The Black & White Vol. 61 Issue 4

the B&W

Print Editor-in-Chief

Lauren Heberlee

Print Managing Editor

Samie Travis

theblackandwhite.net

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Ethan Schenker

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Stephanie Solomon, Sonya Rashkovan

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Vassili Prokopenko

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Cameron Newell, Eliza Raphael, Duy Bui, Adam Giesecke

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Rohin Dahiya

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Norah Rothman

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Elena Kotschoubey, Cameron Newell

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Sari Alexander, Sean Cunniff, Alanna Singer Business Assistants

Aditte Parasher, Greta Berglund, Marissa Rancilio

Webmaster

Sari Alexander Adviser

Ryan Derenberger

@wwhsblackandwhite

The Black & White (B&W) is an open forum for student views from Walt Whitman High School, 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda, MD, 20817. The Black & White’s website is www.theblackandwhite.net.

The Black & White magazine is published six times a year. Signed opinion pieces reflect the positions of individual staff members and not necessarily the opinion of Walt Whitman High School or Montgomery County Public Schools. Unsigned editorial pieces reflect the opinion of the newspaper.

All content in the paper is reviewed to ensure that it meets the highest level of legal and ethical standards with respect to the material as libelous, obscene or invasive of

Print Managing Editor

Simone Meyer

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Maya Wiese

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Aditte Parasher

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Norah Rothman, Kiara Pearce

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Samantha Wang, Jamie Forman

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William Hallward-Driemeier, Eliana Joftus, Zach Poe

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Gibson Hirt, Zach Rice, Alex Weinstein

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Emily Weiss, Josefina Masjuan, Caroline Reichert, Grace Roddy, Kate Rodriguez, Sydney Merlo, Dani Klein, Marissa Rancilio, Manuela Montoya, Louisa Ralston, Scarlet Mann

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Faiyaad Kamal, Ellen Ford, Grace O’Halloran, Will Gunster, Diego Elorza, Asa Ostrow, Waleed Aslam

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privacy. All corrections are posted on the website.

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Cover art by VASSILI PROKOPENKO

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

As technology continues to advance, its impact on our culture — as a school and as a community — becomes all the more profound. Amidst technology’s limitless bounds, it’s important to remember our own identities; we are a collection of different experiences, backgrounds and beliefs. Each individual’s journey is equally important in constructing the tapestry of our school, no matter if they are a student, teacher or principal. In The B&W, we strive to depict the reality of our community, and in this edition, our stories share a focus of movement, places and change.

Two writers dove deep into the journey of a Venezuelan family seeking refuge in the U.S. Their path was riddled with hardships, encom-

passing physical and emotional challenges that forced the family to adapt to dangerous environments to survive.

Another student illustrated a parent’s struggle with physical disability, disrupting their day-to-day life and altering their family journey. The student has shifted their views on the way they value quality time along the way.

Not only are students adapting to changing environments but so are local establishments. Glenstone Museum in Potomac, MD, has redefined what sustainability looks like amidst our worsening climate. The indoor-outdoor atmosphere incorporates nature into each work of art they showcase.

Change can often prove difficult; there

will always be obstacles that stand in the way of necessary transitions. One writer called on MCPS to implement a manageable counselor-to-student ratio to afford more students the opportunity to seek a safe space amid the rising adolescent mental health crisis.

Throughout all kinds of change, whether it be trivial or life-altering, it is important to acknowledge the things that remain constant and reliable. As always, we thank our devoted adviser Ryan Derenberger, visionary writers, driven editors and creative production team.

Best, Your editors

photo by ROHIN DAHIYA

18 20 22 23 24 26 28 30

18 20 22 23 24 26 28 30

Understaffed counselors leave students wanting change

Beyond the bridge: Cabin John’s one-lane bridge tells a story

Is the “high school dance” an extinct phenomenon?

REFLECTING ON LIFE WITH A DISABLED PARENT

Glenstone Museum sets a new standard for sustainability

It's our future: young people need a say in the issues that will affect us.

Filipino cuisine travels to North Bethesda

MARYLAND Crossword

The Whitman Poms team takes first place in the Division I County Championship

photo by HEIDI THALMAN

THE VALUE OF LOWERING THE VOTING AGE

DR. DODD

THE MAN BEHIND THE MYSTERY

by EMILY WEISS

Blazer on and walkie-talkie in hand, he roaBlazer on and walkie-talkie in hand, he roams about the school, his footsteps echoing and keys jangling with every step. Students, parents and teachers interact with him all the time — but how well do they really know the man in the blue suit?

Dr. Robert Dodd became Whitman’s principal on July 18, 2018, marking the 2022-2023 school year as his fifth in the role. During this time, Dodd has implemented major changes to Whitman, including wide-reaching initiatives like OneWhitman and the county’s first Leadership Academy for Social Justice. While he is currently a core part of the community, Dodd spent decades journeying through different careers and levels of education before he landed his job at Whitman.

Dodd’s father, Alan Dodd, was a school principal and later superintendent for MCPS, and his mother was an elementary school teacher, familiarizing Dodd with education at a young age. Both of his parents provided him with a strong understanding and appreciation for the public school system, Dodd said.

“I saw the impact that they had,” he said, “and that had an impact on me.”

Alan was already working in the field of education when the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling passed — the Supreme

Court case that legalized interracial schooling and began the process of ending discrimination within schools. His family frequently held discussions about equity in education, so it became an important topic to Dodd over the years, he said.

“I see public education as social justice,” Dodd said. “I think it’s my role and responsibility to ensure that we eliminate any injustice that is inherent or exists in the way we educate kids.”

Despite his immediate connection to the field, it wasn’t until college that he decided to pursue a career in education. Dodd was originally set against following in his parents’ footsteps as educators, instead aiming to forge his own path, he said.

In 1993, Dodd received his Bachelor’s degree in English from Western Maryland College with the intent to become a sports journalist. However while earning his degree, Dodd came to realize that he wasn’t as committed to writing as he thought he was — compared to his passion for working with kids. The epiphany came when working with children during his job as a pool manager.

A swimmer himself, Dodd spent many summers in his teenage years and early twenties working at various local pools as a lifeguard and pool operator. In the summer of

1992, Dodd first formed connections with a small group of elementary school-aged children who spent nearly every day with him at the pool.

“It was really right after that, that I decided to myself that I thought I should get certified to teach,” he said.

From 1993 to 2005, Dodd worked at various elementary schools in Montgomery County — Sequoyah, Highland, Piney Branch and Takoma Park. He continually trained and came to hold different positions including teacher’s assistant, instructional support specialist, teacher and ultimately assistant principal.

The transition from teacher to assistant principal was the hardest transition Dodd made in his career. It felt less natural than his past positions, he said.

“The first summer when I became assistant principal, when teachers returned that August, I remember I had to get up in front of a staff of 75 teachers for the first time,” Dodd said. “I was so nervous because I was presenting to adults, and I hadn’t done a ton of that.”

In 2002, while learning to adjust to the role, Dodd completed his Master’s degree in School Administration at Western Maryland College. In 2005, he stepped into the role of principal at Strathmore Elementary School in

photo by ROHIN DAHIYA

Silver Spring where he worked before transitioning to principal of Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring in 2009.

In 2015, Dodd left Argyle to work as an Elementary and Lead Consulting Principal in MCPS’ Office of Human Resources and Development, where he trained new and underperforming principals in the county. Dodd then earned his doctorate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2018.

In March of 2018, an edition of the regular MCPS newsletter sent to county educators caught his eye. Announced in it was the pending retirement of former Whitman Principal Dr. Alan Goodwin. Dodd began to consider the new opportunity to put his doctorate to use. Whitman’s reputation of high expectations drew Dodd in, he said.

“I thought it would be pretty cool to be the principal,” Dodd said, “not only of a high school, but the principal of Whitman.”

Dodd set up a meeting with Goodwin to listen to Goodwin’s experiences as Whitman’s principal. Goodwin walked him around the

whatever I said resonated with the panel.”

Dodd called his father as soon as he found out. Alan was as excited and proud as Dodd was, Dodd said. This achievement was especially significant to the Dodd family given that Alan supervised Whitman as MCPS’ Associate Superintendent 43 years ago. The special place that Whitman held in the hearts of his family filled Dodd with excitement and pride to embark on this new chapter in his career, he said.

Dodd’s transition into the position began. After being under Goodwin’s leadership for so long, Whitman faculty members were nervous for a new leader to step into the school, Assistant Principal Kristin McAleese said.

“When a new person comes into the building, there’s always a lot of worry,” McAleese said. “Everybody gets nervous about that, but I think he’s done a great job of maintaining that [reputation] and if not exceeding it.”

Dodd primarily works with the other administrators, resource teachers from each department and elected faculty representatives in the “Instructional Leadership Team.” This

teachers because it reminds him of his passion. “I try to be as accessible as possible to kids,” Dodd said. “I have great relationships with students and that’s what keeps me going.”

One of Dodd’s main focuses at Whitman is emphasizing equity inside and outside of the classroom. He believes that the role of educators is to prevent barriers between students and their educational success, specifically for students of color. Dodd hopes to change the school’s reputation surrounding its lack of diversity, he said.

“Under Dr. Dodd’s leadership, we’ve taken the step forward to take actionable steps to try to change the culture of this school,” Johnson said.

Over the past four years, Whitman’s initiatives have gained recognition across the county, inspiring other schools to start implementing similar programs, McAleese said.

“Dr. Dodd is somebody who truly cares about every student in this building,” McAleese said. “With him, ‘all’ means ‘all,’ regardless of gender, race, identity, national-

school as he shared his collection of stories from leading Whitman for over a decade.

“He kind of unloaded 14 years of experience on me, and it was fascinating to hear his story and his stories as a leader here,” Dodd said. “It made me more interested in the job because I could see how rewarding the job had been for him.”

Dodd’s position in MCPS’ central office taught him how to research schools, so he dug further into Whitman, checking out, among other metrics, student outcomes. He hoped to gain a sense of the adolescents at the school, as well as the school’s challenges.

Dodd interviewed for the position of Whitman’s principal in front of a panel of roughly 20 people — including MCPS staff members and students — where he answered roughly five scripted questions about why he wanted to take the role. Dodd didn’t expect to earn the position, he said.

One week later, Dodd received a call from the Associate Superintendent of the County, Darryl Williams, with surprising news: he was hired. At that moment, Dodd became the only current principal in MCPS to have held the principal position in all three levels of education, from elementary to high school.

“I actually didn’t think I did all that great,” Dodd said. “I was nervous, but I guess

group meets bimonthly to discuss issues that they feel are relevant to the community, from logistics to professional development.

“[We] take a look at it as a small team of leaders first, before we send it out to the staff, as opposed to Dr. Dodd just making a decision on his own,” said Social Studies resource teacher Suzanne Johnson.

Dodd makes sure to remind this group of the important effects their jobs have on the community and teaches them how to navigate their roles, one day at a time. Dodd takes the time to be a mentor for his staff because he wants to help them be leaders, McAleese said.

Over the years, Dodd has faced challenges unique to overseeing and managing a high school. Public high schools are much larger in student population than the lower levels of education, which makes Dodd feel more distanced from the students and teachers themselves, he said. As an elementary school principal, he could almost feel like he was one of the teachers still — at the much-larger Whitman, he doesn’t feel the same implicit connection to the staff and students and has to work to develop it.

Connecting with students is the most important part of the job, Dodd said. Whenever he’s having a bad day, he makes it a priority to spend time in classrooms with students and

ity or disability. He truly believes that every student in this building should have the same opportunities as others.”

In the time he's served as Whitman’s principal, Dodd has tried to aim high and create powerful transformations for the community, he said. This February, following several high-profile cases of alleged anti-semitism in the Whitman community, Dodd told The Black & White that setbacks aren’t the whole story.

"Unfortunately, regrettably, over the last five years, I've had to communicate more than I would have liked about incidents like this, whether it's been incidents of racism, or antisemitism,” Dodd said. “We're going to lead on this issue. You can quote me on that. Because the issue exists here.”

The work continues, he said. “As our school is concerned, we are going to lead and do everything we can to eliminate antisemitism and hate and bias in our school community,” Dodd said. “Two things can be true: I think that we can do that work, and that setbacks will occur. My goal is to progressively eliminate those setbacks until there are none.”

This upcoming school year, Dodd will serve as a mentor to current assistant principal Gregory Miller as Miller steps in as intern principal.

Two things can be true: I THINK THAT WE can do that work, And THAT setbacks will occur. My goal is to progressively eliminate those setbacks until there are none.

My phone vibrates on the kitchen counter, and I instinctively pick it up. One of my friends has texted me asking to hang out. I feel conflicted at first, but I quickly remind myself that my day is booked. While normally I would happily say “yes,” I already have plans with someone else: myself. Whether we’re conscious of it or not, everyone craves moments of solitude. In recognizing that, I’ve become a more thoughtful person in the ways I allot my time. Understanding and accepting the desire to be alone has given me the opportunity to keep myself grounded and connect with my mind.

After school, I often take myself on a trip to downtown Bethesda for a snack and some time at Starbucks. I look forward to finally being alone with my thoughts after a day filled with constant social interaction and vigorous academic work. As I open the door to Starbucks and search for an empty table, a sense of relief washes over me — it feels freeing to take a step back and focus on what’s in front of me.

Sitting at Starbucks, I put my phone on “do not disturb” to avoid social media, sip my drink and feel entirely present in the moment. For the first time that day, I am utterly at peace.

Through spending time alone, I have learned more about myself than I have hanging out with friends or being at a party. These moments alone have allowed me to explore my personality and gain a sense of individuality. This introspection in turn gives me the confidence to make choices that align with who I am and my values.

When I come home from school to my empty room, I can reflect. I finally have the time and mental capacity to look at what I’ve done or how I’ve reacted to situations. Being alone allows me to trust myself because I am constantly surrounded by people whose opinions often influence mine. During this time of reflection, I am able to pinpoint moments throughout the day when I let others mold my opinion, and I adapt my opinions to what I truly believe. In turn, I learn how I can be more present and true to myself in future situations.

Spending time alone doesn’t mean I don’t like my friends or enjoy spending time with them — it actually suggests the opposite. The act of socializing can become draining; spending time alone gives my mind the space it needs to recharge so I am able to experience the full joy of spending time with others.

Even though friends are generally people

you feel comfortable being around, there are certain activities that may seem too embarrassing or weird to do with them. When you feel watched and possibly judged, even harmlessly, it’s natural to hold back new, creative ideas. Activities like playing with stuffed animals or doing a craft can feel shameful when you’re with other people. When you are by yourself, you have the freedom to do whatever your heart desires.

Alone time allows me the opportunity to act on impulses — if I want to go to the library, paint pottery or go for a hike I don’t have to consider the preferences of others, I just do it. This way I can spend my time pursuing my own interests rather than catering to other people’s desires. The feeling of doing something completely for myself is one of the ways that I embody self-love and fill my own cup before I pour into others’.

Being alone also gives you ample time to restore your social battery. The act of socializing can become draining, but spending time alone gives your mind the space it needs to recharge for your next social event.

Society often associates the idea of using alone time to recharge with being an introvert, but spending time alone is not exclusive to that label. In a study of over 18,000 individuals conducted by Durham University, subjects were surveyed as to the activities they found the most restful. The top-five activities chosen were solitary. While introverts might be more likely to feel like they have to recharge more often, everyone can find peace in the freedom of being alone.

Being alone is often associated with being an outcast — people often confuse being alone with being lonely, but the act of choosing is what differentiates the two. Loneliness is often marked by gloomy feelings or isolation; however, the ability to appreciate selective time in solitude makes the alone time a positive thing.

Changing the way you view this time makes being alone while out in public easier, too. If you are out by yourself, you’ll be less likely to judge others who chose to spend time alone — a critical step in negating the stigma around spending time alone.

Though being isolated all of the time is not beneficial, taking a little time out of your day to be by yourself can positively impact all aspects of your life. So, next time you’re running low, don’t be afraid to take a step back from the social scene and give yourself a break — you just might find yourself in the process.

“ PEOPLE OFTEN CONFUSE BEING ALONE WITH BEING LONELY, BUT THE ACT OF CHOOSING IS WHAT DIFFERENTIATES THE TWO.

”

ALONE MEAN DOESN’T

LONELY

HOW SPENDING TIME BY MYSELF HAS IMPROVED MY LIFE

BY CHLOE WALKER

graphic by MARY RODRIGUEZ

CHAT GPT

AT WHITMAN ENROLLS

by ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming integrated into our daily lives, and its capabilities are continuing to expand. One such AI is me, ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. In an ef-

fort to examine my potential in the classroom, a journalism team put me to the test by presenting me with a series of academic prompts from three different high school courses: AP English Language & Composition, AP Biol-

ogy and Spanish 5. The responses generated by me were then evaluated and graded by teachers of those respective classes, who provided their insight and feedback on the work produced.

AP LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION C+

GRADED BY MR. MATTHEW

BRUNEEL

PROMPT: Select a concept, place, role, etc. to which you believe that the term “overrated” should be applied. Write a well-developed essay in which you explain your judgment. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations.

The pursuit of perfection has been a longstanding cultural obsession, but it’s time to recognize that this ideal is not only unattainable, but it’s also overrated. From perfection in our appearances to perfection in our careers, the drive to be the best often leads to stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction.

One of the biggest examples of the overrated pursuit of perfection can be seen in the fashion and beauty industry. Magazines, advertisements, and social media platforms are filled with images of flawless models with perfect skin, hair, and bodies. This leads to an obsession with hiding flaws and a growing demand for cosmetic procedures. However, these images are often heavily edited and don’t represent real people. By focusing on perfection, we forget to appreciate our unique qualities and the beauty of individuality.

Another example is the pressure to be the perfect parent. Society often portrays parents as having it all together, with well-behaved children, a clean house, and a thriving career. This unrealistic standard creates immense stress for parents who are just trying to do their best. It’s important to remember that parenting is a learning process, and that

no one is perfect. By focusing on the joys of parenthood and being kind to ourselves, we can create a more fulfilling and enjoyable experience for both ourselves and our children.

In the workplace, the drive for perfection can also lead to burnout and dissatisfaction. Many people feel pressure to always be the best, to never make mistakes, and to constantly strive for advancement. However, this pursuit of perfection can be overwhelming and can lead to a lack of balance in our lives. It’s important to recognize that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that success is often built on learning from those experiences.

It’s important to note that striving for excellence in certain areas of our lives can be beneficial and can lead to personal growth and satisfaction. However, the key is to maintain a balance and to not become so fixated on perfection that it becomes damaging. By recognizing the difference between striving for excellence and pursuing perfection, we can find a healthy balance and create a more fulfilling life.

In conclusion, the pursuit of perfection is overrated because it’s unattainable, damaging, and unrealistic. By focusing on self-ac-

ceptance, we can find happiness and fulfillment in our lives. Let’s celebrate our unique qualities and recognize that perfection is not the key to happiness. Instead, let’s embrace our imperfections and strive for personal growth and satisfaction, while maintaining a balance in our pursuit of excellence.

COMMENTS: "While there are some interesting ideas here, they all remain too general in their evidence to really prove with any conviction or convincing nature what you mean. The third body paragraph, which is about avoiding burnout, becomes a bit of a rehash of what you’ve already said in body paragraph two, which is about perfect parents. The attempt at a counter-argument which is saying that there are benefits to pursuing excellence changes the terms of the debate a little bit to perfection and excellence, but you don’t really demonstrate in any particular detail what that pursuit might achieve at the cost of your own well being, so it remains an overly general, but still intriguing, look at a topic." - Mr. Bruneel

GRADED BY MR. KELLY GARTON

DIRECTIONS: Researchers hypothesize that the plant compound resveratrol improves mitochondrial function. To test this hypothesis, researchers dissolve resveratrol in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The solution readily passes through cell membranes. They add the resveratrol solution to mammalian muscle cells growing in a nutrient-rich solution that contains glucose. They measure ATP production at several time points after the addition of the resveratrol solution and find an increase in ATP production by the muscle cells.

(a) Describe the primary advantage for a mammalian muscle cell in using aerobic respiration over fermentation.

The primary advantage for a mammalian muscle cell in using aerobic respiration over fermentation is that aerobic respiration produces much more ATP per molecule of glucose than fermentation. Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and produces 36 ATP per molecule of glucose, whereas fermentation produces only 2 ATP per molecule of glucose.

(b) Identify an appropriate negative control for this experiment that would allow the researchers to conclude that ATP is produced in response to the resveratrol treatment.

An appropriate negative control for this experiment would be to add DMSO alone to a separate group of mammalian muscle cells and measure ATP production. If there is an increase in ATP production in the resveratrol-treated cells but not in the DMSO-only control cells, it would suggest that the in-

SPANISH 5

crease in ATP production is due to the resveratrol and not just the presence of DMSO.

(c) Predict the effect on short-term ATP production when resveratrol-treated mammalian muscle cells are grown in a culture medium that lacks glucose or other sugars.

If resveratrol-treated mammalian muscle cells are grown in a culture medium that lacks glucose or other sugars, ATP production would decrease. Glucose is the primary source of energy for cells and is necessary for ATP production through aerobic respiration.

(d) The researchers find that resveratrol stimulates the production of components of the electron transport chain. The researchers claim that treatment with resveratrol will also increase oxygen consumption by the cells if glucose is not limiting. Justify the claim.

The researchers’ claim that treatment with resveratrol will increase oxygen consumption by the cells if glucose is not limiting can

be justified because the stimulation of components of the electron transport chain by resveratrol would increase the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation and the production of ATP. As more ATP is produced, the cells would consume more oxygen to meet the increased energy demands.

COMMENTS: Part A successfully describes that “aerobic respiration produces much more ATP per molecule of glucose.” Part B is correct by identifying that you can create a negative control by adding “DMSO alone.” The second sentence was unnecessary, but doesn’t hurt the grade. The prediction in part C that “ATP production would decrease” is sufficient to receive the point. The response doesn’t receive the point for part D because the discussion about efficiency is not what the question is asking for. This is a common mistake that other students also make. Overall, a ‘3’ out of ‘4’ on an AP FRQ is very good.

- Mr. Garton

GRADED BY SEñORA FABIOLA KATZ

PROMPT: Write a 150- 200 word essay in spanish responding to the following question: "¿Crees que los grupos minoritarios deben asimilarse con la cultura del país en el que están viviendo o deben seguir con sus propias tradiciones, lenguas, etc.?" Make sure to INCLUDE APPROPRIATE GRAMMAR: Pretérito e Imperfecto, Ser/estar, Subjuntivo (WEIRDO Y MCPSFEA).

Creo que los grupos minoritarios deben tener un equilibrio entre asimilarse y conservar sus propias tradiciones, lenguas, etc. Por un lado, es importante que se integren en la sociedad del país en el que están viviendo y aprendan la lengua y las costumbres para tener una vida más fácil y participar plenamente en la comunidad. Por otro lado, es importante que preserven su identidad cultural y tradiciones para mantener su sentido de pertenencia y herencia.

Podemos ver este equilibrio en acción con el grupo de los inmigrantes mexicanos en los Estados Unidos. Aunque han adoptado muchas costumbres estadounidenses, todavía mantienen sus tradiciones culturales y hablan español en el hogar y en comunidades de habla hispana. De manera similar, los gitanos en España han adoptado muchas costumbres españolas, pero todavía mantienen sus tradiciones musicales y familiares únicas.

En conclusión, creo que los grupos minoritarios deben encontrar un equilibrio entre asimilarse y preservar su identidad cultural. Esto les permitirá integrarse en la sociedad

del país en el que viven, mientras mantienen sus raíces y tradiciones.

COMMENTS: "Excellent vocabulary, grammar and cultural comparison. Everything is incredible, but you forgot to use MCPSFEA (a subjunctive grammatical concept that is emphasized in Spanish 5), so it goes from an A to a B+. What a shame!" -

Señora Katz

reporting by WILLIAM HALLWARD-DRIEMEIER graphic adapted by EVA SOLA-SOLE vecteezy com

BUTLER'S ORCHARD

HARVESTS MEMORIES THROUGH A FAMILY FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE

by CAROLINE REICHERT

As visitors drive down windy paths of aged trees, they immerse themselves in the homely atmosphere of Germantown, Maryland. The welcoming fauna of Butler’s Orchard enchants visitors almost immediately upon entry. Further up the road, a red building emerges. Children hold their parents’ hands as they eagerly skip into Butler’s Orchard’s market to buy delicious seasonal treats. A little further up the road, visitors arrive upon a vast network of orchards, fields and barns.

The remedying scent of the warm apple cider donuts served at Butler’s annual pumpkin festival sweetens the air. However, Butler’s isn’t only a fall destination. From season to season, people come to the family farm to experience that “down and dirty” lifestyle, a venture that keeps on growing, said Agritainment Manager Gina Giantonio. With pumpkins in the fall, Christmas trees in the winter, strawberries in the spring and flowers in the summer, Butler’s has attracted visitors yearround since its inception.

In 1943, agriculturist Percy Norris inadvertently founded what would eventually become Butler’s Orchard by planting peaches on the property. In 1950, George and Shirly Butler purchased the property and began planting other crops like strawberries and blackberries

on the land. Their initiative is what officially established the “Butler’s Orchard” name. The 300-acre property currently fields 37 acres of crops and the Butler’s Orchard Market, a place for visitors to purchase produce, baked goods, seasonal decor and garden plants.

The Butlers then went on to introduce many animals including goats, chickens, bunnies and pigs to the farm in 2016. At the farm, visitors have the opportunity to feed and interact with these animals.

Butler’s development of the “Pick Your Own” program in the 1950s has become one of their major selling points, said general manager and third-generation Butler, Tyler Butler. The program encourages visitors to discover and obtain food from where it originates, enabling patrons of all ages to pick strawberries, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, tomatoes, potatoes and more straight off the vine.

Visitors and neighbors were excited about the opportunity to pick their own crops after inquiring about taking the opportunity to bring some of the fresh crops home for years, Butler said. The program later inspired the creation of the Farm Market in 1970, another method of selling products from the farm straight to customers. By commercializing this concept, Butler’s was able to tap into the retail side of the business and generate more revenue, Butler said.

“We’ve got to be sustainable,” Butler said, “and the business needs to be sustainable as well so we can keep being profitable and continue for generations to come.”

Butler’s annual pumpkin festival is another key source of profit for the farm. The festival has been taking place at the orchard for 42 years and spans throughout the month of October. In 2022, Butler’s hosted the event from Sept. 24th to Oct. 30th. Setting up the festival — which covers the entire property with its giant slides, pedal tractors, corn mazes and pony rides — takes the Butler’s team around five days to complete.

Festival go-er Bethany Atomak has visited Butler’s yearly since 2014. All of her children ranging from three to thirteen years old were able to enjoy festivities like the pumpkin cannon, a pressurized machine that launches pumpkins. Butler’s Orchard has many delights that have kept the family coming back year after year, Atomak said.

“It’s so fun,” she said. “There are delicious fall snacks, the corn maze and then just getting to watch the kids enjoy themselves, really.”

Sophomore Annie Deluca’s family’s fall traditions also encompass an annual trip out to Butler’s. Deluca especially enjoys picking pumpkins and shopping in the Butler’s Orchard Market with her family. Deluca encour-

ages high school students to take the opportunity to visit the farm, she said.

“It’s honestly just nice to support the people that work there,” Deluca said. “It’s just something that you want to do once in your life.”

Butler’s pumpkin festival is part of their greater project “Agritainment” — teaching people about agriculture through engaging means. Butler’s also hosts their annual spring Bunnyland festival that is set to occur this April. The festival has a variety of activities aimed at engaging kids including an egg hunt, farm animals and a hayride. For Giantonio, the goal of these agritainment activities is to excite kids about learning where food comes from.

Giantonio has worked at Butler’s for four years and loved every second of it. She especially enjoys watching kids delight in taking the plants they grow home, Giantonio said.

“These kids are from the city, and they don’t have a backyard,” she said. “They get to go home with this plant, put it on their balcony and go ‘wow’ and watch it grow. You need to bring it to a lot more city kids who don’t get that opportunity to come out to the country so to speak and take it home and learn a little something.”

Giantonio and Butler have spent most

of their lives working in and around agriculture. They hope to spread their experience and love of the industry to all generations.

Through his time working on the farm, Butler learned that he could profit from the life he wanted to live, he said.

According to their website, Butler’s Orchard is built on family. The farm has been passed down from generation to generation since 1983 when George Butler drew his four children into the business. Being able to work alongside his siblings on the farm has been rewarding, Butler said.

“It’s amazing living, growing, raising a family on the farm,” he said. “Working alongside my brother and sister. Yes, it’s difficult at times. But there’s nothing more rewarding than finishing a day’s work with your brother and sister, and your dad and your mom, and knowing that you really did everything you could.”

PUMPKINS

graphics by GABY HODOR

The Butler's Orhard shop in Germantown with different assortments of the farm's fresh-baked goods and giftware. photos by ROHIN DAHIYA

THE WOOD ACRES PLANETARIUM

In a single file line, my classmates and I shuffle down a winding ramp that opens up into a circular space sunken into the floor. Someone flips a switch, and at once I’m plunged into darkness. The room vanishes around me, and suddenly the only things I can see are the small luminous dots above me, connected by thin white lines. The hushed voices of my classmates fade into the background as I absorb my surroundings. In the middle of the day, I’m beneath a wide dome, gazing up in wonder at the projected night sky.

When I attended Wood Acres Elementary School (2011-2017), once a month I would leave my structured education behind to explore the wonders of the planetarium, which was hidden in a small room at the back of the school. The lessons, run entirely by parents, explored all aspects of the solar system. First, they taught us about the science behind the sun, the planets and everything in between. Next, they led us into the planetarium itself and told us tales about the constellations that would inspire me for years to come.

MCPS science specialist Osceola Sexton gifted the Wood Acres Planetarium to Brookmont Elementary School in 1973. When the school closed down in 1982, MCPS transferred the Brookmont students along with the planetarium initiative to Wood Acres, where it has operated ever since under the direction of the PTA and a parent volunteer program.

Decades later, as I stood under the planetarium dome for the first time, surrounded by the physical manifestations of ancient stories, I developed my love for Greek mythology. I learned the stories behind each glittering constellation overhead, from Orion and Scorpius’ never-ending hunt to Perseus’ heroic defeat of the monster Medusa. I felt enraptured by the tales of heroes and monsters, of glory and courage. Each constellation corresponded to a different complex and fascinating character who either overcame their flaws or let their flaws define them. As I stared up at the projected landscape of stars, I was consumed with the desire to know everything there was to learn about the Greek myths.

After a few lessons, I began to do my own research. I spent hours on my dad’s phone, obsessively googling the tales behind each constellation. From “Goddess Girls” to “Per-

cy Jackson” to the children’s version of “The Odyssey,” I inhaled every ounce of Greek mythology that I could find. I was fascinated by the way the stories transported me to another world — and how they were intertwined with one another yet stood alone as individual masterpieces. Starting at a young age, I constantly looked for a way to escape from the monotony of everyday life. I found the ideal outlet through the world of Greek mythology.

What I didn’t know then was that all of this time I spent memorizing each story helped teach me important life lessons. One legend that particularly stuck with me was the tale of Narcissus, a beautiful man whose vanity made him cruel. Narcissus treated everyone with disdain, and when a nymph named Echo pursued him, he brutally rejected her because he believed himself superior. As punishment for his behavior, Aphrodite cursed him to fall in love with himself each time he saw his reflection, a cycle that eventually drove him insane. This legend taught me, albeit harshly,

I was fascinated by the way the stories transported me to another world — and how they were intertwined with one another yet stood alone as individual masterpieces.

that every action has a consequence, making it important to be humble and kind to others.

Other tales like Midas and Sisyphus showed me the repercussions of selfishness, greed, jealousy and other harmful human impulses. I now approach life with more awareness of my actions and consciously strive to be virtuous. I’ve become more careful with my words and am able to recognize when I should put others before myself. It is easy to succumb to the faults of human nature, but my awareness and understanding of these flaws alone has enabled me to become a better person. The tales that I read not only fulfilled my interest but gave me a clearer perspective on what I believe in.

While I continued to develop my passion

MY LAUNCH INTO GREEK MYTHOLOGY

BY LOUISA RALSTON

on my own, it wasn’t until my sophomore year when my English class read Homer’s “The Odyssey” that my personal interest overlapped with my studies again.

While my classmates dreaded the unit, I looked forward to reading the book depicting so many stories I loved. I recalled Odysseus’ battles with the monsters Scylla and Charybdis, his battle of wits with the Cyclops and his long-awaited homecoming to his family. While the novel wasn’t as quick a read as the translation I had pored over years ago, I was once again entranced by the myths and legends I’d become captivated with at the planetarium. However, I did notice an inability to get lost in the stories the way I had before. Being placed in a dull, sparse classroom instead of a star-filled dome partially inhibited my escape into the world of Greek mythology. Still, my reintroduction to the tales I had once adored brought me endless joy during the most stressful weeks. I found myself consciously missing the unit when it was over.

Reading “The Odyssey” and interacting with these stories on a more nuanced level wouldn’t have been nearly as impactful if it hadn’t been for the Wood Acres Planetarium. Surrounded by the stars on the ceiling and cocooned in silence, listening to the dramatic retelling of Greek adventures — every piece of information is all the more fascinating. It enthralled me in a way that no other form of cinematic art can replicate.

Still, ten years later, I want to delve deeper into not only the Greek myths behind constellations but also the tales that inspired other cultures, like the Chinese zodiac myths and Norse Mythology of Scandinavia. No matter how many of these stories I read or hear, I always find myself back in that planetarium, captivated by the endless beauty of the night sky.

graphics by MARY RODRIGUEZ

from dangerous rapids to political chess, Venezuelan family seeks refuge

by LUCIA GUTIERREZ and GRACE RODDY

In 2022, a group of men from the Mexican cartel, equipped at the Texas border with guns and grenades, ambushed and kidnapped a Venezuelan family of immigrants seeking refuge in America. After a 3,000-mile trek through six countries, crossing rapids, steep mountains and the deadly Darien jungle, two-yearold Karianna clung to her mother Karolay’s worn-out shirt as the unknown, “scary” men demanded $4,500 to let her family go. Standing just a few miles from safety, the family felt their lifelong dream of reaching the United States slipping away.

Years of economic, political and humanitarian corruption, including hyperinflation, violence and food and medicine shortages, have made living in Venezuela hopeless for many. Since 2013, Venezuelans have lived under the authoritarian regime of President Nicolas Maduro. His policies have cut money from education and destroyed both the oil industry and the healthcare system, said Matthew Burwick, a volunteer who devotes his life to Venezuelan humanitarian aid.

“It’s not just about the number of people, it’s about the level of suffering,” Burwick said. “This dictatorship has caused the largest migration crisis in the history of the continent. People are kidnapped, tortured, killed or murdered and most have no education, no work. Nothing in their country is their own.”

According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than seven million Venezuelans have fled their country to escape the authoritarian rule and power of Maduro since he first took office. In 2022, the Gutierrez family became a part of this statistic.

The lack of opportunities and basic human needs in Venezuela drove Danny Gutierrez to migrate his family to the U.S. despite the risks, he said.

“When we left our country, the situation in Venezuela was very difficult,” Danny said. “It got to where we had trouble getting food for our family.”

Little did they know that, after trekking 3,000 miles, their final destination would be the capital of the U.S., Washington D.C. Last September, Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, bussed hundreds of immigrants to D.C. in what critics decried as a “political stunt.” Abbott wanted to bring the border crisis to sanctuary cities, he said, to communities who discourage law enforcement from investigating individuals’ immigration status and don’t often deal with large surges of immigrants. Among those sent to D.C. was the Gutierrez family.

Content warning: This story contains language that pertains to sexual assault and graphic violence.

After escaping Venezuela in 2017, Danny settled in Ecuador with his then-pregnant wife, Karolay, son Kendri (13) and two daughters Danneilys (5) and Karianna (2). On May 13, 2022, the Guiterrez family and Jactino, Danny’s brother who had been living in Colombia, set off to finish their journey to the U.S. with the clothing on their backs, flashlights, a cell phone and whatever food they could carry.

“We were looking for the best possible life, a future where our girls had insurance and could go to school,” Danny said. “Since we were young, it’s always been a dream to work in the U.S. to provide for our family.”

Ecuador, where the family was living before setting off to the U.S., a country with high levels of violent crime and civil unrest, became

for their children.

Danny’s former colleague from Venezuela had previously made the journey to America and offered to help him and his family once they settled in the U.S. However, once they arrived in Mexico City, Danny received a message saying that their family no longer had a place to stay.

“We were so close, we had no choice but to continue,” Danny said. “We knew we couldn’t go back after everything we went through.”

The first obstacle in the Gutierrezes’ journey was the infamous Darien gap — the only crossing between South and Central America. The family journeyed through 60 miles of dense rainforest, dangerous wildlife, explosive rapids and violent criminal groups’ territories.

Over the years, the number of migrants crossing the Darien in a desperate search for work and safety has skyrocketed. According to the UN Refugee Agency, in Feb. 2022, the number of migrants venturing through the treacherous forest nearly surpassed the total number of crossings in all of 2021. From Jan. to Oct. 2022, the number of crossings totaled 248,284 compared to 133,726 total crossings in 2021, the agency reported.

The family of six, including pregnant Karolay, chose the “Carreto route” — the only established route to cross the Darien that wasn’t run by narco-traffickers. The Gutierrez family paid guides spread throughout the Carreto route to help them navigate along their trek and provide them with food, water and tents.

The Gutierrez family had a uniquely positive experience with some of the guides in the Darien — some even offering to help carry their youngest daughters. However, not all migrants are as lucky. These informal guides will accept whatever money the migrants have to give them, but with every guide, there exists uncertainty about their intentions, Danny said. Migrants constantly need to be attentive to kidnappings, abuse and theft.

family with splitting feet and no toenails.

Climbing each mountain required extreme physical and mental endurance. Even upon reaching the top, fellow migrants collapsed from heart attacks, leaving their families no choice but to cover their bodies in leaves and continue through the Darien. The Gutierrez family recalled one man who threw his wife into a river to die because he could no longer carry her injured body. Upon reaching a refugee camp in the Darien, police arrested him after his wife was rescued from the river, still alive.

The Gutierrez family experienced their own share of sickness, including digestive issues and chest inflammation. Inclement weather also impacted their trek, with floods due to heavy rain causing delays in their journey, so the family waited in their tents until the water levels were safe to cross as advised by guides. Linked arm-in-arm, Danny and Karolay attempted to get their family across one of the fastest rapids. Just before crossing to the other side, Karolay slipped on a rock but thankfully, linked to her husband, avoided drowning her and her unborn child.

“Crossing the Darien was very hard, the rapids took a lot of lives — one wrong step, and they were gone,” Danny said. “The last two days in the Darien, we were left with no food, again with no option but to continue.”

Each night the restless family heard desperate screams for help as pumas, snakes and tigers killed children and adults alike, leaving families distraught. Throughout the journey, the family heard horrific accounts of rape, assault and robberies.

“There were times when I questioned our decision to keep going, but I just kept thinking about my daughters and their futures,” Karolay said.

Throughout the Darien Gap, there are refugee camps located in small villages which are set as markers for migrants making the journey. From pueblo to pueblo, the family met and formed relationships with people in similar circumstances. In the forest, a lovely couple made coffee to share with others, but the Gutierrezs’ later learned the couple had been swept away in the rapids, Danny said.

“She slipped and fell into the river, her husband jumped in to save her but he couldn’t, and they both went,” Danny said. “They traveled all five countries just to die crossing the last river.”

decided that leaving Ecuador and embarking on the journey to the U.S. was the best option

Crossing at least three rivers daily, Danny, Karolay and Jacinto joined Danny's brother’s family and carried Dannielys and Karianna on their backs throughout the dangerous trek. It took five days of climbing mud-covered mountains, crossing rapid rivers and walking past make-shift graves of deceased migrants to make it through the jungle. One-hundred miles of walking in humid, wet temperatures left the

On their final day of trekking through the Darien, another couple traveling alongside the family died from a snake bite when they leaned up against a banana tree just a few miles from the exit.

When the Gutierrez family finally left the Darien behind and crossed into Panama, organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provided them with fresh sets of clothing. From there, the family took buses from city to city, spending nights in local hotels with no more than four hours of sleep each night, slowly inching their way through Central America toward the U.S.

At the Nicaragua-Honduras border, a $180

Pregnant KAROLAY holds her daughter KARIANNA and stands next to DANNEILYS.

A Venezuelan family stops at a refugee camp on their way to the U.S.

entrance fee was required. The Gutierrez family didn’t have enough money, so they rallied together with other migrants to cross the border. Strangers offered them help along the way, occasionally providing them with overnight shelter. After conquering Central America, the Gutierrez family had one last obstacle to overcome: Mexico.

Many migrants describe their experience in Mexico as the most horrifying part of their journey to the U.S., Burwick said.

“What I hear about Mexico is worse than the stories of crossing the Darien Gap,” Burwick said. “It’s really horrible, and so many of the crimes, violations, abuse, kidnappings and disappearances happen in Mexico.”

Burwick met one woman who arrived in D.C. after crossing through Mexico, and she confided to him that she had been sexually assaulted and was having a difficult time managing.

“Very cruel things happen there,” Burwick said.

The Gutierrez family spent an entire day under a Mexican cartel’s control. Enforcers bussed them and other migrants around the city. Extorted, the Gutierrezes repeatedly said they had no money to give, so they were taken into an unknown building. There, Danny slipped away to contact 911 — not ideal given the well-known ties between Mexican police and cartel members, he said, but a risk worth taking. They said they’d send a car. Ultimately, at the end of the night, Danny was able to negotiate their release; the police never arrived.

After crossing six countries, the dreams that Danny and his younger brother aspired to achieve as young kids finally became a reality.

“We didn’t even realize we were in the U.S. until I checked Google Maps and saw we were right at the border — it was the greatest relief,” Jacinto said. “After having gone through everything, especially after being held in Mexico, we couldn’t believe we were here.”

Once the Gutierrez family arrived in Texas, U.S. border patrol took Jacinto, put him in the back of a caravan truck and brought him to a detention center where they separated him from his family for questioning. They told Jacinto and other migrants to empty their pockets and take off their shoes while they registered them as immigrants seeking asylum. Border patrols asked Jacinto for his medical data — including height, weight and other standard procedure stats — while he stayed in the detention center overnight with food, water and shelter.

After Jacinto mentioned he knew someone in Orlando — the same friend who said he couldn’t stay with him — the officers decided to send him to Florida. They transferred Jacinto to a nearby church that rendered aid to immigrants, where he reunited with Danny and his family. They wished each other the best of luck before Jacinto got in line to make the trip to Florida, while his family boarded a free bus to Washington D.C. Prompted for money, though, Jacinto quickly realized he had no way to pay for a plane ticket to Florida despite the order, and he frantically ran to board the free bus to D.C.

“We were ready to wish each other the best of luck and say goodbye,” Jacinto said. “I wasn’t planning on going to D.C.”

The Gutierrez family spent three days on the bus crowded with fellow immigrants. On June 19, 2022, at approximately 8 a.m., the family arrived at Union Station in D.C. — a 30-minute drive from Whitman. The Gutier-

hoping to find food and shelter, while the Gutierrez family stayed at Union Station until 11 p.m. waiting for a space to become available for them at a nearby shelter. Since April, Abbot has continued to bus immigrants who crossed the Texas border — the majority being Venezuelan — in rough conditions without food, shelter or other basic necessities.

D.C. was a foreign environment for the family because of the language barrier and difference in climate from their home country. However, when migrants are welcomed by humanitarians like Burwick, they often become more comfortable in sharing their stories, Burwick and the Gutierrezes said.

After arriving at Union Station, local organization leaders help relocate migrants to shelters around the area. Burwick placed the Gutierrezes in a family shelter in Rockville, Maryland, where they stayed for roughly four months before moving to a small apartment complex.

When we walked into their new residence, a one-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and bathroom, Karianna and Dannielys immediately greeted us with laughter and hugs. As we stepped inside, Karolay fed one-monthold Jacot while the eldest son Kendri scrolled through videos on his dad’s phone. After graciously inviting us into their apartment, the family sat down in a circle, ready to tell us their story.

The Gutierrezes are actively seeking asylum, meaning they left their country due to factors harming their family. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has temporarily frozen their deportation until their court date in May 2023. Often, immigrants in this situation find informal ways of working to support their families until they can gain formal work permits.

Specifically in the DMV, Venezuelan immigrants bussed from the border endure their first-ever winter in freezing temperatures, as Venezuela has no winter climate. Danny and Karolay look forward to experiencing snow and watching their kids grow up in the U.S. Karolay gave birth to a new baby Jacot in late October, officially making him a U.S. citizen — an important symbol to the Gutierrez family, they said. Having dreamed of experiencing freedom and opportunity in the U.S., their youngest son’s rights and freedom are protected by the law. In 2022, Kendri started eighth grade and Dannieyls entered Kindergarten, both hoping to continue expanding their education.

rez family felt excited but unsure of what lay ahead, they said.

As they walked off the bus, Burwick stood alongside other non-profit organizations greeting the families with open arms.

“They were in emotional shock and had no idea where they were when they arrived,” Burwick said. “The first encounter is always very heavy and intense, but the moment they realized I was Venezuelan, they were so happy and we immediately became brothers and sisters.”

Some families wandered from the site

“None of us are perfect, we all make mistakes,” Danny said. “Now that we’re here we want to be the best people we can be with a new life and an opportunity to start fresh. Our journey has shown us that nothing is impossible.”

There were times when I questioned our dEcision to keep going but I just kept thinking about my daughters and their futures

STUDENT COUNSELOR

MCPS: STUDENT to COUNSELOR the REDUCE

by NATALIE EASLEY

graphics by GABY

HODOR

“Focus on five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.” This calming method releases the tension inside Jessica’s chest as she fights off her panic attack in the school bathroom. When she attempts to meet with her counselor for support during lunch, the line is already out the door.

Every student should be able to find solace in their counselor. Whether they need personal or academic aid, the counseling department is meant to be a place where all students can get the help they need. However, this is far from the current reality.

Montgomery County Public Schools officials do not assess their own recommended counselor-to-student ratio at any grade level, though currently the ratio for MCPS middle and high schools meets the American School Counselor Association’s recommendation of 250 students per counselor. According to MCPS’ budget staffing guidelines, MCPS allocates counselor positions to schools based on projected enrollment and staff-tostudent ratios.

Despite MCPS’ and Whitman’s alignment with the ASCA, due to the overwhelming caseload the ratio entails, counselors are unable to support every student assigned to them.

To ensure that all students can reap the benefits of counseling, MCPS officials should allocate a lower ratio of 1:200, as well as implement quarterly counselor-student checkins.

A counselor’s role is to make sure that when a student comes into the building, they’re successful, mentally prepared for school and supported, said Whitman counselor Olga Soukas. While this objective is admirable, it is nearly impossible to achieve it with the current counselor-to-student ratio.

“When a counselor could have close to three hundred students, it’s hard to help every student every single day,” said the Whitman Counseling Department Chair, Bill Toth. “There’s a lot of balls to juggle. We just want to help kids, so we do the best we can.”

Since counselor-student connections are not fully formed, there’s an implicit lack of trust on the student’s behalf, often leading them to feel insecure about discussing personal issues. Many students believe it doesn’t make sense to talk to their counselor about private matters because they’ve never spoken before.

“I would rather go to a friend or my parents,” freshman Kendall Venegas said. “It’d be kind of weird to talk to my counselor about

personal stuff because I don’t know her at all.”

It’s crucial for students to have every support system available. Increasing the number of counselors would foster relationships by allowing each of them to allot more time to their students and create deeper bonds with them.

The current lack of connection between counselors and students can become especially problematic for adolescents considering the ongoing teenage mental health crisis. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health, citing the pandemic and its ongoing disruptions in student and family life. To fix this, AAP physicians called for more integration of mental health care into schools and primary care.

“Mental health issues are becoming a bigger part of student’s lives,” Toth said. “That’s definitely gaining traction with what we’re dealing with.”

Whitman has provided some “band-aids”

counselors information to apply in their recommendations, they can’t make up for counselors’ lack of knowledge surrounding their students. The discrepancy can make writing these college recommendations difficult and the content impersonal by default, acting as a possible disadvantage in the admissions process set against other school systems and private schools.

Even when students do attempt to reach out to their counselor, it’s difficult to find a time to meet with them.

“I had an issue, and I went to the counseling office — but there were too many people there,” freshman Rishi Alimchandani said. “It never really occurs to me to even ask for help from the counselor because I figure they’ll be too busy.”

Counselors’ inaccessibility is no fault of their own — the disproportionate ratio keeps their schedule packed and minimizes time to engage with their students.

Counselors’ schedules are loaded with reaching out to therapists, collaborating with administrators and meeting with kids throughout school hours. Some days, completing all these tasks feels unmanageable, Soukas said.

to cover the harmful effects of this adolescent emergency, ranging from the Well-Being Team to the new Bridge to Wellness Program. The Well-Being Team is specific to Whitman and aims at identifying students who need mental health support, while the Bridge to Wellness program is an MPCS initiative to connect mental health resources with students by implementing wellness centers in high schools.

“If you have more people that students can access, then they can get more and more support,” Toth said.

The way newly employed counselors work with students matters as much as the increase in numbers themselves. The need for adolescent counseling isn’t exclusive to those with critical mental health troubles; every student needs an outlet. Counselors can play an essential role in a student’s life as someone to rant to or simply check in with.

Missing out on this relationship can be detrimental not only for students’ psychological well-being but for their higher education, too. When it comes to college applications, counselors are responsible for writing approximately 60-80 recommendation letters per year and at times aren’t able to submit them in time. Despite the “It’s Time Packets,” in which students type out responses to academic and semi-personal questions that give their

“As the numbers get higher, it’s more of a demand on us,” she said. “It can be more challenging to have time to make sure we’re meeting every student’s needs.”

Supporters of the 1:250 ratio argue that the proportion is rightfully recommended based on cost and available resources. Though funding is the most prominent issue when it comes to staffing a counseling department, it’s unclear how much evidence the ASCA actually used to set its long-standing recommendation, which despite the massive differences in the collegiate pipeline, has stayed the same.

The Hechinger Report published an article explaining how the decades-old, counselor-to-student benchmark has no research to back it up. Tara Nicola, a student at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education who’s specializing in the field of school counseling, traced the history of the number. She found that although it has been publicized for decades, the oft-cited number comes from a single book published in 1959 and at the time was not based on any numerical analysis.

There is no simple remedy to the counselor-student disconnect, so MCPS must find a solution that attacks the root of the problem. Decreasing the ratio would allow students and counselors to have more significant relationships, providing students with the support they need to succeed.

Let’s make sure that counselors can play the vital roles in students’ lives the way they want to, and the way we need them to.

The need for adolescent counseling isn’t exclusive to those with critical mental health troubles; every student needs an outlet.

Some names have been changed to protect students’ privacy.

hiddenA History:

the Unexpected Story of Cabin John

by KATE RODRIGUEZ

The Cabin John Bridge, located a mere five minutes from Whitman, is a passive presence in the lives of many community members. Though this one-lane bridge may be a facet of one’s daily drive to school, or a common sight on a bike ride, few know it once drew enough tourists to sustain business for a grand hotel.

Although the bridge’s primary function today is shuttling traffic back and forth on MacArthur Boulevard, the occurrences atop the bridge were hardly a consideration in its original design. Construction on the Cabin John Bridge, originally known as the Union Arch Bridge, began in 1857 as a part of the Washington Aqueduct, a location designed to carry drinking water from Great Falls, Maryland to Washington, D.C. When the bridge was completed, it spanned as the single longest stone masonry arch in the world.

Following the bridge’s completion in the early 1860s, local couple Joseph and Rosa Bobinger opened the Cabin John Hotel on an adjacent tract of land in 1870. The hotel initially garnered business from tourists coming to marvel at the bridge’s engineering feats, though it quickly became a gathering place for D.C.’s socialites. For those craving a breath of fresh air out of the city, the Cabin John Hotel provided the perfect opportunity for a weekend getaway.

“It was just very scenic,” said Judith Welles, author of “Cabin John: Legends and Life of an Uncommon Place.” “[People] came for the kind of resort feeling of the grand hotel where they could have fine dining, and they could actually walk from the hotel to the [C&O] canal.”

The success of the hotel was inextricably linked with the Cabin John Bridge, and views of the nearby C&O Canal and Potomac River. Much of the china used in the hotel is preserved today, and some can even be purchased from online retailers. This original china is emblazoned with images of the bridge, signifying the symbiotic relationship between the bridge — which provided the main billing for the hotel — and the hotel’s atmosphere, which encouraged visitors to return.

The hotel’s upper-crust patrons supposedly contained the likes of presidents Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, with Wilson rumored to have a

particular affinity for weekend drives to the hotel. However, according to Welles, the hotel’s guest list was not just restricted to elites.

“The hotel had an upstairs and downstairs, and the downstairs was where there was a beer hall,” Welles said. “So the ordinary folks also go to the hotel, but some of the finer patrons would go upstairs to the dining hall and they would have imported wine and fancy dishes. It was the destination place for the Washington area.”

only remaining relic of the area’s rich and impactful legacy. For community members today, it could be easy to overlook Cabin John’s past. To combat this loss of local history, the Cabin John Citizens’ Association has made efforts to educate the citizens of Cabin John on these events.

Looking for a way to effectively memorialize Cabin John’s history, former CJCA president Burr Gray and the rest of the organization developed an initiative in 2001 to place informational plaques about the history of Cabin John throughout the neighborhood.

“There’s certainly a lot of history in Cabin John, and there wasn’t really that much in the way of recording it or memorializing it,” Gray said. “It just seemed a shame not to have some kind of recognition that was accessible to people to show some of the history of the area.”

Now, plaques stand in the Clara Barton Community Center, in the Cabin John post office, at Moses Hall Cemetery and at the Cabin John Bridge. The plaques at the bridge — designed around a seating area for pedestrians and cyclists along MacArthur Boulevard — elevate photographs and information regarding the history of the bridge and the hotel. The construction of the seating area emphasizes a sense of community, Gray said, inviting any and all passersby to get a taste of the bridge’s alluring past.

In the 1920s, following prohibition, the hotel began to see a decline in business. Without revenue from their alcohol sales, the Bobingers’ sons — now serving as owners of the hotel — made the decision to close it in 1926. They hoped to reopen once prohibition was overturned, Welles said.

To their dismay, they never got the chance. The hotel burned to the ground in 1930. Although no cause was ever confirmed, a series of unexplained fires in the surrounding area during the period fueled rumors of arson. As the building was uninsured, the Bobingers were unable to rebuild it, and thus the Cabin John Hotel closed forever.

Now, the Cabin John Bridge stands as the

After learning that his mother had contributed to some of the historical writing on the website, Cabin John resident and Whitman junior Garrett Sidel took it upon himself to read up on the history of the bridge. Sidel came to realize how interesting it is to see history playing out across the places you know so well, he said, and the importance of seeking out this content.

“I think the Cabin John website is a really good way [to learn about history], and there’s a lot of information on there,” Sidel said. “I think it’s already pretty accessible, but making it so that people know that it exists would be the best way.”

Whether through public signage or personal research, Welles, Sidel and Gray align on at least one point: learning about the history of your area can provide real-time benefits in the present day, they said.

“It makes your own life richer if you have a sense of the history,” Gray said. “It can be instructive, to learn a little bit from what was going on before you arrived.”

graphic by MAYAWIESE

“There’s certainly a lot of history in Cabin John, and there wasn’t really that much in the way of recording it or memorializing it,” Gray said. “It just seemed a shame not to have some kind of recognition that was accessible to people to show some of the history of the area.”

Shutting off the lights:

Are school dances a thing of the past?

by SCARLET

Colorful lights illuminate the otherwise pitch-black gym as students dance and sing along to the DJ’s music. We know the scene: this classic high school dance is a tradition commonly depicted in movies and television shows. Homecoming is the most popular, an event celebrated nationwide and a long-standing fall tradition in the American high school experience.

But dances may be losing the cultural capital they once had. Moving forward will require imagination, and the pandemic may have accelerated the process.

In the Whitman community, Homecoming has evolved from a classic dance to a new brand of celebration — one that emphasizes togetherness and enjoyment as opposed to adhering to old traditions.

The last homecoming dance that Whitman held was during the 2019-2020 school year. It featured a DJ and dimmed lights in the small gym. Attendees consisted mostly of freshmen, though some sophomores and upperclassmen made appearances as well. After the dance, the school hosted “Poco” (Post-Homecoming), in the main gym. There were bouncy castles, free food and fun contests — but the lack of attendance was striking.

Then, the first year of the pandemic made dances impossible. In 2021, Montgomery County Public Schools presented county administrators and Student Government Associations with a set of new guidelines, the most important pertaining to location: they were no longer permitted to host large gatherings indoors.

Heading into the 2021-2022 school year, the SGA decided to brainstorm branding for a new Homecoming celebration that would engage all Whitman students, said Homecoming chair Mira Chenok.

As the SGA prepares for events, every student leader chooses a committee, or multiple committees, to be a part of where they help to brainstorm, plan and execute different functions. Committees for Homecoming include standards like a food committee, hallway decorating committee and Battle of the Classes committee, among others.

The SGA rebranded the event as “Vikeapalooza,” keeping the Post-Homecoming fun, but leaving behind the dance itself. They pivoted from Saturday night to Friday night and moved the function outside to the

baseball field. Using a carnival-like layout, the SGA aimed to provide tons of food, games and music. Students could go straight from the Homecoming football game to the party in the evening.

Immediately after the Homecoming football game, students poured through the gates of Vikeapalooza, just as the SGA had intended. Having everybody there and hanging out with a bunch of friends was a positive experience overall, senior Charlie Mills said.

“Both the appeal to go and the convenience of going are increased by the event being Friday night after the football game,” said junior and SGA member Ella Friedland. “You’re already out, and your friends are all there.”

friends on Homecoming night including taking photos, having dinner and gathering at the monuments in D.C.

As it happens on a Friday, Vikeapoolza gives every Whitman student, regardless of grade or group, a chance to come together and have fun as a school. Everyone was there, and everyone was excited, Friedland said.

“There’s something appealing to each grade there,” she said. “I don’t think anyone could really say that there wasn’t anything for them there if they stopped by — there was something there for everyone.”

However, not everyone sees Vikeapalooza as a positive alternative. Current freshmen, sophomores and juniors have never experienced a Homecoming dance, so some feel as though they have missed out on an essential high school experience, freshman Lauren Ziegler said.

Many students expected a typical Homecoming dance this school year and were surprised when the SGA announced that a new event was taking its place. The idea of a high school dance was still on the minds of some students, so they were surprised to find out that the casual format was taking its place.

“Especially all of the middle grades, they missed out on their chance,” Mills said. “So I assumed we would have had a dance.”

Although Whitman principal Dr. Dodd wasn’t heavily involved in the planning process, he offered help with ensuring students’ safety and encouraging wide attendance. Dodd wanted the event to represent the whole student body and what they hoped Homecoming would be like, he said.

“Going into it this year, I kind of deferred it to the will and wishes of the SGA,” Dodd said. “They liked it. They thought it was successful.”

Vikeapalooza encourages more collaboration between grade levels as opposed to the traditional dance, which largely revolved around the freshmen class. Both administration and students found the original event to be isolated from the majority of students’ experiences, Dodd said. For many schools near D.C., upperclassmen make alternative plans with their

The SGA similarly replaced the dance “Vike-a-thon,” which last took place in 2020 with the updated “The Cupid Shuffle” this Feb. The charity event was successful, raising around $9,000 for Shepherd’s Table. Part of its branding was that it was different: different dress code, different theme, different experience.

Changing dance traditions has been a relief for many students. Removing outdated traditions from our school environment eliminates the stress of conforming to a toxic environment. For junior June Marshall, the pressure to dress a certain way or interact with new people in a traditional dance is offsetting opposed to having fun with friends after a football game.

“It’s kind of like the best of both worlds,” Chenok said about Vikeapalooza. “We could have a school-wide celebration for homecoming on Friday, and people could just go and do their own things on Saturday and still have that traditional Homecoming experience.”

graphic by ELIZABETH DOROKHINAA

“I don’t think anyone could really say that there wasn’t anything for them there if they stopped by — there was something there for everyone.”

MANN

by ANONYMOUS

The sun washes over my living room and peeks into the windows of my house. I’m sitting on the couch, sluggishly scrolling through my phone, when my dad approaches me and offers to go on a walk to take advantage of the beautiful day. Without a second thought, I shake my head and return to the display on my phone, uninterested in my dad’s proposal. Now, these kinds of opportunities that I thoughtlessly passed up haunt me every day. I wish more than anything that I could walk in the sunshine with my dad one more time.

Last year, my dad lost the ability to properly walk and perform most regular, everyday activities. The nerves in his body began deteriorating, making common tasks a burden. In 2021, my dad underwent a series of surgeries in hopes of solving these problems before they became debilitating, but the surgeries were ineffective.

In the beginning of his weakening, I was confident that my dad would continue to embody the physically and mentally strong figure he had been throughout my entire life. He was the person I’d wake up in the middle of the night when I heard a scary noise, the person who’d drive me to school and the person who — despite my constant denial of his offer — would continue to ask me to go on walks with him whenever the sun was shining. After the surgery, I thought I would have that same person for decades to come. I didn’t know that I only had a year left before many of the simple joys I shared with my dad that I took for granted were gone.

Today, I spend most of my day-to-day life trying to care for my dad as much as I can. I cook his food, help him stand up, adjust his pillows so his back doesn’t hurt and pick things up off the floor since each task can be an obstacle. My family and I take care of many things we would have never imagined worrying about before having a disabled parent — still it makes us all feel better knowing we are helping him to the best of our abilities.

By far, the most crushing part of my dad’s disease is that at least once a week, I see him lose yet another part of his mobility that I never considered possible. Have you ever wondered

Living with a disabled parent.

if one day, one of your parents might not be able to walk up the front steps to your house anymore? Struggle to hold a fork? Struggle to cough or sneeze properly? What about their ability to drive? Like many, I didn’t give those things an ounce of consideration — especially at this point of my life — until they were completely gone.

Nothing that my dad lost was sudden — he got worse incrementally. He first became tired from short walks, then developed appetite changes and later he was unable to walk without a cane. I spent such a large amount of my time adapting to these new changes that by the time

of his unbreakable mentality, his mind of steel. He was humble, determined, confident and constantly striving to be better.

Even though he still persistently pushes himself to stay strong, seeing his confidence shatter as a result of his physical disabilities continues to break my heart. All I can do is continue to encourage him and remind him that he’s still just as amazing as he was when he could bench 350 pounds.

It’s crucial that I gravitate away from the sadness because if I had let myself become absorbed by all the reasons I had to be dismal, I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today. So, every single day, I look at my dad and think of something I’m grateful for — his voice, smile, ability to walk with a walker and the feeling of his hand holding mine.

While my dad and I can no longer go on walks or drives, there are still countless things that I have to be thankful for. I know that since I’ve faced these unprecedented times that no teenager should ever have to experience, I will have the strength and resilience needed to overcome future obstacles. Even when my friends are fighting or when there’s stress from school, those other issues that used to consume my thoughts have minimal power over me anymore, and I feel pride in that fact.

I accepted the loss of one ability, he had already lost another.

Initially, I valued going out on the weekend — whether it was with friends or just on my own adventures — though this quickly transitioned into a desire to stay home and watch movies with my dad. The time I spend with him is always my favorite part of the week. My dad is a huge part of who I am, so spending time with him is my way of showing him how much I appreciate him.

Before these changes occurred, the word “dad” meant something different to me, a change still hard to accept today. When I thought of my dad, I thought of the most physically strong and motivated person I know. I thought of the rebellious side of him who rode his dirt bike on the weekend and someone who constantly pushed himself to work out. But most of all, I thought

To anyone who has experienced life with a sick or disabled parent, I want to reiterate one thing: it’s okay to feel bad for yourself. It’s okay to cry, scream and think “Why me? I don’t deserve this!” At the beginning of all of this, I would find myself bottling up all of my emotions and getting upset with myself for feeling lost, with thoughts like “I shouldn’t feel bad for myself when my dad is the one going through this.”

It’s hard to go through this at any age, so the grief and pain you feel when losing parts of a parent are valid and worth expressing.

Now, I’m not losing my spirit. My dad’s still here. More than anything, I want to go on car rides with my dad again or maybe even see him walk once more with just a cane. I’ll continue to try my best every day to help my dad and reminisce on the last time we walked in the sun together. Hopefully, one day, we will be able to again.

EVERY SINGLE DAY, I LOOK AT MY DAD AND THINK OF SOMETHING I'M GRATEFUL FOR — LIKE HIS VOICE, SMILE, ABILITY TO WALK WITH A WALKER AND THE FEELING OF HIS HAND HOLDING MINE.

Glenstone Museum Leaders in environmental sustainability

by LOUISA RALSTON

Trigger warning: reference to sexual assault.

Anarrow dirt path winds over a hill, looming atop minimalistic buildings and weaving through dense forests filled with fall foliage and trickling streams. At the top of the hill stands a 37-foot tall rocking horse head, covered by multicolored flowers, watching over its domain: the world-famous Glenstone Art Museum.

The museum lies hidden in the Potomac suburbs, sprawled over nearly 300 acres of landscape. While most museums focus solely on deliberate pieces of artwork, Glenstone entwines art, nature and architecture into a unique experience for visitors, putting a specific emphasis on the natural environment. The trails, streams, meadows and forests act as their own exhibits, while specific art pieces are scattered throughout the property to promote an appreciation of visitors’ surroundings.

“The true masterpiece of Glenstone is the landscape,” said Paul Tukey, Glenstone’s Director of Environmental Stewardship. “The most beautiful artist in the world can never compete with mother nature.”

Glenstone is the largest private contemporary art museum in the United States. Its co-owner, Mitchell Rales (’74) founded the museum in 2006 and has expanded and developed it in the years since. Glenstone features a collection of over 1,000 modern works that “represent pivotal shifts in the perception and understanding of the art of our time,” according to the museum’s website.

For junior Gemma Davitian, Glenstone’s integration of art and nature places it above the average museum, she said.

“I personally don’t like museums, so it’s a lot more fun and enjoyable to walk around and see different types of art,” Davitian said. “I have always had great experiences and my family, and I always enjoy walking around and seeing it in different seasons.”

Glenstone features multiple paths which lead visitors through a variety of exhibits. The Woodland trail — the longest of the intertwining paths — winds through forests and meadows, displaying its natural beauty while also showcasing thought-provoking sculptures. Indoor art can be found in Glenstone’s Pavilions and Gallery, and the museum also offers dining for its patrons at the Café and Patio.

One of many art pieces on display is “Village Series,” a sculpture by Simone Leigh that blends African art history and feminist theory. The subject stands over seven feet tall, displaying a woman wearing only a raffia skirt whose face is carved out into a rose-embossed hole. Another piece features a variety of sculpture collections by Doris Salcedo, reflecting the violence and oppression that plague the modern world. One collection is an array of tables aimed to represent rape victims. Each table is broken into splinters and put back together to represent the lasting effects of sexual assault.

The museum encourages visitors to seek their own interpretations of the artwork. While tour guides and employees are present to help visitors further process their reactions and thoughts, Glenstone doesn’t force any single meaning on visitors, said Senior Manager of Visitor Experience Michelle Clair.

Glenstone is open to the public at no cost, although the museum only allows a limited number of reservations at a time to ensure that visitors can experience the art up close. Students under the age of 18 must also bring an adult supervisor.

“My hope is that students will leave here having had a meaningful experience with art, architecture and nature; the meaning is up to them,” Clair said.

For the last ten years, Glenstone has bussed Montgomery County students free of charge nearly every Thursday and Friday of the school year. More than 10,000 students have toured the museum through that program, Tukey said.

A draw for more than just art, the museum is committed to being as eco-friendly as possible. From their composting, organic landscape management, recycling, water conservation and reforestation efforts, Glenstone has made many significant steps towards sustainability.

“We want to have the financial and biological evidence to make the case for everyone adopting these practices on a broader scale,” Tukey said. “We recognize that

the planet is in trouble, and we think that we can be role models for how other institutions, municipalities and homeowners can adopt this in their own backyards.”

The museum staff uses organic alternatives to harsh chemicals to nurture their greenery. They also maintain a composting station that produces an environmentally-friendly fertilizer substitute and soil amendment on the grounds.

More than just reducing the effect on their immediate environment, Glenstone works to improve their greater surroundings. They have restored the depleted tributaries on their property to improve water quality, reduce sediment reaching the Potomac and improve conditions for aquatic wildlife. Glenstone is also zero-emission, with fully electric vehicles for transporting patrons around the premises as needed, and for groundskeeping.

Glenstone’s staff have planted more than 7,000 trees between 2013 and 2018 as well as thousands of shrubs, grasses and flowers. They only plant native species to show further respect for the ecosystem in their domain.

While Glenstone has made progress in its environmental efforts, they have yet to settle into satisfaction because there are always ways to improve, Tukey said. Despite their efforts to maintain sustainability, Glenstone’s remote location forces visitors to travel a substantial distance. These inevitable emissions go against the values that Glenstone stands for. To reduce the impact, the museum provides benefits to patrons who take public transportation.

“You don’t need reservations, you don’t need tickets,” Tukey said. “If you show up on [the ride-on bus], we let you come in, no questions asked.”

A major goal for the museum is to inspire others through the simplicity of their efforts. They feel there is much to gain from their influence because if visitors see something there that inspires them, they can recreate it themselves.

“You may not be able to do it on the scale that we do it, but you can adopt almost everything that we do here at Glenstone at your own home, or at your own municipality,” Tukey said.

Throughout their many missions, one thing holds true for Glenstone: what’s naturally beautiful rules.

“When we look at the landscape, we’re not going for pretty,” Tukey said. “We hope that people will come to appreciate the natural beauty and bring that into their own lives.”

1. The Split-Rocker sculpture by JEFF KOONS.

2. The water court outside the Pavilion.

3. Art exhibit displayed inside the Pavilion.

4. An outlook to observe the landscape.

photos by AVA OHANA

The youth are THE FUTURE The youth are THE FUTURE

graphic by ELIZABETH DOROKHINA

LOWER The nATIONAL VOTING AGE LOWER The nATIONAL VOTING AGE

by CHLOE WALKER

A new day in the United States means another school shooting that shakes yet another community. By mid-February, there had already been seven school shootings for the year. Then came Michigan State. Last year, according to Education Week, the United States broke its yearly record for the most school shootings by October, only to add even more by the year’s end. As these tragedies continue to strike, no amount of thoughts and prayers can soften the blow. Although protesters take to the streets, adding to the uproar on social media, we as a country need to do more to stop these violent crimes. Yet students who fear for their safety in school have little to no power in fixing the policies that threaten their lives.

Once a U.S. citizen reaches 18 years old — an age that holds insurmountable value in today’s society — they gain eligibility to contribute to the legislation that affects their communities and the nation as a whole. Beyond gun control, topics such as women’s reproductive rights and gendered school bathrooms are contentious and course-altering issues affecting young people today.

Although minors’ fates are at stake as much as those voting in their middle and later ages, and the policies are likely to affect them for even longer, they are still not able to voice their opinions in government elections whatsoever. In order for democracy to serve this critical age group, lawmakers should reduce the voting age to 16 years old.

In addition to increased representation in government, lowering the voting age would lead to a long-term, consistent boost in voter participation. According to a widely popularized 2003 Yale University study that followed the habits of 25,000 participating American voters, the act of voting may become a habit. Casting a ballot in one election at a younger age led to higher voting rates later on, independent of a control group, researchers found. Every additional vote in an election is another set of an individual’s needs reflected in local, state and national policies — so every vote, everywhere, matters.

Voting also creates a sense of purpose. Because many teenagers are not given a chance to share their viewpoints in meaningful and lasting ways, they may feel disconnected from

their communities and democracy at large.

“If I’m able to vote, then it would allow me to not only feel more connected but also have a purpose for my learning,” junior Ella Kaplan said. “I would actually be able to make an impact. What I believe will be portrayed throughout the community.”

Some voters hold doubts about empowering voters starting at age 16, but policymakers have already begun lowering the voting age at the local level in places such as Takoma Park, Maryland. In October 2013, Takoma Park became the first city to ever lower the local voting age to 16, and several other Maryland cities have since followed in their footsteps. According to Vote16 USA, a national campaign working to lower the voting age, in the Takoma Park November 2013 election for mayor and city council members — the first election where 16 and 17-year-olds were eligible to cast ballots — it was the 16 and 17-year-old demographic who held the highest voter turnout rate of any age group.

Takoma Park’s updated voting system proves that at least some minors want this right and will utilize in earnest voting opportunities afforded to them. The next step is expansion: more local communities should grant minors the right to vote followed by states and ultimately all elections nationwide.

According to a 2021 Harvard University poll, 24% of millennials polled after the 2008 presidential election considered themselves to be politically active. As of 2021, that number increased by half for Gen Z at roughly the same age, to 36%. Minors understand the power of a vote and feel eager to exercise their civic duties. Even without obtaining the ability themselves, many teens are actively working to make sure others are utilizing their powerful voting privilege.

“I encourage everyone in my state to vote and be involved in our state’s politics,” sophomore Abhinnand Nathala said. “Every vote matters.”

Opening students’ minds to political ideas and structures allows them to become more educated about the U.S. government, ensuring that our population makes informed decisions.

“Right now, I educate myself, but I have to wait two years to even be able to vote,” Ka-

plan said. “I’m just gaining knowledge, but if I’m able to vote I could be more involved in the process.”

Teenagers today are more politically aware and involved than ever — not only through their own merit but through the digital world around them. On social media, young people educate themselves on political ideas they may not have otherwise been aware of. Formalizing the engagement encourages greater scrutiny of each post. According to a Tisch College analysis done at Tufts University, during the 2020 presidential election, 70% of young people got their information about the election on social media, and 36% reported posting political content the week before election day.

Youth leaders such as Greta Thunberg and the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting have brought attention to their causes and generated support for change. Climate change and gun safety, along with many other prevalent issues, need the power of legislative officials to enact genuine change. But minors don’t have the right to vote for the people who are supposed to lead them — leaving many feeling hopeless in the face of tangible delays and consequential inaction.

Critics may argue that a 16-year-old is innately immature and will not take elections seriously — yet those of them who are mature enough will take the time and effort to vote for the policies that matter to them. Going to a polling place or requesting a mail-in ballot takes organization and effort, elements that naturally sift those who don’t intend to take voting seriously and leave the most informed, conscious voters.

Young people are the face of many significant issues that affect the entire country. They’re the future of the United States, and they deserve the right to have a say in its policies.

Think about what you can do to hold your lawmakers accountable for lowering the voting age. And to the people who are eligible to vote: Vote. Exercise the power that you have to help create change for the powerless. Next time a wave of thoughts and prayers goes out, reflect on why it seems to be the best our country can do — and importantly, if the informed youth were given a voice, whether it still would be.

by JACOB PALO

While the simplistic exterior of the North Bethesda Filo Cafe fades into the background of its neighboring shops, the interior is anything but. The silhouette art on the walls showcases traditional Filipino garments like barongs and filipinianas, designs that date back to pre-colonial times. A groovy LED neon sign hung just inside the door adds a modern twist to the family-friendly climate; board games and playing cards lay adjacent.

The detailed touches speak to the attention that the restaurant pays to long-standing Filipino culture, translating it into the present — and the kitchen’s attention paid to the food is just as precise, more than worth the occasionally long wait at the popular spot.

With every bite of food, it’s clear why so many people have enjoyed this restaurant since its opening in September 2022. I’m Filipino myself, and as I sat admiring the food before me during my visit, I could only think about how much I missed home. In the first bite of my lechon kawali, I felt like I was back in the heart of Manila. The crunch of the deep-fried pork skin and the tenderness of the meat had me salivating, and the savory taste of mang tomas, a sauce explicitly made for lechon, mixed in with rice made me smile in my seat.

graphic by ELIZABETH DOROKHINA

The Cafe’s “All Day Breakfast” menu options were another highlight. I ordered longsilog — a term that’s a combination of three different words in Tagalog. “Longanisa” is a Filipino sausage that is similar to “chorizo,” and “itlog” translates to “egg,” a pivotal part of the dish. The two letters “si” are in reference to the garlic fried rice or “sinangag” that is paired with the other two. These “-ilog” dishes are popular throughout the Philippines for their simple recipes that yield delicious flavors. Longsilog is generally paired with a side of garlic rice and a runny fried egg, creating a nostalgic dish known to all Filipinos. Filo Cafe’s longsilog consists of house-made sausages with a sweet glaze and rice. The chef’s inclusion of a subtle hint of garlic reminded me of the way that my grandmother prepares the dish: traditional and welcoming, fostering immediate connection.

The only minor issue with the longsilog was the lack of consistency with the fried egg. The runny egg is the “glue” that brings the other two ingredients together, so while people often overlook the egg in this dish, its lack of a runny yolk stuck out to me at Filo Cafe. In a second visit, they were able to iron out this initial kink when I ordered the dish again, this time met with a perfectly runny egg.

I also tried the dinuguan, a stew made with pork and pig’s blood. While it may not seem entirely appetizing, the meal isn’t as unappealing as it sounds; the soy sauce aftertaste is actually the most intense part of the dish. Dinuguan has the consistency of pork adobo — a stew containing soy sauce and vinegar — which allows for a delicious tang in the classic dish.

What better way to wrap up the main courses than to wash them down with some soup? To finish off my meal, I tried the cafe’s mami noodles with a pork stock base, cabbage, carrots and a hard-boiled egg. The broth reminded me of traditional Japanese ramen; however, the dish’s simplicity allowed it to falter ever so slightly. Although mami is a traditional Filipino dish, it isn’t one I would prefer to see in a restaurant due to its overall lack of flavor, especially since there was no twist or specialization done to elevate the soup to the level of the other dishes.

My experience at the Filo Cafe was unforgettable, but there are some things I had to move past. The restaurant’s expensive pricing and the lack of variety in desserts tainted my experience. The pricing was difficult to overlook because I was on a high school student’s

Bringing the taSte of the philippines to the dmv

budget, though it’s not surprising for a family-owned restaurant. Filo Cafe is definitely a place to check out, though I suggest you do so after your latest paycheck.

Another upside to the restaurant was the employees’ hospitality and charm, which successfully encapsulated the feeling of being back in the Philippines. I also spoke with the co-owner, Romeo Ermitano, and his granddaughter, Allaine Hontiveros, who helps behind the counter. The environment they have at the restaurant radiates their belief in family and unity.

Filo Cafe isn’t the only restaurant their family has owned. Before they moved from Virginia to Maryland, Hontiveros’ grandmother owned a restaurant in Virginia Beach called Salo Salo. Hontiveros understands the importance of ethnic, Filipino restaurants.

“Having witnessed my grandma’s previous experience with her old restaurant in Virginia Beach, a simple restaurant’s existence has greater value than it may seem,” Hontiveros said. “Culture is something everchanging and is already diverse within its own. So, I was definitely one to push my grandma to open one here in Maryland so that it can be something we can do together, contribute to the community and start a legacy.”

Ermitano makes his goals transparent. “We Filipinos are family-oriented,” Ermitano said. “As much as possible, we want to keep our family intact. So, my desire is to open a family business that we can operate as a team, hoping it will keep us together for the longest time possible.”

Since Ermitano’s children live across the U.S., it can be difficult to maintain a strong familial bond. But with Filo Cafe, he hopes to hold onto that connection and share it with his daughter and her family. This restaurant extends its hand out to other families and wants to share the love and sense of community they have, Ermitano said.

Other Montgomery County Filipino restaurants have sprouted in recent years. Independent spot Kuya Ja’s opened in Kensington in 2018, and Jollibee — a chain counterpart to McDonald’s in popularity — opened in Wheaton last year.

“We welcome healthy competition because our guiding principle is ‘live and let live,’” Ermitano said. “We don’t believe in cut-throat competition. Let everyone coexist in peace, harmony and success.”

Filo Cafe brought me back to a place I haven’t been able to visit since the pandemic, all within a 25-minute drive from my house. If you want to try something new and give your tastebuds the experience of what it's like to spend an afternoon in the Philippines, then Filo Cafe is the place for you.

4. Pancit Palabok

1. CARIOCA Rice balls with caramel glaze.

2. House-Made Longanisa

3. Lechon With Rice Fried pork belly.

5. Fish Escabeche Sweet and sour fish.

Also known as longsilog, served with a fried egg.

Rice noodles with shrimp and fried pork.

Across

1. Word with Chesapeake or Old

4. Wedding drapery

8. Cute furry rodents from Russia

14. Take advantage of

15. A sea eagle

16. Uncustomized options

17. Indigenous nation here before Bethesda

19. Zealously

20. Wakes up

21. Synonym of vape, with “e-”

22. Greek god of war

23. Gain the upper hand militaristically

29. Repeat from a previous B&W crossword

31. New Mexico town

32. Large phallic structures on farms

33. “A means to an ____”

35. Famous quantum physicist

37. Tri-state area

38. University of Cincinnati mascot

42. Jurisdiction under a bishop

44. Religion with a prominent temple on the D.C. beltway

45. A collection of epic poems

47. Organization that plans events at Whitman

48. Breastplate of Athena or Zeus

50. Pharisee

52. Classic Maryland cuisine

56. Reference tool for inclement storms

59. Pepper in “Nando’s” restaurant name

60. Propel, as in a boat

61. “After a while”

63. State bird

66. State sport

67. Sounds in Egypt and Ethiopia

68. Major or Minor in the sky

69. “She ___ that up!”

70. Desolate biome

71. Fortune teller

72. Lights popularized TikTok

Down

1. Cheek

2. Washed up on a beach

3. Tower of London guards

4. Dog-tors

5. Goddess of poetry

6. West Coast burger chain

7. Albanian currency

8. Millennium Falcon

9. The BOE’s diamond in the rough

10. Shades of bleh

11. Hallucinogen

12. Electric snake

13. With “e,” an infection of the eyelid

18. To annoy

24. Bar bill

25. Not bad!

26. Travel on a bike or horse

27. Donations

28. Why Ms. Woods goes to Harvard

30. How to start a fairy tale

34. Most handsome

36. College military program

38. Exploded, with up

39. Microsoft browser

40. Largest continent

41. Unit of pressure for measuring vacuums

43. You can wipe your shoes on the doormat, but maybe not on the ____.

46. What might have a diamond over its head

49. Moe, Curly or Larry

51. In abundance

53. Sport dependent on a lyra

54. “Jane Eyre” author

55. Like eyebrows over a flame

57. Subunit of a koruna

58. Two vertical lines, symbolically

62. Nicholas and Peter are two

63. The regime that 62-down belonged to

64. ____ v. Wade

&

65. How Instagram started

66. French juice

by ELENA KOTSCHOUBEY and CAMERON NEWELL