October 2017

6560 BRADDOCK RD. ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312

GO, FIGHT,WIN

Homecoming spirit week ends with a bang as varsity football wins first game in four years

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NEWS AND MEDIA Panelists discuss social media’s role in the information we view

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HOMECOMING Looking back on Jefferson’s favorite moments

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LIVE CONCERTS Freshman Niko Economos shares his experience

OCT. 26, 2017 || VOL 3 ISSUE 3 || www.tjtoday.org

THE MAGAZINE

IN-DEPTH || 6 HURRICANES’ IMON JEFFERSON COMMUNITY

TJTODAY

THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECH || ALEXANDRIA, VA

CONTENTS 06 Impact of Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria EDITORIAL

Ankit Agrawal Katherine Du Angel Kim Adithi Ramakrishnan

Uzma Rentia Avni Singh Christine Zhao

Freshman Jennifer Abraham and teachers Ria Galanos, Alexandra Pou and Nannette Mateo share how the recent hurricanes impacted their families

SECTION EDITORS MiJin Cho

Alex Howe

BROADCAST EXECUTIVE Alexa Nguonly

Lynn Nguyen

STAFF REPORTERS Roja Ayyadurai Rena Cai Ashley Huang Sinha Joisha Tanya Kurnootala

Irina Lee Grace Mak Clay Reppert Sadhana Suri Prerak Thakkar

ADVISER

Erinn Harris 1 From top, counterclockwise: 1.

Freshman Jennifer Abraham’s aunt, uncle and four cousins leave near Miami.

While their home did not sustain much damage, Irma uprooted their mango and avocado trees. 2. Sophomore Faaiz Memon practices blocking with a football sled, which simulates a foot ball player, to learn how to drive.

However, last, year, he was on the sidelines, cheering on the football team last year 3. Senior Ashley Lin shares how she manages the cost associated with college applications.

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2

News

In-Depth

04 Loudon Remains at Jefferson

14 Low-Income and Applying to College

The Loudon School Board voted to renew its contract with Fairfax

Senior Ashley Lin and alumni share their experiences

Sci-Tech 10

StormSupport App

Senior Maddie Min creates app to warn of impending Hurricanes

Sports 20 Home and Away Game Attendance How sports teams try to boost attendance to games

Opinion 24 Columbus Day Is “Indigenous People’s Day” a more appropriate name?

Entertainment 28 Vegan Halloween Candy The staff of tjTODAY tests and ranks their favorites

tjTODAY is the official newsmagazine of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology published by the journalism staff. The staff is deeply committed to a code of journalistic ethics that demands the exercise of accuracy, good judgment and impartiality. The content of tjTODAY is determined by the editorial board. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff of tjTODAY, but not necessarily the opinions of individual editors.

NEWS || OCT. 26, 2017 03

MEDIA LITERACY PANEL COMES TO JEFFERSON Panelists answer student questions about bias, fake news and evaluating sources Alex Howe || SECTION EDITOR

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n order to educate students about media literacy, Young Democrats and Teenage Republicans sponsored a media panel at Jefferson during eighth period on Oct. 20.

PHOTO // Alex Howe

Journalist Glenn Kessler, who writes the Fact Checker page for the Washington Post, was one of the speakers at the panel.

“[Kessler] was able to provide a professional perspective from mainstream media about his role and how he sees his job and, on the flipside, how he hopes his readers will behave and how we as consumers will behave in evaluating news,” Government teacher and panel moderator Monte Bourjaily said.

The panel also featured behavioral economist and George Mason University professor Robin Hanson, and political scientist and George Washington University professor Ethan Porter. The three sat as a group in the front of the Lecture Hall.

From left to right: AP Government teacher Monte Bourjaily asks a question to Robin Hanson, Associate Professor of Economics at George Mason University, Wahington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler and Ethan Porter (not pictured), Assistant Professor in the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, as students listen.

students attending could ask Kessler, Hanson and Porter questions.

Kessler, Hanson and Porter addressed biases in the news, suggesting that students diversify their

Camdyn Davis, president of “I think that the three together [form social media feeds to include multiple Young Democrats, found this panel a] group that [explore] the effect of to be important because he could gain perspectives. information on people, how people insight from the point of views of

“It’s part of what makes us should respond to the information professionals. human -- that bias is a reality that we that they are evaluating, and how they need to be able to distinguish and

“It’ll be really interesting, might consider critically those around put into our calculations of the value especially to hear professional points them who are also evaluating that of the information we’re receiving,” of views, and we brought up a lot of information,” Bourjaily said.

Bourjaily said. “The bias isn’t questions that we want answers to in The panel was structured so that necessarily bad; it’s not bad or good, it the meeting two weeks ago,” Davis both the people behind the event and is.” said.

DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

NEWS

DESIGN // Alex Howe

LOUDOUN OUT?

Loudoun County Public Schools reevaluates contract to send students to Jefferson

Alex Howe and Prerak Thakkar || NEWS LEADER AND STAFF WRITER

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n order to develop their local STEM opportunities, Loudoun County Public Schools reviewed their contract with Fairfax County regarding sending freshmen to Jefferson on Oct. 10. In a split vote, Loudoun decided to send at least one more class to Jefferson, but may stop sending new students in subsequent years.

Photo courtesy of Varun Mosur

The focus of the review was to determine if it was time for Loudoun to focus more on their own STEM based alternatives.

“While I understand that Loudoun may want to save money by sending students to their own magnet school instead, I do believe that Jefferson is a better school than any of Loudoun’s alternatives,” sophomore and Loudoun resident Omkar Bhalerao said.

after 2012. The class of 2016 was the last class to have students from Fauquier.

“When Fauquier withdrew from participating, we lost a different perspective,” Kosatka said. “That would be like saying what if Jefferson removed all of its 9th graders and became just a 10th-12th school?”

While Fauquier County sent a handful of students to Jefferson, Loudoun currently sends 273, 84 of which are freshmen. If Loudoun was to stop sending students, the seats from Loudoun would be used for students from other counties.

“There are so many students who apply to Jefferson that aren’t from Loudoun that are turned away because we just don’t have the room,” Kosatka said. “But, if Loudoun were to withdraw, they have a lot of great programs in Loudoun for those students to be able In the past, some school districts Loudoun County student Raghav Saravanan uses his phone to access and that would also that previously sent students to TJ during his hour-ong commute to Jefferson. If he went to a provide an opportunity for other school in Loudoun County, his commute would be shorter. stopped doing so. students who might otherwise not be able to come to Jefferson.”

“Other counties have pulled out of TJ in the past, but I see nothing wrong with Loudoun students going to both TJ and the academies [of Loudoun],” senior and Loudoun resident Arvind Srinivasan said.

Fauquier County, which previously sent students, stopped

Loudoun’s decision comes in light of the upcoming opening of the Academies of Loudoun in Fall of 2018.

“They did invest a lot of time and energy and money into building this new school,” Kosatka said. “They’re building

NEWS || OCT. 26, 2017 05 Photo courtesy of Avni Singh

From left to right: sophomores Aastha Mistry, Rohan Kalra, Sanika Karandikar and Ritvik Jayakumar play cards on their commute back to the first stop at Briar Woods High School in Loudoun County.

a new building where they’re bringing three big programs that come together.”

the greater diversity of courses,” Bhalerao said. “[Jefferson] has computer science courses, we have science

Students currently enrolled in Loudoun’s program attend the courses, we have math courses, we have basically everything Academy of Sciences (AOS) on alternate days and go their you can think of. We even have Sports Medicine, and in base school on the remaining days.

Loudoun there just aren’t as many courses.”

“What they have is a good program but it’s just not as good Freshman and Loudoun resident Abhinav Palicherla noted as TJ in some regards,” Srinivasan said. “For what I wanted to the extracurricular benefits of sending Loudoun students to do, Jefferson just seemed like a better option.”

Jefferson.

Many students from Loudoun were accepted into both Jefferson and its Loudoun equivalents.

“One of the reasons I chose to go to Jefferson instead of AOS, one of Loudoun’s other magnet schools, is because of

“I enjoy the classes and the clubs and the eighth periods,” Palicherla said. “They should at least have the opportunity to come here.”

Others think that the parents and children should have a say in the decision.

“I feel like the system and the county shouldn’t decide unless each parent and each child decide on their own,” Srinivasan said.

Regardless of Loudoun’s final decision, the students from Loudoun who are currently attending TJ will be allowed to finish high school here.

“It’s their school board’s decision,” Kosatka said “but if Loudoun were to stop coming, it would be one less perspective shared, which is part of the strength of our school.”

IN-DEPTH

UNDER THE

WEATHER This year has been one of the most active hurricane seasons. What happened to the affected areas? How can we help?

Alex Howe and Angel Kim || Section Editor & Editor-in-Chief

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urricane Irma may have touched down in Florida, but for freshman Jennifer Abraham, its effects struck very close to home. Abraham’s aunt, uncle and four cousins live near Miami.

“As a family member, you’re terrified for your family, and I’m super close to them,” Abraham said. “I’ve known them my whole life.”

Using battery packs to keep their phones charged, family members living near Miami managed to stay in touch with Abraham throughout the storm.

“My cousins [are] in high school and middle school, they were texting us and stuff like that, my aunt, uncle, and my mom, they were all texting each other,” Abraham said. “My mom would periodically check in, ‘Is your power out yet?’”

As of Oct. [10], 2017 has seen 10 hurricanes form over the Atlantic. With four major Category 3 or above- hurricanes, this season’s severity has matched that of the record-breaking 2005 storm season. In late August, Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented damages as a Category 3 storm in Texas. Early September, Hurricane Irma passed over the Caribbean as a Category 5, then hit Florida as a Category 4, soon becoming a Category 3.

In-Depth || OCT. 26, 2017 07 PHOTO // Katherine Du DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

IN-DEPTH

Senior Saket Bikmal donates to the Senior class cubby. To increase participation in the competition, the Senior class had the option of donating money in the name of a student,.The student with the most money to their name would be crowned “Captain Colonial.”

Hurricane Maria made a direct pass over Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands ranging from Category 3 to Category 5 later in September. Though Northern Virginia was not directly affected by hurricanes, students and faculty members had friends and family members in Florida, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Abraham’s family members had an evacuation order but chose to stay, and Abraham’s aunt went to work after the storm passed. “[My aunt] works in the PT [physical therapy] department,” Abraham said. “It’s not like she has to go there everyday, [but] she had to report after emergency, so they stayed.”

After the storm passed, Abraham learned about the damage her relatives’ neighborhood sustained.

“They have mango trees and avocado trees in their backyard, and they were uprooted, and they were on their side,” Abraham said. “I think the house in general did not have [much] damage.”

Computer science teacher Ria Galanos’s mother lives just north of

ALL HANDS VOLUNTEERS

Miami. Galanos went to Florida to assist her mother, who uses a chair and bed that rely on electricity.

“The only way she can live independently is if she has has a chair that can help lift her up, and a bed that rises and lowers,” Galanos said. “I was really worried about the power going out. Even though we have survived many hurricanes before, and our house has fortified windows, we weren’t really worried about hurricane damage in our particular block, but I was worried about the loss of electricity.”

During Galanos’ time in Florida, she found that debris lining the road made driving difficult.

“Even though the sun was shining and it looked like a normal Florida day, it was very hard to drive around because there was stuff on the road,” Galanos said. “We were driving somewhere and saw a toilet - a toilet - in the middle of the road. It was a mess, but thank goodness we were in a part of Florida where the electricity going out was the worst part.”

$16,202.07 94%

The funds from Money Wars went to this organization, a US-based non profit involved in disaster relief

Jefferson studernts raised Goes directly to relief, for which Charity Watch gives the organization an A+ rating

are not working at full capacity.

It’s a devastating situation for so many.”

In Puerto Rico, electronic communication is still unavailable to most of the island.

“The only place that really has WiFi so that people can communicate is in the capital, so that’s why my girlfriend’s brother had to drive 2 and a half hours to the capital,” Pou said.

According to Abraham, evacuating helps those in the hurricane’s path stay safe, and helps their friends and family know their status.

Spanish teacher Alexandra Pou holds up a picture of a relative’s home in the Dominican Republic. Mud several feet tall filled the home, damaging much of her possessions

Spanish teacher Pou has neighbors and friends in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and spanish teacher Mateo has family in Puerto Rico.

After Maria passed, the power went out in Puerto Rico, cutting off communication with the mainland U.S. “It’s been one week you don’t know what happened to your parents and the rest of your family, so it’s just disheartening,” Pou said. “I have to go through every emotion with my girlfriend.”

“I would encourage, if you know somebody there, encourage them as much as possible to evacuate, like try to persuade them to get out,” Abraham said. “There would have been a lot less stress on my parents if [my family members evacuated].”

Those not directly affected by hurricanes can still help the affected areas. In the international sphere, musician Lin-Manuel Miranda collaborated with 20 other Latino artists in song “Almost Like Praying.” There

In-Depth || OCT. 26, 2017 are also groups collecting donations.

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“A group of Puerto Ricans created this group, not even an organization just a group of people, called Unidos Por Puerto Rico, and you can donate money and take goods,” Mateo said.

However, there are also local efforts to help the affected areas. At Jefferson, the Student Government Association collected funds through Homecoming Money Wars to donate to All Hands Volunteers, a non-profit organization geared to disaster relief. The total amount raised by all classes at the end of the fundraiser surpassed $16,000.

“Outreach efforts show and demonstrate that level of humanitarianism and awareness that there are people in other places,” principal Ann Bonitatibus said. “I think that that shows people an element of us being humble, it shows an element of the character that we exhibit, and our caring nature that, because we have the ability to give back and think of others, we do. It’s very admirable.”

While we can help those who were affected by the storms, we also can prepare for the next big storm.

“The responsibility is on us,” Galanos said.

“We have to take action. Now we know, oh trust me, if there’s another hurricane, this girl is going to be uber-prepared.”

HURRICANE DAMAGES

GRAPHIC // MiJin Cho

HARVEY 200,000 homes in Texas faced flooding issues with less than 70% of the homeowners equipped with insurance

A word that seems to describe Mateo and Pou’s feelings is frustration. With continued restricted access to the islands, both teachers have limited ways of reaching out and helping the people they know.

MARIA Direct hit on Puerto Rico cut the entire power to the island’s 3.5 million population.

HARVEY 300,000 people in Houston abandoned houses due to intense flooding.

“I feel frustration and helplessness. My parents are 80 years old and are without power and electricity,” Mateo said. “I can’t travel to [Puerto Rico] because the airports IRMA 200,000 to 400,000 cars are lost or damaged in the storm.

MARIA More than 1.5 million households rely on the new food stamps funded by the U.S. Departmetn of Agriculture.

10 SCI-TECH

How We (Storm)Support

Senior Maddie Min creates her app, StormSupport, in order to aid hurricane victims.

MiJin Cho|| SECTION EDITOR

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ost homes. Lost family members. Lost communities. In the wake of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, technological and scientific innovations help to alleviate the impact of hurricanes. Senior Maddie Min’s online application StormSupport is one of these innovations. ­ in became invested in addressing hurricane M relief after witnessing Hurricane Sandy’s detrimental impacts on her family members in 2012.

“My grandparents lost their house in storm Sandy, so this past June I decided that I was going to do something about the problems that their community has faced,” Min said. “A lot of homeowners get a lot of outdated flood maps when they’re deciding to get flood insurance, so a lot of people were left without insurance and had no financial means to rebuild their homes… A lot of people were also not prepared and didn’t know evacuation information.”

Min seized the opportunity to create a feasible medium for addressing hurricane relief in her Mobile App Development class. When the class instructor, Ms. Galanos, guided the class in the initial brainstorming stages of app creation, Maddie used her grandparents’ experiences to form the foundation of StormSupport.

“I realized that I could combine my experience with computer science with this issue that has stuck with me throughout my life,” Min said.

“That was just one of the issues I thought about when prompted with [the question] that problems could you solve with an app?’”

After coming up with the app idea, Min began the process of creating the online application for the Android device. Min’s product aids hurricane victims in three aspects: weather alerts, flood maps, and evacuation recommendations.

SCI-TECH

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OCT. 26, 2017 From left to right: Min’s grandparents’ house before the Sandy Hurricane; Jennifer Min and grandparent standing in front of the house after hurricane; Min works on coding in creating the iPhone version of the app; Maddie checks out StormSupport on an android. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Min

“It’s in its very early stages: it’s what you would call a minimum viable product,” Min said. “It has three tabs. The first part is extreme weather alerts in a 20 mile radius or by zip code. Second is a national flood hazard layer map that you can search for your location and get a legend. The third part [consists of]… different evacuation procedures you can follow.”

was targeting in my head when I was making the app, so that’s always a good place to start,” Min said.“I also noticed downloads in Indonesia and Puerto Rico, and I think those areas probably do get hit by storms quite often, so that made sense geologically.”

On Sept. 10, after month of finalizing the design and internal workings of the app, Maddie clicked into the Android Store to find her app available for download. The impact of StormSupport was instantaneous. Within the first two weeks, the app reached over 50 downloads.

Min is satisfied with her progress thus far and hopes to improve her app, further aiding hurricane victims.

“Most of those [downloads] are coming from people in my grandfather’s community that he shared it with because that was the community I

“If you’re sitting on an idea, the only way to make it happen is just do it,” Min said. “A lot of people think they have to have the perfect idea to make something or make a useful product, but really you just have to find an idea… and make it amazing, and make it the best in its class, which is what I’m trying to do.”

Lighthouse Lifehouse

Seniors make app that gets people to houses during crises

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Alex Howe||SECTION EDITOR

ighthouses pierce the night with their bright light. They are a guide to safety for those lost in dark waters. In order to guide those in the middle of a disaster to safety, seniors Alex Gurung, Michael Krause, and Naitian Zhou are creating an app, called Lighthouse, that gets people to safe places during times of crisis.

The app is an innovation on a social media response to the Paris terror attacks in November 2015.

“The problem was it stemmed really quickly and it was really hard for people to find places to stay if they were in a danger

area,” Gurung said. ”For Lighthouse, the idea was to have a really minimal interface, and it’s really easy for people who have a place to stay to offer it up and people who need a place to stay to put their information in and quickly find the nearest place that fits their needs.”

The app works by matching up users based upon information pertinent to the situation.

“The way that Lighthouse works is that the host will put in their address, how many people they can hold, and for how long,” Krause said, “and a person in need will put in similar info -- their current location, how many people, for how long, and it would match the two up together by comparing the address data.”

Gurung, Krause, and Zhou hope that the app will help lots of people quickly find shelter after a disaster when it is released .

“The idea is that you are doing charity,” Gurung said, “helping people finding a place to stay, in the case of a terrorist attack or something like that, so someone can get the help they need.”

Photo courtesy of Joey Buchard

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SCI-TECH || OCT. 26, 2017 13

DESIGN // Rena Cai

Operating Systems: Which do Jefferson students prefer?

ANDROID

APPLE

Pricing

Simple, Easy to Use

Easy to Use Interface Open Source Software

Difficult to Use

Closed Security

Flexible, Compatible Variety of Applications Customizable, Diverse

Form over Function

50% 50%

Smooth Performance

Data gathered from a survey of 60 TJ students.

Low Quality Camera

What you need to know about the iPhone X Rena Cai || STAFF REPORTER

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he iPhone X boasts many features that are new, but surprisingly, one of the standouts is the 5.8” OLED screen. Thanks to the shrunken bezel (the grooved ring holding the screen in position), the iPhone X a 5.8-inch display in a device that stands at 5.65-inches tall. Of course, the edge to edge display is more or less copied from past Android devices, but that hasn’t stopped Apple from manufacturing a beautiful piece of hardware.

Another standout is the front-facing camera. Hidden inside the small notch cutout at the top of the iPhone X is a variety of cameras and sensors which include, but aren’t limited to, an infrared camera, microphone, 7-megapixel camera, and proximity scanner - all of which make up what Apple calls its TrueDepth camera, used for Face ID and Animoji, which are cartoon animals that replicate the user’s facial movementsusing the front-facing camera and 3D mapping sensors.

Not all the prominent aspects of the iPhone X are good, though. Because the iPhone X does not contain a physical or virtual home button, the entire user interface has been altered. There’s a whole new system of gestures and swipes to learn and master, and many of them will be difficult to perform with just one hand. Without large hands, it seems as if the iPhone X will be a strictly two-handed device now that very useful sections of iOS 11 are buried behind highcornered downward swipes.

Photos courtesy of Flickr user djokovic

The most noticable aspect of the iPhone X, however, may be its price tag. Apple has set the starting cost for very first time at above $1,000, including taxes. It’s going to hit consumers’ wallets now harder than ever before, and that’s a tough pill to swallow for most.

IN-DEPTH

Background: One of the fees seniors face is the transcript request fee of $5 per college after the first three. By filling out forms like the “FCPS Consent to Share Information for Benefits for Other Programs,� struggling students can access opportunities to help with these finances.

IN-DEPTH || OCT. 26, 2017

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MY SCHOOL’S

BUCKS Senior Ashley Lin on the financial limits that come with being a Jefferson student - and how to overcome them

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Ankit Agrawal and Uzma Rentia || EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

exist here; they usually think of people at base schools.”

UBMITTING A TRANSCRIPT request form? That’s $5 per college after your first three. Applying to UVA? Another THE LIMIT - THE SKY OR YOUR WALLET? $70. The College of William and Mary? Another $75. Your With transcript costs, varying application fees and the $12 per dream school, Stanford? Add $90. Next thing you know, you’ve spent college cost for score reports, expenses can rack up quickly and easily. over $230, and you’re not even halfway through your college list.

However, the college application process is not where expenses first For 97.79 percent of students at Jefferson, the costs associated with become an issue. the college application process and the typical high school experience “I definitely thought that my options were limited in terms of my not a source of worry. According to Fairfax County Public Schools’ being able to participate in certain extracurricular involvements at (FCPS) 2016-2017 Jefferson School Demographics, 97.79 percent of TJ,” Class of 2015 alumni Brandon Kim said. “For example, when students require no fee waivers. Yet, what happens to those that do I found out that some Model UN conferences cost over a couple qualify for free or reduced fees and meal plans? hundred dollars, the sponsor at the time said my financial constraints Senior Ashley Lin, part of Jefferson’s 2.21 percent, recognizes that made me eligible for a ‘50 percent off fee,’ but even then it was too the small percentage of low socioeconomic status students also expensive. I ended up just dropping MUN and didn’t participate in results in a lack of awareness of the financial concern in the Jefferson clubs that cost money.” community.

As Kim did during his time at Jefferson, Lin participates in Track “I feel like at TJ, [other students] would see a low-income student as and Field, one of the sports that does not require hefty fees. Other one who most likely is not at TJ,” Lin said. “I personally don’t know Jefferson sports may not have a high price tag, but that is not the case any low-income students because we maintain a low-profile. We kind with all sports. of blend in, so I don’t think people at TJ realize low-income students “My freshman year, I participated in crew. After that, my family’s

application process can be a daunting. For free or reduced fee students, it can become even more overbearing.

IN-DEPTH

finances went downhill, and the close to $700 price tag for participating was “Financial aid still comes out late in the completely out of reach,” Class of 2004 academic year, making either [early action alumni Amy Freitag, said. “There was no or early decision] options difficult if not formal way to ask for help or a waiver, and impossible to take advantage of,” Freitag said. it’s not something I felt comfortable starting a However, this does not mean that the conversation about.” process is impossible. Lin’s time at Jefferson MONOPOLY: PAY $200 TO has already given her insight that she hopes GO (TO COLLEGE) other students can utilize to ensure a For Lin, the college application process smoother application process.

- and the road to getting there - has meant “To students who are also in this situation having to be smart about the resources or will be in the future applying to college: available to her. take advantage of your resources, take “Checking out books from the library, you advantage of the help your counselor gives, don’t need to buy them. Khan Academy, and probably look for more need-based that’s free,” Lin said. “I actually talked to scholarships than merit-based because those my counselor about getting fee waivers for will have more people applying for them,” applications. As for test score, I’m strategically Lin said. using the four free score reports College CHANGING THE PERSPECTIVE Board allows, so hopefully that covers it.”

While struggling students can currently While not a prime influencer, cost is a factor obtain assistance to help handle the fees and Lin is taking into account when selecting her expenses that come with high school, Lin and colleges.

Jefferson alumni believe that more can and “I am applying to fewer private schools that should be done to help individuals in need. don’t provide need based scholarships, but One such area of improvement includes most of the top-tier schools are,” Lin said. making low-income students more aware of “I’m applying to at least one school that is the assistance the school has to offer. known for giving full-ride scholarships.”

“In the college PowerPoint the counselors A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION showed us, there was a line – one, single line No matter the situation, the college – that said for reduced-lunch students, come

COMMON FEE WAIVER OPTIONS 1

COMMON APP

In the “Profile” section under Common App Fee Waiver, select yes and indicate your reason. Your college or guidance counselor will then be prompted to approve your request. Waivers are often granted through CollegeBoard.

2

COLLEGEBOARD SAT

If your counselor determines that you’re eligible for SAT waivers, you will receive up to 2 subject test and 2 SAT registration fee waivers, as well as 4 college application fee waivers, 4 additional score reports, and eight CSS/ Financial Aid PROFILE® fee waivers.

3

ACT

If eligible, the ACT will cover 2 seperate registration fees for ACT with or without writing, but no extra college score reports beyond the standard 4.

4

NACAC

You can send the NACAC admission fee waiver to as many colleges as you’d like (tinyurl.com/NACAC-waiverform). NACAC recommends that you send the form to around 4 schools.

see counselors,” Lin said. “I think when admin or the student services department start explaining the college application process to juniors, or even seniors, they should specifically mention that in their presentations.”

Moreover, for students who are not as comfortable talking openly about their economic status with their counselors, getting help can become even more challenging.

“I don’t think that the administration has addressed [the issue of low-income students] and that if the student does not feel comfortable talking to a counselor about this, it could become a problem,” Lin said. “It feels like sometimes [students] don’t want to share their economic struggles with someone who is not within the family. If they aren’t proactive about talking to their counselor about this, they might not know where to look.”

However, the administration is making sure to do what it can to help free and reduced fee students feel comfortable and obtain the help they need. And while that happens, Lin continues to make the most of her time at school, regardless of what others think.

“I don’t want to be limited in what I can do because of my financial background,” Lin said. “Despite everything, I’ve been fortunate enough to get by and accomplish as much as my peers have. Telling myself that helps me overcome that judgement a bit.”

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

or eligible for Federal National - Enrolled School Lunch Program annual family income falls within - Your the USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines (in thousands)

21.8 $29.5 $37.2 $44.8 $52.6 $60.3

$

Family of 1

Family of 2

Family of 3

Family of 4

Family of 5

Family of 6

family receives public assistance - Your live in federally subsidized public - You housing, are in a foster home, or are homeless.

- You’re a ward of the state or an orphan.

INFOGRAPHICS // Christine Zhao

THE ADMIN ASPECT OF APPLICATIONS

IN-DEPTH || OCT. 26, 2017

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Administration on school provisions and services for struggling students MRS. ALEXA SCOTT School Counselor “While I imagine it is really hard to do so initially, please, please speak up if you’re in this boat; we can’t help if we don’t know.”

DR. ANN BONITATIBUS Principal “If we have students here who receive meal subsidies, they need [breakfast], and we weren’t offering that opportunity. I don’t care if it’s one student, 20 students or 200 students, we need to have that opportunity.”

MR. BRANDON KOSATKA Student Services Director “Our ability to form strong, supportive relationships with the families is second to none around here. Families trust the school to do what’s best, and we find a way. We don’t wait for help to show up.”

INFOGRAPHIC // Ankit Agrawal PHOTOS // Ankit Agrawal DESIGN // Ankit Agrawal

Background: Regardless of the financial struggles Lin may face, she makes sure to put her best foot forward in all of her academic and extracurricular activities

IN-DEPTH

$2,188 $2,143 $7,307 $4,564

1

MONEY WARS

SNAPSHOTS OF

DONATED A TOTAL OF $16,202.07 TO ALL HANDS VOLUNTEERS

SPIRIT student favorites of Homecoming 2017

2

DR. OSBORNE

SANG “NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP” IN SOPHOMORE MEX

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4

IN-DEPTH || OCT. 26, 2017 19

FOOTBALL

TRIUMPHED IN FIRST VARSITY WIN IN 4 YEARS, 19-7 AGAINST THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA KINGS

Oh Freshest freshmen, on the track Started with the minions, now I’m counting stacks Freshest freshmen, we the boss 2021, yeah we got the sauce

“FRESHEST FRESHMAN”

THE 2021 RAP PLAYED AT THE DANCE

PEP RALLIES

FEATURED ROLL CALLS, MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA, AND OTHER PERFORMANCES

DESIGN // KATHERINE DU

Photos courtesy of Ankit Agrawal, Frank Ding, and William Zhang

DANCE

INCLUDED A SNAPCHAT GEOFILTER, CARICATURE ARTIST, AND AIRBRUSH T-SHIRT ARTIST

5

SPORTS

SPIRIT OF THE

GAMES

Attendance and School Spirit at Home and Away Games

F

Irina Lee and Grace Mak || STAFF WRITERS

acepaint smeared on, shirts coordinated. Everything is ready to go for the game, and nothing should go amiss. And yet, the stillness of the night sends chills through the football stadium. Turning back, it’s hard to tell which is more shocking: the empty silver-white bleachers or the dozen people cheering their team on at the bottom of the stands.

Although approximately 3000 people attend football games over the course of the season, Jefferson’s attendance at football games is low compared to other high schools.

“Everyone has gotten a bit angrier. Every week, we come out lose, come out lose,” sophomore varsity football player Matthew Saenz said, “[For the homecoming game], we decided enough was enough, and we really put in the work. I think we all wanted to show [the crowd] we could actually win.”

With a larger turnout at the homecoming game, there was an increased pressure to do well, but the boosted audience size also contributed to the football team’s morale.

1 Photo courtesy of Frank Ding

“The crowd really helps with momentum as well. When we’re doing well and they keep cheering, it helps us to continue that trend,” varsity football player senior Andrew Butler said.

For marching band, colorguard, and dance team, turnout at football games is often crucial for promoting their activities to the student body and recruiting new members.

“It’s really sad because you work so hard on figuring out the show, and you’ve added new work and you hope people can be happy about that, but then no one’s there to appreciate it,” sophomore color guard member Aarushi Tripathy said.

This is a sentiment shared by members of the volleyball team. At times, the atmosphere was detrimental to their playing ability, with spirited fans on the other side adding pressure to the game.

“Sometimes, we hear trash talk. There was this one dad that called us pathetic [at a home game last year],” sophomore Arwen Chandler said.

The basketball teams share a desire for supportive home crowds.

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SPORTS || OCT. 26, 2017 21 DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

Photo courtesy of Suemin Yang

2016 Statistics: Number of People Who Attend Home Football Games at TJ 464 Back-to-School Bash 929 1739

Homecoming Homecoming 290/game average

Information courtesy of Dorothy Diggs, Activities Administrative Assistance

With 13 wins the in the previous season, the girl’s team was a contender in the Regional Tournament and came close to playing in the State Tournament.

Photo courtesy of Frank Ding

“I’ve always believed that the more energy you have in the gym, the better you are going to play,” Cameron Johnson, varsity assistant of the girl’s basketball team, said. “When you fill the stands, you immediately have the louder energy radiating throughout, and that helps the home team.”

In an effort to increase attendance, the Monticello Maniacs, a group dedicated to raising spirit and attendance at Jefferson’s sports games, and the Colonial Athletic Boosters use their twitter account and Facebook pages to publicize events with live streams and game results. In addition, the Boosters and the Department of Student Activities began selling annual sports passes earlier this year for $25 in the hopes of promoting attendance.

“The best way really to support any sport and raise spirit is to participate in their game,” sophomore Alan Chang said.

3

Photo courtesy of Ritika Shrivastav

From top, counterclockwise: 1. Junior Ethan Nguonly, a member of Jefferson’s cheer team supports, the Varsity football team at Manassas Park High School.

2. Clayton Reppert of Jefferson’s Varsity football team plays against Manassas Park High School. 3. Freshman Anisha Jain, a member of the freshman volleyball team, greets the Mount Vernon team

In the midst of tests, projects and homework, sporting events give students an opportunity to take a break and showcase their spirit.

“Some of my favorite memories from high school were spending Friday nights getting as loud as possible in the stands of TJ’s stadiums,” alumni and Monticello Maniac Dana Scheetz said, “I can’t imagine what our student section could look like if everyone shared this sentiment.”

SPORTS Memon pushes against a locked blocking sled for a sled drill. Football

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Sophomore Faaiz Memon finds his fit through participating in cheerleading and football Christine Zhao || INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR

Cheering was his gateway: a deeper look into another sport, one that ultimately drew him in.

Memon faced challenges as a cheerleader, but enjoyed the experience regardless.

“I was decent enough at stunting as a base, but I just didn’t retain Sophomore Faaiz Memon began his freshman year on the [the cheers,]” Memon said. “But when I did learn the new ones, I junior varsity (JV) cheerleading team in what he describes as an “uncoordinated” state. His friends and the lively attitude of the team was really happy about it. [Doing the TJ Rumble] was always exciting encouraged him to join. because everyone does it.”

“Before freshman year, I was very uncoordinated, but I was decently strong so I thought maybe cheer could be a fun time as a fall sport,” Memon said. “I was wondering whether to do a fall sport, and a couple friends told me to try cheer. They seemed to be really excited and peppy, so I was like “alright, I’ll put my name down.”

Once I did that, I just kind of got caught up in it and it was a really fun time.”

Cheering on the sidelines allowed Memon to pick up football knowledge that he hadn’t understood before. His desire to later join football grew out of a concern for both the cheerleaders and the football players: he wanted to ensure that the cheerleaders had a team to cheer for and that the football team had enough players on the team. Being more exposed to football as a cheerleader, combined with the urgency that he felt to join the JV football team, pulled him DESIGN // CHRISTINE ZHAO

BY THE NUMBERS

In order to maintain a junior varsity team, football turn to recruiting more than just freshmen

48% 10 out of 21

of the JV football team are sophomores

30% 3 out of 10

of JV football sophomores are on their first year on the team

SPORTS || OCT. 26, 2017 23

ill. Football players practice sled drills to increase power and speed.

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5

1. Memon performs a toe touch on the sidelines at a JV football game. 2. Memon runs after a drill back to the field. 3. In the midst of a one-on-one lineman drill, Memon prepares to rip off the block. 4. Memon, sophomore Cynthia Zhang, and freshman Iris Duan raise their arm in unison to execute a cheer. 5. Memon crouches on the field before the snap of the ball. Photos by Frank Ding, Isha Goel, and Lulu Lin.

have more JV members playing, we might not even have a team,” Memon said. “I knew our JV team had very few sophomores there and not many more freshmen coming in, so I felt like if I didn’t join and help, I was risking letting it slip by.”

Memon began going to 7 on 7’s – practices without designated linemen or positions – and eventually found his niche within the skills that football required.

While Memon had enjoyed his time on the cheerleading team, he didn’t think he had the skills required to be a cheerleader and found football to be a better suit for his strength and sprinting abilities.

“In football, speed is more important and I think I have more of that,” Memon said.

“I’m decently flexible, but I’m not good at that. It’s just I didn’t have the skills that lined up with cheer. I’m not saying I had the body type to be a football player, but I’d say I had

“I’d say that going out and doing something different that you’re not expected to, especially at TJ, I’d say is something that’s been important to me,” Memon said. “I’ve pursued some stuff that [is] more actionbased and just going and taking action for yourself where most people wouldn’t.”

Memon’s experiences as both a cheerleader and a football player have instilled in him a greater amount of enthusiasm and pride; Memon attributes his stronger mindset and understanding of himself to his participation in these sports.

“I’d say between this year and last year, I’ve learned more about my strengths and weaknesses, both because of sports and because TJ in general,” Memon said. “When you’re under stress, you learn what you’re good at, and one thing I found out I was good at was a lot of problem-solving and improvisation. You can improvise a football

DID YOU KNOW? Football and cheerleading rank No.1 and No.2 in number of catastrophic injuries, compared to all other sports.

US Sports Academy || SOURCE

let’s get

PHYSICAL

Memon uses different skills for cheer and football

Core CHEERLEADING

Particularly through football, Memon has learned to take more chances for his PHOTO // FRANK DING academics, extracurriculars, and himself.

ILLUSTRATION // CHRISTINE ZHAO He’s made riskier decisions, decisions he towards the sport and persuaded him to normally wouldn’t have made, because start practicing in the spring. of his ability to consistently challenge the norm.

“I saw this Facebook post: if we didn’t

play with some flexibility; you can’t really improvise a cheer. Knowing myself better has probably been the biggest thing.”

A strong core helps cheerleaders maintain successful stunts

Flexibility

Cheerleaders train their flexibility in order to perform tumbles and jumps

Strength FOOTBALL

more of a mindset from wrestling, go and hit the guy, a more visceral feeling of success, and you really see the result when you do it.”

Football players will lift weights to increase how much weight they can withstand from anopposing player

Sprints Sprinting proficiency is needed during a game for short, high-intensity plays

OPINION LEAD EDITTORIAL

WHAT’S IN A

NAME ?

FCPS should replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day

A

cross the country, thousands of students peel one eyelid open to peer at their alarm clocks, then close the lid with a sigh of relief. Countless school buses line school parking lots, unused for the day. Hours pass before the day drags its feet to a lethargic start.

It’s the perfect day to kick back, relax and celebrate the legacy of a mass murderer from the late 1400s. Right?

New York’s Tammany Hall first celebrated Columbus Day in 1792. Columbus Day became a national holiday in 1937, courtesy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Honoring Columbus is practically in our blood. But by sleeping in without a care on the second Monday of October, we ignore the harrowing origins of Columbus Day--the origins that date all the way back to 1492.

Here’s the truth of the matter: Columbus Day honors a man who enslaved, tortured, and murdered indigenous people.

Celebrating Columbus ignores the scores of native people whose voices he silenced in his quest across the ocean blue. The controversy surrounding the holiday has prompted numerous states and cities to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous People’s Day, including Minnesota, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vermont. No Virginian cities are on the list as yet, but change starts small: should Fairfax County make an effort to rename Columbus Day? At face value, the answer is a very clear yes. Columbus’ exploration doesn’t deserve celebrating. Changing his holiday to Indigenous People’s Day would honor the native lives lost during periods of historical conquest. The day off would remain intact, but a change in name would redefine it, giving indigenous people the recognition owed to them for centuries. We learn so much about Native Americans in humanities

classes, and acknowledge the inhumane treatment they faced--Indigenous People’s Day would allow us to act on our words and spur positive change.

That being said, a name is hardly more than just that. It’s unlikely that changing Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day would give indigenous people the full recognition they deserve--it could stand as little more than an attempt to pat ourselves on the back and preen our feathers for being so generous and warm-hearted.

Students seize an opportunity to sleep in regardless of what it’s named for, and it’s possible Indigenous People’s Day’s message could fade into yet another yearly day off.

However, renaming Columbus Day could do what indigenous people and rights activists have been trying to do for some time: spark a conversation. FCPS would send a message of accountability and inclusion to the entire county if it switched to Indigenous People’s Day. The change wouldn’t excuse the centuries of mistreatment native people have faced, but it would make a statement that Columbus’ actions were inexcusable and undeserving of hero worship. The decision would enrich history classes in early October with debates over the benefits and pitfalls of colonization and conquest. Younger children might ask their parents about indigenous people on their day off, and high school students like us could have a greater appreciation of the groups of people who are never as prominent in history textbooks as they should be.

Implementing Indigenous People’s Day in Fairfax County won’t absolve early explorers of their crimes, nor will it even the scales. But while we can’t erase the past, we can set the stage for a more informed and aware future. A redefining of Columbus Day would do exactly that.

GRAPHICS // Sabria Kazmi DESIGN // Sabria Kazmi

OPINION || OCT. 26, 2017 25

YOUR VOTE (STILL) MATTERS Years without a presidential election get less coverage, but why should we always care about local issues?

Angel Kim || TEAM LEADER

P

On Nov. 7, voters will elect either Democrat Ralph Northam or Republican Discussing political issues is often Ed Gillespie to be Virginia’s governor. This riddled with frustration and anger, marks an important election for both parties: and sometimes we do need breaks from the Democrats need to defend one of their 16 seemingly constant stream of news about total state governorships, the Trump administration and the healthcare while Republicans have debate. However, local issues that directly a chance to take another affect us should get the same attention. state in their governorship We all know that there is an election day majority. Seats for lieutenant every year, but discussions about voting governor, attorney general on the years without presidential elections and state delegates are also aren’t as common. According to the Virginia in contention. For partisans Department of Elections, recent presidential who aren’t necessarily elections have had voter turnouts around 70 informed on all the issues, percent. Other local election years’ turnouts the election represents were around 30 to 40 percent. The Aug. 29 an opportunity to help their party make special election for the recently vacated seat progress. on the Fairfax County School Board had a While this upcoming election isn’t at the turnout slightly over 10 percent. State and county or city level, it puts many state issues local-level elections do apply to a smaller on the line, including access to education, area than the nationwide ones, but they gun legislation and environmental policies. have a great impact on our daily lives. Since Furthermore, the next administration will municipal officials and General Assembly be dealing with Virginia’s opioid crisis, representatives have less constituents than which State Health Commissioner Marissa those in Washington, DC, they are more Levine declared a public health emergency in accessible to the people, such as through November 2016. town hall meetings in Fairfax County. olitics is stressful.

CANDIDATES UP CLOSE

Repiublican candiDemocrat candidate Republican candidate Democrat candidate date for Governor: Ed for Governor: Ralph for Attorney General: for Attorney General: Mark Herring Gillespie Northam John Adamas Photo courtesies (left to right): 1) Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons 2) Unnamed author Wikimedia Commons 3) User YngSupervisor via Wikimedia Commons 4) User MDFriendOfHillary via Wikimedia Commons

Even for those who can’t vote- including me- it is possible to continue the discussion that made politicians and citizens alike passionate about political issues last year.

Our gubernatorial candidates may not be

GRAPHIC // Angel Kim

as divisive as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, but Northam and Gillespie have made their standings clear, and it isn’t too late to talk about them.

Even when voting isn’t concerned, keeping up with local issues is crucial. Remember the news about Loudoun County Public School losing contact with Jefferson? Local issue.

Remember having to drive on a road full of potholes? Local issue.

After 2018’s congressional midterm elections, Virginia’s local elections will occur in 2019, where people will vote for candidates running for positions not only in the statewide General Assembly, but also the countywide Board of Supervisors, School Board and sheriff. Before then, follow local news sources, volunteer for a political party and when it becomes available, read the candidates’ platforms--stay connected with local politics. There will always be a big picture--but don’t forget the political issues that hit close to home.

DESIGN // Sabria Kazmi

ENTERTAINMENT

WHERE TO?

Sneha Joisha and Perak Thakkar || STAFF WRITERS

Many Jefferson students are faced with the dilemma of how and where to spend the few hours before a home game, and most students spend that time in the plaza near Jefferson. Students describe where they like to go, what food they like to order and how they feel about their food. While many go to Five Guys, an American fast food restaurant, others might go restaurants such as Ocha Tea, a tea cafe, Hunan Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant, and IndAroma, an Indian bakery and cafe.

Tropical Smoothie

Firehouse Subs

Jessica York, 12

Marissa Leo, 11

Favorite order: Sunrise Sunset Smoothie

Favorite order: Meatball sub

“I think they have some good drinks and a variety of different flavors for that, but they also have a lot of good food options. I like the Sunrise Sunset Smoothie because I’m not a big fan of bananas, and it’s one of the only smoothies that doesn’t have bananas in it. I like how they have options for that that a lot of other places don’t have. I think it’s a delicious smoothie with good, fruity flavors, and it’s big and cold and refreshing.”

“[The meatball sub has a] pleasant [and] rich [taste]. They have really good, traditional sandwiches. I would recommend it to [others].”

OPINION || OCT. 26, 2017 27 DESIGN // Angel Kim

Five Guys Michael Kyrychenko, 10

At Willow Run Center

Evans Chun, 9

Ocha Tea Angie Sohn, 11

Favorite order: Milk Tea bubble tea “I really like the atmosphere of the store because I think it really has this cozy feeling to it, and also, it’s kind of in a secluded area, so not that many people know about it or go there, so I think whenever you go there, it’s kind of like you have this space all to yourself because it’s not as crowded or as loud as some other bubble tea stores. Also, I like the assortment that they have of various teas. Not only do they have tea, but you can also add tapioca pearls and customize your own tea, so I really like that aspect.”

Favorite order: Bacon hot dog

Favorite order: Bacon cheeseburger

“I like how [the bacon hot dog is] prepared because in a lot of hot dog [restaurants], they have turkey hot dogs there, and it’s not as good as the cafeteria hot dog[s], but this one is nice and it’s all beef, American, [and] traditional. It’s really yummy.”

“I like [the] food [at Five Guys]. The food tastes good, and usually at times if you go there, there isn’t really a long line unless there are lots of people there. The quality’s pretty good too.”

IndAroma

“I just think it’s one of the best around this area. I like their cake[s] [and] their puffs. I’m an appetizer person, so I only eat the appetizers from there, but I’ve tried all of it, so they’re pretty good. [The rating is] not actually [for] the restaurant itself. I just like [the] mango lassi because it reminds me of India, and I was born there and I came here, so it feels nice. I’ve always had it when I was younger.”

Gopika Pillai, 11

Favorite order: Mango lassi

From left to right: Thropical Smoothie, Firehouse Subs, IndAroma and Five Guys storefronts PHOTO // Sneha Joisha

ENTERTAINMENT

TRICK OR

VEGAN TREAT Rena Cai || STAFF WRITER

H

alloween is a perfect time to tell scary stories chock full of urban legends: Bloody Mary, the Clown Statue, vegans– though vegans are very real, they might as well be an urban legend. Everyone has different ideas of what veganism is, but none are exactly correct. Part of the reason why people believe vegans are so rare is because they don’t know just how many food

options are available to them. Many popular candy brands - Jolly Ranchers, Sour Patch, etc - are vegan friendly, not including any of the animal-derived products which are commonly found in candy such as gelatin and dairy. The tjTODAY staff conducted a taste test, rating vegan and non-vegan Halloween candy to identify an equally as satisfying way to trick-ortreat.

ENTERTAINMENT || OCT. 26, 2017 29

Reese’s v. Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups Reese’s average rating: 3.3/5 Justin’s average rating: 3.5/5 Reese’s Pieces are a well loved candy, but the vegan Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups have an edge over it. The dark chocolate shell pairs well with the peanut butter filling, cutting through its strong flavors.

Yum Earth gummies Average Rating: 2.1/5 Vegan gummies tend to taste like vitamin gummies because of the flavorings they use, and unfortunately, this one failed to break the norm. The strange texture and medicinal flavor ruins the “candy” part of candy.

Airheads Xtremes Average Rating: 2.6/5 The Airheads had a nice chew, but the flavor was a little odd. It isn't that much of a notable difference, but compared to gummies like Sour Patch Kids, the taste fell short.

For more, visit tjTODAY.org DESIGN // Angel Kim PHOTO // Katherine Du

ENTERTAINMENT

A

On the stage below, Lamar performs in the arena

Photo courtesy of Economos

STAGE, SINGER, A

T

A

SONG

Freshman Niko Economos’ concert going experiences Tanya Kurnootala || STAFF WRITER

he stage goes pitch black. Freshman Niko Economos waits with baited breath as one spotlight beam roars to life. The opening bars of a fan-favorite song echo across the arena, and Economos goes wild with the crowd; from that point on, his excitement never dies down. The thrill of live music creates an experience to remember, and he knows it all too well. The months-long wait and highly-coveted tickets are more than worth that one incredible night.

Economos reflects on what makes hip hop his favorite genre of music. He is a fan of Kendrick Lamar not only because of Lamar’s talent, but also the message he brings to his songs.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

“I love the beats and the endless possibilities rappers can rap over it. I also really like the rhythm of rapper’s voices,” Economos said. “I like Kendrick because he’s lyrical and talks about stuff that actually matters, plus his flow is great too. Also, he always seems thankful for what he has and isn’t really showy like other rappers.”

Nov. 19, Capital One Arena

Economos is a frequent concert-goer and has been to multiple concerts in the past, featuring artists such as Logic, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott and Future. This summer, Economos went to a Kendrick Lamar concert at the Verizon Center in Washington DC as part of Lamar’s tour for his album, “DAMN.”

Kendrick Lamar’s spirit during the performance stood out in addition to his world-renowned songwriting skills. Economos appreciated Lamar’s unique approach to performing, which has attracted his thousands of fans.

The Verizon Center has a maximum holding capacity of more than 18,000 people, and seats near the stage are not only extremely limited, but also sell out very quickly, especially with Lamar being such a popular artist. Despite the location of his seats, Economos still enjoyed the show.

“The atmosphere was really hype once he started singing, and basically never died down until it was done. It wasn’t like he had a bunch of backup dancers, it was just him and he had cool effects. He was authentic, too,” Economos said.

Economos believes that seeing an artist live “It was in the Verizon center, so there were a gives one an extremely different perspective lot of seats and our seats weren’t that good. but from just listening to his or her music. He says he had a lot of energy. I would have liked to be that witnessing such performances adds a more in a smaller venue because being so far out, we intimate level to the listening experience. didn’t really get the full Kendrick Lamar, but it “There’s much more feeling when the artists was still good,” Economos said. perform live, and if you spent time memorizing Having attended multiple concerts in the past,

Pop

Lady Gaga Dua Lipa

Nov. 28, The Filmore Silver Spring

Bruno Mars

Dec. 21, MGM National Harbor

Rock/Alternative Fall Out Boy

Nov. 2, EagleBank Arena

Imagine Dragons

Nov. 5, Capitol One Arena

The Maine

Nov. 10, Baltimore Soundstage

Hip-Hop/R&B Macklemore

Nov. 11, The Filmore Silver Spring

Jhené Aiko

Nov. 21, The Filmore Silver Spring

Jay-Z

Nov. 29, Capitol One Arena

Other

iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Dec. 11, Capital One Arena

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Nov. 14, Capitol One Arena

Pentatonix

Dec. 17, The Anthem

TS

g

g

g

ENTERTAINMENT || OCT. 26, 2017 31

lyrics it’s almost like you’re rapping with them onstage. I like concerts because I can see the music I love and listen to so much performed live in front of me, by people who are my idols,” Economos said.

DESIGN // Angel Kim

should you Quiz: How celebrate Halloween?

Want to go somewhere scary?

This opinion also held true for the Lamar concert he attended.

“I saw more of Kendrick, a guy that you can tell is really thankful for all that he has and his fans. Watching him sing the song I’ve heard so many times was fantastic,” Economos said.

In addition to Kendrick Lamar, hip hop artist Logic is one of Economos’ favorites. Similar to Kendrick Lamar, Logic creates music with a strong meaning behind them, an aspect that resonates with Economos.

“I love all of his songs. The lyrics always have a meaning and his flow is great. His message is always ‘Peace, love, and positivity’ which I really appreciate in this day and age,” Economos said.

However, the Logic concert was held at a smaller venue, allowing him to reach more of the attendees and Economos appreciated his efforts to make the performance more engaging for the crowd.

“Logic’s concert felt more personal, because he did more fun things with the crowd like games and skits, ...which makes him a better live performer in my opinion,” Economos said.

“Everything felt much more personal. Logic interacted with the crowd more, and some fans even went on stage too.”

Halloween must be scary Want to get lost?

Not even a little scary?

Maybe

Nope No

Yes

Classic neighborhood trick-or-treat

Can you handle clowns?

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms

Want to be on your feet?

Yes Sounds spooky

Not as the main attraction, please

Economos hopes to attend more of Lamar’s concerts in the future, whenever his next album comes out. Until then, he has a few other artists’ events in mind.

“I definitely will attend more concerts if some artists are in tour that I like,” Economos said. “Logic is one of my favorites, I’m looking forward to his next concert.”

No thanks

Madhaunter’s Madhouse Haunted Trail carnEVIL at Merriweather Park

No “The Nightmare Before Christmas” free outdoor movie at Adventure Links

Fall Festival of Lights at the Amazing Fun Farm at Ticonderoga

“

I am thinking, “Ten years down the road, am I still going to be able to do this? AM I STILL GOING TO BE THANKFUL I put all my time and energy into this?” I learned not just to focus on the immediate things and SEE MORE BIG PICTURE.

PHOTO // Alexa Nguonly REPORTING // Alexa Nguonly

When they first talked to us at Hack TJ about emailing sponsors, they said, “The worst thing that could happen is they say ‘no’”. You are just asking [people you have never talked to before] to donate thousands of dollars to some high school event. Sometimes you may not get a reply, sometimes they may say “no”, but YOU DON’T GAIN ANYTHING FROM NOT TRYING.

[Adults], people we respect and think wouldn’t really care about what is going on in our lives, are often really interested. YOU JUST HAVE TO INTERACT AND FIND OUT, not only with adults, but with people you aren’t as familiar with. You will find out more about them, other people, and yourself and that MAYBE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE BIASES YOU THINK THEY DO.

”

JUNIOR

REILLY MCBRIDE || WHAT I VE LEARNED