The Muse Volume 16 Issue 4

VOLUME XVI, ISSUE FOUR MAY 2019 DREYFOOS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

STAFF EDITORIAL 5 DSOA(S) 9 SIPPING THROUGH STEEL 16 UNTANGLING THE SYSTEM 19 ARTS INDEX 25 DREYFOOS MAKES A RACQUET 32

UNTANGLING THE SYSTEM PAGE 18

STAFF

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF REBECCA BOSS KATE MCNAMARA PRINT MANAGING EDITOR MADDY RUBIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR SEBASTIAN FERNANDEZ ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS SASHA MONACO ANAMARIA NAVARRETE ISABELLA RAMIREZ DESIGN/GRAPHICS JOEL SOTO AMANDA COHEN LILLY GUMBINNER MADISON LAROCQUE ELENA SNYDER PHOTO ADAM GOLDSTICK RACHEL JEUNE HALEY JOHNSTON MORGAN NEINER SHELBY RABIN SYDNEY WEBB ISABELLA WEISS SOCIAL MEDIA & PUBLIC RELATIONS MICHAEL PINCUS PRISCILA FERNANDEZ ALI HUSSAIN BUSINESS DAVID YANES ALLY MCGIVNEY MARIEL SILPE ELIZABETH WHITE MULTIMEDIA BRUCE WHITE VALERIE BETTS MEGAN FENTON COPY IZZY KJAERULFF LILA GOLDSTEIN OPINION JAROM GORDON CHLOE GIROD NEWS NIRMIT CHANDAN CARLEIGH DICKINSON MARK SHTEYMAN ARTS EMMA GARRETT JENNIFER JIA LILLY RANDOLPH SPORTS JULES POPIEL TOMMY MCCABE TARYN REAGAN CULTURE SASHA SMITH SAVANNAH RICHARDS ADVISOR CARLY GATES = editors

@THEMUSEATDSOA

Cover graphic by Jennifer Jia

EDITORS’ letter

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enioritis is no joke. Between the various activities that tease our long-awaited graduation, looming absences or College Decision Day, the Class of 2019 is ready to leave a legacy and take the next steps into our lives.

Speaking of legacies, our new editors have started their roles and have lived up to the task. Transitioning into a new set of editors and introducing new staffers can be tough.

However, through this transition, they have fine-tuned the aesthetic we have worked to develop, reorganized the structure of how we collaborate as a team, and further developed our stories to be even more specific to students.

Whether it’s teen dating, vaccinations, Dreyfoos School of

the Arts and Sciences, or even the revitalization of arts index, these stories mark our current time here.

And as the senior class moves on, we once again revisit the college admissions process with a new spin on it. In the wake of scandals, a lot of tears, and frustrating waitlists, it seems that students have a skewed perspective for the deciding factors in acceptances.

The Muse has fostered growth within the both of us that we plan to take into our futures at Tallahassee Community College and Carnegie Mellon University. We hope that everyone can enjoy this final stretch in the school year before summer starts.

We wish to everyone on the staff many blessings for what is to come. For one last time,

&

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OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL JAROM GORDON

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NEWS DSOA(S) NIRMIT CHANDAN GEORGE WU

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CULTURE COLLEGE SELF-CARE SASHA SMITH

CONTENTS 19

COVER UNTANGLING THE SYSTEM GEORGE WU ASHER MOSS HEATHER ROLLINS

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ARTS ARTS INDEX EMMA GARRETT

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SPORTS MAKING A RACQUET JULES POPIEL

EVERY STAGE OF LIFE IS ITS OWN JOURNEY

TRACY L. SILPE, CFP®, CRPC® Financial Advisor tracy.silpe@raymondjames.com C 561.603.6606

Financial Planning • Longevity Planning Investment Strategies • Retirement Planning Fixed Income Services 5601 Corporate Way, Suite 106 // West Palm Beach, FL 33407 O 561.327.7900 raymondjames.com/tracysilpe

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. CFP Board owns the CFP® marks in the United States. 18-BRAAF-0015 TA 9/18

STAFF EDITORIAL

CALLING THE SHOTS MANDATE VACCINES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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or the 20-year span of the Vietnam War, military and civilian casualties were estimated to be 2.3 million on both sides. In 1955— when the war started—the world lost nearly 2.6 million people to something even deadlier than global conflict: measles.

After 1963, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate for the number of measles cases followed a steady downward trend. Following 12 years of zero reported cases, the United States declared that the disease had been eliminated. The world’s leading scientists and health organizations agree that such a dramatic change did not come about by accident; many of us have vaccines to thank for saving our lives, and the measles vaccine is certainly no exception.

IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM LIFETHREATENING DISEASES, I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYBODY COULD REFUSE KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE. SOPHIA JENSEN*

But as more people reject science in favor of tabloids and conspiracy theories, fewer are being vaccinated.

The Florida Department of Health reports that rates of permanent exemption from vaccines have more than quadrupled since 20 years ago. In 2019, the CDC has confirmed 704 cases of the measles in the United States, the highest number since measles was eliminated in 2000—and it’s only May.

16 5 IN FAVOR OF THIS STANDPOINT

The anti-vaccination movement has become so dangerous to our well-being that the World Health Organization listed it as one of the top ten threats to global health. In Florida, that threat extends to schools.

Florida is one of 47 states that allows parents to deny vaccinations for their children based on religious belief. It’s also one of all 50 states without religious exemptions for buckling a child’s seat belt.

Just as a parent’s beliefs can’t justify endangering a child’s life in a car, a parent’s beliefs shouldn’t justify endangering a child’s life at school, at a playground, or anywhere, for that matter. Florida’s vaccination policy is why visual sophomore Sophia Jensen* has never been vaccinated for any disease.

“I think the religious exemption is being completely abused,” Jensen said. “My mom has a religious exemption for me even though our family is atheist, so I know it isn’t hard to lie in order to get an exemption.”

Jensen intends to be immunized against every preventable disease she could have contracted over the years once she turns 18. She is unsettled when she hears about events like the Hepatitis A outbreak that occurred in Palm Beach County last month because she lacks the vaccines necessary to stay protected.

On top of classes, homework, and extracurriculars, students shouldn’t have to worry about losing their lives to an illness that could have been prevented with a single shot. Mandating vaccinations in public schools for those without legitimate medical exemptions is necessary if we’re truly serious about that statement.

“Being vaccinated is really important to me for the simple reason that it keeps people safe and healthy,” Jensen said. “If we have the ability to protect people from life-threatening diseases, I don’t understand how anybody could refuse keeping people alive.”

CONTRIBUTOR: JAROM GORDON

*NAME AND MAJOR CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITY Graphic by Lily Gumbinner

Poll results from the editors on The Muse staff

themuseatdreyfoos.com | OPINION

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SOCIETY’S SCRAMBLE TO CRACK DOWN ON PUBLIC FIGURES

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oing to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding.

I’m white!” InterActiveCorp communications director Justine Sacco tweeted just before boarding her plane to visit family in 2013, sparking an onslaught of tweets and posts “cancelling” her. In a similar fashion, makeup artist and YouTuber James Charles tweeted a egg-splosive post equating Ebola to the African continent two years later. This time, the internet charged a new cancellation fee for his controversial tweet: #JamesCharlesIsOverParty.

Cancel Culture: a recent phenomenon originating around 2015 only to become increasingly prevalent. It’s a term used to refer to the practice of “cancelling”—withdrawing support from people, events, art work, or things that many have deemed unacceptable or problematic. Oftentimes, this cancellation is given without courtesy. Cancellation usually occurs through social media, and it is based off of the re-evaluation of older materials or actions from a specific individual.

“It’s a cultural boycott,” said Lisa Nakamura—a professor at the University of Michigan who studies the intersection of digital media and race, gender, and sexuality—in an interview with The New York Times. “It’s an agreement not to amplify, signal boost, [or] give money to. People talk about the attention economy— when you deprive someone of your attention, you’re depriving them of a livelihood.”

Social media has become a global community where individuals can call out others for their actions. It’s understandable that individuals cancel those who are acting offensively. Whether it’s racism, homophobia, misogyny, or even 6

OPINION | themuseatdreyfoos.com

Photo illustration by Shelby Rabin Graphic by Chloe Girod

legal crimes, it comes to a point where we perhaps, maybe, definitely shouldn’t be supporting individuals that encourage these attitudes. But the line is drawn at a personal perspective, and it can be hard to decide when or if someone should be cancelled.

This year, comedian Kevin Hart was meant to host the Oscars on Feb. 24.

After the resurfacing of homophobic tweets from 2009 and 2011, the internet once again scrambled to cancel him, leading him to step down as host. He had already apologized for his tweets, but people were still on the fence about whether they should cancel or defend him.

“I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ[+] community for my insensitive words from my past,” Hart posted on Twitter. “I’m sorry that I hurt people ... I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together, not tear us apart.”

While his words aren’t anything to be applauded, we all have done something we regret, and we all hope we would be given the courtesy to change. Taking time into context, allowing people to prove us wrong, and educating instead of belittling are ways we can spark true change.

Although the internet can go too far with cancel culture, there are instances when we haven’t done enough to deal with problematic people and practices.

Even if something seems as though it should be cancelled, the lack of a bandwagon effect means it remains popular.

Coachella’s founder, Philip Anschutz, the owner of entertainment conglomerate AEG and one of the richest people in America, gave large sums of money to the Alliance Defending Freedom, the National Christian Foundation, and the Family Research Council. The National Christian Foundation has been found to fund groups that work against LGBTQ+ rights.

As shown by Anschutz, this cultural boycott of public figures only goes so far, mostly to cancel entertainment industry celebrities. If one were to cancel a public figure in business or politics, one much like Anschutz, that rallying of influence can’t do much since these individuals still hold power outside of the conversation taking place online. If things are truly problematic, it takes more than a hashtag to heat up change because conversation is not enough. It’s taking action that matters.

It’s not only that these internet practices don’t always work; cancel culture can be dangerous. We are resurfacing old content, old mindsets, and old actions but holding people accountable in the current day. Quite often, the people we are cancelling no longer align themselves with the actions we are cancelling them for, as was the case in the experiences of Sacco and Charles.

Additionally, these cancellations aren’t always consistent. There are huge disparities between actions and punishments, as well as the impact. For some, the effect left on an individual can sizzle for ages, causing them to uproot their lives or to be ostracized, like Sacco or even more notable figures like Monica Lewinsky and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. For others, the effect is just a whisper, leaving problematic people in positions of power, like comedian Louis C.K. or even the current President of the United States.

There is a key point to this: Cancel culture applies to anyone. It’s not a joke.

It can carry into the future, and technology instantly provides access to our life’s timeline. Everyone, especially students, should put a little more care into the information and content they put out into the world. That is, unless you want to see a #NowYou’reCancelledParty.

BY CHLOE GIROD themuseatdreyfoos.com | OPINON

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D A

D S O A NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL RESURFACES

BY NIRMIT CHANDAN & GEORGE WU Photo illustration by Haley Johnston

WHAT IS THE HISTORY?

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he school on the hill was named Palm Beach High School in 1908. In 1971, it integrated with Roosevelt and became Twin Lakes High School. A $1 million donation later, it became A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in 1997. Name changes are ingrained in the school’s history—and now, potentially before the beginning of next school year, the school may undergo a name change once more.

A School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting on Wednesday, April 3 reintroduced Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr.’s proposal to change the name of Dreyfoos School of the Arts to include “and Sciences.” If the name change were to be enacted, Mr. Dreyfoos stated that he would contribute $1 million of additional funding to the school. Moreover, he would cover the costs of all the items associated with the name change, such as new signs and building renovations.

The recent proposal has sparked conversation across campus.

Students, teachers, and staff members are talking within the dance studios, inside of the science labs, and behind the doors of conference rooms.

The proposal has a complex background, dating to back to at least 2013, when The Muse originally reported the possibility of a name change. Mr. Dreyfoos attended a SAC meeting that year, stating his thoughts that “it is unfair to ask an eighth grader to choose between an interest in both the arts and sciences, to make a career choice this early in life.”

Despite his efforts, the name change proposal was voted down by the SAC in February 2013. Some arts deans, including visual dean Lacey Van Reeth and communications dean Angela Anyzeski, have stated that the proposal has been turned down three times thus far, citing their fears that students would be discouraged from auditioning for the school.

For Mr. Dreyfoos, whose mother was a cellist and whose father was a photographer, the arts and sciences have always been inextricable.

“I always thought I was sort of a nerd in high school,” Mr. Dreyfoos said in a recent interview with The Muse. “I liked physics and ended up being the stage manager for school [plays] because I knew how to set the lights, and I became the school photographer and did a great deal with that.”

Mr. Dreyfoos went on to invent the Video Color Negative Analyzer, start the Photo Electronics Corporation in 1963, and hold more than 10 patents both in the United States and internationally. He also won an Academy Award for his work in the film industry.

He has expressed his desire to maintain the rigor of the current audition process. Emphasizing his preference to maintain the school’s current curriculum as well, Mr. Dreyfoos explained that he does not want to change the name in order to make Dreyfoos a science-oriented school, but rather to elevate the school’s status.

“I’ll just settle right now for, ‘Let’s just get the name change; don’t do anything that would mess up how the school is perceived,’” Mr. Dreyfoos said. “Let’s have, among everything else, the best of the best.”

While talking about the proposal, Mr. Dreyfoos explained his hopes that the decision “[would] be fair and [that] people would really look at it on a rational basis and not get caught up in emotions … Students should only be accepted [into the school] if they’re great in the arts.”

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NEWS | themuseatdreyfoos.com

WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES?

Photo illustrations by Adam Goldstick and Elena Snyder Graphics by Chloe Girod

The proposal was first brought to the faculty’s attention “when [a] Palm Beach Post article came out, listing [the name change] as one of [Mr. Dreyfoos’] ‘bucket list items,’” according to Ms. Anyzeski.

Since then, students and faculty have discussed the implications of the name change. Many proponents believe that funding is an essential component of this discussion.

“I don’t think it will change the curriculum, [but] I do think it will change the funding,” science teacher Sherry Little said. “Funding is getting cut from the state every minute. If we don’t take care of our future now, we might not see this school [in the future].”

When asked about potential benefits of the proposal in an anonymous survey conducted among 35 members of administration and staff, many felt that the donation would have some positive effects, with the concepts of “money” and “funding” found 16 times in the responses. Some students appear to be on the same page.

“I feel that the school board should accept the proposal,” communications freshman Miles Wang said. “Although we are mostly an arts school, [the proposal] isn’t changing any of the curriculum, and we are just getting a million dollars. That million dollars can be invested back into arts education.”

On top of this, some believe that enhanced science programs would be a result of the name change, with an anonymous member of the Dreyfoos staff suggesting the possibility of “a science research track, partnerships with local science-based businesses ... academic classes merging with art classes, and more opportunities for grants” as a result of the name change.

Mr. Dreyfoos’ assistant, Connie Graham, believes that in the heat of the debate, many overlook his intentions and unique position as a champion of the arts.

“I think he’s rather humble in this regard,” Graham said. “There’s probably not another individual in this community that has given as much to the arts … I think so many people fear that adding the words ‘and sciences’ [implies] he wants to focus on the sciences, though there’s no one in the community who has given more to the arts …

He founded the Cultural Council. He is responsible for the Kravis Center [for the Performing Arts] being here, and he supports this school in so many ways. I just think it’s important that that message gets across.”

Despite the potential benefits of the name change and receiving an extra $1 million of funding, some believe it would do more harm than good. Having the perspective of both a teacher and school alumna, Ms. Van Reeth expressed her concern for the future group of applicants.

“I think [the name change] will have an adverse effect on the potential applicant pool,” Ms. Van Reeth said. “I think it takes away something that is very, very important in school, which is our singularity and our specialness. We are unique. [The arts] is what makes us thrive. This is what gives us our identity, and adding [‘and sciences’] takes that away. [It] makes us like a lot of other schools.”

Other arts deans, like theatre dean Michelle Petrucci, state that their “biggest concern” is that adding sciences means students will, in turn, be “coming [to Dreyfoos] for something else.”

themuseatdreyfoos.com | NEWS

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“We live here. We live this every day,” Anyzeski said. “I would hope that [the school board] would listen to the opinions and the expertise of those who have been around [the school] and see the potential impacts, and listen to our ideas and our evidence and our thoughts on it. However, when you attach money to something, people tend to overlook the long-term implications.”

After reading the article published by The Palm Beach Post which mentioned the name change proposal in February, some in the public have shown interest in the sciences on campus.

SOAFI executive director Kris Lidinsky recalls a phone conversation in which a parent asked about the science program. “[The caller] said ‘I want my son… to go into the science program,’” Lidinsky said. “And I said, ‘we don’t have a science program [for incoming students to apply to].’”

Dreyfoos is not currently considered a STEAM school. A large cause for concern for those against the change is an overall shift in perception.

“Personally, I think changing the name would be kind of futile because we all got to where we are by auditioning for arts majors, not science majors,” visual junior Sally Zhang said. “We wouldn’t have anything to back up that we are a science school except for the name because our science department is really underfunded. I think people would start to compare us to other schools like Suncoast, whose STEM department just blows us out of the water.”

Twenty-three percent of staff members surveyed believe that changing the name of our school to include “and Sciences” would attract more eighth grade students to audition. Still, one member of the staff believes that changing the name has a deeper underlying message.

“If we become puppets on a string, beholden to the whims of a single donor, where will it stop?” an anonymous staff member said. “For the right price, will [D]SOA cut other programs? Will enough money dictate what theatre and dance productions take place? Can a donor purchase the right to decide which staff will educate here? A ‘donation’ with strings attached is not a gift; it’s a relinquishment of autonomy.”

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

members was held.

“Many of our students are ones who thrive in Dreyfoos’ inclusive environment, but who would wither on the vine at a traditional high school,” English teacher Martha Warwick said. “With the name change, Dreyfoos would simply lose that which makes it unique—a place that not only allows the best of the best to excel, but one that also allows those [who] sometimes struggle to find themselves and their place in the world.”

Proponents of the name change, including Mr. Dreyfoos himself, voiced their views in favor of the proposal. They sought to express their views to a diverse audience, ranging from Dreyfoos’ first principal, Edmund Duhy, to dozens of passionate students and alumni.

“My goal [for] SAC has always been constant, ongoing, relentless pursuit of improvement,” Bobby Munden, who formerly served on SAC for four years, said. “Elevating the visibility of science does not and will not diminish other areas of the school. It’s not a zero-sum equation.”

A culmination of thoughts led to a nearly unanimous decision by the voting members of SAC in opposition to the proposal, with one abstention coming from SOAFI Executive Director Kris Lidinsky.

The decision will be taken to the School Board of Palm Beach County meeting on June 5, where a similar voting process will transpire, despite Dr. Atherley’s hesitance for the meeting to be held over the summer. Due to extended testing periods and a series of graduations, the June meeting was the first opening, as school board meetings are set in statute before the beginning of the Visit The Muse website for more in-depth coverage on the May 1 SAC meeting and the June 5 school board meeting.

If you would like to contribute a comment to be read at the school board meeting, email a school board member at www.palmbeachschools.org/school_board

Opponents of the name change have not been silent. On April 24, former visual arts dean and magnet coordinator Jane Grandusky started a Change.org petition against the name change. As of May 1, the petition had garnered over 3000 signatures.

When the topic was brought up at the SAC meeting on April 3, some parents expressed beliefs that the change was a “done deal.” However, Principal Dr. Susan Atherley responded by stating that there would be future opportunities for members of the community to discuss the topic before the final decision. She stressed that “she will put her foot down” so that the decision “will not happen over the summer.”

In the most recent SAC Graphics by Chloe Girod meeting on May 1, many members of the community including students, parents, faculty, and alumni gathered in the media center to participate in a conversation before a motion by the voting 12

NEWS | themuseatdreyfoos.com

COLLEGE

A HOW-TO GUIDE Along with free campus counseling at most colleges, meditation and other relaxing activities like yoga can balance your mental health. Practice time management to avoid overworking yourself. A new environment can be emotionally stirring, but it’s important to accept your emotions by realizing everyone else is in the same boat.

Stay positive and work on improving and loving yourself.

Joining clubs is the easiest way to get involved and find friends who have similar interests. Attend free campus events or even join a fraternity or sorority. Form study groups and get to know your roommates, people in your residence hall, and adults on campus, like teachers and department secretaries.

Beware of the “Freshman 15,” or the gaining of excess weight in your first year at college. Following a few simple tips can help you keep your body healthy. Take advantage of campus gyms or intramural sports, get a good night’s rest, and keep an exercise routine with the help of a friend. Bike to get exercise between errands or classes. Stay hydrated and cut down on sugary foods and drinks, as well as caffeine.

Eating home-cooked meals and foods high in fiber will help you eat healthier and stay full for longer.

Socializing is key to a well-rounded college experience. Take a break every once in a while to participate in an activity you enjoy, such as exploring natural areas around campus.

Familiarizing yourself with the campus can make it easier to settle in and have fun. Going to sports games, thrifting at local shops, or having a movie night with friends are simple ways to have fun on a budget. However, it is important to prioritize work while you enjoy college.

Several Dreyfoos alumni and the current principal share their most valuable advice to give soon-to-be college students: “First, remember to be yourself. You’ll find those people who click with you.

Second, know your limits. You don’t want to be stuck with classes you can’t handle all at once.

Third, don’t worry about a thing. Enjoy your first year by doing your best in classes and exploring [in] your free time.” —visual alumna Alexis Smith “Expect the unexpected and be prepared for all types of new experiences. College is a unique place for everyone, and each experience is different.” —digital media alumnus Alex Del Dago “Keep an agenda (this will be your best friend), do work every day to ensure you don’t pile up masses of assignments and studying to crunch in, and cut off doing homework/studying by 12 a.m. the latest to ensure you get a good night’s rest! Do your absolute best: Make your friends, family, and teachers proud, and—most importantly—make yourself proud and happy to be where you are every single day. You’re meant to be there.” —dance alumna *Madison McCue “Everything that you do here on out is really important. Make good choices, be kind to each other, and treat each other with respect.

[College] is a journey that is just something you never get back. It’s a journey that you should have fun with and enjoy. [Alumni] say that this school prepares them better for college than any other friends that they ever meet out there. But the [Dreyfoos] bubble is always their home, and they can always come home.” —Principal Dr. Susan Atherley

BY SASHA SMITH

Graphics by Chloe Girod and Sasha Smith

themuseatdreyfoos.com | CULTURE

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SWIPING RIGHT THE IMPACT OF DATING APPS ON STUDENTS

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*NAMES CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITY

ommunications senior *Lindsay Kelley has been dating her boyfriend for three months now.

Together, they binge watch shows like “The Office,” run errands, and fall asleep talking on FaceTime.

Kelley only swiped through profiles for a couple weeks before matching with him on Tinder.

Though the age restrictions are typically 18 and up, students like Kelley are using dating apps like Tinder, Grindr, and Bumble to match with people nearby. Based off of a name, pictures, and a bio, users choose whether or not to engage with someone’s profile; on Tinder and Bumble, this means “swiping right” if interested. `“What motivated me to start using dating apps was that I wasn’t fond of who I was meeting, especially on campus,” communications junior *Candace Cohen said. “So I turned to dating apps to kind of expand my margin of people who I knew and was trying to get to know.”

Cohen decided on Tinder out of the pool of apps because she finds it easily navigable, quick to use, and most efficient. Many users are fond of the app’s speedy matching method: users swipe right if the profile is a fit, and swipe left if disinterested.

“I use Tinder to try to create friendships with people and see if they would slowly but surely turn into something more,” Cohen said. “A lot of people who are on Tinder are like-minded in the fact that the second you match, you start a conversation and within a few texts back and forth you know whether or not it’s going to work out.”

Kelley uses the demographic of the school, which is 30 percent male, to justify her use of the dating app.

“The lack of—man, what’s that word—of testosterone in Dreyfoos, it’s kind of embarrassing, just that ratio,” Kelley said.

“I think a lot of girls have gone to Tinder pretty reasonably because there’s really not a lot of straight guys here, and as my friends and I like to say, ‘all the guys here are either taken or gay,’ 14

CULTURE | themuseatdreyfoos.com

and that’s really it.”

In Florida, the age of consent is 18, with the exception of the Romeo and Juliet Law, which states that a person who is less than 24 years old may have consensual sexual relations with a person who is at least 16 years old. Apps like Tinder ask users to be 18 years of age or older; however, Cohen and Kelley both lie about their ages to meet the requirements, a move Health Education Specialist William Stewart views as a potentially risky decision.

“Really all [the apps do] for verification is ask you to enter a birth date,” Mr. Stewart said. “I think a lot of times adults will look at sites just for hookups—there’s some real red flags for teenagers who may be using these apps.”

School Police Officer James O’Sullivan agrees. He’s witnessed trafficking situations involving false ages.

“You don’t always know who it is you’re going to meet,” Officer O’Sullivan said. “There’s plenty of students at this school that you can meet; there’s no reason to have to go on social media to try to meet somebody.”

Although underage students are lying to create profiles on these apps, some seniors are actually eligible to join. Still, Officer O’Sullivan worries about the safety of dating app users, even those who meet the requirements.

“Just because they might be the right age, you don’t know what their mentality is, what they’re thinking, how a prior relationship went,” Officer O’Sullivan said. “Are they in there for a reason? Were they violent in their past?”

Mr. Stewart, who helps develop sex education curriculums, sees it as a developmental issue as well.

“Even though 18, for many of our laws, is the age of majority, the frontal cortex of the brain is still forming up to the age of 25 and 26,” Mr. Stewart said. “I still see some issues with young adults [using the apps] just because of issues relating to them still maturing, not only because of experiences they have not had

yet, but also brain function.”

Formerly called Yellow, Yubo is another popular matching app designed for underage youth. Students who do not wish to falsify their age but want to meet potential partners nearby have gravitated toward the teenagetargeted platform. “[I use] Yubo because I can mostly meet people my age and with my same interests,” vocal sophomore *Melody Jade said. “Twelveyear-olds do not need to be on a dating app that also harbors 18-year-olds.”

Yubo is not the only app that separates teenagers from adults.

Spotafriend and MyLOL have similar age restrictions in place.

However, most of these apps include minimal verification processes, making it possible for teens to sign up as adults, and adults to sign up as teens.

“A lot of the times, their notifications say they don’t let teens interact with adults,” Mr. Stewart said. “But in some cases, it doesn’t appear that this is true.”

Around 78 percent of students surveyed said they know someone who uses a dating app, while 25 percent use one themselves.

Students like Cohen and Kelley even seem to have found their matches.

“I did meet up with a person that I matched with on Tinder,” Cohen said. We met up one Sunday and I knew right off the bat that it wasn’t gonna work out—but, I am currently two months in a relationship with his brother that I met that day, too, so I guess Tinder did work out for me in the end.”

While Cohen’s relationship might be considered an indirect effect of the app, Kelley met her boyfriend when they swiped right on each other.

“My boyfriend actually was on Tinder because his friends made him, and that’s a lot more common than you would think,” *Kelley said. “It was like just having another friend, and then it was like the relationship really did happen naturally, which is not something you would expect considering that’s how I met him.”

While Tinder worked out in her case, Kelley has concerns about the legitimacy of connections made through dating apps.

Ghosting, an online term defined by Urban Dictionary as “when a

person cuts off all communication with their friends or the person they’re dating, with zero warning or notice before hand,” occurs frequently on dating apps, according to Kelley.

“I think it’s a lot easier to ghost someone when you don’t see them around,” Kelley said. “You’re in the same area as all your friends, so you’re all getting the same people in front of you—you can tell where this is going—a lot of the people you’re talking to, if your friends are on that app, they’re probably talking to them too.”

Cohen, whose boyfriend is 20 years old, worries more about

YOU DON’T ALWAYS KNOW WHO IT IS YOU’RE GOING TO MEET. THERE’S PLENTY OF STUDENTS AT THIS SCHOOL THAT YOU CAN MEET; THERE’S NO REASON TO HAVE TO GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY TO MEET SOMEBODY. OFFICER O’SULLIVAN possible consequences for adults who unknowingly engage with underage users. Her boyfriend is aware that she is not 18 yet.

“A lot of the girls on [Tinder] look much older than they actually are, so you [would] never know that they were lying about their age,” Cohen said. “Maybe you touched them inappropriately, maybe you sent them inappropriate photos, and now you have a case against you because you really, truly didn’t know how old she was.”

Cohen and Kelley are aware of the risks, but share what they consider to be positive experiences. Mr. Stewart recommends to “just be wary” of dating apps.

“There’s some real life dangers of being attracted to someone just because of the simplistic basis of looks,” Mr. Stewart said. “I would advise you to not use them and go for the old-fashioned way, but if you are going to use them, be careful.”

BY MICHAEL PINCUS

Graphics by Amanda Cohen and Joel Soto

78% 13%

KNOW SOMEONE WHO USES A DATING APP BELIEVE IN AGE RESTRICTIONS ON DATING APPS

themuseatdreyfoos.com | CULTURE

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SIPPI THE PUSH AGAINST THROWAWAY CULTURE BY REMOVING SINGLE-USE STRAWS

Photo illustrations by Shelby Rabin

PING A

THROUGH STEEL

2015 video of scientists attempting to remove a plastic straw lodged in a sea turtle’s nostril resurfaced months ago.

The graphic footage spread across various social media platforms, raising awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste and pollution. Since then, various cities, states, businesses, and individuals have focused their attention on one aspect of the problem: single-use plastic straws.

Although some plastic straws are reusable, most are single-use and end up in the ocean or in landfills as non-biodegradable material.

Consequently, metal straws have become a lifestyle choice for many in an attempt to spread environmental activism and raise awareness on various social media platforms. Restaurants nationwide and cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Miami Beach, and West Palm Beach are taking action to ban plastic straws, encouraging people to purchase their own metal, bamboo, or paper straws for personal reuse.

“Plastic straws represent our throwaway culture, which [has] developed over the past 50 years or so,” Eric Goldstein, senior attorney of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said, according to the NRDC. “They’re pretty easy to do without … [and] unlike many other single-use items, it’s essentially impossible to recycle straws.”

On Earth Day, Los Angeles passed a law that requires customers in restaurants to request a straw rather than automatically be given one, reducing the amount of single-use plastic handed out and discarded.

Many local organizations have launched campaigns such as the Straw Free With LMC initiative, started by the Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Jupiter, Florida. LMC partnered with restaurants across Palm Beach County, such as Clematis Pizza and Juno Beach Cafe, to participate in a plastic straw boycott during last year’s Earth Day. Several businesses have decided to continue their commitment.

“With all the permanent changes businesses like restaurants and hotels are making to stop their plastic straw use, I think this will become a lifestyle,” visual sophomore Krista Brochu said. “For most individuals, little effort is necessary to participate in this [trend], so their part in its permanence is easy.”

Along with businesses, many individuals have begun purchasing reusable stainless steel, glass, and silicone straws for personal use. Many metal straws are collapsible and come in portable packages with brushes to clean them. Due to the increased quality of reusable straws, many students are realizing their plastic counterparts are a convenience they are willing to give up.

“I decided to start using metal straws more, especially at home, because it’s such a small investment with such a big impact,” communications sophomore Katherine Oung said. “I’m also glad that a realization about the harmfulness of [straws] is happening because it’s jumpstarting the conversation about the waste we as humans produce.”

Along with increased awareness, the banning of plastic straws and the hyperfocus on a single pollutant has striked controversy. Advocates for individuals with disabilities argue that banning plastic straws creates an unfair disadvantage for disabled people who require plastic straws to drink.

Although metal straws seem like an adequate alternative, “[they] can become too hot and cause injury,” according to Global News. Also, people who have mobility limitations “may not be able to wash reusable

straws,” which poses a problem for the plastic straw bans.

Companies, such as Aardvark Straws and BeOrganic, and states, such as California, have taken this problem into consideration and come up with administrative solutions.

Aardvark Straws and BeOrganic produce paper and glass straws that offer an alternative to metal ones.

However, environmentalists and researchers argue that the sole concentration on reducing plastic straw usage creates an unrealistic sense of accomplishment. The plastic waste in the ocean is mostly composed of plastic grocery bags, food wrappers, and plastic bottles.

National Geographic reported that plastic straws make up only about 0.025 percent of the “8 million tons of plastic flow[ing] into the ocean every year.”

“The risk is that banning straws may confer moral license—allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part,” Leape said. “The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step … so long as it’s part of a much more fundamental shift away from single-use plastics.”

0.025% OF THE 8 MILLION TONS OF PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN ARE STRAWS

Students are also aware that the microcosm of reducing plastic straw use is a part of the environmental solution. Although reducing singleuse plastic straws is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t cover the entirety of environmental reparation society aims for.

“The hyper focus on straws is a problem, but it’s the simplest option available that will draw people in. As of right now, convenience is necessary to gain a following to help the environment, but straws themselves are only the tip of the iceberg,” Brochu said. “Ultimately, the hyper focus on plastic straws will become a problem if it continues past its point of necessity, but it’s not an issue as if this moment.”

Regardless, cutting down straw usage and making people aware of environmental damage can lead to the reduction of other unnecessary plastic usage and the employment of reusable products. The shift from plastic straws to sustainable ones is a global endeavor: sipping through steel is just the first step.

“I think this is the type of trend that will stick around,” Oung said.

“The best case scenario would be if … using reusable straws was just the beginning and in the future, we have a culture [where] more and more of our commodities are sustainable and less wasteful.”

BY SASHA SMITH Graphics by Kate McNamara

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“EVERY OTHER DAY, SOMEONE COMES IN LIKE ‘OH MY GOD, I GOT A 1500 [ON THE SAT]’ ....BUT WHEN YOU’RE NOT THE PERSON WHO’S DOING THAT, IT’S REALLY DEBILITATING.” NJARI ANDERSON

Graphics by Jennifer Jia

C

olorful signs and balloons beckoned hundreds of students to squeeze their way into a room of opportunity. Some were there for the candy. Some came seeking to join as many clubs as possible, adding bullet points to their résumés. Club Rush—just one of the many strings tangled up in the knot known as college admissions. Three club rushes, 10 AP classes, and 6 dual enrollment courses later, the seniors gathered all their bullet points to create comprehensive résumé, while a legal investigation of the admissions process took place behind the scenes.

THE NEW RULES

When the college admission bribery scandal—nicknamed Operation Varsity Blues—was disclosed by U.S. federal prosecutors in March, shock swept the nation. The scandal involved over 50 adults who allegedly paid amounts ranging from thousands to more than one million dollars for their children to gain an advantage in college admissions, and it brought new attention to some of the nation’s oldest collegiate institutions. Shock turned into nods of recognition in many at Dreyfoos who felt the scandal was just a new vein in an existing problem.

“Everybody knows if you donate money, somehow that’s probably how you’re going to get in,” dance senior Brida Gibbons said. “It’s 20

COVER | themuseatdreyfoos.com

horrifying to hear that there was a whole system behind it, but I think it’s disgusting. If that’s how [someone is] going to get into college, the U.S. college system is really sad. And for those people too, that’s embarrassing and shameful.”

The scandal shed light not only on the illegal extremes some are willing to go to, but also the mounting pressure behind college admissions. This pressure on students manifests itself at schools nationwide, including Dreyfoos.

“I just handed out pre-gridding [for AP exams],” social studies teacher Sara Stout said. “I have kids that are taking seven and eight AP exams. To me, that’s ridiculous. How do you spread yourself so thin? Somehow, [students are] cutting corners. Either that, or the pressure is so strong that [students] have no social life.”

Résumé-building and schedule-packing in the name of college admissions are evidence of a shift in mindset among students and parents alike. The pressure to validate oneself in the eyes of the admissions officer may offset true passion as the motivation to try new activities. In a survey of 138 seniors, 54 percent said that they felt pressured by themselves, their peers, or their parents to be part of honor societies or clubs.

“I see all my friends do things that I know they don’t want to do,” Gibbons said. “They do them because they know other people want to do them. I think that in high school it’s really easy to forget what you’re doing for yourself. It’s really easy to get caught up.”

Evidence suggests the pressure, potentially induced by college admissions, takes a toll on students’ mental health.

According to a report published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, the number of people with symptoms of major depression among ages 12–17 grew by 52 percent in 10 years.

This finding may point to an atmosphere of competition coupled with the pressure for students to compare themselves to each other.

“Every other day, somebody comes in like, ‘Oh my God, I got a 1500 [on the SAT],’ or ‘Oh my God, I got a perfect

OF SENIORS

TOOK 7 OR MORE AP OR AICE CLASSES DURING HIGH SCHOOL score,’’ visual senior Njari Anderson said. “But when you’re not the person who’s doing that, it’s really debilitating.”

Recently, some elite colleges have begun to take notice of the stress many students undergo. In January 2016, the Harvard Graduate School of Education released “Turning the Tide,” a report which featured a first-of-its-kind statement from college admissions deans acknowledging that the “intense focus on academic achievement has squeezed out serious attention to ethical character in many high schools and families.”

In an environment where such “intense focus” is part of many students’ daily lives, many have the same stance on the college admissions process. When asked whether the college admissions process is effective and accurate in examining students, 74 percent of seniors said no in a recent survey.

“The system needs to go through [a] renewal,” piano senior Ryan Huang said. “[Admissions officers] need to be innovating in order to allow the system to be as fair and … accommodating as possible to every student. To an extent, I would understand why some people would want to get around the curve because [college admissions] is becoming unsustainable for large populations around the United States.”

FINDING THE CULPRIT

The stress students face in the admissions process broadly stems from its increased competitiveness. According to a Statistica report, the number of college applicants in the U.S. has increased by 37 percent—5.4 million people—in the last 20 years.

“I remember last year when I was picking my schedule,” Anderson said, “I was talking to my department’s guidance counselor, and he said explicitly to me that ‘you’ve got to make your schedule more competitive if you want to make it into these schools.’”

At Dreyfoos, the pressure to create competitive schedules is perhaps more intense than other schools because of students’ ambitious nature.

“There’s a culture here of students trying to outdo each other and trying to be at the top of their class,” math teacher Olive Bryan said.

For students who spend all four years of high school clinging to

the idea that they must appear differently to the admissions office, the essay portion of the application presents an opportunity to showcase one’s voice and character. Despite this, many students find this among the most difficult parts of the college application process.

Brian Ross, a former college admissions officer who helps Dreyfoos students, feels that many of the essays he came across as a college essay reader for New York University were similar and impersonal. Ross describes the standard, uniform essay as void-ofcharacter and comparable to a “mad lib.”

“Last summer I went to—and you fill in the blanks: Chile, Guatemala, Ecuador,” Ross said, “I met an old man, a little girl, a little boy. I helped fix their bicycle, paint their roof, build a water system. And now, I want to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer. [Writing an essay like that], you become one of the big, generic, lump of people that we really don’t know and have to push back in the pile.”

With wide ranging qualifications for each student, the application process can be quite subjective, leading students to apply to more schools than in previous years. At Dreyfoos, 37 percent of seniors applied to 10 or more schools, a finding that fits a national trend.

“Ten to 15 years ago, a student would apply to 8–10 schools,” said Lisa Coetzee, Director of Communications Office of Undergraduate Admission at Emory University. “Now, some students apply to 15 or more schools. By the numbers, this makes getting into college competitive, especially at schools that many students are interested in and want to attend.”

With over five million college applicants each year in America, students will inevitably have similar accomplishments. But with strong resolve and passion for what they believe in, students may be able to overcome the endless wave of competition.

“Colleges are really looking for students who can convey that they aren’t just a robot or just whatever’s on their résumé,” Anderson said. “What’s really important [is] finding yourself throughout this whole college application process instead of worrying about statistics, who has the higher grade, or who has more listed items on their résumé.”

“IT’S NOT JUST... A NUMBERS GAME. YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS, OFFICER POSITIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CREATE OR YOU HEAD.” OLIVIA TROAST themuseatdreyfoos.com | COVER

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TURNING THE TASSEL

There has been a nationwide push to encourage college applicants to stay true to themselves rather than the expectations. The Making Caring Common initiative, a collaboration between over 140 colleges, pushes for academic integrity and gratitude for the opportunity, guiding both parents and students down a more ethical path to college admissions.

In a list of guideposts for parents to refer to, authenticity of academics, acceptance of achievements, and appreciation of oneself are emphasized as important values to encourage ethical behavior in teenagers.

A key characteristic of the advice given in Making Caring Common is feeling grateful for the opportunity and feeling pride in simply continuing to a higher education.

“I don’t feel pressured to go to a crazy good college,” communications senior Carissa August said. “Palm Beach State [College] is a good college option and is where I am probably going.”

With four years of both arts-intensive and academically rigorous education, some students show authentic passion for a pursuit when applying for college. Even though 57 percent of the senior class is not planning to pursue the arts in their career, their involvement in artistic endeavors can assist them in meeting admissions expectations of a well-rounded student.

“I think colleges are looking for someone who exemplifies leadership and determination,” communications senior Danelle Eugene said. “I feel like they are looking for somebody who enjoys learning, rather than someone who just took all

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the classes because they felt like they had to. My proudest accomplishment is realizing my potential and trying different things, like doing speech and debate and making the films that I wanted to make.”

Many seniors also spent their high school career founding clubs, attaining leadership roles in notable organizations, and winning prestigious awards for their art. Theatre senior Olivia Troast, who is the vice president of the Dreyfoos Chapter of the International Thespian Society, believes that her commitment helped colleges see that she was a qualified applicant for their schools.

“I have over 1,000 hours in the theatre department for all the shows that I’ve been in,” Troast said. “I think when I was applying to schools for theatre, they saw that commitment and were like, ‘Okay, she’d be able to handle the stress of college on top of that.’ I’m [also] doing community theatre [for] hospitals and children that are underprivileged and teaching them theatre games. That’s something that’s really important to me.”

Extracurricular pursuits can also turn into larger-scale opportunities. Investing oneself in helping the community and school out of passion rather than perceived necessity is also a life lesson that can be taken further in life.

“I’m most proud of founding the National History Club last year,” Huang said. ”We’re taking the junior varsity team to the national level to compete, [which is] the first time that the school’s ever had a team compete at that level, and I think that for me it’s basically the core of my pride because of the amount

of time I’ve invested in just helping the students prepare and seeing them succeed at the competition.”

Although the economic situations of students may cause difficulties in the race to achieve a higher education, the Questbridge scholarship helps seniors who pass through the application process attain their dreams without having to worry about financial obligation.

dancing while she studies for a career in science.

“I have a friend who goes to [University of Florida] now, and she’s also doing science,” Gibbons said. “She recommended that [I] minor in dance because it’s an easy way to get extra credits that you need to graduate, and it looks really good on a résumé to still have other things that you’ve done. Plus, I still love to dance, and I want to keep it in my life, even if it’s not the main focus.”

Although the college admissions process may seem stringent, many seniors have defined their own paths to success by doing what works best for themselves. Colleges themselves have already taken steps to obviate the problem. According to NBC, almost 1,000 colleges are now SAToptional. This allows students to showcase their true commitments rather than showing that they can meet the status quo.

“Run your own race, and do not get caught up in the trap of what everyone else might be doing,” Troast said. “Rank and college decisions do not define your worth. Spending time with your friends and making the most of these last few moments is all that really matters.”

MY PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS REALIZING MY POTENTIAL AND TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS, LIKE DOING SPEECH AND DEBATE AND MAKING FILMS. DANELLE EUGENE “I’ll be in Rhode Island doing the Brown-RISD [Rhode Island School of Design] dual-degree program,” Anderson, a Questbridge scholar, said. “What I want to do over those five years is take everything I’ve learned here and apply it to a bigger scale. That will hopefully make an impact on the world ahead of me with what I do there.”

Some students have also considered taking their passions with them throughout college, even if it is not the primary facet of their education. Gibbons, for example, hopes to continue

BY GEORGE WU, ASHER MOSS, AND HEATHER ROLLINS

themuseatdreyfoos.com | COVER

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SENIOR STATS IN A SURVEY OF 139 STUDENTS, THE CLASS OF 2019 REFLECTS ON HIGH SCHOOL, REVEALING THEIR FAVORITE EXPERIENCES

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63 PERCENT OF SENIORS SAID THAT ON A SCALE OF ONE TO FIVE, ONE BEING THE LOWEST AND FIVE BEING THE HIGHEST, THEY ARE EXPERIENCING A LEVEL FIVE DEGREE OF SENIORITIS.

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58 PERCENT OF SENIORS LIKED THEIR JUNIOR PEP RALLY THEME, LIFEGUARDS, THE MOST. 28.1 PERCENT OF SENIORS LIKED THEIR SENIOR THEME, PIRATES, THE BEST; 12.2 PERCENT LIKED THEIR SOPHOMORE THEME, ALIENS, THE BEST; 2.1 PERCENT LIKED THEIR FRESHMAN THEME, PIXAR, THE BEST.

41 PERCENT OF SENIORS SAID THAT SENIOR YEAR WAS THEIR FAVORITE YEAR. 27 PERCENT FAVORED JUNIOR YEAR, 21 PERCENT PREFERRED SOPHOMORE YEAR, AND 11 PERCENT PREFFERED FRESHMAN YEAR.

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Graphics by Jennifer Jia

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ARTS Photo by Sasha Smith

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Photo by Adam Goldstick

2 Photo by Adam Goldstick

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HIGHLIGHTS OF ARTS EVENTS THIS QUARTER

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Photo by Isabella Weiss

Photo by Jules Popiel

1 2 3 4 5 6

Theatre junior Juan Carlos Romero, theatre freshman Alrik Blanchard, and theatre sophomore Aaron Idlis musically narrate Raphaël Poulain’s introduction in rehearsal for “Amélie” the musical. “Amélie” was the first full-length musical performed in the Brandt Black Box Theater to feature a full set. Among students and staff members, original Broadway lyricist Nathan Tysen attended.

Communications sophomore Lauren Ortega performs her slam poem in the Figure of Speech showcase on Thursday, April 18. Originally her competition piece in the Louder than a Bomb Florida Slam Poetry Competition, she wrote it to “raise awareness” about autism and share her own experiences.

Piano seniors Adele Denizard and Ryan Huang, assisted by piano senior Annemarie Gerlach, perform at the piano department’s This Is How We Duet concert on Wednesday, April 17.

Dance sophomore Brenan Gonzalez reaches out to the crowd, impersonating Freddie Mercury in the Bloom dance concert on Saturday, April 26 in Meyer Hall.

The stage erupted in color, dance, and song in a massive tribute to Queen among performances by dancers from each grade.

5 Photo by Adam Goldstick

6

Visual and digital media students, alongside faculty and parents, drift through Building 9, looking at the visual department’s work throughout the school year. The gallery, which opened on Wednesday, April 10, featured over 100 sculptures, paintings, sketches, neon screen prints, and more.

Strings seniors Stefan Mesaric and Seoyoung Kwon perform in the April 17 Philharmonic Concert in Meyer Hall along with strings juniors Hannah Xie and Stella Moore.

BY EMMA GARRETT

GOING GLOBAL STUDENTS BRING THEIR ABILITIES ABROAD

T

heatre junior Sawyer Hyatt traveled overseas to work with students in Punjab, India attending the Saint Bachanpuri International School (SBIS) in early January. Hyatt taught students in grades 3–6 at SBIS and presented lesson plans that he had made prior involving his major.

“I taught theatre at the school, which in itself is an ensemble art form that requires cooperation and confidence,” Hyatt said. “In teaching these kids Western theatre, I also taught them how to express themselves in impactful ways.”

Hyatt’s connection to SBIS came from his mother, Susan Gay-Wemette, who spearheads a nonprofit organization called Blue Planet Writers’ Room, which “works in international artistic collaboration.” After applying for visas, getting a series of vaccinations, and doing some research on the area and its customs, Hyatt and his mother were off to India, invited by SBIS staff to represent Blue Planet Writers’ Room.

WHEN YOU GET TO BE A PART OF ANOTHER CULTURE IN THAT WAY, IT BROADENS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD, YOUR PLACE IN IT, AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A GLOBAL CITIZEN. SUSAN GAY-WEMETTE

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ARTS | themuseatdreyfoos.com

“We began working with SBIS in fall of 2018, connecting to two classrooms at UB Kinsey Palmview Elementary,” Ms.Gay-Wemette said. “Students created and shared [various art pieces] about the things they each value in their communities. The exchange allowed the students in West Palm Beach to learn about Indian culture and customs, while the students at Saint Bachanpuri School got to learn a bit about American culture.”

As part of the experience, Hyatt and his mother lived with Punjabi families throughout their stay, allowing them to experience aspects of the new culture from their own perspectives.

“When you get to be part of another culture in that way, it broadens your understanding of the world, your place in it, and your responsibility as a global citizen,” Ms. GayWemette said. “You learn so much by traveling. The world is a fascinating, beautiful place.”

Given the cultural differences that came with staying in India, Hyatt faced some challenges adapting to ethnic norms and language barriers.

“I faced a lot of difficulties with the kids that I taught,” Hyatt said. “They were very opposed to a co-ed teaching environment, which was a milestone that wasn’t entirely resolved by the time that I left. They also had very little experience expressing themselves in bold ways, so it was often a challenge to pull them out of their shell and ask them to take up physical, emotional, and verbal space.”

At first, Hyatt was caught off guard by these obstacles.

However, with the help of his extensive theatre training, he was able to overcome them.

“Sawyer has always had an ease with people, as well as a lot of curiosity about the world,” Ms. Gay-Wemette said.

“I knew he would be able to handle anything that came up, and he did ... I think we both have a bit of a different perspective on what customs we take for granted and how that shifts when you’re out of your comfort zone.”

Even though Hyatt served in the teacher role at SBIS, from “culture, music, and food” to “religion and social structure,” he took away long-lasting lessons unique to his experience.

“By the end of my course, I saw the 55 students that I taught creating their own art and making their own powerful decisions during the process,” Hyatt said. “It was really wonderful to see them enjoying both their own and each other’s work.”

BY LILLY RANDOLPH

I

n an art workshop, 9-year-old Dulce Gutiérrez sketches her future self, dressed in green scrubs and a stethoscope. In this classroom, closed off from a local community gripped by poverty, Gutiérrez and her peers can aspire to something greater than themselves. Through their art, they envision a future where they have access to the inherent opportunity for education and jobs that Dreyfoos students consider the norm.

Visual sophomore Natalia Sanchez spent her spring break in Oaxaca, Mexico teaching art to Gutiérrez and many other kids like him. She partnered with Canica, a non-profit organization that strives to enrich the lives of impoverished Mexican children through educational programs that foster engagement for social change.

“It doesn’t really matter what age you are or where you come from, you’ll always be able to give something,” Sanchez said. “You’ll always be able to help people. You just need to get more involved. A lot of people think that because you’re still a kid, you’re not able to do that. It’s [really] the opposite.”

Following months of preparation, Sanchez led various art workshops at Canica’s facilities. She strived to inspire creativity among the children she worked with using her fluency in Spanish and ethnic heritage to relate to them.

“She opened her mind to a wider vision of the world and lived new, relevant experiences,” Natalia’s father, Gerardo Sanchez, said. “[Her efforts show] that needy people can have a prosperous future if those who have more opportunities support them.”

From March 19-22, Natalia Sanchez instructed

Graphics by Kate McNamara Photos courtesy of Natalia Sanchez and Sawyer Hyatt

two free 90-minute classes a day. She introduced the children to different aspects of art like the fundamentals of color through activities such as the creation of chromatic circles, pareidolias, saturation, and tone scales.

She was also able to contribute to the classroom costs and operational expenses through the creation of a GoFundMe page and by selling her artwork, raising hundreds of dollars in the process.

“She actually gave children a little sense of confidence and hope that they can do more than what they have with the situation that is presented to them,” visual teacher Genesis Allione said. “It gives hope to the kids that they can pretty much do anything. It always starts with [students] taking the initiative.”

The week concluded with a public exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Oaxaca. Natalia Sanchez’s art pieces, along with those of almost 40 students from ages 7 to 17, were featured in the exhibition, where they were given the opportunity to showcase their talent. Sanchez dedicated more than 160 hours to help introduce art to the lives of underprivileged children and hopes to continue her efforts to enrich the lives of socioeconomically disadvantaged kids.

“I enjoy teaching other people about [art] because not only does it help them learn and make them happy, [but] it also gives back,” Natalia Sanchez said. “Most people think that you’re giving more to them than they are to you, but I honestly feel like it was the other way around. Everyone has something to give and you should always try to help others.”

BY ADAM GOLDSTICK

MAKING A A

bright neon blur streaks across the court. As the ball hits the clay, the intense rally ends, with Dreyfoos team members having aced their matches. As the tennis season comes to a close, Jaguars reflect on this season’s successes and slip-ups.

The boys’ team served other schools with a winning record of 10–3. The girls followed with a final record of 9–4. The boys and girls made significant gains since last year’s season: Both teams ended with a record of 7–6.

“Physically, we have grown stronger together and thought of more strategic ways to win our games,” visual sophomore Lily Rivere said. “Socially, we have grown so close off the courts, [and] we have become a family by having the best time together.”

But, every family has friendly competitions. Just like a sibling rivalry, team members battle it out in practices. The team is composed of five boys and four girls, all nine trying to fill the highest seed—rank—on the team, with the first seed being the highest. Students challenged other seeds in practices throughout the season, which fueled the team’s competitive drive.

“At practice, I would watch my teammates play, and in my mind I felt I was a strong player [like] everyone. Later in the season, I played Ben Gao for the number one spot and won in a competitive match,” music senior Alan Le said.

“Ben was the number one [seed] the whole year, but I was eager to challenge him for the number one spot.”

Team support is essential in any individual sport, including tennis. Once the matches start, silence fills the fan section, and all eyes are on the court. Pressure overtakes the players’ minds, affecting their mentalities before, during, and after their matches. However, knowing they have the support of their teammates, the Jaguars have learned to pick themselves up and encourage each other.

“Tennis is a very individual sport, so once you start losing, it’s easy to catch yourself in a downward spiral,” tennis coach and science teacher Diana Hertel said.

But, with a little help from their friends, students won more matches throughout the season. Every team has its setbacks, but together the Jaguars pulled through in practices and strengthened the strategies behind their returned shots.

“At the beginning of the season, I remember we lost a lot of close matches,” Le said. “As I played more, my strokes returned to form, and I was playing at my best by the end of the season. We have [all] grown stronger mentally and have been able to close out a lot of close matches.”

BY JULES POPIEL

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SPORTS | themuseatdreyfoos.com

Graphics by Chloe Girod Photos by Jules Popiel and Taryn Reagan

themuseatdreyfoos.com | SPORTS

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PLAYING ON FOREIGN FIELDS

COMMUNICATIONS SENIOR LOUIS DIRIENZO ACCEPTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SOCCER WITH MARBELLA UNITED NEXT YEAR, TAKING HIS PASSION FOR THE SPORT ABROAD

Q: How were you introduced to soccer?

A: “I started playing soccer when I was 4 years old. My

parents signed me up for a local program to help little kids learn sports, and I began playing in a recreational league.

I first played for Elite Soccer Academy starting when I was 8, and then when I was around 14, I began playing for Team Boca.”

QA

Q: Where will you be playing next year and who will you be playing with?

A: “I will be playing in and around Spain. The schedule is not set yet, but we may also travel around Europe to play as well. I’ll be playing with Marbella United. The team is mostly made up of American players, but there are also a couple players from Brazil and a few other countries. “

Q: How did you find out about Marbella United?

A: “A representative from the program came out to one of my

tournaments a year or two ago, and my friend Carlos and his parents talked to them. They then told us about the program, and we began to communicate with them.”

Q: Did you know that you wanted to participate in the program as soon as it was offered, or did you have any second thoughts?

A: “I pretty much knew I wanted to go once we started talking more seriously with them. I was a little concerned because it will be weird living in a different country and not knowing anyone, but I also wouldn’t want to pass up an opportunity like this because I may never get a chance like this again.”

Photo illustration by Addison Linck Graphics by Chloe Girod

BY TARYN REAGAN

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