Final Issue, Volume 88

TOWER

the

Friday, June 3, 2016 Volume 88 Issue 28 thetowerpulse.net

A WEEKLY TRADITION SINCE 1928

@thetowerpulse

Gross e Pointe S outh, 11 Gross e Pointe B oule vard, Gross e Pointe Far ms, Michigan 48236

A FINAL SALUTE TO THE CLASS OF 2016

PHOTO BY LINDSAY STANEK ’16

EMMA ANDREASEN ’17 // Social Media Coordinator eniors will take over the War Memorial next Thursday for the All Night Party, a celebration held after commencement as the finale to their time at South.

Students will be admitted into the venue at 10:30 p.m. and the event will conclude the next morning at 6 a.m.

“Students are allowed to leave whenever, but our hope is that everyone will stay until the 6 a.m. after-the-sunrise service on the front lawn of the War Memorial next to beautiful Lake St. Clair,” Laura Wholihan, the party’s committee co-chair, said.

The All Night Party planning committee is a branch of the Mothers’ Club, which sponsors the event and donated new decorations this year, Wholihan said.

“This year, we will be adding many new decorations that can be used from year to year thanks to a generous donation from the Mothers’ Club. Some decorations needed a little refresh,” Wholihan said.

The decorations always fall under the theme, “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” based on the picture book by Dr. Seuss. This theme is present throughout the ceremo-

S

ny and carries into the Sunrise up their high school experience.

Service that concludes the event, “The only thing I didn’t like Wholihan said. about All Night Party was the There are many activities lack of sleep, but honestly, it’s throughout the night leading up worth the sleep deprivation,” Tayto the sunrise service, including lor said. a DJ, a photo booth, flip books, A majority of this year’s senior handwriting analysts, henna art- class is planning on attending ists, a spa, fortune tellers, a senior and most people have positive slideshow, lots of food served all feelings toward the event, Maddy night and the casino.

Roeske ’16 said.

“I think the casino will be very “I’ve heard a lot of really good popular,” Wholihan said. “There things about it and my friends is also a raffle that the students and I are excited to go,” Roeske can enter for additional prizes. said.

I also think the hypnotist and One of the most entertaining slideshow will be favorites.” sections of the evening is expectThere are lots of prizes avail- ed to be the hypnotist’s show, Roeable, including ske said. She is a TV, concert most excited The only thing I didn’t to see some tickets, Ray like about All Night Party of her friends Ban sunglasswas the lack of sleep, but and classmates es, a bicycle honestly, it’s worth the get hypnotized and much more includand see what sleep deprivation. ed in both the other activiCHARLIE TAYLOR ‘15 casino and the ties the Mothraffle, Wholiers’ Club has han said. planned.

“The prizes were way bigger There is definitely an activity than I was expecting, so I spent included for everyone and semost of my time trying to win niors should plan on attending, them,” Charlie Taylor ’15 said.

Wholihan said.

Taylor said he attended the All Wholihan said, “The seniors Night Party last year and would should be excited to go because encourage the class of 2016 to go it’s a blast. It’s their last time to be as well, as it is a great way to wrap together and celebrate as a class.”

COMING UP AT SOUTH and continue through next Wednesday. Bell schedules are adjusted for all students.

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Senior finals begin today

Class of 2016 leaves lasting impact on South lot of hard work. It turned out really well, so we ELENA RAUCH ’18 // Staff Writer Seniors have mixed emotions about the end were really happy with that.”

Prom was also a big success among seniors, of their high school career as the 2015-2016 school year comes to a close and graduation ap- Van Der Hoeven said.

“It was different from other dances because proaches.

“I’m a little nostalgic but I think it’ll still be it was only our class, and I think that was my fun. (Graduation) is a good way to end things,” favorite part,” Van Der Hoeven said.

Sohn said she wants their Senior class to be Eryn Van Der Hoeven ’16 said. remembered in a positive way by underclassStudent Activities direcmen. tor Maria Mitzel said she has “The hard work that we’ve been assisting in the setup of The hard work that put into the activities we’ve graduation for six years by we’ve put into the done, (students) being able ordering chairs, handing out activities we’ve done, to look up to us, and having a caps and gowns, setting up (students) being able to good influence on the school,” the procession and deciding look up to us, and having Sohn said. where the graduates are going a good influence on the Another aspect to the legato be seated. school. cy is how driven in academics “I love seeing all the plans the seniors were, Mitzel said. coming together and I love MARGARET SOHN ‘16 “I think the Senior class is seeing the kids graduate, but there’s also a sad part because it’s hard to see full of really strong leaders. Their grades have been stellar, and it’s been fun to see all the differthem go,” Mitzel said.

Class President Margaret Sohn ’16 said one of ent colleges they’re going to and all the different the best aspects of holding office senior year was interests they have,” Mitzel said.

As for what incoming seniors should expect, being involved with planning Homecoming, for Van Der Hoeven says all the clichè quotes are many reasons.

“Just being a part of Student Council as whole, true, the year does go by really fast. Also, Mitzel the group of people we got to work with was re- wants the rest of the school to feel motivated by ally fun and made the (Homecoming planning) this year’s senior class.

“I think I would like (incoming seniors) to see experience a lot better,” Sohn said.

The seniors’ biggest accomplishment was what you want do,” Mitzel said. “Those dreams you have are attainable, going to the college you Homecoming, Sohn said.

“Our Homecoming was a big success,” Sohn want is attainable. You have to work hard, but I said. “There were a lot of people helping out for think this class has shown that all those dreams each category, and I know a lot of people put in a can come true.”

Finals for freshmen through juniors begin and run through next Thursday, June 16.

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All night party provides one last celebration after graduation

Graduation for the Class of 2016 will take place on the front lawn at 6:30 p.m.

opinion // 2

Friday, June 3, 2016

Tower staff says goodbye to beloved adviser

2013 was a rough year. A strenuous year, one like “The Tower” had not seen in the past.

Partway through the year, we had seen the death of beloved adviser, Jeff Nardone, and would have a chaotic arrangement for the next year, with multiple advisers of “The Tower” and teachers for the Honors Journalism classes.

In the end, our leadership team managed to pull through; they persevered in maintaining a high caliber and instilling a sense of determination in the underclassmen. And as they moved on and we had a brand new adviser lined up, our staff remained skeptical.

“The Tower” staff had heard tell of a bass-playing stranger from Dexter High School, who had advised their paper for years. Who was he? Was he going to be as good as Nardone or was the chaos going to continue? Was he going to like us? Were we going to like him?

After only briefly meeting him in “The Tower” room the year before, our staff can remember arriving at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) summer journalism workshop and officially meeting the new adviser.

It was upon that blistering day in Lansing that we would meet Rod Satterthwaite: unique, unlike any who had come before him. Our lives were forever changed.

Nonetheless, over the next week, the team would grow with Satt, and they would continue to grow with him throughout the summer as they worked on the ever-menacing first day issue.

Satt introduced himself to all of “The Tower” and Honors Journalism classes in 2014. We warmed up to him quickly, and we would like to think he to us.

Satt was always helpful, and it seemed like he knew everything.

Our sources would not cooperate.

Satt knew what to do.

How were we supposed to arrange the page?

Satt knew.

Are Oxford Commas permissible in AP Style?

Satt knew. (No, no and no, by the way.)

Over the year we would develop as a family. We all laughed at the silly things, like our deification of Jim, our humble classroom fish, our constant errors with quote attributions and our many threats of demerits.

The year rolled on and it turned out to be one of our best yet, with another Spartan award under our belt and smiles to boast, it concluded with a bittersweet farewell to our seniors, but Satt remained.

The next year would turn out to be just as great. We had new staff, and eventually new family.

We shared thousands of moments with Satt, and he was the adhesive that kept us together. Without Satt, we knew that we wouldn’t be worth the paper we were printed on.

Just as we had journeyed to Washington D.C. the year prior, Tower took New York and we all had the opportunity to see Satt in the big city.

We will remember waiting in line at a dessert shop past midnight, laughing over who-knows-what, and all of the miscellaneous adventures we shared on those three nights.

We continued to publish and live on like always, but then came a queer May morning we could have never anticipated.

After nearly two years of exploits with Satt, he told us that he was

OUR VIEW // EDITORIAL

Tower adviser leaves lasting impact

NEWSPAPER

the

TOWER

STAFF

It’s not often a MY student never complains about how a VIEW teacher is mean or JD Standish strict or is annoying ’18 about homework.

One teacher who fits this rare profile is Rod Satterthwaite--AKA Satt, Rod or Ruxin.

Satt, for those who somehow don’t know him, is adviser of “The Tower”. Satt is the kind of teacher that kids can really bond with, but not where they take advantage of him.

I first met Satt freshman year in Honors Journalism, and all I remember was saying to myself, “I have no clue how to pronounce this guy’s full last name.” Ruxin and I shared something in common that year: we were both new to the school.

As the year progressed, all of my friends who were also involved in Honors Journalism began to form a good relationship with Ruxin, and he really helped grow our passion for “The Tower”. We were all really excited to become part of the staff and be under Rod’s awesome advising skills.

That’s exactly what happened, too. We all joined staff and became even better acquainted with Rod. At the beginning of the year, I was thinking about how awesome my next two years were going to be with Satt.

We had a great leadership team to get us all through the first year until we got the hang of things.

I still remember how scared I was writing what I thought was my first story. Jen Maiorana, the Editor-in-Chief, asked me to write a story over the summer. I said yes, but I was really nervous. I remember texting Jen throughout the whole thing, and I was so scared that it is funny to think about now. It is crazy to see how much I have grown as a writer, and I realize how petty the story was compared to my fear.

When Satt first broke the news that he was leaving,

I was shocked. It was the day that he was supposed to be announcing the new positions for the following year, so everybody in the room was buzzing with excitement. I knew something was off when he stood up and he was choking up a little. We all knew he was passionate about “The Tower”, but we thought he would have been happy when announcing the new positions, not sad.

He opened by saying that a while back he had gotten a phone call from a school out in California, saying that there was a teaching position for him, but at the time he just wrote it off. Then his wife got a call saying that she, too, was being offered a position out there as well and the offer was just too good to pass up.

By the time he was done talking, the entire class was shell-shocked. It had gone from a day that we had all been waiting for to a day that I would much rather forget. At first I did not believe him. I wanted to write it off as nothing more then a huge joke he was pulling on us.

But as it sank in and I realized that he was actually leaving for good, I could not help but to think of the fact that the rest of my time in high school would be much different. Stopping in between every hour to go say ‘hi’, ask him how his day was, chit-chat about the past weekend, you name it. Going to his classroom at lunch when we had nowhere else to go, or shooting the breeze after school during deadline.

I still have not fully come to terms with his departure, and have not begun to imagine going into junior year without being able to talk to him every day.

Thought nobody can blame him for wanting to go off and experience a new lifestyle and and open his eyes to new ideas, the tone in the class has shifted from carefree and lighthearted to more of a underlying sadness, as we all know in the back of our minds that were just getting one day closer to his departure.

So Satt, from me to you: I wish you the best. There will never be anybody who could ever replace you.

Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Maiorana* ’16

Photo Editor Jennifer Toenjes* ’16

Associate Editors Brenna Bromwell* ’16 Emily Fleming* ’16

Business Managers Alexis Motschall* ’16 Asst. Mackenzie Harrel* ’17

Supervising Editors Gabi de Coster* ’16 Haley Vercruysse* ’16 Lauren Pankin* ’16 Sydney Simoncini* ’16

Online Editors-in-Chief Allyson Hartz* and Olivia Baratta*, both ’16

Page Editors Maggie Wright* and Zoe Jackson*, both ’16 Claire Yeamans*, Erykah Benson* and Jack Holme*, all ’17 John Francis*, Liz Bigham* and Ray Hasanaj*, all ’18

Online Section Editors Scarlett Constand* ’16, Adam Cervone* and Ariana Chengges*, both ’17 Riley Lynch* ’18

Copy Editors Hannah Connors*, Julia Fox*, Juliana Berkowski* and Shannon McGlone*, all ’16 Rachel Harris* ’18

Online Associate Editor Preston Fossee* ’16

Online Copy Editors Lindsay Stanek* ’16 Lily Kubek* ’17 Online Social Media Directors Emma Andreasen* and Zoe Evans*, both ’17

offered a lucrative opportunity in Palo Alto, Calif., as an adviser to another high school newspaper.

We were a mess. We wanted to believe he wouldn’t take it, but we all knew it was for the best. Satt needed this; it was the perfect place to raise a family, the perfect place to live and as much as it pained us all, we accepted it and were happy for him.

The year is winding down and Satt’s departure draws ever nearer.

Satt is one of the most remarkable people we have met and ever will. He taught us countless lessons, not just in the classroom but of life in general and now, he is teaching us to move on.

The seniors are leaving this year, as happens each June, but this time, Satt is going with them. into a wider world composed of vast possibilities and innumerable adventures to be had, and we are taking a step towards our next adventure, and though it may be without Satt, he will never be forgotten.

The mark that Satt has made will remain at South for years to come, there are many tears yet to be had and letting go will be devastating, but “The Tower” will survive.

Satt will be remembered for what he has done here with “The Tower”. He seamlessly helped us back on our feet after a tumultuous year and allowed us to excel past all expectations.

For his remarkable skill as a teacher, adviser, mentor and friend.

For his unparalleled composure and heart of gold and for the imprints he has made on each and everyone of us. For turning a room in the Main Building into our second homes and a group of kids into our second families.

We’re going to miss you, Satt, and we know you’re going to miss us. Remember, you will always have a home at South, and good luck.

HUMANS OF SOUTH: class of 2016 shares memories So pretty much what happened was we were walking home from school, me and Emma, and she hit me on the eye with a water bottle, full of water. She slipped on the ice and she hit me, and she gave me a black eye. So the next day when I go into school with my eye all puffed up and stuff, Mr. Martin comes next to me and he gets really close to me and he goes, ‘Claire, is everything alright at home?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, Mr. Martin, everything’s fine. I got hit with a water bottle.

-Claire O’Neill ’16

One of the highlights of my South career was having the opportunity to be in a senior leadership group lead

by Mr. Flint. It allowed me to get to know some of my classmates a lot better, and it was a great time. It helped me connect with the student body of South -Nina White ’16

Staff Writers Blair Shortal, Brendan Cauvel, Callie Zingas, Christina Ambrozy, Elizabeth Coyle, Gennie Martin, Griffin Brooks, Hailey Murphy, JD Gray, Jessica Whitney, Jon Theros, Katharine Kuhnlein, Lily Patterson, Lindsey Clark, Mac Cimmarrusti, Madeline DesNoyer, Olivia Frederickson, all ’16 Anton Mikolowski, Cam Francis, Charlie Denison, Claire Hubbell, Emma Russell, Gillian Eliot, Jack Froelich, Jack Roma, Mac Welsher, Madeleine Glasser, Mary Grace O’Shea, Michael French, Olivia Sheffer, Sydney Stann and William Muawad, all ’17 Abigail Due, Arianna Pagenette, Brennan Zihlman, Cameron Smolen, Chase Clark, Elena Rauch, Evan Skaff, John Standish, Kaitlin Nemeh, Katherine Bird, Lauren Thom, Maren Roeske, Margot Baer, Mollie DeBrunner and Liam Walsh, all ’18

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite “The Tower” is the weekly publication of the Advanced Journalism classes at Grosse Pointe South High School. It has always been a designated public form of student expression.

The Tower is located in room 142 in Grosse Pointe South High School. Please contact us at 313-432-3649.

Errors Factual errors will be corrected on the opinion page or in news briefs written upon request and verification.

Letters Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be screened for libel, irresponsibility and obscenity. The Editorial Board may edit or shorten letters as long as the meaning is Opinion Pieces unchanged. All letters must be signed and Editorials represent the majority opinion of include a telephone number for confirmation. the Editorial Board and are left unsigned.

Request to withhold the writer’s name Columns represent the opinions of individual from publication for good reason will be staff members and outside contributors. considered. Letters can be sent to the above email address, or dropped off in “The Tower” Editorial Board Room.

An asterisk * denotes Editorial Board editors.

Advertising Display advertising is sold at a rate of $7 per column inch, with discounts for large or frequent advertisers. Advertising may not advocate illegal activities or contain libelous, irresponsible or obscene material.

Professional Associations Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll, the Society for Newspaper Design and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

opinion // 3

Friday, June 3, 2016

Transitional high school experience will never be forgotten

MY VIEW // JENNIFER MAIORANA Editor-in-Chief

Sitting down to write this column is surreal.

Every year, I was enthralled by the senior columns in the last day issue and would naively daydream about where I’d be when I finally wrote mine. And 18 college applications, hundreds of hours in the Tower room, many tears and even more laughs later, here I finally am.

I never expected to feel nostalgic right now. I expected to be overjoyed and relieved that high school was finally ending; I almost took for granted what has been an incredibly memorable and influential four years.

Being an extremely forward thinker, I imagined all sorts of scenarios for where I’d be by the end of senior year.

Freshman year, I thought I’d be committed to a college for swimming. Sophomore year, I thought I’d end up somewhere in Washington D.C. pursuing pre-law. Junior year, I had a list of 30 colleges

from California to Boston ranging from programs in engineering to chemistry to business. Senior year, I “narrowed” down my list to 18 schools just to end up at the first one I applied to: the University of Michigan.

Each of these transitional years provided me with a unique set of experiences that have influenced the person I’ve become.

Diving into South’s pool every afternoon freshman year after a mentally draining day of school gave me an intense sense of discipline. Pushing through practice, past the full-body burn, first introduced me to the idea that life goes on; no matter how intense pain is, there is always an equally powerful sense of happiness that counteracts. Hitting the wall with a record-breaking time made the harsh training worth it.

I also discovered the importance of writing. Kelli Fimbinger, my freshman year English teacher, gave me freedom with my work, which helped me develop a sense of limitlessness when I wrote; she showed me how impactful words can be when used effectively and helped me sharpen my writing style.

Jeff Nardone, my journalism teacher, taught me how to convert passion into a tangible piece of writing. He stressed the importance of brevity, sharp organization and integrity when writing an effective piece. His unmatchable strength and resilience to keep teaching in the midst of chemotherapy instilled a sense of perseverance in me.

When he passed away my sophomore year, the reactions to his death were profound. I will never forget how supportive, strong and composed our senior leadership team was that year. They put out an incredible tribute to Nard that week, never even thinking of tarnishing the Tower’s weekly tradition.

I am honored to have been in the last class Nard ever taught, with my entire journalism career afterward rooted in the desire to continue his legacy.

Sophomore year also marked a transition for me in the sense that I began to find my voice. By reallocating the time I spent swimming towards school,

I was able to step up with Tower and chair my first committee for Student Association.

Through Nick Provenzano’s 20 Time project in Honors American Literature, I was also able to step outside of my comfort zone. With his support and encouragement, I stood up in front of my peers and talked about my depression and anxiety, something that I never dared to speak of before.

By the time junior year came around, all of my time was spent making checklist after checklist, trying to keep everything in my life organized. At this point, I committed myself fully to school and extracurriculars.

And when senior year hit, I had finally made it to the top of all my activities and courses. However, it wasn’t as easy as I expected it to be. I vividly remember staying at school until 11 p.m. at the first Monday Tower deadline after spending the day finishing up three stories, designing a page and attempting to help the new editors get the hang of things.

In the midst of this craziness, our adviser, Rod Satterthwaite, never failed to be my rock. I cannot thank him enough for always being an honest and supportive part of my life who got me through all of the ups and downs that come with producing an award-winning, and at times controversial, weekly publication.

In addition, Alexa St. John ’15 was my most influential mentor. From Honors Journalism, to our first year on staff together, to watching and admiring her growth into Editor-in-Chief, she was, and still is, my aspiration. Being able to work with her helped me develop the fundamental skills necessary to lead an 80-person staff. But, more importantly, she has been my best friend and was always just a phone call away whenever I needed her advice this year.

Tower became part of who I was this year. It molded the way I think about and articulate words, providing me with a platform to voice my opinions.

Covering tough topics became second nature, and I couldn’t have asked for a better staff to have

my back throughout this entire year. Between the string of deaths that started off our year, the controversial editorial we wrote stressing the importance of administrative honesty, the choir marijuana scandal and our special edition aimed at “breaking the cycle” of substance abuse, my staff was always supportive and united.

In all, my high school experience has been an unforgettable one thanks to the opportunities I’ve been given and people I’ve connected with. In the words of Nard, I’ll “never forget what I was a part of.”

Unknown, open future provides Achievement from hard work, not Hollywood ease In an alumni interview for a prestigious and notoriously optimistic outlook on years to come MYHowVIEWthe// EMILY FLEMING Associate Editor difficult university, the interviewer told me that in his four MY VIEW // BRENNA BROMWELL Associate Editor

I don’t know. This is the answer to seemingly everything that I’ve been asked this past year, as with many other seniors.

From the dreaded college plans question from relatives and close family friends, to my plans for the future, and even to what I’m going to write my long-awaited senior column on. The truth is I don’t know, but that’s because I shouldn’t know. That’s what the next four years are for, to find the answer to all of these questions I’ve been asked for the majority of my high school career.

We have our whole lives ahead of us to decide what we want to do and what we want to become. Right now, it’s time to enjoy the little moments that we have left in high school and make the most of it.

The truth is, we have the rest of our lives to worry about those things. With the school year winding down, this chapter of our lives is coming to a close, and it’s about time we unwind from the crazy four years we’ve spent trying to get into college.

The beauty of beginning what will most likely be the most important chapter in our lives is the fact that we have so much time.

Time to change our minds on possible careers or majors over and over again. Time to try new things and go beyond your comfort zone.

Time to make mistakes and learn valuable life lessons.

But most importantly, time to enjoy life and become whoever you want to be.

With that being said, time does pass incredibly fast, as I’ve come to realize during my high school years.

And while I could have chosen to write about my

high school experience and how great it was (which it was, but no one really wants to read about that) or the advice I have for underclassmen, I chose instead to write about how I really have no idea what I’m doing-- but does anyone really?

As I look back on the past four years I’ve spent at South, my head is filled with all of the late nights with friends, the spontaneous sleven runs when we first got our licenses, and all of the many times when we laughed until we couldn’t breathe. But I also realize how much time I’ve spent thinking about the future. And while it is good to be thinking ahead, this is time that I could’ve been focusing on what was going on right then and there.

In today’s society, it’s rare to find a moment when you aren’t thinking of something else you have to do. This comes from a combination of Grosse Pointe helicopter parents with extremely high expectations and the multitude of clubs South kids are involved in. Despite what you have probably heard, you don’t have to be a member of every single club and have cured cancer in order to get into the college of your dreams. Instead, we should be enjoying our youth and not constantly stressing about the future. The days of being on your parent’s tab and having little responsibility are fleeting, so it’s time to take advantage of all of it.

Long story short, it’s OK to not have your whole life planned out at 16. There are so many other things to focus on and think about. Despite the many adults who will expect you to know exactly what you want to do and where you want to go to school, it’s OK to say ‘I don’t know’. Because let’s face it, we’re all just winging it anyways.

hell did Troy Bolton do it.

Between junior and senior year, Troy balanced being the star of the basketball team, lead in the musical, a high-achieving student and a dishwasher at a country club.

All the while, he spent time hanging out with Gabriella on school nights after practice and rehearsal. When did Troy do his homework???

If Troy wasn’t such a high-achieving student, it could easily be said he just neglected homework every night to hang out with his decathlon-winning-yearbook-editing-musical-starring-Stanford-attending girlfriend. Based on the amount of time he committed to studies, he should have struggled academically. But, he announced at the end of “High School Musical 3” that he’s attending University of California (UC) Berkeley.

UC Berkeley is a top public college consistently ranked as one of the top 25 best colleges in the country-- obviously, he wasn’t slacking.

Let’s take a look at this mathematically. To get into the UC Berkeley, Troy had to have around a 32 on his ACT and a 4.0 GPA, as well as a good number of AP classes. To achieve this, Troy had to spend some time outside of school on homework.

But he never did. Troy Bolton’s primary sources of stress were his extracurriculars, and he never worried about academics.

Troy Bolton leads a #blessed life. He didn’t even have to apply to Juilliard because his teacher submitted his application for him (which is definitely fraudulent...but anyway).

He got to choose which college he attended based on what school had the most for him (basketball, theatre and only 32.7 miles from Gabriella).

Why don’t teachers commit fraud so I can go to Juilliard?

Why don’t colleges just let me in because I really, really want to go there, and they offer me everything I’m looking for?

I hate people like Troy Bolton. Troy Bolton is the hoe that gets perfect grades and tons of recognition while almost never having to study. I hate people like Troy Bolton because I wish I was them.

years double-majoring in biomedical engineering and chemistry, he never stayed up past 10 p.m. to study. That made me so mad.

I spent four years awake until 2 a.m. every night to maintain high grades in AP classes while also being a member of varsity athletics, choir, “The Tower”, Student Council and Pointe Players. There are people who can do everything and maintain perfect grades and a high standing in their extracurricular activities without stress, but that doesn’t happen to everyone.

I’m intelligent, but it does not come naturally. In high school, I stayed up studying for tests that I got Bs on and took the ACT six times without ever attaining my goal score.

I applied to 15 colleges and got rejected from most of my top choices. I am the antithesis of Troy Bolton in an environment where Troy Boltons are seemingly the norm.

Grosse Pointe Public Schools label you as “smart” in fourth grade Honors classes that allow 10-year-olds to accrue a sense of intellectual superiority that carries through to middle and high school. The environment at South perpetuates this sense of intellectual superiority where kids compare one another based on the difficulty of their class load and results of their latest ACT. This never bothered me until the college process began and suddenly the only thing I cared about was the number attached to my identity. I looked around me and saw higher ACT scores and couldn’t focus on anything else. All of the Troy Boltons were getting their goal scores, and I was inside on the weekends serving as a slave to the “Real ACT” book.

It stayed that way for the better part of a year and made me completely miserable throughout the entire college application process.

My perspective was completely clouded. I’m not going to say the ACT doesn’t matter. It definitely does, and it can help the Troy Boltons separate themselves and achieve great things. But the ACT is not the only thing that matters. After facing tons of rejections and deferrals and waitlists, I was accepted to one of my top choices.

Now that I am old and wise, I understand that my hyperfocus on the ACT was just a way of trying to turn myself into something I’m not.

I will never do well on a test without studying. I have to do my homework to do well, and I needed a tutor to do well on the ACT. I will never come close (unless Zac Efron and I get married, in which case, go me) to being Troy Bolton, but that doesn’t make me any less intelligent or talented.

opinion // 4

Friday, June 3, 2016

English department, other staff teach valuable lessons

MY VIEW // LAUREN PANKIN Supervising Editor

Throughout my time at South, I have learned about subjects ranging from allegory to allomers, from zygotes to Zachary Taylor. Although these academic lessons have proved invaluable, the ones most profoundly impactful were less about facts stuffed into my head and more about the heart.

In my freshman year, I was fortunate enough to meet three teachers who would shape the remainder of my high school tenure: Jeff Nardone, Harry Campion and John Monaghan.

As my journalism teacher, Nardone taught me that writing is fundamentally the documentation of humanity. A scrib-

bling of his found on a slip of paper in his desk drawer after his death is often quoted: “Never forget what you are a part of.” By welcoming me to “The Tower” family and journalism community, Nardone gave me (and countless others) the “what” to be a “part of ”.

One moment with Nardone resonates to this day. After spending days conducting meticulous interviews, I typed up a story and turned it in with expectations of impressing him. The next day, he returned my piece with a ‘B+’ scrawled on the top. When I asked him why I did not receive a higher grade, he told me that while I had asked the right questions, I had not written the right story.

I have spent much of my time on staff and in classes trying to understand what it means to write the right story, and in doing so, I have come closer to understanding the composition of my own story.

Throughout this search, Campion always extended a hand, both to push and assist me. He taught me that with a little “shit, grit and mother-wit,” a 40-page paper is surmountable. He taught me that there is immense joy in the English language, and that storytelling should truly be on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. He taught me, by example, that every day presents a new opportunity to listen, and therefore, to learn. His sage mentorship, thoughtfulness and bad dad jokes helped me through the worst and best of times.

Nostalgic senior advises students to embrace high school cliches

MY VIEW // SYDNEY SIMONCINI Supervising Editor

I’ve spent hours sitting in front of a backlit computer screen trying to figure out how to sum up the past four years of my life in 500 words. I had to run to the store to buy more eye drops after they cracked from hitting the blinking cursor.

We all want our senior columns to be profound, but funny. Sentimental, but lighthearted. And most of all, we want to stay away from the dreaded cliché.

But that’s the thing, we can’t avoid all the cliches, because high school, in and of itself is a cliche. Everyone goes through it.

Everyone has to bear through freshman year, ducking away from upperclassmen and getting confused by the classroom numbers in the main building. Everyone has to sharpen their number two pencils as they sit in the girls gym, freezing through a bombardment of standardized tests that, essentially, tell them that their destiny is to be a taxidermist or ventriloquist. Everyone goes through senior year, cheering their way through football games and choking on baby powder as they post photos laden with #classof2016 captions.

But even if you didn’t do any of these things, and somehow avoided all of the mandated high school events, isn’t that still a cliche? Shying away from things with the potential for disastrous and embarrassing endings that will single us out from the rest of the crowd?

No matter how you spent high school, I hope you took the time to smell the metaphorical roses or at the very least try to before being plagued with the smell of a burning gummy bear from the chemistry labs. Every wing, every nook and cranny of this school has a different opportunity, a different story to offer.

I hope you stopped by Mr. Washburne’s room to listen to a lecture about how often monkeys procreate. I hope you walked past Mr. McGuire’s class and heard his Bucky-themed lessons and Three Stooges impressions.

I hope you were able to hear the band and orchestras practicing pop’s freshest hits, i.e. Sibelius and Shosty,

As an unrooted freshman, I found a home in Monaghan’s classroom when a group of friends and I banded together into a ragtag Film Club. In this adviser capacity and, later, as my teacher, Monaghan taught me that eccentricity should be embraced, and that intelligence can manifest itself in humor and kindness instead of pretentious self-aggrandizement. He taught me the beauty of a little bohemian chaos, a little improv--the value of freedom.

While these three teachers provided the backbone of my maturation, a myriad of others shaped my story: Danielle Peck taught me to write what I mean, and to question every assumption, belief and fact. The best tool, she taught me, is a genuine and unquenchable curiosity. She taught me, in the same way that Nardone did, to discover the true and concise story, to narrow down seven paragraphs into a tidy thesis statement. Perhaps most importantly, she taught me that I should never apologize for my youth or my femininity in the academic arena.

Amanda Moon, my French teacher for five years, taught me that persistence trumps frustration. She taught me tolerance is not enough: we must strive to understand other people, and approach socioeconomic, religious and cultural divides with compassion and an open mind.

Michael Rennell taught me to be a

and see the choir tapping away in the MPR to classics by the immortal Cheetah Girls. I hope you fist-bumped Mr. Hamka in the hallway as he wore his tailored suits and bright ties. I hope you cringelaughed at Mr. Cooper’s PowerPoints and sank into his corduroy armchairs. I hope you took classes that interested you, even if they hurt your GPA. I hope you highfived Takis until your hands were red as he called out for “Phhhhteven”. I hope you listened to Mr. Gross when he told you to “make a great day”. I hope you walked down the English hallway, and saw Campion’s Hawaiian shirts, worn with pride, as he yelled “John, get down here!” before hanging up on Monaghan, mid “Guh!”.

I hope you founded the beekeepers club and saved Latin. I hope you made the hike to the IA building, complaining about how it would better tone your legs by the end of the year. I hope you and your friends traded AP horror stories, trudging through “five entire chapters of Barron’s in one night” or reading “The Odyssey” in its completion the day before the 160-question quote test. I hope you took a stroll down the main hallway during spirit week, as the seniors blew their foghorns and waved pompoms in your face. I hope you visited the Tower room, waving hello to Satt as the editors wondered whether or not you were actually on staff.

I hope you pulled an all-nighter for a project that you were secretly incredibly proud of. I hope you felt the collective fear after your entire class thinks they failed the exam. I hope you wrote an entire essay the day it was due, convinced it was the “worst thing you ever wrote” before getting an A-.

I hope you took the time and became great friends with one of your teachers after realizing that even teachers can be cool.

I hope you took time to watch a Fox News story on our school and wonder how in the world we got ourselves on there. I hope you learned how to salsa and swing dance in the gym while holding hands with the sweaty stranger in front of you. I hope you reaped the benefits of free popsicle day and sang along to the Project Smile music, no matter how much you pretended to hate it. I hope you high-fived the marching band when you discovered that yes, we really do have a marching band (!). I hope you joined a club or two just for the heck of it, without any thought of how it would look on your college application.

I hope you looked up at the tower from the front lawn and were washed with a small wave of appreciation for the architect that made our school an institution.

But most of all, I hope you stopped and took advantage of everything this school has to offer.

Because even though it’s high school and even though it’s cliché, it’s held the opportunity to be some of the greatest four years of our lives. So thank you, South, for being so wonderfully cliché.

team player. As my quiz bowl coach, he taught me to be a chivalrous opponent, and that sometimes you have to let other people buzz in. I learned from him that being a Know-it-All loses its stigma if you treat everyone with respect and acknowledge their strengths.

Rodney Satterthwaite taught me that “leadership” and “dictatorship” are not synonyms. As my journalism adviser for the past two years, Satterthwaite taught me that while perfection is unlikely when you relinquish absolute control, the resulting mistakes are valuable learning experiences. He taught me that bringing a Type B approach to stressful situations can improve subjectivity and prevent heart attacks.

Christine Norris taught me that you can’t throw a dead cat at our present without hitting the past. As a history teacher who rejected modern technology besides YouTube and PowerPoint, she taught me that gadgets sometimes hinder comprehension. Genuine concern and humor, I learned, are among the most valuable character traits.

Courtney McGuire and Barbara Grabski taught me that “safe spots” are key. As the guardians of Wicking Library, they taught me that learning can and will thrive outside of the classroom.

Unstructured educational time and research are often more enriching than filling in ScanTron bubbles or memorizing

terms.

Although they are not teachers, Principal Moussa Hamka and Assistant Principal Terry Flint each imparted several lessons: Hamka taught me that image and reputation are strengthened not just by well-tailored suits, but by moral integrity. Acknowledging those who are underserved and overlooked is essential in being the best for the world.

Flint taught me that self-discovery is not selfish. He taught me to ask myself the most demanding questions in a quest for purpose, a purpose which will enable me to utilize my abilities for the common good.

And as the most determined and greatest teachers I will ever have, my parents taught me lessons I will be unpacking for decades to come. In sum, my mother taught me to never be content with the status quo and to pursue my dreams with fiery determination. My father taught me to laugh, and that being a squeaky wheel is sometimes essential to identify systemic problems.

If given the space and time, I would elaborate on these lessons and name dozens more mentors for pages and pages. Since I cannot, I want to thank those I have mentioned and those I have not for the lessons they have taught me. These teachings are the architects of my past, present and future.

Senior shares essential lessons learned MY VIEW // GABI DE COSTER Supervising Editor

Recently, I received my letter from my former eighth grade self. She asked about my life, she gave me a twenty-dollar bill. I just smiled reading it, her words laced with naivete.

Having entered South as an untarnished ball of stark white clay, I leave broken, reshaped and molded anew.

I’m not who I had imagined myself to be, doing what I thought I’d be doing, alongside the people I always thought I’d be with; my 18-year-old life completely contrasts my 13-year-old expectations.

And I’m learning that might a good thing.

High school has left with me lessons -- lessons I wish I would’ve known before, but only know because of what I have lived. Honoring the organization that has simplified high school for me, I’m making a list of those lessons.

1. Say yes without fear, but say no without guilt.

South offers boundless opportunities for its students, many of them requiring its students to set aside fear and take a leap of faith. I never imagined myself being able to create graphics, but 15-year-old Gabi said “why not?” and I now serve as Supervising Editor of Graphics in “The Tower”. Saying ‘yes’ to opportunities I feared has led me to passionate people and beautiful experiences. However, there is power in ‘no’, as well. While many preach “never say never”, I’ve found that it’s important trust yourself enough to say no, without apology. You can say no to that extra “The Tower” assignment, because you know you cannot mentally take on another task. You don’t have to volunteer for every task the class council needs completed. You can say no to that party in favor of taking time for yourself, to relax. It’s your life, and your decisions.

2. Trust in the purpose of each experience.

For most of high school, in the moment, hardships just didn’t make sense. Why did this person do that? Why did I lose that friend? Why did I have to go through that?

Aging, and all of the experiences that supplement it can hurt. However, there is comfort in knowing that each moment you’ve lived through, whether it has made you

laugh or sob, has served in shaping you; every Monday is just as significant as each Friday.

3. Approach change with an eagerness to grow.

Change is inevitable. We will age, relationships will expire and pain will demand we acknowledge its presence: it isn’t an obstacle, but rather a tool. Its existence offers an opportunity for growth and learning. New experiences challenge our sense of self and encourage us to blossom into the person we want to be. Accept change, embrace it and work with it in your favor.

4. If you let them, teachers will impact you in ways that exceed the learning from any textbook.

Teachers, especially at South, are wonderful human beings. When you listen--truly listen--you will learn infinitely from them. From Honors and AP Biology with Mr. Adams, I faintly remember the specifics of immune system. That’s it. What’s never left me is the sense of joy I strive to find in all my academic pursuits. Rodney Satterthwaite inspired me to seek joy and laughter regardless of circumstance and to believe that ‘hip’ isn’t exclusive to age.

Ryan Wheaton has reminded me to be a kinder, gentler, and happier human. Danielle Peck allowed me to see the value in challenging yourself. Kevin Cox has left me with the importance of humor and curiosity. Each teacher has impacted me in a way that extends beyond a lesson plan.

5. Savor the moment.

It’s completely cliché, but completely true. Until that whole time machine thing works out, today will be the first and last time you experience this specific day. I actually cannot believe today is June 3, because I’m fairly sure yesterday was the last day of November. It seems I’m not alone in experiencing this bittersweet phenomenon, so trust that you are not immune.

So, when the tween version of myself asked me, “How has high school changed you? What have you been taught?” I answer her with this: Gabi, this is what I’ve learned.

Positive memories prevail, outweigh stressful times

MY VIEW // HALEY VERCRUYSSE Supervising Editor

For months, I have contemplated what to write my senior column on.

An ‘open letter’ to my soon to be junior brother? A feisty address to all of those who have wronged me throughout high school? A sappy farewell to my best friends?

Although all were viable (albeit cliche) options, none inspired me. Desperate, I turned to my go-to talking point: camp.

Thumbing through the still sandy pages of my camp journals, inspiration finally hit. “Today, I fell asleep face down on the blacktop in a gro-

cery store parking lot at noon,” the fateful entry read.

Allow me to explain.

It was day 24 of Odyssey, a 1,254 mile bike tour from New Hampshire to Michigan hosted by the American Youth Foundation and we were grabbing lunch in Montague, just 15 short miles from our final destination.

With 1,239 miles behind us, we’d seen it all--rain, headwinds, gravel roads, mountains, detours that land you on the freeway, etc.--so day 24’s itinerary, which had us following a paved bike path for 20 miles, was comparatively easy. Regardless, I was next-level tired.

But what I’ve realized in all this senior-column-induced soul searching is that sometimes the best experiences are the ones that absolutely drain us and have us falling asleep face down in parking lots, either literally or figuratively.

In the end, the positive outweighs the negative. When I reminisce on Odyssey, the low points don’t come to mind--though in reading my journals, it became apparent I had many (most involved parking lots, strangely enough). I do, however, vividly remember the laughter, the weightless sensation of biking down a mountain at full speed and the immense feeling of accomplishment when we returned

to camp, received by a cheering crowd.

The same goes for the Tower.

As a member of the 2016 Leadership Team, I spent innumerable hours in the stuffy, fruit fly infested Tower room between my two hours of Tower daily and our set deadlines on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Monday nights were always especially heinous; we often emerged from school long after the sun had set, tired out of our minds and perplexed by how such a promising issue had turned into such a late night.

But for as many times as I wished we had it easier, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Late deadlines meant Park Grill shawarma, gossip circles, deep chats with Satt, throwback jam sessions and slap-happy transgressions.

Reflecting on my high school experience overall, I realized that many of my fondest memories stem from the most stressful deadlines. I’ll never forget the time I twirled Sydney too hard and her phone flew, all the sh*t Ray said, when Liam pitched a tent, the dance parties to trap Kahoot music, the fits of laughter or the multitude of other happy memories in that cesspool we call the Tower room.

I’ll never forget what I was a part of (though I may repress the less savory details).

opinion // 5

Friday, June 3, 2016

High school is like a song MY VIEW // OLIVIA BARATTA Pulse Editor-in-Chief

Think about the very first time you listened to your favorite song. For obvious reasons, you did not know it would be your favorite - you had never heard it before. It was new and it was different. It was exciting, it was cool and it was fun, however, you didn’t really know what was going on. Nevertheless, you found yourself enjoying it.

After you listened to the song a bit more, you became more attuned to its structure. You found yourself starting to get a handle on the lyrics, and the beat, and maybe even caught yourself quietly humming along.

As you became even more familiar with the song, your confidence was magnified. Its nuances appeared more clear to you, and you began to learn more and more about the artist. You yearned to sing it with power because deep down you knew you could.

Now, the song has been in your ‘most played’ list for months. The song is just about to get old, but currently it is the best it has ever been. You belt it, and in the moment you feel so alive. It’s the fall of your senior year.

Winter rolls around, stress creeps in, and you’ve stopped listening to

your favorite song. You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be excited, to experience something new. You’ve forgotten what that song was all about, and most importantly you’ve let go of the fact that it changed you.

You’re so eager to forget the song that you’ve been missing out on moments filled with the beautiful beat and intoxicating rhythm you once let yourself love.

It’s May of your senior year and you’ve begun to realize that you’ve only been given so much time to revel in that song. You realize that you will never be able to listen to that song for the first time again. That song was the soundtrack of a once and a lifetime experience that you do not get to start over. You realize that a long time ago, you became desensitized to the song and forgot all of the wonderful pieces that made it what it was. The way you felt the first time you listened to it has long since left your memory, and you let your stresses

MY VIEW // ZOE JACKSON Page Editor

cloud your love for everything the song represents.

Recently you’ve realized that you can’t stop the song from fading, but The Greatest Composer has a new record prepared for you, and He won’t let your heart forget your once favorite song.

Channeling inner strength to achieve health, college dreams

MY VIEW // ALLYSON HARTZ Pulse Editor-in-Chief

I did not think I would be writing a senior column so soon. As the last four years have passed, each have gone by faster and faster. While it will be sad to leave family and friends behind as I hit the road for ten hours north this fall, I know what awaits me is worth the distance. Thinking about what to write in my column, I figure it is time to reflect on the most revolutionary event of my teenage years.

My junior year I was faced with the challenge of going gluten free. At first it was tough to cut out so much from my diet and was inconvenient to everyday life. But, it was beyond worth it. After seeing how much better it made me feel, I knew there was no going back.

My body loved the new diet, as I found the most fulfilling nutrition in whole food: plant based meals.

Feeling better than I ever had inspired me to challenge myself to train like crazy. I’ve always played sports and been athletic, but I wanted to push my body farther. I began distance running, speed workouts, strength training, yoga, and the list goes on. Training

was what made me feel so good about myself everyday.

Now I work out everyday, if not twice a day, and have never felt better about myself. My fitness is one of my top priorities and something I can never see myself living without. You can live anywhere in the world, but the only place that you are forced to live is in your body.

What I didn’t expect to come from training was the amount of mental growth I achieved. Your body can do so much more than you think it can, which is why I was not only developing my physical shape, but my mental shape as well. Your mind can push you farther than you think you can go, and make you forget that your legs are dying for a break, or your heart is pumping so hard, or your lungs can barely supply air fast enough.

While I have made some notable accomplishments in the last four years with countless support systems along the way, no one pushes me harder than myself. I can thank my family, friends and teachers for their support and guidance, but I have to thank myself for working hard for the past four years to achieve my goals.

Because of the work ethic and dedication I have cultivated

A letter to next year’s Editor-inChief, best friend

and applied throughout high school, I find myself headed to my top choice college next year to study what I love.

I owe it to my lifestyle change for allowing me to realize the power the mind has when you commit yourself to something.

I committed myself to four years of being successful and prosperous, to four years of reaching for the goal of going to my top choice school, and to four years of pushing myself farther and farther.

Though, I haven’t done this all by myself. I do have to thank the people who have been important throughout my last four years. Thank you to my parents for their unwavering support and love, my brothers for the endless competition and the teachers who have made an impact on my high school career. And lastly I must thank my friends who have made the ride more enjoyable, and have put up with all of my nonsense about rocks and chocolate.

I should’ve known this was going to happen.

But I didn’t. I didn’t realize when I met you three years ago, you a freshman, me a sophomore, that I would have to leave you behind.

I knew this time would come. Yes, I’m thrilled to be graduating, but when I think about how it will be without with you?

I know you’ll be OK. I find you lovely and hilarious. Ridiculously talented and so empathetic. I know so many others recognize these qualities in you as much as I do.

But me? What am I going to do in college without you?

Who else is going to get (and share) my dark sense of humor? There’s no one else I can call with no real topic in mind, just to let conversation flow. You read all my writing, compliment me even when I hate it.

I run up to you with a joke, or you run up to me with a hug. I’ll never forget pushing you on a desk chair through the hallways at MIPA camp, or getting caught climbing a tree. Acting obnoxious at concerts (me) or causing trouble at movie theaters (you).

Spending four hours making matching T-shirts and splitting a pizza on the floor of your room.

But where we really got close was through journalism, where we met.

I sat at your table in honors journalism when I switched into the class nearly halfway through the year. We became Staff Writers together first, then Page Editors this year. And next year, you are going to be Editor-in-Chief.

I was so proud of you when I found out - still am. Let’s keep it between us, but honestly I can see no one better for the job. Maybe I’m a bit biased, who knows.

I thought I would have this long list of advice for you, you’ll have so much responsibility next year. But cheesy as it may be, I recommend that you keep

doing what you already are.

Keep up your grade-A page design and those awesome graphics. Don’t stop writing controversial stories, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. You’re a leader, but one of the best types. Diplomatic, reasonable. Kind, but with the talent to back it up.

You can guide a first year staffer through their first page just as you conduct trying interviews, which says just as much about you as a journalist as it does about you as a person.

I’m going to miss that. Monday morning Editorial Board meetings to late deadlines. I’m going to miss you, friend.

But truthfully, this isn’t goodbye.

We talk about our little NYC apartment we’re going to share; two girls in the city - a sitcom actualized. Our ‘Captain America’ waffle maker is on the counter, you’ve got ‘Orange is the New Black’ queued up on Netflix.

Where all our clothes are going to fit, I have no idea.

I can’t imagine anything more fun than living with you, my best friend.

It sounds just like a sleepover, except that this one goes on for months and includes killer New York City rent.

I can’t wait until then, but for now I’m heading off to Western. Don’t worry about missing me too much though.

You’ve got a paper to run.

Setting personal stride key to finishing race MY VIEW // MAGGIE WRIGHT Page Editor

Run your own race. I learned the importance of this freshman year and have tried to apply this to all aspects of my life. High school truly is a race and sometimes if you aren’t careful it can quickly turn into an exhausting race to nowhere. When you try to run against someone else it doesn’t work. It’s a pathway to defeat because, as I have learned, there is always someone better. However, when the person you’re trying to beat is yourself, you set yourself up to become a better version of you. Goals and dreams are an individual thing, not universal.

High school has been a positive experience for me where I have been able to try all sorts of new activities and meet an array of different personalities. It all started freshman year when I joined the cross country team. As I have a love for running and team sports, it was the perfect fit. It allowed me to

experience something unique to South: a team of over 100 girls that felt like a family. I learned a lot through the commitment it required. Participating in both travel soccer and cross country in the fall of freshman year along with balancing a challenging course load taught me the importance of time management. I also discovered that no matter how hard I worked there was always going to be someone that much faster or smarter. If I got a 100 percent on a test it seemed as if there was always someone who got a 101 percent. If I ran my best time in a cross country race, someone had a faster time. Coming from fairly sheltered middle and elementary school experiences, high school was a wake up call that this was a race I wasn’t going to win and that competing against others was not the best approach to take.

Fortunately, I learned early on to run alone. I focused on striving to be a better version of myself, not better than the person next to me. This is not

the easiest thing to do. I’ve had moments of feeling like a failure compared to my peers who have done some pretty amazing things. Sometimes running your own race can bring disappointment to others, but even so, I am so thankful that I took this approach in high school.

The reward in running your own race is it allows you to be true to yourself and remain better focused on your personal values, goals and dreams without the competitiveness and worry of other people’s expectations of you.

The biggest piece of advice I would have for my younger peers would be to stay focused on your goals, work hard, and don’t let the success or achievements of others bring down your own selfworth. When you focus solely on your own personal goals it is a set up for success. Your achievements might not be the same as the person next to you and that is perfectly OK.

opinion // 6 Senior finishes one race, continues college as the next

MY VIEW // ALEXIS MOTSCHALL Business Manager In eighth grade English, my class wrote letters to our future 18 year-old selves, and yesterday, I received that letter.

Although not surprised that I had written an entire page about One Direction, I was pleased to find little encouragements throughout the note. Written in the flap of the envelope was, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7. This was my mom’s favorite Bible quote, the one that she felt strengthened her the most during her battle with cancer. My 13 year-old self had reminded me of these words that I had stored somewhere in the back of my mind, but hadn’t uncovered for awhile.

I next wrote of how, on the news that year, there had been a girl in a track meet who had carried her teammate over the finish line when she was injured.

Reading this formed the image of my sister and me in my mind, lifting each other up throughout our entire lives. Once on a family walk when we were both in elementary school, her in fifth grade and me in kindergarten, I, in typical kindergarten fashion, had run ahead without looking where I was going.

After a trip, a scrape and I’m sure a few tears, I will never forget my sister’s immediate willingness to give me a piggy back ride the entire way home.

This year brought stressful times for the both of us with my sister’s job search and my own college one. Without my sister, I know I would not have been able to make it through the darker moments.

We made the decisions we did because we had each other at our sides. She continually encourages me to run like a 5-year-old. To run free and run content and run without looking back. When an uneven sidewalk halts this run, I know that she is there to pick me up and remind me of my mom’s radiant smile telling me to start running again.

Toward the end of the letter I wrote, “I want to be remembered for something good.” I realize now that the being remembered part is of far less importance than the “something good” part. The countless good things in my life, the memorable ones, are made up of an effortless joy. The kind that occurred from being a camp counselor and a catechism teacher. The joy found in the true friends I made this year and the guitar I picked up after years of neglect. The kind that revealed itself after Interact Club service projects like packing apples at Gleaners and speaking to the Students For Life Club on an early Friday morning.

My dad always tells me that I will be constantly starting over in life, and freshman year of college is just another starting line. I will work to finish this race until beginning something new again. Whatever grade you’re in, whatever age you are, keep fighting the good fight. There will always be a finish and there will always be a start.

Friday, June 3, 2016

My declassified South survival guide MY VIEW // JULIA FOX Copy Editor

On my first day of high school, I walked into the boys’ bathroom and tripped all the way down the stairs during passing hour. On my second day, I accidentally took someone else’s backpack from the pile at Farms Market, I thought it was mine.

Clearly, there are some things I never learned, but I can pass on a few words of wisdom: Go to school events. Don’t think you’re too cool or that they’re “just not your thing” or that they’re lame. You’re not too cool.

Book it to Farms at lunch. Get there fast, get out fast. You might look a little deranged but let’s be honest, no one wants to waste 75 percent of their lunch hour waiting in that line to pay. Find a friend who’s willing to look a little deranged with you. Maddie DesNoyer, I love her for that. While running, strategize, and divide-and-conquer with your friends so you can get to the counter in 52 seconds.

I don’t recommend wearing flip flops to school if you are coordinatively-challenged. Also, be wary of sandals (shout out to Mr. Adams for duct-taping/stapling my sandal after I broke it in bio class freshman year).

Get your shit done. Try your best and study hard because if you put in the work now, you will reap the benefits later. I’m not just talking about getting into a good college (although that’s definitely a huge benefit), but you’ll be able to look in the mirror at the end of the day and be proud

of yourself. When all your work is done, sit back and relax, do what makes you happy.

Learn how to have fun without illegal substances. It is possible, I promise.

Take an art class. I wish I had.

Be nice and respectful to your teachers.

They’re all pretty cool, too.

If you can, get an S-lot pass as a senior, especially second semester. It will cater to your senioritis, which is apt to make getting out of bed in the morning more difficult. Also, the sophomores get their licenses during second semester and the J-lot will fill up fast. Like 7:15 in the morning fast.

Don’t mess up your senior year. Your grades still matter. Even if you’ve heard they don’t, they do. You could be deferred from your college and have to send them your first semester grades. You could be waitlisted and have to send them your second semester grades. And you could be accepted and then have that acceptance taken away if you do poorly. Senior year still counts, take it seriously.

Apple cider vinegar cures everything.

Don’t care about what other people think and find your real friends. Find the people who love you for who you really are. I was lucky. I found the best friends in the world and I honestly don’t know what I would do without them by my side.

Don’t bother trying to be someone you’re not, the right people will love you for you.

I’m sure there’s plenty more that you’ll learn

along the way, but hopefully some of my experiences help you as you move forward.

Good luck to the class of 2016 as we all go our separate ways and good luck to those taking our places here at South.

A thank you to my supportive parents MY VIEW // JULIANA BERKOWSKI Copy Editor

Who reads a senior column? This was a question I had to ask myself while trying to figure out what to write about for my last article in The Tower.

As I think about it more and more, I realized it likely wouldn’t be my fellow classmates who would read this. With all the different, exciting, colorful pages of the final issue, this one would easily be looked over.

The answer was obvious. My mom is the only person I can guarantee will read this, so it only makes sense for me to dedicate it to her. And while I’m thinking about it, she will tell my dad to look at it, so I might as well dedicate it to him too.

In the following letter, I will attempt to make both of my parents cry with the beauty and sentimentality of my words: Dear Mom and Dad, As we finish our time as high schoolers/ high school parents, it is time for me to say the thank-yous I’ve overlooked the past four years. Perhaps you did not know I even noticed some of these things you did for me, but they’ve made a tremendous impact on my life.

First, to my mother, I owe you great thanks for packing my lunch every day since my time in school. But more importantly, thank you for writing my name on the outside of my lunch bag. Especially the previous two years, when I was the only person you were making a lunch for, because it could have gotten really confusing for me to be able to find which bag was mine.

(It is important for me to note that my dad never packed my lunch, and I have a deep gratitude for this too.)

Thank you Dad, for leaving me to starve, because any lunch you would have packed me would not have been a lunch I would want to eat.

Although you were never one for packing lunches, I must thank you for signing my permission slips. Sometimes, late at night, I would approach Mom and ask for her signa-

ture. However, at this time, she would already be thirty minutes into an episode of the Real Housewives and could not be pulled away from the on-screen drama.

Whenever I asked you to sign my permission slip, you did it without batting an eye. In fact, you could have been signing anything because you never even questioned it. I could be sporting a lower back tattoo right now that you signed off on and you wouldn’t even know.

To both of you, thanks for sitting through all of my sporting events, even though I’ve been a benchwarmer for most of my athletic career. I’ll never forget looking up in the stands and seeing both of you, on your phones, sitting in the back row of the bleachers. You might not have been watching, but I could feel your warm presence in the gym. For the past four years, Mom, I’m sorry for the hundreds of texts you’ve received from me that went something like this: “Can you please call me out? I promise I’m not going to miss anything.” Honestly, I was going to miss something important, probably a test, so when you just ignored the message you were doing the right thing.

When I was actually sick, needed to go home and couldn’t get a hold of Mom, I called you only one time Dad. And you said no. So thank you, I guess, for making me tougher.

If you’re waiting for the part of this letter where I get sentimental and thank you for loving me or something like that, you should know it’s not coming. As I approach the conclusion of this letter I have a final thank you.

Sophomore year, as I’m sure you both remember, I got into some trouble with the administration. I will be vague on the details to spare you embarrassment, but it involved a tweet about a mock white powdery substance.

When I called you, Mom, and you came into the office, I’ll never forget what you said, “She just has a weird sense of humor.”

These words, this defense you gave me, did little to nothing to help my case, but they meant so much to me. You probably wanted to say, “She’s just kind of a dumba**” but you spared me and had my back.

Now I know who to call to bail me out of prison.

Senior realizes that someone in supportive community is always on your side MY VIEW // HANNAH CONNORS Copy Editor

In a school of 1700, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning. It’s easy to feel scared, or lost, or alone. I want to dedicate my senior column to anyone who feels this way, and to tell you: you matter.

You matter even when you fail your math test and your parents ask when you’re going to get it together. You matter even when you get dumped, ignored, excluded. You matter even when you don’t make the team or get the position. You matter.

In a school of 1700, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning. It’s easy to feel like nobody cares or nobody notices. I promise you, we care. We notice.

And everyone in this whole school, heck, this whole world, matters. Your actions impact others in a ripple effect you can’t even comprehend. Nothing would be the same if you weren’t here.

This column would be incomplete if I did not thank all the people who helped me realize my own worth.

First, to Ms. D. You have been there to celebrate every accomplishment with me with joyful Bitmojis and congratulatory cards. But you’ve also been there with a hug and a Dove chocolate when I’m crying in your classroom. You have challenged me to be the type of leader and person I want to be and to never stop growing. You never failed to brighten my day and I could not have asked for a better mentor during my high school years.

To the family I found within choir, thank you for helping me find a place where I feel like I belong. It’s true what they say: we really are a cult. I have constantly been inspired by all the talent I’m surrounded by, and more importantly, felt genuinely supported by everyone. Our long rehearsals at the PAC, Andy workouts, struggles to take attendance, car washes, hours spent doing hair, and trips, whether to Paris or Ohio, have made my experience at South worthwhile.

To the family I found within Tower, thank you for being the most fun group of humans. Throwback jam sessions and trips to Farms were the highlight of my day, and I have loved and embraced the sense of community found in room 142. This staff has brought me some friends I never would have gotten close to otherwise, and I am thankful for the bonds I created while we churned out the best student newspaper in the country.

To Brendan, I forgive you for not sitting with me in math on the first day of sophomore year. Thank you for consistently listening to me vent about boys and college and more boys, no matter how repetitive the rants get. It’s a bummer I didn’t end up following you to Northwestern but I will be FaceTiming you more than you want me to (don’t you dare hit ignore).

To Callie, you are a ray of sunshine. Thank you

for sticking with me throughout high school and always being just a phone call away. You are someone I can laugh and cry with, and one of the funniest and most genuine people I know. AA ain’t ready.

To Maddie, you are my lifeboat. There is not much I can say that I haven’t said already, but thank you for being one of the only constants in my life. It is the best feeling in the world knowing I’ll always have you. I will miss you unreal amounts next year but SKO BUFFS! To my parents, thank you for supporting me throughout this roller coaster of senior year. Though I might not show it all the time, I know you two have my best interests at heart and I am very grateful. You two have enabled me to do so much and I will never be able to repay you, but hopefully going to your alma mater is a start!

These people, and many others who I couldn’t write about for the sake of brevity (and this column is due in seven minutes), helped shape me into who I am today. They made this school of 1700 feel like home.

In a school of 1700, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning. I used to feel like I was drowning, too.

But if you take a moment to realize how many people are rooting for you, I promise you’ll stay afloat.

opinion // 7

Friday, June 3, 2016

Senior reflects on use of hurtful labels, impact of strong support system MY VIEW // LINDSAY STANEK Copy Editor

My time and reputation at South can be summed up in one word: whore. People don’t realize the effect that word can have. We talk about f** and n***** but we never talk about the words that hurt me.

After you hear people call you something enough times, you start to believe them. Consequently, by March of my junior year, I hated myself. I believed that my sexual experiences were what defined me as a person.

I had always been a “good girl.” I go to church on Sundays and volunteer. I’ve been in pro-life club all of high school, a Student Association (SA) ambassador for three years and on Tower for two. I had good grades and took the hardest classes I could, but the second I started sleeping around, none of that mattered. All the good I had done with my life up until that point was undone by my sexual experiences.

Boys stopped liking me and friends stopped coming around. I felt alone and scared and like I deserved the treatment I was given. I don’t think sleeping around is necessarily a good thing and I went too far, but to a certain extent, it’s perfectly normal and okay; as long as you’re smart about it. But no one told me that.

I eventually met a boy, later I would call him

my first love, and he told me that being a slut just meant being a woman who slept around like a man.

I couldn’t understand why when guys had lots of sex, they were congratulated, but when I did, I was shunned.

That particular phenomenon is known as slut-shaming. It can take different forms (calling a woman a “good-for-nothing whore” because she likes sex, a boy telling you that you aren’t allowed to say no anymore because you say yes to everyone else, treating someone like less of a human being for nothing more than sex) and the effect is always the same: it makes her hate herself.

A little over half a year later, the boy who had built me up had disappeared from my life. I met someone else following our breakup and that relationship came to a close soon after, as well. A few short months after that, the first boy left this world completely. It was the first hard, unexpected loss I ever had to experience, and it shook me to my core.

The boy who loved me when I couldn’t love myself, my lighthouse in a storm, was gone. Following his death, I again started sleeping around.

For me, sex was enjoyable, but what was so addicting about it was the way it functioned as a crutch. Whenever something bad happened, I would have sex and for a few hours, the pain would disappear. I think what people don’t realize it is a

vice just like any other: something people in pain use to cope. It was a Band-Aid holding my fragile mental health together. Unfortunately, that meant I was never actually dealing with what was going on.

By the time I realized I had a problem, there was so much suffering that I couldn’t handle ripping all the Band-Aids off. His death sent me back into that vicious, self-destructive cycle. I was numb and betrayed, and sex was the only time I felt anything.

As the leaves turned, my depression started to fade as I came to terms with his death, but I didn’t stop my sexual habits. The shaming from peers didn’t stop either. People putting me down and abandoning me was the exact opposite of what I needed. Time helps, but it’s useless to hear in those moments where you feel beaten and broken down, like there’s nowhere left to turn.

But I promise you, time makes it all better. It has been 10 months since the boy’s passing. I found support in groups I was involved in, things that functioned as a constant in an ever-changing time.

“The Tower”, SA and my church’s youth ministry became a second home, and we were like little families within our organizations. They got me through it, as did the friends who stayed by my side.

Everything I went through has made me who I am and for that, I would never take it back. I may never understand why some people must endure such un-

deserved suffering, but I’ve learned to accept that.

Time and love heal all wounds and though the scars will remain, they just show how strong I am.

Learning to go off the beaten path, art helps embrace oddity, differences MY VIEW // JENNIFER TOENJES Photo Editor

As I write this, it’s weird to think it could possibly be the last thing that I ever have published. Years from now, I imagine my older self rummaging through fragments of my youth, and reading what I am currently writing. It may be a disappointment considering I had a pretty average high school experience, but here we go.

I’m not writing this to reflect on any specific moment, but rather to appreciate all moments that collect like dust that lays in an attic--one day a clipping of this article will be just that. I remember being so afraid to start at South because I came from a small, Catholic school. The night before my first day at South, I could hardly sleep, and I had nothing to wear. My “crazy horse girl” phase was ending, and most of my shirts had cheesy graphics my grandma picked out in horse magazines. Yes, those do exist.

I remember the panic of not fitting in, and I felt like I needed to be like everyone else, because I spent my elementary and middle school days being the puzzle piece who fell into the wrong box.

Fortunately for me, the first day was canceled due to some malfunctions in the S-building. I believe there was a minor fire or something, but who really knows?

The much-anticipated first day of high school eventually came. I borrowed a pair of my mother’s flats, wore the only nice top I had, and a pair of slacks

that were too short.

I came. I saw. I conquered. The first day was over and the unstable teen years were in full progression from then on.

It seemed everyone had an established group to which they belonged during their freshman year. I wasn’t even aware of these social groups because there weren’t enough people at my middle school to establish them.

All I could think of was to dress, act and do as I saw. Doing what I wanted never really crossed my mind. Luckily for me, my sophomore year I had a photography class. There I not only learned skills that would impact my artwork forever, but that it was OK to be the off-beat kid.

I always hear people say art gives them freedom. It wasn’t like that for me.

Art gave me a structure. Structure in the way that I became everything I wanted to be.

I was free before I had found art, but I’d like to thank my art teacher Kit Aro for exposing it to me.

Following this was a reconciliation of who I am. I am exactly who I want to be, and I learned that my reputation will be based on what others say about me, but my authenticity will be what I say about myself.

I live my life as if it is art. I appreciate the good, fix the bad and am interpreted differently by everyone.

Jim Morrison once said, “Where’s your will to be weird?” To this I say, don’t be just fish in the stream; dare to be different and fight the current.

Balance between work and play, staying true to yourself crucial for success MY VIEW // OLIVIA FREDERICKSON Staff Writer

The amount of times I used to count down to the end of each year of high school is undeniably infinite. I used to have a constant obsession with becoming one grade older, not necessarily to gain more knowledge, but more for the social status of superiority over the younger grades.

Taking a look back over the past few years, I now realize that my whole perspective of becoming older actually has so little to do with graduating high school. All of freshman year, I always wanted to be a sophomore. When I was a sophomore I wanted to be a junior, and so on. Preparing for college now, I have finally noticed the actual substance each year held.

When I think about each year individually, the people I met, the teachers I had, and the things I did all impacted me so drastically, yet so unnoticeable at the same time.

Thinking about all the amazing teachers I have learned from and friends I have made, even the mistakes and disappoint-

ments I have experienced, they made everything that I have accomplished today possible.

High school in the minds of some people may seem like a waste of time, but would you really like to make the mistakes you did here in college and beyond?

This is a time for trial and error. It’s a time to really figure out who you aspire to become.

None of us really understand this fully, but that’s the beauty of it.

My biggest struggle with having confidence in things like class discussions, making new friends, and of course taking the dreaded ACT came from a tendency I, and I think many others, have for over-thinking things.

In reality, nobody actually gives a damn if you say the wrong answer in class, wear those shoes to school, or have whatever you consider to be an amazing or awful GPA. Everything is up to you. You need to start making decisions for yourself because it prepares you to make some of the what seem to be the biggest decisions

in your life yet.

One of the reasons I began to overthink things in high school was partially due to overwhelming myself with a constant worry about school and other activities, like athletics. It came easily and impacted how I was feeling mentally and physically.

I can’t really say I absolutely regret anything I did in high school. I can honestly say all my mistakes and accomplishments lead me to this amazing last hurrah. Being honest with yourself and others is extremely important and a part of figuring things out for yourself. A part of staying true to yourself and disregarding what others think. A part of why I am relaying this information to you in this column.

One of the most memorable places I learned this important quality was in my honors journalism class freshman year with Mr. Nardone. Some of the most memorable classes and discussions begin and end with being in Mr. Nardone’s Honors Journalism class.

I remember the countless times we would go off topic but stay complete-

ly relevant and true to what actually affects students and what matters to us.

Mr. Nardone was one of those teachers who genuinely stuck up for the students and cared about us. I will never forget the jokes and sarcasm that filled his classroom every day about block scheduling and calling people “crackheads.” At the end of the day though, he would always let us know that we could trust him as a teacher, as a friend.

That class truly made me feel a level of comfort in high school that is hard for most freshman to feel, but most importantly it taught me the value of honesty in every aspect possible.

Whether you struggle with constantly wanting to move up a year in social status, overthinking things and staying confident, or staying balanced with work and play; the only thing that stands in your way of success is the cloud of dis-

tractions of high school that make staying honest to yourself difficult. No matter if you’re a freshman or a senior, it’s never too late or too early to have this realization. I wish the best of luck to everyone of all classes and especially the class of 2016. Go Blue Devils!

LETTERS TO THE FAB FOUR: reminiscing on true, long-lasting friendships

MY VIEW // MADELINE DESNOYER Staff Writer

How could I sum up my last and final words to the school that I have grown to love so dearly? Explain how I mastered a trip to Farms and back in under five minutes? A poem on my emotions for

when they installed the water bottle filling drinking fountain on the second floor? But one certain things stands out and comes to mind that is beyond this school, and something that has been apart of my life for a very long time.

In middle school, my three best friends Julia Fox, Megan Gall and Eryn Van Der Hoeven named ourselves “The Fab Four.” No, not because we thought we were cooler than everyone else. It was literally because we were each other’s only friends, and we were perfectly OK with that. I attended a different Catholic school from my friends, so the weekends were something that I cherished. After summers that seemed endless and a transition to a completely new school where we would all meet completely new people (shout out to Punto Pals), we have still managed to stay together as friends and as “The Fab Four.”

Dear Julia, I would like to publicly congratulate you for getting into your dream school. You deserve it so much-- also for successfully escaping your awkward phase. Thank you for always being my duet partner, especially our legendary Backstreet Boys karaoke performance in Punta Cana. I will never forget the Friday nights spent at your house ordering Jet’s Pizza and specifically making vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Your deep love for cacti is quite concerning, but your genuine soul and kind heart

makes up for it. Here’s to the next four years in the great state of Indiana.

Dear Megan, My sweet little Taurus. I’m pretty sure we spend more money on TCBY than we actually make when we work there. Thank you for always being my go to for whenever I feel like doing something random or crazy, like in Punta Cana (no days off), late night drives or fried donuts from Hydrangea. Thank you for always being an incredible friend, for example, the four-day school-night sleepover. We’ve laughed together until we’ve cried and we understand each other on a certain level that is unexplainable. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. I can’t wait for the next chapter of our friendship at Indiana. #IU2020 Dear Eryn, Words can’t describe how hard this is for me to write. After 13 years of being best friends, next year we will be 305 miles away from each other. You’re my childhood best friend, my awkward-middle-school-phase best friend and have continued to stay my best friend throughout high school. Some of my fondest memories we have together are our endless summers of biking and Lochmoor swimming, fami-

ly vacations to Disney World, our Lil Wayne phase, iMac PhotoBooth and the countless sleepovers filled with laughs and Twilight movie marathons. We’ve been through everything together, and all I can say is thank you. Although you will not be traveling to Indiana with the rest of us, I will always have time for an hour (or five) FaceTime, and my dorm is always open for a visit.

Meeting these girls has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. I can honestly say I would not be the same person that I am today without them.

I can’t wait to see the amazing things we will all do in the future.

Fab Four forever.

opinion // 8

Friday, June 3, 2016

Senior reflects on importance in thank yous, their impact on others towards accomplishments

MY VIEW // Genevieve Martin Staff Writer

I have never heard a graduation speech that didn’t have a list of thank yous. So because of my

overall lack of time and motivation, I decided to write a list of thank yous for my senior column.

However, to stray from the cliche and often boring lists, I chose to remake my favorite comedian Jimmy Fallon’s sketch “Thank You Notes.” If you have ever heard them, this will make a lot more sense. If not, read it anyway. I hope it will make you laugh. *Theme music playing* Thank you, Michelle Obama, for … really nothing. You took away our daily school-store cookies, and I’m still pissed.

And thank you, school store cookies, for being the only reason to get out of bed in the morning Thank you, Farms, for making me realize how truly indecisive I am while robbing me of house and home.

Thank you, freshmen, for teaching me how awkward I used to be. #gloup Thank you, to my haters … because what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.

Thank you, peers, for still talking to me when I showed up to school with no makeup on, wearing sweats and my hair in a pony tail.

Thank you, Yahoo Answers, for actually being useful for once and keeping me from failing physics.

Thank you, IA building stairs, for helping me get in that work out every day when I was too lazy (in

reality I went home and watched “The Office” on Netflix).

Thank you, cross country, for teaching me that you can, in fact, eat your weight in food.

Thank you, hockey for teaching me that girls can be tough too. Peep the bruises all over my body from shots and slashes.

Thank you, sports, for giving me a valid reason to wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants to school. #spiritwear Thank you, Buzzfeed, for letting me know “what type of sugary cereal I should eat to distract myself from my sad adult life.” … :/ Thank you, Johnny T, for MOLE day. I’m still trying to burn off all the waffle calories I ate that day.

Thank you, SZMR, for making absolutely no sense. Quote: “Spaghetti makes me happy. Just talking about it, I’m already distracted.”

There are a lot of factors in my life that have led to this point. While everything listed above has been a major part of my high school career, there are certain people who really have helped me through the obstacle-coated rollercoaster I like to call high school.

My parents: I realize I have not been the nicest to you this past year. Senioritis has hit hard, but that should not be an excuse. You provide everything for

me, so when you ask me to do the dishes, I know I shouldn’t complain.

I’m thankful for how much encouragement you have offered me throughout the years. Who knows if I would have gotten up those mornings without you knocking on my door or if I would’ve finished those assignments without you giving me sympathy and staying up with me all night.

Hugh and Karen, thanks. As much as I sass you or get embarrassed by you, I would not be here without you, literally.

Then to my friends. You are what have gotten me through each day. You make me laugh like no other.

I can’t express how much it means to me that you have stuck by me all these years, especially because of how crazy I can be. The late-night adventures with you are going to stick with me forever. I love you all so much. Thanks for being the best.

I think it’s really important to say thank you.

There are so many things in life that we have. They are there, but we don’t notice. You don’t ever notice how much your parents do for you because that’s the way it has always been.

So, seniors, make sure to say your thank yous, because getting this far in life is an accomplishment you couldn’t have reached alone.

‘High School Musical’ not realistic, yet teaches important lessons

Self-sufficiency necessary to build character, learn how to approach issues

MY VIEW // LINDSEY CLARK Staff Writer

MY VIEW // JONATHAN THEROS Special Projects Manager

Disappointingly, high school was not much like “High School Musical.”

No one sings down the hallways (although there is the occasional ukulele), our pep rallies are not that crazy, lunchtime flash mobs are not a thing and there are no Zac Efrons at our school (sadly).

So thank you HSM for giving me a false hope for high school and for teaching me what always comes after “WHAT TEAM?” Since my time of singing “High School Musical” karaoke in my basement in third grade, a small part of me dreamed that my high school experience would be as cinematic as Gabriella’s.

However, I think the closest I got to the random fate of Troy and Gabriella was when I had to dance with a group of uncomfortable sophomore boys last year during a dance class in AP Lang.

High school is more like the “Stick to the Status Quo” dance number, where Gabriella spills her lunch and then that one kid stands up and yells

about he enjoys making creme brulee.

Although, Zac Efron running through the hallways singing “Scream” could also be comparable to the entirety of junior year.

However, for all of the things in “High School Musical” directors got wrong, they sure got one thing right: how much people change in high school.

This is what really surprised me while reflecting back on the last four years. I had never really thought that I would change in high school.

Sure, I would make more friends, and I might break from others, but I never knew how much I would grow as a person.

The other day someone asked me to describe my personality in middle school. I replied with “Is awkward a personality?” Even though I was joking, it got me asking myself: Who was I really before high school?

I had a hard time answering this question because so much happens in high school that shapes who you are.

Starting freshman year, I was a swimmer and a choir kid, who planned on continuing my hobbies throughout my four years in high school.

One could say I reverse “Troy Bolton-ed.” I turned from singing on stage to cross country and student council. I realized the things that once were so important to me, didn’t matter as much anymore and I found new things to take their place.

Like Troy Bolton, I blossomed into someone I didn’t expect. Unlike Troy Bolton, I did not sing my feelings when things got emotional.

What both HSM and actual high school taught me was that it is perfectly OK to be different and not “stick to the status quo.”

Be Martha, hip-hopping in a group of geeks or Zeke, baking up a storm in front of the basketball team. As Gabriella put it, “If along the way, you act like someone you are not, pretty soon that’s who you become”.

High school is the time to figure out who you are and who you want to be, so do not waste it by pretending to be someone else.

When preparing to leave for college next year, the perennial question begins to get thrown around: are you excited to leave high school?

While it’s easy to overlook, this is somewhat of a loaded question. I know what I will miss. I’ll miss being with all my friends, going home to a home-cooked meal (occasionally) and the great support I received at South.

However, in light of recent events with the varsity golf team, I’ve realized why I couldn’t be more excited to leave the Grosse Pointe “bubble.”

In summary, with no intention to defame anyone’s name, certain parents were not happy with how the team was being run, and our coach was essentially forced to resign.

This was not only completely selfish and ignorant, but if it wasn’t for quick work by our athletic director, our second-ranked Division I golf team may not have been able to compete in the playoffs we’ve been practicing for the entire year.

It was this situation that couldn’t make me more

ready to leave.

I will not miss overbearing parents in all the sports I’ve played, sticking their nose in their child’s life. It’s almost as if year after year kids in this city, if not the entire country, are coddled more and more.

I have been lucky enough to walk out of Grosse Pointe with an understanding that if you deserve to succeed and put the effort in, you will reap the benefits.

No amount of parental pawn-pushing can change that. It ends up hurting entire teams and rids students of the indispensable knowledge of knowing how to react to failure.

No one is entitled and the “lawnmower” parents mowing down every obstacle in their kid’s life are making them miss out on the real value of sports-to build character and become a better person.

When I go to the University of Michigan next year, I will especially appreciate all my parents have done for me by letting me figure out issues and failures on my own, rather than trying to handle it themselves.

I’ve learned how to self-motivate and rebound from failure because of that, and I’m certain those two traits are priceless to have when I leave. In the end, it doesn’t matter if I make the state golf team or get the most ice time on the hockey rink. I’ll get those privileges if I deserve them.

That being said, I’d like to thank certain coaches that have had to deal with a lot of pressure and unnecessary questioning of decisions by lawnmower parents throughout my life.

Especially in golf, where I’ve played varsity for four years now and had three different coaches, two of them ending their terms with controversy.

In my whole sports career I’ve had coaches who have played me a ton and some who played me very little.

However, all who pushed me to be the best, not just to play the most, have helped me grow.

My only hope is that the politics in youth sports disappear and coaches are allowed to make their playing-time decisions based on merit, not because little Timmy’s mom complains.

It is important to let sports build a child’s character, not just their résumé.

LETTERS TO TEACHERS: reflecting on positive impact of connecting with mentors MY VIEW // ELIZABETH COYLE Staff Writer

As I’m sitting here in my first hour tutorial, writing this column that is due today, I can’t help to think that this is the culmination of my years at Grosse Pointe South. At South I was never an honor roll, AP, anything student. Don’t get me wrong. I have passed all of my classes (I think), and my grades have gotten me into multiple schools, but I still haven’t truly excelled at anything. This was until I discovered what really stands out, what makes a person memorable is much more than a high grade point average and some 5s on AP tests. Making connections with teachers has helped me pass high school.

Spoiler alert: teachers aren’t chained to their desks when 3:05 p.m. rolls around and awoken at 7:30 a.m. by a guard. They have lives outside of school and experiences to share; a simple “Hey, how’s it going?” with a smile attached can start a great friendship. Most of the teachers with whom I have formed friendships I’ve never even had in class.

When you feel stressed out, need a laugh or are avoiding the walk to that mind-numbing class, stopping by and having a quick conversation with a teacher can brighten both your days. I want to thank and apologize to all of the teachers that have taken the time to deal with me throughout the past few years.

Ms. Distelrath: I think I speak for all of fourth hour when I say, oops. I would apologize for all of the “distracting” conversations we’ve had, but let’s be honest, that’s the best part of the day. You are one of the best math teachers I’ve ever had, and I’m impressed on how well you can tame the zoo that is Advanced Math. -DJ Bethy Beth P.S. Supino’s next week?

Ms. Parent: Remember when you said that first hour tutorial would be a quiet,

working tutorial? It might be a common trend that work is accomplished when I am absent, but that is neither here nor there. Thank you for always dealing with my incoherent yelling and whining about homework and answering my odd questions. Are you joining Ms. D and me for Supino’s?

Mr. Pascoe: Gingerbreadman! I’m going to miss debating the foulness that is Robin Thicke with you and discussing how funny/strange Saturday Night Live, The League and numerous other TV shows are. You’ve always been an amazing support system with an unbiased opinion that’s helped me more than you’ll ever know.

Mr. Provenzano: Do they have “The Tower” on Google Glass now? To answer your question, yes, I am doing OK. Thank you for always taking the time to talk with me in the hallway and giving me positive feedback and advice. By the way, how is Tina Fey? Mr. Rennell: Mr. Rennell, I can honestly say you are one of the coolest teachers I’ve ever had. You have the ability to teach a government class without giving any indication of which political party you identify with. That is seriously impressive. Thank you for helping me settle the argument of whether a hot dog is a sandwich or not and for making me never forget the Twenty Second Amendment. TWO TERMS! Lastly, Article 1 Section 8.

To the future classes of Grosse Pointe South, I want to leave you with this: make this school more than four years of homework, tests and projects. Make your teachers more than just a walking Pinnacle.

Put in the effort to get to know these people and establish connections.

I always said that I couldn’t wait to get out of here and move on

with my life, but now that I’m there, it is getting difficult. These teachers want to see you succeed, they want to support you and they will if you give them a chance. And remember, administration, we don’t ride scooters at Grosse Pointe South.

opinion // 9

Friday, June 3, 2016

An obituary for my future self: high school experience

MY VIEW // CALLIE ZINGAS Staff Writer

Callista Zingas (more commonly known as Callie) had a smile on her face even in her last moments, and her motivation never faded throughout her life (except maybe her fourth quarter senior year of high school).

Her gray hair and wonky knees would not stop her from accomplishing all that she did in her life, even in her final days. This obituary will attempt to

give a summary of the person that she was and with what she passed her time.

Callie grew up in Grosse Pointe, Mich. and went to high school at Grosse Pointe South, which prepared her tremendously for her next journey at the University of Michigan.

Leaving high school, she had no idea what she wanted to study, however, upon her three week adventure to Greece the summer before college, Callie decided that she wanted to make a serious impact on masses of people and help pioneer the world’s field of medicine, becoming an experimental medical researcher.

She finished her schooling with Medical School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and in her experiments, she discovered the cure for leukemia. Her interest in this particular disease was sparked by her son, Luke, who had the disease and whom she successfully cured.

She listed this as her proudest accomplishment in her small suburb outside of Chicago, Ill. Her summers were spent in northern Michigan at her lake house, where she ultimately moved after her retirement and continued golfing and taking photographs.

Her life will be remembered by the countless faces that were familiar to her, and in her will she dedicates her success to them.

She would like to first thank her mother. They had a million and one fights while they were both alive but loved each other to the ends of the earth just the same.

First, Callie fought her mom for more freedom as

she grew up and always wanted things her way, but her mother forced her strict guidelines merely for Callie’s safety and protection. Then, as her mother grew old and needed Callie’s help, Callie forced the same strict guidelines on her mother and restricted her so she could stay healthy and strong even in her retirement. She turned out to be very close to her mom in character: independent, successful and loving.

Next, her father. She learned something from watching him that cannot be taught in a classroom.

His quiet, humble motivation and adventurous take on life inspired her to be an award-winning photographer.

Her favorite thing to do was to get her huge, lanky camera out and take pictures of her life whenever she felt she needed to capture it. She did this throughout her life in spirit of her father, who always seemed to take pictures when the kids were looking their worst (McDonald’s on a road trip at 4 a.m.).

Her workout motivation comes from her siblings. She played club and then varsity soccer at the University of Michigan, but this was nothing compared to what they accomplished. Her brother always threw protein shakes down her throat and dragged her to lift at the gym, and both of her sisters became extremely successful in their sports.

She is currently survived by both of her sisters, the former Olympic gold figure skating medalist and the Harvard University hockey player, and from this she drew motivation to become an avid golfer from after college well into her 80s, winning the

Women’s U.S Open in 2028 and 2029.

Callie is also survived by her five children, her oldest the twins Jake and Ellie, and her younger kids Luke, Lena and Evan. They were all given equal shares to half of her fortune, the other half going to the Leukemia Foundation to fund the distribution of her cure. They were her greatest joys in her life, and ever since they were born, she was second in line.

Finally, she is survived by her very attractive, very tall, and very Greek husband who also became a renowned surgeon. He would like to thank her for always making him laugh, and she thanks him for being her rock and keeping her genuinely happy for so many years (also for always making her Oreo sundaes and watching chick flicks with her when she had a bad day).

Her dying wish was for everyone she knew to work their hardest towards their goals and have the happiest life they can, because life is too short not to enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Callie is not actually dead and has yet to graduate, but she will be beginning a life like this one next year when she attends the University of Michigan.

Although it seems like she has her whole life figured out, she does not. This piece is simply a reflection of some of her goals that she would like to accomplish with the ultimate message that from here on out, anything is possible and every human has potential to make whatever impact they wish on the world.

Thank you to a South education Step outside your comfort zone MY VIEW // CHRISTINA AMBROZY Staff Writer

MY VIEW // KATHARINE KUHNLEIN Staff Writer

A thank you letter to South: I would like to start off by saying thank you to this beautiful school for allowing me to walk the halls for four years. It has been an honor.

Thank you for my first-day of high school being canceled due to a power outage (even though I showed up and wondered where everyone was), that day messed with my nerves and my first-day outfit plans.

Thank you to the cross country team for teaching me it’s not only running, but the lifelong friendships I will have and my brain for memorizing 120 names with faces.

Thank you to the flats I wore to freshman year homecoming, I didn’t have any blisters, and I could walk. Apparently I didn’t know the pain that would accompany with the choice of heels later.

Thank you for the real school store cookies freshman and sophomore year, although it was probably better for my health junior and senior years. I would say it was the school store cookies that got me through the rough days of high school.

Thank you to Student Association for giving me pride in my organization skills and allowing me to be involved in so many school activities.

It helped me channel my school spirit and pride into events that benefited everyone. I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with the 70+ students involved, even if I had to keep track of the attendance.

Thank you to Ms. D (Ms. Distelrath) for always having my back and helping me through tough and stressful situations.

It was a wonderful four years with you and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

Thank you for the stress that built up during junior year. In hindsight it’s actually not that bad as long as you can keep your grades up.

Remember the ACT/SAT is just a number and although it helps colleges decide, just keep telling yourself numbers don’t define you.

You have character and skills that are not found within standardized tests, so don’t dwell on your scores; think about your attributes that you can contribute to society.

Your personality is what the world really needs.

Thank you to my parents for helping me decide which colleges to apply to and allowing me to hang out with my friends late on school nights-- because you know The Bachelor(ette) trumps all.

Thank you to commercial foods for providing cheap and good lunch-- underclassmen, if you haven’t gone make a point to try it. Their mac-ncheese is probably some of the best I’ve ever had, so make sure you get it on the days it’s offered Thank you for all the friends I’ve made in high school through cross country, Student Association, eating lunch in the commons, basketball, sailing, Tower and all my other classes.

A special thank you to all my classmates, I’ve known some of you since kindergarten (shoutout to my Defer dragons) and some of you I just met.

Every single person has had a special part in my life and I thank you all for that.

Thank you to whomever will wipe my tears at graduation and the all night party.

I’m going to miss you, South, not just for your beauty, but for all the people you introduced me to. It has been a pleasure to finish walking the halls and soon I’ll be just a visitor.

Finally, thank you to the kid who lets me in the school to visit in a few years. You’re the best.

The person I am today is not the senior that I pictured when I was in 8th grade. From the friends I made, to the classes I take, to the sports I play, I never anticipated half of the events and accomplishments I have achieved.

One of the most important lessons that I have taken away from these past four years at South is to be open minded and to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible.

The summer before my freshman year, my mom spontaneously suggested that I should participate in a field hockey camp at North, so we bought a used stick and she encouraged me to try it out so maybe if I liked it, I could play in the fall. Before the camp, I barely even knew what field hockey was, but I had a great time so I decided to carry through and play on the Blue Devils’ turf that time.

During the first day of tryouts, I walked onto the turf and I didn’t know a soul. It was difficult and intimidating at first, but after a few weeks I met one of my best friends. We clicked instantly and she was the first friend that I made at South, and we are still great friends to this day.

I ended up playing field hockey for three years, and even though I stopped playing after my third year, the sport provided the ability to play on a varsity team sport, the opportunity to build a ton of amazing friendships, and I learned how to turn negatives into positives.

Instead of goalkeeping for the varsity field hockey team my last fall season, I decided to join the cross country team instead. It was a bold move and I was both anxious and excited to participate in this new sport. I trained and ran every day that summer in effort to prepare myself for the intense workouts and meets.

Every previous year I looked at the cross country girls running and I thought to myself “Who would just want to run for fun?” But when the season started I discovered why everyone is so passionate about running on this team. I fell in love with cross country and I made so many friends on that team and before, I never would have expected that I would be involved in anything that challenging.

In middle school, I only took regular classes and I never pushed myself to my full potential, but when I hit South, my teachers recommended me into my first Advanced Placement (AP) class.

I thought my teacher was crazy and that I could never survive a rigorous course considering the fact that I never even took an honors class. When I walked through the doors of AP U.S. History, I never felt more intimidated. That course was the

most difficult class that I have ever taken, but my teacher and I worked really hard together and my work ethic strengthened enough to the point where I was motivated to take three more AP classes.

I also never would have pictured this senior column, or any article alone being featured in the school newspaper. I was never interested in journalism until Jeff Nardone talked to my freshman English class about “The Tower.” His words inspired me, and I wanted to be a part of that program, but I did not actually commit to class until my freshman year English teacher came up to me and recommended me into that class. Being a part of “The Tower” newspaper has been one of the best decisions that I have made. It enhanced my writing skills, uncovered one of my passions and provided the opportunity to interact with so many people.

Writing has developed as one of my strengths and my goal is to write for “The South End,” which is Wayne State University’s newspaper.

It is instinct for a lot of people to plan an organized itinerary of their life for upcoming years, and even though this aspect should be emphasized, it can close a lot of unexpected windows of opportunity. If I planned a strict schedule for myself and had a close mind to opportunities outside of my box, I would not have taken AP or other challenging classes, I never would have played field hockey or ran cross country, I would not have as many friends or known as many people, and I would not be writing this column. I have transformed over the past four years at South because I tried my best to step outside my comfort zone and expand my knowledge and abilities over many different fields.

School, friends makes senior feel honored to be part of GPPSS MY VIEW // MARK CIMMARRUSTI Staff Writer

Encompassed with lifelong friendships and memories, my high school experience was the best it could have been.

In the forefront of my mind is playing football for Grosse Pointe South and donning a red belt.

The adrenaline rush and pure joy of making a tackle and looking into the student section to see the boys who I grew up with going nuts is a lifelong memory.

Knowing that I was part of the second-best defense in school history (according to points scored against), is an honor.

Being part of a team that dismantled North in one of the biggest blowouts in rivalry history, is an honor.

Playing for South was an honor.

My time spent celebrating wins was incredible.

After games, going on the streets and pegging helpless cars with water balloons, from time to time even wrecking havoc on the Trolley, exposing its lack of windows. Twenty guys running in every direction tend to have an advantage over a trolley that can only move one way.

The elaborate sources of sober fun my friends and I have enjoyed summariz-

es what high school should be like--from hours playing pool volleyball, spikeball, poker games there was joy and genuine friendship that surrounded my days here.

Furthermore, playing hockey for South has been an absolute riot.

From seeing Griffin Brooks drop his mitts in the North game our junior year to having the student section lean on the glass so much they were almost falling onto the ice at Liggett Arena, it was insane.

Immersed in the rivalry of North-South, I think our communities best tradition is our cross town clash.

I believe it gives our town something to take pride in, cheering for the young people who represent each side of town.

Within the school I could not be more thankful for those who educated me along the way.

I forged a personal relationship with every teacher, and it has made learning not only entertaining, but more enjoyable.

Creating tremendous friendships with Mr. Hamka and Mr. Flint has been fulfilling and has given me a different perspective on the people who govern our school. It was an honor to go to South and be part of the Grosse Pointe School System.

best and brightest // 12

Friday, June 3, 2016 ALYSSA CAMPBELL // PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION EXTRACURRICULARS: Full orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Marching Band, Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra, Grosse Pointe Theater Pit Orchestra, Biology Club.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending the University of Michigan with a violin performance major at the School of Music, Theater and Dance.

Band and AP Music Theory.

FAVORITE CLASS: Orchestra,

BEST EXPERIENCE: Performing a solo concerto with the Grosse Pointe Symphony in my junior year and playing chamber music with my peers.

ADVICE: If you’re going to spend time on something, go all in. Doing anything just for the sake of getting it done will never help you.

JENNIFER MAIORANA // JOURNALISM EXTRACURRICULARS: Editor-in-Chief of “The Tower” Newspaper, Student Association Vice President, mai-guitar.com Co-Founder, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Quill & Scroll Honor Society, Generation of Promise Class of XXIV, Summer in the City Detroit Crew Member, Link Crew, Varsity Club & All-State swimming (freshman year) FUTURE PLANS: Attending the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan FAVORITE CLASS: AP Chemistry and Tower BEST EXPERIENCE: Senior year Homecoming, more specifically, the pep assembly, parade and game. I was fortunate enough to ride in a car with one of my great friends, Katharine Kuhnlein, at the parade and then announce the Homecoming category winners at half-time with my Student Association Executive Board. Even though the seniors didn’t sweep, seeing all of our hard work finally pay off was incredible.

ADVICE: Don’t apply to 18 colleges. Just don’t. Stay in the single digits.

WILL POPLAWSKI // ATHLETICS EXTRACURRICULARS: Varsity football, hockey, baseball, peer2peer, WyldLife leader.

BEST & BRIGHTEST these are the South seniors who were nominated for The Detroit News CATCH award for their specialized interest in different categories LAUREN PANKIN // LANGUAGE ARTS EDUCATION EXTRACURRICULARS: Supervising Editor of Copy for “The Tower” Newspaper, National Honor Society President, Quiz Bowl Captain, Student Association ambassador, Film Club Vice President, poetry club, French Honor Society, Quill and Scroll Honor Society, founder of Rushmore beekeepers.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending the University of Chicago to pursue a double major in Political Science and English.

FAVORITE CLASS: AP Literature, AP European History and Advanced Creative Writing BEST EXPERIENCE: Organizing and hosting the first annual Shakespeare Monologue Contest this spring. Not only did I learn more about arguably the best English-language playwright, I watched talented South students perform like professionals! The event’s success gives me such hope for the future of English studies at South.

ADVICE: Fall in love with learning. Rote memorization might earn you the A, but genuine interest and unflagging curiosity will enrich your education not only as a student of South, but a student of the world.

IVY RUSSELL // AGAINST ALL ODDS FUTURE PLANS: Attending U of M Dearborn for four years studying Psychology.

FAVORITE CLASS: AP Spanish V.

FAVORITE CLASS: Creative Writing.

BEST EXPERIENCE: Attending Crooked Creek YoungLife camp in Colorado with my best friends during summer of 2014.

BEST EXPERIENCE: I really enjoyed commercial foods with Mrs. O’Hare because I’ve met a lot of different people that I wouldn’t know otherwise.

LEONIE LESLIE // WORLD STUDIES EDUCATION

ADVICE: Don’t leave anything to the last minute. Plan everything out and use your planner!!

ZORA BOWENS // VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION

EXTRACURRICULARS: Cross Country, Track & Field, Soccer (Freshman Year), National Honor Society, German Club, French Club, Peer to Peer, Varsity Club, private violin lessons, work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

EXTRACURRICULARS: None.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending college at the Savannah College of Art and Design at their Atlanta campus to explore commercial design, fashion, photography and music video production; then, going to study abroad in Hong Kong through SCAD for my sophomore year.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending Michigan State University to double major in German and biology with a minor in French.

FAVORITE CLASS: AP Biology.

BEST EXPERIENCE: Growing up bilingual and visiting and staying in Switzerland for a month. I grew up in a bilingual household, where Swiss-German and English are spoken regularly. I have visited my relatives in Switzerland every summer since I was born. This opportunity has given me the unique experience of learning about four different languages (Swiss-German, French, Italian, and Romansh) and cultures in one country.

ADVICE: If you ever have the chance to learn a second language, take the opportunity and stick with it until you have mastered it.

EXTRACURRICULARS: Dance and write song lyrics in my free time, Sunday school teacher at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending Macomb Community College in Fall 2016.

FAVORITE CLASS: Advanced Math.

2016 National Honors Society.

Studio Art.

FAVORITE CLASS: AP 2D

BEST EXPERIENCE: Graduation when it comes ADVICE: Start looking at colleges early at the end of junior year. Visit colleges before you commit. If you do your homework, show up to class, pay attention in class and ask questions, you’ll get an A. It’s that simple. The more college credit and the higher the GPA, the more options for college you will have, the more scholarships you will receive when you apply for them. Parties are cool, but don’t be a fool. Be careful and don’t let any substances control your passion. Follow your own bath. Be comfortable in your own skin, with your own personality, with your own style. Only you can be you, so do you.

BEST EXPERIENCE: Visiting DisneyWorld in Florida and being inducted into Class of

ADVICE: Do not let society define your success based on their perception of you. Always do your best because your motivation is the key to your success!

GABRIELLE DE COSTER // BUSINESS EDUCATION EXTRACURRICULARS: “The Tower” Newspaper Supervising Editor, DECA, Vice President of the Class of 2016, Co-President of Varsity Club, Link Crew, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Quill & Scroll Honor Society, Varsity Swimming (freshman year).

FUTURE PLANS: Attending the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and will also obtain an art and design degree.

FAVORITE CLASS: Seis Secreto (yes, Spanish 6 is a class - I guess it’s not so ‘secreto’ anymore), Tower, AP Lang, AP Bio and Statistics.

BEST EXPERIENCE: “The Tower” Newspaper trips to New York City, both of them, hold special places in my heart. I roamed Brooklyn and Manhattan, toured the Refinery29 headquarters with their head designers, and found multiple design-oriented coffee shops ... where I never actually drank coffee.

ADVICE: Trust your intuition, follow your joy, and live passionately. Also, don’t eat lunch at JHouse every single day.

You will be broke after a semester.

JUSTIN VORHEES // MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

EXTRACURRICULARS: Piano.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending College of the Holy Cross to study political science.

ADVICE: Take advantage of all the adults and mentors that are pouring their knowledge into you during high school because they can’t always be there for you in your next steps in life..

BRIANA THOMPSON// HEALTH EDUCATION

EXTRACURRICULARS: Cross Country, NHS, SHH, DECA, Quizbowl, Piano, Particle Physics Club.

FUTURE PLANS: Attending The University of Michigan to study mathematics and physics.

FAVORITE CLASS: AP Physics BEST EXPERIENCE: I Running on South’s cross country team for the past

three years.

ADVICE: Never stop learning.

SUNNY XIA // SCIENCE EDUCATION

ACADEMIC HALL OF FAME The following seniors maintained a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher for their first seven semesters

Hope Adams Rebecca Adams Hannah Brauer Margaret Brennan Andrew Budziak Seth Carolan Lindsey Clark

Emma Clutterbuck Hannah Connors Nick Costakis Ally Dalman Holly Daywalt Gabi de Coster Preston Fossee JD Gray Allyson Hartz Brigit Jogan Jackie Kosmas Abigail Kuplicki Brendan Labadie Leonie Leslie Eva Lianos Jennifer Maiorana Ben Matheson Deirdre McKeever Griffin Murray Sean Nemeh

Logan Nguyen Debra Nischik Lauren Pankin Lily Patterson Anna Piccione Zoe Pidgeon Will Poplawski Max Portwood Reilly Potter Mary Reiber Emma Rooney Michael Rose, Veronica Stafford Jon Theros Matthew Torlone Walker Utley Haley Vercruysse Justin Vorhees Marshall Vyletel Sunny Xia

Friday, June 3, 2016

Advice

advice // 13

for the seniors

John Theisen “What’s in your dish?”

Elizabeth Lulis “Love completely”

Chris Pratt “Lean into adversity, don’t give up!”

Harry Campion “Don’t allow other people to define who you are. You must be the author and editor of your own story.”

Steven Wolf “Take educated risks and have the mindset that you will make every fail a learning opportunity.”

Dave Martin “Whatever you do, be the best at it, and be happy doing it!”

Scott Brunner “Thimk”

Rod Satterthwaite “Life is short, but actually might go on for a long time.

So you’d better become good at something.”

Terry Flint “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary!

Finish what you start!”

summer treats // 17

Friday, June 3, 2016

healthy, simple, delicious

SEASONAL SWEETS blueberry basil lemonade 1 cup blueberries 1 handful basil 1/2 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup honey 3 cups water 1. Using a highpower blender, combine blueberries, basil, leaves, lemon juice and honey.

2. Strain mixture into a pitcher with a fine wire mesh strainer.

3. Mix contents of the pitcher with water.

4. Serve lemonade over ice and garnish with lemon slice.

SERVES TWO.

chocolate cherry smoothie 1 frozen banana 1 cup cherries (pitted) 1/4 cup hemp protein 1 cup milk (or dairy free alternative) 1 tbsp cocoa powder 1. Freeze banana for at least 6 hours. Remove from freezer when ready to make smoothie. Do not allow to thaw.

2. Using a highpower blender, combine all ingredients.

3. Serve in preferred vessel.

4. Garnish with halved cherries, coconut flakes, chia seeds, etc.

SERVES TWO.

strawberry rhubarb crumble 2 cups rhubarb 2 cups strawberries 1/4 cup coconut sugar 1 tbsp tapioca starch 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup and 1 tbsp oat flour 1 1/4 cups rolled oats 2/3 cup coconut sugar 2/3 cup coconut oil 1/4 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 8’’x8’’ baking dish.

2. Combine sugar, vanilla extract and tapioca starch in a large mixing bowl. Stir in chopped rhubarb and strawberries. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes.

3. Mix together oat flour, oats, coconut sugar, melted coconut oil and salt in another bowl.

4. Spoon fruit mixture into baking dish and top with crumble.

5. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

6. Let cool for 30 minutes before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream.

SERVES 6-8.

yogurt parfait popsicles 1 1/2 pints strawberries 1/4 cup honey 1 cup unsweetened Greek yogurt (or dairy free alternative) 1/4 cup milk (or dairy free alternative) 1 cup granola 1. In a small saucepan, combine chopped strawberries and honey.

Allow berries to macerate on counter for 10 minutes.

2. Heat berries and honey on low until thick. Allow mixture to cool.

3. Whisk together yogurt and milk.

4. Combine 1/4 cup yogurt mixture with yogurt.

5. Layer yogurt, jam and granola (mixed with yogurt) until popsicle mold is full. Tap molds against the counter to work out air bubbles.

7. Freeze until solid.

SERVES SIX.

fruit salsa with cinnamon chips 2 kiwis 2 Honey Crisp apples 8 oz raspberries 1 lb strawberries 2 tbsp jam, any flavor

10 (10 inch) tortillas 5 tbsp coconut oil 2 tbsp cinnamon sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Dice all fruit.

3. Combined diced fruit with jam. Chill mixture.

4. Coat tortillas with melted coconut oil.

5. Cut tortillas into wedges. Mix wedges with cinnamon sugar by shaking in a plastic bag.

6. Arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until crispy (approximately 8 to 10 minutes).

7. Allow tortilla chips to cool then serve with chilled fruit mixture.

SERVES 10.

PHOTOS BY HALEY VERCRUYSSE ’16

by the numbers // 18

Friday, June 3, 2016

SOUTH BY THE NUMBERS 182 days in the school year 367 students in Class of 2016 102 professional staff 214 Advanced placement scholars 17 national AP scholars 1684 total students enrolled 5 full-time guidance counselors 74% of AP tests scored a 3 or higher Your local source for graduation cakes!

15215 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

SUMMER JOBS AVAILABLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FULL TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE - NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY Multiple job openings - various industries - wage based on assignment *Must be 18 years or older to apply.

To apply, email resume to marketing@michiganstaffing.com or call 586-751-5608 www.michiganstaffing.com

(313) 264-1938 mai-guitar.com

•Most Consistent Sharpening on East Side

Canning with grandma “dee” sales@grandmadee.com 586-850-2452 Macomb, Michigan

“Grandma has you covered”

•Fresh Gear Sanitization Machine (for more than just sports equipment!)

•Team Uniform & Apparel Customization

20741 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 (313) 884-4747

Jennifer K. Mertz, DDS, MS

www.precision-blades.com Professional quality skate sharpening and skate maintenance services!

FAIRCOURT DENTAL CENTER

Dr. Mary Sue Stonisch, F.A.G.D, AAACD, FICOI

18136 Mack Ave. Grosse Pointe 313.881.5890 www.grossepointeortho.com

20040 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 313-882-2000 FAX 313-882-2515

HAVE A Brite White Smile for PROM and SPARKLE for GRADUATION! $189 TOOTH WHITENING SPECIAL

by the numbers // 18

Friday, June 3, 2016

SOUTH BY THE NUMBERS 182 days in the school year 367 students in Class of 2016 102 professional staff 214 Advanced placement scholars 17 national AP scholars 1684 total students enrolled 5 full-time guidance counselors 74% of AP tests scored a 3 or higher Your local source for graduation cakes!

15215 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

SUMMER JOBS AVAILABLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FULL TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE - NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY Multiple job openings - various industries - wage based on assignment *Must be 18 years or older to apply.

To apply, email resume to marketing@michiganstaffing.com or call 586-751-5608 www.michiganstaffing.com

(313) 264-1938 mai-guitar.com

•Most Consistent Sharpening on East Side

Canning with grandma “dee” sales@grandmadee.com 586-850-2452 Macomb, Michigan

“Grandma has you covered”

•Fresh Gear Sanitization Machine (for more than just sports equipment!)

•Team Uniform & Apparel Customization

20741 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 (313) 884-4747

Jennifer K. Mertz, DDS, MS

www.precision-blades.com Professional quality skate sharpening and skate maintenance services!

FAIRCOURT DENTAL CENTER

Dr. Mary Sue Stonisch, F.A.G.D, AAACD, FICOI

18136 Mack Ave. Grosse Pointe 313.881.5890 www.grossepointeortho.com

20040 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 313-882-2000 FAX 313-882-2515

HAVE A Brite White Smile for PROM and SPARKLE for GRADUATION! $189 TOOTH WHITENING SPECIAL

summer sixteen // 19

Friday, June 3, 2016

SUMMER ‘16 CALENDAR Below highl are some ig o summ ht events f the o inclu er are feat f the ding conce ured festiv rt a oppo ls, volunte s, rtuni ties a er nd m ore

June 16

June

June 23-26

Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three & Kane Brown at DTE

Electric Forest 2016

in Rothbury, Mich. is a four day, multi-genre event with a focus on electronic music.

June 25 & 26

Charlevoix A

rt Fair

4 rt at 7:30 ce Junenc1 é con Beyo Ford Field t p.m. a

July

BOYS OF THE SUMMER// A group of senior boys attend a country concert last summer at DTE. DTE is a popular venue for many different genres of music and has many popular artist come.

July 9 & 10

July 15-17

stival Faster Horses Fe y tr a three-day coun

Royal Oak Art Fa

ir

is at is music festival th tracting well-known for at eup an impressive lin and of country artists l as its musicians as wel ming unique and welco s. camping ground

July 16

Mackinac Race

is a sailing race that starts in Port Huron and ends at Mackinac Island.

August

CONCERT CHAOS// (from left to right) Bridget Donaldson, Emma Andreasen, and Maria Dessinger all ‘17 and Kelsey Baker ‘15 pose in front of the Lollapalooza sign at last year’s concert.

July 28-31

Augu

Lollapalooza

Detro

i

st 6 &

is a four-day 25th anniversary festival in Grant Park, Chicago featuring well-known artists like Ellie Goulding, G-Eazy, Disclosure and many more.

7

will be t Belle Isl e n Belle I ext to the Art Fair Fount sle Pa rk. ain at

1 August 2etroit

Live Art Dctive art fair at ra is an inte arket.

Eastern M

ENJOYING THE ART // (from left to right) Brenna Bromwell, Olivia Wouters, Elise Bollenbacher and Madelyn Fabry, all ‘16, enjoy the Ann Arbor Art Fair last summer.

All Summer

Sum

m (pic ture er in d le long the ft to 2 Tuesda ) is all su City y p fulfi .m. It is -Friday mmer lling from “fun ” plan ting way to , flexible 9 a.m. with ,p d loca ainting o servic and l chi e ldre and pla by n. ying

Ford Drive-In

is a drive-in located at 10400 Ford Road in Dearborn, Mich. which shows movies all while allowing you to sit comfortably in your own car.

After 6 on Kercheval on June 18, July 16 and August 20 there will be different games, food trucks and vendors on Kercheval in Grosse Pointe Park.

PAINTING PALS// Alexandra Gormely ‘17 and Jennifer Maiorana ‘16 stand under one of the projects they worked on last summer as a part of Summer in the City.

in theaters // 24

Friday, June 3, 2016

AT THE MOVIES

COMEDY

With everything from science fiction to comedy, this is setting up to be an exciting summer for movies. With starstudded casts and thrilling plots, this summer promises a slew of box-office successes.

GHOSTBUSTERS

After a 30-year long sleep, the beloved ‘80s franchise “Ghostbusters” rises from the grave, this time with a little more girl power. New York is once again in peril, and a paranormal researcher (Melissa McCarthy), subway worker (Leslie Jones) and physicist (Kate McKinnon) must stop ghosts from wreaking havoc in the city. This film is set to release on Wednesday, June 15.

FANTASY

Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19-years-old, returns to the fantastical world of Wonderland, where she must reunite with old friends and confront old enemies in order to save the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). The movie was released on Friday, May 27.

HORROR

WARCRAFT

THE CONJURING 2

Based on true events, “The Conjuring 2” is a precursor to the unsettling possessions that happened in “The Conjuring”. Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren investigate a North London home, where a single mother and her four children are being tortured by cruel entities. This box-office horror film of the summer will be in theaters on Thurs. June 9.

ROMANTIC

HEROES

ME BEFORE YOU

SCI-FI STAR TREK BEYOND

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE

When the world’s first mutant, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), emerges to recruit a legion of mutants to bring in a new world order, the X-Men are put to the test.

As the fate of the world depends on Professor X (James McAvoy), Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and their army of newly-trained mutants, the team face a new threat: their own kind. The film was released on Friday, May 27.

NETFLIX AND CHILL?

The once peaceful realm of Azeroth is thrown into a state of turmoil as a race of orcs abandon their dying home to invade and colonize another. When a portal opens between two worlds, heroes collide and their battle will decide the fate of their homeworlds. Based on the popular video game “Warcraft,” the film is set to be released on Friday, June 10.

Louisa Clark (Emilia Clark) bounces from job to job. She is hired to be a caretaker for Will Traynor (Sam Clafin), a wealthy young banker who was paralyzed after an accident. Though the two at first seem complete opposites as Will gets to know more about Louisa, her bubbly persona starts to melt away his icy cynicism. In theaters Thursday, July 7, this bittersweet romance reflects a valuable lesson about life and how it can be worth living if you have someone to live it with.

SUICIDE SQUAD

Trading their criminal ways for mercy, a motley crew of supervillains are forced to execute a secret government operation against their will. Based on the DC Comics series, this action film, set to release on Friday, Aug. 5, is blessed with a star-studded cast, with characters like Deadshot (Will Smith), The Joker (Jared Leto) and Enchantress (Cara Delevingne).

ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Finally. With school over, you can now grab some popcorn, curl up on the couch and revel in the feeling of the red Netflix starter screen washing over you, without the guilt or panic of an impending chemistry test the next morning. As the new American past-time, it’s important to know what’s up and coming this summer on Netflix, so here’s a brief list of new releases this summer.

Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his crew aboard the Starship Enterprise once again go where no one has gone before in this new installment of the Star Trek series. Finding themselves in uncharted territory, the crew is stranded on a hostile planet with even more hostile enemies. Set to release on Friday, June 22, the film reunites with old favorites like Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Bones (Karl Urban), as well as introduces to new characters like Krall (Idris Elba) and Jaylah (Sofia Boutella).

Season 4 of Orange is the New Black (JUNE 17)

The Fundamentals of Caring (JUNE 24)

Spotlight (JUNE 22)

The Big Short (JULY 6)

Season 12 of Grey’s Anatomy (JUNE 18)

Brahma Naman (JULY 7)

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (JUNE 22)

The Fast and The Furious (AUGUST)

feature // 25

DETROIT BUCKET LIST:

Friday, June 3, 2016

YOUR GUIDE TO A KICK-ASS SUMMER

GRAPHICS BY ERYKAH BENSON ‘17

SUMMER IN THE CITY Paint murals all over Detroit, plant in urban gardens and hang out with kids from all over the city.

Through Summer in the City, not only are you racking up valuable service hours, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun too. Find out more information about how to volunteer at www. summerinthecity.com

what to do DETROIT RIVER DAYS During this week-long event, the Detroit riverfront blooms into a lively fest of rollercoasters, concerts, games and more. Spanning from Friday, June 24 - Sunday, June 26, the Detroit River Days is a great way to spend time with friends while riding rollercoasters, jamming to bands and snacking on caramel apples.

PHOTO COURTESY OF US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PHOTO BY JENNIFER MAIORANA ‘16

DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS Take some time to appreciate the arts. Take a bit of your summer to sit in Diego Rivera Hall. Maybe have some lunch with friends in the café. The DIA also shows movies throughout the summer, often on the lawn.

Whatever you plan to do, the DIA is a surefire way to pass your summer time wisely.

what to eat

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETHANY LUTHERAN COLLEGE

PHOTO BY ERYKAH BENSON ‘17

JOHNNY NOODLE KING Located on 2601 W Fort St, Johnny Noodle King takes a contemporary spin on traditional Japanese cuisine. Above is a photo of red curry ramen with shredded pork, cauliflower, lime, pea shoots and scallions. A possible cute date spot? A chill lunch with friends? Johnny Noodle King is a trip worth taking for the adventurous foodie.

PUNCH BOWL SOCIAL Decked out with old-school arcade games, a bowling alley and a karaoke machine, Punch Bowl Social is definitely an ace place to have lunch with friends.

With American classics like the bacon burger pictured on the right, to spicier choices like their firebreathing quesadillas, Punch Bowl Social offers enough to satisfy every type of palate.

PHOTO BY ZOE JACKSON ‘16

feature // 28

Friday, June 3, 2016

YEAR IN REVIEW SEPTEMBER FIRST DAY SENIOR TAILGATE

PASSWORDS CHANGE

OCTOBER COOKIES RETURN

NOVEMBER SENIORS SECURE SPIRIT JUG

DECEMBER TOWER CLOCK FIXED

SOUTH WINS NORTH-SOUTH FOOTBALL GAME

JANUARY

NEW SUPERINTENDENT GARY NIEHAUS UPDATES DISTRICT’S MISSION & VISION STATEMENTS

FEBRUARY #ONEGP

GABRIEL MARTINEZ ’16 NAMED MR. BLUE DEVIL

MARCH

DECA QUALIFIER INTERNATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

SA INITIATES #ONEGP DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

APRIL FOUR STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR DECA INTERNATIONALS

SENIORS EARN HIGHEST RECORDED ACT AVERAGE AT SOUTH

MAY HANNAH CONNORS ’16 HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK

JUNE POINTE PLAYERS PUT ON “THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE”

GRAPHICS BY HALEY VERCRUYSSE & GABI DE COSTER, both ‘16

college // 10

Friday, June 3, 2016 kentucky

minnesota

ohio

University of Kentucky

Rochester Community & Technical College

Bowling Green State University

Natasha Boelstler David Burnett John Cislo Claire O’Neill Jessica Whitney

Michael Stuhldreer

Miami University

Case Western Reserve University Julia Barnes

Butler University

on a different track

Elizabeth Sullivan

gap year

Indiana University Madeline DesNoyer Megan Gall

missouri

University of Nebraska Jackie Kolomjec

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

iowa

Heaven Horn

Maria Couvreur Eva Lianos

Denison University

Allison Miller

St. Mary’s College Morgan Brandt

Scarlett Constand

University of Dayton

Heidelberg University AJ Stevenson

University of Notre Dame

W

Maria Cascio Jacob Jones Emma Peters Madeline Roeske

John Carroll University Jack Maher University of Mount Union

Julia Fox Walker Utley

Samantha McCormack Lindsay Rabaut

Lake Erie College Kalie Pettet

Garrett Hudson Andrew Trost

Washington University St. Louis Ben Rappolee

Olivia Kielt Molly Packer

Colorado School Mines Sam Hoffmann

Maddie Mancus Alexandria Toth

Santa Clara University Margaret Brennan

Stanford University

california

Purdue University

University of Cincinatti

Drake University

Alliant International University

Veronica Stafford

University of Southern California Jacob Schwessinger

montana colorado

nebraska

Melissa Brieden John Gleason Mary Reiber Olivia Wouters

College of Wooster James Alltop Madison Thomas

indiana

N

Paul Boyer Celeste Franke-Joyce Ryan Keating Connor Mallegg Luke Riashi Graham Ryan Maggie Wright

Cassia Orange Griffin Vandenbussche

University of ColoradoBoulder MaddieArkison Ryley Kerik Tripp Rinke

University of Montana Patrick Waterston

Arizona State University

arizona

Craig Woodall

University of Toronto Bianca Garcia Alexis Motschall Zoe Pidgeon

Emory University Benna Ames

Kathryn Marschner

Florida Gulf Coast University

Georgia Southern University

Auburn University

Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta

Alexandra Maiuri

Luke Davey

University of Alabama George Daley

georgia

Makenzie Michaels

Zora Bowens

Belmont University

University of Mississippi

tennessee

mississippi

alabama florida

Eastern Florida State University

Douglas Graham

University of LouisianaLafayette

Vanderbilt University JD Gray

Tennessee State University Justice Miller

Baylor University Mac Cimmarrusti CJ Lemanski

Grace Mallires

texas

louisiana

Nina Caradonna

Texas A&M University Cameron Ennis

am

h

maryland

s

a’

k

Aubrey Leggat

Haverford College Griffin Brooks

Pennsylvania State University Natalie Crow Olivia Frederickson

University of Pittsburgh

virginia Hampton University Miracle Bailey

University of Virginia Bella Strickler

west virginia

e

ic

West Virginia University Daniel DuMouchelle

visiting

maine Bates College Lily Patterson

massachusetts College of the Holy Cross Michael Calcaterra William Poplawski

Tufts University Emma Clutterbuck

new york

Cornell Univer Sorin Koszyk

Culinary Institu of America Noelle Prater

Claire Drew

f of

just

United States Naval Academy

pennsylvania

new jersey Princeton University Ally Dalman

Rutgers University Paige Swegles

New York Unive Emily Fleming Margaret Sohn

Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst

Aidan Clements Sam Jones

college // 11

Friday, June 3, 2016 illinois

University of Northwestern Ohio

Columbia CollegeChicago

Alec Decker

Clare Tuuri

University of Toledo

Depaul University

Hobart Welding Institute Donovan Dunham

Wilmington College Wittenburg University Michael Coyle

Xavier University

ute a

ersity

r titute

s

wisconsin

michigan

Marquette University Lindsey Clark

University of Wisconsin- Madison Brendan Cauvel Maddie Schebil Ila Zielke

Chris Lizza

Macomb Community College

Syleria Massey NyRee Ball Isaac Matthews David Brady Justin Moore Will Campbell Annie Ratsek Zach Hill Kavon Scott Ella Koss Georgia Lopez Briana Thompson Evan Wilson Nolan Lucas

Wayne County Community College

armed forces

Madeline Ohlsson Eric Taylor Victoria Rinaldi

United States Navy- Joshua Nurullah United States Marine CorpsGraham Geary Mateusz Lubanski

Oakland Community College Ebony Davis Nathaniel Hall

See where the graduating class is headed next year *All information was provided by the students themselves and compiled by the Tower

Adrian College Trevor Henry Will Minetola

Albion College Earl Allard Sam Genna

Alma College Dana Froggett Madeline McDonnell Khalee Simpson

Calvin College Paul Swanson Spencer Rizer

Central Michigan University Sarah Buttiglieri Holly Daywalt Mark Schneider Natalie Temrowski

College for Creative Studies Christine Brinker Abigail Ferry Alexander Pangalidis Elizabeth Sheffer Jen Toenjes

Eastern Michigan University Javier Smith Claire Young

Grand Valley State University Miranda Barry David Borowicz Bianca Calisi George Daudlin Hadley Diamond Steven Eschbach Matthew Farber Clark Frick John Hughes Austin Klein Joseph Kurta Isabel Lorenzana Heidi Marchi Gabe Martinez Connor Miller Nathaniel Mitchell Grace Moody Avery Platt Blair Shortal Christina Sicklesteel Anthony Simon Josephine Stemmler Matthew Torlone Katie Wilk

Oakland University Zach Lozon Kimberly McBryan Elise Peabody

Sienna Heights University Joey Ellis Jack Steinhauer

University of Detroit Mercy

?

undecided Elizabeth Buslepp Riley Forton Bradford Diggs Marcus Guerguis Carol Handilah James Holmes Brandon Muir

Designed by BRENNA BROMWELL ‘16 Information compiled by LINDSAY STANEK AND BRENNA BROMWELL BOTH ‘16

connecticut United States Coast Guard Academy Brigit Jogan

rhode island Brown University Marshall Vyletel

Providence College Brian Garvey

north carolina

south carolina

High Point University

College of Charleston

Rachel Lannen Jonathan Martinuzzi Lindsay Skau

Elise Bollenbacher

North Carolina A&T State University Avery Tucker

Newberry College Johnathan Saurbier

University of South Carolina Max Portwood

Melba Dearing Robert Robson

University of Michigan

Western Michigan University

Leslee Branch Rebecca Adams Grace Conrad Hannah Brauer Sarah Giammaria Brenna Bromwell Jon Gough Andrew Budziak Eric Groustra Alyssa Campbell Zoe Jackson Seth Carolan Daniel Odell Persephone Chirolla Luke Taber Grant Clement Hannah Connors Kalamazoo College Gabi de Coster Anna Christinidis Jackie DeLoof Madison Vallan Kevin Dietz Michigan Technological Natalia Engel University Preston Fossee Spencer Gilbert David Koelzer Lucy Buzolits Caeli Lacroix Allyson Hartz Jennifer Maiorana Connor Keith Alissa Martin University of Ben Matheson Deirdre McKeever Michigan-Dearborn Jacob Montague Ivy Russell Griffin Murray Jacob Bookwalter Alex Niforos Anna Piccione Michigan State Reilly Potter University Wyatt Puscas Hope Adams Emma Rooney Maia Baldwin Michael Rose Olivia Baratta Sydney Simoncini Juliana Berkowski Jon Theros John Bornoty Adam VanOsdol Anna Carmody Haley Vercruysse Samantha Catrambone Justin Vorhees Nick Costakis Molly Walsh Emma Cozad Robert Weiland Anna Crane Nina White Caitlin Cunnane Callista Zingas Adam Elbadawi Wayne State Madelyn Fabry University Katherine Fitzsimons Christina Ambrozy Madeleine Flournoy Mia Betanzos Tia Fowlkes Rachel Brooks Emma Frame Julieann Cacia Lilly Hampton Mario Cupolo Audrey Hass Joey Dotson Kayli Johnson Noah Francis Emily Kanan Geron Gosselin Elysse Knapp Matt Gross Jackie Kosmas Thomas Hogan Katharine Kuhnlein Parker Ignagni Abigail Kuplicki Yesenia Juarez Clare Lacroix Michael Kolesky Milan Lancaster Lauren Lipa Kristin Lawrence George Lutfy Leonie Leslie Jeff Matthews Sarah Lienard Louis Mikhael Gennie Martin Ashley Miller Shannon McGlone Logan Nguyen Kyle Michell Ben Peters Max Miller Lindsay Stanek Erika Miciuda Joe Stolarski Henry Moesta Elisabeth Terry Sean Nemeh Sarah Tischbein Carolyn Poleski Emily Tujaka Elizabeth Rauh Elanore Walker Jackson Rosati Kori Webb Nick Shankie Hanna Wilhelm Kathryn Sicklesteel Gianna Woodson Ethan Sloan Lucy Zublick Zach Stanczyk Hillsdale College Mackenzie Stapleton Lana Temrowski Lillian Cusumano Eryn VanDerHoeven Hope College Abigail Warren Garrett Weidig Ashley Brieden Matthew Wholihan Debra Nischik Jack Wittwer Olivet College Sunny Xia Alex Parthum

GO

rsity

Katherine McKay

Raven Neely

co as llec yo t 2 u 00 gr c ad re ua dit te s

n

Jessica Alexander

Beth Coyle Raymond Cracchiolo Hailey Murphy Elena Roma

michigan

Bianca Cortes-Ferreira Destynee Jones

Dominican University- Northwestern University Brendan Labadie Chicago George Stanton University of Chicago Lauren Pankin Loyola University University of IllinoisNeely Klippstein Caitlin Kyle Chicago Madison Collier Northern Illinois Wheaton College University

college athletes // 14

Friday, June 3, 2016

COLLEGIATE

See what sports South senio

EARL ALLARD

BENNA AMES

GRIFFIN BROOKS

EMMA CLUTTERBUCK

GARRETT HUDSON

BRIGIT JOGAN

KAYLI JOHNSON

DESTYNEE JONES

MADELINE McDONNELL

JACOB MONTAGUE

MOLLY PACKER

ALEXANDER PARTHUM

Drake University Rowing Division I

Olivet College Baseball Division III

PAIGE SWEGLES

MADISON THOMAS

ANDREW TROST

Albion College Cross Country Division III

University of Mount Union Football Division III

Alma College XC/Track Division III

Emory University Basketball Division III

Coast Gaurd Academy Swimming Division III

University of Michigan Swimming Division I

Rutgers University Rowing Division I

Haverford College Lacrosse Division III

Michigan State University Track Division I

College of Wooster Softball Division III

Tufts University Sailing Division I

University of Toledo Golf Division I

University of Mount Union Football Division III

college athletes // 15

Friday, June 3, 2016

ATHLETES

ors will be playing in college

MICHAEL COYLE

JACQUELINE DeLOOF

JOSEPH ELLIS

CELESTE FRANKE-JOYCE

Siena Heights University Baseball Division II

Miami University of Ohio Figure Skating Division I

OLIVIA KIELT

SORIN KOSZYK

JACK MAHER

GRACE MALLIRES

John Carroll University Basketball Division: III

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Tennis Division I

GEORGE STANTON

JOHN STEINHAUER

ALLAN STEVENSON

MICHAEL STUHLDREER

Wittenberg University Lacrosse Division III

Drake University Rowing Division I

University of Michigan Swimming Division I

Cornell University Rowing Division I

Soccer Division III

Siena Heights University Football Division II

MADISON VALLAN

CLAIRE YOUNG

Dominican University Chicago

Kalamazoo College Soccer Division III

Eastern Michigan University Swimming Division I

Heidelberg University Baseball Division III

Rochester Community & Technical College Football Division III

fashion // 22

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fashion // 23

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