The Lion's Tale - Volume 58 Issue 4 - Oviedo High School

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FEATURES

SPORTS

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Students learn valuable skills from yearbook

Twin athletes push each other to compete

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 FEBRUARY 6, 2018 • VOLUME 58 • OVIEDOJOURNALISM.COM

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LION’S 4 TALE EDITION

NEWS

Community celebrates MLK day with parade

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Changes to YouTube restrict new creators STORY BY BRYN GARICK Technology connects the world and accelerates the pace of global change, but as the world around these worldwide tech giants change- so must they, to meet the various and often conflicting needs of their user base.

YouTube is a large-scale video-sharing platform available worldwide. According to a poll of Oviedo High School, 66 percent of students regularly watch YouTube.

“Since I was a little kid, YouTube has always fascinated me in that you could release videos for anyone to see,” said freshman Vivien Towson.

Junior Anthony Caramello agrees that the widespread audience is part of what makes YouTube enjoyable.

“I like that you can get certain stuff out to large groups of people right there,” Caramello said.

These students have felt inspired to make their own channels.

“I want to be what YouTube was to me when I was little

and inspire or teach others,” Towson said.

Junior Justin Nazario likes making funny videos.

“I wanted to make people laugh,” Nazario said. “I like seeing other people watch my videos and just relate to it and have a good time.”

Recently, however, YouTube has changed. According to Ingle, new YouTube paid services such as YouTube Red and YouTube TV have changed the original brand of YouTube.

“YouTube Red is very similar to Spotify Premium, which is a very popular option for users,” Ingle said. “I think some of the more exciting content is on YouTube Red, which entices people to use it as well.”

According to Towson, the changes on YouTube have made it harder for new creators to start.

“This takes away the possibility for smaller

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2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

the Scoop

Parking lot repaving clears up confusion PHOTO BY FERN SILVA STORY BY ABBIE WYDRA The parking lots: they were pale gray, with faded lines, making it hard to see where to park.

Over winter break, both the senior parking lot and the junior parking lot were resurfaced and restriped to give the parking lot a new clean look.

Along with the resurfacing and the restriping, certain parking spots were marked by an orange “T” to indicate parking spots reserved for teachers only.

“It’s not an OHS decision, it’s a district decision,” said assistant principal Drew Morgan. “We are on a rotation.

Every 7-10 years, school parking lots are resurfaced.”

Junior Connor Duncan didn’t really notice the changes in the parking lots.

“I haven’t really noticed a difference other than it looks a lot cleaner,” Duncan said. “Now it’s much easier to see the ‘T’s on the teacher spots.”

NEW LOOK. Both the junior and senior parking lots were resurfaced, repaved and restriped over winter break.

Long-time teacher, counselor takes new role

the Month in Photos

STORY BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR After spending 14 years working at Oviedo High School, Dr. Nicola Williams, the previous Director of Guidance, was offered a job offer at the county level.

“I was offered the job on Dec. 1,” Williams said.

Although Williams initially felt nervous and excited, she knew this job offer was a great opportunity.

“It was difficult because I wanted to be sure this was the right move, but I quickly realized this opportunity was a once-in-a lifetime thing,” Williams said.

Williams’ new position with the county comes with a new role.

“I am now an administrator, whereas before I was in a teacher-based position,” Williams said. “My responsibilities have shifted to supporting the counselors that work in positions like the one I formerly held, as well as other duties in ePathways.”

Although guidance counselor Lauren Vosburg only knew Williams for a short amount of time, she said she’ll still miss Williams’ personality.

“She has an amazing sense of humor and knew when we all needed a laugh--I will miss her infectious laugh,” Vosburg said.

Those who worked with Williams noticed how much she excelled in her position.

“Dr. Williams is one of the most innovative and professional educators I have worked with,” said assistant principal Matthew Ackley. “She had the ability to foresee issues before they happened and adjust plans in a manner that would benefit students.”

Williams may have physically left Oviedo, but little bits of Oviedo spirit will always stick with her.

“I will always live ‘Lion Life’ in my heart,” Williams said.

“Oviedo will always be my family--I can’t imagine not having a special connection to Oviedo because so much of who I am is because of the experiences I had there.”

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

PHOTO BY EMMA STOKES

OGLOW. The annual paint throwing party was SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES. The annual held on Jan. 12 instead of being held earlier in the Scottish Highland games were held at Central Winds Park in Winter Springs on Jan. 13 and 14. year near Homecoming.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA BASTONE

ROBOTICS NIGHT. On Jan. 15 the Robotics team showed off their creations of hard work.

PHOTO PHOTO BY

BY FERN SILVA

MOUSETRAP. On Jan. 18-20, sophomore Connor Tenney performed in Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap. To see the review go to oviedojournalism.com.

FRONT PAGE DESIGN BY DECLAN MCCOY

DESIGN BY ABBIE WYDRA

FEBRUARY 6, 2018 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

Remembering, celebrating, honoring MLK’s Dream

MARCHING FOR HONOR. Local Oviedo citizens celebrate MLK day by marching down Broadway

Community commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with parade PHOTO BY EMMA STOKES STORY BY SAADHANA SRIDHARAN It passed by to a chorus of cheers and smiles. As the crawl slowed down, it dissipated, the participants dispersing throughout the crowd.

It was Oviedo’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, which marched from Oviedo High School to Oviedo on the Park on Monday, Jan. 15.

“People from different backgrounds came together to celebrate this one man who had such a profound impact on our country,” said senior Leeann Figueroa.

That is what then-President Ronald Reagan had in mind when he made a televised public statement to sign Martin Luther King Jr. Day into law nearly 40 years ago, in 1983, according to History.com.

Decades later, the federal holiday grants hundreds of thousands of Americans an opportunity to participate in ceremonies, marathons, 5Ks and parades like the one in Oviedo.

For a plethora of reasons, students joined the march.

“It’s kind of a tradition between me and my dad,” said sophomore Rachel Nasby.

“Each year we go with our dogs, and afterwards we go to The Townhouse.”

Figueroa has been in the parade each year as part of the school band.

“As a drum major, being in the front, it kind of gives me the opportunity to smile DESIGN BY CHRISTOPHER KEEFER

and wave to the people, and actually see the things happening around me,” Figueroa said. “The general atmosphere of this parade was very upbeat.”

Nasby and Figueroa both stated that there has been a drastic increase in parade traffic over the years.

“Now there’re churches, local community colleges and dance groups who all participate,” Figueroa said.

David Pudles, the adviser of the Junior Optimist Club, said that the group likes to participate in the club as a way to give back to the community.

“We were asked to do this by the Oviedo Citizens in Action group--every year--and we, of course, accepted,” Pudles said. “The volunteers who do come have a lot of fun. We get to stand on a float--this year we shared with another group from another school--and toss candy to the kids watching.”

Carinet player junior Michael Aponte, who was also in the marching band at the parade, said that he was very focused on his music and his marching.

“I didn’t really notice much,” Aponte said. “I think the concept of the day is great, but the way some of us are required to show up really just undermines the whole point. It ends up just being really tiring-we have to march and play from the high school to the park---and we don’t really enjoy the experience.”

Aponte still recognized the significance behind the parade.

“The parade reminds me of my sense of responsibility every year,” Aponte said.

According to Nasby, the parade has also impacted her.

“I’ve been thinking about how this event reaches all the new youth of this generation,” Nasby said. “The parade reminds me a lot of how important the day is.”

Figueroa stated that the purpose of the event is still very necessary today.

“Sometimes I’ll see not even just racism, but just people being treated differently, because they’re a part of certain groups,”

Figueroa said.

According to Figueroa, it is a cool event for all individuals.

“It doesn’t really matter who you are on this day,” Figueroa said. “You’re just coming together to validate the idea that everyone deserves equal opportunities.”

Nasby said she no longer discredits MLK Day. “I don’t sleep in and almost forget the significance of MLK Day,” Nasby said. “I actually wake up and go somewhere to commemorate it.”

“I have a dream...

...that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Seeking assistance acceptable

Therapy is defined as “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.”

These disorders can be an array of various things, from anxiety disorders to eating disorders to even something as theoretically simple as a phobia, which an estimated 8.7 million Americans experience, according to verywell.com.

These disorders are defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, which help both diagnose and understand what an individual is going through.

No matter what the disorder, concern or worry, people can and should seek therapy by any means necessary.

We at The Lion’s Tale recognize that people who seek therapy or wish to seek therapy can receive a bad reputation, and wish to provide the public with a better understanding and an empathetic attitude towards therapy and those who seek it.

There are some things in this world that are merely too horrific for one person to be able to handle and rationalize on their own-sometimes they need help. Or sometimes people experience emotions they can’t explain or have no control over; maybe they’re experiencing uncontrollable suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a period of depression, which are two disorders that

FEBRUARY 6, 2018 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 5

IN YOUR FACE

Would you feel uncomfortable talking to a therapist, if you needed to?

Junior Jack Scully

attack the mind.

Some disorders can’t be solved by simple human reaction; sometimes experts need to be involved, and a lot of times medicine needs to be involved--and that’s OK. No one should be shunned or receive mockery for something that is out of their control, and no one should be ridiculed for seeking aid to ease these challenging ordeals.

To put it in perspective, it is like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: if someone is hungry, they must satisfy that physical need to be able to function fully. If someone is hungry, that may affect their ability to learn in school, their ability to focus on even the most mundane task or their ability to remain at a constant temperament.

If someone is undergoing an eating disorder and they do not seek assistance, their struggle with their disorder will not get better; it will merely develop into a much larger concern.

Many psychological disorders--such as an eating disorder like bulimia--if not treated, can result in self-harm or, in some cases, ultimate death.

We at The Lion’s Tale believe that disorders are a serious matter and should be taken into professional hands.

OUR WORD

“I believe that it is perfectly fine to talk to a therapist. I would not be uncomfortable because, if you have a problem and you’re going to someone who is trained to help you, you’re going to get better.”

Freshman Katherine Hassell

“I wouldn’t have a problem with it because a lot of my friends say that it actually helps when you’re in trouble.”

Sophomore Joseph Mackall

“No, because they just want to help. They get paid to do it and they just want to help you.”

Senior Genesis Martinez

“I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable talking to a therapist because I am very outgoing and I’m not shy with sharing my feelings with other people.”

PHOTOS BY FERN SILVA

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Selfactualization

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Love/belonging Safety Physiological

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS DESENA News Editor Saadhana Sridharan

Business Manager Julian Rios

Opinion Editor Joyce Ng

Photographers Isabel Fain Emma Stokes Sravani Thupili

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

Artists Entertainment Editor Sophia Bloom Fern Silva Alexis Desena Josh Cordonero Kimberly Penuel Sports Editor Nevada Cullen

Designers Declan McCoy Chris Keefer Conner Quinlan

Reporters Connor Compton Mylena Ferman Tessa Kowalski 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 28 staff members

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

DESIGN BY PAIGE SIMPSON

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

6 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

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entertainment editor FERN SILVA

Not everything has happy endings

In recent years, Disney’s acquisition of multiple companies and brands has caused some people to fear that the monolithic company is trying to expand into a monopoly of the entertainment world. From Lucasfilm to Marvel, to its most recent purchase--Fox--one must wonder, will Disney ever stop?

Despite Disney’s good background with fantastic films, diverse content and huge sums of money to pour into projects, when looking at everything that can transpire behind the scenes of the entertainment industry, we don’t know what could happen.

The market might become oversaturated with a variety of superhero films, Star Wars spin offs--the brands that bring in the most money to the industry-and the occasional original idea, few and sparse in between.

To look back at previous endeavors of Disney (the purchase of ABC and Lucasfilms), we see two very different approaches to how Disney handled newly acquired companies and assets.

With the purchase of ABC, Disney merely changed some names of company divisions to allow for easier management, then left the company to fend for itself, while claiming profits.

With Lucasfilms, however, Disney fundamentally changed the groundwork of multiple pieces of Lucasfilms’ property.

From relaunching two major brands, (Indiana Jones and Star Wars), to removing tons and tons of previously canon Star Wars material, Disney’s management of Lucasfilms has been the most hands-on of any company they have purchased to date.

Disney basically shut down a division of LucasArts, laid off most employees and left a skeleton crew behind to license games. Then, Disney planned a new trilogy of Star Wars films that have been loved and hated by the Star Wars community.

Personally, any thought of a monopoly, whether it be in the entertainment industry or not, is a bad notion. Any company with that much power will start to taint things, making it all about the money and end profit. And with how many brands Disney controls, many of people’s beloved brands can slowly turn into simple cash cows for Disney to abuse.

No matter Disney’s good record, and its ability to pump a lot of money into a project, no one company should be allowed this power. Disney is no exception to this rule.

ILLUSTRATION BY PAIGE SIMPSON

Siblings experience change of heart

editor-in-chief

PAIGE SIMPSON

I have a brother who is five years my junior. We had the typical brother-sister relationship.

We vociferated and ridiculed and antagonized each other. In fits of occasional rage, we hit each other with such ferocity that we couldn’t sit for the rest of the day. We spewed odious verbiage in each other’s direction.

When I was eight, he utilized my forehead as a target for his wooden blocks and metal toy trains.

When I was a severely gauche middle schooler, he used to call me “ugly” because of the many pustules that found their home on my face.

When I was in ninth grade, he told me I’d never get married because my boyfriend would take one look at my deformed ring finger and throw the ring into the sea.

My brother was the most conniving,

manipulative, inconsiderate little pest there ever was.

But, now, he’s less so.

For most of my life, he was apparent-annoyingly--weekend mornings playing his video games; he was present at the dinner table smacking his mouth while eating as he loves to do; he was there always following me around as if he were a ghastly ghost haunting me.

It wasn’t until this year that I actually realized what it means to have a brother.

Ever since I started picking him up from school, we’ve experienced a shift in our relationship.

At first, the car rides home were either silent or filled to the brim with squabbles over whose music we’d be listening to, as he thought “the guest” should hold the high ground over the music selection for our car ride. Yet, somehow, those trifling car rides turned into veritable conversations.

He asks me about my day; he tells me about assignments or about something humorous one of his companions said, or we talk about one of the newest video games he is playing. We now scheme together in the antics we play on our various family members, instead of vengefully planning our next advancement in the set of tricks we play on each other.

It seems outlandish to say, but my brother--despite all of his transgressions-and I are actually getting along.

Somewhere between barging into my room unannounced, dumping all my shampoo and conditioner down the sink and chucking various sports equipment in

my direction, he and I began to develop a real relationship, as opposed to the toleration of each other we previously had.

It may be a relationship built upon head banging to the Offspring, playing Battlefront II together, extemporizing lyrical formations to random situations and running about the house enacting impromptu lightsaber duels, but it is a relationship nonetheless.

That doesn’t mean our contretemps have ceased to exist: we still fight about the mortality of Boba Fett, who gets the last brownie and--still--about who has the rights to control the music on rides home, but they’ve become less frequent.

He’ll venture into my room to ask me to watch him play his video games or ask me questions about anything from high school to personal struggles. He’ll wish me goodnight or complete a favor I asked of him.

Sometimes, I find it easy to talk to him. He supports me, he tries to make me laugh when I’ve caught the sadness bug, he appreciates my existence and actually wants me in his presence.

And, to me, that’s what it means to be family--to have a brother.

We’re always going to antagonize others, but he’s still my brother. I take the good with the bad and realize that, at the end of the day, my brother always has my back.

No matter what is in store for us, I’ll always be his overbearing, mother hen of a big sister. And, he’ll always be my annoying, but lovable little brother.

DESIGN BY PAIGE SIMPSON

FEBRUARY 6, 2018 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 7

If I can do it, so can you!

One president to rule them all...

My presidency could rock!

I could roar!

You’d vote for me, and you’d vote for me, and you’d vote for me, and everyone would vote for me.

staff reporter

MYLENA FERMAN

Students must get involved to save Net Neutrality

Stephen Colbert

e Dwayn n o s John

Katy Perry

Oprah Winfrey

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA BLOOM

Celebrities shouldn’t take on executive roles

staff reporter

CHRIS KEEFER For centuries, the Presidency of the United States has been a position requiring the utmost integrity, intelligence, temperament and devotion of any job in the world.

Today, we live in different times.

Constituents may claim to care about a candidate’s policies or the way they present themselves in the media--but it’s really all just a popularity contest.

This has been evident since the beginning of media coverage in presidential races. Many attribute JFK’s success in the 1960 election to his appearance on the first nationally televised presidential debate. When the American people saw the youthful and confident grin of JFK next to the older and less-strapping Richard Nixon, it was no contest.

While our standards of popularity have shifted beyond good looks, we still operate on the same system of building opinions. People like the funny guys, the entertainers, and the particularly outspoken celebrities.

This may seem like a fun and great idea, but this isn’t some reality show. Is this the type of person we want running DESIGN BY CONNOR COMPTON

our country?

Media outlets blew up after this January’s Golden Globe awards, where actress and reality star Oprah Winfrey delivered an energetic, captivating and frustrated speech. Winfrey’s speech highlighted the massive obstacles African Americans and women have had to overcome. Her message was one of hope and change for the future.

Oprah received massive applause and a standing ovation from the crowd. Within mere hours, there were dozens of articles being published about the possibility that Mrs. Winfrey would run for president in 2020.

Oprah has since stated that she would not run for president as it is “not in her DNA.” According to BusinessInsider. com, there have been other celebrities that have supposedly admitted interest in presidential runs such as Will Smith, Dwayne Johnson and Kanye West. As such, this is not an isolated idea, but a developing trend.

This marks a new and potentially dangerous theme in American politics: electing celebrities to the presidency or influential political positions.

We live in an age where the common citizen has become accustomed to not trusting politicians. Whether it’s corruption or sexual assault allegations, Americans have developed a general distrust for government leaders and representatives.

The simple solution: bring in an outsider, or someone who has never been involved in politics and who hasn’t been exposed to this supposed corruption.

The blaring problem with this reaction is that “outsiders” don’t know government procedures or how to maneuver the

system.

Frankly, progress is much slower than with a president familiar with lawmaking.

Sure, one could say that president Reagan, a former actor, was a reasonably successful president, but even he had a background in working in the government.

From the beginning of his career in acting he was very politically involved; he worked on government committees, supported political races and served as Governor of California in the 70s. These experiences amply prepared him for his tenure as president.

However, this in no way supports placing unqualified Hollywood actors in office purely based on their likeable personalities or great ideas.

As Americans, it is important to ask ourselves: Where are we headed? Making the government as much about fanfare as possible could be the next step for America. One day we are electing the most relatable celebrities as president, and the next it’s senatorial positions.

If the international community sees a country being run by unqualified and legally illiterate pretty-faces, America will no longer be taken seriously. That position of “highest honor” will be debased if it is given to people who cannot handle the responsibility.

For hundreds of years the president has represented the U.S. and contributed to its respect as an international power.

That’s not to say a celebrity wouldn’t be a good face to the country, but diplomacy can be complex. In such a case, utmost care must be employed.

The Union is still strong, and we will press on down a slippery slope indeed-one we have already embarked on.

Now that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has repealed the net neutrality laws, net neutrality is a topic hardly anyone speaks about. Perhaps people feel as though there is nothing left to do. They are dead wrong.

Net neutrality is a set of laws that prohibit companies (such as Comcast or Verizon) from leeching off our generation’s use of the internet. The FCC, headed by former Verizon lawyer Ajit Pai, voted 3-2 to pass the Restoring Internet Freedom Act (RIFA) 2017, which repeals a previous law set in 2015.

What does this mean for our generation? It can mean a handful of things. Best case-scenario, nothing changes.

Wishful thinking, because corporations, known for their greed, will likely put us on the bottom of their priorities. They won’t care whether or not we need the internet to do school or business work, or that, with college fees, we’ll barely be able to afford food for ourselves (much less overpriced internet).

So, when Ajit Pai sips from his annoying oversized Reese’s cup and says they are not getting rid of net neutrality, he isn’t lying. He isn’t stating the truth, either.

Greed will make ISPs more likely to deliver internet in packages for customers and create fast lanes for business who pay.

Texting a friend about a group, or your new webpage? Your providers may block the text message or your webpage.

Similar things have already been done before the net neutrality rules, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Even that isn’t the biggest issue with RIFA: the FCC voters completely ignored citizens’ wishes. According to a december 2017 poll conducted by the University of Maryland, 82.9% of Americans opposed repealing net neutrality. Clearly, those who voted for the RIFA were not looking out for the citizens’ best interest.

So, what can we do? The easiest way is to go to BattleForTheNet.com and fill out a form to tell Congress you want a Congressional Review Act to override the FCC (we’re on our phones all the time anyway, it’ll take you less time than watching a Markiplier video).

Then, contact your state representatives (the website tells you which are already pro net neutrality) and tell them to be that last vote we need!

We all need to partake before internet freedom as we know it is stolen from us!

If net neutrality is stolen from us, Lincoln might as well have stated, during the Gettysburg Address, “By the corporations, for the money.”

8 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Healthy Lifestyle Multiple activities result in relaxation STORY BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR When things get stressful, everybody has a way to alleviate their stresses. Maintaining mental health is key to overall well-being.

Journaling

Journaling is one method students use to improve their moods. As defined by dictionary.com, journaling is a record of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly for private use.

Junior Emily Barbery’s mom introduced her to journaling.

“I first started journaling when I was about 10,” Barbery said. “My mom wanted me to do something that I could have a release from all the outside stress in my life.”

Barbery has noticed improvement in her life since she first began journaling.

“I’ve been a lot better with my communication and emotional control,” Barbery said. “Those are two of the most important things in my familial life and otherwise, which is why it was such a blessing when I found a way to keep myself in check.”

Throughout her journaling experience, Barbery has noticed her attitude has improved, too.

“My overall attitude towards life

and difficult situations growing up seemed a lot more negative and hopeless before I started to really get into journaling,” Barbery said. “It felt like all those things I couldn’t talk about just got stuck in my mind and constantly made me feel pent up and frustrated. When I started, though, my whole demeanor changed and I became a generally more happy and relaxed person.”

Barbery will continue journaling in the near future.

“I think journaling will be a large part of my life for the rest of my life,” Barbery said.

“There will always be difficult situations to deal with, but it’s also like my time capsule.

I keep all of those really good and really bad days safe in my journal for me to go back and look on and learn from.”

Yoga

According to Wikipedia.com, yoga is a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines, which originated in ancient India.

Junior Elizabeth Foote discovered yoga during a stressful time in her life.

“I first took a yoga class last year,” Foote said. “I decided to take a yoga class because I was really stressed about school at that time. I enjoyed the atmosphere because it was relaxing and quiet.”

Senior Claire Dukstein began doing yoga in 2012 and believes that yoga is all

about calming down and resting. Yoga also helps Dukstein maintain flexibility.

Sleep

Sleep is an important factor for retaining mental capabilities. According to Wikipedia. com, sleep is a condition of body and mind such as that which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively inactive.

Junior Asiana Battle typically gets around eight hours of sleep every night.

“Sleep is very important for me because I have anger issues and sleep helps,” Battle said.

Junior Rhaven Stevens gets around eight hours of sleep every night.

“Sleep impacts my mood, helps me focus, and stay well rested so I stay awake throughout class,” Stevens said.

Sophomore Sam Sydnes typically gets around seven hours of sleep.

“I don’t have a sleep schedule because I get too caught up in things,” Sydnes said.

“Some nights I play X-box and other nights I just don’t feel like falling asleep.”

Freshman Katherine Hassell believes that sleep is very important and gets around seven to eight hours every night.

“When I don’t get enough sleep, I don’t want to do anything,” Hassell said. “I feel like I want to be in class more when I’m rested than I would if I was sleepy.”

80%

of American adults don’t get the recommended amount of exercise

“When you can, it’s good to make healthy choices. But, I also believe in balance.

It’s not about being 100 percent this way or that way.

It’s about making healthy choices when you can.”

-Miranda Kerr

About 90% of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet.

As of 2012, 8.7% of the US practices Yoga.

FEBRUARY 6, 2018| THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 9

Exercise provides physical, mental benefits STORY BY ABBY WYDRA Exercise is crucial for anyone who is trying to be healthy. Exercise helps maintain a healthy lifestyle and releases a neurotransmitter known as endorphins, which is what gives someone that feelgood sensation after exercising.

Whether someone is working out for the mental health benefits or for the physical health benefits, any form of exercise could be beneficial to a student’s lifestyle, especially with all of the stress and anxiety that is caused by school and homework.

“It puts me in a better mood to know I am working as hard as I can,” said freshman Carlie Rose. “Exercising daily also can

make me pretty tired though during the school week as it is exhausting and i have to come home to start my homework.”

Exercising is not only good physically, it is also very beneficial mentally. It not only helps get the body in shape, it also helps the brain reduce anxiety, stress and depression.

It doesn’t take that long to guarantee the mental health benefits. Studies from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that it only takes 30-60 minutes of exercise 3-5 days a week to achieve these mental health improvement.

Many students take advantage of sports by exploring the different opportunities at

school that provide help to achieve their goal of a healthy lifestyle.

“I decided what I wanted to do when I first thought of joining the weightlifting team,” said senior Chase Walker. “In eighth grade, I decided I wanted to be on the team and start working out that way.”

Exercise is an essential part of becoming healthy. However, it is also very important to balance.

“To be able to exercise properly and safely it is important to balance sleep and diet along with the amount of exercise you are doing,” Rose said. “Without exercising, I would have diet issues and it would make my body weaker.”

Dieting decisions lead to increased energy STORY BY JOYCE NG High school is a time when many teenagers experience many changes. As teenagers explore their place in a world that is constantly shaping the ideal body image, they have adapt to it.

Diets such as veganism, vegetarianism, paleo, ketogenic and various weight modification plans aim to achieve such standards as the average teenager places upon his or her body.

These diets can build up a person’s health and completely guide them to a healthier lifestyle. Staying dedicated to a diet presents a new set of challenges for those who follow it.

Senior Elisabeth Vaughn has adapted a vegetarian diet, which proves difficult at times.

“A disadvantage is the limited options I have at many restaurants,” Vaughn said.

Even with this inconvenience, Vaughn finds the diet helpful to her everyday life and lets her live up to her morals.

“I am energetic and don’t feel guilty for exploiting animals and the environment,” Vaughn said.

Being on the vegetarian diet also poses a challenge in nutrition.

“I have to cook a lot of food for myself to make sure that I get all of the protein and nutrients needed to stay healthy,” Vaughn said.

According to Vaughn, she became vegetarian eight years ago.

“The main reason I don’t eat meat is because I don’t like the taste,” Vaughn said.

“The thought of killing animals also drove me to become vegetarian. I don’t support the meat industry because of the toll that it takes on the environment.”

Just like Vaughn, other students choose

to have a special lifestyle with their food.

“I’m on a Nutrisystem diet to be healthier and to support my parents in their journey to be healthy as well,” said senior Joseph Spring.* The Nutrisystem diet delivers healthy meals to their customers. Spring has been using it for two years.

“Through the Nutrisystem diet, I can obtain a lower level of cholesterol and lose weight,” Spring said.

Even a well-planned diet can still be difficult, however..

“I have to admit I have periodic cheat days too,” Spring said.

Vaughn also plans to continue her diet journey, eventually becoming vegan.

Spring may take a break, due to college.

“I’ll probably get off of it due to the delivery hassle on campus, but I’ll resume it once I graduate,” Spring said. *NAME WITHHELD UPON REQUEST

INFOCOURTESYCDC.GOV,YOGAJOURNALISM.COM

DESIGNED BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS

10 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

YouTube makes changes to online platform

STORY BY BRYN GARICK creators to really get themselves out there as our idea of ‘YouTubers’ is already made up of a very specific crowd of people,” Towson said. “I’m a very small fish in a big YouTube sea, so the changes in the algorithm haven’t affected my content, but I know it’s much harder for others to get their videos monetized.”

Caramello, however, believes that YouTube Red hasn’t affected the creators or their content.

“YouTube Red makes different content for bigger creators, but for the normal creator I don’t think it matters much,” Caramello said.

Towson stated that there has been a shift in the general reason content is being produced.

“Creators on YouTube have changed in two main ways,” Towson said. “Some have gotten much closer to their audiences and gone on tours with meet and greets and really made an effort to connect with their audience others have done the opposite and detached themselves

from their viewers and see YouTube just as a source of income.”

According to Towson, YouTube has become much more popularity-based rather than content-based.

“Many creators make one good video and instantly get 1 million views on every video they make,” Towson said.

Ingle sees YouTube’s changes as a positive shift.

“Creators on YouTube have had to become more creative and outgoing in order to captivate a large audience,” Ingle said.

Nazario stated that creators have done the exact opposite.

“It’s based on what other people want to watch, like everyone kind of does the same thing: whatever is popular on YouTube,” Nazario said. “No one is using their own ideas.”

Caramello said that everyone tries to copy what’s working best.

“When Diss tracks were big, everyone was writing Diss

tracks and everyone just tries to copy what’s getting views at the time,” Caramello said.

Diss tracks are music videos or songs that poke fun at celebrities or other YouTube creators.

Ingle, however, has found her inspiration from watching others’ videos.

“If I think someone has a good idea, sometimes I’ll twist it up to make it my own,” Ingle said.

According to Towson, creators’ content can be very helpful.

“Their content suggests my content and vice versa so we both get views,” Towson said.

Caramello has also taken steps to set himself apart from the crowd.

“I’m just trying to do some crazier, edgier stuff,” Caramello said. “I’m just trying to make stuff that’s funny really.”

“I haven’t been making money, I’ve just been doing it for fun,” Ingle said.

Junior Justin Nazario (Justin2Swift)

Junior Ava Ingle (Ava Ingle)

Junior Anthony Caramello (TMELLO27)

DESIGN BY ISABEL FAIN

FEBRUARY 6, 2018 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 11

Yearbook staff gain many skills

Page Count In 1947, were 48 In 2017, were 312

there pages there pages

and work as a whole.”

According to senior Megan Handler, yearbook has helped her get into the business mindset.

“It’s one of the best courses to prepare you for a career down the road,” Handler said. “You acquire a lot of different traits of a job, such as having to work under people, having to lead, having to correct and revise along with a business persona.”

Voorhees says that yearbook demanded her to be a leader.

“Being in yearbook had taught me about how to be assertive when talking to your staff, or getting your voice heard within the community,” Voorhees said.

Sanchez said it taught him how to keep track of his work.

“Yearbook is a good course to take, because not only do you get to create this book that not only documents the history of the school, but of that year in general,” Sanchez said.

The Oviedian staff has been around for 81 years, according to Voorhees, and the creation process of the book hasn’t changed much.

“We start figuring out what the theme will be in early July, when we go to a camp specifically for that,” Voorhees said.

Handler stated that the editors go to multiple camps and workshops to determine what the theme will be, and complete overall brainstorming for the book.

“We start looking at magazines and other photo-type books to see what we think looks good, and what direction we want to take, whether it be a lighthearted theme or a more controversial theme,” Handler said.

The stress of being on the yearbook staff varies from person to person, according to Sanchez.

“If it where based in a 1-10 level it would be a 11, and it is that due to the high responsibility level: it may be rewarding in the end, but it still is very stressful if you do not take constructive criticism well or figuring out how to do things by yourself,” Sanchez said. “There is also a high-stress demand due to deadlines.”

Voorhees stated that she rates the stress at a seven.

“For some people, it’s probably a lot higher, and for some, it’s probably a lot lower, but for me it depends on how organized it is, and the willfulness of the work that one wants to put in,” Voorhees said. “For the head editors, there is a lot of pressure of the leadership role and the responsibility for all of those below you.”

With the hustle and bustle of getting the book done, sometimes mistakes are made.

“This goes back and forth between all three editors over the course of time,” Watley said. “It gets spell- and grammaticallychecked. Then designs of pages can come in, where they will be put to the style sheet, with fonts, colors and placement.”

7 Sections

Funding

Attained by BOOK SALES, ADS, and commission for photos

Yearbook Uses

Book of Memories Book of HISTORY Book for RESEARCH

Organizations Academics S P O R T S Highlights Specialty P E O P L E Community

What’s YOUR Dream Date?

Watching planes at an airport

Senior Molly Nungesser

Wait, what??

STORY BY CONNOR COMPTON Most students see the yearbook as a large, colorful memory book. For the students who create the book, the yearbook is much more.

Senior Aleena Voorhees said she has learned work ethic and communication.

“You learn a lot of real-world skills that would help you in a job setting, like how to interact with people and not just get a job done,” Voorhees said. “But you also learn how to deal with the curveballs it throws, along with the important and urgent deadlines and you learn how to use Adobe CS6.”

Senior Danny Sanchez said that yearbook has helped him in a multitude of ways--not only as a student, but as a person, as well.

“Yearbook has taught me a lot of how to be a better person in general, learning how to deal with people that normally you wouldn’t have to deal with and coming out with a positive relationship in the end,” Sanchez said.

Senior Brittany Watley said yearbook builds a sense of family.

“Yearbook provides a group of people who are willing to help, or just be a friendly face when you need it most,” Watley said.

“And with this family, it has its bumps in the road; having them not only helps you get through it, but teaches you how to better interact with those people to truly function

Going to Disney

AP French Teacher Victoria Huffman

Going to the beach

Sophomore Jhanluis Delgado

Theme Park Freshman Raelyn Knaub

Drive-In Movie

PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

Goodnight, sleep tight!

Don’t let the questions about your existence and mortality, as well as your anxiety about the following day, bite!

DESIGN BY BRYN GARICK

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA BLOOM

One for All

Senior Morgan Atwell

Reviewed

12 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

The Maze Runner The Death Cure Movie

STORY BY EMMA STOKES Maze Runner fans were surely not disappointed this month when The Death Cure finally made its appearance in theaters. The Death Cure is the third movie in the Maze Runner series. During the whole two hours and 21 minutes, I was in awe.

The sound effects of the movie were realistic and created a feeling of suspense. From explosions to jumping out of buildings, the special effects and stunts were impressive and helped keep the movie interesting.

On top of that, the plot was unique.

The movie certainly kept the audience alert and on its toes.

The Good Doctor TV Series

STORY BY CHRISTINA YORK “The Good Doctor” is an American medical-drama television show. The series stars Freddie Highmore as the main character, and he is alone in the world. He’s a young, intelligent man with autism who is a surgical resident at a hospital.

The way he gets into character, the emotion and the plot are perfect and makea me want to watch more. It does have some flaws, like where they go off topic in some scenes, which makes it a little confusing, but isn’t really a big deal.

I would definitely watch this series again and I would recommend this to anyone who likes drama.

Monster Hunter World Video Game STORY BY CONNOR COMPTON The Monster Hunter series added its latest edition with its newest release of Monster Hunter World.

This Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) offers an open world experience what was never seen with its previous games. The world blends flawlessly, with no clipping issues, and varying and vast terrains that scale from ominous to breathtaking. The old weapon system still takes place with over 14 weapons styles and mechanics there is

A New Reality: VR Headset Review

PHOTO BY CONNER QUINLAN STORY BY CONNER QUINLAN Virtual Reality (VR) is an exciting new medium for video games and other entertainment forms. There are many headsets out there, and finding out which one is the “best” may be confusing; some consumers may find that comparing tech specs between them all is daunting.

The first part of finding a headset is what platform you choose; most people would recommend PC based VR on the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Both the Oculus and Vive provide a remarkable experience with mostly flawless tracking and great safety measures to prevent you from slamming into your desk.

Between the headsets, the displays are the exact same. The utilities they have is the only difference. The Vive has a front-facing camera and is heavier, with its controllers having limited mobility (four finger movements) compared to the Oculus Touch controllers, but has better out-of-the-box tracking and is a little more comfortable for people with glasses.

Oculus’s controllers are much more tactile, have capacitive buttons (detects if your hand is resting on it) and a much wider range of motion with up to nine total finger movements. With the headset, the Oculus is very light and a player is unlikely to experience strain after long periods of wearing it.

Even with the physical limitations of VR, some games have adapted to them in remarkable ways. Because you can’t move around beyond the free space in your room, most games have a teleport system.

Rec Room VR best implements this with their paintball game mode; when you go to teleport to a location, the enemy can see where you are going because a blue or red circle appears on the floor where you want to go,which helps balance the ability to teleport by making your position a bit more apparent.

In other games such as Superhot VR (pictured above), a game where time only moves when you do, players will often find themselves outmatched and out gunned.

You have to fight your way through a set of linear levels with high-contrast polygon graphics, making everything look clean

Oculus Rift $399 +Best Value +Lightest +Best Controllers sure to be a weapon to suit your playstyle.

First-timers within this universe: the main object of the game is to fight monsters, but while the quest line is good, its lacking for a firsttime player to this universe.

Progression, crafting and quality of life updates were changed drastically, making everything easier. Skill lines feel more rewarding and the overall progression of your character feels good, with a massive amount of skills and perks to help your character in the world. The graphical

and computerized. It is one of the most unique and highly-rated games you can get on Steam and the Oculus Store.

Not all of the games listed here are available on Sony’s PSVR. This headset is one of the least functional headsets on the market, besides phone-based VR. The headset’s resolution is way too small, and the framerate is way too slow, which is a sure sign that the PSVR headset is limited by the console it has to use.

The tracking is terrible--mostly from the sensor requiring line of sight on the headset (which is difficult to keep track of when you are wearing the headset).

Windows mixed-reality headsets are not as bad, but have limited support because of the inside-headset tracking they utilize, which means that it can’t use the room-scaled safety features that most users will need to prevent you from hitting your desk.

As of now, the Oculus Rift seems to be the best balance of price and performance for the average consumer.

Virtual Reality is definitely worth the price tag.

PSVR $199

HTC Vive $599 +Supports Glasses

-Most Expensive +Best Tracking +Safest

quality is immense; when on the right settings, it feels like you’re in another universe altogether.

From the grass and dirt on the ground to the foliage, each and every thing was carefully executed and blends perfectly.

The monsters themselves look like they popped out of a live-action fantasy movie. The dragons look amazing, showing off their menacing vibe and really making you scared when fighting these creatures.

Within the world, the game developers

+Cheapest -Worst Tracking

-Performance Issues

set up ecosystems and food chains, fully immersing you into another world. Some creatures are territorial and some are nomadic.

Part of playing the game is knowing how each creature is and its habits due to the fact when you have to slay this creature, you will better know the best time to strike. In the beginning play, when facing monsters, it’s very intense, and if you have not played one of the previous games, you will be a bit clumsy.

Once you get the mechanics and fight a few bosses you will be slicing and dicing limbs and body parts like a pro. The rewards from these fights can be used to buy gear, which will also give you special advantages when fighting other monsters.

DESIGN BY ALEXIS DESENA

One-Page Low-Down

FEBRUARY 6, 2018 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 13

W

App Review: HQ Trivia STORY BY EMILY VERNIKOS HQ is a live trivia game app. Like every trivia game, there’s a prize. HQ’s prize is money! The amount is usually $2,000; other times, it can be higher.

One of the HQ hosts asks a question and you have five seconds to select the right answer choice; if you get it wrong or don’t answer in time, you will be kicked from the game. You are still able to watch, however, and even chat with other players in a chat room.

If you have an “extra life,” you are able to join the game for an extra try. Extra lives are obtained by sharing your “friend code” that you get when making an account.

There are 12 questions you must answer correctly to win the money prize. The first few questions tend to be easy, but as you get closer

to question 12, they get tougher.

Depending on how many people win the money is split. Say four people win and the prize is $2,000: each person would receive $500.

HQ trivia can be used on an IOS and Android device. HQ trivia was released Aug. 2017.

I think this app is a very fun game to play with a big group of friends or family. On New Year’s, I played with a bunch of my friends and siblings and we got very close to question 12, but failed.

I think this app is a great game for all ages, the only issue is small bugs, for example lags.

Other than that, it’s fun!

Album Review: Entertainment STORY BY JOSH CORDONERO The alternative music group Waterparks debuted their first album, Double Dare, back in 2016. The album was praised for its diversity in sound, the band’s bravery in facing certain controversial topics and front man Awsten Knight’s habit of taking his personal experiences and feelings and putting them into his emotive and explosive lyrics. Their new album Entertainment is no different.

Different would be a word Knight wants the listener to use when describing Waterparks’ work. Often overlooking the band’s label, Equal Vision, one can assume the genre of the band is either Pop Rock, R&B, Punk Rock, Post-Hardcore, Electronic and even Synth-Pop. Maybe not any, since it’s this wide range that allows the band to move smoothly between simple and upbeat, and their

more complex and darkly thematic songs.

While not as compelling as Double Dare’s library of songs, there is arguably at least one song on the album some person will take their liking. Depending on the song you listen to on Entertainment, all you’ll hear are Knight’s (Wiggington’s occasional backing vocal) raw anger or anxiety.

You can divide the album into

Local Review: Frozen

DESIGN BY FERN SILVA

PHOTO BY ABBIE WYDRA

STORY BY ABBIE WYDRA Recently, a new ice cream shop has opened right next to the University of Central Florida campus on North Alafaya Trail: Frozen Nitrogen Ice Cream. What makes this place so special is that they use liquid nitrogen to make the customer’s choice of either ice cream, frozen yogurt or coconut milk ice cream.

In the shop, they have a counter with glass so you can watch the employees use the liquid nitrogen to make the ice cream (or frozen yogurt).

Frozen recently introduced a new form of dessert called dragon’s breath. They take Captain Crunch Berries and freeze them with the liquid nitrogen. They bring the cereal out and the nitrogen rises fromt he bowl. As you eat the cereal you breathe the smoke that comes from the liquid nitrogen and enjoy.

two parts, the easier listening kind of pop that would receive airplay, and the deep and riveting portion that requires at least a second listen.

“11:11” uses synth beats and light electrical guitar riffs to complement the simple story of dating your crush. It helps the audience transition into the sweet and borderline addicting “Peach (Lobotomy)” that recounts Knight’s experience with long-distance relationships.

A current fan favorite, “TANTRUM,” highlights the feelings of overwhelming anxiety and mental health that coincides with the field of Entertainment.

The album is worth a listen, and is streaming on Apple Music, Spotify and the Equal Vision site. If you want the hardcopy CD or Vinyl, Hot Topic and Amazon have you covered.

SOUL OF AN ARTIST INTERVIEWED BY SOPHIA BLOOM

Photographer

Junior Katherine Mustaine PHOTO BY FERN SILVA Q: How did you get into photography?

A: I grew up in a house that thought that the fine arts were important. My dad went to photography school and my mom was constantly taking pictures.

Q: Why do you love photography so much?

A: Photography holds a special place in my heart because I grew up with it and it’s so nice to look at the world through a different lens.

Q: How has being so heavily involved in photography affected your life?

A: Being involved in photography has just become a personality trait.

I can’t think about anything without going into it with a performer’s or photographer’s perspective.

Q: Did you ever think you would be heavily involved in photography as a kid?

A: As a kid, I thought I would be 110 percent involved in performing arts, not visual arts. But growing up, I definitely threw myself into both with equal vigor.

Q: When did you begin being involved in the arts?

A: I started my fine arts journey as a dancer. I was three when I signed up and did dance for 13 years without stopping. I played the piano and oboe for three years.

Q: Why do you personally do photography?

A: It’s a form of expression. I’m awful at voicing my feelings, so the arts are a great outlet.

14 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Double Team

Twin athletes support, compete together PHOTO BY FERN SILVA

FRESHMAN GRACE DAVIS

STORY BY VANI THUPILI At Oviedo, many twins are actively involved in extracurricular activities, especially sports. Twins who play sports compete with each other.

“You always have someone to compete against in life or compare to,” said sophomore Emily Fil. “That helps a lot, because competition is good.”

E. Fil and sophomore Alex Fil are fraternal twins and play junior varsity soccer and swim, respectively.

“It’s hard not to compare to one another even though we do different sports,” A. Fil said. “We are the same age, same grade, same gender.

Senior Abigail Wildgen competes alongside her twin sister, senior Grace Wildgen. They came up with a plan to run a half marathon together.

“If one of us falls behind the other is not going to wait,” A. Wildgen said. “That’s what we decided.”

“We don’t get upset with each other if the other one beats us, during the race it’s more of us encouraging each other than thinking that I’m beating her,” G. Wildgen said.

There is a certain mentality that comes from having a twin, constantly having another person through all stages of life.

“Growing up with a twin is like having a best

friend for life,” said freshman Abbie Davis, who competes alongside her twin sister freshman Grace Davis in both cross country and track and field.

“There has always been a constant comparison between the two of us, espcially since we do the same sports and because of the fact that we are twins,” G. Davis said.

Having a teammate that you grow up with have certain advantages.

“It’s like having another you, so he knows what I am going to do and I know what he is going to do,” said freshman Spencer Rose.

S. Rose and his identical brother freshman Jacob Rose both play on the junior varsity basketball team.

“It’s nice to always be on the same page so we both know what the other is capable of,” A. Wildgen said.

The competition expands into all aspects of life.

“Everything is a competition-school, sports, everything,” A. Fil said.

Comparing test grades and studying harder help them excel in their classes as they try to surpass each other.

“We know the ways on how we should push each other and I feel like the only person that will get to me is Abby,” G. Wildgen said.

FRESHMAN ABBIE DAVIS

DESIGN BY GILLIAN LANDWEHR & VANI THUPILI

ROARBOARD

FEBRUARY 6,2018 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 15

For more, head to OviedoJournalism.com

Preseason tournament prepares, cures PHOTO BY FERN SILVA STORY BY TESSA KOWALSKI

FOLLOWING THE THROW. Senior Kaythryn Sutton practices her pitch at practice on Feb. 6.

SPORTS IN REVIEW: A PHOTO FINISH

CHEERING FOR VICTORY. The girls’ varsity cheer team cheers on the varsity boys’ basketball team as they win their game against Lake Brantley on Jan. 31 at the RWL gym.

ALUMNA TRACK STAR. Oviedo athletic director Jennifer Darty presents Oviedo alumna and Olympic gold medalist Jenny Simpson with having the OHS track named after her.

SHOOTING HIS SHOT. Junior Brayden Denny takes a free throw against Lake Brantley on Jan. 31 at the RWL gym.

PHOTOS BY FERN SILVA, SCOTT WAISANEN DESIGN BY TESSA KOWALSKI

This year’s softball Preseason Classic for breast cancer is taking place at Lake Mary High School on Feb. 8-10.

The different high schools in Seminole County take turns hosting the annual fundraising event. Varsity softball head coach Jennifer Quattry explained how all the softball teams raise money for the charity.

“Each team in the tournament must sell BBQ tickets,” Quattry said. “The host site sells BBQ plates and all of the proceeds from the ticket sales, gate sales and BBQ food plate sales are donated to breast cancer research.”

According to Quattry, each school has something different to bring to the table when hosting the event.

“Some schools will do dessert stands, or apparel stands or softball bow stands that will help with the cause,” said Quattry.

Oviedo hosted the Preseason Classic back in 2016. Quattry enjoys the atmosphere during the tournament and the atmosphere leading up to it.

“It is a fun event to be a part of every year and to host every four years,” Quattry said.

“Doing something you love while donating to a great cause is a wonderful feeling.”

Varsity softball player junior Haley Kingsland, who previously participated in the tournament, said that it felt good to be a part of something that was for such wonderful cause.

“It was interesting to see that many people at our games,” said Kingsland.

“Usually there are not that many people that come to the games; it was a nice change.”

When OHS hosted the tournament back in 2016, they raised $3,500 for breast cancer research.

“The community came together for a fun softball tournament, that benefits a cancer that affects so many throughout the world,” Quattry said.

In Quattry’s opinion this tournament is different, since the drive for participating doesn’t come from winning, but from helping a good cause.

“In regular softball tournaments, the glory comes from winning,” Quattry said.

“In this tournament, the glory comes from donating to an amazing cause.”

Star Athlete: Mackenize Smith INTERVIEWED BY NEVADA CULLEN On Feb. 2, the Oviedo girls’ basketball team defeated Freedom High School at home on senior night, 79-43. Junior Mackenzie Smith, one of the team’s leaders and key playmakers, weighed in on senior night, and her team’s chances come playoff time.

Q: What was senior night like this year?

A: Senior night went pretty well because we won by a lot and I thought we played well together. A lot of people who don’t usually get to play together got to play together this time around. There’s always high adrenaline at senior night games because there’s so much on the line that we have to win for: we have to win for our seniors’ last home game. It was really fun to play at their last experience for a home game.

Q: How has the team played this season?

A: We had a rough experience at the beginning of the season because we had a lot of people out with different injuries, but we’ve come back and recovered from that. Injuries had a big impact on our season, and it did bring us closer together after taking a step back. It felt like we took three or four steps forward with each other.

Q: Do you think your team has a good chance in the playoffs?

A: I think we can win districts if we really put ourselves into it. We play Lake Brantley on Tuesday and we’ve beaten them twice this season, so I think we can take care of that if we stick to the game plan.

We have to play Lake Mary and Seminole in the near future; we went into overtime with Lake Mary and we lost to Seminole by one. If we stick to the game plan and come out hungry for blood, then I think we can win districts.

16 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | FEBRUARY 6, 2018

THERAPY PROVIDES SUPPORT Student finds assistance through therapy sessions

STORY BY ISABEL FAIN Therapy can be a sensitive subject, especially for high school students. Some students, however, seek help with issues they are facing in their lives.

“I was going through really hard times and it was really stressful,” said junior Olivia Burt. “I didn’t really know how to cope with anything that was going on in my life, and I didn’t know how to react, and I felt like therapy would be that step to help figure things out.”

Burt has been going to therapy for two weeks and she uses skills she learned in therapy to help her in school.

“I’m learning a lot of new things, like how to deal with situations and how to deal with sadness and anger,” Burt said. “I learn how to cope with stress and time management, which is a big thing in school cause I used to goof off and do nothing.”

Burt stated that she has not dealt with any negative responses to therapy.

“I can see why it can be looked against because some people may think, ‘Oh, they can’t solve their problems on their own,’’’ Burt said. “But you know, some people just can’t deal with it on their own, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Burt’s parents and friends exhibited a positive reaction when she started therapy.

“They knew I was going through a rough time, so for them it was just them seeing that I was putting forth the effort to take the next step to be happy,” Burt said.

Burt visits a therapist outside of school, but there is an option at the school for students who seek therapy.

The New Horizons program is facilitated by counselor Kimberly Fann, who accepts students struggling with

things in their lives.

“New Horizons is a prevention program, so as far as our groups go, we do a lot of psychoeducation,” Fann said. “We talk about a lot of things that help students better navigate their lives and their journey so they can perform better and be successful in life.”

According to Fann, the groups talk about doing better in school as well as in life.

“We talk about communication skills, good coping skills, anger and stress, and we do talk about drugs and alcohol to try to help prevent people from using,” Fann said.

Fann uses individual and group therapy techniques to give students the help they need.

“The main technique for group counseling is the psychoeducation piece, and also the piece where people can come together and feel like there is a connection with others; I think that can help too,” Fann said.

Fann uses cognitive behavior techniques to provide counseling for students.

“I use EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing,” Fann said. “I also use expressive arts activities, in particular sand tray therapy.

All of those ways can be ways that students can have a different kind of insight, or even a better insight, as to what’s going on. Some of their underlying problems or things that are causing symptoms on the surface.”

New Horizons also teaches coping skills that can help with stress levels related to school dilemmas.

“When students have a healthier stress level and when they feel like they can manage their stress, then they’re usually able to produce better work,” Fann said. “They can also use the communication skills that we talk about to talk about issues with their teachers.”

Throughout the years, therapy has held a negative connotation to some students. According to Fann, there is still a stigma surrounding counseling and therapy.

“That is kind of an older thought process, and I think that there has been a lot of advocacy done for mental health and getting help when people need it, but I think that some in some families and in some communities that this stigma is very much alive,” Fann said.

Fann sees most students being supportive and understanding.

“I’m sure that there are a few who have opinions about going to New Horizons, they might be thinking, ‘Oh, there’s something wrong with you,’ but I think from what I hear from my clients, the majority of the people who they tell are really supportive, like, ‘Oh, you go see Mrs. Fann?

Yeah, me too!’ and some people are really surprised by that,” Fann said. “There’s nothing wrong with seeking out a person to help you through a tough time.”

For some students, it can be hard to discern if they should ask for help or not. Burt explains that students need to be willing to put in the effort to change their lives.

“With therapy, the main thing is that if you don’t think it’s going to help, it’s not gonna help,” Burt said. “It was something that I used to hate and never wanted to do, but now that I’m doing it, seeing how it’s helping and changing things, it’s a really good thing.”

Fann stated that she is happy to answer any questions about therapy.

“For people who are in therapy, my message is ‘good for you,’” Fann said. “Good for you for being brave enough and willing to seek out somebody to get through a tough time, and being willing to put in the work that it takes to help get through that and then come out happier.”

DESIGN BY JOSH CORDONERO