January 2022

Photos Courtesy of RHS Students

THE

TALON ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // JANUARY 2022 // VOL. 84 ISSUE 4

Read about New Year’s resolutions on page 10

PAGE 2 || NEWS

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE MEGAN SPLAN

LIFESTYLES EDITOR As the numbers of Covid cases creep up to an alarming number, doctors and other medical workers try their best to enforce and provide the right vaccines for people of all ages.

Many people have raised concerns and questions about the booster vaccine and what it contains.

The CDC website page, “Data Supporting Need for a Booster Shot; states that “studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus and the ability to prevent infection with variants may decrease over time and due to changes in variants.”

Analyzing what the CDC recommends, people should be encouraged to get the booster vaccine.

Along with new variants of Covid being spread across the globe, the CDC recommends the the vaccine to help prevent the severity of these new variants: “The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters, and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19.Data from clinical trials showed that a booster shot increased the immune response in trial participants who finished a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna series six months earlier or who received a J&J/ Janssen single-dose vaccine two months earlier. With an increased immune response, people should have improved protection against getting infected with COVID-19.

For Pfizer-BioNTech and J&J/

Janssen, clinical trials also showed that a booster shot helped prevent severe disease.”

Along with other questions, many people ask when is the right time or age to get a booster shot.

According to the CDC website, this is what they suggest: IF YOU RECEIVED: PfizerBioNTech Who should get a booster: Adults 18 years and older Who may get a booster: Teens 16-17 years old.

When to get a booster: At least 6 months after completing your primary.

COVID-19 vaccination series Which booster can you get: Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations.

Teens 16–17 years old may get

a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster IF YOU RECEIVED; Moderna Which booster can you get: Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations.

Who should get a booster: Adults 18 years and older.

When to get a booster: At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series.

Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations.

IF YOU RECEIVED; Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen* Who should get a booster: Adults 18 years and older.

When to get a booster: At least 2 months after receiving your J&J/Janssen COVID-19

vaccination.

Which booster can you get: Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred in most* situations. *Although mRNA vaccines are preferred, J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.

Photo by Megan Splan

LIKEFEST: THE NEW LOVEFEST MEGAN SPLAN

LIFESTYLES EDITOR As the curtain closes on the fall musical, a new chapter opens for opportunity for the members of the RATS theater program. As auditions and recruitment buzz through the air of the auditorium walls, the season of Lovefest takes the stage.

This year’s performance however is a little different compared to previous years. Due to Covid, this year the three high schools (Adams, Rochester, and Stoney) decided to put together a mini festival as opposed to going to Bay City to perform. The performance this year is called The Last Day Of High School and will be performed at Adams High School.

Although there have been modifications to this year’s performance, the background history to Lovefest is still a very interesting topic.

“The official name is the Mid- Michigan Theater Arts Festival, but it’s always been known as lovefest,” Theater Director Mr. Gollon said. “The director that started it, about 27 years ago now, Tom Smith at Garber High School in Essexville (which is just outside Bay City) was competing in the state level one-act tournament run by the Michigan Interscholastic Association. Rochester also used to attend many years ago. The problem we were having as directors was that we don’t see theater as a competitive sport. Theater is something that you perform for people, and so what was happening was that we would go to these tournaments and oftentimes you would get judges who just did not have much of a theater background, and their adjudicating of the productions was all over the place. So he (Smith) was

tired of his students going to these festivals and having a judge would just totally rip on their show, and the idea of kids in tears was not the idea of theater that he wanted.

So he decided to create a sort of festival that any schools who wanted to come could come. He would get college professors to adjudicate and you would get evaluated feedback on your production. But he just wanted it to be a true celebration of the performing arts. So then what started as a small group grew up to a two day festival with 16 different schools from across the state. He also incorporates his dance team to open the festival and his jazz band to end each festival and it’s just a true celebration of theater. So really Lovefest, the whole name, is just that. It’s a festival for people who just love the theater arts.”

As confirmed by Senior and Assistant director Allison Susoan, the love for this festival is felt among the students who participate.

“I always enjoy working with the actors,” Susoan said.

“I’ve been in the cast before, so this is my fourth year working with some of these people. Everyone is so nice and hard working. They are very compliant, welcoming, and respectful. I love the environment of the theater. I’ve always been close with the cast, but I’ve grown to know the crews as well since directing Elf. I plan on going to college for film directing, and the more I enjoy my RATS experience, the more excited I am for the future.”

With all of the planning and organization can come certain conflicts and stressors with putting together a performance.

“Predicting COVID’s impact is extremely stressful,” Susoan added. “With this new variant, cases rising will determine if we go to Love Fest. Not only that, but worrying about the actors’ health; if they get COVID they can’t be in the show.”

Another challenge is being able to take the show on the road and moving set pieces in a truck.

“This one (show) is very different because this one we have to take on the road,” Theater Director Gollon said. “So in terms of play selection and all of the design elements, we have to keep that in mind. It has to be stuff that can be disassembled, loaded into a truck, and taken to a location.

Then ther is a time limit that we have to work in along with clearing the stage. So that is probably the biggest challenge.

[A joy and challenge is] one of the same, it’s the actual loading of the truck, loading up the bus, driving up there, and just the logistical things. We go to the hotel first, then to the school where we watch a whole slate of shows on that Friday. Then Saturday is our day to perform. We’re up and unloading our truck and then waiting for our time. Once our time arrives, we’re on the clock. So as soon as they say okay, the stage is ours. We’re loading everything in and every detail being set; not just the set itsel, but all the lighting and sound too, and all of that has to be moving very efficiently. When the show is over, we literally have to race to clear everything out so that the next show can come and perform. So it’s high stress at all times, but when it’s all said and done, it’s a great experience.”

PAGE 3 || NEWS

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

MEET THE MR. ROCHESTER CONTESTANTS KRISTINE HART AND KERIA LONG

STAFF WRITERS

The highly anticipated Mr. Rochester contest is coming up fast - Thursday, Feb. 10th - and you need to be prepared! If you’re struggling to find the right person to vote for, the Talon staff can help you pick your next winner!

Not familiar with Mr. Rochester? Then you have to go to this year’s contest! Mr. Rochester is an exciting talent show and more. The Senior candidates have to exhibit their talents in a dance contest, swimsuit competition, and an individual talent contest. All RHS students and staff are welcome to attend this live event.

This year’s eight candidates are Antonio Abro, Liam Clymer, Omkar Ghodke, Micah Gendich, Tyler Guolla, Skyler Janiszewski and Chirag Mishra. The Talon staff writers interviewed each of them to provide you the information you need to choose the best candidate to vote for.

There is so much more to come from this amazing group of boys, so you won’t want to miss seeing them live and in-person at this year’s Mr. Rochester contest. Now that you’ve heard from all of our Mr. Rochester candidates, who will you be voting for?

Last but not least we talked to Omkar Ghodke. When asked how he would ask someone to homecoming, “I would make a poster, get some flowers, and get what she likes,” said Ghodke.

“So if she likes oreos, I’ll get her oreos.”

Wow, that’s very thoughtful! We were very curious to see what breed of dog he would be. And his answer did not disappoint.

“I would be a Poodle,” said Ghodke.

“They’re just cute. They’re just cute little animals.”

Next, we talked with Chirag Mishra. We asked him what dog breed he would be, “a pitbull because they’re tough, and I’m tough,” said Mishra. We also asked why people should vote for him.

“Because I’m all about that character, tradition, and achievement.” His answers definitely show his personality as funny and kind.

Next we asked Liam Clymer to describe himself in three words.

“Charismatic, entertaining, and lovely,” said Clymer. We also asked him how he would ask someone to go to homecoming with him. He was not a fan of the extravagant and public scene that some guys use, “I think it’s stupid to put someone on the spot, so I would ask them individually first, and then if they were okay with that I would make them a sign if they wanted one.” We really liked Clymer’s responses and thought he was really sweet.

Micah Gendich was asked if he could choose any superpower to have, what would it be? “Magnet man because I would be attracting,” said Gendich. When we asked Gendich what he thought was his biggest accomplishment, He had a very different but also clever response.

“Being a senior because that’s kind of exclusive.” Gendich was also very nice and easy to talk to.

Skyler Janiszewski had a lot to say during his interview. When asked how he would ask someone to homecoming, “I would do it in the most fun, imaginable way possible. If they wanted a poster, I would do a poster, and there would be balloons too. They shouldn’t be dissapointed,” said Janiszewski. We also asked him what his biggest accomplishment was currently, “I’m most proud of my growth and ability to take criticism, and my ability to change my perspective as much as possible.” We viewed that as a pretty insightful response.

Then we have Tyler Goulla. We asked Goulla how he would ask a girl to homecoming and his answer was definitely different.

“I would make a sign that had a flying pig on it,” said Goulla. (Our interpretation: is he thinking the girl would say, “Yeah, when pigs fly?”) We then asked him to describe himself in three words.

“Outgoing, cool, and fun.” Which was definitely shown in the interview.

Our first interviewee was Antonio Abro.

We asked what breed of dog he would be if he could choose one.

“Chihuahuas, because they’re feisty like me,” said Abro. We then asked him what words he would describe himself.

“Hilarious, outgoing, and carefree.” He was definitely hilarious!

Photos by Megan Splan, Erielle Ocampo and Jenny Kim

PAGE 4 || FEATURE

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

HUMANS OF ROCHESTER

Senior Skyler Janiszewski’s posititve mindset impacts fellow students BRICE BOGGAN STAFF WRITER Among the busy hallways once the dismissal bell has rung, the personality of Skyler Janiszewski shines through among the crowd. Many students would recognize Skyler in the halls or at after-school events, but how many really know Skyler? As an energetic type, he carries positivity and joy with him.

“I want to be, for as many people as I can, a universally positive part of their story,” said Janiszewski.

Janiszewski, a senior at Rochester high school, enjoys performing with theatre and playing instruments such as saxophone, banjo, and others. When he was younger, he wasn’t outgoing at all and was more on the quiet side. Near the end of 8th grade however, he realized he wanted to be more sociable. He wanted to meet and talk to new people, and listen to their stories. He started to view everyone as a friend, regardless of whether they were a close friend or just a friend of a friend. Whenever he met new people, he realized that he enjoyed it and hearing their stories about them and their experiences. He thinks everyone needs that kind of person in their life: the kind of person to talk to and who will just listen.

“You never know what someone is going through, and the ability to get to know someone, make them smile, and possibly take away any worries they may have is an amazing thing.”

Janiszewski was once in that spot where he wished he had that someone, but he no longer feels that way and is grateful for those that joined his life, so he wants to be that same kind of friend for other people.

“He always made an impression whenever he walked into the room,” said Megan Splan, a friend of Skyler’s, “whether that was being late because of marching band rehearsals or being loud at 7:30 in the morning.”

Splan’s first impression of Skyler was “the theatre kid”. When she first met Janiszewski two years ago, he played Lord Farqaud in Rochester’s Shrek: The Musical. Once when she and a group of other performers were practicing choreography for a pep assembly, Janiszewski was late to the practice. As she helped him learn the dance steps, she noticed that he was super kind and caring. He even convinced her to audition for a role in this past fall’s performance of Elf: The Musical. She originally only wanted to be a part of the backstage crew, but he saw her potential and encouraged her to try out for an acting part. Splan ended up landing the lead female role. She’s very appreciative that he pushed her to recognize her ability and happy that he is her friend. She would describe him as “a nice, genuine, open guy; the type to be there for you during a tough time.”

In 8th grade, Janiszewski found himself happy being more expressive and outgoing, so he

joined theatre. He started putting on different characters and acting out different personalities and enjoyed it. Soon after, he started making his own characters. He ties this into life itself. He views life as like a rainbow, and that you shouldnt limit yourself to one color, one thing. ¨It’s all colorful at the end of the day, it’s all these different colors,” said Janizewski. “It’s all these different parts of life. And it’s really cool to see the whole rainbow.¨ He also views life as something like water.

“We wait for calm waves or violent motions, but whether the days are good or bad, we should enjoy the water. Even on the bad days, we should appreciate when it gets better and the experience we get from it.”

Next month, Janiszewski is participating in the annual Mr. Rochester contest, where he applies this same philosophy. Whether he wins or not, he’s going to enjoy the experience and fun he’ll have. He’s in it to share the moments with the other contestants, as well as his friends, family, and anyone else that supports him, and he gladly supports others the way they support him.

He’s grateful for the many different experiences he received throughout high school, and it has made his life more enjoyable.

“I live by experiences, not by titles,” said Janiszewski. “It makes life more enjoyable.”

Janiszewski saw a lot throughout his high school years, many different kinds of emotions and moments, and has this advice to give: “Personal change and development is important.

Life is like a car: you realize you need to go somewhere, but until you turn it on, you won’t go anywhere,” said Janiszewski.

Janiszewski believes that what you’re searching for, you’ll eventually find.

“We come across so many things in our lives and sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad and that’s okay. It just happens and sometimes you can’t help it and that’s okay. If you are aware of what it is you’re actually searching for, and if you are able to direct yourself, you’ll be able to find it. You will have a lot more positive experience in life when you do.”

Janiszewski wanted more people in his life and was able to get it, not just by realizing that’s what he wanted, but by going out and working at meeting new people. He says he “got it through self-love, and that’s something no one else can give you.”

Skyler Janiszewski has learned a lot throughout his life, and although he acknowledges that life has its ups and downs, he is able to find the positive through it all and enjoy the experience.

Photos Courtesy of Skyler Janiszewski

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

PAGE 5 || FEATURE

MR. ZWOLINSKI CREATES NEW COURSE APUSH teacher offers new elective: Ethnic and Gender Studies ADRIANA DUHANAJ STAFF WRITER

SARA MILAJ STAFF WRITER

We have many special and significant staff members here at RHS, and one we would like to recognize as a teacher at Rochester is Mr. Zwolinski (a.k.a. Mr. Z), who is not only an inspiration to his APUSH students, but last summer, initiated and helped put together a brand new social studies elective class that brings more variety to learning about history.

This fresh new course, Gender and Ethnic Studies, is a class that Mr. Z is very passionate about and has worked hard to get into the curriculum. He strived to bring more inclusivity when it came to presenting different parts of history that not every student may be exposed to.

When asked how he came about bringing such a class to the school, he said, “I wouldn’t say I did it on my own. I presented it to the curriculum department about two years ago and then started working with a group of people.” It took a lot of effort and many people collaborating with him to get the class finalized.

“We worked with Mrs. Goliday and pushed really hard to have a more inclusive and diverse class in history.” Mrs. Goliday is the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Rochester Community Schools.

History is typically not thought of as a student’s favorite subject, but in Mr. Z’s eyes, students don’t know enough of it to truly enjoy and experience it as a part of their lives. “I think with history, it never stops happening and it’s important to take time to dive into some topics. “I didn’t think our history curriculum spent enough time on certain marginalized groups. I pushed really hard to get it and everybody seemed to think it was a great idea.”

Communication and feedback is vital when drawing students to something new, and making sure his students are satisfied

with what they enrolled in is key. With this kind of class, Mr. Zwolinski said it was expected that the course would need a wider range of interesting details to get students engaged. We asked him how his new class was doing so far, and he was pleased with the responses from his students.

“I hope it’s making them think more than anything,” he said. “I’ve gotten some good feedback, but I’ve also been listening and seeing what to change. It’s hard the first time you teach any class, but for a class like this, we have to be so deliberate and make sure that we’re trying to address as many things as possible.”

We asked, if anything, what he would change about how he taught his new Gender and Ethnic Studies class.

“I think the biggest change that I’ve started to make is to bring in more voices,” he said. “I think that’s probably the most important thing. I need people from all different backgrounds to help teach the class.”

Mr. Z is well-known in the Rochester Schools community and has kept the same outgoing attitude and friendly energy he’s had ever since his own high school years.

“When in high school, I was only allowed in student government for two days because I was on the announcements and they thought I was too over the top. I was too focused on making people laugh and making jokes.”

Mr. Z is unaware of how he has grown to be such a well-liked teacher.

“That’s the most humbling statement ever,” he said. “I just try to always do what’s best for students. My number one goal is to make them as successful as possible, whether that be academically, socially, or emotionally.

If you go into a task with a goal in mind, then good results come from it. The goal this time is to make the best students possible.”

Photo By Sara Milaj

Photos By Erielle Ocampo

PAGES 6-7 || NEWS HOLLY MCDONALD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ROCHESTER HIGH UPDA

In light of the tragic events at Oxford High School, Rochester High School has increased its safety measures and updated safety protocol. Recent adaptations to safety policies include restricting off-campus lunches to seniors, limiting visitors, increasing safety presence, and limiting the number of students in the halls during class time.

According to RHS administration, the school is committed to ensuring the safest and best possible learning environment for all students.

“I think the biggest thing that Oxford highlighted to neighboring communities is that unfortunately, these events can happen anywhere,” RHS Principal Mr. Joshua Wrinkle said. “It’s important to always be considering what safety protocols are and making sure they are up to date, and that people know what to do in those situations. I think one of the other things that came out of it was that people were really taking drills seriously and looking into how to report things, or how to help a friend in trouble.”

RHS has always had an increased safety presence within the school. Rochester is partnered with the organization “SafeEd” which provides professional security within schools.

“I worked 27 years at Fraser Public Safety, where I was a police officer, a firefighter and paramedic,” SafeEd security officer Mr. Kieth Zilenski said. “I was the school liaison officer for Fraser High School for six years. I did a lot of specialized training. About half of us have some type of police or security background, and we’re all first-aid and CPR trained.”

Every year, each high school in the district is required to complete a certain number of drills covering all types of emergencies in order to assure students and staff know how to respond in a dangerous situation.

“The state requires that we do five fire drills, two tornado drills, and three lockdown drills,” Mr. Wrinkle said. “One of the lockdown drills has to be done at an alternative time, so that means passing time or lunchtime.”

Many local schools follow the protocol of an ALICE lockdown, which provides more safety measures than a traditional lockdown. (ALICE stands for Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate.)

“We teach and practice drill components of an ALICE lockdown,” Mr. Wrinkle said.

“At Rochester, we may not call it an ALICE lockdown, but there’s a lot of similarities between that program and what we do.”

Safety protocols are reviewed each year by administration, which is followed by a meeting with the SafeEd staff on the new guidelines for the year.

“When we come to a school, we sit down with the principals who give us the procedures to follow,” Mr. Zilenski said. “But it’s a guide, it’s not a rule. We have to be flexible sometimes. You try to go with that plan, but in any situation when you have to deviate a little bit, then you deviate.”

When a school is placed in an immediate threat, there are many different factors that go into evaluating the safest way to protect students.

“What we always drill is locking down, barricading, and staying quiet,” Mr. Wrinkle said. “But if there’s a circumstance that allows a student or a group of students to exit to safety, we would never have an issue doing so. It is very dependent on the circumstance a person is in and ensuring that if they were going to evacuate somehow, it was done with 100 percent certainty that it is safe.”

In the instance of an emergency where students need to flee, many schools determine a specific meeting location where students should go to reconnect with peers and adults.

“If it’s in a situation where there’s an active, immediate threat, we just want students to get to safety,” Mr. Wrinkle said. “We are working to determine a consistent rallying point, and we have a lot of places right around us that would be willing to take any of you in during an emergency, including neighborhoods as well.”

For many, it’s scary to think about a life-threatening situation and how they would respond. Rochester High wants to reassure students that constant safety measures are taken daily to establish a safe environment.

“It’s hard to say don’t worry,” Mr. Zilenski said. “But if you see some of the things that we do, you would be reassured. Every couple of hours we are checking the doors.

I actually go outside, put my coat on, and check on every exterior door to make sure it’s locked. We check every single interior door and we check the bathrooms. Paul is a retired police officer, I’m a retired police officer, and we’re trained to check for odd behavior.”

Many students, whether they knew a student at Oxford or not, felt very shaken and it

was an awakening that tragedies can happen anywhere.

“Until the events at Oxford, I was not truly aware that the things we talked about and prepared for might be possible,” junior Samantha Tandy said. “Coming back to school after the Oxford incident was scary for me, and if I think about it now, it makes me slightly nervous to go to school. I feel safe at Rochester, but the thought that anything can happen gets to me sometimes. I trust the people and the staff at our school. But after something like this, it’s impossible to not be shaken up and worried sometimes.”

Having safety officers within the school reassures many students that they are in safe hands while at school. However, it must be noted that students must also play their part in contributing to school safety.

“If you are on social media and you see something that doesn’t seem right, you have to speak up,” said RHS counselor Mrs. O’Toole-Seyka. “You have the ability to be the voice and add a piece to school safety. It’s awful that you even have that responsibility, but you have the ability to speak, and that’s how we are empowered.”

There are resources available to students who notice something that does not seem right, one of which being Okay2Say. “Okay2Say is an anonymous resource that students can use to connect with the state police in Michigan. They take what was submitted to them and give it to the correct people within the district,” Mr. Wrinkle said. “The nice thing about it is that it’s completely anonymous. We will never know who submitted the original request, but we know who we can help and try to support.”

For students who are in search of other kinds of support, including mental health resources, there are a variety of options within the Rochester community that are available.

“Okay2Say, Common Ground, and other community mental health resources are available,” Mrs. O’Toole-Seyka said. “There’s also Rochester Area Youth Assistance which provides free, short-term counseling. and the SEHS Counseling Center at Oakland University, which also offers free, short-term counseling also as part of their counselor education program. As for simple tips, sleep, exercise, healthy foods, water, laughing, and being around people that care about you are all essential.”

The grieving process is different for every individual. It’s important to take time and do what’s necessary for healing.

“The events at Oxford were very emotionally draining for me,” Said RHS junior Samantha Tandy. “I did a lot of processing and journaling and talking with close friends. It made me think about things I never thought I’d have to think about. I’m still so incredibly disgusted and saddened by everything that happened, and for the people we lost that were dear to us. Seeing everyone come together to support Oxford was a beautiful thing. And I’m eager to do more as a community to let the school know that we are here and we will support them.”

Dealing with a large, traumatic event such as the Oxford tragedy can be very confusing and emotionally difficult for everyone to grasp, especially students.

“Working in my counselor position as a helper was really heavy for a couple of weeks,” Mrs. O’Toole-Seyka said. “Not only did it have people questioning their sense of safety and having personal connections to Oxford in some way, but it also kind of resurfaced different traumas that people feel. Although it was really hard work, I enjoyed working with students who came to me and expressed their feelings in their own time frame. It’s the reason why we do what we do. Schedule changes and all of that are so minor when the deepness of our work is working with people.”

For those who feel like the trauma will never end, know that there are people who want to help, and that sadness will not last forever.

“I’ve noticed over the years when we started talking about identifying mental health that many got a lot better at identifying it, but not necessarily working through it,” Mrs. O’Toole-Seyka said. “I think a lot of times people get stuck in the current situation and are not focusing on their way to be empowered. We will all have trauma in our life, all of us. Whether we’re experiencing it now or experiencing it later, we will all experience trauma, but we are resilient human beings. It’s hard to really work through it, but we have the ability to grow with support. Sometimes we need professional advice when we don’t know what to do next. We have to be willing to get in that growth mindset that will allow us to change.”

ATES SAFETY POLICIES

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022 Graphics made by Holly McDonald

PAGE 8 || FEATURE

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

AN IRREVERSIBLE HOURGLASS

Every grain of sand is a day of our lives JENNY KIM

Adviser: Ms. Harris

FEATURE AND DESIGN EDITOR

In five months, I will be taking my final walk around the school, wearing my royal blue cap and gown. I will walk across a big stage in front of my classmates and parents to receive my diploma. In eight months, I will have packed everything in my room and hugged my friends and family as I leave for college. I will move into my dorm room, where I have to start being more independent and responsible.

This year, 2022, will be a very valuable year for me. The past year was full of many abnormalities, so I can’t stop myself to wonder what will happen in the next 365 days and how I will use up those days to make it all count.

Every New Year, I attempt to make New Year’s resolutions to keep up with, but they never get accomplished. However, I want this year to be different.

I’ve lost so much time within the past couple years due to the pandemic and I want to make up for it this year. I want to spend as much time as I can being productive, hanging out with friends and family, and I want to be able to cherish the memories.

That’s why I started using the “One Second A Day” app last year. I take and upload a video from each day of the year and the videos start combining into one big montage.

This allows me to look back and see what I did day-to-day, trying to relive the meaningful moments that brought me joy.

But will there be any more unexpected roadblocks as I finish high school and start college?

My whole high school experience has been nothing but out of the ordinary. I experienced high school through a pandemic and a few other tragic events that occured. I came to the realization that my freshmen year was the only “normal” high school year that I had. It still doesn’t feel real and I don’t think it ever will. I feel as if I have completely adjusted to this, although I don’t want to.

There are times when days feel like they are never going to end, and times when the days go by in a blink of an eye. That’s how I would describe my four years here at Rochester High. The majority of my freshman year went by very slowly, while sophomore and junior year disappeared right in front of me. It felt like those two years were combined into one. With the shifts to online and hybrid classes, then back to in-person, there was a lot to handle, but time never stopped or slowed down.

THE TALON STAFF

It’s exactly like what all the adults and alumni tell me: “High school goes by very fast, enjoy it while you can and cherish all those moments.”

I didn’t think much of it when high school started. In my head, it was just another four years of school, just like how it has been the previous couple of years: attending school, going up a grade, nothing too special.

However, they’re completely right: what the graduates who went before us say is all true. By the time your senior year comes to an end, you feel like you haven’t done much or didn’t enjoy it to the fullest. It’s like an hourglass, except for the fact that you can’t flip it back upside down to rewind time. It only flows in one direction, until the last drop of sand falls, and that’s when your time in high school concludes. There’s no way of stopping or slowing down the process.

That’s what brings me here today. I watched the ball drop in New York on the TV as the timer decreased every second. The second it reached zero, just like that, it’s already graduation year. My final days at Rochester are approaching quickly. With these last five months, I will do whatever it takes to soak up all the memories that I want to keep with me for a lifetime. Life is like an hourglass, except there’s no going back.

Editor-in-Chief: Holly McDonald Feature and Design Editor: Jenny Kim Lifestyles Editor: Megan Splan Opinion Editor: Erielle Ocampo Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff

Writer: Brice Boggan Writer: Shannon Carr Writer: Jaemin Kim Writer: Justin Lal Writer: Trina Mollicone Writer: Makenzie Paul Writer: Erica Proctor Writer: Marta Svirgun

THE TALON POLICY The Talon is the official student publication of Rochester High School. We are now available both in print and online editions. Check out rochestertalon.com, @rhstalon on Twitter, @rhs.talon on Instagram and like The Talon on Facebook for more great content.

The print edition of The Talon is issued monthly during the school year and is devoted to the interest of the student body, parents and alumni of RHS. The Talon strives to create a publication that is informative, entertaining, accurate and professional.

The mission of The Talon is to accurately, truthfully and professionally report on events and issues that are of interest to the student body, entertain readers and serve as a valuable archive of the happenings of the school.

The views expressed in The Talon are those of the staff or individual staff writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration.

The editors encourage communications and reactions from students, alumni, parents and friends of the school.

All communications must be signed, but signatures may be withheld from publication upon request. The Talon values feedback from the community on its articles and other media. However, we maintain the right to censor inappropriate dialogue in comments.

MEMBERSHIPS

Photos by Jenny Kim

PAGE 9 || COLUMN/ENTERTAINMENT

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

HEALING IS NOT LINEAR My mental health journey ERIELLE OCAMPO OPINION EDITOR

In retrospect, a whole year doesn’t seem like very long. It’s only a mere sliver in our lifetime. But with just one change in normalcy, your whole life seems like it’s rapidly changing. It’s

been a crazy year, from dealing with a new “normal” in this up and down post-COVID world, to dealing with the hardships of adolescence. And yet after all of this, the hardest thing I had to go through was my battle with my anxiety and depression.

This didn’t come without setbacks however. There were It’s hard trying to put how I felt into words. Because times throughout the year where I was back to where I nothing can really explain how tough it is to pull yourself started. Some weeks I would be fine and happy, and others out of this hole. Imagine it’s late at night and you’re alone when I would feel the opposite. It was a constant roller in an empty parking lot with your only source of light coaster and, eventually, I understood that this was how being one street lamp. As time is moving obscurely fast, it’s supposed to be. The healing process is not linear. It’s you can’t help but to just sit there, in the dark. That’s what messy and sometimes painful, but it brought me to where everyday felt like to me. My days were filled with doctor I am today. visits, therapy sessions, and adjusting to new medication, For anyone who is struggling with depression or any and even after all these life changing events, I came out mental illness, you are loved. You are more than what this of it barely remembering anything. I think it was just the illness says of you. You can overcome it and find beauty way the brain works when it goes through something in living again. There are people around you who love you traumatic. It wants to protect you, keep you safe, hold for everything you bring to the world and having these you tight. It pushes those unfavorable memories away so illnesses shouldn’t change that. Getting help and reaching you’re able to replace it with cheerful ones. out to someone you trust is not weak.

A year ago, I was having an internal conflict with myself.

I wanted so bad to just be happy. and kept telling myself, “It’s just because the seasons are changing. It’s normal.”

But as I kept making more and more excuses with myself, I knew that I had to be the one to start the dominoes. And so that was what I did. I pushed that domino and my life was never the same again.

I wish someone would have told me then that these illnesses didn’t define me. I was not my depression and I was not my anxiety, they were just additions to the list of what made me, me.

Graphic by Canva Photos by Erielle Ocampo

HARRY POTTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY

The magical world of Harry Potter is back for an exclusive special ERIELLE OCAMPO OPINION EDITOR

The Harry Potter movies that took the world by storm created a whole new universe from a fandom who saw magic in its beauty. On January 1, 2022, HBO Max released “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.” This documentary includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with the original cast of the hit series all coming back to tell their story of what it’s like to be able to turn fiction into a reality.

The anniversary special is divided up into chapters. Each of these chapters highlights an important part of the casts’ lives like casting, working on set, and life after the films.

The cast being brought back together gives the Harry Potter fandom a time to reminisce on the decade spent creating this world.

Unbreakable bonding

It’s no surprise that the cast created bonds with each other that were strong and caring. After a decade of filming, the cast members grew up with one another. The families and friendships portrayed on screen were not far from reality.

Many of the cast found it easier to act when they created a connection with one another.

“I always loved any scene where the Weasleys were together,” said Grint, “It just had this frenetic energy.

Everyone kind of played off each other.”

The Weasleys were an essential part of the story. We see this amazing contrast between different characters. The funny twins, the clever sister, the courageous brother, and the protective parents. The audience was able to see how this family truly saw the good in everyone, and how they took Harry in as one of their own.

The trio 20 years later

“I do remember that when it was the three of us, something felt different… right,” said Watson, “I do remember the click.”

The Golden trio are Emma Watson playing Hermione Granger, Rubert Grint who played Ron Weasley, and Daniel Radcliffe who played the famous Harry Potter. For the anniversary, they are all gathered back in the Gryffindor common room to reminisce on their childhood spent together. When asked how it felt to be back and talking about the films, the golden trio had many heartfelt words to share with the audience.

“Really emotional, obviously,” said Watson, “It feels like no time has passed, and loads of time has passed simultaneously.”

“This is surreal, isn’t it? It doesn’t feel like we’ve kind of earned a reunion yet,” said Rupert Grint.

“There is such a collection of shared memories and stuff that we just all did together that it is immediately very easy to sort of slip back into where you were,” said Radcliffe.

The way the cast described their experience was very loving. Not one cast member regrets the time and energy that was spent on making this series happen. They created lifelong friendships with one another. Even acting in other movie roles, growing into adulthood, and having their own children, they were still able to laugh like old times.

The 20th anniversary was truly one of the most intriguing and heartwarming documentaries I’ve watched. You don’t see the cast come together often, so this was truly a great surprise. You’re given more looks behind the scenes, as well as secrets between the cast members.

PAGE 10 || LIFESTYLES

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN 2022

RHS students share how to improve different aspects of life JUSTIN LAL & RANDY HERFI STAFF WRITERS

The new year has rolled in and there is a whole year’s worth of potential and possibility that awaits you. Although cases of COVID-19 are still rising and have remained a thorn in our side for 2 years now, 2022 can be a better, more peaceful, and meaningful year for all. Here are some ways how.

Set smaller, attainable, but still meaningful goals. It is important to work towards something but it can be easy to underestimate the difficulty of the goal you are trying to achieve. That is why it is important to think realistically and have a plan in place that works best for you. First, know what it is you want to achieve. Be honest but kind with yourself, know your limits. It’s great to push yourself past your limits to achieve better and better things, but you shouldn’t beat yourself over it if it doesn’t end up happening or if you give up. Sometimes ‘giving up isn’t giving up but simply putting that goal on hold until you’re in a better position to achieve it. You can always try again when you’re ready.

When creating your goal, make sure they are realistic;have a good plan for achieving them.

Instead of making a goal for yourself like “I want to get better grades,” specify the goal and try writing it in a way that is understandable. So you could say, “I want to raise my grade from a C to a B in History.” Writing your goal like this will set your eyes on exactly what you want to do and it makes it easier to follow. You would do this for any goal you would want to achieve. This will also allow you to track your progress on the achievements you are aiming for and make it happen.

We all want to be healthier, especially during such times like today. Eating well and regular exercise are obviously ideal, and drastically improves overall physical and mental health. Make a workout routine. It doesn’t have to be extremely rigorous and strict unless that is desired.

Even light exercise a few times a week is helpful for the body and mind. There are also various great gyms in the city including Life Time, The Edge Fitness Club, Planet Fitness, and many more. Equally if not more important, is what we put into our bodies. Eating healthy is essential to our functionality and quality of life. Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean not getting to eat the foods you want but instead means trying to limit junk foods and increase intake of foods that improve your physical and mental health.

The new year will be full of new relationships being created. Couples already going strong are carrying on into it and some want to know how to start.

“You just gotta be a good guy, right,” said Junior Michael Marcella. “You just gotta be

nice to the person you wanna be with, whether it’s a boy or girl I don’t care, whatever. You just gotta be a good person, good guy, and you don’t really have to like be all smooth and all hot and everything. You just gotta be a good person, do things that the other person will appreciate. And let them live their lives, let them be their own person but be there for them.”

Nobody wants to be with a jerk, obviously. Being a good person isn’t only a moral thing to do, it’s also very attractive.

Now that the second semester has rolled in, students want to know how to do well in school. For many students, this isn’t a problem, but it can be a real struggle for many others.

“So basically, you gotta find motivation from somewhere, right,” said Junior Damian Drainer. “Because you can be as smart as whatever, but you can’t do anything without motivation. If you don’t have any goals for your future, then you won’t end up anywhere, because you don’t care. So my advice is to find a way to enjoy schooling, find a way to make it fun, and be productive.”

Starting a career may be difficult and that’s okay, because starting something new can always provide a challenge and help you start your career. Students throughout Rochester High share their advice on what to do when faced with this task.

“Gather a resume, and prepare yourself for questions they would ask you being personal, or experience-wise, and make sure you are as prepared as possible,” said senior Andrew Mearns. This advice can be helpful when starting your career because being prepared can really get you far in anything you do. If you prepare yourself to the best of your abilities and make yourself stand out from the other interviewees you will most definitely get the job. If you don’t, you won’t regret anything because you know you did the best you could.

Starting the first job can be really stressful. Having others rely on you to get your part done can really put on the pressure. To take off a little bit of pressure, starting a routine allows you to be put to ease. By creating a list of tasks you must complete, it will help you work through your day. By the time you clock out, you will feel that you accomplished more of what you needed to do that day. Creating a cycle will make work feel easier for you because doing the same thing every day will just make it become a muscle memory.

Being successful can be really easy, yet hard at the same time if you don’t know where to start. So for the rest of this year, challenge yourself, and expand your horizons. Use these tips to be successful in this new year, and make 2022 your best year yet.

SKI CLUB

RHS Students go to Pine Knob Resort JAEMIN KIM & LANDON HENDERSON STAFF WRITERS

Ski Club slides in for another year at Rochester High School. Many students join this popular club to make weekly trips to Pine Knob Ski Resort, located in Clarkston.

Students have the choice between skiing and snowboarding.

The club is now led by Mr. Jason Stanick, science teacher and football coach at Rochester High School.

“There were no other available sponsors to lead the ski club, so I decided to on my own,” Mr. Stanick said. “And I also like to snowboard. I’ve taught a robotics team and a football team at my previous school, but this is my first time with a ski club.”

Club members go to Pine Knob every Tuesday from 3:30 to 9pm. Going as a club is cheaper than going by yourself, as well as going on the weekdays compared to the weekends. The only requirements for the club are to turn in a permission slip and to puchase lift tickets every week.

To dress for the cold weather, club members wear basic snow gear such as winter jackets, gloves, beanies, snow pants, helmets, and ski goggles. Skiiers and boarders can rent helmets, skis, or snowboards at the lodge.

“Advanced members prefer to wear ski goggles,” Mr. Stanick said. “I really like the ski masks.”

Pine Knob offers classes for both beginners and experienced skiiers and boarders. In order to get to the larger and more difficult hills, taking classes is required at Pine Knob. By completing classes, skiiers earn patches that allow them access to the more challenging hills. The difficulty of each hill and the ski lift that serves it is marked by color.

“It’s not hard to ski,” Ski Club member Carter Rupert said. “You’ll be skiing in at least a day.”

People are afraid that they might get injured while skiing, but an active club member assures that there is a low possibility of getting hurt with Pine Knob’s safety precautions.

“It’s hard to hurt yourself,” Rupert said. “The only challenge while skiing is avoiding the staff patrolling the hills.”

The Ski Club can be a great way to spend time outdoors in the winter while doing something fun. Members of this club are enjoying their Tuesdays gliding down the slopes and are welcoming more students to join them at Pine Knob.

Photo courtesy of Pine Knob

Photo courtesy of Carter Rupert

PAGE 11 || ENTERTAINMENT

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

22 MOVIES TO LOOK FOR IN 2022 Titles coming out from January to December TRINA MOLLICONE

STAFF WRITER

Entering 2022, we can’t help but wonder what the new year will bring to the theaters as the cinema industry gets ready to roll out titles that will excite any movie lover. From childhood favorites brought back to life, to fresh new tales, you’re guaranteed satisfaction the next time you enter your local movie theater!

Some of the favorite animated classics are making a comeback. On Jan. 14, the fourth one in the line came out for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. In this comedic film, Drac and his pals transform into humans - a fun spin on the series. On that same day, the fifth film of Scream was released; a classic that has made its way to 2022 all the way from 1996. In this horror movie, Disney Channel and Netflix actor Jenna Ortega and renowned actor and artist Dylan Minnette take the leading roles.

On Mar. 4 will be the release of The Batman starring Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson. Less than a week later on Mar. 11 comes a brand new Disney animated film, Turning Red. This movie revolves around the life of a 13-year-old girl who suddenly turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets excited. Disney has always set the bar high with new animated movies and it’s likely that Turning Red won’t be far from it.

On Mar. 25, we’ll see the sequel to a fan favorite, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This one will highlight further adventures of Doctor Stephen Strange and his research on the Time Stone. Also on Mar. 25 will come a brand new rom-com featuring Sandra Bullock, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum, and Brad Pitt. This one follows a romance novelist on a book tour, as her cover model gets involved in a kidnapping attempt that leads the pair on a ruthless jungle adventure.

After success in 2020 with the first film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will make its way to theaters on Apr. 8. Also scheduled for release in April will be an animated comedy adventure called The Bad Guys. The plot involves criminal animals that are attempting to avoid prison by becoming model citizens.

For a change of pace from your typical movie releases, look for Nicolas Cage starring as himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. In this one, Cage finds himself channeling his most iconic characters to save himself and those around him.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons Jumping to the month of May, we’ll see an early 2000s classic revived over 20 years later. Featuring the famous Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde 3 comes out on May 20.

Just a week later on May 27 follows Bob’s Burgers: The Movie, a favorite late night cartoon set as a musical comedy.

Calling all dinosaur lovers: Jurassic World: Dominion will hit the theaters on June 10th. This third installment of the Jurassic World franchise will feature actors Bryce Dallas Howard and the beloved Chris Pratt. Just a week later, Disney will release Lightyear, the origin story of a favorite animated character, Buzz Lightyear. Look out for the animated feature film in theaters on June 17, because it’s expected that Disney’s Lightyear won’t disappoint. Finishing off the month of June, a global superstar’s story will be revealed: Elvis will feature the famed Austin Butler.

Ever wonder how the animated villain of Despicable Me, Gru, came to be? Look no further: on July 1, Minions: The Rise of Gru will tell of Gru’s origin story. The acclaimed Steve Carell will not fall short of the expectations that the Despicable Me movies have held in the past.

Attention all Harry Styles fans, mark your calendars for Sept. 23 to see the release of Don’t Worry Darling. The psychological thriller will feature Olivia Wilde, who also happens to be directing the movie. Also starring in the film is the lovely Florence Pugh and Mr. Styles himself. Could this be Harry’s big break in acting? Fingers crossed. The film will likely receive the same, if not more popularity, than 2017’s Dunkirk, a film where Styles also had a lead role.

Also on Sep. 23 is scheduled for releasing Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. This animated film follows the life of a Shrek favorite, Puss, who sets out on an epic journey to find the “last wish” to restore all nine of his feline lives.

In October and November is when superhero movies will hit the theaters. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One) comes out on Oct. 7. This movie is bound to be as good, if not better, than 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Flash forward to Nov. 4 as The Flash arrives, featuring actor Ezra Miller. In addition, we’ll be able to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a film intended to be the sequel of Black Panther and the 30th movie in the marvel cinematic world.

Jumping to December is the release of another sequel, Avatar 2. With a budget of $250 million and riding off the popularity of the first film, it is expected that this sequel will not fall short. 2022 will finish strong at the movies with the first installment of a Super Mario Bros series on Dec. 21. This animated adventure will feature Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya-Taylor Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser.

The untitled film has yet to fulfill our curiosity, but with such an incredible cast, it’s bound to be super.

With so many great titles, it’s difficult to pinpoint which film will have the biggest turnout. Lindsey Gleason, a junior at Rochester High School and a big Marvel fan, is excited about all the Marvel-related films.

“I’m most excited for Black Panther or Doctor Strange because, Marvel,duh!” Gleason exclaimed.

Similarly, junior Kaci Andrews is looking forward to some of the animated films.

“I’m really excited for Super Mario Bros and Minions: The Rise of Gru!” Andrews said.

But the most excited interviewee of all was junior Makenzie Paul. Known for being a hardcore Harry Styles fan, you wouldn’t be surprised by which film that she can’t wait for.

“Don’t Worry Darling 100,000%,” Paul said.

Whether it be an animated comedy or a live action adventure, the cinema industry has worked hard to deliver a franchise that will make 2022 an incredible year for popcorn sales.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

PAGE 12 || SPORTS

THE TALON || JANUARY 2022

WINTER SPORTS

Rochester hockey, swim, and boys basketball take on the storm JENNY KIM

FEATURE AND DESIGN EDITOR

PRESTON SCHROYER SPORTS EDITOR

HOCKEY

The puck drops on the home rink at Suburban Ice as the boys in navy and yellow glide on the ice with a hockey stick in their hands.

Rivals in other sports but united in hockey., the Rochester United hockey team, also known as RU, strengthens their bond for another season, with great support within the team. They have had a fluctuating season so far with six wins, eight losses, and one tie.

“The season so far is going well,” senior captain Shane Arbour said. “We had a slow start, but once we got back from Houghton for our bonding trip, we’ve been able to pull off some wins to teams that looked down on us, like M1 and Dakota.”

The team currently stands in the red division, along with

their crosstown rival, Stoney Creek. They have four more games scheduled for February, with two being home, played at Suburban Ice Rochester, and two away.

“I am excited for the rest of the season,” Arbour said.

“The boys have really become a close group and even the underclassmen are keeping seniors responsible for their actions. Our goal for the rest of the season is to secure the win against Stoney for senior night and then win the regional finals.”

First year varsity player Gavin Brown agrees.

“I think going into our second half of the season, we feel stronger as a team and as a group. With everyone starting to play their role and come together, we are going to have a stronger second half.”

Photo by Jenny Kim

SWIM & DIVE The boys’ swim team dove into their season strong.

“The season is going good so far,” senior captain Jack VanHowe said. “We have gone up against two of the best teams in the state and only lost by a few points, but the team morale is still very high.”

At every meet, the team roots for one another, standing in front of their team’s lane, pushing the swimmer to do their best. Certain events seem to stand out within the team, showing positive outcomes.

“The 200 medley relay is the event that my team shines in,” VanHowe said. “We have had a really solid relay for three years and this year is the same.”

With an immense amount of support from their own teammates and even the girls’ varsity swim team, the swimmers are more motivated than ever.

“The bond of the boys’ team with the girls’ team is really

BASKETBALL

The Varsity Falcons started off the 2021-22 basketball season hot and hope to continue that into the rest of their season. They went into winter break with a 4-0 record and were scheduled for one game during the holiday break against Fraser, however, that was canceled due to the spread of Covid among Fraser players. Rochester continued their practices throughout the break and it paid off, as they came into the first game of 2022 with confidence and beat Avondale.

As Avondale stepped on to the Falcons home court, Junior Jaiden Bolden got the offense rolling in the first half as he had 8 points. The Falcon defense was suffocating the Avondale offense, as Avondale had under 15 points in the first half. The game eventually got out of reach for Avondale as the Falcons took a commanding lead in the 4th quarter. Great performances were given by Juniors Jaiden Bolden and Alex Bueno, along with Senior Humzah Abu Shanab off the bench.

Rochester has really bought into playing hard on defense this year, which is going to be key for winning games.

“I believe defense is really important and it has been a big

strong,” VanHowe said. “We work together on a lot of things and help out with each other’s meets. As captains, we also go to them with any questions we have, because they already went through it.”

With the expectation of beating Adams in an upcoming meet, the team also seeks success at some of the other important events. The swimmers have goals as a team in addition to individual ones they want to achieve. VanHowe, last year’s state championship winner, is in a positive mindset for the remaining half of the season as the captain of the team.

“As a team, I would love to have the biggest county and state team that we have ever had,” VanHowe said.

“Individually, I would like to break some more of the records and break my own that I already have.”

part of the success I have had as a coach,” said Head coach Mr. Evola. “I think the guys have taken pride in making hard nose defense a priority from day one. It has been very noticeable in games up to this point, since we are only allowing 38 points per game.”

Seniors Connor Cracium and Armaan Hussaini have been three-year varsity players and have noticed the change this team has made.

“This team has improved in everything, from better defense to better team chemistry,” said Hussaini. “Most importantly, we are working hard at every practice and it’s paying off in the games. Our hustle and ability to score in transition has been a big part of our success so far. If we can start trusting in our teammates just a little more, we can take this team to the next level.”

Make sure you come out and support our Rochester Falcons in the rest of their games this year: on Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Falcons play Oxford at home, and on Friday, Feb. 4, they play in the annual Crosstown Showdown against Adams at Oakland University. Bring your Falcon spirit and cheer the team on.

Photo by Jenny Kim

Photo Courtesy of Nick Gerbi