June 2016

TJTODAY THE MAGAZINE

14

PROM PREVIEW

Countdown to the annual event

24

LIVE STREAM PROBLEMS?

Why Facebook’s new feature is problematic

28

SUMMER AND FILMS

Staff picks films to expect for the summer

IN-DEPTH || 6

It’s almost summertime–where will you go?

SUMMER PLANS

O F S S Y A

UMMER

[75] D

6560 BRADDOCK RD. ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312

JUNE 6, 2016 || VOL 1 ISSUE 8 || www.tjtoday.org

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

CONTENTS 4 Increasing theft cases at Jefferson IN-DEPTH 6 COVER STORY Summer plans 12 Sophomore Jean Kim 14 Prom preview SCI-AND-TECH 16 Transformers competition 18 Eight Intelligences SPORTS 20 Varsity soccer 22 Summer sports OPINION 24 EDITORIAL Social media in the classroom 26 What to do over the summer ENTERTAINMENT 28 Summer movie preview WHAT I'VE LEARNED 32 Sophomore Kavya Kopparapu

NewsMAKERS

NEWS

NEWS

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Anjali Khanna, Esther Kim TEAM LEADERS Ankit Agrawal, Kate Deng, Katherine Du, Adithi Ramakrishnan, Uzma Rentia DESIGN EDITOR Kate Deng BROADCAST EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Alexa Nguonly BUSINESS MANAGER Patrick Toulme STAFF REPORTERS Mei Baek, Neha Bhargava, MiJin Cho, Jiny Cho, Natalie Homnyom, Katherine Hughes, Albert Jang, Angel Kim, Anupama Jayaraman, Sruthi Jayaraman, Sabria Kazmi, Minna Kuriakose, Madeline Old, Avni Singh, Nikita Sivakumar, Angie Sohn, Sammy Tavasolli, Bayliss Wagner, Millan Welman, Anna Zhang, Christine Zhao ADVISER Erinn Harris

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.

PHOTO// Angel Kim

Photo courtesy of www.acs.org

PHOTO// Katherine Du

NEWS

3

JUNE 6, 2016 We honestly had our best row of the WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT season at Stotesbury this year.

THE TRIP? BACKSTORY SENIOR MOLLIE PASSACANTANDO: On May 19-21, many of crew team HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE The best thing about the trip is being members left school to attend the annual exposed to this much larger rowing RESULTS? Stotesbury crew regatta. The boats that community. You get to see a lot of really GANESHAN: I felt that the TJ Men’s participated in the competition included intense teams and start to understand the Freshmen 8, my boat, did pretty well the varsity boats, freshman 8 boats and this year. We were faster than teams like larger world of rowing and where you few junior varsity boats. While not all of Woodbridge and St. Andrew’s School, fit in. the boats qualified for semifinals, many both of whom beat us in earlier races. I of them finished faster than teams from wish the Men’s 1V had made finals, but FRESHMAN KIRAN GANESHAN: I other schools in Fairfax County. Addithey were still admirably close. enjoyed watching everything the memtionally, the team held its senior night bers of my boat have been working on during the competition. throughout the season come together.

Anupama Jayaraman || STAFF REPORTER

Avni Singh || STAFF REPORTER

BACKSTORY The National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) is a high school competition that encourages students to achieve excellence in chemistry. This year, junior Joyce Tian was one of the top 20 scoring students from the exam and will spend two weeks at a study camp. Four students from the camp will be chosen to represent the United States at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Katherine Du || TEAM LEADER

BACKSTORY Student Government Association (SGA) collected applications for the annual Richard Slivoskey Eighth Period Grant up until May 20, which provides a $1,000 fund to a club at Jefferson that proposes an innovative idea to enhance the school community. Selected clubs presented their ideas to SGA on May 27 during eighth period. The recipient of the grant will be announced on J-Day, June 10. tjTODAY interviewed Steven Li, a

it’ll be worth it because I really like HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT YOU MADE IT chemistry.

TO THE TOP 20?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN At first my family and I looked up the person who called us to inform WHILE YOU’RE AT CAMP? I’m taking organic chemistry here at us that I made it to the top 20, TJ, but there a lot of things that arbecause we wanted to make sure it wasn’t a scam. I was super surprised en’t covered due to lack of time, and the camp director said they would that I made it to the top 20, and it’s be focusing a lot on organic chemreally fun but it’s also been a lot of istry and they’ve assigned a lot of work. They sent us a couple textbooks to buy and some problems to problems for me to do, so I’m really hoping that that will help develop do from each of them, so that was my skills. an experience. In the end, I think

member of SGA, regarding the grant.

ics Team [have moved on to the next round of judging]. Each finalist will present a power-pitch to SGA about how the $1000 will benefit them. After hearing the presentations, the SGA Executive Committee will vote for the winning club.

HOW, AND WHEN, DID THE SLIVOSKY GRANT START? The grant was established June 1, 2007. It was to honor Richard Silvoskey for 22 years of invaluable dedication towards the students and faculty at TJ. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN PROPOSALS? HOW DOES THE NEXT ROUND OF [We look for] clubs that enhance the JUDGING WORK? TJ community, promote citizenship, TJ Media, Cancer Research Society, leadership, scholarship and elevate Biology Society, LIFE Club, Active school spirit and unity.

Minds, TJ Bio-engineering [and] Phys-

4 NEWS

THE DEAL WITH

Photo // KATHERINE DU

STEALING

Students share stories of thefts through social media, generating concern over schoolwide integrity, while administrators reevaluate security and discipline Katherine Du and Bayliss Wagner || TEAM LEADER, STAFF WRITER

T

project pictures are on [that phone] as well as many years of high school memories,” Wang posted on May 21. As of now, her phone has not been returned.

Senior Katie Pruitt prepared 35 brownies for a Dig Pink bake sale last October. She had intended to donate the profits to support breast cancer research, but before Pruitt could sell her baked goods and donate the money to breast cancer research funds, they were stolen.

“That particular situation made me really I. ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA angry, because I thought it was really rude Jefferson students have observed that social that someone would steal food above media has both united victims of theft and anything else,” Pruitt said. generated widespread concern.

Freshmen have also lost robot parts and On May 6, sophomore Mariam Khan reported entire robots, built for their final project in that her money and credit card were stolen from Design and Tech, to thieves. her backpack. Khan, a tutor at Kumon, had “I had a few gear boxes stolen last year, earned the money herself. which I spent about half an entire class “Not only did you steal what was rightfully period making,” sophomore Min Kang someone else’s, but you have tarnished the said. According to him, students may have reputation of one of the best schools in the resorted to stealing parts because they lacked nation,” Khan posted in the class of 2019 the time to finish their own parts or lost parts.

Facebook group. “I am incredibly disappointed Despite these incidents, students who resist in you, no matter what your reason is.” the temptation to steal have dutifully reported Three days later, junior Emma Glass returned finding lost valuables at the Security Office. to the language hall cubbies and discovered that On May 26, senior Jeffrey Xia posted in her dozen Duck Donuts were stolen. Originally search of the owner of an iPhone with “a intending to use them for her Sadie’s asking, gray case that’s way too bulky.”

Glass had tucked the donuts under her asking poster.

II. DISCIPLINE AND CONSEQUENCES “I’m sure you liked them more than my date would’ve, but I guess we’ll never know…,” “Just recently, Dr. Glazer sent out an email Glass posted on Facebook. about stolen items, but people won’t stop stealing unless there are actual consequences,” Senior Angela Wang left her phone in her junior Sean Tran said.

3rd period class and, after returning during the next period to retrieve it, could not find it.

Some students feel that the administration Wang soon called her phone and discovered has not taken enough action, both that someone had turned it off, which led her preventative and disciplinary. to believe it was stolen. Wang also took to “There has to be some type of action. I feel Facebook to appeal to the thief. like the administration doesn’t really know “An entire year’s worth of senior research about [the thefts],” Khan said. here’s no question that social media functions as a bulletin for Jefferson students and even as their main form of communication. Rarely does a day pass without a student posting about a lost item -- recent posts feature a pencil case, a rose gold iPhone 6s, a calculator, a missing robot wheel and purple glasses -- in one of the class Facebook groups.

But why have the groups recently become more of a collection of WANTED posters than a lostand-found message board, including growing numbers of stealing incidents at Jefferson?

According to assistant principal Shawn Frank, administrators have heard of the thefts, but lack solid reports: “Many times these specific incidents are not always brought to us. The ones that are brought to us are investigated to the fullest extent. We also remind students to take precautions in securing their belongings.”

Both Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Jefferson administrators, though, have official plans for dealing with students whom they catch stealing.

The FCPS 2015-2016 Students Rights and Responsibilities booklet lists stealing, excluding motor vehicle theft, as a Level B offense.

Consequences can include review by a regional Assistant Superintendent, a one year suspension from activities including sports, a five day suspension and/or a referral to the Division Superintendent.

“If you’re the person stealing, know that the administration takes this very seriously and there will be consequences,” Frank said.

Mr. Frank has never handled a theft case during his two-year tenure at Jefferson. In addition, though 10 Jefferson students have faced short-term suspension in the last five school years according to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), none of those cases involved theft.

Discipline for theft incidents is based on severity of the action, as it is in society.

“If you steal somebody’s cupcakes or somebody’s lunch, we might look at a detention or something, as opposed to a student who has stolen 10 laptops,” Frank said.

“Some people think, ‘I just took a thing of cupcakes and I’m being silly,’” Frank said. “Theft is still theft. That’s a violation of trust and security.”

The problem: students who steal are difficult to catch unless, as Frank said, a tracking device locates the stolen item at a student’s house, or the student is caught red-handed.

“When somebody’s stealing, they’re looking both ways,” Frank said. “I did get one case of a kid reporting a theft this year, but I wasn’t able to tie anything down.

NEWS

5

JUNE 6, 2016 It’s tough to track those kind of things down.”

Regarding student concern that the stealing crisis may be due to the current lack of lockers, Frank mentioned that lockers will be installed as new sections of the building complete renovation and administration could even consider installing more, if necessary. In addition, administrators will continually adjust to include preventative measures. Frank said he will keep reevaluating to see if certain areas of the school require more security patrols.

“At other schools, some of the ways that they were trying to circumvent [stealing] is that they do have cameras inside the schools,” Frank said. “If it continues to be a problem, maybe that’s something we need to revisit.”

But Frank explained that parents, students and teachers would likely not provide support for funding such installations, as many members of the Jefferson community felt that installing cameras would endanger personal privacy when the option was discussed earlier.

For now, victims of theft should contact administration.

“It never hurts for people to share that info—where it was stolen, what was the item that was stolen— so people can be on the lookout for it,” Frank said.

sentiments. In the email sent on May 10, Principal Dr. Evan Glazer wrote, “It only takes one person to make us more conscientious on where we leave our valuables.”

Their impressions match a psychological phenomenon known as the availability heuristic, in which memorable events are presumed to be more common than less vivid incidents.

“5 percent of the time that it happens, that’s going to be said the loudest. People don’t talk about the 95 percent of the time that it doesn’t happen,” Frank said.

“At TJ we talk so much about how great of a community we have,” junior Kristin Myers said, “and what is our community unless we have trust?”

students’ sentiments that the community is no longer trustworthy. “[Students should] purchase a lock in the student activities office and use the caged cubbies,” Glazer wrote.

Obtaining a location tracker and password-protecting technological devices will aid prevention, Frank said. Students should also try to carry their phones, computers and wallets with them at all times, or leave them at home.

“People just need to think about some of their pricier belongings,” Frank said.

“People just need to make sure that they realize that they have some [expensive] items,” and think, ‘this is close to an $1000 iPhone.’”

IV. FOOTSTEPS FORWARD

Though Khan, Pruitt, Tran and Myers believe that the recent thievery incidents reflect poorly on Jefferson’s integrity in their minds, Frank maintains a different opinion.

“The majority of our kids do the right things, they all respect people’s belongings,” Frank said.

In addition, Frank’s colleagues’ experience suggests to him that the current frequency of thefts may not remain elevated: he mentioned that they had seen similar events come and go in cycles. The VDOE also reports that in FCPS, theft-based suspensions have diminished continually from 141 cases in the 2010-11 school year to a total of 36 last year.

Regardless, students can view the recent stealing issues as a microcosm of outside life, though administrators will work to prevent them.

“It’s is also a lesson, because part of what we’re doing is preparing you for college,” Frank said. “This is a reality when you’re out in the world. Nobody is immune from [being stolen from]. We try to take measures to make sure it doesn’t happen here.”

How can we lessen stealing cases at Jefferson? According to Myers, we could raise awareness about the harm they do to our school community. We need to show stealers, and prospective stealers, that the effect of a single act of thievery will amplify. “[Raising awareness of stealing] shows people who are committing these infractions that this is a serious thing, and that even people who aren’t being directly affected by the incidents are still affected indirectly,” Myers said.

Several students communicated that III. IMAGE OF INTEGRITY stealing harms the victim, places a bad To promote school ethics and personal of the Jefferson community character, almost all staff require Jefferson impression those connected to the victim, and can students to write the Honor Code, “I will on eventually damage the school’s reputation. uphold academic and personal integrity in the TJ community,” countless times “I don’t know how we can externally on tests and homework assignments. affect this problem, because it’s more of According to Wang, stealing incidents an internal thing,” Pruitt said. “It’s easy influence opinions of Jefferson integrity to steal items when you think about just, profoundly.

‘Oh, if I steal this plate of brownies then I get brownies,’ you need to understand “It sucks to know that no matter how that your actions affect other people. often I, or others, turn lost phones and is a distinct connection between valuables to security, it will always be the There stealing and hurting someone else.” thieves that leave a bigger mark,” Wang said.

Perhaps the most immediate remedy is personal prevention, based on some Jefferson administrators shared similar

STEALING SPREE Items reported to be stolen at Jefferson, and their costs Eraser

Baked Goods Lunchbox

Jacket

Calculator

Earbuds

Sports Gear

Computer

$0.25 $10.00 >$15.00 >$80.00 $105.00 $120.00 $180.00$1500.00 DESIGN, GRAPHIC AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS // Katherine Du Photos from Creative Commons

IN-DEPTH

A SUMMER FILLED WITH

TRAVEL

Where to go, what to do, and why to go there–what is going on over the summer for students at Jefferson?

ANKIT AGRAWAL, KATHERINE DU, AND ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN || TEAM LEADERS

IN-DEPTH

7

JUNE 6, 2016

“WHERE IN THE WORLD” ARE JEFFERSON STUDENTS? Students share their travel plans for the upcoming summer

VIRGINIA “I decided to take ‘Civ’ over the summer because I want to get a credit for that and I would rather not take up an elective from my usual school year to do that.”

GERMANY “I’m going to Germany for about two-and-a-half weeks. Most importantly, I’m really excited to practice my German and to experience everyday life in Germany.”

-Freshman Naman Shah

-Sophomore Akhil Rekulapelli

“I’m going to Moldova for six weeks. [I’m most looking forward to] learning a language in an immersive environment, because in school you don’t really learn casual conversation and how to use it in real life.”

-Sophomore Helen Poe

CALIFORNIA “My grandparents live in Sacramento for about six months this year, as my mom and her sisters grew up in the Bay Area. Last year we went to a San Francisco Giants game and a water park, but this year we hope to go to a Triple-A baseball game in Sacramento. I’m most looking forward to being able to spend time with my family, as since my cousins live so far, especially the ones in Oregon, I only get to see them once or twice a year.”

MOLDOVA

-Sophomore Mira Wroblewski

THAILAND

ISRAEL “I’m going to Israel for an internship. I think it should be like a combination of scientific skills and cultural knowledge. I hope that the internship will help me decide if what I want to do is more lab work or more hands on work with people.”

-Junior Diana Zavela

“I’m traveling to Bangkok, Thailand this summer, and I have a business internship lined up at a hotel there. I’m looking forward to seeing all of my relatives and catching up with them. Bangkok is my hometown, and I always try to visit when I have the chance. I hope to gain a lot of experience in business, as I hope to study that in college.”

-Junior Patty Vitsupakorn

Photos courtesy of www.travelandleisure.com, www.sheknows.com, cuzimage.com, www.pinterest.com, www.countrydetail.com, time.com, and travel.usnews.com

DESIGN// Ankit Agrawal

8 IN-DEPTH

COLLEGES, CONFIDENCE, AND THE CCC

Eileen Kropf discusses the college application process

PHOTO// Ankit Agrawal

MADELINE OLD || STAFF WRITER

E

ileen Kropf has had time to reflect on the college selection process.

She works full time as the Jefferson College and Career Center Specialist, sitting in a room draped with college flags and full of books about how to find the best one. She’s happy to offer advice, even to freshmen and sophomores who haven’t even begun to consider college yet.

“You should be looking around to see who you are and what your mode is - am I a person who likes to sit in a laboratory?” Kropf said. “Am I a person who likes to talk?”

Discovering what one likes to do is the real purpose of the summer opportunities she recommend, whether they’re fancy internships or retail jobs.

Figuring out who he or she is will help narrow down the student’s college selections. According to Kropf, finding the right college is a fully introspective process. “‘Do I want to be at a giant university in the middle of a city?’ Well, that could

really get you going. Or ‘No, I really want to be in a small town, I want to know everybody a bit better,’ that type of thing. So be thinking about who you are and what environment is best for you to flourish in,” Kropf said.

“Somewhere you’d be a big fish in a small pond, or a big fish in a different pond.”

-Ms. Eileen Kropf Pleasing other people over oneself is a big trap to fall into, especially for Jefferson students. “‘I have to go to this college because I’m at this fancy high school.’ That’s a recipe, for some kids, for disaster,” Kropf said. “We don’t at TJ have a huge variety of colleges our kids go to. I’ve

been advising people to apply outside the herd, because then your wonderful TJ background really pops.”

The more impressive a college finds the student’s Jefferson resume, the more likely they are to attract him or her there with scholarships.

“If you want to really stand out, look at a fabulous college that not that many TJ kids would look at. Somewhere you’d a big fish in a small pond, or a big fish in a different pond. You could flourish,” Kropf said.

Even after students go through the introspective process of college selection, some of Jefferson graduates continue to contact and communicate with Kropf.

“I do see them again. They come back at Thanksgiving, they come back at Christmas, I’ve gotten emails from people that’ve been gone two years and they just say everything’s working out- or it’s not, and I want to hear that too. Maybe I can continue to offer some advice to kids where maybe the environment wasn’t the best,” Kropf said.

IN-DEPTH

THE BOATLOAD OF SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

9

JUNE 6, 2016

go out and prove yourself in the real world,” senior Sarah Zhou said. “Plus, internships look good on your resume and for colleges.”

The sources of this pressure can come from teachers and fellow peers.

“People just bring the subject [of internships] up,” sophomore Mariam Khan said. “Not even just my early every student in high school friends, people post about them everywhere, and ponders the question of what to do juniors and seniors always say, ‘I got that internship’ over the summer as the end of the school year or ‘I’m planning on doing this’. Because of this gets closer, and many already have plans relating to academics, such as taking summer classes or studying for tests like the Scholastic Aptitude Test I’ve become more worried about applying for internships.”

(SAT) or the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT.) Many students However, the pressure can also be seen as a also intern at companies in line with the career field they want to enter in motivating factor for students. the future.

“As a freshmen, I know that a lot of upperclassmen “[Internships] provide you with an opportunity to pursue your passion are doing internships,” freshman Reena Medavarapu in a different setting, and they allow you to see real-world applications of said. “Because everyone in the community does what is taught in school.” senior Prerana Katiyar said. Katiyar participated them, it drives and motivates me to do one as well.” in an internship with the National Institute of Health.“Because a lot of Though there might be pressure in the Jefferson internships are interdisciplinary, they may help you realize other interests you have that you may not have been able to gauge in an academic setting.” community to apply for internships, participating in one can offer a multitude of benefits, including Despite these advantages, is there implicit pressure in the Jefferson experience for the future. community to take part in an internship?

“Because everyone’s academics are so good, there seems to be a need to MIJIN CHO, ANGEL KIM, AND AVNI SINGH || STAFF WRITERS

N

Why the pressure to do them?

TRAVEL: 23.6%

WHAT ARE

YOU

DOING OVER THE SUMMER?

JOB: 7.9% INTERNSHIP: 8.7%

VOLUNTEER: 12.5%

Information from a poll of 216 students

OTHER: 8.4%

SUMMER SCHOOL: 23.6%

CAMP: 15.3%

GRAPHIC// Uzma Rentia, MiJin Cho DESIGN// Ankit Agrawal

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11

JUNE 6, 2016

12 IN-DEPTH

FOR THE RECORD(ER)

Sophomore Jean Kim continues her volunteer service project in Peru

F

Natalie Homnyom and Sabria Kazmi || STAFF WRITERS

ollowing up her trip last year, sophomore Jean Kim will continue her philanthropy project in Peru, helping underprivileged children find joy in music this summer.

After receiving a background in Spanish through school, Kim first got the idea to teach poverty-stricken children how to play the recorder Photo courtesy of Jean Kim while planning for Kim helps a student with a note she is struga trip there with her gling with. church.

This year, despite her church having scheduling conflicts, Kim is still planning to continue her service in the upcoming summer when traveling to Peru again with her family. She is currently collecting money and supplies from friends, family and fellow Jefferson students to take on her trip. In addition, Kim is also making preparations to teach the children there by herself.

“I’m raising money in order to buy more recorders and supplies that I’ll need to teach kids how to play the recorder and help them learn Spanish since they’re just learning how to speak,” Kim said. “I collected the recorders via donation from other people, since they use recorders in elementary school and never use them again, and even got a large donation from an elementary school and cleaned all of them myself. I also made a poster for the kids to learn basic notes on the recorder and a basic song.”

Last year when Kim went to Peru, she mainly assisted medics in the area by translating while Kim demonstrates to students how to play “Amazing Grace.”

She teaches students how to play the recorder in Peru and will be continuing her project over the break.

also teaching locals how to play the recorder.

“Last year, mostly what I did, was I helped translate with the medical team there,” Kim said. “A lot of doctors came to Peru so that they could treat the patients there since they have no medical care. Since most of the doctors didn’t speak spanish and I know some spanish, I was able to translate.”

Kim is also trying to come up with new activities to do to expand her project as well as trying to prepare for the smaller village she will be visiting.

“We’re thinking of new ideas like arts and crafts for them,” Kim said. “Last year we went to a bigger village where some of [the villagers] even have phones, and some of them do have access to stuff we’re already giving them.

This year we’re going to an even smaller village, where they probably don’t have as much as the other village.”

The goal of Kim’s service is to do more than what people normally do when helping the people in Peru. Many people donate basic supplies that people need to survive, but Kim tries to help by making them happy.

“Clothes and food we can help with by raising money, but helping [the kids] be happy is a thing as well,” Kim said.

Photo courtesy of Jean Kim

13

SCI IN-DEPTH & TECH

JUNE 2016 DEC 16,6,2015

Photos courtesy of Joya Bhattacharyya

THE THINGS I’VE LEARNED FROM TRAVELLING Joya Bhattacharyya || GUEST WRITER

E

ver since I was two months old, I’ve been travelling with my parents, so it’s always felt like second nature to me. As the child of two Indian immigrants, I used to travel to India a couple of times a year to see family, but we slowly expanded our travels to Europe, Africa and beyond. Nowadays, most of my travels are for volunteer work or simply for the sake of exploring. My two favorite countries I’ve visited so far are Spain and Morocco, but I keep a list on my phone of where I’d love to go next.

I think I’m incredibly blessed to be able to travel as much as I do, because I’ve really learned how to think on a global scale.

I’ve been exposed to problems within the United States and far outside of the states, and it’s fascinating to compare the two. For example, in India, I had to boil my own water if I wanted to drink any or brush my teeth. In the Dominican Republic, you had to carry around toilet paper with you if you needed to use a public washroom.

These little things have helped me be all the more thankful to the luxuries I have here at home. More importantly, I’ve been exposed to more serious problems abroad, such as child trafficking and ritual killings. In Calcutta, India, I worked in Mother Teresa’s Home for Children and got to interact with children who were simply abandoned by their mothers near birth. Many of these children suffered from genetic deformities or previous domestic abuse, and the sheer lack of medical opportunity they had

compared to what we have in the United States shocked me.

This experience really did motivate me to choose a career path in biology of global health, and it’s encouraged me to continue my community service and medical volunteering domestically and abroad whenever I can.

That’s not to say America has everything by any means – I’m constantly fascinated by the architecture and culture of the places I visit. I’m the kind of traveler who can’t just sit in one place – I have to explore every corner of a city that I can in the time I’m given – so I tend to gravitate away from resort vacations and towards trips to historical meccas or culturally-rich cities.

I love to immerse myself in the culture of each place I visit, and I do my best to pick up the language and try all the food. As a singer and dancer, I’ve found that the best way to connect with those I meet abroad is through music.

From a logistical standpoint, travelling has taught me to be selfsufficient. The majority of my recent travels have been alone or with school groups, so I’ve learned how to pack for a trip in under an hour and I’ve memorized the layouts of a couple of airports.

I’ve learned tricks from people I’ve met abroad about how to bargain for the best price on a souvenir, how to figure out if a village restaurant is completely sanitary, and how to avoid getting mugged at all costs. I have a lot to learn, but I believe travelling is the best way I can do it.

DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

14 IN-DEPTH

STARS

MICHAEL YOU, 12

Featuring this year’s projects

HANNAH HAN , 10

“What I’m looking at is how the size and natural frequency of bubbles are related. There are so many applications of bubbles right now, sonar, naval technologies; they’ve also found applications in medicine that could potentially deliver drugs or even kill cancer cells.”

YEONJU KIM, 12

“[I’m looking] at different innovations in 3D-printing. One article [is] about 3D-printing biological materials in a gel medium and so when you print it, it doesn’t have to support its own weight so you can print super delicate things like capillaries of a heart.”

“I’m trying to use a new machine called Mini PCR, to see if we can diagnose strep throat.

I’m modeling that with strep throat bacteria, and trying to run PCR using the machines.”

GRAPHIC // Anjali Khanna

A LOOK INTO tjSTAR PRODUCTION Natalie Homnyom and Lilia Qian || STAFF WRITERS

J

efferson’s annual science and technology exhibition, tjSTAR, welcomes speakers and demonstrations from professionals in fields of science as well as showcases the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects students at Jefferson have been working on throughout the year.

Every year students sign up for five different activities in the day-long event, such as design challenges, guest speakers and the project presentations by their fellow classmates. This year students can look forward to seeing expositions on concerns prevalent to the world today.

“I think there’s a lot of interesting topics that the presenters are bringing such as Zika virus which is really relevant this year,” senior Shirley Zhan said. “There’s presentations on current topics that I think the students especially at TJ I think would be very interested in hearing about.”

Professionals in many fields speak about their fields as an introduction to potential careers for Jefferson students. For example, Microsoft, the Department of Defense, as well as NASA will be giving demonstrations.

“Typically, we have references from past years or if a speaker came and they’re not able to come this year, they’ll recommend a colleague or a friend who they think have interesting stories to tell,” Zhan said. “All these people are people in fields of STEM, and we want them to come talk about their careers because this is a potential for TJ students to look at career opportunities.”

Unfortunately, this year’s tjSTAR will not include a keynote speaker. Due to construction on the school there is a lack of space to hold as many students as is required for everyone to see one presenter.

Photo courtesy of Mustafa Bal

Mustafa Bal presents RemindR, his visual cue-based reminder application designed for Google Glass. His presentation took place during the 2015 tjSTAR Symposium for his senior research project.

“In regards to guest speakers, one major change this year is the absence of a keynote speaker, mainly due to the temporary loss of our auditorium,” junior Anshu Sharma said.

However, the tjSTAR committee has worked to make improvements to this year’s event. With the addition of the use of Ion, attendance in each of the five blocks is expected to increase as a result of the convenience of the platform.

“A big change from last year is the scheduling. As always we hope that attendance is better, but this year, with the attendance connected to Ion, hopefully attendance will be better regulated,” Zhan said.

As the date for tjSTAR rolls closer, the tjSTAR committee is preparing the final touches on the event in hopes of a successful symposium.

“We as a committee are working on finalizing speaker information, organization room folders, and ensuring that our information on speakers is completely accurate and that all last-minute drops and additions are accounted for,” Sharma said. “We have a lot to do, but are confident the event will end up being a success and that the TJ community will enjoy sharing research with each other and hearing from various voices in the science, mathematical and technological fields.”

PR peg-legged

PHOTO// Christine Zhao

After a month of meticulous choreography, planning and dance practices, four “band nerds,” seniors Keaton Lee, Andrew Li, Michael Mace and Ian Tucker, asked seniors Devon Barbour and Catherine Imm and sophomores Katherine Barbano and Sydney Dayyani to prom with “the shiniest dance moves they had.” One by one, each boy entered the dance floor to serenade his dream girl to prom to the tune of “Shine” by Jeff Williams featuring Casey Lee Williams. Lee, Li, Mace and Tucker performed a synchronized group dance and topped off the asking by revealing the letters “P-R-O-M” spelled across their backs behind their black leather jackets. The four boys ended their “Dance Dance Askinglution” by falling to their knees and presenting the four girls with

romantic

IN-DEPTH

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Photo courtesy of Christina Wei

Senior Rishab Negi and his eight friends planned two weeks of askings for their dates in an event called “Promathon.” Negi decided to ask senior Maitri Patel in an Aladdin themed asking. Two friends, seniors Nate Foss and Alex Hoganson, spent several hours constructing a platform for Negi and Patel to get carried on as though they were on a magic carpet. On the day of the asking, Negi sang “A Whole New World” to Patel as they were carried by their friends and “flew” around the school. At the end, his poster said, “tell me, princess… MA, ITRIat (may I treat) you to a magic carpet ride to prom?”

OM outstanding

PHOTO// MiJin Cho

Using a Madagascar-themed asking, senior Abhi Chadha asked senior Sahana Ramani to prom. Chadha played King Julian and set the location of his asking skit in the “Sahana desert,” a play on the place Sahara desert.

The asking consisted of six of Chadha’s friends who played different characters from the original movie and helped create a skit in which King Julian was looking for a prom date. This event collected a large audience during lunchtime in the Nobel commons on Tues. May 24.

memorable

Photo courtesy of Christine Zhao

From the end of junior year, senior Calvin Chen had already decided that he would ask his girlfriend, senior Joyce Duan, to prom with a Disney themed asking. With the help of senior Jia Kim, Chen wrote the script for the asking about three weeks beforehand, transforming Duan into the princess she had always wanted to be.

Along the way, Duan encountered her fairy godmother, took a ride on Aladdin’s magic carpet, and was given a makeover by Sebastian the Crab and Doc the Dwarf.

Each Disney character and station led to the next, all building up to her final destination: a date to prom with

Visit tjtoday.org for a broadcast piece on prom DESIGN // Katherine Du

SCI & TECH

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In our increasingly te does robotic

Uzma Rentia and Adithi Ramakrishnan|| TEAM LEADERS

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hile most students pass their time on Wednesday mornings catching up on last-minute homework or on their bus, seniors Abha Agrawal, Antonio Chen, David Hughes and Michael Vanderlyn spent the morning of May 18 in a distinctly different manner–at the Washington Post Live Center in Washington, D.C. The Washington Post held its Transformers Robotics event to expose attendees to the possibilities of integrating robotics with journalism. To supplement a day of interviews with technology experts from across the globe, the Post invited five high school robotics teams from the area to explore the question in a competitive setting.

“We wanted [an event] with business and tech leaders from around the country, and also something where we could deepen our involvement in the community,” Tim Wong, senior designer at the Washington Post, said. “We thought that a local high school robotics competition would be a great way to get the best of both worlds.”

Over the course of the day, robotics teams constructed fullyfunctioning robots with the capacity to collect temperature readings, navigate steep cliffs and rocky terrain, and capture surroundings via camera. Jefferson placed second in this

competition with its robot design. Beyond the scope of the competition, however, is the central idea behind the Transformers event: the future, and potential assimilation, of robotics and journalism.

Agrawal’s enior research project also has a goal similar to that of the Transformers event.

“My senior research project is making a quadcopter that has an infrared camera attached to it so I can send this quadcopter into places that are not as accessible to humans. I am using this as more search-and-rescue missions, so like collapsed buildings, thick brush, tall buildings where people may be trapped and using the infrared camera to scan the room and see if there are any humans there and using some basic image processing... I think that’s definitely a huge aspect of journalism.”

Given the existing technological modifications to almost every areas of life, it is likely that modern day reporting will shift to resemble something like what Agrawala and Hughes envision.

“Especially with some of the drone technology we’re seeing, and the advances in what’s happening in robotics programs all around the country, I think that there will definitely be a lot more communities increasing opportunities to increase the use of data gathering for journalism,” Wong said.

echnological world, what role cs have in journalism?

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PHOTOS // Uzma Rentia and Adithi Ramakrishnan From left to right, clockwise: 1. Jefferson’s robot nears the end of the obstacle 2. The robots also had to cross over debris and other objects in the path such as wires and bulbs. 3. As a part of the challenge, robots had to be heavy enough to use an “elevator platform” in order to access parts of the course. 4. A close-up of a premade MakerBot robot. 5. A view of the obstacles teams had to navigate, the course was a replica of a nuclear meltdown zone. 6. Senior David Hughes makes alterations on the Jefferson team’s robot. 7. Senior Antonio Chen controls the robot as judge Jeff Bezos, C.E.O. of Amazon, looks on. 8. Mentor and robotics lab director Charles DelaCuesta and seniors Michael Vanderlyn and Abha Agrawal ask a representative from MakerBot a question.

ON SPACE

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GRAPHIC// Uzma Rentia

s a part of the event, renowned scientists and innovators from across the globe came in for interviews and discussions.

In one such panel, George Whitesides, chief executive of Virgin Galactic, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Charles Bolden, among others, discussed the future of space and technology. The most novel idea presented: 3D-printing rocket parts. For some time now NASA has been attempting to build a completely 3D printed, high-performance rocket engine by manufacturing engine parts and test firing them together with cryogenic liquid hydrogen and oxygen. If this seems like a far-fetched idea, it seems that college students have already beat NASA to the punch. On May 21, students at the University of California, San Diego launched a rocket with a completely 3D-printed engine. Your move, NASA. DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

18 SCI & TECH THE EIGHT INTELLIGENCES APPLIED TO PROBLEM SOLVING Peter Morasca || JEFFERSON NETWORK COORDINATOR/ENGINEER

?

? ?

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onsidering mathematics as an intelligible language devised by A fourth intelligence is sensitivity. This ability to “feel” or sense man to explain physical phenomena, we can see that different the mental or emotional state of someone or something else is and varying degrees of talents or abilities are involved in important in expressing mathematical concepts and sharing ideas and problem solving. These talents are extensions of intelligence. Yet, discoveries with others. Sensitivity is required to “be open” to strange intelligence itself is not unique to man nor animal, but is intrinsic and different twists or views of the physical world. One needs to be to the chemical arrangement of matter. As a result, there is an sensitive to the concept of infinity and the strange behavior of infinity evolutionary ladder consisting of a hierarchy of intelligences, and divided by infinity if one is going to be able to speak the language of degrees of intensity within each.

Calculus.

The most primitive and basic is knowledge, defined as acquaintance A fifth, and an extension of understanding is the intelligence of with facts, truths, or principles through study perceptibility. It is the pathway to understanding that “Yet, intelligence or experience. The electron knows a proton, which is not obvious, and requires the ability to “see” itself is not unique to beyond that which is presented, or to “see” through the house plant knows where the sunlight is shining, ten year old Johnny knows that 2+2=4 man nor animal, but is an external shell to the more important inner core of and the Calculus student knows her methods of intrinsic to the chem- reality. integration.

A sixth intelligence, if we may coin a word is ical arrangement of Knowledge centers around memory and “enginuity”. It involves engineering abilities, or the matter. As a result, the “See and Do,” and “Live and Learn” art of making practical applications from scientific there is an evolution- knowledge by managing, arranging, and contriving experiences, and as an intelligence is at the core of the mechanics of problem solving. ary ladder consisting scientific knowledge. Enginuity uses math as a A second, but not so obvious intelligence is of a hierarchy of intel- language, not only to explain physical phenomena, coordination, which is the ability to arrange ligences, and degrees but to twist it to fit ones needs. physical entities including our own limbs with A seventh intelligence is imagination, that few of intensity within proper, productive, and graceful order. In excel in, yet is at the bases of the poet, inventor, each.” addition to controlling ability, this intelligence designer, and creator. Albert Einstein himself -Pete Morasca said that imagination is more important than is fundamental to order, method, and selfdiscipline, which is mandatory for achieving a systematic solution to knowledge, as it involves seeing that which isn’t there. any math problem.

And finally, the most sophisticated and highly productive A third intelligence, which is extremely important for math analysis, intelligence is creativity. It is an extension or expression of is understanding, or the ability to grasp an idea or clearly comprehend imagination and inventive “enginuity.” It is capable of taking a concept. The power behind abstract thought and logical evaluation, 2+2=4 and the like and turning it into the world of STAR WARS intelligence is needed for the comprehension of a theory or theorem, or STAR TREK. It has no bounds, and is probably the ultimate and helps distinguish the “Why” from the “Fact.” Algorithms become problem solver of the future. much more reasonable and realistic with understanding, and the mystery of methods and procedures becomes less magical.

DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

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WHAT YOU BOUGHT A IFYEARBOOK?

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Not on the list? You can still buy a publications package THIS FRIDAY at JDay! Bring $100 cash or a check made out to TJHSST to the cafeteria.

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Wang, Sophia Wang, Franklyn Wang, Jade Wang, Lilian Wang, Henry Wang, Emily Wang, Carolyn Wang, Richard Wang, Andrew Wang, Sarah Wang, Shuxian Wang, Christine Wang, Alexander Warrington, Sara Wattendorf, Lauren Wei, Jason Wei, Christina Weiss, Spencer Welman, Millan Wen, Kathryn Weston, Jacob Whitmore, Phoebe Wickert, Charlotte Wilkie, Adam Wilson, Fox Wilson, Caulton Wilson, Savannah Wimmer, Gabriel Win, Nyein-Chan Wisdom, Daniel Wiseman, Camden Woglom, James Wolff, Milana Wood-Thomas, Devon Wroblewski, Mira Wu, Bernice Wu, Arthur Wu, Ethan Wu, Erica Wu, Gerald Xia, Jeffrey Xia, Serena Xu, Kevin Xu, William Xu, Bryan Xu, Anna Xu, Ming Ray Xu, Benjamin Xun, Ruiran Yachamaneni, Anuraag Yang, Jennifer Yang, Stella Yang, Victoria Yang, Jaehee Yang, Michael Yang, Kathryn Yang, Tianxiao Yang, Daniel Yao, William Yaradi, Rohan Yaradi, Roshni Yoon, Nicholas York, Jessica You, Lydia You, Michael Young, Grace Yu, Haoxuan Yuan, Christopher Yue, Michael Yue, Michelle Yun, Alexandra Yutin, Demian Yutin, Demian Yutin, Matvey Zablocki, Stephanie Zagurski, Jackson Zavela, Diana Zechman, Kathryn Zeng, Albert Zhan, Shirley Zhang, Fred Zhang, Olivia Zhang, Arnold Zhang, Anna Zhang, William Zhang, Reed Zhang, Natalie Zhang, Alec Zhang, Ran Zhang, William Zhang, Tiger Zhang, Emma Zhang, Cynthia Zhang, Tiffany Zhang, Nova Zhang, Andrew Zhao, Peter Zhao, Sophie Zhao, Haimeng Zhao, Christine Zhao, Andrew Zhao, David Zheng, Jonathan Zheng, Alan Zheng, Jonathan Zhou, Sarah Zhou, Julia Zhu, Brian Zhu, Jenny Zhuang, Cynthia Zou, Emily Zou, Kevin Zupancic, Jill

SPORTS

VARSITY GIRLS AND BOYS SOCCER PLAY IN CONFERENCE FINALS The girls’ varsity soccer team ended their undefeated record of conference matches this season in the Capitol Conference Championship game against Marshall High School. The game, which took place at Jefferson on May 20, resulted in a score of 1-2. The boys’ varsity soccer team played against Falls Church High school on the same night, also losing with the score of 1-2. Despite their losses, the two teams recognized their seniors for their dedication to the sport on senior night during the games.

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VARSITY SOCCER TEAMS FACE DEFEAT IN SENIOR NIGHT CONFERENCE GAMES Lilia Qian || STAFF WRITER

A

s the spring soccer season comes to a close, varsity soccer teams must make the most of their remaining time. The two teams had successful seasons, with both making conference championships. On May 20, both the boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams each celebrated their seniors during their respective senior night conference championship games against Marshall High School and Falls Church High School.

“We’re undefeated in our conference this year, which is a huge deal,” senior Syona Satwah, center midfielder on the girls’ team, said. “We’re really excited.”

During the girls’ game against Marshall, the game started out with a goal by Marshall. Later on, both Marshall and Jefferson scored a goal, ending the first half. Neither team scored in the second half, resulting in Marshall winning two to one.

“We had an amazing crowd that did an awesome job at motivating us and keeping the spirit alive until the last minute,” junior and goalkeeper Eleni Georgiou said.

During the boys’ game against Falls Church, the players worked against challenges such as miscommunications and missed chances.

“We fought hard for 100 minutes but due to some miscommunication they ended up scoring on us during sudden death,” senior Jack Short said. “We missed a bunch of chances that we should have put away and if we would have taken [Falls Church] into penalty kicks, [I believe] we would have won.”

Although the night ended in losses for both teams, the teams

7

remembered their season with a senior night.

“The team has been working on putting together a super special senior night for the past month. We wanted to do something special for the six seniors that have done so much for the team for the past few years,” Georgiou said. “We decorated the stadium, made posters, made a huge breakfast, and gave them gifts including drawings, bracelets, and letters. We were saying goodbye to six integral players of our team.”

Looking back on their soccer careers, many varsity seniors recalled the important memories they made on the team.

“I’ve learned the importance of first thinking about the game, [and] understanding the tactical aspects,” senior Joe Karaki, goalkeeper, said. “More importantly, connecting with your teammates. [The seniors] all play with a lot of heart because we all know it’s our last year and we give it our all, which shows the underclassmen how much effort you [need to] have.”

SPORTS

21

JUNE 6, 2016

ENDING THE YEAR ON A STRONG SPURT Millan Welman || STAFF WRITER

Photo courtesy of Aaron Ho Jefferson runners race at the Conference 13 Championship on May 11.

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8 From left to right, up to down. 1. Midfielder junior Danny Wu guides the ball away from the Falls Church athletes. 2. Both boys teams, Jefferson and Falls Church, wait for the National Anthem to play. 3. Senior Maaike Blindenbach and Marshall senior Lorena Beltran race toward the ball during the varsity girls soccer game against Marshall on May 20. 4. Senior Sonia Gupta kicks the ball during the varsity girls soccer game against Marshall on May 20. 5. Senior Kaila Stein high-fives her teammates at the varsity girls’ soccer game against Marshall on May 20.

6. Sophomore goalkeeper Brendan Whalen reaches up to block the ball shot by Falls Church. 7. Senior Chelsea Li walks past her teammates and poses for the camera with her parents by her side. 8. Senior boys varsity soccer manager, senior Ria Chakrabarti, celebrates senior night with sophomores Brendan Whalen and Thomas Baron.

STORY CAPTION // Lilia Qian PHOTOS // Hyun Jin Cho and Will Ryu DESIGN // Katherine Du

elected members of Jefferson’s track and field team will be competing at the Northern Virginia regional level meets this Wednesday. For Jefferson’s senior runners this will be their last time to compete in a major meet before graduation, and for juniors, this will be their first encounter with such a high level meet.

Jefferson runners who perform well here will have the opportunity to move to higher state level meets in a few weeks’ time.

Junior Cece Chu, who both run and pole-vaults for Jefferson, is a third-year veteran of these meets.

She feels that the pressure increases significantly at these meets as compared to regular in-league meets held weekly, but it’s still a point of pride to run for one’s school.

“Everybody who competes there has to have qualified, so there is much stronger competition, but at the same time, it’s an honour to compete at regionals and to represent Jefferson,” Chu said.

“It will also be the last meet of the season for many people, so it’s one last chance to show off what all that hard work at practice has earned you.”

Chu, however, had different perspectives on the training process from her senior counterparts.

Senior Aaron Ho said that his position as a second

semester senior allowed him to concentrate more on track than at previous times, allowing him to prepare for Wednesday’s meet with great intensity than might have been possible previously.

Senior Jesse Cai said that just as important to his regular training regimen was “getting the rest” he needed in between practices.

On a busier schedule, Chu found herself more pressed for time in the lead up to the meet.

“Most of the season I’ve been focused on the weekly meets we have in Wednesdays and Saturdays,” Chu said.

“It wasn’t until after conference that I started thinking about regionals.”

Chu did, however, have to balance her training as a runner and vaulter at practices, to improve from mistakes in previous years.

For Ho and Cai, this meet will be their final ones as Jefferson athletes.

Both agreed that it would be the end of one of the most memorable parts of their time at Jefferson.

“Over my four years on the cross country and track teams I’ve grown really close to a lot of people on it and I’m definitely going to miss them,” Ho said. “These last two meets make that clear as our last couple races together before we all head off to different colleges.”

22 SPORTS

Summer Sports: Fun in the Sun

REPORTING // Katherine Du and Uzma Rentia DESIGN // Kate Deng

Jefferson’s Ultimate team plays against St. Albans and Washington-Lee, winning 11-1.

Sophomore Kai Riley competes at the 2016 Junior Olympiads on February 15 in Ohio.

Junior Daniel Haseler sails at his summer job at Deep Creek Sailing School.

“Frisbee has been a favorite pastime of mine. One of the benefits about Ultimate is that it only takes one disc and an eager group of friends to play,” junior Arun Bhattasali said. “The most enjoyable part of the sport is definitely meeting and playing with other members. I have been able to connect with the others not only as teammates, but also as friends both on and off the field.”

“I have been fencing for about three and a half years. I joined the sport after my mom saw an advertisement and she urged me to join,” sophomore Kai Riley said. “My favorite memory is when I won against the number two fencer in the world in my first Junior Olympics. The tournaments are always a lot of fun.”

“Over the summer, I sail and offer lessons to kids and adults at Deep Creek Sailing School,” junior Daniel Haseler said. “I’ve been sailing since I was eight.

I actually went to the sailing school and learned how to sail at the place I work now. That’s what brought me into it, racing on the weekends kept me interested and coming back each year.”

Photo courtesy of Arun Bhatasali

Photo courtesy of Kai Riley

Photo courtesy of Daniel Haseler

Crew Team Faces Rivalry and Rain at Virginia State Championships Bayliss Wagner || STAFF WRITER

After practicing every day from 4:45 p.m. until sunset this season and twice a day through spring break, Jefferson’s crew team competed in the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) Championship on Saturday, May 14— but only partially. High winds from an afternoon rainstorm around 3:00 p.m. on raceday prevented both the women’s and men’s teams from racing some final races.

Senior Gil Osofsky explained how the weather conditions pushed the men’s second boat to perform better, earlier.

“Coaches were talking to us and telling us, ‘this is your race, you have to go all out on this one.’” Osofsky said. His boat did just that, placing second in their first

finals race and therefore second overall at the State Championship.

In addition, the men’s second varsity boat beat out the team’s main rival, Madison. “Our goal was to beat Madison and we did,” Osofsky said. “Their men’s 2-V gets kind of cocky when it’s time to race, so we just like to show them up.”

The men’s first boat also placed ahead of Madison in finals.

The women’s team had also hoped to close the gap between their times and Madison’s race times. “Our biggest rival is Madison and they’ve pretty much been beating us for like the past few years,” senior Katie MacLaughlan, a captain of the woman’s team and member of Jefferson’s 1-V said. “This year we’ve been

getting really close to them.”

In one of the first races, the first boat finished 9.8 seconds before Madison.

That gap decreased to a difference of only 5.8 seconds in a later race that day.

According to Osofsky, the women’s second varsity boat did not benefit from the rainstorm as the men did: “2-V would have [gone on to a second finals round] but they cancelled it, so they didn’t have a chance to improve their place.” They placed fourth overall. The women’s first boat did not move on to finals.

Both men’s boats as well as men’s junior varsity will advance to nationals, hopeful to further improve times. “We all have high goals for ourselves,” Osofsky said.

Seniors Markus Koniger and Jacob Brower of the Jefferson’s men first boat celebrate after earning a bronze medal in the State Championship.

Photo courtesy of Jabiel Sangrio

SPORTS

23

JUNE 6, 2016

Tennis Comes out Victorious at Region 5A-North

I

Uzma Rentia || TEAM MEMBER

f the sarcastic maxim “we came here for the sports” has any truth to it, it has to answer for Jefferson’s Boys and Girls Tennis team. One May 27, both won the Region 5A-North Team Championships against Broad Run and Marshall respectively, making it Jefferson Boys Tennis’ fourth consecutive Region title.

This tops an undefeated season for the Boys and a near undefeated season for the girls. Despite the high stakes, teams went into the match with a positive attitude, backed by their strong performance this year and in years past.

and getting in shape, really that’s the biggest thing. Once you get to states – people were cramping last year just because it was so hot and the matches were so long – so being in good shape is one of the most important things.” Perry said.

shot.”Despite the team’s unprecedented record, they pulled out all the stops in preparation for the championship. The week leading up to the match was filled with a flurry of games and practices.

“We have had two or three matched this week and those were against very competent schools, so that was good preparation. Our top six players have been playing on their own and today before we go out there we will meet up and hit with each other before the match,” Gnanakumar said.

Girls Tennis, on the other hand, was a different case. While the team’s performance has always been strong, it is markedly better this year. Their only two losses earlier in the season were to Marshall High School, the same school they were vying for the Region title against.

“I think we have been pretty consistent While the Girls Team can be Despite the team’s record against Marshall for the past couple years. Our performance they too came into the game with a commended for the abilities and efforts, hasn’t really changed and I feel confident hopeful outlook. part of the credit also goes to their coach, in our team, so I think, hopefully, we physical education teacher Brandon Ward. should be able to win states again,” senior “I think we will win the game today “I think our coach, Brandon Ward, has George Perry said. because we are playing Marshall, which is the toughest school in our conference and helped our performance. He definitely Their reputation and tendency to win we’ve already played them three times. The gets us up, he gets us to play and during hasn’t gotten to their heads. The team first time we lost, the second time we won the matches he gets us to play differently,” still practices rigorously and must work sophomore Nymisha Mattapalli said. and the third time we lost only because through potential obstacles to success. our number one play was not here,” senior Overall, the overarching theme of this Anthara Gnanakumar said. “I think now Tennis season was one of success and “We are playing a lot of tennis and cohesiveness. “We performed better this we have a leg up, we’ve seen how they trying to practice in the heat since it’s play and how their players mover around year compared to last year, I think as a getting hotter. We are going to the gym the court so I think we have a really good team we were more together.”

Days Spent Exercising

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI

SAT

2.3% 7% 44.2% 32.6% 14%

BY the

The summer presents the opportunity to relax until the next school year, catch up on sleep and play sports. See how some of Jefferson’s athletes stay in shape during the break

Average Hours Per Week Average Hours Per Week SCHOOL YEAR SUMMER

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DESIGN // Uzma Rentia Based on a survey of 90 students

NUMBERS

Running

MOST POPULAR ACTIVITES Rowing

Swimming

Weight Lifting

OPINION

DIRE NECESSITY ... or just a distraction?

Jefferson grapples with Live Streaming and its risks in the classroom

T

echnology only seemed to continually enhance the learning environment here at Jefferson as more and more Fairfax County provided more and more classrooms iPads and Smartboards for student use each year, as well as launched a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative for technology-based learning. Yes, there were plenty of times that students may have used these instruments to surf social media instead of paying attention as they were intended, but for the most part, new technology in the classroom made learning both faster and less burdensome.

LEAD

IAL R O EDIT

ine to n? s o o ch tio d we s distrac l u o a sh ays, rite it off w w ne rw es in stems, o c n a l sy adv program manager.” ogy ur schoo l o n h o c Though seemingly a e o t t As te it in hefty set of unnecessary rules, a r teg

these privacy protections are what keep us safe in the school community. It’s necessary that we Until, that is, these new instruments began to become a liability. uphold them in all cases, even if it means waiting until after school On April 6, Facebook’s newsroom announced that it would be to use the new Live Streaming feature. officially launching a tool for livestreaming important events on the social media platform for users to try. The new Facebook Live Additionally, many students in the Jefferson community argue feature was launched selectively last summer, but is now available that this new feature could serve as a way to tape lectures and for full public use on newsfeeds, in Facebook give students an unfair academic advantage by groups and Facebook events. Of course, making lecture material available online. Many “Technology Use of Jefferson’s teachers, on the other hand, have Jefferson students had to try their hand at it.

FCPS’ Internet net- argued that the Live Streaming technology not Though the majority of students using only is disruptive to the classroom environment, work and comput- but also a violation of their privacy in teaching the new Facebook Live tool during class and eighth period did so without malicious intent, ers allow students material in the most effective way. For example, Jefferson administration had to step in— and often times a teacher may use an analogy to their access to vast reunfortunately, rightfully so. According to own lives to help a lesson resonate better with the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) sources ... With that their students— perhaps an analogy they would Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) opportunity comes prefer not to be broadcasted across social media. manual for the 2015-16 school year, internet responsibility.” usage on school property is limited, as If students are truly keen on taking advantage students are prohibited to post any disrupting of this new social media technology to enhance -FCPS SR&R content that may serve as a privacy violation. learning, it must be heavily regulated by faculty and administration to prevent violations of the From the county’s “Acceptable Use Policy SR&R. Pre-approved live streams, such as ones for significant for Student Network Access,” the manual states that “Information events like I-Nite and J-Day, might be a better route for future use may not be posted if it: violates the privacy of others, jeopardizes of this tool. In the long run, however, it’s more important that we the health and safety of students, is obscene or libelous, causes hold both the SR&R and student safety first and foremost, before disruption of school activities, plagiarizes the work of others, is a considering benefits of technology in the classroom. commercial advertisement, or is not approved by the principal or DESIGN // Uzma Rentia

OPINION

25

JUNE 6, 2016

“Splitting even” on Prom tickets may just be your healthiest decison for gender relations this year Anjali Khanna || EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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adies, you’ve been asked to go to prom “TJ-style” this year (complete with an elephant, three Adele songs and an Obama impersonator) by one of your peers. Guys, you’ve just spent weeks planning this extravagant event and, congratulations to you, she’s said yes.

But now you’ve got some details to iron out. What will you wear? How will you get there? And, wait...who will pay for it all?

Not only as it applies to school dances, but for simply going on dates as well: It’s clear that in this generation, millennials don’t expect typical gender roles to hold steadfast like their parents once had. In other words, in most heterosexual relationships today it’s no longer expected that the male take sole financial responsibility for any dates or meals a couple may share.

As progress towards equality between the sexes only narrows the wage gap between women and men of 77 cents to the dollar, this is only to be expected. So Ladies, the price of true equality may mean stepping in and standing up for yourself financially every once in awhile, even if it means shelling out $50 for your own prom ticket this spring.

Granted, although in the modern age, not all situations require splitting even. Many long-time couples may share their own method of handling money. In addition, many adult relationships place one partner in a breadwinning role and another in a familial one. For this reason, it wouldn’t

be right to put the financial burden on one member over another simply based on gender alone.

However, in high school, the bottom line is this: there is absolutely no need for a boy to feel the burden to pay his date’s prom night, simply because he did the “asking” to the dance itself. That assumption, historically, only sets the expectation that the girl must “compensate” for this treatment to the dance by either her looks or her body— neither of which promoting the idea that she, too, is self-governing.

Historically, in fact, many literature-based and cultural outlets suggest that this system promotes a societal acceptance sexual violence. J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher In the Rye” was perhaps one of the first books of the 20th century to elucidate the true dynamics of high school relationships when he guides the protagonist Holden Caulfield to speak up against taking advantage of a fellow classmate.

Caulfield suggests in the novel that most guys of his time period feel as if physical relations are deserved after a date or a dance, and therefore would be less willing to respect a girl’s right to not want the same.

Things are definitely not as they were in the 50s, and yet that expectation that gender dictates who will pay still reinforces the ideas most consider to be so wrong by today’s standards. True progress comes from increased freedoms.

Though seemingly insignificant, this newfound idea of freedom to pay can be both liberating and a step in the right direction towards healthier gender relations.

How much are we really spending on PROM?

Let’s look at some national averages for teens across the country

$340 Dress

$324 l

mposa

o The Pr

$75 Photography

$156 $184

Tux Rental Images courtesy of hmauck, OpenClipartVectors on pixabay, nicubunu on freestockphotos and wikimedia commons

Tickets

$92

Limo Rental

DESIGN // Anjali Khanna information from nationwide 2015 survey by Visa Inc. and on goldenaspprom.com

This month’s Twitter Poll Debrief

April 25: Happy ‘Stress Less, Laugh More’ week! Did you wear your pajamas to school today?

38 Votes

No

Yes 53%

47%

May 3: How upset are you that AP exams caused tjTODAY staff to forget about the Monday Poll?

33 Votes

We have Monday Polls?

48% Deeply saddened!

52%

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

May 9: When did you get sick of the rain?

46 Votes 33%

17%

24%

26%

I love rain!

I can’t even.

Day 10

Day 1

May 16: Are you at school today?

33 Votes

No

Yes

48%

39%

Shh! Don’t tell my mom

13%

SUN, SAND AND SCHOOL: Katherine Hughes || STAFF WRITER

When the summer comes, all you might want to do is relax and watch television, travel the world or do anything not school-related. That makes sense; after more than 180 long days in school and countless hours spent learning outside of school, you might want to spend the summer not using your brain. However, taking a class over the summer, especially a class you’re interested in, has lots of benefits in preventing brain drain.

Taking a summer course, especially a class you’re interested in, can prevent losing information retained during the course of the school year. In addition, by learning new things you’re interested in, you can prepare yourself for classes you might take later on. Even better, you can simply delve deeper into subjects you enjoy learning about. Not only will this keep your brain active, but it will help you have fun over the summer because you’ll be able to choose from what interests you.

Although the summer can, and should be more relaxing than the school year, keeping your brain active is important to retaining math and reading skills. Taking summer classes is a great way to keep these skills, and your summer can still be enjoyable if you focus on your favorite subjects.

Sruthi Jayaraman || STAFF WRITER DESIGN // ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN

WHAT YOU THOUGHT

Creative Commons photos courtesy of Angela MarieRick’s Bakery, Sandra, Andrew Bowden, and g4ll4is on Flickr

26 OPINION

While students should not feel stressed to find an opportunity over the summer, they should find something to keep themselves busy while helping build their resume.

Working over the summer keeps students busy and productive without acting as a source of stress or boring them. Students should make sure they get opportunities in an area they enjoy so that they feel like their summers are not a waste of time, while at the same time giving students enough time to hang out with friends and embark on other activities.

Since summer internships are there to get students acclimated to a working environment, they provide them with experience for applying for jobs. They also introduce them to lots of different jobs so that students have an idea of what they want to focus on in college and having experience in their chosen field will boost their chances of getting in a particular college.

Many students do something over the summer to keep themselves busy or to prepare themselves for the upcoming school year or college. To keep the playing field level it is best to try and find an internship that would be enjoyable so that they can have a productive summer.

OPINION

27

JUNE 6, 2016

The best ways to spend this summer Mei Baek || STAFF WRITER

TAKE A CLASS

VISIT FAMILY

For many high school students, especially here at Jefferson, the word “summer” brings to mind internships, academics and college prep. Though many students focus on preparing themselves academically for the school year ahead, they often forget to prepare themselves mentally by rest and rejuvenation. One of the best ways to take a break and ease off some stress while also gaining a memorable experience is to rediscover your roots by taking a trip back to the place where your family originates from.

The summer before freshman year, I spent the time that most other freshmen used to take World History 1 to instead visit Seoul, South Korea and reconnect with my relatives, most of whom I hadn’t seen since my family moved to America. I was able to spend my summer focusing not on my future as a student, but my past- as a Korean, as a member of my family, and as me.

It might seem impossible to make room in a busy summer schedule for a vacation, but traveling home shouldn’t just be seen as a vacation. Rather, it’s an opportunity to revisit your culture and heritage, and is just as if not more important than preparing for the SAT.

Jiny Cho || STAFF WRITER

INTERN

TRAVEL

Traveling in our free time seems like a luxury for most Jefferson students, since the time needed to explore new areas can be used to study for the next SAT, but the summer is two months of freedom.

A lot of us do end up preparing and worrying for the next school year during this precious time, but really, you should be rewarding yourself for a year well done. Whether you hang out with your friends or spend hours without end on your couch binge-watching all the seasons of Parks and Recreation, recharging is the original intention of summer break after all.

Many people most often start this two month hiatus from work with a vacation to set the atmosphere, a choice I frequently turn to. Instead of sitting at a desk and trying to cram a year’s worth of material into my head, which I’m bound to do later on, I’d rather sip on a coconut while relaxing at the pool or exploring the Mayan ruins in Mexico. It just doesn’t seem like a strong enough argument.

In the end, if you really need a good excuse to get on a plane or car, remind yourself that you could always write about your experiences in a college essay.

ENTERTAINMENT THIS SUMMER’S MUST-SEES

Six film months after the classic “Finding Nemo”, the heart-wrenching story of an overprotective clownfish searching for his playful son across the waters of Sydney, Australia, and 13 real years since a film never to be forgotten, Pixar is finally releasing its sequel, “Finding Dory”. On June 17, the much-awaited film finally

FINDING DORY Nikita Sivakumar || STAFF WRITER Photo courtesy of Skydyance Media,

STAR TREK BEYOND

premieres on the big screens. After the witty yet meaningful precursor, fans have high expectations for the revival of the story. As the title suggests, the film focuses on Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a forgetful regal blue tang. During the time of migration, as fish swim towards their homes, Dory has a sudden memory of her childhood in Morro Bay, California. The story details her journey as she swims towards her past.

Anna Zhang || STAFF WRITER

JASON BOURNE

bhmpics, and hdwallpapers

Just in time for the Star Trek 50-year anniversary, renowned director Justin Lin and producer J. J. Abrams partner together to bring a new movie to this famous franchise. Star Trek: Beyond will air on July 22 as the thirteenth movie in the series and a great summer movie opportunity.

Although theaters might be crowded from all the long time fans this film will surely draw, Jefferson students as well should be sure to check this movie out for its detailed visual effects, nuanced characters and action galore. Be sure to keep an eye out for new and additional characters, along with old favorites such as Spock and Captain Kirk.

Based off the trailers that have been released so far, this film may have Angel Kim || STAFF WRITER the potential to build upon and “Jason in “Jason Bourne,” Bourne now remembers what he knew expand the already extensive Bourne” is the before he woke up with amnesia in “The Bourne Identity”, Star Trek universe, fifth installment but still must uncover the mysteries behind them. Damon making this a summer of the “Bourne” film had stated that though it is not clear whether it will be the blockbuster any sci-fi series. The trailer for “Jason end of the franchise, “Jason Bourne” felt like the “conclusion and action fans Bourne” premiered on Feb. 7 of [his] identity journey.” In addition to classic methods of won’t want to as a Super Bowl advertisement, government investigation, “Jason Bourne” will delve into miss. and the movie will be in theaters on cyber warfare, which Vikander’s character will represent.

July 29. Franchise returners Matt Damon Although there is an obvious connection from “Jason and Julia Stiles will play the title character Bourne” to the first three films in the series, where “The and Nicky Parsons, respectively. Other cast Bourne Legacy”, the one installment that does not follow members include Tommy Lee Jones and Alicia Bourne’s character, fits in. Many speculate that the plot of Vikander, who rose to great popularity with her “The Bourne Legacy” will be treated as a separate storyline performance in “The Danish Girl” in 2015. from the other “Bourne” movies, and it will get its own Following previous movie “The Bourne Ultimatum,” sequels.

ENTERTAINMENT

29

JUNE 6, 2016

MAKING THE GRADE

A foolproof method for that A, prescribed by the comedy club

Saurav Pattanayak || GUEST WRITER

We all struggle for the grade. You know, cursed letters of the alphabet that are so powerful that they determine our life’s direction, whether we sip martinis from wineglasses or beer from paper bags, whether we live in a mansion or a cardboard box, whether we drive a Mercedes or a steering wheel attached to a cardboard box.

How do we guarantee that A? Well, I’m here to tell you that your worries can all be wished away, with a ritual I have concocted. Don’t let those skeptics tell you any different. You know, the ones who say it can be solved by logic? I guarantee you, you do not need logic to prove that these little things legitimately work. That’s not how politics works, so that shouldn’t be how science works. All you need to say your “mojo” is real is one example of it working, and you can blindly follow it for the rest of your career.

I always carry out this one tradition of mine before a test. The best part of this tradition is that it does not require actual hard work, studying, and understanding the material. Don’t need that at all. Now, I know this ritual works, and all it costs

for me to tell you is a check in my name for 500 bucks.

Now, the ritual has two parts, and both parts work, 100 percent. But read

“The best part of this tradition is that it does not require actual hard work, studying, and understanding the material. Don’t need that at all.” carefully, and follow instructions exactly: Part one: on the day before that test, just like any other day, I took a shower.

I remember I turned on the shower at exactly 5:17 p.m. Thus, naturally, in order for you to pass your test, you must take a shower at exactly 5:17 p.m., no matter what. No later, no sooner. 5:18 p.m.?

You fail that test, guaranteed. But how long should the shower be, you ask?

Good question. My shower was exactly, and I mean, exactly, seven minutes, 33 seconds, and 445 milliseconds. Yours can’t be any longer or any shorter. Seven minutes, 33 seconds and 444 seconds?

Unacceptable! Poof goes your mojo! I know it’s hard, but you’ve got a test to ace, and, again, this stuff works!

Part two: On that day before the test, I also read that my horoscope was Taurus, and that, according to the well-renowned news source BuzzFeed, means, and I quote, “good things will happen to you.”

But what if you’re not a Taurus? Well, then, goodbye to As and Bs! Here’s the key: you have to change the date on your birth certificate. It’s the only way to get the A, and if you don’t get the A, then you go AWOL. You’ve got to change the date on that certificate, or it won’t work.

I know this is a lot to ask, but it worked once, so it has to work again. Remember, a lot is at stake here: You need to get the right letter of the alphabet, the holy A for Affluence. Remember, this stuff works, guaranteed!

DESIGN // ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN

CARTOON // ANJALI KHANNA

30 ENTERTAINMENT

Time works Wonder(land)s:

X-Men: An Apocalypse of Good Taste?

A

Sammy Fujioka || STAFF WRITER

fter witnessing a trailer brimming with gore, tension, uproar, and vigilant battle, one would expect the X-Men: Apocalypse movie to be one of great cinematic enterprise. Unfortunately for moviegoers, the film was missing one very important element; namely, a discernible plot. It seemed that while the director, Bryan Singer, had succeeded in rallying together as many film industry accolades as possible, he found no manner of concealing the fact that his work was comprised of nothing more substantial than the cliché, good versus evil plot line where good is destined to win.

including Jennifer Lawrence, who was reduced to a symbolic element when she could have been raised to a character of more dynamacy. Admittedly however, the scene in which the antihero, Magneto, behooves his family’s deaths, as well as his rage-induced surge of murder, is jarring to viewers, casting a light of lament upon Magento’s persona.

Still, small, flavorful moments such as that managed to combine with thinly described reflections of humanity, instilling the film with a bit of meaning to take home. Professor Chales Xavier vows that even as they’re intent on constructing machines of power while making their Furthermore, even with an antag- marks on earth, each human forever onist as formidable as a being called keeps a sense, may it be scarcely an “Apocalypse”, and several back sto- ounce, of empathy and sympathy for ries involving most woeful demises, their fellow beings. And this, he says, the film made no effort to extract the gives each hope. Fortunately, this small hope to take away should sufmajority of the depth and ferocity fice in contenting X-Men aficionados heralded by its characters.

The writers also neglected the cine- between their watching of Days of matic virtues of several of the actors, Future Past and presumably a next addition to the franchise.

Photo courtesy of the official X-Men website.

Stars Song Picks

Photo courtesy of iTunes, Youtube, and iHeartRadio.

Mad Hatter

With his tall top hat and curling scarlet hair, the mad hatter returns as the main conflict in “Alice Through the Looking Glass.” His face is unique, with accented white eyelashes painted on pink and purple eyeshadow surrounding his large olive-colored eyes. The mad hatter is frequently seen in an old fashioned suit with a bow tie radiating exuberance.

White Queen

Fitted in a flowing p the White Queen em ty, kindness, and go golden locks and so makeup add to her p Alice Through the Lo her life flows backw

GRAPHICS // Katherine Du

LA VIE EN ROSE // Daniela Andrade Angie Sohn || STAFF WRITER

Daniela Andrade’s distinctly soothing voice compliments her mellow acoustic rearrangement in her rendition of the classic song “La Vie En Rose.” The video has amassed over 13 million views on Youtube. The quiet strums of the guitar are a nice accompaniment to the lovely melody that Andrade croons. The tone of her voice can be described as a crisp and pure sound that ends into a whispy breath.

With lyrics speaking of sweet romance, it is reminiscent of the joyous spring atmosphere that is ever so present this time of the year.

Despite its all-around goodness, the song unfortunately lasts for only a brief 1 minute and 45 seconds. Good thing there’s a replay button.

CRAZY IN LOV

Anna Zhang || S

to fully appr higher range of music, An you’re lookin “Crazy in Lo

ENTERTAINMENT

31

JUNE 6, 2016

nd)s: Costumes of “Alice Through the Looking Glass” sequel

ueen

flowing purple gown, Queen embodies puris, and goodness. Her ks and soft dabs of d to her persona. In ugh the Looking Glass, ws backward in time.

Katherine Du || TEAM LEADER

Red Queen

The Red Queen is portrayed as “formal and strict, yet not unkindly; pedantic to the 10th degree, the concentrated essence of all governesses,” according to Lewis Carroll in “Alice on the Stage.” She is often mistaken to be the Queen of Hearts, who contrasts with the Red Queen in her fiery passion and blind fury.

Alice

Alice Kingsleigh’s featured costume include embroidered flowers on colorful fabrics that layer one another. A combination of vivid feather-shaped patterns decorate her neck. These details accentuate Alice’s adventurous and courageous qualities.

Y IN LOVE // Daniela Andrade

a Zhang || STAFF WRITER

Daniela Andrade nimbly striked her guitar and paused, beginning a drastically different and beautifully tender interpretation of Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love.”

While the original song has a fast, thumping beat, Andrade’s cover is slower and pars the instrumentals down to voice and guitar. This allows the listener ully appreciate Daniela’s vocals, shining especially in her her range. Known for her acoustic covers over a wide range music, Andrade has over a million YouTube subscribers. If ’re looking for a calming yet sentimental song to study to, try azy in Love” and never again hear Beyonce the same way.

The sequel to the 2010 film “Alice in Wonderland,” “Alice Through the Looking Glass” follows Alice Kingsleigh’s trip back into Wonderland.

After three years of journeying across vast oceans, Alice returns to London and is confronted by trouble: her ex-fiancée Hamish Ascot has taken over her father’s business, leading to an argument between Alice and her mother and eventually falls back into Wonderland. Later, Alice follows a butterfly she identifies as Absolem who leads her through a mirror, and they both fall back into Wonderland.

Directed by James Bobin, Alice Through the Looking Glass features Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, and Sacha Baron Cohen as Time.

The movie is produced by Tim Burton, who has previously directed in eight of Johnny Depp’s movies. In addition, Alan Rickman plays his final role as the voice of Absolem, before passing away in Jan. Singer Pink wrote and recorded “Just Like Fire,” the finale of the “Alice Through the Looking Glass” soundtrack.

BE SOMEBODY // Boyce Avenue Patrick Toulme || STAFF WRITER

The rock band, Boyce Avenue, from Sarasota, Florida is the collaboration of lead singer, Alejandro Luis Manzano and Fabian Rafael Manzano. Boyce Avenue uses the Internet, particularly YouTube, to get their music to the people and have become YouTube’s most followed band.

The sound of Boyce Avenue is best described as smooth, with strong vocals and harmonies, a polished musicality and their trademark acoustic guitar. Their new oroginal single “Be Somebody,” embodies their style with its vocals of highs and lows and beautiful lyrics. They are a band worth checking out, and an example of what can be accomplished if you are musical in our digital age where you can define yourself, or in this instance, define your band.

PHOTO // Alexa Nguonly REPORTING // Alexa Nguonly

When I first realized that I tore my ACL, I thought it was the end of the world because I’ve have been playing in lacrosse since third grade; this would be the first season I didn’t play.

I was heartbroken and then I realized that this is something that can be fixed and I can go back to playing lacrosse, but THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED that didn’t happen. It taught me that I’m lucky to only have a temporary condition.

I find my motivation in what makes me happy.

That’s basically what I focus everything I do around.

WORK ON WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AND NOT WHAT MAKES OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY.

You might think you’re not good at anything but maybe that’s just because you haven’t explored enough and you haven’t found something that you’re really passionate about or you really like.

WE ALL HAVE OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. I find myself a lot of the time comparing myself to other people and wondering why am I not as good as this person in a certain area, but then when you take a step back and look at it, everyone is good at something and has their own thing. You shouldn’t be comparing yourself to other people.

SOPHOMORE

KAVYA KOPPARAPU || WHAT I VE LEARNED