win states, which would be a big accomplishment for everyone. But I just want to be able to enjoy the game as long as I can and continue to work hard, on and off the field.

Q: How is the coaching at OHS helping you get better?

A: The coaching at OHS has helped me become a better player and respect people who deserve it. I have been able to play quicker and make everything I do faster by my first touch. They have helped me become more fit for club ball, and the team is so much fun to be around and is a great environment for your high school experience.

20 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | DECEMBER 12, 2017

Perception of Self Self-image can conflict with others’ perceptions STORY BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS There’s a cliche that says, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Yet, people often feel judged in ways that do not reflect their self-perceptions.

“We have certain constructs in our head of what we think is real, and there are three identities: who we think we are, who other people think we are, and then who we actually are, which are all totally different,” said AP English Literature and Composition teacher Amanda Dickson. “I think that you have to accept that there are lots of versions of you that other people have in their head.”

At the surface, people have many traits that play into their personality, but there are often underlying causes to the way someone presents himself or herself to the public eye, such as senior Briana Lee.* “My sister went through a really suicidal phase, and it really affected my parents, and I felt like I always had to be the happy one to compensate for that,” Lee said. “And since my parents went through a really, really tough time with how my sister would cut, I felt like I had to be better, or I had to behave more maturely to make my parents feel like they did something well with their lives.”

The perception that many see, versus how someone actually is, comes down to a few elements, one of which is conformity, according to as AP Psychology teacher Zach Densberger.

“There’s an element of a norm with a group that we admire,” Densberger said. “We have a tendency to mask how we really feel so that we can move through the political world of day-to-day living, so we aren’t offending people we don’t want to offend.”

Freshman Jacen Lenaz says everyone views him as stupid.

“I get all As and Bs in class,” Lenaz said. “I act completely different than I do outside of school. When I’m in school, I’m more focused. Then when I’m at home, I do stupid stuff because my brothers and I have always acted stupid and messed around with each other.”

Densberger stated that our true selves are difficult to share.

“Our true feelings are only really completely expressed to very few people, other than our really close friends; sometimes, not even them,” Densberger said.

As for Dickson, she doesn’t mind the differences in perception.

“We have to coexist and I’m fine to be open to interpretation by other people, so that’s something that’s cool with me,” Dickson said. “I’ll be whoever you think I am because I can’t control that.” *NAME WITHHELD UPON REQUEST

Is the way you perceive yourself the same as the way others perceive you?

Freshmen

26 No

Sophomores

30 No

Juniors

30 No

Seniors 32 No

Teachers

7 No

Poll of 50 students per grade, 15 teachers, Dec. 7 DESIGN BY ALEXIS DESENA