Master master 5 compressed by The Muse at Dreyfoos

TABLE of CONTENTS IN PRINT ISSUE 4 CORRECTIONS In the story on “Shrek the Musical” we stated the opening day was on Feb. 19; the show opened on Feb. 27. We misspelled communications senior Jillian Acri’s name as “Jullian Acri.” On the Exposure page, visual senior Madison Joy Daorek’s name was misspelled as “Madison Joy Deork” and the photo of the seniors’ sidewalk chalk art was courtesy of visual senior Palmer Crippen. On page 20, vocal freshman Amanda Shenkman sang “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys not “If it Ain’t You.”

ON THE COVER

4 OP ED Fear of missing out The Muse Staff examines the impact that viewing others’ social media has on self-esteem and wellbeing.

Cover photo by Julia Bonavita Illustration by Riley Freese

Communications freshman (center) Skye Lenkersdorf models as an aspiring Dreyfoos student. Visual senior Justine Vadnais holds a paint palette, dance sophomore Gia Prizzi assists Lenkersdorf with her dance form, communications junior Brittany McKenzie holds up a speech, theatre junior Kelly Flemming strikes a theatrical pose, and strings senior Mateo Dorado helps Lenkersdorf play a bass. All represent tutors who help hopeful students pass their Dreyfoos audition.

7 NEWS Searching for scholarships

As college acceptances come in, seniors must figure out how they will pay to attend the schools of their dreams, which means applying for scholarships.

FEATURES Ballroom dancing

Dance senior Kiandra Hering takes her love for dance onto the ballroom floor.

COVERSTORY Trying out tutoring

A recent Muse survey found that many students received some sort of help, such as private tutoring lessons, for their audition. Our cover story takes a look at the audition process and what gives students advantages for admission.

Photo by Rowan Bennetti

Alexander Dreyfoos speaks at the 25th Anniversary Gala at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach on March 11. See more photos from the gala on page 9.

ARTS A Ca-Exceptional

Student a cappella group Elision is taking the school by storm. Read about this dynamic group of friends and performers.

SPORTS Get your head in the game

Visual senior Michelle Guerrero applies her video game skills to the world of eSports.

LIFESTYLE Caring for your hair

Check out our tips for maintaining healthy locks for all hair types.

ENTERTAINMENT Finsta fad

A growing phenomenon in the online realm of Instagram is the “fake Instagram,” better known as the “finsta.”

ON THE WEB www.themuseatdreyfoos.com OP/ED Meninist v. Feminist

The meninist movement has stemmed from misconceptions about feminist principals. Meninism has been the topic of much debate.

This is a QR code. Scan it on Snapchat and it will take you directly to The Muse website.

ENTERTAINMENT Tacos and Hip Hop

A newly popularized event at Subculture Coffee shop on Clematis, Tacos and Hip Hop is hosted once a month to bring the community closer together. The event takes place in the Subculture Alley where local hip hop artists and taco trucks band together.

Follow The Muse on Twitter and Instagram @themuseatdsoa Also, like us on Facebook.

Photo by Margot Heiser

Angel Nava serves tea and treats at the JoJo Tea shop location at Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival. Outfits such as the one pictured above were frequent at the festival, which encouraged attendees to reconnect with nature and their spiritual beings. Go to The Muse website for a video summary of Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.

EDITORS'LETTER W

Photo by Julia Horneck

Editors-in-Chief and communications seniors Michelle Birch (left) and Samantha Rose stand outside of Building 1 under a tree remembering their first moments as Dreyfoos students.

elcome back! We hope that you had a relaxing spring break and are re-energized for the final quarter of the year. This issue of The Muse can help you get back into the swing of things. As our time at Dreyfoos begins to conclude, we recall one of our first experiences on campus: our audition. We were nervous eighth graders, hoping that we would show the judges our potential. Our cover story this issue examines the preparation that current and aspiring Dreyfoos students underwent for their audition. An increasing number of students have turned to tutors and similar forms of help in order to improve their chances of making it

through the competitive admissions process. We are grateful that we were accepted ourselves, as we have grown tremendously as writers, filmmakers, and communicators thanks to the artistic environment that Dreyfoos has provided. As we finally receive our college acceptances, we are able to relive the rush of joy that we received four years ago when we got our Dreyfoos acceptance letters in the mail. We have so many great stories to share with you this issue, from scholarships to different hair care methods, and we always enjoy covering diverse topics. We hope these last nine weeks are productive and memorable. g

& 3

Op/Ed

Cartoon by Cheyenne Otocki

STAFFEDITORIAL

FEELING THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT

Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have negative effects on users by MuseStaff

he stream of smiling faces and hysterical videos that line every social media user’s Facebook wall, Twitter feed, and Snapchat story is inevitable. It seems that everyone is enjoying a life full of late night events, while others sit at home in their pajamas doing homework on a Saturday afternoon. The pain of being the only person not Snapchatting the day away or Instagramming the latest picture can seem like too much to bear. As every acquaintance on social media smiles for the camera, displaying his or her exciting life, it is easy to fall into a slump. “High School Musical” and “Hannah Montana” lied; high school isn’t simply singing and theatrical parties, even if a person does attend Dreyfoos. The deep, sinking feeling in a student’s chest that seems to surface after watching videos of friends at the fair or singing to the radio has its effects. Social media is related to decreased sleep quality, lower self-esteem, and increased anxiety and depression levels, according to Livescience. Even when one’s plans amounted to a long evening in sweats eating Chinese food, social media creeps into one’s bedroom causing regret for one’s

4 OP ED

life choices. This is known as Facebook Depression, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Facebook Depression is defined as “depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression.” It seems that every teen will experience some form of Facebook depression in his or her life. Through the fog of tagged photos and commented videos, the user who posts this material feels a sense of accomplishment and instant gratification. However, when friends’ feeds are constantly updated, this can turn sour quickly. Generally, individuals post their more successful moments and pictures for the world to see. This gives a false sense of inferiority to viewers who will compare themselves with these postings, coming to the conclusion that they are not nearly as talented, successful, or attractive as their friends. In a world where phones are used as mirrors, insecurities are sure to seep out. Students are constantly on social media, and the more they are on it, the more exposure they have to Facebook friends, who they believe are

doing better than they are. The more exposure students have, the more opportunity users have to evaluate themselves negatively. It is much easier to stuff one’s puffy face with Cheetos crying over a friend’s amazing adventures. However, it is more than likely, these posts only last the 10 seconds it takes to take the picture that gained 232 likes. After the photo has been saved and uploaded to social media, these adventures end. These students bring out the bag of Cheetos too, and the laughter that flooded everyone’s iPhone speakers is replaced by tension and hope as their Instagram likes rise. Students must realize that reality can be skewed when basing it off social media. Students aren’t always dancing the night away; they view the lives of their friends through social media as well. Like every other high schooler, these students have their fair share of responsibilities. They just don’t post about it. In a world demanding instant gratification, social media allows people to achieve an instant success. g

Contributor: Alexis Pinchuk

TOO QUICK TO DIAGNOSE Childhood energy may be mistaken for ADHD Cartoon by Katherine McCann

commentary by NoaKroyter

hen my little brother was in fourth grade, my family and his teachers noticed that he was having trouble staying on task, and his poor grades showed for it. My family was worried that this behavior would negatively impact his life in the future, so he was taken to a psychologist. The next thing we knew, he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 11 percent of children aged 4 to 17 were diagnosed with ADHD as of 2011, and the rates of ADHD diagnosis continue to increase by 3 to 5 percent each year. Originally, psychiatrists diagnosed two separate disorders: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and ADHD. The two are similar but have one large difference. Those diagnosed with ADD are inattentive and easily distracted, while those who have ADHD are hyperactive, visibly restless, and impulsive. According to my brother’s psychologist, Dr. Denette Hall, in recent years, ADD has been swallowed into ADHD. Today, a person either has ADHD or no attention disorder at all. The increased rate of diagnoses points to a more compelling side of the ADHD issue. If someone sneezes, he or she thinks he or she has the flu. When people take a fall, they think a limb is broken or dislocated. People take pills that they think cure their headaches, but it could be a placebo. The famous WebMD is being used as a stand-

in doctor for peoples’ self-diagnoses. In a world full of illness and disease, the number of hypochondriacs is growing. Due to this heightened anxiety, more people are diagnosing themselves with diseases and disorders that might not actually be there. This could be the reason for some cases of ADHD. Like many individuals, my brother has never taken any medication to help him stay more focused despite his diagnosis. Two years after his diagnosis, he is improving his grades and ability to stay on task. He only needed time to mature and settle down, not a prescribed ADHD medication. For this reason, childish behavior might be confused for ADHD. According to the CDC, on average 13.2 percent of boys aged 4 to 17 are considered to have ADHD, much more likely than girls in the same age group, in which about 5.6 percent are diagnosed. Boys are classically known to be jumpier and more hyper. Girls hit puberty at a younger age, which means they are more mature than boys their same age. This alarming and polarizing statistic, in hand with the growth of ADHD diagnoses, leads me to believe that the rate of ADHD diagnoses is based on society’s preconceived notion of an obedient and studious child. It seems to me that if any student, regardless of his or her grade, gender, or age, is doing poorly in any class, then society misdiagnoses the student for failing to adhere to the norm. Nonetheless, there truly are

people who suffer from ADHD. Those who don’t suffer from ADHD are wrongly treated by their physicians for showing symptoms of a disease that presents the same qualities as those of any young, curious child. In the past, ADHD diagnoses rates were lower than they are today due to the fact that society back then allowed for kids to simply be kids. From experience with my brother, I see that kids may not prioritize education. According to his psychiatrist, my brother does not and possibly never had ADHD. As a child, he needed for someone to instill the organizational and study skills for his success. The avoidance of medication and enforcement of discipline has been his solution. Kids generally prioritize fun and playtime over education, especially boys, who tend to mature at a slower pace than girls. This is not to say that ADHD is not a real disorder that people suffer from. ADHD is real and people who are diagnosed should seek proper treatment. According to a study by Michigan State University, nearly one million children are currently living with misdiagnosed ADHD. One of these is my little brother, diagnosed with a disease that he does not actually have, as his psychiatrist later discovered. By including kids in a disease which they might later outgrow through encounters with enforced obedience and puberty hormones, we are robbing our children of normal, sane childhoods. n

OP ED 5

DISCORD IN THE HIGH COURT

With Scalia gone, the fight for a new justice is on T commentary by MichaelWang

he brilliant legal mind who once compared a majority Supreme Court opinion to “pure applesauce” and accused the liberal wing of the Court of inventing new minorities, Antonin Scalia, recently passed away. Immediately, tensions flamed. On one hand, President Barack Obama vowed to nominate a justice and see that pick confirmed before the end of his term. On the other hand, Senate Republicans refused to even consider a replacement. Before Scalia’s death, the Court stood at five to four, five conservative justices and four liberal justices. Now, the composition stands at four to four, meaning that the next justice will decide whether the Court is liberal or conservative. The current docket includes a lot of important cases, including abortion restrictions, voting rights, and contraceptives. A liberal replacement could create liberal rulings, changing the fabric of society. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly stated he would not allow any confirmation hearing until the next president takes office. He argues that America should have a say in the appointment of our next justice. However, the American people have already had a say in

2012 when President Obama was re-elected. If Republicans want to pay due respect to Scalia, they should follow his most favorite old piece of paper: the Constitution, which says explicitly that the President has a duty to nominate a justice, and the Senate has a duty to confirm the said justice if they deem him or

her qualified. Senate obstructionists have shown their ugly side in this debate. No longer are they the party of Lincoln. Now, they’re the party of Anti-Obama. There are nine months until the inauguration of the next president. Waiting until the next president would only handicap an institution that is needed for the very fabric of society. McConnell and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley are among the most outspoken of the opposition to an Obama nominee. However, their hypocrisy runs deep. Republican icon of worship Ronald Reagan nominated Anthony Kennedy to the highest bench in America in his last year in office. Among those in the 97-0 confirmation landslide were Grassley and McConnell. It’s obvious that McConnell doesn’t believe that a president shouldn’t nominate a justice in his last year in office. Rather, he believes that any president with opposing views should not. Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot for upcoming elections with this terrible move. If they continue to be the stubborn roadblock they vow they will be, they won’t be the only ones to suffer come November. Without a complete court, America will too. n

Cartoon by Katherine McCann

SENSELESS WEB CENSORING Palm Beach School District restricts the Internet W commentary by RileyO’Connor

e live in an era in which all of the knowledge of history, technology, mathematics, and language is accessible with the click of a button. Never before have students had access to such a collection of information to aid them in their work. Yet, in 2016, we do not utilize the Internet to its fullest capabilities. The Palm Riley O’Connor Beach County School District has made its servers as useless as possible for students in the county. Navigating through the mess that is the School District’s Internet servers is no easy task. Every other site seems to be banned, oftentimes for no apparent reason. The server must obviously ban sites that promote drug use, pornography, or involve social media. Then, there are some sites

6 OP ED

such as religious websites, news, and a few video-sharing sites which are banned for not so obvious reasons. For example, YouTube is restricted to an education version. Very few videos are approved for students to see, leaving thousands of educational ones blocked. It’s near useless as a learning tool. YouTube already has an under-18 restriction that does its job well. Blocking regular YouTube only makes it harder for students to learn. Compared to some of the content that is accessible on Google Images, including nudity and graphic photos, the under-18 part of YouTube is rather appropriate. There’s no way to find out exactly what goes through the minds of those in charge of blocking sites, but it seems that a computer automatically filters sites that contain key words. These words could include drug and weapon names as well as profanity. As high schoolers, we’re exposed to these subjects daily. In the hallways, I hear more curse words than I’ll ever see on the Internet on a daily

basis. School has no reason to be any different. For middle and elementary schoolers, this is not the case. Their young minds haven’t developed enough to make mature opinions on drugs and weapons. However, in Palm Beach County, all students, no matter the age, are on the same server. Whatever is blocked for a kindergartener is blocked for a senior as well. That’s why I propose a system where, depending on age, students can view more of the Internet. A login profile for students has already been implemented for accessing the web. Using this profile, District employees can adjust what is and what isn’t banned based on the age of the student. The Internet is too valuable to be underused. It’s the modern educational resource with more information than a library could ever hold. In our current state, the Palm Beach County School District isn’t utilizing the Internet to its full potential by censoring so much with so little reasoning. g

News

MAKING ’’CENTS’’ OF SCHOLARSHIPS Guidance provides resources for students searching for scholarships by AshleyBrundage

t’s that time of year again, when seniors wait with bated breath as their applications are considered by colleges across the nation. The endless “what-if’s” weigh on their shoulders as they reflect on all they have achieved throughout their high school years, but most importantly, seniors are plagued with the infamous question of “how am I possibly going to pay for college?” The answer is scholarships, which are grants or payments made to support a student’s education, awarded on the basis of academic, artistic, or other achievements. The School of the Arts Foundation offers a multitude of scholarships, giving students of all different majors an opportunity to alleviate some of the cost of college. “As guidance counselors, one of our primary responsibilities is to help seniors find a way to pay for college,” guidance counselor Georgia Mounce said. “It can be quite stressful, but the process of searching for scholarships teaches students to manage financial responsibilities that they’ll encounter more of in the future.” One of the major scholarships being offered this year is the Kovner Opportunity Scholarship, a merit-based grant of up to $10,000 per year towards any American college or university. The Kovner Scholarship is available to students from public schools who demonstrate the need for financial aid, display leadership qualities, and excel academically throughout their high school

IN THIS SECTION:

8 9 10

Students celebrated Pi Day by throwing pies at teachers, and Dreyfoos handles an intense testing Dreyfoos celebrates it 25th anniversary at the Mar-a-Lago Gala. Check out the briefs about Lama Migmar’s visit and students’ quest to eliminate all-days.

Graphic by Katherine McCann

years. To apply, students must rank in the top 25 percent of their class and have a minimum GPA of 3.5. However, the winners aren’t announced until mid-May--leaving many students riddled with anxiety. “Ten thousand dollars per year is a lot of money, which would be really helpful in paying for college tuition,” piano junior Stefan Wan said. Wan aspires to go to an Ivy League college. “If I were to win the scholarship, I’d be determined to put the money to good use by excelling in whatever career path I choose.” Other scholarships include Arts for Life, a scholarship established by former Florida First Lady Columba Bush, that is offered to students who excel in creative writing, dance, drama, music, or visual art. Since its launch in 1999, Arts for Life has awarded grants of $2,000 to over 375 high school seniors in Florida, including several Dreyfoos students. Past winners include visual alumni Kirsten Kelly, Melissa Posner, and Samantha Santana. “Since I wanted to go out of state, I knew I would need all the financial help I could get,” Kelly said. “I almost cried when I found out I

won [the scholarship], because not only did it help me afford my first-choice college; it encouraged me to pursue my passion for art.” Scholarships are not only offered based on artistic and academic abilities, but also for dedication to community service. One of the most well-known scholarships is Bright Futures, a state-wide scholarship offered to students who have amassed at least 75 service hours and have a minimum score of 1170 on their SATs. “Bright Futures is really a great organization,” Ms. Mounce said. “It not only helps so many students pay for college, but it also encourages them to help others in need and become involved within their community.” Essentially, scholarships and grants quell concerns regarding college tuition, allowing students to get a higher-level education at a relatively affordable cost. The School Counseling Office offers several tools to help students find scholarships, seek financial aid, explore majors and career options, craft their college resumes, and gain general college readiness. g

NEWS 7

PI(E) DAY

GETS MESSY

Teachers get pied in the face by students during field day event by AlexGordon

n March 14, known as the math holiday “Pi Day” because of the number the date forms, “3.14,” Dreyfoos held a celebration. Organized by Student Government Association (SGA), students could purchase a whipped cream pie for $3 and add toppings for another 50 cents each and throw it in the Photo by Julia Bonavita face of one of their favorite teachers. “I bought one pie and pied my math teacher, [Allison] Glenn, because I don’t like math,” digital media freshman Mia Evans said. “The best part was making my pie because I could control how much stuff I could put on it. I definitely want to do it again next year.” Students gathered on the soccer field, while a line of teachers, who were covering their hair and clothes, stood in front of the soccer goal as students threw an arsenal of pies directly at them. However, some Photo by Julia Bonavita Photo by Julia Bonavita students broke the rules. (Top) Communications junior Margot Heiser rubs a whipped cream pie on math teacher Craig Adams for the Pi Day “My friend took a pie, but he didn’t celebration. (Left) Theatre teacher Bradley Barfield gets hit in the face with a whipped cream pie. (Right) Communications throw it. He walked up and just smashed it teacher Christine Tieche gets pied in the face. . creative and fun, and we thought being able to Society also held a Pi Day celebration during in his teacher’s face, and it was fun to watch,” throw a pie at your teachers would be a unique lunch, where the group ate pie and did math. communications sophomore Jordyn McManus opportunity and fundraiser,” SGA President and “I pied [math teacher Craig] Adams, said. “I didn’t like one of my teachers, so it was band senior Ethan Weatherdon said. “The best and I want to participate next year. It was exhilarating to throw a pie in their face, but I part of Pi Day was seeing teachers in a genuine worth the $3 to get a laugh out of everyone,” missed.” state of fear because of a pie.” communications sophomore Chantel Preparation by SGA began a few weeks prior Rita’s Italian Ice also came to sell to the McMillan said. “The best part of Pi Day was to Pi Day so that they could coordinate the students who attended. The celebration was a getting revenge on all those teachers that you event with teachers and administration. huge success and will potentially be repeated sometimes want to throw a pie at during “We wanted [Pi Day] to be something next year. Off the soccer field, the Math Honor class.” g

STUDENTS STRESS OVER TESTS

by JackYan

rom March through May, Dreyfoos will administer over 7,070 tests ranging from Florida State Assessments (FSAs) to SATs to AP Exams. High stakes testing has become a hallmark for a 21st Century American education. However, testing has proven disruptive to education. The plethora of tests facing students has meant less time in the classroom. This year, Dreyfoos has taken action to reduce this problem. “[The number of days for FSA testing this year] went from 25 days to 12. We cut it in half by doing all subject testing in one full swoop instead of splitting them up,” Assistant Principal George Miller said. “I’m doing A-Z [last names] in the morning by adding extra computers. It cuts the time in half and is less

8 NEWS

disruptive to the classes.” With nearly 400 computers in the gym, approximately 350 students can be tested at a time. With this new model for testing, the school district is looking towards Dreyfoos as a possible model for mass testing in the future. “I asked the school district if Dreyfoos could be a pilot school to see if mass testing was possible in a way that did not disrupt school,” Mr. Miller said. Four hundred computers in a single setting meant some technological roadblocks. In 2015, the state-wide testing system stopped working for a week, delaying testing. Dreyfoos ran four infrastructure tests on its computers to ensure their viability. “It was really all just a Wi-Fi issue,” Technology Coordinator Edward Hornyak

said. “The laptops and the access points were all communicating at a low frequency. We only have five access points, but we had to test 350 students. [Before, we had] around 30 computers per access point, but now we can get about 100 computers per access point.” Technology in the classroom has been on the rise. In Dreyfoos, laptop carts have been used in classrooms when in 2015 each academic department and some arts department received a donation to purchase laptops for their classrooms. “We were trying to decrease the amount of testing days and increase the time of instruction,” Technology Coordinator Ed Maniaci said. “We’re giving 10 to 15 days back to the classes. The way this school is structured, that’s why mass testing worked.” g

GALA: PHOTO SUMMARY Theatre sophomore Sasha Prissert (left) and theatre junior Eva Gluck perform a song from ''Shrek'' along with the rest of the cast at the 25th Anniversary Gala on Feb. 26 at Mar-aLago Club in Palm Beach.

Communications senior Taylor Spruce (left) interviews Edmund Duhy, Dreyfoos' first principal

by RowanBennetti

tudents, parents, donators, and alumni filled the rooms of Mar-a Lago at the 25th Anniversary Gala on Feb. 26. The night started off with cocktail hour while visual and band majors provided entertainment. Soon after, the crowd was ushered into the ballroom where they were served food as Principal Susan Atherley gave a speech. Alexander W. Dreyfoos joined her on stage where he would express his pride for how far the school has come. As the night died down, an excerpt from “Shrek” was performed along with a dance routine. “I think the event was very successful, especially with all of the different majors performing their art,” said visual senior Victoria Pouille, who painted at the gala. “It was a nice way to represent our school.” g

Band alumnus Charles Porter ('96) (L-R), band senior Charles Breakwell, strings senior Joshua Ewers, band junior Austin Klewan, and band senior Ahmad Johnson provide entertainment to those at the gala. (Left:) Dance freshman Andrea Mish performs a guest piece from the Fall Dance Concert along with other dance students. (Right): Strings senior Juliet Schreiber performs at Mar-aLago during the gala.

Photos by: Rowan Bennetti

NEWS 9

BRIEFS

a collection of bite-size, noteworthy stories

STUDENTS PETITION TO END ’ALL’ DAYS by CodyBaez

Photo by Julia Bonavita

Lama Migmar, the Buddhist Chaplain at Harvard University and the Lama of North America, speaks to students on Feb. 25 about his views and life.

LAMA OF NORTH AMERICA VISITS DREYFOOS by AlexanderGordon

he five sciences of Buddhism, ranging from logic to medicine, were the focus of the presentation by Lama Migmar, the Buddhist Chaplain at Harvard University and the Lama for the entirety of North America. Lama Migmar made his way to Dreyfoos on Friday, Feb. 25, and spoke to over 600 students about his experiences and views on life. He arrived in the morning and met with the National History Honor Society (NHHS) officers, as well as some other students. After about 40 minutes of speaking to the crowd in Meyer Hall, Lama Migmar moved onto a 15-minute question-andanswer session. “His superior is the Dalai Lama,” social studies dean Tom West said. “My hope is that everyone appreciated the fact that a person of that stature would take an hour or two of [his] day to share with 600 high school kids. That is a very rare opportunity. I don’t know if that will happen ever again, where a high school student will have relatively close contact with a Lama.” Lama Migmar talked about the arts and sciences, as well as linguistics and internal healing. He delved into characteristics of Buddhist beliefs and the parallels between American, Tibetan, and Indian life. Recalling

10 NEWS

memories from his journey as a refugee beginning at age 5, Lama Migmar spoke from true authenticity. “Meeting [Lama Migmar] was a very enlightening experience. He seemed very compassionate and concerned about my sister and [my] life and first-world problems,” band senior Minh Ton said. “Talking to him was a great and relaxing experience too because the way he talked was very tranquilizing. We talked about the Buddhist community in West Palm Beach, our college plans, and his wild escape from India.” Getting a prominent figure to come to Dreyfoos required the work of a team. Mr. West, in conjunction with Magnet Coordinator Patrick Marshall, the theatre department, and NHHS, made Lama Migmar’s visit work so that the presentation would flow seamlessly and was enjoyable not only for Lama Migmar but also for the students. “There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom,” Lama Migmar said. “The Buddhists believe that knowledge is what you collect about information from the outside world. Wisdom is based on your experiences, your realizations.” g

he fight to end seven-period days may have finally reached a turning point. Band sophomore Max Ross, band juniors Liam Gallardo, Alexander Bendeck, and visual junior Yoni Benjoseph have petitioned to end the dreaded all-days students and teachers face on most Thursdays. “At first, we all just got student signatures wherever we went,” Bendeck said. “But later on, as we started talking to administrators and teachers, we all pitched in with interviews and drafted a schedule proposal for next year.” The new schedule would be almost the exact same as it is right now. It would feature Mondays and Wednesdays as odd days and Tuesdays and Fridays as even days. The difference in the proposed schedule is there would be alternating even and odd days on Thursdays. This will only be applied to school weeks with five full school days. “Over 57 percent of teachers polled support it, and we’ve interviewed 84 percent of the teacher population,” Ross said. “With the [new schedule], we won’t have all our homework on the same night and all our tests on the same day.” The changed schedule is not without problems. Eliminating all-days and alternating even and odd days on Thursdays would affect artists in residence. “I think this proposed schedule may affect Dreyfoos’ artists in residence negatively,” communications dean Angela Anyzeski said. “Because this proposed schedule is so flexible, the artists may have other jobs that they simply cannot leave whenever they want based on the schedule for that week. It could cause complications in their schedules.” The teacher vote is scheduled to take place in April after the district schedules LTM days for the next school year. The proposed new schedule is one of three schedule possibilities to be implemented next year. With the new calendar, a final draft of the new schedule can be crafted. Ross and Bendeck are both optimistic about the proposal passing. “I’m cautiously optimistic since we have support from students, teachers, and administrators,” Bendeck said. “A lot of teachers were open to change, and I think that will reflect on the vote.” g

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Features

DANCING WITH KIANDRA Professional ballroom dancer at only 18 cha chas her way to the top

Photos courtesy of Kiandra Hering

Dance senior Kiandra Hering discovered her passion for dancing through her parents who were also ballroom dancers. Hering's parents owned their own studio and inspired her to go into dance. ''My parents were who inspired me to get into it and who helped me learn all I know,'' Hering said. Hering now teaches dance classes at the Ritz Ballroom.

by MorganScott

odern ballroom dancing originated in the 20th century and combines different styles of partner dances that have been enjoyed socially and competitively for decades. Many believe that this style of dance is a dying form, but dance senior Kiandra Hering is taking on this form of art as her passion. “My favorite thing about ballroom dancing is it’s so unique and fun to do,” Hering said. “The technique is so different from stage dancing and also having a partner. That’s what makes it so exciting. There are so many dances so it’s hard to have a favorite, but I prefer Latin so I would say Cha Cha and Samba.” Hering picked up this passion from her parents who were both professional ballroom dancers and competed nationally. With their guidance and training, she has been able to take on this art form as her own. “My parents owned a studio, so I basically grew up dancing,” Hering said. “My parents were who inspired me to get into it and who helped me learn all I know.” Hering’s parents played a huge role in inspiring her to get into dancing, but she has come upon challenges where the love and support of not only her parents, but coaches have helped her along the way. “My mom and dad have been a part of this art form for me and also all my coaches and

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14 15

See how Sandy Schuman volunteers in his spare time in science teacher Michael Rathe’s overcrowded classes. Check out how visual senior Zachary Rapaport worked hard to put together a personal art show to display his work.

12 FEATURES

mentors,” Hering said. “My boss and friend, who was a friend of my dad’s, convinced me to start again after my dad’s passing. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have never gotten back into it. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for all of them.” Hering works at the Ritz Ballroom, her dad’s old studio, teaching classes. She believes a big part of learning is being able to help others grow as artists as well. She also practices at the studio she works at with different coaches. “I’ve had a few partners in the past and competed with them, but right now I’m working with just my teacher to get my dancing on the next level,” Hering said. “I have competed all over Florida and Canada with the help of my coaches.” Her parents and coaches have given her everything she needs as long as she continues to work on improving and put forth as much effort as she can. “My dream goal would eventually be to teach on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ and if that doesn’t work out, do commercial work and go on tour in that business,” Hering said. “I want to achieve that by working my hardest and by making the best connections possible.” Over the years, dance and ballroom have been put into two different categories, but Hering welcomes how different they are and loves how she can be open to so many forms of dance. “I think this makes me stand out because not many people do this form of dancing anymore so it makes me more versatile,” Hering said. “Ballroom dancing is so elegant and unique and I’m so happy to be able to share my passion and have the best time in the world while doing it.” g

Photo courtesy of Kiandra Hering

Dance senior Kiandra Hering models her ballroom dancing costume. Hering's favorite styles of dance are the Samba and Cha Cha.

ARDUOUS ACADEMICS Learn about some of the hardest classes Dreyfoos has to offer Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

by CelineCastronuovo

rom lab reports to memorizing equations, and practicing free response questions while viewing lectures online, the life of an AP student is not usually characterized as carefree. Dreyfoos is notoriously known for offering some of the hardest classes possible. These classes provide their own unique set of challenges, as well as benefits. AP Physics After taking biology and chemistry, the next class students tend to take is physics, as they hope to display a diversity of sciences on their college applications. This choice, however, isn’t a walk in the park. “I’ve taken a total of 16 AP classes and I find this one to be a lot more time consuming and harder than most APs,” visual senior Victoria Pouille said. AP Physics, taught by science teacher Michael Rathe, is separated into two courses:

Physics 1 and 2. In addition to the wide range of content and heavy workload, another challenge was added to these courses after changes were made to the AP exams prior to the start of the 2014-15 school year. Mr. Rathe, however, admits that this is not his sole focus when teaching the course. “I would hope [my students] would appreciate physics in terms of its elegance, beauty, and application to the universe,” Mr. Rathe said. AP Calculus Whether students have taken it or simply heard the horror stories in passing, AP Calculus is perceived as the most difficult class at Dreyfoos. Offered in two levels, AP Calculus AB and BC, the subject offers an abundance of challenges for students, including memorization, thinking conceptually, and preparing for tests. “Technically speaking, there are a lot of different formulas and it can get very conceptual,” digital media senior Gabrielle Gordon said. “Realistically speaking, it’s a class that I can work very hard for and still not get the results I hoped for.” Although AP Calculus may be notoriously known for its difficulty, some may argue that the significant preparation it provides outweighs its downfalls. With a

100 percent passing rate for both AP Calculus AB and BC from those who take it at school, many students credit math teacher Olive Bryan for helping them succeed. “Having a solid understanding that the efforts are more important than the results is an incredibly valuable lesson, and I’m lucky to have learned it before even graduating from high school and I can thank Mrs. Bryan for that,” Gordon said. AP Chemistry Those students who hope to one day enter the medical field or simply want to challenge themselves within science often enroll in AP Chemistry, a course characterized by memorization of abstract concepts and the exceptions that go along with them. With video lectures, lab write-ups, and tests, this class requires a significant amount of dedication beyond the classroom. “[I spend] about 30 minutes to one hour [each night] depending on how large the assignment is,” strings sophomore Matthew Hakkarainen said. “Sometimes I can spend up to three hours if there are a lot of lectures to view.” Like any AP class dealing with complex subject matters, AP Chemistry can cause students to struggle in comprehending the ideas presented. Science teacher Marilynn Pedek-Howard, however, attributes some of this to a lack of preparation. “Part of the perception that the class is hard is because some students don’t take chemistry before, so they are unprepared,” Ms. PedekHoward said. “The students who struggle most are usually those who didn’t take Honors Chemistry.” g

FEATURES 13

SANDY THE SCIENCE GUY Sanford Schuman volunteers for Michael Rathe's crowded classes

by CarlySchwamm

etirement strikes most people as endless vacation days while spending countless hours with grandkids. However, for science teaching assistant Sanford, better known as Sandy, Schuman his days go a little differently. Mr. Schuman’s days consist of volunteering in science teacher Michael Rathe’s classroom. “I mostly just assist Mr. Rathe [and] keep track of everything. He has three different [physics] tracks, so I help him get grades in and organize papers, but I also assist students and help with online work. Sometimes I am a substitute and I get paid,” Mr. Schuman said. Each week Mr. Schuman arrives at Dreyfoos for days filled with assisting in any way that he can. “I taught at Twin Lakes for 30 years as a science teacher and I went to Palm Beach High. The name of our school has changed about four times since I’ve been here. Being a volunteer is pretty simple. I had to have a small background check, but he [Mr. Rathe] put me straight to work,” Mr. Schuman said. “Some teachers are turned off by having a volunteer, but Mr. Rathe seemed happy to trust me with the work.” Mr. Schuman dedicates his days to coming to Dreyfoos and volunteering. The opportunity to do so was offered to him in a unique way. “I haven’t missed a day volunteering all year, except for when I went up north to visit my friends for about eight days,” Mr. Schuman said. “I met [science teacher] Marilynn PedekHoward in the Publix parking lot and she told me that if I wanted to volunteer again I could. Mr. Rathe is a 70-year-old man with no planning period, so I said ‘I’ll go’ and I ended up here.” Volunteering at an arts school allows teachers to share a variety of unique experiences with their students, and because of this, Mr. Schuman is able to start making one of his old dreams a reality.

Photo by Brittany McKenzie

Science teaching assistant Sanford Schuman rides his bike in the hallway of Building 4 during fourth period. Mr. Schuman is a volunteer for science teacher Michael Rathe. Mr. Schuman was a teacher for 30 years at Twin Lakes High School, which is now Dreyfoos.

“The arts [here] almost give me tears of joy. As I listen, I am honored to know some of the students,” Mr. Schuman said. “I have had an ambition since the 1970s to produce an opera. I am trying to work on it now and over the summer, but I want to have it in some kind of form to be reviewed. My position here at Dreyfoos has introduced me to many people who could possibly help me.” By volunteering at Dreyfoos, Mr. Schuman establishes relationships with students and builds bonds while assisting them in mastering physics concepts. Mr. Schuman has become a well-known figure across campus. “My relationship with the students is friendly because I don’t have to give out grades. On the first day Mr. Rathe introduced me as ‘Sandy,’ so I just decided to go with it. People like calling an older man Sandy,” Mr.

Schuman said. Every day, Mr. Schuman makes a lasting impact on his students. Through his volunteering, he continues to do something that he loves to teach and learn about. In a constant classroom setting, he has the chance to connect with students and leave a lasting impact on their lives as they learn about physics. Although he isn’t their teacher, he has a unique chance to interact with students in a new way. “I wish students would try harder by thinking about the concepts in science rather than just the formulas. I also want students to understand the importance of integrity,” Mr. Schuman said. “If you lose people’s respect it is one of the hardest things to gain back. Trust is probably one of the most important things that you can have with someone.” g

STUDENTSHORTLIST

by CarlySchwamm

What impact has science teaching assistant Sandy Shuman had on your class while volunteering? 14 FEATURES

Theatre junior Valentina Diaz

“Sandy has had a really positive impact in terms of bringing a new aspect of physics to our class. He has a lot of patience with us, and he is great at explaining things.”

Strings junior Dana Esposito

“He helps Mr. Rathe with organizing papers, and he helps students with grades and papers as well. Also, if Mr. Rathe isn’t here, he can also be a substitute; he’s a genius.”

“He’s very patient and helpful. He is always there to help, and he is very organized. That’s what I love about him.” Vocal junior Naiya Osiyemi

RAPAPORT REVEALS EXHIBIT

Visual senior creates individual art display by ElliotHacker

undreds of friends, family, and teachers gathered on Feb. 23, for visual senior Zachary Rapaport’s art exhibition at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of the Palm Beaches. Rapaport has been working on this show since last year and had various pieces on display. “Last year, the curator of the JCC of the Palm Beaches approached me and was in search for an artist to display work in her gallery,” Rapaport said. “As soon as she asked me, I said I would create a self-installation and would love to do it.” The artwork displayed in the show ranges from paintings of aquatic creatures to photography, and even some digitallymanipulated drawings. “To create this piece, I used 16,000 individual pipe cleaner pieces and over 250 feet of wire,” Rapaport said. “After wrapping the pipe cleaners around the wire, I suspended the pieces within the gallery with monofilament [fishing line]. Also, I built a device to move the installation. It consists of scrap objects, including bike gears, a jeopardy wheel, clotheslines, pulleys, and wood. When someone enters the gallery, I encourage them to interact with the piece.”

Photo courtesy of Maxwell Zengage

Visual senior Zachary Rapaport stands under his 250foot pipe cleaner art work at his art exhibit that took him over 200 hours to make with 16,000 individual pieces.

At the end of the night, Rapaport sold over eight of the pieces displayed in the show, and received commissions and orders to create more of the ones that sold out. The exhibition will remain open until March 23.

“[Rapaport] is a great student who is always working hard and on task,” digital media dean Peter Stodolak said. “The work [shown] at the exhibition was great, but Zach’s work is always great. He is thoughtful and creative with his work. Just being there you could see it was really successful.” Although the outcome was successful, preparation for this event was not easy. Aside from spending a few hundred hours on the work that was created for the show, Rapaport faced technical issues with setting up correctly. Knowing the amount of work he accomplished is something that is life changing for Rapaport. “In the final weeks before the opening night, I wrote press releases, gave presentations, created guest lists, sent out invitations, and learned the business aspects involved in selling art,” Rapaport said. Once Rapaport completed the work, he was interviewed by WBPF 25 News, and he explained his philosophies of art and the kind of work that really went into the show. “Art is a universal language that I use to communicate,” Rapaport said. “I’m glad I was able to show all aspects of my work to my friends, teachers, and family.” n

FEATURES 15

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AUDITION PREP TIPPING THE SCALE

Tutoring becomes more common each year at Dreyfoos

by BrittanyMcKenzie and TomKapitulnik

s Vania Samuel watches her daughter, eighth grade Bak Middle School of the Arts student Erica Samuel, head out with current Dreyfoos piano students for her audition, her mind goes back to the six months of audition tutoring preparing her daughter for this moment. “I worked with my tutor on my audition pieces, scales, tone matching, and singing Happy Birthday - basically all the parts of my audition,” Samuel said. “I think working with my private teacher helped me because I got to work on my piece individually, and get good critiques on my piece and everything else I have to do.” Since the senior class auditioned

for Dreyfoos, the amount of students who have received some sort of help to prepare has gone up from 65 percent to 79.9 percent, according to a recent Muse survey of 1104 students. Hopeful students feel compelled to pay for tutoring that could increase their odds of admission into Dreyfoos. This leads to the creation of an industry similar to the existing industry of college applications. Both include one-on-one tutors, group classes, and months of training. This training entails specific audition preparation, and the amount of time a student prepares differs based on the art area for which they are auditioning. Private tutoring is offered by Dreyfoos students and

professionals alike, while places like the Armory Art Center offer “High School Prep” classes that help visual artists prepare for their auditions. Many students see getting a form of tutoring as an integral part of getting into Dreyfoos. This has affected many hopeful students, such as Adam Johnson, who auditioned for band this year. “I felt really prepared [for my audition] because I got to work with a private teacher,” Johnson said. “I liked that better than a general class because my teacher focused more on my audition than a general class. Having a private tutor is nice because it’s one-on-one and it is more focused on the audition than practicing general music.”

Continued on page 18

The Muse conducted a school-wide survey about the amount of students who received help for their audition from Feb. 8- 12. Out of 1406 students, 1104 surveys were returned.

COVERSTORY

Continued from page 17 The audition process has not always been an industry. Students who wanted to go to Dreyfoos would apply, look at the criteria, and practice for a few weeks before showing up to their audition. Now, many prospective students prepare for months in advance and receive outside help. Tutors like Nikki Rattinger, who has tutored students for many years through a tutoring business, charge $60 to $75 per session. These private sessions give students an intensive look at the audition process. “I think [students who have a tutor for their audition] do have a little bit of an advantage,” vocal freshman Lillian Heran said. “Even though you obviously need to have some raw talent to do well in your audition, having a tutor is a big factor because it makes you well-prepared. The [tutors] know each part of the audition, and they can help prepare students better.” Former theatre dean Beverly Blanchette has been teaching for over 35 years. She now provides coaching for actors from all ranges, from novices to professionals. When she was the theatre dean, she looked for students who had the determination and drive to want to attend the school. “I think [tutoring] relates whether it be for school auditions to professional auditions,” Mrs. Blanchette said. “When I was dean I looked for people who had raw talent rather than training because when you’re young training can sometimes get in the way. My job as dean was to give training to students who could not get them anywhere else. It would be so sad for me to learn that a student who didn’t get in had true raw talent and no training. My job is to build the student’s confidence.” In the past, Dreyfoos used to offer a free summer camp to help students who wanted to refine their artistic skills and prepare for their auditions. This program ended a decade ago, and now families pay amounts ranging from $20 to $150 for private lessons, based on information that was collected in a recent Muse survey. This has been a problem for students who cannot afford to pay exorbitant amounts for a private tutor or

18 COVERSTORY

other forms of audition help. For students who get tutored months in advance for their audition, the cost of these sessions quickly adds up. Many families simply cannot afford to pay such large amounts for a privilege such as tutoring, leaving students who cannot afford it at a disadvantage. “I have tutored students for their Dreyfoos audition since 2001, and I have had over 300 students be accepted to Dreyfoos,” Ms. Rattinger said. “I work with students auditioning for communications, theatre, vocal, and band. Most times, the students come to me two months in advance to begin preparing them for their audition. However, the most important thing to me is to make sure the student wants to do well at Dreyfoos, because even preparation with a private tutor cannot help a kid who is not motivated.” Tutoring is not the only way students may get an advantage throughout the audition process. After every audition is completed, those who have a qualifying score go into a lottery. A qualifying score out of five is 4.25 for hopeful freshmen, 4.5 for hopeful sophomores, 4.75 for hopeful juniors, and 4.95 for hopeful seniors. While the lottery is random, it does place a priority on students who meet certain criteria. “After all the auditions are done [Principal Susan] Atherley [and a team] choose 20 percent from each choice program,” Magnet Coordinator Patrick Marshall said. “Once they are chosen, the remaining qualifying students go into the district as eligible. All the ones that are eligible go into a lottery process. The first lottery is based on if you have a parent as an employee. Then they go into any student that has a parent in the military. Then [having a sibling at Dreyfoos] is a big one for us. Strand preference is the next one, which is if you went to Bak. All the other people are placed in the general lottery after that.” The Muse conducted a survey for students with questions regarding the audition process. It found that the amount of students who received tutoring increased for each successive grade. The percentage of seniors, juniors,

sophomores, and freshmen were as follows: 65, 68, 76.20, and 79.90, respectively. “I am not surprised that more and more students get tutored every year,” Ms. Rattinger said. “Honestly, the audition process has become more like a game with ever-changing rules. People want to know what their audition entails and what the selection process is like, and many people believe having a tutor to guide them will help.” This disparity begins at Bak Middle School of the Arts. Students who are interested in pursuing their art in high school can prepare early and get help from their teachers. The teachers in each major can help students with various aspects of their audition. “Many times I get Bak students who may have more experience in their art area,” Ms. Rattinger said. “Often, however, their teachers select a piece for them that doesn’t fit the student. My job is to help them find a piece that they love and connect with.” When Bak students go head-tohead with students who have not had that prior experience, they often have an advantage. This is partially because they have had three years of preparation in their art area, but also because the selection lottery places a preference on students who have attended Bak. This is seen in the makeup of each grade

- approximately 66 percent of each grade went to Bak for middle school. “[Bak students] have an advantage because of their audition experience,” Heran said. “The Bak audition is really similar to the Dreyfoos audition so training for the Dreyfoos audition is a lot easier.” Because Bak students have plenty of experience in their art areas, students who don’t go to Bak have to work hard to prepare themselves for their audition. Many choose to go to a private tutor specifically for audition help. “As Dreyfoos becomes more and more competitive and students are aware of that, the students who truly want to get in work harder and harder to prepare themselves in any way possible for their audition,” Ms. Rattinger said. “However, regardless of tutoring, if a kid works hard enough, they will be amazing.” While tutoring can help close the gap between students who go to Bak and students who don’t, there are students who did not go to Bak and also do not have the means to afford private tutoring. These students have to prepare on their own and hope that their own preparation efforts will be enough to get them into Dreyfoos. “The most important thing to me is that the students who get in, whether they have raw talent or tutoring, is that they truly want to be there,” Mrs. Blanchette said. g

Graphics by Marianna Kaimakliotis

Contributors: Tom Kapitulnik, Brittany McKenzie, and Isaac Ochoa

Arts

STRIKING HARMONY

A Cappella group Elision members grow as vocalists together

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Strings seniors Maria Fernandez (L-R) and Joshua Ewers and theatre seniors Jana Jackson, Madalyn Mackarey, and Dylan Jackson represent the senior class at the Pep Rally during the karaoke competition. ''One thing that I think makes our arrangements so successful is that we all know music,'' Dylan Jackson said. ''Whether it be the technical terms or just knowing what sounds good, we all have an ear for harmonies and rhythms.''

by EmmaBaldinger

usic brings different sounds together to create a song, and a cappella group Elision brought five different students together and created friendships that will last a lifetime. Theatre seniors Dylan Jackson, Jana Jackson, and Madalyn Mackarey, and strings seniors Maria Fernandez and Joshua Ewers have been singing together in Elision for about two years. The students decided on the name Elision because the word means abstract sounds or ideas coming together, and they felt that it appropriately described how their different voices could combine so well. “I was introduced to the group one day when [Fernandez] invited me to listen to them [rehearse], and they were talking about needing a beatboxer, so I mentioned that I beatbox on the side for fun,” Ewers said. “I did one song with them and then the next day, they invited me into the group and we’ve been

IN THIS SECTION:

21 22

20 ARTS

See how the set of ‘‘Romeo and Juliet’’ is being moved to a statewide competition, and how students showcased films at Streaming Canvas. Check out what’s going on in each major in the Arts Index.

Elision ever since.” Neither Ewers nor Fernandez had ever sung in front of a real audience before joining the group. Fernandez felt that her friends in Elision taught her a lot about being confident both as a person and singer. “I had never really sung before, except for when I was in the shower or car,” Fernandez said. “I was actually really introverted and shy.” Despite their lack of experience in a cappella, each group member had some sort of musical knowledge or experience. “One thing that I think makes our arrangements so successful is that we all know music,” Dylan Jackson said. “Whether it be the technical terms or just knowing what sounds good, we all have an ear for harmonies and rhythms.” All five of the students felt that performing at the Spirit Week Pep Rallies was a highlight of their experiences together. Elision represented their class in the Pep Rally karaoke competition, and won first place as juniors and seniors. They appreciated the recognition and positive feedback that they received from Dreyfoos students and teachers afterwards. “Honestly, even if we didn’t receive praise or recognition from the school, I’d still be singing with them because the best part really is singing and laughing together in rehearsal,” Mackarey said. “We all have a similar sense of

humor and always have a good time arranging and rehearsing, so getting to know each other and becoming a family has been the best part.” In addition to the Pep Rally performances, Dylan Jackson said that the group performing on Atlantic Avenue this past winter was one of his favorite moments. “I remember closing my eyes during one of our songs, not expecting anyone to pay attention to us and when we finished, there was a large crowd of people standing in front of us cheering and asking who we were and where they could find us,” Dylan Jackson said. “That’s one of the moments I believe we all realized our music inspires people, which is our goal.” Elision won third place out of 22 other contestants at a competition called “Downtown’s Got Talent” in Palm Beach Gardens. All of the group members are thankful for the accomplishments they have made together and the experiences that they have shared as a group. “This coming year is going to be challenging because we’re all seniors and plan on going to different schools all over the country,” Dylan Jackson said. “It’s going to be a little hard to let go, but we plan on continuing to sing together whenever we get the chance because we’re not just a group anymore, we’ve become a family.” g

RESETTING THE STAGE

'Romeo and Juliet' goes to festival T

Graphic by Lexi Marcellino

of March 6-11 to put the set up for the he theatre department’s performance production, a process that they originally of “Romeo and Juliet” returned, but had 10 hours to do when the show was put for a limited time only. While “Shrek on in October. the Musical” was being performed, “Romeo and Juliet” was one of the theatre students were wiping the dust biggest productions Dreyfoos has ever off the “Romeo and Juliet” set pieces done, especially with such a small crew,” that have been sitting in a corner for five theatre sophomore Chloe Gonzales said. months. In the midst of preparing for the The set was led by all female crew International Thespian Society Florida heads: Gonzales, theatre senior Nicole State Thespian Festival in Tampa, or as Abis, and theatre junior Isabel Block. students refer to it, “States,” the actors At “States,” Dreyfoos had 15 minutes to and set designers of “Romeo and Juliet” take down the set and leave the premises, needed to refamiliarize themselves with while it had taken them originally two the set, leading them to put on the play in hours to take down. This was concerning Photo by Julia Bonavita Meyer Hall on March 12. to the theatre department, because if the Theatre sophomores Chloe Gonzales and Kaleigh Hanley help move the ''Romeo and Juliet'' set to the International Thespian Society Florida students takes longer than their allotted “We’re really excited because it’s a State Thespian Festival in Tampa. massive theatre with over 3,000 audience time they are forced to pay a fee. Florida thespian website. This is because their members,” theatre senior Zak Biggins said. “Even if I had 20 men with sawdusters performance was one of the best in the state, “[It was many students’] first experience in an and a bulldozer, we wouldn’t be able to get and was picked to be performed out of many equity house… it’s the closest you can get to a this set down in 15 minutes,” theatre teacher other plays around Florida. Broadway or a national tour.” Edward Blanchette said. However, this honor comes with a cost, “Romeo and Juliet” was deemed Around 30 students worked to pack and put as students on the build crew had to put the appropriate by “States” to show off talent in up the set, while around 85 students headed performance and technical aspects. The theatre piece up again for the show on March 12, take to the festival, which took place March 16-20. students constructed the set to follow all of the it down, and pack it into a van for Tampa all Hopefully, the theatre students found time in in a small amount of time. This process began guidelines that “States” listed on their official their hectic schedules to enjoy it. g the day after “Shrek” closed, and had the week

by MariannaKaimakliotis

SHOWCASING STUDENT CINEMA

Dreyfoos films displayed at Streaming Canvas by AlexaPope

film festival at Dreyfoos that consisted of only student films seemed nearly impossible, but to two students in the film program, the idea was perfect. In creating the Streaming Canvas film festival 15 years ago, two students wanted to bring the film community together and celebrate the efforts of the members of the film program. The Streaming Canvas film festival was first held off-campus, until Meyer Hall was equipped with a proper projection system. “I remember us having to use local theaters for the event,” communications teacher Ancil Deluz said. “We didn’t have a set location every year until Meyer Hall.” When developing the festival, the students and faculty wanted the students to be a part of organizing the event so they decided students should plan, market, and promote the event while the faculty deals with scheduling. “The films that are shown during the festival can range from narratives to college audition tapes, that’s the beauty of it,” digital media junior Joseph DiRienzo said. “Our goal here in the film department is to really show people what they have been missing out on.” When attending Streaming Canvas, you never know what you’re going to see. Films must go

through a rigorous process before they can actually be considered for the festival. “Films are first written, then they go through pre-production, which involves making a shot list and gathering up actors. There is much more that goes into it, but it’s quite extraneous,” Dr. Deluz said. “When a film is finally finished and ready to screen it really is beautiful thing.”

Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf

Communications senior Brett Marr introduces his original silent film ''Watcher'' at Streaming Canvas.

When starting to schedule Streaming Canvas this year, the film program faculty couldn’t see the festival actually happening. Student films were in the process of being made, and nothing seemed suitable to be

shown at the event. “If you would’ve asked me about Streaming Canvas around three months ago, I would’ve told you that we’re probably not having one this year, but we were pleasantly surprised,” Dr. Deluz said. Streaming Canvas film festival makes people who attend the event have a different mindset about film itself, as the films that are shown are nothing like what is seen in a theatre. The work produced in the film program are, for the most, part low-budget indie films. “I don’t think production value is an issue at all,” Dr. Deluz said. “I think it allows us to create our own way of expressing ourselves and gives us a unique voice.” This year, Streaming Canvas took place on March 11. The friends, family, and peers of Dreyfoos students got an opportunity to see how hard film students work. “It gives an opportunity for students to show their films to a larger audience,” communications teacher Christine Tieche said. “As an art department that normally doesn’t have these types of events, I think it’s nice everyone gets to see what we’ve been working on.” g

ARTS

ARTS INDEX VISUAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA

n March 5, the Dreyfoos students who won Gold Keys in the visual category of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards were given the opportunity to exhibit their pieces and accept their prizes at the Armory Art Center from 1 to 4 p.m. “I’m very excited to have my work in the show. I’ve never had my photography exhibited before and it’s such a great feeling sharing my work with others,” digital media sophomore Ava Campana said. During lunch on March 4, Dreyfoos students set up blankets on Freshman Hill and had the last art sale of the school year. The sale allowed students to sell and show the art that they’ve been working on this year. The items for sale included stickers, prints, t-shirts, and plants. In addition, over 40 Dreyfoos students participated in the Lake Worth Street Painting festival and earned art hours for their work on Feb. 28 to Feb. 29. Many qualifying visual and digital media students attended YoungArts Miami from March 8-13, where they displayed their pieces and worked with professionals. g

A guide to what's going on in the art area classes

VOCAL V

ocal students participated in their music performance assessment (MPA) choral festival and competition on March 4. Dreyfoos is one of many schools that attend this event, which takes place at Palm Beach Gardens High School. Students were judged on a scale from poor to superior as they performed two songs as well as sight sang. The vocal department worked on tweaking and perfecting songs just for this event for weeks. “It gives us a chance to sing other genres of music as well as put us out of our comfort zone with the dances,” vocal junior Sarah Moore said. “We are lucky enough to have Mr. Gary Lewis to teach us dances for our class songs, which always turns out amazing."g

THEATRE A

s tech week and performances of “Shrek the Musical” concluded, the theatre department prepared for “strike,” which is the day of the last performance when all of the students who worked on the show take down the set. Additionally, the department is continuing their organization, Theatre for Young Audiences, a theatre troupe aimed at a younger audience. Last year they performed “The Ugly Duckling” and this year they will be performing “The Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs.” “The play is geared to inspire the children in the audience to see theatre and be in theatre, and it’s also a great experience for the actors because they get to learn different acting techniques,” theatre sophomore Sidney Rubinowicz said. g

DANCE S

tudents, teachers, and guest choreographers in the dance department are all working hard to prepare for the Spring Dance Concert, which will take place in Meyer Hall from April 2-9 on the weekends. The Spring Concert will showcase the wide variety of dance styles that are taught at Dreyfoos, ranging from classical ballet to hiphop. Students of all grade levels will be performing. “We are working a lot on the Spring Dance Concert so right now all of the classes are getting started on their class pieces, and the guest pieces that have already been choreographed are being rehearsed,” dance junior Eliana Schreier said. Students and teachers are staying after school to rehearse and arrange the pieces for the concert. Additionally, a handful of dance majors attended the YoungArts Regional Program in Miami, which took place from March 8 to March 13. g

22 ARTS

Photo by Christine Tieche

Communication senior William Fritz attended the Palm Beach International Film Festival Student Showcase of Films at Lynn University on March 11. Fritz won first place for the commercial/PSA category for his Bass Egg commercial.

Photo by Julia Bonavita

Visual juniors Seanna Harris (L-R) Shannon Cruz, and Samantha Perdomo sell brownies and art on Freshman Hill during lunch on March. 4. The art sale showcased a variety personal works that were available to be purchased.

MUSIC

usic students had their Music Performance Assessment (MPA) on March 4 at Vero Beach High School. On March 9, band students left for Indianapolis, Ind. There, the symphonic band, wind ensemble, and a percussion ensemble not only performed but also attended clinics to help better the band program. Band and vocal students are also getting ready for the annual Pops concert. “Pops is always really fun,” vocal sophomore Alexa Burnston said. “I’m really excited for another fantastic concert this year.” Pops concert is a performance in which students perform well known songs, that go in correlation with their theme, opposed to the usual classical songs that they perform. Pops concert will take place in Meyer Hall on April 12. g

COMMUNICATIONS

eeds” held their third Open Mic Night at Harold’s Coffee Lounge on March 2. Streaming Canvas, a display of the best student films, occurred on March 11 in Meyer Hall. Communications majors are busy preparing for their showcase on April 1. The show combines all aspects of communications, and some rehearsals are already underway. Poets are practicing reading their work on stage and the debate team is practicing their group interpretation piece after school. The Muse, Marquee, and “Seeds” have been interviewing students for editor positions over the past few weeks. In addition, 10 debate students qualified to attend the prestigious 2016 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Salt Lake City from June 12-17. In order to qualify, students placed first or second in their event at a rigorous tournament. g

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Sports

GROWING UP GAMING Visual senior Michelle Guerrero excels in eSports

Guerrero said. “Usually, these tournaments take place in convention centers, and are also frequent at Comic-Cons or other cons because they know there will be a popular turnout. When the tournaments start, a bracket system [is set up]. Usually, the winner moves on after winning two of three matches. [The bracket] is also a set amount of lives, and whoever wins from there will move on to the next round.” Guerrero has a reputation at Dreyfoos, claiming that she is the best player at the school. She even managed to secure second place at Dreyfoos’ Homecoming Super Smash Bros. tournament. “She is definitely the best [player] at the school,” communications senior Erik Ridd said. Photo by Rowan Bennetti “She knows all the Visual senior Michelle Guerrero focuses in on her Nintendo DS as she snacks on a bag of Goldfish during lunch. She often competes in eSport tournaments. techniques, strategies, and has more “The players in the big tournaments are all experience than everyone else.” after money, and at that point there are tons of Before she enters a tournament and begins competitors and it becomes super challenging to play, Guerrero has a ritual and warm-up to get the top prizes,” Guerrero said. exercise that she will do before competing. Although these tournaments are “What I do to prepare before tournaments challenging and she often finishes with defeats, is walk around and play random people at the Guerrero continues to practice and play convention,” Guerrero said. “This the game for fun, just as a quarterback on a helps me because it allows me to football team would do. know which characters I want to “Even though I don’t always do well in use in certain situations, and which tournaments, I [know that I can] always play characters I don’t want to use. It is with my friends, that is why the game is fun,” really valuable to have these casual Guerrero said. g games beforehand.” Despite playing at lunch every day and practicing with friends whenever free time is available, Guerrero still finds winning Learn about communications sophomore Brianna Seaberg and difficult at the tournaments. With how she dedicates her life to tennis. various prizes, sometimes sums of cash varying from hundreds to Stay updated with Dreyfoos sports thousands of dollars, many skilled and watch out for up-and-coming players enter the tournament and track and field meets and tennis matches. Photo by Rowan Bennetti it is extremely hard to place among Piano sophomore Jacob McDougal (L-R), visual senior Michelle Guerrero the top. communications senior Erik Ridd, and vocal junior Kyle Watson play by ElliotHacker

ost people can relate to having some type of sport in their life. Whether for pure joy or for the opportunity to compete, sports provide many outlets from frustrations that take place in our everyday lives. Rather than a traditional sport like football or basketball, visual senior Michelle Guerrero plays Super Smash Bros., a video game created by Nintendo in 1999. This electronic sport, or eSport, has been something that she has loved and participated in competitively since she was young. “When I was about 4 or 5, I started playing [on] the Nintendo 64 [game console],” Guerrero said. “The very first Super Smash Bros. had just come out, and it was the main game I played. I fell in love with the game and would play with all the different characters over and over again.” Currently, Super Smash Bros. is one of the most competitive electronic games in the world. Along with the game League of Legends, Super Smash Bros. has hosted tournaments that have been covered by ESPN, and is now known as one of the main contributors to the creation of eSports. Due to such a large amount of users and players, eSports have become a phenomenon that is making a major impact on today’s society. Forty years ago, the thought of having competitive gaming broadcasted as a sport across the world would have been regarded as insanity. However, Guerrero is a perfect example of someone thriving in the eSports world. Beginning a few years ago, Guerrero started to partake in competitive tournaments of her own. “Whenever I hear a tournament is coming to town, I make sure I am able to attend,”

IN THIS SECTION:

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Super Smash Bros. together during lunch.

SPORTS 25

SERVING A PASSION

Brianna Seaberg pursues love of tennis by ShaneMcVan

ommunications sophomore Brianna Seaberg has been playing tennis since she was 9 years old, participating in tournaments and honing her skills to improve her game. All this work has paid off - she is the number two seed on the Dreyfoos girls tennis team. “When I was younger, I would play every day after school, but then in middle school I really got into travel soccer so I didn’t play tennis as much,” Seaberg said. “By the time I got to high school I had to decide between playing soccer and playing tennis, so I decided to pursue tennis and I quit soccer.” Once she decided to continue tennis as her main sport, Seaberg began to practice during the offseason so that she would be able to play on a more competitive level. “Once I made the decision [to pursue tennis] I went hardcore on tennis again. I’ll practice four times a week outside of school,”

Seaberg said. “On those days I’ll play with advanced [players] around the area. They are different seniors from different schools who are the top players on their teams.” One of the players that she practices with, Lea Wolfe, has been working with Seaberg throughout the past three and a half years. “We do a variety of different and unique drills. Sometimes we will do some match play. I have helped her improve her game by showing her how to never give up and keep fighting until the end,” Wolfe said. “[Seaberg] is a very consistent and smart player. She will interpret every ounce of advice given to her and use it to her advantage.” As Seaberg continues to become a better tennis player, her love for the sport grows as well. She hopes to continue playing tennis both in and out of school. “I have really [learned to] love tennis,” Seaberg said. “I love to go out and have

Photo by Alex Huynh

Communications sophomore Brianna Seaberg swings her racquet at a tennis match.

fun. Most people, when they go out to play tournaments, they play to win but I’m just there because I really have nothing better to do than to play tennis.’’ g

SIGNING UP FOR A FUTURE Sports scholars don't receive enough recognition

they liked me and would like me on their team County High School would go to an event and he unpopularity of Dreyfoos sports [at Daytona State College],” Gore said. “They sign and [they would] sign with each other,” makes it necessary to recognize athletes offered me a scholarship and when I made up Gore said. “It was still really exciting [to sign on when they accomplish extraordinary feats. my mind I called [the recruitment officer] and my own], but when you put so much time and Although often considered a joke, in the past said ‘I want to go to your school.’ Then they work into this you would like to be recognized the Dreyfoos athletic department had many send you letters [of intent] to sign.” at school. I go to this school and they got me accomplished divers, pole vaulters, and soccer Gore and Svopa were able to experience where I am today.” players within its ranks. This year, band Other athletes’ journey in seniors Kaitlyn Svopa and Riley Gore have professional sports do not go both experienced a lack of recognition unseen. On Dec. 29, Seminole Ridge when they signed to two different Florida High School senior Sullivan Maney colleges for their respective sports. At was honored in an issue of the Palm other high schools, students are known Beach Post for signing with Eckerd to be featured in the Palm Beach Post or College for beach volleyball. The visited by ESPN. At Dreyfoos, however, the picture featured Maney leaning most athletes seem to be rewarded with over letters of intent at Seminole is a clap on the back and a headline in The Ridge High School’s signing day. Muse. Two months later on Feb. 15, “I decided on Florida Southern College another feature was published on about October of my junior year,” Svopa Torey Brown, a running back for said. “The official signing date was not until Dwyer High School’s football team Feb. 3 so last year I was visiting the campus who received a special scholarship Photo courtesy of Riley Gore on National Signing Day. and had a meeting with the coaches and senior Riley Gore (top) smiles with a friend outside of the Daytona State that’s when they offered me a scholarship. Band “I really wish our school would College softball field. Gore received a full-ride softball scholarship to Daytona Then on Feb. 3 I officially got to sign.” give at least some recognition to State. Svopa committed to playing soccer on sports because a lot of students at the college level when she signed to Florida the thrill that many lucky athletes get when Dreyfoos do more than just their art area,” Southern College this past February. Similarly, they sign with a school. Even with this swelling Svopa said. “Sports at Dreyfoos are extremely Gore was offered a full-ride scholarship to pride, the disappointment in Dreyfoos’ lack of overlooked and there’s a lot of good athletes Daytona State College in her long-pursued recognition was still there. at our school [who] don’t get the recognition passion of softball. “[Some of my] friends on the softball team other students who are going to go to school “[At] one of my games the coach said that [who attend] Park Vista High School or Martin for their art area [get].” g commentary by AlanaGomez

26 SPORTS

SPORTSGUIDE A play by play of this season's meets, games, and tournaments

SPRING Track and Field

by AlanaGomez

he boys and girls track team competed in their first competition of the season on Feb. 23 at The Benjamin School. In the girls 400m dash finals, theatre sophomore Madison Burmeister placed second with a time of 1:08.01 and strings sophomore Madeleine Bruderer placed fourth with 1:10.34. The boys 4x100 meter team consisting of communications junior Makoa Beck, theatre senior Shahin Barzroudipour, strings sophomore Miguel Jayne, and visual freshman Njari Anderson, got second place with a time of 49.24. “There are a lot of new people to the track team this year. Mr. Vening has helped condition us not just for the race, but overall,” Burmeister said. “We do a lot more strength conditioning such as abs, arms, and squats that don’t just make us better runners but [better] athletes.” The team’s next meet will take place at The Benjamin School track on March 30 for a NonConference School Qualifier. g

Photo by Julia Bonavita

Visual sophomore Jin Deng runs in a sprinting event at the first track and field meet of the season on Feb. 23. The meet was held at The Benjamin School and was delayed for two hours due to heavy rain. The team has had an advantage this season with the help of their new coach social studies teacher and Athletic Director Ross Vening.

Tennis by ShaneMcVan

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he Dreyfoos tennis team has competed in 11 matches. This season the girls team record is 7-4 and the boys team record is 2-9. Physical education teacher and tennis coach John Webb has enforced a stronger work effort in his players practicing every day. “We’re behind [our schedule],” Mr. Webb said. “We’ve had three matches that were rained out and a couple kids couldn’t [attend other meets]. We had a conversation and we taught all the kids that we can’t stop and we have to put in work by coming out here every day. I try to make sure they get [to practice and matches] and they haven’t been doing that.” The team is attempting to develop a team chemistry by playing and practicing together, but other school obligations and events have prevented them from doing so. “[The team] just needs to keep working hard and play strong in practices as well as games,” visual sophomore Jared Amrose said. “The structure of the team [has] to change with every match.” g

Email: martyprep@aol.com SPORTS 27

Lifestyle

THE DOS AND

DON’TS OF HAIR

Due to different textures, thickness, and lengths, hair care must be type-specific

by GerniseGregoire and KaraiMcLean

Photos by Rowan Bennetti

hile some students have the privilege of waking up in the morning and not having to even touch their hair, others may have to moisturize, braid, or even straighten their hair the night before school. Here are four types of hair, according to Women’s Magazine, with their respective tips for healthy, beautiful hair. Modeled by communications sophomore Chantel McMillan

Type 1: Straight Hair

s one of the most common and flexible hair types in the world, straight hair can be worn in many different ways. Although it can sometimes be breakable and may lack volume or body, straight hair is easy to work with. Most people take care of their Type 1 hair by using natural oils such as castor and olive oil regularly. However, too many oil products will make Type 1 hair excessively bothersome as oils from the scalp come down to the hair shaft quickly as well. Despite this, it is the easiest type of hair to work with. “My hair is really easy to maintain. It’s naturally straight so all I do is brush it and go,” communications sophomore Chantel McMillan said. “I don’t even own hair products other than heat protectant when it’s needed, but usually it molds to whatever I do. It’s very easy to work with.” g

28 LIFESTYLE

Modeled by strings senior Camille Malkasian

Modeled by band sophomore Dustin Hill

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Type 3: Curly Hair

avy hair is considered both curly and straight hair at a medium. Although it is not as dry as curly hair, it is as oily as straight hair. Wavy hair texture tends to be more defined with a fuller body. The style of wavy hair ranges from “S-shaped” to regular waves that are tight and form loose spiral curls. Wavy hair has a tendency to get stuck in brushes or combs. One thing to remember when taking care of this type of hair is to make sure it doesn’t get tangled and stays moisturized at all times. “Wavy hair, especially my hair, is thick and voluminous. If I brush it in the morning, I look like a poodle or Hermione from ‘Harry Potter,’ ” strings senior Camille Malkasian said. “My only complaint is how much my roots come through because I dye it. I have to brush it at least five times a day to keep it from getting tangled. ” g

he tamest of curly hairs takes the “S-shaped” pattern with loopy spirals while the more full and voluminous curly hair resembles tight corkscrews. While certain people may have naturally curly hair, the same pattern can be done on straight hair with flexi rods, perm rods, and even curling irons. Band sophomore Dustin Hill has a mixture of Type 2 and Type 3 curly hair. “My hair is big and curly and always smells good. I don’t use any products other than shampoo and conditioner,” Hill said. “When I used to skateboard, it would always be in my face. It gets really hot and frizzy, but I’ve always had long hair.” Many struggles come with Type 3 hair such as shrinkage and breakage. When curly hair dries, it becomes short and shrinks. Moisturizer and oils are the solution to easily breakable hair. g

Modeled by theatre senior Racheria Goode

Type 4: Coily Hair

oily hair is usually a feature of African-American hair. Because of its kinkiness and minimal curl pattern, this type of hair is generally the driest of all the hair types. Coily hair is maintained by twist outs to keep its curl pattern vibrant and defined. With this kind of hair, it is vital to maintain shine and get moisture to the scalp. “My hair has a mixture of very tight curls that look nappy, but when you get a closer look, the curls are actually very defined,” theatre senior Racheria Goode said. “I wash my hair maybe once or twice a week. I use coconut oil, argan oil, pink lotion, and a few other oils and moisturizer to keep my hair from being dry.” To get coily hair, use the straw method. Although it may seem absurd, bendy straws found at the dollar store can be used as a miniature flexi rod that will produce bouncy and bright coils. g

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS Five myths people think to be true are false by AlexaPope

lood is not blue, swallowed gum does not take seven years to digest, and eating before swimming does not increase the risk of getting a cramp. Here are five myths debunked that are often believed to be true about our personal physique, or what we call the human body. 1. Regrown hair is not thicker, coarser, or darker. It only appears that way because after being cut, the hair’s tip is wider or blunt, Graphics by Lexi Marcellino making it look darker. Also, since hair is cut at an angle, it will be sharper than usual, making it feel rough or coarse. According to “Mixed Messages,” an article by doctors Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll, shaving has no effect on the thickness or rate of growth of the hair.

2. The average human does not have to drink eight glasses of water per day. Water is present in fruits and vegetables, as well as in juice, tea, and even coffee. The lack of evidence supporting the recommendation is categorically documented in a review by Heinz Valtin in the American Journal of Physiology. 3. People do not use only 10 percent of their brains. Studies of patients with brain injury show that damage to almost any area of the brain has specific and lasting effects on mental, vegetative, and behavioral capabilities. Many types of brain imaging studies show that no area of the brain is completely inactive. The many functions of the brain are highly localized, with different tasks allocated to different brain regions. According to Stanford’s Encyclopedia of Philosophy, this misconception was attributed to William James, an American philosopher who used metaphorically the expression “People use

10 percent of their brains,” but it was taken in a literal sense. 4. Cracking one’s knuckles will not cause arthritis since the cracking isn’t actually wearing down anything, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Between the joints is an egg-white substance called synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant as joints move. In 2015, scientists were able to film a knuckle cracking and figured out that the sound heard is the sound of a cavity, or a gap, forming. Nothing is being broken or damaged. 5. Humans have more than the commonly cited five senses, according to Harvard Medical School. The number of senses in various categorizations ranges from five to more than 20. In addition to sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing, humans can sense balance and acceleration, pain, body and limb position, and relative temperature. g

INTRODUCING THE

VEGGIE POTLUCK

Alternative diets spread at Dreyfoos by HannahDunn

ver the past few years, the rise of vegetarianism and veganism has been evident in the Dreyfoos community. According to a Harris Interactive study commissioned by the Vegetarian Resource Group, approximately 5 percent of the United States is vegetarian (close to 16 million people), and about half of these vegetarians are vegan. For people like theatre senior Dylan Lyons, being a vegetarian was part of his daily life. He grew up with his mother and sister who were vegetarians themselves. Other students at Dreyfoos represent the remaining 2.5 percent of the U.S. population as vegans. Digital media senior Valentina Suarez committed herself to veganism eight months ago after watching the documentary “Earthlings.” Other students such as visual junior Sophia Beaubien became vegans to show their belief in the equality of animals and humans. “I’m a vegan, and it really made me understand that all beings deserve the same amount of respect that humans get,” Beaubien said. “It made me put into perspective that my life isn’t any more superior than an animal’s.”

According to the Global Healing Center, a vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, and seafood. Vegans avoid meat, poultry, and seafood, but they also take it a step further by eliminating all animal byproducts from their diet. “Two very common misconceptions are that a Photo by Jade Lenkersdorf person’s diet consists of only raw Digital media senior Valentina Suarez (L-R), visual senior Jessica Kian, theatre sophomores Kai Horvit and Azure Kordick, visual senior Heather Hart, visual items and a person’s physical junior Chrystie Tyler, visual sophomore Giovanna Paciletti, and theatre junior growth will be hindered because Michelle Shannon enjoy vegan snacks at the Vegan Potluck on Feb. 16. they do not retain enough protein,” Lyons said. “As a that they’re gross because of fake meat or vegetarian, I still eat products veggies, but we try to show the yummy side of that contain high amounts of protein such as it,” Suarez said. eggs, tofu, nuts, and milk.” For those who wish to change their Living in a culture in which almost all foods diets to vegetarianism or veganism, Suarez contain animal byproducts brought a need recommends researching how to plan a diet for an unofficial club at Dreyfoos, The Vegan/ and where to get the right nutrients to avoid Vegetarian Club. The group plans to organize a second potluck in April during lunch for people deficiencies. “It’s okay to start by baby steps because to try vegan recipes. this isn’t a fad diet,” Suarez said. “This is being “We’re trying to promote vegetarianism socially and mentally conscious of what you’re and veganism through the potlucks because using and eating every day.” g [vegetarianism and veganism] have the stigma

LIFESTYLE 29

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Entertainment

TheFinstaRevolution

Ordinary Instagram grows too pompous for some by ChloeKrammel

digital revolution is underway. Instagram serves as an outlet to share the best parts of life, and to define and visually represent a person’s identity. But the fact that a student’s every acquaintance will see his or her post and then judge whether or not they like it can become a hassle for those who simply want to be themselves without fear of public humiliation and pressure to conform. Ergo the “finsta,” or fake Instagram. “It’s interesting how social media isn’t an outlet for people anymore, rather a thing you have to upkeep,” visual freshman Sofia Grosso said. “Finsta’s feed into the oversharing mindset that social media originally created is the next step in its devolution. People are trying to humanize social media by having multiple accounts as one would have different facets of a personality.” Real Instagram posts are oftentimes an art. It can take time to find the best photo to post, filter, and edit perfectly, ask friends for advice on captions, make it match your feed, and if feeling extra, remove blemishes. Finstas rid this stressful element while allowing the concept of privatizing who sees this unedited and uncut version of you. For example, communications senior Bethany Ebanks rants

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32 33

Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival debuted in Sunshine Grove with artists such as Skrillex and Mumford & Sons. Kanye West may name himself Yeezus, but after his debut in 2004, fans have seen more vanity than humility. Does Kanye have a God complex?

about her daily life and vocal junior Gabrielle Cowen posts varied selfies from all possible angles. There is finally a chance to be real on social media. “There is no worry about what the majority

[of people] think and you can decide which people see your posts. You can be comfortable posting what you want in front of these people,” piano junior Aalisha Jaisinghani said. “It’s like leaving your public appearance and showing your true self in a room filled with people you are comfortable with.” The number of followers on said finstas are purposely kept in the low double digits due to the exclusivity and vulnerability of the content uploaded. Fake Instagrams can be seen as a safe haven that allow escape from the mundane and limiting platform of the real Instagram or “rinsta”-sphere. Take for

example, the unspoken rule of only being able to post once a day. Finstas allow for these rules to be broken. Many post anywhere from 1-7 times a day. There are no limits or rules. Around 150 known finstas from Dreyfoos exist, but knowing the precise number is impossible due to the underground and secretive nature of having a finsta. As more people come into contact with finsta culture, the number rises and the trend spreads. “When I went to California over the summer everyone had one, and I kind of looked at them funny,” digital senior Beatrice Hood said. “Then, when I got back to school, I felt like posting more than once a day and ranting about things.” In some circumstances people have grown closer with others through their finstas. Because finstas allow the release of thoughts and similar interests, a trust develops among finsta users. Communications senior Jessica Taylor can attest to this after befriending communications juniors Hannah Dunn and Kayla Gallagher. They were able to talk more via comments Graphic by Chloe Krammel and be more open about things, thus forging a friendship among the three of them. “I made a finsta then got nervous and deleted it right away,” theatre junior Emma Ridley said. “On my actual Instagram account I post what I want anyways, so it didn’t really make sense for me to have one. I totally support it though, people should do what they want to do, and it’s really entertaining to follow other people’s finstas. You get to see a whole other side of them which is really cool and just flat out entertaining.” With more and more finsta accounts being created today, Dreyfoos’ underground finsta culture is at its peak. Fake Instagram is allowing us a chance to be real. g

ENTERTAINMENT

by ZachDeCastro and ChloeKrammel

VIDEO SUMMARY

he first annual Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival was hosted from March 3-6. The festival is a four-day campout concert at Sunset Grove, north of Okeechobee. It offered over a hundred artists across five stages spanning various genres, ages, and styles. Over 30,000 people attended the festival which led the town to double in size, according to WPBF news. “It was madness in the best possible way, I felt like I was a part of something new and important with it being the first year ever,” digital media senior Alysha Domb said. Performing artists included Mumford and Sons, Skrillex, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Fetty Wap, and legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. “[Due to the different types of genres,] the crowd was so diverse and there were tons of hippy-type people with dreads and no shoes who were there for Bassnectar and Shpongle, but also frat boys coming to see Future and Fetty Wap,” Domb said. “Then, there was the whole oldies rock-n-roll crowd for Hall & Oates and Robert Plant. Then, there were also the Kandi Kids.” Location plays an important role in this event, the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival website emphasizes the importance of the relationship between man and nature. The creators of Okeechobee Fest want to reconnect, re-awaken, and re-interpret the traditions under the Okeechobee moon. Sunset Grove, at the heart of Okeechobee, was once inhabited by Native Americans, notorious for their deeply-rooted relationship with nature. “Okeechobee differed from many of the other music festivals I’ve been to because they had sound healing and astral planing [workshops],” digital media junior Christina Covell said. “It was a lot more learning about yourself and connecting with others. Music festivals are normally just a big party; this is a spiritual experience.” g

32 ENTERTAINMENT

OKEECHOBEE BRINGS TENS OF THOUSANDS Renowned artists

attend new festival

Photo by Margot Heiser

A flow artist uses LED art at Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival. There were LED art workshops such as Hula Hoop classes.

Photo by Margot Heiser

With neon lights, fog, and a crowd numbering in the hundreds, DJ RL Grime performs on the Now Stage. RL Grime projected cells growing, lily pads, and sacred geometry for his performance.

Photo by Margot Heiser

Digital media junior Christina Covell sits at the Mad Hatters Tea Party, a bungalow with hammocks, vintage sofas, funky lamps, and tea served until 5 a.m.

Photo by Margot Heiser

Odesza played at the Now Stage. He reflected lights on the trees surrounding the set.. Other DJs such as Bassnectar attended the festival.

Photo by Margot Heiser

Vivienne Letalon blows bubbles at the Now Stage during Youth Lagoon. There was camping, workshops, and artists.

HAS RISEN Graphic by Chloe Krammel

A look at Kanye's God complex

commentary by CodyBaez

o matter how some feel about him, there’s no denying the godlike influence Kanye West has on the 21st century, whether for the better or for the worse. Only one thing is for certain: this man, who came out of nowhere in 2004 and subsequently took over the world with his music and attitude, has a God complex. Is he the most talented person of our lifetime? Is he so amazing that he has no limits and can do just about whatever he wants? Does he have godlike abilities? No, none of these are true, but West thinks they are. The “Kanye God Complex” is a real and striking phenomenon that attempts to explain why West says what he says and acts the way he acts. In truth, no one but West himself knows why he is the person he is, but this theory is the closest the world will get to understanding exactly why it is that Kanye loves Kanye so much. The “Kanye God Complex” is the theory that West has an inflated and persistent belief in his inherent ability, privilege, and infallibility, according to Shrink Tank. He believes that his opinions and beliefs are indisputably correct and refuses to admit error. West’s God complex first debuted after releasing his studio album “College Dropout” in 2004. Over the next decade, West cemented himself as one of the most critically acclaimed rappers of this generation, releasing albums like “Late Registration,” “Graduation,” “Yeezus,” and even his most recent, “The Life of Pablo” which have allowed him to accumulate an estimated 205 million dollars over his career. But his music was not the only thing that had him under scrutiny. West’s narcissistic personality has led to a number of incidents throughout his career. In 2004, he stormed out of the American Music Awards after losing the Best New Artist Award. He launched into a profanity-filled rant during the 2006 MTV European Music Awards after losing the Best Hip-Hop Artist Award. Most famously, he grabbed

the microphone from Taylor Swift to announce how he believed Beyonce should have won after Swift won Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Music Awards (at least he let her finish). He also engaged in multiple Twitter fights with Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose. The most significant pieces of evidence of the God complex are found within the lyrics of his music, because, of course, he seems to be rapping about himself every other song. The most glaring point came a few years ago with the release of his album “Yeezus.” Released in 2013, it contains a track titled “I Am A God,” with a credit that says “featuring God.” In the second verse of the song, West raps “I just talked to Jesus/He said, ‘What up, Yeezus?’.../I know he’s the most high, but I am a close high.” The album title itself is a play on “Jesus,” with West comparing himself to Jesus not only with his nickname but in many lyrics. Recently on his latest album, “The Life of Pablo,” the track “Wolves” includes a comparison of West’s wife, Kim Kardashian, to the Virgin Mary. West raps,“What if Mary was in the club/ ‘Fore she met Joseph with no love?” West may have been alluding to Kardashian’s actions before she met him, comparing himself to a godly or holy figure. West went as far as dressing like Jesus himself by wearing a tunic and crown of thorns in his Rolling Stone cover photo in 2006. The article’s subhead reads “The passion of Kanye West.” In an interview with Tom Westwood, West said, “The Bible had 20, 30, 40, 50 characters in it. You don’t think that I would be one of the characters of today’s modern Bible?” One may think there is something strange going on in his head. Whether or not he truly believes himself to be a God, it is safe to assume West’s relentless, self-centered behavior isn’t ending soon. And as West himself put it, “You may be talented, but you’re not Kanye West.” g

ChloeKrammel

s cliche as it sounds, I will for sure have on repeat "Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor to ensure my survival of the fourth quarter. With summer in the Photo by Billboard forefront, staying on top towards the end of the school year is always a challenge. Its steady and upbeat tempo makes it the perfect song to blast in my room to drown out my 3 a.m. tears while pulling an all-nighter. I can’t wait to slave away on APUSH work all while tapping my pencil to the beat. g

RubyRosenthal

ourth quarter is also known as the quarter with no LTMs, few days off, and AP tests; a better label would probably be the quarter of no Photo by Billboard fun whatsoever. Instead of rewatching “Friends” on Netflix for the millionth time or sleeping until my heart’s content, I will be studying for hours to prepare for endless tests, quizzes, and second semester exams. With summer right around the corner, it can be hard to make myself focus on homework and my studies. To get myself (kind of ) in the mood to do so and finish up the school year with a semi-average GPA, I will listen to “You Make My Dreams” by Hall and Oates. g

ZacharyDeCastro

he Door’s song “Five to One” will keep me motivated during the fourth quarter. “Five to One” was a song written in the turbulent time of the late Photo by Billboard ‘60s. Though the lyrics may not exactly spell out motivation, lines like, “Gonna make it in our prime,” lead me to think that if a beach bum, closet hippie like Jim Morrison can make it as one of the greatest frontmen of all time, I think I’ll be alright. g

BennettMorgan

o get me pumped up, the only viable jam song that inspires me to make that extra push is “I Won’t Back Down” from the classic film “Barnyard.” Photo by Billboard Performed by the stoic Ben the Cow, this Tom Petty classic ardently asserts an iron will. After finishing the song, Ben the Cow is indomitable in the face of conflict, except for when coyotes kill him. Fortunately, feral coyotes are seldom seen around Dreyfoos, so I have the utmost confidence. g

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EXPOSURE

Photos by Jade Lenkersdorf

MARINE MURAL by JuliaHorneck

n an effort to integrate the arts within the academic setting of science dean Stephen Anand’s classroom, a group of visual students approached him with the proposal to paint a mural atop one of his walls. Welcoming the idea of this uncommonly executed form of artistic expression, Mr. Anand knew that a mural would not only bring a new element to his teaching environment, but would also give students a unique opportunity to display their art on a canvas unlike any other. “[Initially visual seniors] Annie Fong, Catherine Chen, and I came up with the idea of painting some of the school walls because they looked a bit bare,” visual senior Mei Lin O’Malley said. “We decided that we’d start out small like in a teacher’s classroom, so we asked Mr. Anand to see if we could start in his room.” After Mr. Anand suggested the design of an oceanic scene to adorn one of his walls,

students painted an intricate underwater world, comprised of coral beds, swimming fish, and other sealife. “I watched them sketch out a rough design and add detail after detail, as well as personalize it too, because if you look at it there’s definitely some personality to it,” Mr. Anand said. “They added stuff that wasn’t in the original drawing and they took a little a bit of artistic freedom to do some things that, I think, contributed to the overall beauty of it.” When going about the process of creating the mural, O’Malley, Fong, and Chen used various individual underwater images as reference in order to paint the complete oceanic landscape. “It took about a year to complete it to how it looks today, because it was hard to fit painting the mural into our busy schedules,” O’Malley said. “Some of us had club meetings after

school, before school, as well as during lunch, so it was very hard to correlate that, as well as get all the paint we needed. Wall paint is a lot harder to paint with than acrylic paint.” Though O’Malley, Fong, and Chen were the artists who had originally initiated the design of the mural, it is still an ongoing process that students continue to contribute their talents to. “I had seen murals before, but I think people who aren’t artists, like me, envision that the outcome will look exactly like the original photo,” Mr. Anand said. “But it’s got a personal touch and I can see in it some of my students that have worked on it. I’m glad that it didn’t turn out exactly as I had expected it, because now it’s not just a copy of something, it’s more of a living work. It reminds me of my students, who were happy to do it and that continues to make me happy.” g