The Little Hawk by The Little Hawk

*See page 16

FOOD: RAMEN

HEARING IN COLOR

OFF TO THE NAVY

PREVIEW 4

ALL ABOUT RAMEN

THE SCHNOEBELENS

YOUNG YOUTUBERS

NOT JUST A PHASE

APPLICATION GAME

Follow four boys’ journey from City High to Will’s kitchen, in a special behindthe-scenes edition of Food with Will and Dominic.

A Q&A with one of City High’s most prominent musical families.

Although the site has been around for a decade, City students are just beginning to join the legions of YouTube video makers.

The misrepresentation of bisexuality in the media makes adolescent struggles with sexuality even more difficult.

It can be daunting to think about the steps to college. Some of City’s students and guidance counselors offer advice.

TO THE NAVY Two City High students are looking to expand their 20 OFF horizons after graduation. Literally. A LETTER FROM THE FEATURE EDITORS

ix months ago, we began our careers as editors of The Little Hawk’s Feature Magazine with little to no idea of what we were doing. Since then, we’ve learned a lot: how to coordinate the production of a magazine, what goes into choosing a story that

matters, and when the newslab is most likely to have good snacks. This issue, we’ve applied all of that to bring you what we believe is our best issue yet. The magazine has more stories than ever before, more videos to go along with them, and — most excitingly — a new element: Aurasma.

COVER PHOTO BY CAROLINE BROWN

2 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

Aurasma is an app that basically transforms The Little Hawk into a scene from Harry Potter. Photos marked with the purple Aurasma symbol turn into videos when you scan them with the app. Just download Aurasma onto your smartphone, search for “The Little Hawk,” follow us, and start scanning! New technology aside, we’ve delved into some truly fascinating stories this issue. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the cover of the magazine asks a very timely

question: What does it take to fall in love? Inspired by The New York Times, The Little Hawk put together its own version of an experiment designed to facilitate falling in love. Our other stories are just as interesting: from ramen, to seeing sounds, to joining the navy, we hope you’ll enjoy what this issue has to offer. We certainly enjoyed doing everything that went into creating this issue, and we look forward finishing out the year with even more great stories!

TEACHER PROFILE was in love, so I came back too.” Miller is married to City High librarian Renae Miller. They live in a solar panel-equipped house outside of Iowa City with their two sons, an eighth grader and a fifth grader. “Every month we produce roughly 150 dollars worth of electricity with these solar panels, so it offsets our energy cost,” Miller said. “Plus it’s cool because it shows how much CO2 you save in the environment — it’s pretty neat.” The 10,000 watt system, which consists of two panels, was set up a year and half ago when Miller and his wife were looking to become more energy-conscious. Miller is a renowned high school teacher, but his accomplishments don’t end there. In addition to being environmentally aware, he is also an avid runner and biker, and even helped to write the third edition of a geometry textbook in partnership with the University of Chicago School of Mathematics Project. “I got to work [in Chicago] for two summers on this awesome team of really high-end teachers that I felt overwhelmed by,” Miller said. “I didn’t think that I should be there, because I felt kind of outmatched. ” In 2008, Miller was selected to receive the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching that is given out every other year. The award is given to one science and one math teacher from each state, and includes a trip to D.C. with other high school teachers. “I got to meet some awesome people, including one of the math teachers I admire the most who I worked with at the University of Chicago,” Miller said. Although he now enjoys teaching high school math, Miller wasn’t always intent on becoming a teacher. “You never know. With life, it’s kind of fun to think about what you could do. I do enjoy [teaching]. I just feel like I stumbled into a profession that I like,” Miller said.

MATT MILLER

very day, Matt Miller stands before a classroom full of attentive math and PLTW students to share his extensive knowledge. In the midst of his third year of teaching at City High, he’s no stranger to high school math and science: he previously taught at both Cedar Rapids Washington and Iowa Mennonite High Schools. “I enjoyed Cedar Rapids Washington a lot, but City High was a lot closer to where I live,” Miller said. “It was in the proximity, and it sounded like a really fun position. Also, [City High] has a really fun staff.” Miller commutes half-way from Kalona to teach everyday. Although his job allows him to show his inner “tech side”, Miller also enjoys connecting with his students. “I really like interacting with my students,” he said. “I think teenagers are funny. I don’t feel as if I age as fast because I’m always around young people.” Miller teaches Algebra 2, Precalculus Honors, and PLTW Aerospace Engineering. “I like the mathy-techy aspect,” Miller said. “I really like using this program called Geometer’s Sketchpad; I’m pretty good at it. I like to try to take what’s in the textbook and manipulate it to help students to visualize relationships between what the math is saying, and what that means.” Miller aims to take advantage of visual technology to help him teach, as he uses the Smart Boards. “I think when I was in school, the kids who could visualize things had a huge advantage over the kids who couldn’t,” Miller said. “I think my job is to balance those students out, so that everybody can visualize what’s happening.” After high school, Miller went on to attend Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia for one year, and later graduated from the University of Iowa. “My wife moved back [to Iowa] and went to ISU,” he said. “I

PHOTO BY CORA BERN-KLUG

February 13, 2015

FOOD WITH WILL & DOMINIC

PHOTO BY JACOB PAJUNEN

Follow four boys’ journey from City High to Will’s kitchen in a special behind-the-scenes edition of Food with Will and Dominic. By Dominic Balistrieri-Fox RAMEN We loaded up Jacob Pajunen’s minivan with backpacks and camera equipment that resembled automatic weapons. Bags full of instant noodles, steak, vegetables, and assorted snacks acquired at the Asian market would later join them. I forced my way into the shotgun seat, pushing Will out of the way (an action that foreshadowed an evening of arguing and relationship-defining rivalry — watch the video). But again, that’s later. LIFE AS A MOVIE STAR First we would drive to Pajunen’s house to pick up the man of the hour, Anton Buri, who

4 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

would be directing the first Little Hawk Kitchen video since Marco and I made spaghetti last year. Upon arrival at Chong’s Supermarket in Coralville, we unpacked the car, careful to conceal the hyper-valuable camera that we had affectionately dubbed “The ICCSD German Budget”. Pajunen proceeded to strap on a portable GoPro camera, with which he would document our every move. We were initially unsure whether to act candidly, or to merely give the appearance, but it really didn’t matter once we veered right into the aisle containing the instant noodles. I saw Will’s eyes light up just the slightest bit: it was time to get down to business. Pajunen was picking up the bill, so I was tempted to stick my arm into the display and sweep hundreds of dollars

worth of ramen into the basket, in a Wolf-ofWall-Street-esque move… But that would sadly have to wait, especially since hundreds of dollars worth of ramen weighs a lot, at 99 cents a pop. THE HEIST We picked up my favorites instant Mi-Goreng and spicy chicken-flavored soup in a cup, but also grabbed some Shin Ramyun black in a fourpack, because, let’s face it: if PSY advertises it, it’s a must-have. We made our way to the fresh produce, where Pajunen snagged, at my suggestion, some bok choy and cilantro on-the-cheap for 90 cents. Will tried to convince him to get the dried shrimp adorning the top of the refrigerated display, but Pajunen refused, disgusted.

FOOD Secretly, I wished we had bought the shrimp, but I added that to the bucket list, and carried on; stiff upper lip and all. We rounded the produce section, where an alcove contained frozen and refrigerated goods, including whole squid and quail eggs. Once again, it was Will who suggested that we buy quail eggs, and Pajunen who, in turn, rebuffed him.

meat, and some enchiladas. Anton had to be at a soccer game or something like that, (forgetting that the LH Ramen project is life) and so we hurried to Will’s house to do the cooking. Will has a nice big kitchen with lots of food in it, and a big gas range stove top, and granite counters, and little soap things shaped like sushi. Pots and pans and stuff is all over. We boys piled our food on the center island, and I arranged it just so.

WILL TALK That eagerness to try new things, and to leap into new experiences and ideas is one of the things I admire most about Will. I expect it comes from his participation in improv acting, but then again it might be what enables him to participate in such things. I tend to do things with a jaded and dismissive attitude, but I guess that the combination of skill sets, checks, and balances, is what makes Will and me the team we are.

THE PRODUCTION LEFT: Jacob Pajunen’s soup with steak and beef broth. RIGHT: Dominic Balistrieri-Fox’s vegetarian soup.

THE PRODUCTION: TAKE TWO (WILL DIDDLES AROUND FOR AN HOUR)

ANTON JONESES Enough of the sentimental, however, and on to the more pressing matters. Anton had been jonesing for some blueberry-flavored fruit snacks, so we headed toward the checkout and candy aisle, making a quick stop at my request to get some drinks. I picked up the Thai iced tea, and Pajunen grabbed some strange Japanese soda — you know, the kind with a glass marble at the top. We got Anton those fruit snacks, and everyone loaded up on cheap and gummy HiChew. While waiting in line for checkout, Pajunen kept exploring, adding more snack food to our basket with each passing minute. I remember him saying something about “getting the hell out of here” before he bought more food, but he followed that up with, “These are the best popsicles,” and so we got popsicles. What’s the rush, you know? In the end, I think we came out of there with about a week’s worth of food for under 40 dollars. (It could have lasted longer, if not for the snacks.) We agreed that Asian markets were the way to go for college groceries, or if one were to suddenly move in with one’s income-challenged high school friends in some sort of communal heap.

Anton Buri fried Brussels sprouts and bean sprouts in olive oil for his soup.

Will Barker made a soup with dill, eggs, steak, among other ingredients.

SOCCER, STEAK AND STAINLESS STEEL On our way to Fareway to buy steak, we (read: Anton and Will) began discussing the myriad of reasons why soccer isn’t as popular in the U.S. as football. I mostly listened, having limited knowledge on that subject. What I did know is that Germans will drive their cars through the city, honking their car horns at 12:00am, just because the national team wins a game. Why don’t we do that? Something ultimately trivial, like jail time, probably. We got a nice steak, along with frozen Gyro

All of the driving, buying, and talking was over. It was time to cook ramen. We had absolutely no plan.

Several of the soups included sautéed steaks.

WATCH THE VIDEO ON THELITTLEHAWK.COM

We decided to truly make instant noodles the right way, you have to make them look like they do on the box. This is the point where Will and I reach conflict. I must have called him a “filthy, incompetent child” seven or eight times. Will started off making nice, delicious noodles, but then he started cooking eggs and other crap in the water, and not even in the right way. Like, I’ve got nothing against eggs, unless you stir them in and cook them for like ten minutes in boiling water. He then proceeded to add deliciously cooked steak (courtesy of Anton. ANTON CAN COOK, LADIES!) to his filthy, vile broth, before topping it off with assorted vegetables and dill. Of all of the spices he had, he chose dill, and it ended up being like, three tablespoons of dill, too. A crap ton of dill. (I have to admit, it tasted slightly better than I thought.) I just made my noodles normal-like and decorated them. They ended up looking really nice, so Pajunen did the same with a different kind of broth. DOMINIC HAS A REALIZATION After this beautiful adventure, I realized that the moral of the story is that Will was right, and I was wrong. But wait, Dominic, what the hell is this? You spend a big paragraph talking about how Will made total crap! Will did make a truly horrible thing, but he did it with love, and creativity. I just heated up water and threw some veg in. Who cares what it looks like? It cost you 99 cents! Who cares how it tastes? It cost you 99 cents! I encourage everyone to go home, make some instant ramen, and then throw it in the oven on a pan or something like that. Let it burn. Cover it with parmesan cheese and marshmallows. Do whatever you feel like doing, because when food costs 99 cents, what you feel like doing becomes imperative.

PHOTOS BY DOMINIC BALISTRIERI-FOX

February 13, 2015

HEARING

ART BY CORA BERN-KLUG

4 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

IN COLOR Experiences from the lives of City’s synesthetes.

By Nova Meurice & Sarah Smith

smé Rummelhart had wanted to play violin since she first heard its sound at the age of two. When she finally started taking lessons at four years old, it came as a surprise that practicing frustrated her to the point of

tears. “My mom would practice with me, and I would come to tears because my mom didn’t understand the patterns,” Rummelhart said. “I would mess up in my pattern, but she’d tell me to fix something and I’d be like ‘I know I just messed up because I have to fix [my pattern],’ and I would come to tears because she didn’t know.” Rummelhart, like 1 in every 23 people, experiences a neurological phenomenon called synesthesia. The word itself is derived from Ancient Greek, with “syn” meaning “together” or “merged,” and “esthesia” meaning “sense.” Neurologists view it as a “cross wiring” of different parts of the brain, where the use of one sense triggers another. In Rummelhart’s case, her senses of hearing and sight are connected; when she hears music, she also sees it. “If you play [a note] separately, then I

see it separately, but if it’s in a sequence, then that’s what I’m seeing,” Rummelhart said. “I like songs based on how interesting the movement of the notes is, and I think that’s what kind of makes music attractive.” While the colors she sees are very real and vivid to her, Rummelhart can’t describe them in relatable terms. Her colors aren’t wavelengths of light, like the eyes perceive; they’re instead created by her brain. “When I was little [my mom] would ask me what colors I saw, and I could never draw it, because they’re not colors that exist,” she said. “They’re changing and they’re different, they’re warm and they’re cool and they have to do with major or minor, or if [the music] sounds happy or sad.”

Eliana Hoffman ‘17 also sees colors and patterns accompanying music she hears. “If I’m hearing two-part harmony I see the notes moving,” Hoffman said. “They’ll come together and come apart.” While Hoffman sees patterns and colors with music, she primarily has graphemecolor synesthesia. People with grapheme-color synesthesia connect colors to numbers and letters. “I associate colors with numbers, letters, and a lot of words. When I’m thinking, I’m always seeing what I’m thinking about,” Hoffman said. “If I’m listening to the alphabet song, I’ll see a different color for every letter, but for words it has to do with the sounds.

“I THOUGHT EVERYBODY THOUGHT THE SAME WAY, BUT APPARENTLY THAT’S NOT THE CASE.” -ELIANA HOFFMAN ‘17

February 13, 2015 7

Different people’s names or dif- she had synesthesia. Appleby and Hoffman faced skepticism from ferent words correspond with dif- Hoffman, however didn’t know their parents. When Hoffman ferent colors.” about synesthesia until they read told her parents about her selfoffman believes this con- about it in sixth or seventh grade. diagnosis, they were disbelievnection helps her learn “I read The Mysterious Bene- ing at first. But after a visit to a and create connections dict Society and I was like, ‘Wait, professional who affirmed Hoffmore quickly. everyone doesn’t have that?’” man’s suspicions, they became “When your English teacher tells you to visualize what you’re reading, I’m always doing that,” Hoffman said. “It’s not a big step for me to have to do that. It’s a lot quicker than having to go between thinking and seeing, because it’s basically the same thing.” ina Appleby ‘17, another student with graphemecolor synesthesia, also believes her connections between colors and numbers have helped her with memorization. “I was able to memorize multiplication tables and stuff like that more easily because I could associate the different colors,” Appleby said. Rummelhart also thinks her synesthesia has helped her in school and extracurriculars. “I have wondered if it has helped me in school in other ways,” Rummelhart said. “But I think that in music it definitely has.” Rummelhart has many memories of seeing and reading her patterns from an early age. This is common for people diagnosed with synesthesia. However, many synesthetes stop experiencing synesthesia as they age past childhood.. “When I was younger it was more prominent than it is now. Some people lose it completely as they grow up, but I hope that’s not the case,” she said. “With the music I play now, it’s a little more difficult to just rely on the pattern, even if you know SOURCES: ELSEVIER, PERCEPTION & BARON-COHEN the piece really well, because they’re harder.” convinced. ummelhart said that she Hoffman said. “I thought every“I just went to the doctor and didn’t understand that not one thought in the same way, but they actually have these tests oneveryone saw colors while apparently that’s not the case.” line. It’s really cool,” Hoffman listening to music, until her mom By identifying their synesthe- said. “They have a box and it’s read about it and figured out that sia themselves, both Appleby and full of fives and twos. For nor-

1 in 23 people have synesthesia

synesthesia is about as common in women as in men

1 in 3 synesthetes have relatives with synesthesia for 36% of PEOPLE WITH GRAPHEMEcolor synesthesia, ‘r’ is red for 45%, ‘y’ is yellow

for 47% , ‘d’ is brown

8 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

mal people, it’s hard to differentiate between them. But when you have synesthesia, you have different numbers with different colors, so I’m just seeing green dots and pink dots. It’s really easy to differentiate.”

lthough synesthesia has been studied and tested for over 100 years, little was known about it until recent decades, after the invention of brain imaging technology, such as MRIs and PET scans. Despite these advances, finding new information about synesthesia is still difficult. This lack of information can pose a problem to those who have synesthesia, and do not know how to treat its side effects. For Rummelhart, this means tolerating additional pain during the migraines she experiences. “My migraines get really bad, to where I’ll throw up. When I have a migraine my speech becomes impaired, and affects the way I can talk. I get tongue tied,” Rummelhart said. “It affects your light sensitivity a lot, and your sense of smell. I don’t want to listen to music when I have a migraine, because it’s too stimulating, too overbearing. All of your senses just go out the window.” Additionally, both Appleby and Rummelhart had some problems with confusing letters and numbers when they were first learning to read. This is another common problem of synesthetes. “I used to mix up fours and sevens because they have similar colors,” Appleby said. For Hoffman, having synesthesia hasn’t caused her any difficulties yet. “I haven’t had any problems with it,” she said. “It’s not really an impairment, just a way of thinking that’s different. I’m glad I have it. I feel like it’s an opportunity to extend what I’m thinking in another sense.”

W W W . T H E L I T T L E H A W K . C O M

LHONLINE

ADVERTISEMENTS

February 13, 2015

THE SCHNOEBELENS

FROM LEFT: Joey Schnoebelen ‘17, Megan Schnoebelen ‘16, and John Schnoebelen ‘16 are all City High band members. PHOTO BY KIERRA ZAPF

Megan ‘16, John ‘16, and Joey ‘17 have been key players in the City High Band program over the past few years, and are arguably members of City High’s most prominent musical family. By Riley Lewers LH: When and why did you start playing your instrument?

vate teacher definitely inspired me to be more motivated, and helped me make goals.

JOEY: It kind of runs in our family. John’s dad played trumpet and my dad played trumpet. My dad was in the Hawkeye marching band. JOHN: My mom was like, “We have and old trumpet at home so that’s always an option.” MEGAN: We all started band in fifth grade, and we all used to play piano too.

LH: You have all won a lot of awards for band. Which one meant the most?

LH: What do you enjoy most about it? JOEY: Seeing Dr. McReynolds every day. JOHN: Making great music in Wind Ensemble. MEGAN: I guess I’d say my favorite part is that it’s kind of an outlet for expressing emotion. Sometimes for quieter people like me it’s just easier to express yourself while playing an instrument. Practicing also keeps you really grounded. LH: Which ensembles are you involved in? JOEY: Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, jazz combo, show choir combo, orchestra, and marching band. I also play at my church. JOHN: Same as Joey except for jazz combo, and I don’t play at church right now. MEGAN: I’m going to do pit in the spring, and I play at church. I also do Wind Ensemble, marching band, and Orchestra. I don’t do jazz. LH: Who inspired you to play, and which famous musicians influence you? JOEY: I especially started getting into jazz around seventh grade. Mr. Pringle really helped. All the band directors have played a big part, and have been really supportive. Besides that, I just started listening. Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard are my favorite trumpet players. Just listening to them, I kind of caught on. When I was younger I would listen to music to help me fall asleep. JOHN: It’s true that Mr. Pringle really did help. Also our private trumpet teacher helped a lot over the years. MEGAN: I’m more of a classical player, so I listened to classical composers. I started on that with piano. I’ve grown to like jazz, but when I when I was younger I didn’t really like it. My pri-

JOEY: I got first chair in SEIBA seventh and eighth grade. I got outstanding instrumentalist in show choir combo. All-State was definitely a good experience. I was in that this year and last year. It’s really cool because you’re around people who are all really good at your instrument. JOHN: I got the freshman award that Mr. Arp gave to me in Symphony Band, but probably making All-State this year was the biggest deal to me, because this was my first year making it. MEGAN: I think mine would be All-State last year, because we played “Arabesque” and the composer conducted us, so that was super cool. I think it was my tenth grade year I got into the honors solo recital, and that really meant a lot to me. LH: What’s your most special band memory?

JOEY: John and I have known each other forever. When we were little we played football in our yards, and I knocked out two of his teeth. I don’t look at it as a competition because we kind of need each other. Being younger, it really helps me to have John. We both lead the trumpet section, so we get two different points of view. JOHN: Yes. I agree with Joey. LH: Joey, what was your reaction when you found out you won best instrumentalist at the Prairie Premiere show choir competition? JOEY: Actually I wasn’t there. I was at a gig and I was like, “Cool.” I was definitely excited about it. The combo also beat Waukee to get best combo, which was really great. That was the first time as a combo that we beat Waukee. Nobody ever beats Waukee so I was like, “Wait...what happened?” LH: Is music something you plan on pursuing as a career? What about college?

JOEY: Probably hanging out with Brian Pringle and Joseph Arch. Just playing the longest board games at show choir competitions with Brian Pringle. It was cool having people as good as Brian Pringle and Joseph Arch ahead of us to kind of teach us the ropes. JOHN: Probably something with Brian Pringle or Drew Gardner running during marching band. MEGAN: I would say being in Wind Ensemble freshman year.

JOEY: I definitely think no matter what, even if you don’t major or minor in it, that you should keep music a part of your life. I don’t know yet if I’m going to pursue it. It’s just one of those things that it’s hard to make money in, but it’s something you can take with you wherever you go. JOHN: I don’t think I’ll get a degree in music. I want to keep up with it though. Maybe I’ll be in a jazz band or marching band. MEGAN: I think Joey and I are both thinking of majoring or minoring in music along with something else.

LH: Are there other aspects to band that you enjoy besides just playing your instrument?

LH: What do you think has made you so successful as musicians?

JOEY: Definitely you get to meet people and make a lot of friends in band. Playing basketball against Mr. Arp was great. JOHN: Stuff like the Orlando trip is really fun. We’re all going on that this year. I really liked the Chicago trip last year. MEGAN: It’s a great experience. You get to meet so many people who have a lot in common with you.

JOEY: A lot of it, for me, and for all of us, is our work ethic. We work really hard at what we do. We like music so much that we like practicing. We all practice every day. JOHN: It helps a lot that music is a big deal here at City High. We have a really good music department. MEGAN: Piano gave us a good base for starting our instruments, so we didn’t just start with nothing. We all get after each other to practice, and motivate each other.

LH: What is it like to be cousins both playing trumpet at a high level?

February 13, 2015 11

Off to the Navy

ART BY ESME RUMMELHART & SARAH SMITH

12 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

Two City High students are looking to expand their horizons after graduation. Literally. By Caroline Brown

irefighter, NBA star, pilot, president. Ask any kindergartner what they want to be when they grow up, and you’re almost certain to get one of those answers. But Tyler Fay ‘15 always had a different response in mind. Since his childhood, Fay has been fascinated by the idea of the armed forces. His interest in the military predates even his passion for dance. Now, as a senior in high school, he is ready to begin the next chapter of his life, serving our country as a member of the U.S. Navy. “I’ve always been interested in it, for even longer than I’ve been in dance. I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve always wanted to [be in the navy],” Fay said. “I just felt like I needed to do this for myself and for my country, the most important thing I need to do.” Although he invested many hours of his young adult life into his training as a dancer, Fay has come to the decision that he wants to make a career in the navy. “Dance is something fun to do in high school,” Fay said. “But there are more important things in life.” Jacob Cabbage ‘15 is headed in a similar direction, although his interest in the military was sparked much more recently. “I got a postcard in the mail last summer inviting me to apply for the summer seminar at the Naval Academy,” Cabbage said. “I’d always kind of thought about going to a service academy for college. Then when I visited for the summer seminar it was really cool, and I liked it.” Both students plan on making a career as a member of the military. However, they have very different histories when it comes to their families’ past involvement in the armed forces. “My grandpa was in the navy, and he told me that he liked it a lot. It could change, but I’ve heard a lot of positive things about it,” Fay said. “I’ve just always been attracted to the navy.” Besides his grandfather, Fay has other relatives who have served in other branches of the military. “My grandpa is the only one who has served in the navy, but I have two uncles that served in the air force, and my other grandpa served in the army,” Fay said. “Actually, my family has a good friend who is an ex-army ranger, and he tells me things about the military and what he’s seen. He’s talked about the good and the bad in things, but I’ve always thought it would be cool to join and be a part of that community.” Cabbage, on the other hand, has not grown up with the same influence.

“I’m pretty sure I’m the first goal and a better world.” one from my family to serve in Fay also has a lot of training the last 100 years,” he said. “When ahead of him. He will be attending I tell people I get a lot of shocked Kirkwood for two years, and affaces. They nod and then they terwards plans on enrolling in the look down and then they look ROTC at Iowa State University. back up with confusion.” “It’s the only program Even though his decision in Iowa that has the navy wasn’t expected, Cabbage ROTC,” he said. “Hopefully, describes his friends and through that program I can family as being enthusiastic earn my tuition.” about his choice. After completing his “When I first talked training at Iowa State, Fay about doing it, a lot my parplans to continue to serve in ents friends and my neighthe armed forces, although bors talked about their exhe is not certain where he periences and people they will end up. knew who were in the navy,” “It just depends on where he said. “They all supported they need me. I’ll figure that it and encouraged it.” out when I get there,” he Cabbage will be attendsaid. “I am really excited to ing the United States Nabe on a battleship. But I just val Academy in Annapowant to see the world and lis, Maryland next fall. He experience what it’s like. I found that the cost of educawant to be able to make a ABOVE: Jacob Cabbage ‘15 will be tion was a large contributor difference in it.” attending the United States Naval to his decision. Though war is a controAcademy in Annapolis next fall. “The Naval Academy versial subject, Fay feels that BELOW: Tyler Fay ‘15 plans to attend is free, so that’s nice. Colthe biggest way to make a Kirkwood College ,and then join the lege is expensive, and with difference in the world is to naval ROTC at Iowa State University. the naval academy you’re defend his country and dePHOTOS BY CAROLINE BROWN guaranteed a job right out fend its people. of college. It’s a career path “War is terrible, but there you can take,” he said. “And has to be someone to help it gave me the opportunity to and stand up for people who do what I wanted to.” are being kicked around Struggling to pay for colby evil,” he said. “It’s not lege is a problem for many something that we should Americans today. However be proud of doing, but if it the free tuition wasn’t the means saving other people, only thing that caught Caband keeping people safe, to bage’s attention. keep them from having to “It’s one of the toughworry about being blown up, est schools in the nation I think it’s worth it.” without the military training Cabbage agrees that the thrown on, so I guess that safety of the country comes would be the most daunting before all else. thing,” he said. “The navy “War is never the first opdoes a lot of the advertising tion, or at least it shouldn’t campaigns, where they talk be,” he said. “But we can’t about being a global force just sit back and say we’re for good. That really appealed to not going to fight. We need to be me because I don’t just want to be prepared to if the rest of the world in the military to say that I’ve been is.” in the military. I want to be in the military to work towards a better

February 13, 2015

PHOTO BY CORA BERN-KLUG

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMERA By Sonali Durham

ne hundred hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. However, only a small fraction of those are posted by high school students. Virtually every high school student can say that they watch YouTube videos on a regular basis, but far fewer can say they upload content themselves. However, that may be changing: at the most recent VidCon (a convention for YouTube content creators and viewers), a “YoungTubers” panel created a space for teens on YouTube to interact in person. Abby Pradarelli ‘17 is among the first wave of City students to take on YouTube as a means of expression. Working with her longtime friend Cole Nicholson ‘17, she has posted videos ranging from fun challenges to serious reflections. “I just did it because Cole thought it would be a fun idea, and we just wanted to see how it would go,” she said. “We just do it for fun, so I

14 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

don’t really have anything that I’m trying to accomplish with it. It’s just supposed to be something entertaining.” Instagram is a comfortable place for Pradarelli to share her videos: Before starting their YouTube accounts, Pradarelli and Nicholson used Instagram as an entertainment platform, and still run an account. “[Cole and I] have an Instagram account with 8,000 followers right now,” Pradarelli said. “I like to entertain people. That’s what I do.” Addie Bass ‘17, like Pradarelli and Nicholson, uses Instagram and YouTube in tandem to share her videos.

“I’ll post links on my Instagram, and people will comment,” Bass said. “I’ll post little snippets of videos, and people from school will follow the link in my description and check them out.” Bass first became interested in using YouTube because she was looking for a way to share her music. “I started on YouTube because I’ve always liked to sing,” she said. “People would say, ‘Do you have a YouTube channel? You should put this on YouTube!’” When Pradarelli and Nicholson started their channels, they invested in some filming equipment. “We actually have a lot of high-tech equip-

“NONE OF MY FRIENDS WERE [UPLOADING TO YOUTUBE], AND SO I DIDN’T HAVE MUCH TO GO OFF OF.” -ADDIE BASS ‘17

“I DON’T THINK MANY KIDS USE [YOUTUBE] TO POST THEIR OWN IDEAS, BUT I THINK ALMOST EVERY KID GOES ON YOUTUBE DAILY.” -EMMA ARP ‘17 ment,” Pradarelli said. “We have an angel light, a camera, and camera stand, and a Rodeo mic that attaches to the camera. And we use iMovie or After Effects to edit.” However, equipment is an obstacle for Bass and many other young performers. Professionalquality equipment can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars — much more than a typical high school student is able to spend. “I got a smartphone a couple years ago, and now I just film myself on that,” Bass said. “I’d really like to get some good equipment, like an actual filming camera and a microphone.” Getting the right equipment is only the first of many challenges for beginning Youtubers: with just under 30 subscribers to her channel, Pradarelli is now working on building an audience. “Whenever I make a new video, I post a picture of it on Snapchat and say ‘new video up!’” Pradarelli said. “And I have my YouTube link in my bio on Instagram.” Bass also uses social media to promote her YouTube channel, which has around 40 subscribers. “I’ll post links on my Instagram, and people will comment,” she said. “I’ll post little snippets of videos and people from school will follow the link in my description and check them out.” Both Bass and Pradarelli are much more active on Instagram than on YouTube. And although a 2014 study by The Intelligence Group found that a whopping 74 percent of teens use YouTube “frequently,” relatively few City students upload videos themselves. “I don’t think many kids use it to post their own ideas, but I think almost every kid goes on YouTube daily,” Emma Arp ‘17 said. Equipment is one barrier that may be keeping high schoolers from posting on YouTube. Another could be the fact that YouTube, which was founded in 2005, existed long before current high school students were posting online at all.

“None of my friends were [up- a car.” loading to YouTube], and so I Both Bass and Morrow demdidn’t have much to go off of,” Bass onstrate that it is possible to be acsaid of her start on YouTube. tive on YouTube without investing Max Morrow ‘17 significant amounts sees YouTube as most of money into equipappealing to a select ment, so perhaps audience. that’s not the barrier “Mostly it’s just keeping high school people who like dirtstudents from uploadbiking and skiing ing. Morrow believes [who watch my vidthat the nature of videos],” he said. eo making itself might IN 2012, ONLY Although Morrow pose an obstacle. 7% OF TEENS mostly uses his GoPro “In my perspec(a wearable camera) tive, [high school stuMAINTAINED to post videos of himdents] are really selfYOUTUBE self skiing, he has reconscious about what cently begun posting ACCOUNTS. other people think more personal videos. about them,” Morrow “I did a couple resaid. “So a longer vidviews,” he said. “And eo could have more the most recent one errors in it than in just was just [about] a lea short Instagram vidgal issue I thought eo. They don’t want was kind of weird.” to post that. And it 74% OF Morrow says he takes planning to do TEENS USED [a YouTube video]. gets about 300 hits on each of his GoPro [It’s] time-consuming, YOUTUBE videos. His most sucand you can get more “FREQUENTLY” criticism.” cessful video gathered 19,000 views. With Any of those reaIN 2014. that amount of traffic, sons could be conMorrow’s YouTube tributing to the fact account qualifies for a that relatively few partnership with Youteens upload their Tube, meaning he can own content to Youmake money off his Tube. But for those videos. who do make videos, “They’ll wait until YOUTUBE IS advancing technology you earn at least one making it easier and THE FAVORITE iseasier hundred dollars and to become a loWEBSITE then they send you a cal celebrity. check in the mail with “There have been OF 12- TO the money,” he said. freshmen this year 15-YEAR“So far I’ve made a who, when I was a dollar off it.” freshmen, were in OLDS. Although Mormiddle school, and row’s account has the they didn’t know me, potential to earn revbut they knew me enue, Morrow doesn’t through my YouTube plan to spend it on channel or through more equipment. Instagram,” Bass said. “I don’t think I’m going to invest “It’s kind of cool to see them now. that much money into [my You- They say, ‘Oh my God, I watch your Tube account],” he said. “I would Youtube channel!’ And I’m like, probably save up for college or buy ‘Why?’”

SOURCES: eMARKETER, YOUTUBE, & THE INTELLIGENCE GROUP

February 13, 2015

What Does it Take to Fall in Love? By Payton Evans

any of us dream about finding “the one” — a true love, a significant other, a soulmate. Fate is a popular belief, that the right one will come along at the right time, but what if falling in love is up to you? What if falling in love only takes a couple of intimate questions, and a few moments of staring deeply into the eyes of your partner? According to an experiment reiterated by New York Times journalist Mandy Len Catron, love could be that simple. Inspired by a previous study originating from psychologist and college professor Arthur Aron, which resulted in the marriage of two participants who were previously strangers, Catron took the study into her own hands. Sitting faceto-face with her heterosexual male partner, they begin to ask each other a series of increasingly intimate questions. To conclude the experiment, they silently stared into each other’s eyes for four minutes. “First, we were in a bar, not a lab. Second, we weren’t strangers,” Catron wrote in her article, noting the differences between her session and Aron’s experiment. “Not only that, but I see now that one neither suggests nor agrees to try an experiment designed to create romantic love if one isn’t open to this happening.” Another significant, undisclosed detail lies among the differences between the two experiments. Catron was testing for love, but Aron wasn’t. “Arthur Aron was measuring the effect of his closeness-building task on participants’ feelings of closeness right after the task was finished,” University of Iowa psychology professor Paul Windschitl said. “After all, it’s not that unusual for classmates who randomly meet each other to go out and maybe even form a relationship, all without doing Aron’s task.” However, even if love was not the in-

16 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

tentional result, is it a possible one? The Little Hawk decided to do some investigating, and we created our own version of this experiment, following Aron’s guidelines as closely as possible. Interested participants filled out an application asking for their age, course load, grade point average, electives, and future goals. Staff members then matched applicants with similar responses. Matches were based on variables Aron took into account in his study: similar views on issues of importance, similar levels of intelligence, and the expectation that the two participants matched would like one another. The 36 questions involved in the experiment range from the lighthearted (“Would you like to be famous?”) to the more intrusive (“Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing?”) with the purpose of causing more disclosure with each question. “This article presents a practical methodology for creating closeness in an experimental context, so that whether or not a subject is in a relationship, the particular pairings of individuals in the relationship, and the circumstances under which the relationship develops all become manipulated independent variables,” Aron wrote in his article explaining the experiment, “The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal

Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings.” The subjects in The Little Hawk’s version of the experiment were asked to complete a postinterview survey indicating their reactions to the experiment. “I thought it was a cute idea, and that it was very scientific,” participant Mackie Welter ‘17 said in her post-experiment response. “But then it started to hit me that it might work because we had a lot in common.” S o m e subjects were interviewed again a week after the experiment to see if the relationship with their partner had gone anywhere. Most responses indicated that participants had become better friends due to the experiment, but there were no signs of successful matchmaking. Multiple variables impacted and changed The Little Hawk’s study in comparison to that of The New York Times, or Professor Aron’s, in turn, influencing the results. “I think Aron’s closeness-building exercise could make two people feel closer than they otherwise would. I suspect this feeling would be short-lived under most circumstances,” Windschitl said. “However, if feeling closer causes future behavior changes, it could lead to a deepening relationship.”

“IT STARTED TO HIT ME THAT [THE EXPERIMENT] MIGHT WORK, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON.”

-MACKIE WELTER ‘17

TOP LEFT: Noah Titler ‘18 and Mackie Welter ‘17 participate in the Matchmakers experiment. TOP RIGHT: Joseph Ellis ‘17 and Jessica Onnen ‘15 begin the experiment. CENTER: Students gathered in the Commons to meet their partners. BOTTOM: Yara Moustafa ‘17 and Jim Geerdes ‘17 answer questions for the Matchmakers experiment. PHOTOS BY LYDIA KAUFMANN

February 13, 2015 17

WINTER BLUES By Caroline Brown & Riley Lewers

WHAT CAUSES S.A.D.?

It’s the time of year when everyone’s feeling a little blue. The holidays are over, schoolwork is piling up, and the weather just seems to keep getting worse. It’s normal to be a little down, but where do you draw the line between feeling down and being depressed?

SAD is caused by the lack of sunlight exposure during the winter. It is the shortened exposure of broad spectrum light that causes mood changes.

The signs of S.A.D. are very similar to the signs of any other type of depression. Typically, after two weeks of having symptoms you can be diagnosed as depressed. Symptoms include: low mood, decreased interest in activities, changes in appetite, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide. But the key is that symptoms are much more severe during the winter months.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FEEL BETTER?

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IT?

In order to feel better, getting plenty of sleep, exercising, and spending time outside are important habits to develop. In some cases a light box, (to increase your intake of natural light), or antidepressants, may be necessary.

S.A.D. is more common in the north than in the south.

S.A.D. affects more women than it does men.

Being exposed to more sunlight can help treat S.A.D. Since it can be difficult to get enough sunlight during the winter, lightboxes mimic the sun to provide an alternative. 10 million Americans — or three percent — have S.A.D. PHOTO BY CAROLINE BROWN

18 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

it's not just a phase

20 Little Hawk Feature Magazine

Opinion

Rachel Fischer takes a look at the labeling problem of bisexuality in the media. By Rachel Fischer

range is the New Black, one of the biggest hit shows of 2014, has been praised for giving representation to LGBT people, and they do succeed in representing three fourths of the community. However, by calling the character Piper, a woman who has had relationships with both men and women, a “former lesbian,” the show ignores a significant sector of the LGBT community: those who identify as bisexual. "Orange is the New Black is really the show where you would expect them to acknowledge bisexuality," bisexual student Gina Applebee ‘17 said. “I was watching and I was like, ‘O.M.G., are they going to say it?’ I've never actually heard [the word ‘bisexual’] on TV before. Then they said ‘former lesbian’ and I was like, ‘Um, not really.’” Bisexuality has largely been ignored by the media for years, only coming up when its legitimacy is questioned. Many newspapers, including The New York Times, have questioned the legitimacy of bisexuality, based on a purported lack of scientific evidence, despite the fact that it has been documented in many cultures throughout history. “For me, the notion that bisexuality is just a phase or something has always been strange. I’ve always felt this way, and I think a lot of other people have too,” Applebee said. “When people say it’s a phase I just want to be like, ‘What if your heterosexuality is a phase? What then?’” While there are several celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, who have come out as bisexual, others, such as Jessie J, have said that their bisexuality was a phase. This message can be confusing for young people who are struggling with their identities. City High’s Gay, Lesbian, or Whatever Club aims

to help clarify issues like that for students. “It is normal for teenagers to struggle with their sexuality and where they belong,” Maureen Hill, G.L.O.W. Club advisor, said. “That is why we have things like G.L.O.W. Club.” Many people who truly identify as bisexual come out as gay to friends and family for fear they won’t be understood or accepted. One survey by the National Health Interview Survey found that 28 percent of people in the United States who identify as bisexual have come out as gay instead. The feeling of isolation from both homo-and heterosexual communities-was linked to higher rates of substance abuse and depression in bisexuals in a 2013 study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh. “Even groups that you would expect to accept bisexuality don’t,” Applebee said. “They say, ‘Well, he has dated girls and now he dates guys, so he is clearly gay,’ but he isn’t. Even the allies and people who are homosexual themselves tend to erase bisexuality.” The questioned legitimacy of bisexuality goes beyond the heterosexual community. People who identify as gay or lesbian have also questioned whether bisexuality is real or just a way to avoid “committing” to being being gay or lesbian. “Being bisexual is simply being attracted, romantically and sexually, to both boys and girls,” Hill said. A recent study on bisexuality found that female bisexuals are looked more upon more favorably than male bisexuals. This may have to do with the fact that, according to the University of Pittsburgh study, straight men are the most likely to have negative attitudes toward bisexuals. “Guys tend to be more incon-

siderate about preference than girls are about other girls,” bisexual student Josh Engelbrecht ‘16 said. “Girls with other friends who are girls have that close emotional connection in a way guys don’t.” One of the common misconceptions about bisexuality is the belief that once someone who identifies as bisexual is in a relationship with a member of a particular sex, they are no longer attracted to the other sex. “Just because I’m with someone doesn’t mean I can’t notice other

people and celebrities,” Applebee “17 said. “It’s the same with people who are heterosexual, which just makes it all the more ridiculous.” In the end, bisexuality is just another sexual orientation that is largely ignored by mainstream media. That lack of representation leads to ignorance about bisexuality. “Sexuality is a continuum. There are different ends and lots of things in between,” Hill said. “We are all moving along that continuum, all the time.”

21% of non-heterosexual people identify as bisexual 1500+ non-human species exhibit bisexuality 31% of bisexual people are male bisexuality was first documented in ancient greece SOURCES: THE NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY, THE NORWEGIAN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, AND LIVIUS.ORG

February 13, 2015

the GAME of By Sonali Durham & Olivia Parrott

CO L

It can be daunting to think about the steps to college. Some of City’s students and guidance counselors give advice that can help get you started.

FRESHMAN YEAR

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

SENIOR YEAR

Although college may seem like it’s a long way off, it’s never too early to start thinking about it.

Be sure to keep your grades up, and take challenging classes to build up your transcript.

The pressure of approaching deadlines can be stressful, but keeping organized can help you avoid panic.

“I wish had done more things at the beginning of high school,” Anna Kaldjian ‘15 said. “[Like] getting involved with stuff, especially community service.”

“Sophomore year you need to start with taking the PSAT, and [have] a strong curriculum. You need to start planning your ACT and SAT testing dates, and you need to start thinking about colleges and what kind of areas you’d be interested in,” Hoel said. “Do a few [college] visits. Do some job shadows or internships.”

“One way [to avoid stress] would be to start early so you aren’t worried about deadlines. Be organized,” Hoel said. “Junior year is when you get serious about [college].”

Planning classes and extracurriculars to match college plans is the biggest thing high school freshmen can do to get ready for the college application process. “Academically, you need to plan your four years so you can be taking the right classes to be prepared for any of the things you want to do,” City High guidance counselor Linda Hoel said.

Sophomore year is a great time to start figuring out what you’re interested in. “Just try it,” Savannah Surom ‘15 said. “If you’re curious [about something], I know that Kirkwood offers weekly courses you can take in different subjects to try out.”

Starting early could include looking at application requirements at different schools and considering which schools you might apply to. “Definitely get your lists together early,” Kaldjian said. “People say you should have a wide range [of possible colleges]: a few you know you’ll get into, and some that you think you probably won’t, and some that you think are a good shot but you don’t know for sure.”

“When I get really stressed I just go for a run and try not to think about it,” Kaldjian said. “And sometimes, I just stop writing and go to sleep.”

Summer before senior year Begin working on

SAT if you haven’t already.

list of colleges you might apply to.

Finding something distracting you enjoy can help take your mind off the admissions process.

City High has lots to offer in terms of help with everything from financial aid to essay writing. Most of these resources can be found through the guidance office.

Spring of junior year Take the ACT or

Fall of junior year Begin compiling a

“To cope with the process I focused my time and energy on things I could do now: keep my grades up and still be involved in high school stuff, because I’m still in high school, I’m still a kid,” Surom said.

application essays if you haven’t already. Make sure you’ve taken the tests you’ll need.

Spring and summer of junior year

Consider making campus visits to colleges you’d like to attend.

Summer before senior year Finalize your list of

colleges you’d like to apply to. Make sure you know their application requirements.

LEGE T I PS “For letters of recommendation it’s important, first of all, to ask people who have the ability and skill to write a good recommendation, and secondly who are willing to take the time and write a good recommendation.” Linda Hoel, guidance counselor

“Take them at their word that they are evaluating you holistically and it’s not any one thing that’s going to make or break it. So all though we all do it, don’t stay up to three in the morning stressing about one essay.” Anna Kaldjian ‘15

TERMS TO KNOW Candidates’ Reply Date Agreement (CRDA): This agreement, end-

ing May 1, gives students time to evaluate responses from the colleges they have applied to before making a final decision.

Holistic Admissions: evaluating the

whole application as one item, rather than considering individual parts. Most colleges and universities evaluate applications holistically.

Early Decision: a way of know-

ing whether a college will accept you earlier than usual. If accepted, you are obligated to withdraw any other applications and to enroll at that school.

Early Admission: a “Try to have a little sense of humor about it. If you stress to much it’s just going to be a killer for you; both in your academic performance here, and in terms of how you’re going to present yourself in your applications.” Linda Hoel, guidance counselor

Fall of senior year Continue working on

applications. Make sure you keep track of deadlines.

non-binding way of knowing whether a college will accept you earlier than you usually would. If you are accepted, you can still consider other schools and make your decision based on other acceptances.

Common Application: a standardized application accepted by more than 500 colleges and universities that can be filled out online or on paper, and then submitted to any colleges that accept it.

Waiting List: after colleges be-

come aware of how many of the students accepted have decided to attend, colleges look to the list of applicants on the waiting list to fill any empty spots. Colleges may waitlist applicants about whom they want more information before making a decision on whether to offer admission.

SAT Subject Tests: Hour-long,

single-subject tests that can strengthen applications and sometimes fulfill basic college class requirements. Sometimes required by selective colleges.

Spring of senior year Make any additional

college visits you need, and prepare to choose a school.

Winter of senior year By this point,

application deadlines are approaching. Make final edits, then submit.

Late spring of senior year You made it! Start thinking about college life.

Little Hawk Feature Magazine