The Lion's Tale - Volume 56 Issue 6

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LION’STALE OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • 32765 • APRIL 27, 2016 • VOLUME 56 • ISSUE 6

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2 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

The month in photos

The

Photo’s Of

The Month

NHS elects new leadership officers WRITTEN BY NIYATI SHAH

This April, the National Honor Society elected a panel of officers to serve in the 2016-2017 school year.

The officers are juniors David Son for President, Carly Mitchell as Vice President, Sara Costello as Treasurer, Kailey Davis as Secretary, Braden Cronin as Reporter, and Ishaan Singh as Historian.

The officers have a distinct plan in mind for next year.

“More point opportunities and doing things more as a club are our priorities,” Davis said.

The club wishes to expand their involvement by including other clubs and groups, such as the special needs population, Junior Optimist Club and Tri-M, the music honors society at OHS. They hope to gain prominence through social media.

“I really want to use SnapChat to post for different events and to show that NHS isn’t just volunteer work, and can be fun,” Cronin said.

The club is also planning to offer induction to new members next fall.

Teacher uses Zika virus outbreak in classroom studies WRITTEN BY FERN SILVA

In recent months, the Zika virus has become a very large and frightening reality for the occupants of South and Central America and the Caribbean Islands. The virus causes fever, and can lead to a massive birth defect in children, called microcephaly, that makes newborn babies’ heads much smaller than expected.

Bioscience teacher Amy Demins has used the recent outbreak as a way to highlight a section of her curriculum.

“Earlier in the year, we had a major unit on infectious diseases, viruses, and the sorts,” Demins said. “I felt that showing my students the effect of an outbreak will help pound in the information more.”

To link the virus back to the class, Demins tied the virus to a project.

“We applied the virus to a project we had been working on, which talked about infectious diseases that had affected, or are currently affecting, us humans,” Demins said.

Demins also said there is really nothing to fear in Florida.

“There have been a few cases so far in Florida, but all are travel-related,” Demins said. “So while there is a scare, nothing has come of it.”

According to the CDC website, all 85 cases of Zika virus have been linked to travel to the central and south American regions.

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses in other areas of the world.

These mosquitoes reproduce in still water, such as lakes, ponds and bowls.

PHOTO BY INDIA PANTIN PHOTO BY NIYATI SHAH NHS ELECTION. The new National Honor Society officers’ vision includes increased volunteer opportunities and association with more local organizations.

COLORS IN CHEMISTRY. Sophomores enrolled in chemistry classes participate in a tie-dye session outside the science building, as per tradition in the science department.

ZIKA ANALYSIS How does it spread?

The virus spreads through mosquito bites to humans.

Humans pass it on via blood, intercourse, and pregnancy.

PHOTO BY DAVE TIBBETTS TURNING LEFT. Sophomores Priscella Betts and Kellie Kosmitis round the corner at the Lake Highland Elite Classic track meet.

How can it be prevented?

-empty clean containers that hold water -utilize mosquito nets -spray insect repellent -wear long sleeves

What are the symptoms?

-red eyes -rashes -fatigue -fever -headache -joint/muscle pain INFOCOURTESYOF CENTERFORDISEASECONTROL

PHOTO BY NIYATI SHAH SAVVY SENIOR CITIZENS. Seniors channel their inner elderly selves during senior week. Senior Sean Tibbetts is emulating track and cross country coach Tom Hamontree.

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 3

Staff react to recently-passed state education bills WRITTEN BY NIYATI SHAH Traditionally stringent rules about transferring between high schools have grown lenient after Governor Rick Scott signed the education bill HB 7029 on April 14.

The bill allows any student to transfer to any school within the state as long as parents facilitate transportation, students haven’t been expelled or suspended, and schools have the space available to admit students, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Imagine a parent discovering the perfect school for her child, a public school with just the right magnet program or the right services for a child’s unique abilities,” said Patricia Levesque from the Foundation for Florida’s Future, a nonprofit public policy organization. “There is space available but she is locked out because she lives on the wrong side of a district boundary line.... It is time to tear down invisible barriers that block students from attending schools that best meet their needs, School Choice even when there is available space.”

OHS, however, limits on how much does not expect districts can spend to be drastically building schools impacted by the bill. creates funding for “I think it will state colleges if have a minimal they meet certain impact on our requirements related school,” said Joe to degree completion principal Trybus.

“Right and employment now, they are telling me that we offers an opportunity are at capacity. for colleges, including It could have an UCF, to be declared an impact on non-at “emergent preeminent capacity schools state research as far as adding university” and earn students to classes money and not having the appropriate number of teachers to teach those classes, based on the class size amendment that says all classes need to be at 25.”

Economics teacher and girls basketball coach Bill Bronga disapproves of the law.

“I don’t agree with the bill because I don’t think that people are going to use the law in the right way,” Bronga said. “I agree that you should have some choice where a kid goes to school, but I’m afraid they are going to make it too easy to abuse the law. Too many kids will jump from school to school for the wrong reasons.”

Football coach Ryan Hennessy is concerned that sports may be among those “wrong reason.”

“It could create sports dynasties if it is not regulated properly,” Hennessy said. “You could see kids going somewhere for football, trying to win a state title together, then go on to another

sport or school for maybe another semester for basketball or baseball.”

The freedom of movement may also be detrimental to the school atmosphere.

“It could change school atmosphere in that there is less school spirit, less loyalty to a school,” Hennessy said. “Like we see with professional sports, where rather than athletes staying wherever they are drafted, they jump from place to place, trying to win. Instead of competing with the best player from lacrosse in the city or the state, an athlete will team up with that player and beat up everyone else. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen.”

The families who will act upon this new legislation will be middle class and affluent, projects AP Physics teacher Art Woodruff.

“I would think it is the kids whose parents have higher socioeconomic statuses and who value education who will move their kids,” Woodruff said.

“The kids whose parents don’t have the means or don’t have the understanding or time to worry about their kids’ education will stay where they are.

The students who have the higher socioeconomic parents typically are more involved--those are typically the students who I would expect to move.”

For students aspiring to admission into a top tier college, moving may be countereffective.

“I think colleges are going to want to see stability, and jumping from school to school shows a lack of stability,” Bronga said. “If it is between you and your 4.0 GPA and you were at three different schools, and someone else’s 4.0 GPA who just dug in and was a part of that school for four years and accomplished a lot there and was a part of that community...which looks better to you, if you are a college admissions officer?”

Hennessy believes there are many other considerations to take into account when weighing the pros and cons of this legislation.

“It doesn’t seem like it is in the best interest of the schools or the state,” Hennessy said. “It goes under the guise of less regulation, and it penalizes kids who can’t afford to go to one place or another.

It gives an advantage to people who have the means to transport themselves.”

In addition to the school choice bill, another piece of legislation has surfaced in recent debate, this time regarding teacher effectiveness.

The Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program rewards Florida’s teachers who are considered “highly effective and who have earned college entrance exam scores that indicate they were exceptionally well-prepared for collegelevel coursework” with “ up to $10,000 bonuses to qualifying teachers,” according to the Orlando Sentinel and the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE).

This program has been passed for the second year.

AP U.S. History teacher Jessica Jenkins outlines the discrepancy between test scores and her performance in the classroom.

“I took my SAT in 1993 and I just barely missed that 80%, so I wouldn’t receive the bonus,” Jenkins said. “Yet, I am rated a highly effective teacher. In

my very first year of teaching, I took the AP program from a less than 30% pass rate to over 50% pass rate at OHS, and had a 99% pass rate on my EOC. Yet, none of that factors in. The ACT or SAT that I took way back when, or even present day, has no reflection on or correlation to, what kind of teacher I am or to the subject I am teaching.”

Environmental science teacher Joe Iacovino agreed.

“It is akin to taking a look at what you did in kindergarten,” Iacovino said. “Have you grown at all? Your prefrontal cortex, the decision-making part of your brain, doesn’t even fully develop until you are 24. I don’t know if me at 17 really has much to say about who I am now.”

The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union, filed a complaint against the Senate for this provision in December.

“Too many high-quality teachers in Florida were denied access to this bonus program because of the unfair and discriminatory rules and short timeline set up by lawmakers,” said union President Joanne McCall in a release regarding the legislation. “This bonus plan wasn’t thought out very well and wasn’t properly vetted in the Legislature, and that has resulted in many good teachers unfairly denied access to this bonus.”

The passing of this bill could discourage future teachers, according to Jenkins.

“It is just one more piece of evidence to why many people don’t see it as being a beneficial career choice, even if it something they are passionate about,” Jenkins said. “If they don’t change policies such as this one, where really highly effective teachers are not getting rewarded for their effort, if they don’t change pay, if they don’t change benefits, we are going to have a severe shortage.”

Iacovino finds that Best and Brightest using standardized test scores, overall, to assess performance is unfair. $45 million will be “What does the spent on funding SAT really tell you?” the scholarships Iacovino said. “It tells you whether a student More than 5,500 is a good test taker or teachers qualified not. It tells you more about their testing Many, including strategies than about Orange County their knowledge. We math teacher Josh do it to the kids and it clearly hasn’t been the Katz, have spoken answer.” out against such AP Calculus policies on YouTube teacher Barbara Kelly, who has been teaching for 30 years, defines highly effective differently than the Senate.

“If you are in your classroom and you are trying your best to impart what you are supposed to impart, if you are staying with the curriculum, doing what you are supposed to do, I think you are highly effective,” Kelly said.

4 | NEWS | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

Reflecting, Reminiscing, Retiring

Retiring teacher recounts changes throughout her career

WRITTEN BY HANNAH GIBILISCO the years is the increase in phone usage,” Thompson said.

This year, the Oviedo High School “When I first started, children did not Science department is bidding farewell to have phones in the classroom. It causes chemistry teacher Deborah Thompson. them to be distracted. It makes teaching Having taught both biology and very difficult.” chemistry, she’s wrapping up her current According to kidshealth.com, 71% of occupation as a chemistry teacher as soon children express a dislike towards school as summer comes around the corner. and learning. This information is worrisome Thompson reminisces upon her teaching to Thompson, and she wishes to see the experience and approach to vocalizes her learning change Education must be refocused upon hopes of life in the future. learning in its purest form. beyond teaching.

Thompson Thompson says that Teacher Deborah Thompson expresses that students, as of seeing children’s late, are going lives progress outside of her classroom is a through the motions just to get by, rather defining component of teaching. than taking the time to actually know the “A highlight that stands out to me is material. when I run into children at the grocery store, “Education must be refocused upon and other public places,” Thompson said. learning in its purest form, to ensure Seeing her past students’ futures take that students are actually understanding shape is imperative to Thompson. concepts; rather than just going through the “I love when they tell me about what’s motions,” she said. going on in their lives and what their future Thompson, despite her plans to travel to plans are,” Thompson said. “It’s really one Italy this fall with her newly retired husband, of the great parts about being a teacher.” intends to keep her passion for teaching From her years of teaching, Thompson ablaze. notes that technology has taken a toll on “I imagine I’ll be doing some tutoring, the quality of her classroom. and I want to try to keep my teaching “The biggest change I’ve noticed over certificate,” Thompson said.

THE TEACHER’S TOIL

What do teachers experience on a daily basis?

$49,000 per year Average U.S. teacher salary

12-16 hours

Average teaching day

76%

of U.S. teachers are female

FLUCTUATING FACTORS

What obstacles must teachers handle?

Handling growing class sizes and diversity

Finding funding for classroom supplies

$$$ $$$

Preparing for more standardized tests

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | NEWS | 5

THE LUNDY AWARDS

A set of superlatives for the class of 2016

Most Likely to be on SNL Luke Nitti & Cassie Barone Heartthrob Nick Carbone & Kaylynn Kissenberth Best Nickname

Most Likely to Win the Lottery Kyle Panagiotou & Regan Johnson Couple That Should’ve Been Matthew Carbone & Erin Belmore Most Likely to Shock Everyone at Reunion

Anthony Guliano & Nicole Perez

Jacob Bushey & Nicole Perez

Biggest Complainer

Most Likely to get ID at 30

Girls Attached at the Hip Jules Burford & Natalie Buzyinski Best Bromance Kurt Quackenbush & Austin Miller Most Likely to Win an Olympic Medal Papaa Kodzi & Julie Cates

Most Likely to be an OHS teacher

Chris Cafaro & Sarah Carbone

Brennan B. & Regan Johnson

Cooper Bradford & Haley Thrift

Most Likely to Get Married

Power Couple

Musically Inclined

Chase Kinglsey & Bella Garzon

Chase Kinglsey & Bella Garzon

John Howington & Rachel Ray

Most Likely to Be Tardy to Graduation

Most Likely to Be on Survivor

Best Voice

Andrew White & Jackie Koehen

Jon Austin & Alana Slone

John Howington & Rachel Ray

Gym Junkie

Best All-Around Personality

Most Likely to Cure Cancer

Corbin Follet & Emily Isert

Ryan Travis & Lisa Karpinski

Sam Goldstein & Maddie Walker

Class Flirt

Most Unforgettable

Most Likely to Change Major

Austin Miller & Breanna Marquez

Caleb Greek & Julie Ellis

Ty Cox & Macy McCorquadale

Senioritis

Best to Bring Home to Mom & Dad

Most Trustworthy

Chris Loving & Kailyn Oliver

Matt Davis & Harper Bolt

Ryan Travis & Valerie Cyrkle

Most Likely to Be President

Twitter Addict

Best Dancer

Mickey Kennedy & Elena Vernikos

Luke Nitti & Natalie Buzy

Shamus McKenna & Molly Murphy

Hardest Worker Elliott Nasby & Jacquelyn Zipay

ENDING WITH A

ROAR

Most Photogenic

Most Likely to Play a Pro Sport

Sajid Jafferjee & Abbey Cowen

Cooper Bradford & Payton Greywall

Art department celebrates last performances of seniors WRITTEN BY ANSLEY BABCOCK Some students count down until the last day of school or graduation, but some seniors aren’t ready to leave their favorite teachers and classes.

Senior Blaine Browne claims that spring concerts and showcases signal the end of seniors’ time in the fine arts department.

“I will miss the people the most after four years in the program,” Browne said. “I’ve made great friends and it will be hard to see them go.”

Seniors aren’t the only students in the fine arts who are sad about the departure of this year’s senior class.

Sophomore KC Kanistras is proud of the class of 2017.

“The seniors are amazing and they have amazing voices,” Kanistras said. “We’re going to miss them, and we have big shoes to fill next year.”

The filling of those shoes starts now, as Bel Cantos, Horizons and Bravo work on their vocals during school, plus the week prior to any show they perform.

For their spring show, the three choirs worked on choreography, placement around the auditorium and stage changes. In their spring show, “Takin’ it to the Streets,” they also rehearsed costume changes in and out of their 70’s gear and choir dresses and suits.

The dance department also hosted a spring show, which included students from dance technique, STEPS, and Mane Attraction. There were also performances by just the senior class, plus parents of dance students.

“Its so sad to leave my second family; I love dance and this being my last show it is sad to think that I’ll never be performing with these people again,” said senior Jose De Jesus.

Journalism’s

6 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

IN YOUR FACE

evolution doesn’t

change its value

Journalism is put under a lot of shame.

In the nooks and crannies of society, journalism is often frowned upon, scorned at, even discouraged as a potential field of choice. It is criticized for its fickle, risky nature and the possibility of not gaining the “bang for your buck.”

We as a staff at The Lion’s Tale, on the contrary, believe that journalism is alive, if not flourishing, in this day and age.

The world of journalism is an evolving realm. A century ago, average Americans held large newspaper spreads in their hands and listened to bulky radios for both news and entertainment.

Today, those very hands hold the digitized versions of journalism on their phones, where they read digitized articles.

Today, those households are now laden with technology that enables them to view the latest CNN udpate.

In fact, as teenagers, we all engage in some form of journalism. We tweet, we post, we write, we discuss. We are storytellers.

How can someone argue that journalism is dying out when that same person refreshes his Twitter feed and double-taps Instagram photos to receive the latest update on the presidential election?

The rising workforce consists of journalists; according to Statista, 198,410 undergraduates applied to college with a major in mass communications.

Journalists often work because of intrinsic, not extrinsic, motivation. They work for the experience of meeting unique people, empathizing with those of another culture, perceiving the differences between two opposing sides.

Those in the communication industry provide news on matters that impact humanity in tremendous ways each day. The recent series of earthquakes, terrorist threats and political progress are all brought to you by journalists who place themselves in dire circumstances, simply to report to you, the rest of humanity.

As time progresses, Americans want more than just “what” occurred in the news.

In addition to the content, we want to know “so what” and “now what,” the implications of say, the new Harriet Tubman $20 bill.

We have branched out, finding different approaches to inform the populace. Buzzfeed, a multi-platform potpourii of news and entertainment, provides information in a relatively quirky format. Apps such as Circa, Feedly and Pocket offer concise, engaging articles, tailored to each reader’s interests.

Writers engage in free-lance and blogs, providing their opinion to their world, accessing the freedom of the press.

We, as fellow journalists, certainly don’t think journalism is stagnant. It is blooming, expanding, fulfilling; we are well aware that storytelling never goes out of style.

Do you think journalism is dying out?

Danielle Griffiths, 10

“No, because there will always be a need to learn about the world. People will always be interested in other people.”

Elizabeth Tammi, 12

“No, it is evolving. We need to have access to global communications and information, we are constantly getting new stories.”

Kaitlyn Montcriff, 12

“I would like to say no, because with the work we see at student television network, they are becoming more invested.”

OUR WORD

Taylor Basile, 11

“Yes, I think it will become more digital. Journalism classes are becoming smaller and they will get less funding from the school system.”

PHOTOS BY STAFF

“Journalism can never be silent: That is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.”

- Henry Anatole Grunwald Design Editor Alex Damis

Advertising Editor Makaila Cowart

Opinion Editor Hannah Gibilisco

Photographers Alex Browning Delaney Robb India Pantin

Features Editor Alexis DiBlanda Editor-In-Chief Alex White Co-Editors Nathan Haddad Niyati Shah

Entertainment Editor Faiz Uddin Sports Editor Douglas Chiodini

Staff Artist Bria OllivierreWilliams Staff Reporters Krislynn Keeton Declan McCoy Ansley Babcock Yaritza Calvert Connor Compton

Sterling Corum Bryn Garick Megan Ghersi Danielle Griffiths Gillian Landwehr Jesica Litton Conner Quinlan Fernand Silva Paige Simpson Anna Tagye Jessica White Faculty Adviser Elise T Carlson Admin Adviser Drew Morgan

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • MARCH 9, 2016 • VOLUME 56 • ISSUE 5

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX SAYAVONG Principal Joseph Trybus Oviedo High School 601 King Street Oviedo, FL 32765 Phone: 407-3204199 Fax: 407-320-4213 Population: 2474 Students 31 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, FSPA. Distribution 2100 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School.

Subscriber information is available upon request.

Reader Contributions Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or 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 request.

Advertising Policy The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements. The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is on file in Room 5-020 and is available upon request.

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 7

illustrator

BRIA-OLLIVIERRE WILLIAMS

Artist illustrates character through color and pattern

The creator of this senior illustration is Bria-Ollivierre Williams, who has been drawing since she was six months old.

“Art is a way of recognition and how I express myself,” Williams said.

Williams has a vision she would like to fulfill.

“I would like to work at Disney in the animations department,” Williams said.

The designer seeks to broaden her passion by exploring different fields and creating her own game.

“I would incoporate my characters and make an adventurous action-packed game,” Williams said.

Wisdom occurs through experience staff writer

MEGAN GHERSI Starting high school, I was so excited.

I knew it was going to be tougher than middle school, I knew I was going to have more homework, and I knew what classes I had to take to graduate.

Despite all that I thought I knew, it wasn’t until my senior year that I realized I had so much more to learn. Things that seemed so far off weren’t that far anymore, and I wish my younger self had known so much more.

GPA isn’t just some random number. I never realized, until senior year, that grade point average determines so much. It determined what college I can get into and what scholarships I can get.

While I knew this even in freshman year, I didn’t realize just how important it was until I was applying for college and trying to get scholarships. It wasn’t until I actually saw all the numbers that the importance of that one little number finally registered.

My freshman year, I didn’t really know what I liked doing, and that was okay.

It wasn’t until junior year that I found journalism and writing and I found what I really love doing. It really made me a happier person, because rather than just

taking random classes I didn’t exactly enjoy, I was doing what I wanted to do.

I wish I had joined more clubs and activities that I wanted to join. I never knew how important it was to find what I like to do instead of just going where my friends went. By not joining the clubs I wanted to join, I missed out on some great experiences. I should have made those decisions based on what was best for me, what made me happy.

It’s okay to ask for help. I was always a shy girl, so whenever I had a problem I always tried to solve it myself instead of asking for help. I never realized that if I had just asked for help, my problems would have gone by much more smoothly, because someone who knew more than I did could fix it that much faster.

Chances are, in college, there won’t be as many people around that can or would help, and I wish I had asked for help when I needed it.

Scholarships are important.

Considering how many people told me this, it may sound crazy, but I never realized just how expensive college was.

Honestly, until I looked up tuition numbers while looking at colleges, I had no clue.

There are so many scholarships for a variety of things, and I wish I had looked for them sooner. Looking for them is half the work and it isn’t hard. Even the smallest amount can go a long way.

Volunteer work is very important.

Many scholarships and colleges like to see volunteer work or community service hours. I didn’t realize how important it was to get my hours until senior year. I wish I had completed them much sooner, as it is actually pretty hard to get a lot of hours within one year.

There are so many places to volunteer, and I wish I had started freshman year instead of senior year.

Get a summer job. It is extremely hard to get a job in high school when you are under 18 and don’t have the availability that jobs are often looking for. I started looking for jobs in the summer before senior year. I wish I had gotten jobs during all the summers, starting when I was a freshman.

While a lot of places want applicants to be 18, there is a small percentage that hire younger employees. The problem then becomes availability. When in high school, I couldn’t exactly work a lot of hours, and a lot of places expect more than a high schooler can give. So, I wish I had gotten a job during the summer so I could have saved up money then.

Determine goals. A.P. and honors classes are hard. When I started high school, I was planning to take A.P. Calculus. The problem is, I’m not that good at math. I realized in the middle of my junior year that taking high-level math courses was not the route for me, and that was okay.

I should have taken A.P. classes because I wanted to, not because it’s the next step on the chart they gave me.

Everyone is different, and I wish I had known that it was okay not to be the best at everything.

The most important thing I wish I had known is to do what is best for me, and not what someone else thinks is best for me. Not everyone is meant to be the same: some people are better at math, others science, others English.

Everyone is so different and unique, and it should stay that way. I wish I had known that not being like everyone else is a good thing, because that means I am being myself.

When you are yourself is when you are at your best self. Why would you want to be anyone but you?

editor-in-chief ALEX WHITE

Editor expresses passion for journalism

I’m a nerd. Not the typical nose-pressedto-the-pages-of-a-book, grade-obsessed, school-loving nerd, but a newspaper nerd.

For the past six years, I have lived and breathed for a publication that will one day be a stack of off-white paper telling stories from another time.

One moment they are in the hands and minds of hundreds; the next they fill trashcans and birdcages. I have spent hundreds of hours in the same computer lab, writing, editing, re-editing, pulling my hair out trying to make deadline. People ask me why I do it, why I subject myself to this intensely stressful class, one that is all-consuming, with little to no gratification or appreciation.

Although this class is stressful and difficult, it’s helped me decide what I want in my future.

Joining the newspaper staff has been the best experience I have been granted. It has given me opportunities to learn responsibility, teamwork and, above all, leadership. It has built the foundation for who I am and will shape my future in the communications field.

There have been many struggles and obstacles to overcome, specifically in learning how to lead with humility and confidence and trust; being editor-in-chief, I now feel I have been given an advantage most do not get the chance to experience.

Even though (like many other jobs) this path is often thankless and demanding, I can’t imagine doing anything else. It is my passion. I do this not only because it is a way to express myself through the written word, it is a way for me to deliver stories to the ears and hearts of others. It is a way for me to speak on behalf of those who are muted by fear, anger or sadness. It is a way for my words to transcend the page and become part of the experience of life.

I do this for my staff because they hold me to a higher standard than I sometimes hold myself. They support me, they challenge me, they make me a better writer and leader. I have 30 best friends, and they make me so proud. As a staff we all work hard, but the best thing about it is that we work together. This staff allows me to inspire and make others feel appreciated.

In a few weeks, I won’t have the daily luxury of walking into a room filled with laughing and accepting people who all share the same love for journalism I do. I won’t be able to write stories about the captain of the water polo team, the girl who is abused by her mother, or the boy who regrets his actions after being arrested.

In a few years, all 24 newspapers, 50+ page layouts I have designed, 40+ articles I have written and poured my soul into, will be nothing more than faded paper, smudged ink, and a distant memory. I’m a nerd. But being a nerd is okay if it means being on this amazing staff and growing every day in my love for journalism.

8 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

Expectations not only route to happiness

staff writer

CALEB MINUS

Moving elicits fresh perspective

Three days before my junior year, I made a huge move from Germantown, Md., to Oviedo, Fla., and transformed into an Oviedo Lion. The past two years, I’ve made life-long friends and learned so much.

Oviedo has given me a number of opportunities, the most impactful including discoursing on a competitive debate team, running for the track team, and playing saxophone in the jazz band.

Oviedo is much smaller than my old home, but it has provided some unforgettable experiences. The evolution of Oviedo in the past two years is somewhat like my personal evolution. I’m growing, changing and becoming better. Just as the Townhouse was rebuilt, new characteristics have emerged from my persona. For one, I met my true love in Oviedo: nothing is sweeter or greater than my love, Jeremiah’s.

Jeremiah’s cookies and cream gelati is lifechanging and cannot be forgotten.

On a more serious note, I met some great friends, and learned from a group of astounding and knowledgeable teachers.

With this came lessons, lessons that have molded me in noticeable ways. The downsouth attitude has helped me lighten up as a person. The constant sunshine and relaxing personalities in Oviedo have truly been refreshing.

Mr. Soos helped me scratch the surface of the secrets of our universe. Ironically, he taught me, though counter to intuition, to keep my windows open during a tornado so my roof doesn’t fly off. Also, Mr. Singer gave highly considered and credible advice, as I planned out my future ROTC Scholarship and military career.

Coach Brown, quite possibly the most instrumental figure in my growth through high school, is a beloved mentor and role model. His dedication to his craft of teaching is clearly seen in both the classroom and on the track. Furthermore, Brown has been, and is, an encourager. From waking up early in the morning to teach me how to hurdle and improve my writing, his drive and care is seen and appreciated. With everything he does, there is meticulous planning and research.

These teachers, along with many other people and family I’ve interacted with over these past couple of years, deserve a huge thank-you.

Combined--but not alone--these teachers have guided me and inspired me to new heights. As I continue to progress and bloom into a self-sustaining young physics major at the Virginia Mlitary Institute, I will not forget the lessons these men and women have taught me.

Likewise, I will not forget what Oviedo High School has taught me. I’m sure that my classmates, like me, “through the years we’ll always remember… OHS!”

Features editor

ALEXIS DIBLANDA I began freshman year with lofty expectations of reconnecting with old elementary school friends, making new ones and, finally, having classic teenage experiences.

Of course, it wasn’t that easy.

Adjusting took more time than I would have liked, and in October I found myself in the same place as I was in August, wondering if it would all come together.

But by the end of first semester, things began looking up.

I started sitting with friends at lunch and, when the time came to fill out my sophomore year schedule, Ms. Jepson, my Journalism 1 teacher, asked me to sign up for newspaper.

Before this, joining the newspaper staff never crossed my mind; I took journalism with the intention of being on yearbook staff, but life had other plans for me.

That second August, I waited outside

Newspaper staff was a place of Building 8, preparing to pick a random community, of laughter, stress and, person to interview for my first school occasionally, tears. newspaper piece.

I became part of a community, I spotted a girl with long dark hair and experienced the mass chaos of press glasses. She seemed nice enough, so I week, and the joy of finishing something made my move. good that follows Thankfully, she turned out to have Now as my third year on staff draws interesting stories and a willingness to to a close this thing I never would have share them. chosen is where I have made some of my A couple months, numerous fondest high school memories. questions, and four or five rewrites later, At the end of senior year, I’m still the I finally had the joy of seeing my writing published for the first time. loud, energetic, kind-hearted girl who I wrote much better articles later, came to Oviedo High School four years but that one started me on the path to ago. becoming a better writer.

However, some things have Throughout the year I learned some of changed since then. I’m more confident, the life lessons involved with working on comfortable with myself, and have the a professional team. great group of friends I wanted at age For one, finishing late no longer fourteen. impacted just me, but also the person Everything fell into place: each year who worked on the page, and the overall of high school went a little better than the progress of the last, and I look paper. back on my high I became school experience I have high hopes for the next much more and think of the stage of my life. comfortable memories I made Senior Alexis DiBlanda with and how much interviewing I’ve learned and and asking for grown. help from the editors.

Soon, freshman year will begin again.

I’ve always been the type to overreact I have high hopes for the next stage in and take criticism personally. my life and understand that they won’t all Receiving feedback on my writing not happen right away. only helped me improve my technique, This time I will be more patient but also helped me remember that with myself as I find my place in a new criticism of my work isn’t criticism of me. environment.

I may not have gotten it right the first This time I will know that my good time, but with patience and persistence it reality may not be anything like the one I always worked out in the end. planned.

Dog comforts, provides stability during stress

The sorrow of losing my mother followed me into middle school, high school, and will, most likely, follow me always.

However, this is not about my mom--it is about cherishing what I still have. Lucy has been more than a pet. She is my baby.

In high school, I got my first taste of real responsibility.

Through it all, Lucy has been my silent teacher of positivity, productivity, and enjoying life day by day.

There is no way to escape the inevitable hardships of high school. Even when I focused on schoolwork, life always seemed to throw me curve ball after curve ball. Drama between friends, partners or even people I didn’t even know photography editor affected me via stress, sadness and depression.

Nothing about high school has been easy, especially with ALEX BROWNING the madhouse I call home. The only joy I found in those days were coming home and just cuddling with Lucy. Depression acts as a black hole and continuously consumed me. Lucy was the only thing with me through it all. one of those few is my dog, Lucy.

Lucy has also had her share of struggles. She was not Friends come and go, family is never easy, but the one always the plump and lovable bear that I know today, as my thing that has shown me the definition of unconditional love family rescued Lucy at four months old, after she had been is Lucy. Good day or bad, she is there, waiting on her big red abandoned and sent to the pound. To think of my Bo-bear bed, tail wagging, face smiling, just waiting to comfort me. alone, scared and in a cage, almost I got Lucy on my tenth birthday, brings me to tears. when things were simple and good.

If I didn’t choose to overcome Soon after, my mom was diagnosed Lucy was the only thing with me my depression, if I had instead let it with cancer, and only one year later through it all. consume me, who knows where she it reached her brain. She passed Senior Alex Browning would be today. away that year.

Yes, life is hard; yes, high school As a child, your mom is the most doesn’t make it any easier, but amazing and beautiful thing there remembering who I’m doing all of this for can be the biggest is, and even after her passing I still see her in that beautiful comfort and motivation I could ever need. way. Although Lucy was just a puppy at the time, she was Friends come and go, family is never easy, but my dog will the only thing I could hold on to; she was the last gift my always love me and be there for me. mother gave me.

High school has been a marathon of exhaustion, strain and tears.

I cannot say it was all bad, but there have definitely been some struggles.

Throughout the four years of emotional torture there have been very few things that have brought me joy;

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | OPINION | 9

Should senior year be so costly?

Memories shouldn’t have price tags WRITTEN BY HANNAH GIBILISCO The picturesque prom dress, the exhilarating grad bash, the comical senior week costume: all aspects of senior year that tends to leave bruises upon one’s wallet.

In my opinion, having a final year that is forever engraved in your memory shouldn’t be dependent upon the money you spend in an attempt to do so.

The average amount spent on a prom dress in America was $1139 in 2013, according to Glamour.com.

With that amount of money, a student could buy an entire year’s worth of books and supplies at Seminole State College.

Spending an inordinate amount in senior year is overrated and unnecessary.

Experiences shouldn’t come at a price.

Grad bash was $90.

I’m sure that a closed-off park reserved just for seniors is a memorable and fun experience, but spending nearly $100 for a final exhilarating experience is a bit too much.

Ending high school with an expensive “bang” is of secondary importance to future matters just around the corner: college.

And, in most cases, the cost of the infamous senior year falls back upon the parents rather than the senior.

According to FoxBusiness.com, parents are often worried about the

cumulative price of their child’s senior year.

Yearbooks, senior pictures, class rings, dances, standardized tests and college application fees (which can be as high as $50 per application) are just few of many prices that parents of seniors will have to face in just one year.

Dances alone, such as prom, for example, cost $70 for just a ticket— not to mention hair, makeup, dresses, tuxedos, and limousines.

Furthermore, class rings are hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for a hunk of metal that will never be worn.

College is already a huge impending cost that must be paid; it’s safe to assume that most students never would have thought that senior-year spending would be equally, if not more, daunting.

Fun doesn’t have to come at such a high price; Florida in particular is a beacon of free fun.

There are beaches, springs, downtown Disney, Universal Citywalk and a multitude of other things that seniors can do before they say goodbye to their native environment of high school and hello to the new realm of college.

This, of course, can all be done without throwing money down the drain.

High school, especially senior year, is a time of acquiring knowledge, friends and experiences.

This can be done without placing a hefty price tag upon priceless memories.

Experiences are well worth the cost WRITTEN BY PAIGE SIMPSON Senior year: the final and most memorable year of high school, is also the most expensive year of high school.

According to an article by KJRH, on an average, high school seniors spend about $5,000 to $10,000 during their senior year.

Between dances like homecoming and prom, graduation expenses, college applications, yearbooks, senior lunch and sports games, the expenses add up.

Although seniors spend a tremendous amount of money during their senior year, the large expense is worth it to make their last year memorable.

Senior year is very expensive and to many may seem frivolous, but it’s not.

Senior year is the last year to enjoy high school before it’s time to start a new chapter in life; by going to school events, seniors get the full experience.

The enjoyments experienced during senior year give seniors something to remember and look back on when they’re older. Senior year is the year for reminiscing, remembering all the good times in high school, making new memories, and experiencing everything for the last time. Indulging in school events makes senior year a year to remember.

Many seniors hold jobs during their last year in high school, which gives them the capability to spend a lot of money on experiences they find enjoyable.

Although it’s very expensive, there is no fault in spending a little money if you’re spending it on something you enjoy.

Even though privileges like senior lunch are a large expense, the freshman, sophomores and juniors are envious all throughout high school, just waiting for senior privileges. When seniors are finally granted their privileges, they should take full advantage of them, no matter how much money it costs.

When graduation comes around for seniors, it’s bittersweet; they are both excited and sad to be finally moving on from high school. To make senior graduation memorable, expenses like the cap and gown, diploma and pictures make the long-awaited final moments of high school worth it.

Yearbooks commemorate the final chapter of high school and give seniors a way to go back and relive the memories they made during high school.

One of the most enjoyable events are homecoming and prom, and the pictures taken with friends and dates are the only way to preserve the evenings.

Many seniors keep not only the pictures, but also the signatures, the chords and the graduation gown as mementos of their four years of high school.

Nothing stays the same: people age, friendships and relationship break, but memories will last a lifetime. In the end, the cost isn’t remembered but the memories live on.

INFOCOURTESYOOFCONSUMERIST.COM

Senior Spending $1,700

$800

$800

$525

$405

$350

$270

$250

$200

$190

$100

$90

On average, senior year can cost over

$10,000 Prom

Test Prep Classes

College Graduation College School Senior Visits Party Apps.

Ring Pics.

Testing Cost

College Grad Fees Cost

Yearbook Yearbook Ads

10 | OPINION | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

Engaging Experiences

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS DIBLANDA

Senior summer provides immersive opportunities WRITTEN BY ALEXIS DIBLANDA

Summer offers a time to relax and unwind, but some seniors are using their time to pursue immersive experiences.

These experience provide opportunities for seniors to pursue their passions and develop new skills.

Camp counselors

This summer, senior Sara Carbone will begin her mornings with breakfast in her pajamas, surrounded by second to tenth graders, as a counselor at Camp Weequahic in Pa. Transitioning from camper to counselor isn’t easy, but Carbone sees it as a worthwhile challenge.

“I’ve heard it’s just weird, but also very worth it, to be on the other side of things and help everybody else have the same camp experience, and even a better one,” Carbone said.

Senior Lindsey Turner also hopes to work as a counselor this summer, but at a local Girl Scout camp in Chuluota, Camp Mah-Kah-Wee. Turner believes that the job would be a good fit for her.

“I really love working with younger girls and just younger children,” Turner said. “I really like being outdoors, and it’ll just be a good opportunity to save money for college and get a head start financially.”

The application process was quite competitive, so Carbone was thrilled when she received news of her employment.

“Being an alumni, it’s kind of hard to get a job, honestly, because they usually only take one or two,” Carbone said. “This year they actually picked about five girls from my age group and five boys from my age group. I was one of the first to be picked, so I thought

it was the best thing ever.” time at a resident camp, where the staff and Although job interviews are still a campers stay on-site overnight. relatively new experience for Turner, she “I definitely will get to know the campers believes that her interview for the position better because I’ll be staying with them, not went well. necessarily in the same cabin, but we’ll be “It was kind of scary, because job closer together and get to do some more interviews do scare me,” Turner said. “But I things,” Turner said. was really prepared for it and I was able to As she adapts to her role, Carbone will answer all their questions fully.” be in an environment of camp traditions that Carbone’s role at camp will take she has participated in as a camper. advantage of her athletic experience.

“We do this thing at the very end of camp “I will be teaching soccer this summer,” and it’s called Color War,” Carbone said.

Carbone said. “Basically I just get to come “The whole camp is split into two teams and up with a bunch of games and hang out it’s a week-long thing where you’re doing with the kids all competitions day down at the and all this stuff soccer field.” and there is one I’m definitely excited to actually know Turner expects winner. There’s a people going into the whole summer. that working as a lot that goes into Senior Sarah Carbone camp counselor it, but I’m really will provide many excited to see the new experiences CITs, which are for and help her develop skills that will be of the Campers in Transition, lead a team.” benefit in the future.

Drum corps musicians “I might have the possibility of being a Senior Juliana Lind is immersing herself lifeguard, so I’m looking forward to getting in a musical experience this summer by to do that and getting experience with that,” joining the Boston Crusaders Drum Corp.

Turner said. “And I look forward to getting “Drum corps is basically like major league used to working with the girls because I marching band,” Lind said. “The oldest you might want to pursue a career in education.” can be to participate is 21, and you go all Working at camp will bring a blend of summer. There are different groups and you new people and familiar faces for Carbone. compete with one another. You rehearse 12 “I’m definitely excited to actually know to 14 hours per day to make your show the people going into the whole summer, but I’m best.” really excited to meet new people,” Carbone Lind’s family history of spending said. “I think it will be a great experience to summers with drum corps is part of why she have the people I know but also be able to wanted to join. meet new people.”

“My dad did drum corps when he was Although Turner has experience with a teenager, this is my brother’s fourth year day camp, this summer would be her first doing it, and I just love music,” Lind said. “It’s

kind of a limited opportunity so I wanted to take advantage of it.”

Her path to becoming a member of the Boston Crusaders began in a familiar place.

“The first audition camp I went to, they hosted at Oviedo,” Lind said. “So I stayed at Oviedo for a weekend in the gym and I had to participate in rehearsal all weekend, as well as audition individually. You do that two times, and then the people who made the cut after that are in the corps.”

Learning that she made the cut was a surreal experience for Lind.

“It was really emotional because I’d been hanging around the drum corps a long time and to actually join it. It still hasn’t really hit me,” Lind said. “I was crying and I was really excited.”

Although music is Lind’s passion, she is less enthusiastic about the physical demands the summer has in store.

“I’m not the most athletic person, and it’s kind of one of the most athletic things you can do,” Lind said. “I’m just not looking forward to all the joint pain and other ailments.”

The extensive history of the Boston Crusaders is another area of interest for Lind.

“It’s got a really long history; this is the 76th year of the Boston Crusaders, so it’s really cool to see the alumni and hear their stories,” Lind said.

The well-established group has numerous other traditions that Lind is looking forward to enjoying.

“My favorite is the corps song, it’s called “Giant,” and it’s from an old movie, but it has new words,” Lind said. “After a show the whole corps has a choral arrangement and they sing it together.”

12 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

HATCHING PLANS Inventor builds mobile hatchery for Capstone project WRITTEN BY STERLING CORUM Each spring, Oviedo High School showcases the best Capstone senior projects. Typically, the projects consist of students exploring possible career fields, but senior Jacob Bushey decided to try something different.

“I was deciding between topics for my senior project, and I knew I wanted to build a tiny house or an incubator, something that I knew was going to be interesting, and I chose to combine the two and develop a mobile hatchery,” Bushey said.

The projects usually begin in the fall of the school year, but the mobile hatchery received special approval to undergo construction early.

“It took a little over six months to build,” Bushey said. “I got permission at the end of the year last year to start building it over the summer.”

This also meant that Bushey had to have has contracts written before the start of his senior year as well.

“Most people don’t start their senior projects until around September, and he applied and spoke to Mrs. Finnegan over the summer to get prior approval and start his project early,” said senior English teacher Katherine Hansen.

According to Hansen, most senior projects take between 20 and 25 hours to complete. Bushey spent over 400 hours just on construction.

Bushey began the project only with basic knowledge about the functions of power tools.

“Originally I found a picture of a tiny house online; I didn’t really have any plans, and I mostly just designed as I was going,” Bushey said. “I had to watch a lot of YouTube videos because I realized I had no idea what I was doing. It was a long process that I just had to figure out very slowly.”

Not only was a large amount of free time and effort put into the making of the mobile hatchery, but Bushey also spent over $6000 on the supplies, ranging from cedar siding to the readyto-install double-pane glass windows needed to construct the house.

“The supplies cost a little over $6000, but most of the payments I had to make happened over long periods of time,” Bushey said.

Senior projects are supposed to be used to reflect a real-life experience

PHOTO BY JACOB BUSHEY

for seniors working in their desired career fields.

“It was a very big stretch from what I knew already, I had to learn a lot of new things,” Bushey said.

According to Hansen, senior projects allow students to develop their time management skills and avoid procrastination.

“You learn how to actually reach out and talk to people you don’t know, which is a great skill to develop,” Hansen said.

The chicken house sets an example of how much seniors can learn during the creation of their projects, and Bushey has proved that the process, although new to him, has provided him with tools on how to construct things in the future.

“I figured out how to build stuff,” Bushey said. “I already knew how to use power tools, but not to the extent that I needed to use them for building a house. And I learned how to structurally build things in a safe way where they can stay up.”

Since she saw the development of the house throughout the year, Hansen has a good sense of how much the house developed.

“I think seeing the parts and the pieces of the house come together was the most interesting part,” Hansen said. “The walls and the ceilings and windows were all so elaborate, and it was nice to see a final product that someone was proud of.”

On top of the physical appeal and the design that make the house look like a very realistic tiny house, the incubator itself does work. Bushey has raised chickens inside of it and brought the mobile hatchery with him throughout Central Florida.

“I took it to the Good Neighbors Farmers Market and I brought my chickens with me,” Bushey said. “It was very festive.”

As for the house itself, no one really knows what’s going to happen to it in the long run.

“I honestly have no idea what I want to do with the house as of now,” Bushey said. “I know I’m at least going to hatch chickens for the time being, considering the incubator I built can hatch up to 180 eggs at a time. So I do want 180 chickens, and then I will figure out what to do with it afterwards.”

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 13

MUSICIAN IN THE MAKING Aspiring rapper debuts public project WRITTEN BY FAIZ UDDIN

Senior John Howington has been pursuing music since he was eight years old. These days, he is also known as Drex Carter. He recently released a mixtape called “Artesia,” available on SoundCloud.

“When I made ‘Artesia,’ I figured out a lot about my musical sound,” Howington said. “When people first heard that song they started taking me seriously.”

As a kid, Howington loved to perform, and his passion of music was born from that.

“Music means everything to me; without it, I don’t know what I’d be doing,” Howington said. “When I write, it just feels so natural.”

Before “Artesia” came into development, Howington’s friend gave him a position in a music contest.

Not thinking anything big would come of the contest, Howington developed three new songs to

perform.

Howington was offered many different record opportunities, which helped him continue writing and recording music.

According to Howington, each song is unique and portrays a part of himself.

“I build my songs from the ground up,” Howington said. “I try to tell a story in the music.”

Howington explains how his musical style is innovative.

“I want to do things that no one has done before,” Howington said. “Some people make music to make music. I make music because it’s something I enjoy doing.”

According to Howington, his friends and family have supported him in his pursuit of music, and he has a bright vision of his future journey.

“I’ve only just begun,” Howington said. “Ten years from now I’m going to be with my own record label.”

To the Seniors of the 2016 Oviedian staff: You’ve proven to be dedicated leaders who excel in your achievements, and I have no doubt that great success will find you as you reach your goals. I hope you find many adventures ahead and enjoy each moment of the journey.

You are brilliant stars that make the world a much brighter place; I thank you for all your contributions to this year’s publication.

It’s time to celebrate your accomplishments!

Congratulations!

Love, Ms. Pope and the entire Oviedian staff

Jacob Bushey Ashley Krummenacker Elena Vernikos Danielle Appleget Tyler Caccavello Molly Garboski Kimberly Gonzalez Nicholas Hinds Ghousia Hussain Jordan Jahosky Kennedy Murdock Kailyn Oliver Emma Oullette Evan Pearre Hailey Pope Nora Sherwood Nicholas Thorp Lindsey Turner Caitlin Baird Shelby Jacks

14 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

TOP

SAM GOLDSTEIN PURSUIT: either physics or cognitive neuroscience COLLEGE: University of Florida HOW MANY YEARS WILL IT TAKE TO EARN A MILLION DOLLARS? The question is “how many years will it take to earn a billion dollars?” Give me 10 years.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE APP? Wolfram Alpha WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COOKIE? Macadamia Nut OFFER A PIECE OF ADVICE TO UNDERCLASSMEN. Throughout high school, don’t do stuff just to get into a top school, because that is extrinsic motivation, you are motivated based on some external factor. You should do stuff that you are passionate about because in the end that is going to make the biggest difference.

10 PROFILES OF SENIORS WITH HIGHEST GPAs

1 LOGAN TURK

PURSUIT: either a medical laboratory science degree or biology with an emphasis on ecology COLLEGE: University of Central Florida WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL? Mr. Furiosi, because he is well-endowed when it comes to academics, but he still is able to have a personal life and have an air of friendliness. FAVORITE WORD? Timshel: thou mayest WHAT ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF? My continued ability to try my hardest when it comes to academics and personal endeavors. Perseverance.

4

PATRICIA MILLER ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRIA OLLIVIERRE-WILLIAMS GEOVANNA OLLIVIERRE-WILLIAMS CASSIE LACKEY

J

PURSUIT: teach English to kids from other countries who are limited by language barriers COLLEGE: Colorado State University MOST VALUED POSSESSION? The sea shell I picked up when my brother and I went to the beach before he went off to the military. That shell shows me how being there means more than the fanciest gifts.

FAVORITE JUNK FOOD? Vanilla Frosting Doughnut WHAT ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF? My individual nature. I couldn’t care less what people think of me, I kind of just go down my own route and see where it goes from there. I am proud of my whateverness.

8

ELLIOT NASBY PURSUIT: molecular engineering COLLEGE: University of Florida FAVORITE SAYING? “If you get the right words in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” -Tom Stoppard BEST HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE? In 10th grade, when I decided to stop playing basketball and I got into water polo and ultimate frisbee. The people I met in those sports completely rerouted my experience, for the better.

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST MOTIVATION? In everything I have done, I just try to pursue excellence. For me, it is self-motivation.

5

AID

PURSU COLLE WHAT Th m st pro FAV “Don’t -Shia La WHO H I respec me star which is

9

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 15

LIVIA MUCCIOLO

JING WU PURSUIT: advance in the business field COLLEGE: University of South Carolina FAVORITE ANIMATED CHARACTER? Monkey D. Luffy, from “One Piece” HOW DID DUAL ENROLLMENT INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS? It didn’t change my future goals profoundly, but those classes I have taken at UCF have broadened my views, especially in the business field, and advise me what and how I should study to keep competitive.

WAS THE EFFORT TO REACH TOP 10 WORTH IT? Yes, it was worth it. However, I believe the title of top 10 was not the criteria to define how successful a student has been in high school, but rather an accomplishment to award diligence.

2

DAVID ZULUAGA PURSUIT: mechanical engineering and economics COLLEGE: Yale University WHAT SONG DEFINES YOU? “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by Kanye West FAVORITE PERIOD OF HISTORY? Any time before the Renaissance. I wish I could start a small kingdom and gradually grow it and create a huge empire. I was born in the wrong time period. I’m great at managing stuff like that.

WHO IS THE GREATEST INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE? My mom. After my father passed, she raised me all by herself and moved us to the USA when I was 3 to find a better future for us; she’s been a waitress all my life.

Seeing her work as hard as she does makes me feel like I have no excuse bu to work as hard as I can.

6

DEN JUGE

UIT: Theater EGE: New College of Florida IS YOUR SKILL? he skill that I care most about developing is my singing. Being on stage is terrifying, but till the most exhilarating thing ever. Every oduction is an emotional experience.

VORITE QUOTE? t let your dreams be dreams! Just do it!” aBeouf HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCE? ct Ms. Hron the most. Her class really made rt examining the world more critically, s something that is very hard to learn.

PURSUIT: public health with some chemistry COLLEGE: Brown University ONE MOMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL YOU WOULD LIKE TO RELIVE? Being in Germany, abroad for one year, was such a good experience for me. It introduced me to so many different opinions. It definitely changed everything, who I am, my perspective.

YOUR GO-TO JOKE? Why couldn’t the honeydew and the watermelon get married? Because they can’t elope.

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU BESIDES ACADEMICS? Staying happy. Being in a place where you are not constantly worried, and allowing yourself to breathe.

3

HRISTO SHMEROV PURSUIT: biomedical science to become a surgeon COLLEGE: University of North Carolina GREATEST SOURCE OF HAPPINESS? Relaxing and looking at the sky on a cloudless night FAVORITE ANIMATED CHARACTER? Mario WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU BESIDES ACADEMICS? Family is really important to me. Without the support of my family, I wouldn’t be where I am today. When I picture my future, I always see my relatives by my side and I hope to make them proud.

7

MADISON WALKER PURSUIT: Major in cellular and molecular biology & pursue cardia surgery COLLEGE: Vanderbilt ONE THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS? It used to be about who is the richest, and now it is geared to diversity. That is a wonderful thing, but I know so many students that deserve to get into the college they aspire to get into, because of their background.

FAVORITE SONG? “I’m On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons A GOAL OF YOURS? I want a wallaby as a pet. They have these wallabies and they are only a $1,000. You don’t need any documentation to have one.

10

16 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

Falling Into Place WRITTEN BY C.COMPTON & J.LITTON ideas of “cool.”

From their early days as young freshmen through their final semester, seniors have undergone changes in mindset, opinion and happiness, changes that they try to share with underclassmen.

Senior Daniel Stadler believes openness to experiences allows individual growth.

“Have a very open mind, because you are going to do a lot of growing as a person, and you’re going to find out more about yourself and what you like to do,” Stadler said. “Just be prepared to explore new things to find who you really are.”

Senior Corey Savolainen found his true self by focusing on his own perspectives.

“Be yourself; let people influence you, but don’t let their influence take over who you really are,” Savolainen said. “When being yourself, you are the happiest.”

According to senior Christa Yate, she told her younger sister to define her own

Seniors share tips for discovering individuality

“People are going to tell you who to be and what to think just so you meet their standards of a friend,” Yates said. “You’re going to try and be someone else, and try to fit in, and people will walk all over you; it’s just a fact of life, but don’t let what your friends think is cool define who you are.”

Senior Steven Morgan found his “cool” in theatre.

“Find what makes you happy and stick with it, just like I have done with drama,” Morgan said. “Being in an environment with all of my friends has made me happier, and has helped me build character and grow.”

Yates thinks the best way for students to find a group is to showcase their personalities.

“Don’t hide who you are to make friends, because you will find a group that is compatible with you if let yourself do what feels natural,” Yates said.

Savolainen found his way through a passion--music.

“Try things that suit your interest,” Savolainen said. “For instance, if you love music, try making music or playing an

instrument. When I first came into high school, I bought my first guitar, and now it has blossomed into my life and I can’t stop playing.”

Getting involved is a big part of high school, according to senior Abigail Harper, who recommends joining school activities.

“Enjoy it while you can because it’s fun to go to events and find yourself,” Harper said.

“It makes school less of a drag.”

Senior Kenyon Coxon wishes he had gotten involved before his senior year.

“Go to games and have fun, be part of something, and be part of activities without overwhelming yourself, because it can really help you grow as a person,” Coxon said.

During her years in high school, senior Cassie Ball learned a very valuable lesson: a lot of things don’t go as planned.

“That’s just how life goes, and it definitely helped me grow as a person,” Ball said.

Senior Natalie Finch also faced struggles during high school.

“Nothing about my high school went as I planned, and the experiences that I took out of it were rough, but help shaped me to who I truly am,” Finch said.

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 17

FINALLY

HOME

For two years of his life, senior Gene Calina was homeless, living out of his car with his two sisters and parents.

“Being homeless felt as though someone wrote a book about a character that had the worst life possible --and that character was me,” Calina said.

Calina would drive two hours to and from Flagler County to Oviedo--every day--to attend OHS. “My parents really wanted me to go to OHS because it was such a great school and we wanted to eventually move there,” Calina said.

Calina strove to achieve in the classroom.

“I was able to keep up my grades because school was sort of an outlet for me and I focused heavily on it,” Calina said. “I didn’t want others to look at me differently and feel bad because I was homeless. So I stuck to studying.”

During sophomore year, while Calina continued to make the commute from his home to school, a tsunami hit his relatives’ home in the Philippines.

“Some of my family are still missing; we were never able to find them,” Calina said. “We spent the last of our money to go to the Philippines and help with the relief effort.”

“When we got there, the whole town was wiped down and there weren’t any buildings or anything left,” Calina said. “We lost a lot of our money traveling back there, but

it was worth it if we were able to help.”

To add on to the financial issues happening at the time, Calina also dealt with his dog and his grandpa having cancer.

Calina never told anyone about his troubles because he didn’t want to create any hassles.

“I never told people at school about what was going on in my life because I didn’t want the attention,” Calina said.

After two years of hardship, things were finally starting to let up for him and his family members.

“Eventually things got back to normal,” Calina said.

“My dad was able to make enough money to sustain us and we were able to save up enough to get a down payment on a house.”

Now, Calina’s family owns a house in Oviedo, and he will attend UCF in the fall.

Calina feels that the experience of being homeless benefited him in ways he didn’t expect.

“A lot of people would look at this situation and think their life sucks, but it just gave me a thicker skin,” Calina said. “I just know how hard life can be. I am much more sympathetic for all kinds of people now.”

He feels it has changed his personality intrinsically.

“It also made me more easygoing because I understand that some people may have it better, but everyone still has their own issues,” Calina said. “This experience definitely impacted me in a positive way because now I feel like I’m ready to face anything.”

AGE BREAKDOWN OF HOMELESS AMERICANS

40%

(UNDER

(31-50

22%

20%

{ { {

18 )

INFOCOURTESYOFSAFEHORIZON.ORG

YEARS OLD)

18%

{

YEARS OLD)

(18-30

(OVER 50)

{ {

HIGHEST

WRITTEN BY ALEX WHITE

RATES OF HOMELESSNESS (PER 100,000)

LOWEST

SENIOR FINDS SANCTUARY AFTER TWO YEARS OF HOMELESSNESS

PHOTO BY ALEX WHITE

90

WASHINGTON D.C.

49

NEVADA HAWAII

47

OREGON

47 44

CALIFORNIA

MISSISSIPPI

5

SOUTH DAKOTA KANSAS IOWA

7

8

9

WISCONSIN

10

HOMELESS FAMILIES MAKE UP 36% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN AMERICA

18 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

Modern technology leads to a revised, updated form WRITTEN BY NATHAN HADDAD Cynics have predicted the death of journalism for years, yet they continue to be proved wrong to this day, according to WROR TV adviser Kevin Patterson.

“I hate it when people say newspapers are dying; I’d say while the actual paper itself is dying, the writing will always be a key element,” Patterson said. “The ability to tell a story will never change, whether it’s printed in a newspaper or posted on the internet or shared on social media or blogged--it’s all always going to exist.”

Patterson believes journalism is evolving rather than dying, a sentiment with which The Oviedian yearbook adviser, Alicia Pope, agrees.

“Yearbook is an industry. They’ve been predicting the demise of the industry for a while, at least since I first started doing yearbooks in 1998,” Pope said. “It’s definitely declined because people have social media to keep connections. So yearbooks aren’t as dominant as they used to be.”

Pope, however, believes the production of yearbooks will continue.

“Yearbooks have tried to adapt by adding some forms of video, but people still like to get the hard copy to write in and stuff like that--to have it on their shelf,” Pope said.

Pope believes yearbooks appeal on multiple levels.

“When they first come out, it’s like an exchange time and a time to exchange thoughts of the year and friendships,” Pope said. “On an historical level, when people get ready for their ten-year reunion, they can look at it.”

Pope has also seen the impact yearbooks can have beyond reunions.

“I’ve had people call me who graduated in the 1960s, and people who called me after Hurricane Andrew trying to get yearbooks for their kids,” Pope said. “So it exists on an historical level to have a record

of what you were like at a time in your life.”

The Lion’s Tale is just stepping into this fast-paced world.

“We are going on-line, and that’s totally Patterson, like Pope, has noted a new,” Carlson said. “We have to play change in the industry.

“My experience has been in schools; around with it and see what works and what having seen what I saw from high school doesn’t.”

Senior Alex Browning, photography to now, within the broadcast field, the production quality has definitely gone up,” editor of The Lion’s Tale, has noted Patterson said. “You definitely see a huge improvements to journalism over her time difference between what professionals did on staff.

“Photography-wise, the technology in the 90s and what high schools did in the 90s. Broadcast journalism in high school has improved,” Browning said. “There’re was not nearly at the level it is now. It was better cameras, better editorial things you can do to a photo; all that has added to the in its infancy stage.”

Technology has played a large part creativity throughout the time.”

Pope notes that changes in journalism in the growth of broadcast journalism, have been positive in her class, in certain according to Patterson.

“The technology has allowed stories to ways.

“The positive change is that students are be produced in a much more timely fashion, in a more efficient way, and with better very computer savvy, so most of my students tend to know a lot more than I do about how quality,” Patterson said.

Newspaper adviser Elise Carlson, who to use computer programs or how to just research how to worked on The do it,” Pope said.

Lion’s Tale staff “I’ve had students as a student The ability to write and tell a story who have taught herself, has will never change. themselves seen the pace of Teacher Kevin Patterson Adobe Illustrator journalism speed because we’ve up because of the needed someone internet. to know how to “When the internet was first starting, it was only print use Illustrator--without me trying to teach it news and the TV; now it’s so much more to them.” digital with the use of phones,” Carlson Schoolwide impact said. “Journalism was already fast because Senior Alex White, who has been news organizations had to make deadlines an editor of The Lion’s Tale for three and get out an early edition in the morning, years, notes the importance of the field of but now they want to beat everyone else for journalism within the school. breaking news.”

“Journalism is important because a Carlson sees some changes as lot of people in our school are silenced, beneficial, while some are detrimental. whether it’s because of fear or anger,” “How fast people can turn stories around White said. “They have emotions that they is good in a lot of ways because it keeps us can’t express outwardly and they don’t have more informed, but I think we also receive an outlet to tell people what they’re feeling, misinformation because sometimes people and a lot of times it takes that one reporter, turn stories around faster than they should- or the one person who is actually interested -pending actual facts,” Carlson said. in their life, to break their emotions out and

Technological progress

JOURNALISM from the inside

make them feel like they matter, and that their problems matter.”

Patterson believes the work his students do inspires a sense of pride in the rest of the student body.

“So for us to do a good quality job, and produce content that is well-written, and the communication skills are solid, with anchors that are well-spoken, proper and well-dressed, all that reflects upon the school,” Patterson said. “When students see that professionalism, particularly when they see something that’s well-written, it just enhances the learning environment, and gives them something to look up to and witness that something is well-produced.”

Carlson sees journalism as beneficial to both students and the community.

“Keeping the community informed about what’s relevant at this school is our responsibility,” Carlson said. “It is all student-driven, which is important because the students decide what to cover, what’s important and needs to be talked about.”

Learning experience

White has learned a lot from journalism.

“The most rewarding thing is getting a good basis of what journalism really is, and it’s important to actually get a glimpse of what it’s like to be in a sort of real work environment in high school,” White said.

“You don’t really get to experience teamwork like this anywhere else.”

On the other hand, White experienced some downsides, as well.

“I think the most difficult thing about being editor is dealing with everyone’s personalities on a daily basis and realizing that not everyone is going to like you, not everyone is going to respect you, but that comes with having any job,” White said.

“People are always going to disagree with you.”

Browning feels she’s gained benefits from her work in the field as well.

“Being able to get a photo, that was satisfying, because when you first start

EDITING TO PERFECTION.

Junior Kadi Tao and senior Elizabeth Tammi work and editing and producing WROR TV’s morning news which is broadcast daily on the morning announcements. The morning announcements include a variety of topics, including informing the student body of relevant news pertaining to the school, along with sports updates, and information on testing times and information on other

PHOTO BY INDIA PANTIN

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 19

EVOLVING JOURNALISM and era of newspaper, yearbook, and TV production off, you don’t how many photos to take, or what exactly to look for, stuff like that, so it was really difficult and frustrating initially,” Browning said. “The more I learned about it, the better and easier it was to understand what a creative photo would be and how it could work on a page--that’s the most rewarding thing.”

Pope thinks journalism is great training for students.

“If a journalism student learns to write, learns how to talk, learns to use computers-it’s real-world experience that can transfer into many other subjects and studies,” Pope said. “You have to be organized, you have to be logical, and all those things translate into other areas.”

Though many of her former students went into non-journalism industries, they were able to use skills they learned while creating the yearbook.

“I have students who have graduated that tell me yearbook gave them the skills they used, even if they aren’t in magazine production, because you have to produce,” Pope said.

Carlson believes participating in journalism programs is one of the best things students can do in high school because students learn how to get things done.

“Students create a product that other people are going to see, and while making it, they have to deal with other people’s issues and find a way to get everything done--and get it done well,” Carlson said.

Carlson remembers the moment she realized how much her high school experience with The Lion’s Tale impacted her professional work.

“I was a summer camp director, and it was my second summer when it finally hit me that I ran my summer camp staff the same way I ran newspaper when I was the editor,” Carlson said. “I didn’t make that connection for a long time, but the impact journalism has is real.”

The Ov iedian Silver Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Three time award winner

X

Pacemaker from the National Scholastic Press Association X Two time runnerup and 2012-2013 winner

INTERVIEW, WRITE, REPEAT. Sophomores Fern Silva, Declan McCoy, Paige Simpson and Danielle Griffiths develop stories and layouts during their 5th period newspaper class.

To write stories, they must transcribe quotes from interviews, organize the information, and write multiple drafts.

They also discuss design ideas for the layouts of their pages.

PHOTO BY DELANEY ROBB

WROR TV Awards from the Student Television Network • 2016 Best Daily Taped High School News Show in the Southeastern US • 2nd Place in Commentary at 2016 Student Television Network Convention From FSPA • 2016 All-Florida Feature Package • 2016 All-Florida Videography Demo Reel • 2013 Best of the Best in “Every Student Has A Story” From the County • Best High School Broadcast in Seminole County 2013, 2014, and 2015

The Lion’s Tale

National Silver Crown awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association X

2010-2011

2013-2014

2012-2013

X

X

X

2014-2015

All Florida awards from the Florida Scholastic Press Association 2015-2016

2014-2015 X

X

X

BRAINSTORMING TAKES SHAPE. Seniors Kailyn Oliver, Danielle Appleget and junior Charlotte Skipper view another publication in order to glean ideas for their own spreads in yearbook. Yearbook as a whole goes through several stages of brainstorming in order to produce a visually appeasing yearbook with variation each despite covering certain similar concepts and subjects each year.

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING

20 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

2016

2026

Get a new car

Graduate High School Start College

Move out into apartment

Get dream job

Get four-year degree

Move into house Get married

The 10-Year Plan “I will have my career started and have a family started as well. I’m going to Florida State to major in pre-med and hopefully get into Austin Texas. My mom always pushes me to do the best of my abilities and she will help me get to where I need to go. School In general gets harder as you age, but roadblocks are something you are going to have to deal with. My backup plan is changing my major to business law. I have always wanted a good career over everything.”

-Sarah Carbone

“Within four years I plan on graduating from the university of Alabama with two degrees, one in communications and one in business. Then I want to move back to Florida and work for Orlando City Soccer Club for communications. My parents will help me not only financially, but also keeping my grades up.”

-Mickey Kennedy

“I’m going to college in Texas on a full scholarship and after that I want to rodeo full-time.

I hope to finish college and rodeo the best I can. Sponsors will help me get to being a professional. I watch the full time-riders and they inspire me to get to where I need to be.”

-Jessi Petri

“I’m planning to graduate from college, then go through fire school to become a firefighter. In the end, I just want to be happy and save people.”

-Ryan Travis

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | FEATURES | 21

“I will be going to Alabama to get my master’s, then come back to UCF or hopefully MIT to reach my bigger goals, then from there I will be working in the space industry to develop my own type of launcher and hoping to see some new advancements.”

-Sean Tibbets

“I want to go to school to become a physical therapist. I’m going to SSC for two years then I am transferring to UCF. My back-up plan is to become an athletic trainer or something along those lines. I want to help athletes to get back to their sport, because I tore my ACL, so I understand how it feels.”

-Dominique Pardo

“I’m going to Florida State and I definitely want to do something medical, like an occupational therapist or a physiologist, and I might be going to grad school soon after. If the medical job doesn’t work out, the other option would be to become a lawyer.”

-Caitlyn Baird

“In ten years, I would like to be working in mass communications and photography! With a major in Mass Communications from USF, I would be working in advertising with large corporations, preferably in New York with multiple corgis accompanying me in my studio apartment.”

-Lindsey Turner

“Professionally, I see myself beginning to work for some non-governmental organization (like the UN) after completing my Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering. On the more social aspect, I see myself being married (or at least trying to) and reconnecting with my close friends every once in a while.”

-Valentina Gamero

“I’m going to Auburn for a degree in mechanical engineering. I have a dream of going to MIT for a master’s degree. After that, I want to come back to Oviedo and work for Lockheed Martin, doing who knows what. They do so much stuff; there are really no restrictions on which direction of engineering you can go from there.”

-Blaine Brown

22 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

SENIOR SPLURGE Students make sense of spending, saving cents WRITTEN BY DANIELLE GRIFFITHS Senior year brings many privileges, many memories, and many opportunities for seniors to spend money.

Senior lunch, Homecoming, Prom, and graduation are a few of the final high school experiences for many seniors.

There are many items and events that seniors spend their money on.

“I have spent money on cap, gown, senior lunches, Prom, college applications, college orientation, and Wet ’n Wild senior night,” said senior Ninna Cruz.

“I’ve spent money on a lot of things like football games, school activities, food, clothing, and friends,” said senior Amanda Rivkin.

Senior lunch is one of the many things that seniors spend money on. Though it may be small amounts each lunch, the total does add up.

“My friends and I go to senior lunch every Tuesday and Thursday,” said senior Tyler Caccavello. “We try to go to senior lunch as much as possible, so that is a majority of the money spent.”

Many seniors also said they spent some money to get dressed up for their final Homecoming and Prom, such as senior Paula Quereo.

“I spent quite a bit of money getting ready for my final Homecoming and Prom,” Quero said.

“I have spent more on my senior Prom than my junior Prom, because I’m going to spend money on hair and extras,” Cruz said. “This will make my Prom more memorable.”

“Prom was the event I spent the most money on. My dress was over $200, and the tickets, plus the hotel room, and getting my date ready for it was well over a grand,” Rivkin said. “These expenses have made my senior year

very expensive, but also well worth it because things like dresses for Prom and Homecoming have made the events more enjoyable.”

Though Rivkin enjoyed the money she spent on big events, she does regret some of the things she have spent money on.

“I regret impulse buying things like clothes, shoes and food just because I’m craving something new,” Rivkin said. “I wish I had saved this money for my future expenses, such as car payments.”

“I like being able to go out to senior lunch, but I also feel like I should have brought my lunch more to save money from that,” said senior Laura Day. “I wish I could have saved more money; you never know when you might need something, so I wish I would have saved instead of spent.”

“I regret spending so much money on fast food because I could’ve used most of that money to start saving up for college funds.”

Cruz said.

According to some students, they will be spending a lot of money on graduation, but they believe it will be worth it in the end.

“Most of the money spent on graduation will be just the cap an d gown,” Caccavello said. “We are also having to fly in some of our family, so that will probably be most of the expense.”

Overall, the money spent has helped Cruz enhance her senior year.

“What I have spent this year has helped because I’ve been able to experience all the senior perks throughout the year,” Cruz said. “It’s also made my last prom one of the best.”

////Reviewed

////

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 23

QUICK REVIEW

Dimension W Anime

SUPERLATIVE

ADMIRABLE

Dark Souls III by Software

The 1975

Song Review Music

REVIEWED BY G.LANDWEHR

“Love Me,” by The 1975, was the first song to be released off of their newest album, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it.

“Love Me,” along with the other songs on the album, has a different sound than their older music. A lot of the new music involves the synthesizer and new keyboard chords.

Lead singer Matty Healy has a striking voice. “Love” is a happier song, and his vocals really help show that with his use of higher pitches.

Xbox One

Backwards compatibility

REVIEWED BY DECLAN MCCOY Last year at E3, Microsoft revealed one its biggest and most ambitious announcements that they have ever have dropped: the Xbox division released their intent to make Xbox 360 games backwards compatible

Action, Adventure

PlayStation 4, Xbox One & PC

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAMESTOP&PINTEREST

Enter the new world of souls as you embark on the quest to find and defeat the Lords of Cinder.

Dark Souls 3, the newest iteration of the Dark Souls franchise by FromSoftware, borrows mechanics from the developers’ recent game, BloodBorne, while also getting back to the roots of the Dark Souls franchise.

Dark Souls 3 is a fantasy game, set in a world with a convoluted story. The main selling point for the game is the difficulty that it presents.

The game will not hold your hand; it expects you to figure out what exactly you will be doing throughout the story. Your character will die--multiple times.

The game will push you, and make you angry, but also fill you with satisfaction as you complete areas and defeat bosses.

Like in the first Dark Souls, you must rekindle the fire that once held hope for mankind. As you journey in new areas you may notice the certain number of Estus Flasks (health refills) you have in your

posession. Instead of the game handing you five or ten Estus Flasks like in the first Dark Souls, you start off with three and must find the rest of them as you discover new, uncharted territory.

What you’re looking for are Estus Shards. Bringing these back to the blacksmith will increase the number of flasks you can carry. This makes the game slightly challenging, as you can have low health while fighting high-level monsters while having only a few Estus Flasks.

A new aspect of the game is your Focus Points (FP), which allow you to use special skills with your weapons and changes the number of spells you can cast. This is one of my favorite features of Dark Souls 3; no more cheap players trying to win the game by standing in the far back casting magic at the enemies.

But for those of you who do like casting some spells, fear not, the new Ashen Estus Flask allows you to refill your FP. There is a catch, as always: there is a certain amount you can have with both your Estus and Ashen Flasks. For instance, you may split the number of Estus with your

Ashen, five Estus and five Ashen.

Not everything is different. The currency is the same: souls. To acquire souls you need to kill enemies, which will automatically harvest the soul for you from the dearly departed enemy you just slayed.

Fighting higher-level monsters will enable you to get more souls. With the souls you have collected you are able to level-up your character, increasing your health, stamina, strength and more. You can also buy items from merchants Non Playable Character (NPC) that you find while traveling.

The real challenge is the game itself.

Take every precaution, because you may never know what is around the corner.

It could be a simple enemy waiting for you to kill it as bait, or a man-eating dragon raining down hell-fire. Most of the time the enemy is simple, but a group of two or three can annihilate you if you are not careful.

If you are a new gamer to the souls, a word of advice: never be relaxed. The moment you are, your world will turn upside down.

If you’re a veteran at the game, well, there’s nothing I need to say.

with the Xbox One. This means that many cherished Xbox 360 games will be playable on the modern console. For now, the list of playable games is small and just barely over 100 games, but it’s constantly improving and increasing.

It isn’t so much like playing Xbox One as it is an extension of Xbox 360, meaning the graphics and functions are still that of the 360; it’s more like an emulator than anything else.

Recently “Saints Row IV” was free with Xbox Live Gold, out on the Xbox store, so I took the opportunity to try out backwards compatibility for myself. It’s a neat thing seeing a game you know and

love from 360 on your Xbox One. The graphics are still like those on a 360, so the few 360 games that are out are just that much better with Next-gen graphics.

When the “Elder Scrolls” or “Witcher” series get released for Xbox One, that might be a worthwhile investment. For me, my Xbox broke last year, so the opportunity to play the games I’ve been missing for so long is euphoric.

While playing “Borderlands,” I was happily surprised to see how smoothly it ran, as compared to what I’ve seen and heard about PSN’s similar service, in which games are streamed across the network as opposed to being played and

read locally. This often leads to lag and times of down internet, as is accustomed to happen to even the best internets.

I was able to completely play “Borderlands” through, like when it first came out, raging across the desert.

My one major bone to pick with this new set-up is the same that most everyone complains about with the Xbox One: you have to download games before you play them.

So, before you go race to play whatever Xbox 360 game, it’s still necessary to spend that dreadful few minutes waiting for the game to download.

REVIEWED BY F.UDDIN & F.SILVA

QUICK REVIEW

ATROCIOUS

FromSoftware introduces updated game with new features, challenges, levels

REVIEWED BY FAIZ UDDIN The new addition to the anime world, “Dimension W,” consists of a world run by coils. These coils have unlimited energy that gets power from Dimension W. Join Kyouma and his partner Mira (an advanced android) collect illegal coils to earn a living.

However, things don’t go the way they wanted it to go when New Tesla Energy (the founding company of coils) intervenes with their pursuit of coils.

The show ends each episode with a cliffhanger, leaving the audience in suspense for the next show.

ADEQUATE

24 | ENTERTAINMENT | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

One Page Low-Down

App Review: Poshmark WRITTEN BY JESICA LITTON

Poshmark was brought to the internet to help women and men find cheap brand-name styles. Sometimes the clothing or accessories are even new, with tags still on them. This mobile app allows teens, moms and the general public to find new hot styles for less.

The app features different categories, and when you create your account it asks you to click which styles or brands you are interested in, then shows them to you in your feed.

It also allows you to make a little cash. You can sell any clothes, shoes or accessories (and even makeup) that you don’t use anymore, or haven’t used at all.

This app is a neat way for teens to save/make money.

Haiku Reviews

WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS

Stitchers

WRITTEN BY FAIZ UDDIN

WRITTEN BY K. KEETON

What really bothers me is when people tell me, “You’ve changed,” in a condescending tone, like it’s a bad thing. Like, yeah, I hope I’ve changed! I’ve worked hard to get to where I’m at in my life right now. If you stay in the exact same place, what are you getting from life? What lessons are you learning? What insight, wisdom and experiences are you gaining?

Your interests and mindset REVIEWED GILLIAN LANDWEHR should be constantly evolving Former One Direction member and changing. Your horizons Zayn Malik, now known as Zayn, has should be expanding. As you get released his first solo album, called older and gain experience, you Mind of Mine. should be developing insight that Mind of Mine was released on March causes you to change yourself 25. This date just so happened to be for the better. You discover your the date Zayn announced he was going strengths, you lose interest in to become a solo artist. Songs “Pillowtalk,” “iT’s YoU,” “LIKE people and things around you, I WOULD” and “BeFoUr” were all dropped before the actual you find solutions to things that album was released. weren’t clicking—you become This album is very intimate. There is a large number of more yourself and who you want songs on this album that are about relationships. The songs to be. are quite slow and they have a bit of a beat to them, which I Life and youth should be think really helps create that intimate feeling. Not to mention, spent exploring, evolving and his vocals are quite strong but chill at the same time, which learning. As humans, we aren’t also helps create that intimacy. supposed to remain the same When I first listened to the album, I wasn’t so fond of it. I our entire lives. Even if you have had to go back and listen to it two or three more times to start a husband or a family or a set liking it. I wasn’t used to listening to One Direction’s pop music career, or you think your life is and then transitioning into this slower, more meaningful music perfect the way it is, you’re never from the album. truly done evolving as a human I think Zayn did a wonderful job with his first solo work and I being. can’t wait to listen to what he does in the future.

Life is a journey of constant evolution. It’s exciting to learn, to expand, to let go of the past, to experience and learn. I’m sorry people are so bitter when people change. I’m sorry you’re stuck in place as I discover myself and create my own happy reality.

You should do the same, but I suggest letting go of your resentment for other people’s successes first.

Album Review: Mind of Mine

SUDOKU

Husky WRITTEN BY B.GARICK In Husky, Davis is told that in high school, you get one adjective to describe you. He is worried about what his adjective will be, though he is fairly certain it will be “husky,” a word to describe his overweight stature.

GUYS/GIRLS GUIDE TO NOT CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK

Temporal dysplasia Stitching into dead bodies Secrets kept within

Short Stories WRITTEN BY YARITZA CALVERT Saying goodbye was the hardest part for Kate. High school was the biggest roller coaster life put her on. She’s finally grown and is on her way now.

Even though she spent many weekends at home, alone, contemplating life, these were the best four years of her life. The love, hate, happiness, sadness and anxiety she felt through high school was totally worth the end product. She learned so much about the person she was and her strengths and weaknesses and so much more than she could ever explain to anyone.

School didn’t just teach her the basics of core subjects, it taught more about how to deal with personal problems. It taught her how society views things and it educated her on many things people should know but aren’t taught in classes, like feminism, politics, individuality and personal relationships. These were what are important in life--the foundation of the person she is.

High school taught her that there’s more than one true love. She knows that there really are more fish in the sea, and friendships are way more important than a boyfriend.

Now she is grown. Now she knows, and now she’s educated. High school made her a new person. She’s moving out on her own and she’s excited to reach her final goals as a young adult. She’s becoming a beautiful butterfly whose wings fly through the tough air that life throws at her. She finally understands and is no longer questioning the adult decisions her parents were telling her about.

She really will miss high school, but now it’s time to move on. She’s off now, and she’s so proud of who she became. She can’t wait for the next adventures life has to throw at her.

Weeks before school starts again, Davis is already being put through life’s tests: he has to deal with his mom dating again, his best friend not inviting him to her birthday party because it is a “girl thing,” not to mention listening to his loud grandmother tell him about everything that is going wrong in his life.

What Davis does have are his operas. No opera

WRITTEN BY S.CORUM

The first concept to realize when relating to not caring what people think is that literally nobody cares.

Nobody cares enough to notice the zit on your nose or that you stuttered when you talked, or anything you think other people care about. Nobody actually cares enough about you to notice your insecurities.

But that doesn’t mean that occasionally, people won’t have something bad to say. And when that happens, you have to realize that nobody knows you like you know you. You have to have the strength to be completely honest with yourself. If people think badly of you, reflect on their reasons; if some of them are true, own up to your mistakes, change them and move on with your life.

The most important thing to remember is that the only opinion that really matters is yours. It is your life, and all of the things you enjoy and love may not be as enjoyable to others, but you have to let that go. You have to ignore the opinions of others and go on about your life in the way that you please.

If people are irrelevant to you, don’t pay any mind whatsoever. It’s okay to feel bad for a second, but overall, you should realize irrelevant people provide irrelevant opinions. Only consider your own opinions, and those of people close to you.

That’s what’s important and essential to grasp in life.

is described twice, and the moment an opera is mentioned the author tells the basic outline of it, in simple words, to help the reader understand the complex plotline. Each opera Davis chooses to listen to relates to the event that is occurring at his life at the moment.

The book is incredibly well-written. Author Justin Sayre does a stunning job

explaining scenes without overdoing description or using too much dialogue.

However, the end is incredibly anticlimactic.

Few problems are solved and the reader is not yearning for more, but rather, is relieved it is over.

Overall, this book was okay. Scenes were portrayed well and characters were welldeveloped, but with a rather boring storyline, it was hard to finish.

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | ENTERTAINMENT | 25

THIS YEAR WAS LIT IN THE MEDIA

IN

MEMORIAM

Fuller House was finally released on February 26, 2016.

Leonard Nimoy (83)

Leonardo DiCaprio won the oscar for

Alan Rickman (69)

Marty McFly traveled from 1985 to

Prince (57)

our time on October 21, 2015.

TOP 9 HASHTAGS FROM THIS SCHOOLYEAR

TOWNHOUSE

#DonaldTrump #PrayForParis

#Election2015

#LoveWins

#BlackLivesMatter

THE 2016 ELECTION CONTROVERSY The election of 2016 boiled over the edge when celebrity Donald Trump ran, but to America’s surprise was surpassing Cruz in the primaries. Hillary Clinton also stirred the pot by being the first woman candidate to succeed this far in the presidential race.

REPUBLICAN

Donald Trump

54%

DEMOCRATIC

Hillary Clinton

61%

7,100

Delegates

was legalized on

June 26, 2015.

David Bowie(69)

Best Actor for the film The Revenant.

2.0

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

#CallMeCait

#AskRachel

BIG MOVIES

STAR WARS EPISODE 7 BATMAN V SUPERMAN J U R R A S S I C WO R L D M O C K I N G J AY P T 2 FAST AND FURIOUS 7

#TheDress

#RefugeesWelcome

THE

DAB

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

I N S U R G E N T

TO P 1 0 S O N G S 1. The Hills Weeknd

2. What Do You Mean Justin Bieber

3. Hotline Bling Drake

4. Sorry

Justin Bieber

5. Stitches

Shawn Mendes

6. Hello Adele

7. Stressed Out

Twenty One Pilots

8. Roses

Chainsmokers

9. Pillowtalk Zayn

10. Me, Myself, and I G-Eazy

TRENDING TOPICS Damn Daniel back at it again with the white vans.

Steph Curry became an NBA Allstar.

Steve Harvey crowned the wrong Miss Universe.

The Dress blue & white or white & gold?

T H E C H A L L E N G E S W E FAC E D This schoolyear brought laughs and good memories, along with memories that can never be forgotten. In the schoolyear of 2015-2016, all over the globe, countries gathered together in support to stand against the tragic attacks.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE 26 | SPORTS | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

Track team channels determination to improve results over course of season

PHOTOS BY DAVE TIBBETTS FORERUNNERS. Junior Carly Mitchell and sophomore Grace Wildgen lead a pack of girls athletes in a distance event.

WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI Determination. Grit. A champion’s mentality. Described by numerous names, Oviedo’s track team embraces one simple concept—heart. That struggle to the top paid off with an impressive showing in the district meet, crowning junior Jada Davis and senior Tristen Elmore champions and many other Lions in the top four in their events.

That determination to improve trickles down from the top, from the seniors to the underclassmen.

“Each of us has a responsibility to motivate each other and be positive,” said senior Patty Miller. “Seniors have to lead by example. We can’t just walk, we have to push harder, take one more step to make sure everyone has everything taken care of.”

Realistic practices that pit teammates against one another provide extra motivation, making improvement nearly impossible to avoid.

Having met his personal goal of running a five-minute mile, sophomore

SET, SPRINT, JUMP. (Top) Junior Toby Alexander lands smoothly into the sand as he competes in the long jump. (Bottom) Junior Kendra Moore sets her vision on the next hurdle at a Lake Mary meet.

Tyson Harper reflects on the team’s “You have to practice your technique friendly rivalries. throughout the day--in school, outside of “In practice, it’s basically just a school and at practice,” Barbara said. meet,” Harper said. “I don’t want to let Harper also acknowledges the effect the people next to me beat me, and they the seniors have had on him, saying have the same mindset. It’s just constant they help him when he’s down, always competition.” encouraging him to persevere.

Practice, although vital, barely The seniors, along with instilling their scratches the surface of the sacrifices advice on underclassmen, are also in the athletes make to be at the top of charge of keeping them under control. their game. From running trails to dieting, “We [seniors] just have to keep the success in track team focused,” takes much more Elmore said.

Each of us has a responsibility to than just showing “The coaches, up. they don’t really motivate each other and be positive.

“It’s all run the warm-ups Senior Patty Miller mindset,” Elmore and everything. said. “I get myself The seniors just prepared the day before [a meet]. It’s all on take charge.” my dieting and workout and stuff, so every Although the seniors run the practices, night I try to keep my core tightened and the coaches still call the shots and do sit-ups every now and then, go to the influence their athletes on and off the gym, do squats, keep my body healthy and track. everything, eat right so I can perform my “I love the coaches,” Harper said. best.”

“They’re a huge part of my life. Without Freshman Dalton Barbara mimics the them, I probably wouldn’t be where I am same methodology. right now, physically or mentally.”

The combination of the seniors’ guidance and the coaches’ wisdom allows for the maximizing of potential, especially for newcomers. “[Practice], it’s the same thing over and over again to help you perfect what they’re trying to teach you,” said freshman Ethan Terrell.

Despite this hardcore attitude at practice, the team still manages to have fun, building chemistry and trust amongst each other.

“After practice, going to get slushies and eating with the team was great,” Terrell said. “We talked the whole time, made conversation, and learned things about each other.”

Although the season has been a major success, highlighted by an outright win at the Trinity Prep meet and a stellar showing in districts, Harper says it could have been better earlier.

“In every workout toward the end of the season, you’re giving it your all, but in the beginning of the season you’re not thinking of the consequences of not training hard,” Harper said.

ROAR BOARD

APRIL 27, 2016 | THE LION’S TALE | SPORTS | 27

The voice of OHS sports

STAR ATHLETE: COOPER BRADFORD Q- How long have you wanted to play college baseball?

A- Since I was 10. That’s been my goal since I started playing baseball.

Q- What drew you to the game of baseball?

A- My dad brought me into the game because he used to play it as a child so I just followed in his footsteps and ended up loving it.

Q- What separates baseball from other sports?

A- The difficulty. I guess you can say it takes a little more brain to play baseball.

Q- How do you mentally prepare yourself for the game?

A- Usually music. Sometimes I’ll sit peacefully, quiet, thinking about scenarios through the game.

Q- How would you say using your head gives you an advantage over your opponents?

A- I have to outthink them. As a pitcher I’m looking in their heads.

Q- What made you choose the University of North Florida over other schools?

A- I like their coaches the most. They have a good fan base they have a good field. I think they could propel me into the next level.

PHOTO BY REED SCHWARTZ

READY TO STRIKE. The Oviedo girls soccer team celebrates their state championship following their 3-1 win over Lourdes Catholic School.

STRIKING IT BIG

Girls soccer looks back on state championship season WRITTEN BY ANNA TAGYE They came. They saw. They conquered. The Oviedo girls soccer team trounced Lourdes Catholic School 3-1 in the state championship game.

With their championship banner secured, senior Alexys Nowak reflects on the team’s performance.

“In the game we scored our three goals in about eighteen minutes, and there wasn’t any scoring until the second half when they scored their only goal,” Nowak said. “It was a very good game.”

Nowak felt the season was never dull, especially with success and friendship leading the way.

“Everyone gets along really well; seniors hang out with freshmen and it’s like there is no age difference,” Nowak said. “I like to have a lot of fun with the game and the girls I play with. We all just love each other so much.”

Although the seniors supposedly lead the team, Nowak believes everyone plays their own role.

“There’re not really classes,” Nowak said. “People just get along really well and they want to do well to help the team.”

PHOTO BY ALEX BROWNING STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM. The football team breaks down the huddle after practice at the John Courier Field in preparation for their season.

FOOTBALL

ULTIMATE UPBRINGING

Ultimate Frisbee team recalls club’s past, looks to future WRITTEN BY DOUG CHIODINI Two years. Two years turned an idea into a reality, a doormat into a contender.

Two years seperate the club’s humble origins from its current prosperity.

Junior Edward Berman reflects on the club’s upbringing.

“It started out with just a few people, just literally throwing a Frisbee,” Berman said.

“Now we have a team of 20, 30 people going out to tournaments every month, placing in the top three.”

Although the rigor of the sport remains, having more members reduces stress, fatigue and injury in the players.

“We did a pretty good job of preventing injury,” Berman said. “What Ultimate takes out of your body and what it takes, abilitywise, just to get through one game, much less five in one day, is insane. If somebody wasn’t feeling 100 percent, they rested.”

Even though the team will lose many key seniors, Berman still has high expectations for the team, hoping to make the state finals and place first in multiple tournaments.

If the club keeps expanding and acquiring talent like it has been, those expectations could soon become a realtiy.

PHOTO BY INDIA PANTIN FINISHING STRONG. Junior Ivan Smith slams it home against Lake Mary at the RWL Gym.

BASKETBALL

INSTAGRAM OF THE MONTH:

PHOTO BY DOUG CHIODINI

TWEET OF THE MONTH: Elena Vernikos @e_vern23

@melissaannag

Apr. 20

4 years of the sport I fell in love with just ended and I couldn’t be more sad 2 RETWEETS 20 LIKES

200 likes

ROARING SUCCESS- YEAR IN REVIEW MENS VARSITY Football Basketball Baseball Lacrosse Soccer Volleyball

(6-5) (18-12) (15-12) (5-12) (5-12-3) (17-2)

PHOTO BY AMC-IMAGES.COM STICKING TO IT. Junior Kelsey Tatum charges towards the net, attempting to score during the regional semifinals at the John Courier Field.

LACROSSE

WOMENS VARSITY

Basketball (17-8) Lacrosse (15-6) Soccer (21-2) Volleyball (17-10) All records as of Apr. 26 Info Courtesy of Maxpreps.com

PHOTO BY SEAN TIBBETTS NOW WE’RE HERE. Seniors Sentwali Staten, Papaa Kodzi, Tristen Elmore and Mason Mihm pose after winning the 4x400 relay on Apr. 20 at the regional track tournament.

TRACK

28 | FEATURES | THE LION’S TALE | APRIL 27, 2016

SENIOR NOSTALGIA Students rem

inisce about

WRITTEN BY PAIGE SIMPSON As their final year comes to a close, seniors reflect on their experiences in the Oviedo community.

“My favorite part of Oviedo is the proximity,” said senior Elena Vernikos.

“It’s a small town with a small-town feel, but you’re still pretty close to larger attractions and places like theme parks, shopping centers, concert venues and good restaurants.”

Vernikos says Oviedo has changed drastically throughout the years, especially commercially.

“My favorite place to go in Oviedo is Sweet Swirlz,” Vernikos said. “It’s a frozen yogurt and Boba tea place on Lockwood.

I really enjoy it because it’s one of the only places to get Boba tea around Oviedo, and the prices are reasonable.”

Vernikos believes her experience at OHS has made her a better person.

“My experience at Oviedo has been beneficial; I’ve been introduced to different people with different views and opinions,” Vernikos said. “I’ve learned to see from various points of view and develop my own opinions, to be proactive and take my education into my own hands.”

Like Vernikos, senior Kamden Konrady believes his experience at OHS has helped him achieve a realistic mindset.

“My experience at Oviedo has prepared me for my future a lot,” Konrady said. “Freshman and sophomore year, I slacked off a lot and I regret that so much, now I’ve changed completely; I see high school differently. I used to see school as

poppin’ places from the good ol’ days

what makes

a joke, whereas now I see my education as something serious that’s going to set me up for the rest of my life.”

Konrady and senior Kaitlyn Montcrieff both value their education; Montcrieff finds that teachers have impacted her the most.

“I liked the teachers the most; they’re honestly the coolest people I’ve ever met, the AP teachers especially: they interact with you, they help you no matter what, whatever you need they’ll focus on you,” Montcrieff said. “I’m going to miss them the most.”

Senior Elizabeth Tammi says she’ll miss the friendships she’s made the most.

“The best part about the four years I’ve been here is the people I’ve met,” Tammi said. “I was never a very social person in elementary and middle school, and here I’ve found really great friends; I’m going to miss them most of all.”

Many changes have occurred to the Oviedo community, like the Kaioen coffee house and Oviedo on the Park, which have become some students’ favorite places to go.

“I moved to Oviedo from Northern California when I was seven; I’ve seen a lot more construction going on from when I first moved here,” Tammi said. “There was mostly a bunch of trees and now there’re more apartment complexes, like Oviedo on the Park.”

Konrady also enjoys going to Oviedo on the Park.

“I go sometimes to play frisbee with my friends,” Konrady said.

Although the some of the changes have improved the Oviedo community, Montcrieff misses aspects of her past.

Oviedo spe

cial

“I’ve lived here my whole life and I miss the forest; we used to feed cows, but we can’t anymore because of all the construction,” Montcrieff said. “As much as I like renovating and bringing in all these new people, I don’t like how much they’ve destroyed the original Oviedo; it’s changed a lot. I don’t think it’s completely been for the better.”

Unlike Montcrieff, Tammi says she likes the changes that have occurred to Oviedo.

“Oviedo is a really special place; I’ve enjoyed my years here,” Tammi said. “I’m excited to move away to a different state and start college, but it’s very sad to me as well.”

Tammi feels she is lucky to have such good memories of her hometown.

“Oviedo is a kindhearted community and the people and the places have made my childhood special,” Tammi said.

Tammi says her favorite place in the community is the Oviedo public library.

“I’ve enjoyed the public library: I’m a huge book nerd so that’s always a pretty cool place to go to,” Tammi said. “I love libraries, and it’s in a great location; the Kaioen coffee house is right next door, which I enjoy as well.”