NORTH HARORD HIGH SCHOOL
211 PYLESVILLE RD, PYLESVILLE, MD 21132
410-638-3650
VOLUME 43, ISSUE 10
JUNE 13, 2022
Valedictorian, Salutatorian named at Senior Awards Assembly; Graduating Class celebrates top students KIMBERLY EDGAR Entertainment Editor The highest achievement for most people in their high school career is to be named valedictorian or salutatorian during their senior year. The winners were announced on June 1 during the senior award assembly; this year Jamie Kavanagh and Nick Spigler were awarded, respectively. Jamie Kavanagh said she has made school her priority since freshman year. “I had to make choices like putting school above my social life and work, which was difficult,” says Kavanagh. “But I’m hoping my school work ethic will help me out during my career.” Kavanagh is attending the University of Maryland’s Honors College. She is majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology. “I chose UMD because I was selected as a Banneker/Key scholar and won a full scholarship. I’m very excited to study biology from a neurological perspective and for the research opportunities UMD has to offer,” says Kavanagh. Right behind her at second in his class is salutatorian Nick Spigler. Spigler explains that preparing the speech and being recognized as salutatorian was stressful. “I finished school, but I still had other commitments outside of school like work, summer swim-
pirations for colleges and a good GPA can help applicants stand out,” Kavanagh mentions. Although Kavanagh was surprised she wasn’t tied with anyone, she was excited for the opportunity, “I didn’t get as nervous as I expected; I was excited,” says Kavanagh. Spigler believes that being salutatorian means he needs to “fill” that role of alJamie Kavanaugh, Valedictorian most being at the top of his class. “There ming, scholarship applications, and college housing forms to fill are certain expectations, like out the same week the speech giving the speech, and being needed to be done,” says Spigler. the typical ‘salutatorian’ perHe describes it as feeling son,” says Spigler. “Being salutatorian to me “strange” because it didn’t feel like something new; it was still a holds no more value than being piece of writing he wanted to be in the top five percent because GPA is roughly the same and proud of. “This award is an honor be- everyone who has a GPA that cause it’s a representation of all high has worked hard to get my hard work, and it is an honor there.” “Going into high school, to speak at graduation,” adds Kavanagh. She explains that she al- it’s always a thought in everyways strived to have a high GPA body’s mind [to be valedictorian for colleges. “I knew I had big as- or salutatorian]. As time went on,
I realized I would have to give a speech whether I was first or second and that I didn’t even know if it was feasible,” says Spigler. AP Physics had Kavanagh struggling. She explains that she is more of a chemistry person and physics doesn’t come as naturally to her. She explains that AP Chemistry was a “huge help” to her since her college major is chemistry heavy. In ad-
challenged my writing skills and forced me deeper into literature than any other class,” adds Kavanagh. Spigler gives his thanks to teachers Laura O’Leary, Christine Jestel, Jennifer Chandler, Joanna Dallam, Gregory Murrell, Brady Green, and Shelly Sparks. “All [of them] were enthusiastic, encouraging, and compassionate teachers who encouraged me to challenge myself,” says Spigler. Along with Spigler, Kavanagh mentions teachers Jestel and Dallam, who teach science and English, respectively. “Mrs. Jestel helped me realize how much I love science and Mrs. Dallam inspired me to question the world around me,” says Kavanagh. Science teachers Michael Knoll and Kristian Jones-Knoll also helped Kavanagh. “They were both very encouraging in my pursuit of a STEM career. I Nick Spigler, Salutatoriam am so thankful for how they always showed how much dition to AP Physics, “both AP they believed in me,” states KaEnglish Language and Literature vanagh.
New year, new career for educators; School says goodbye to two teachers
NEAH SHAW Reporter
Next school year will look a little different in the science and agriculture departments when two of its members will be leaving to pursue another career related to their field. The plant and science teacher Ms. Erika Edwards and the physics teacher Mr. Doug Heeter will be saying goodbye to North Harford. Heeter will be teaching at two of the different planetarium buildings for HCPS. He will be teaching astronomy to K through 12 students. Heeter states that “the chance to work at the planetarium is a real dream for me. When the opportunity came up, I knew I could not let it pass and had to apply. It is great being a Hawk and I will miss a lot about NHHS, but a position like a plan-
etarium director is a rare one.” Heeter appreciates his friends in the science department that he has made over the years. Mrs. Kristian Jones, the forensics and biology teacher, says, “Mr. Heeter is going to be missed, he was a great asset to the science department, but this is a fantastic opportunity for him. He loves astronomy and is very knowledgeable about the subject, so I know he is going to do a wonderful job as a planetarium director.” Since Heeter was able to teach several subjects, he has had the opportunity to meet different students. One of those students is physics student Emily Per-
suhn. The junior would like to the thank Mr. Heeter for “being s o helpful and
“The teacher says that she is ‘sad to leave North Harford but is looking forward to the new opportunity and new students.” ~ Erika Edwards, teacher enthusiastic with his teaching. It helps make the class really interesting.” Heeter would like to encourage next year’s teacher to get in-
volved and see all that NHHS has to offer, don’t be afraid to ask for help, we have an amazing group here that will be happy to help in any way they can.” Next year Edwards will be working at Hereford High School as a teacher. She will be teaching intro to animal science, and animal science, and she will be the FFA advisor at the school, a role she also had at The Nest.. Edwards made the decision to leave because she is “taking life’s next steps in the kind of job and the [new] house. It all kind of aligned at the same time. So, it’s a bittersweet change.” The teacher says that she is “sad to leave North Harford but is looking forward to the new
opportunity and new students.” Edwards hopes that the next students are really invested in learning like the students she has now. Khalil Butler, in the plant science program, would like to say thank you to Ms. Edwards for “being my mentor, always helping and guiding me in class.” Mrs. Aimee Densmore, the small animal teacher, wishes Edwards “all the best” and adds that if Edwards needs help with anything, she “will always be here for you.” After teaching at North Harford for seven years, Edwards has developed advice that’s helped her throughout the years and hopefully the next teacher that might take her position. She states that “this job is very rewarding but it’s also a lot of work. You need to create a balance and just enjoy the time with students.”
Cry of the Hawk
Page 2/ OP/ED
Enneagram type four JACKIE BULTMAN Video Editor
this marvelous world, I am allowed to answer: ‘who do you want to be today’, however I please. Yep, I said it. However I please. I can be a one. I can be a eight. I can be a five. No one will stop me on the way out the door to tell me, “Sorry Jac, a seven is just not it today.” In Night at the Museum 3, Ben Stiller told Robin Williams, “I have no idea what I am going to do tomorrow,” after having the most spectacular night of his life. Williams replied,“How exciting!” What a joy it is to wake up each morning and have that choice. Yes, you will innately carry aspects of you from one day to the next. But ultimately you have a choice. For me, choosing to be a different number of myself each day has helped me find my path. I love to constantly reinvent myself, because it is my nature to be The Individualist as a four. And for the first time in a long time, I can finally understand this about myself and others. People are complex and ever changing. No matter if you meet a three or a six, I bet they dabble into other numbers. So I encourage you in these four years while life's a breeze to not limit yourself. Don’t wake up thinking you have to be the same person every day.
I am a four. Fours are self-aware, sensitive, and reserved. They are emotionally honest, creative, and personal, but can also be moody and self-conscious. Yep, sounds like me. But screw some test, some days I want to be a three: ambitious, competent, energetic, status-conscious, and highly driven for advancement. And some days I feel like a seven: playful, high-spirited, practical, can misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. Because of my oversharing tendencies, people have and always will think they know who I am. But I doubt they will ever have an accurate depiction. Nor will I ever have one myself. If I learned anything in the last four years of life, it is that a person cannot be restricted to a single number, no matter how hard the enneagram test may try. Each morning I wake up in
June 13, 2022
Pro life or pro regulation; Women’s choice on their bodies Let’s premise this by saying if you have no uterus, you have no entitlement to say what women are doing with their bodies. If you can never birth a human being, you have no entitlement. If you will never have to worry about being sexually assaulted with the result of an unwanted pregnancy, you have no entitlement. If you will never experience the feeling of your reproductive rights being pried away from you, you have no entitlement. Recognize the pattern here? If an individual is someone who can never encounter what a woman may have to go through, there is no obligation to their name on a women’s reproductive right to have an abortion. That right does not belong to men. Abortion is at high stakes. The Roe v. Wade court case is currently threatening the legal and safe opportunity to undergo the process of an abortion for those who need it. Notice the word choice of “safe” and “legal” abortions. Prying away the option of abortions will not get rid of abortions in an entirety. It will only get rid of the offered abortions that are preformed by specialized professionals, safely. According to Boston Univer-
sity, “at least eight percent of global maternal deaths are estimated to have been caused by complications from an unsafe abortion.” In countries where abortions are not legal, they still happen. They just happen in a damaging way. Pro-life advocates may argue that abortion is murder, but according to Cornell Law School, in the Roe v. Wade case of 1973, “the Court established that the word “person” as used in the Due Process Clause and in other provisions of the Constitution did not include the unborn, and therefore the unborn lacked federal constitutional protection.” Therefore, that statement pro-life people desperately cling to is debunked. There is no federal power that can support that an abortion is murder. But what is murder, is the roughly 22,800 women who die annually because they have no access to an abortion, according to Boston University. Women should be able to have their public health right to do what they want with their bodies. But when laws deprive them of such rights, it kills them. Eight precent of the world is lost from unsafe abortions every year, also according to Boston University. Stop worrying about the unclassified “murders.” Start wor-
rying about the thousands of lives being lost because human rights are being departed from women to prevent these unsafe abortions, which are ultimately killing so many women. Absence of abortion will not help anyone. Women are not getting abortions to just get abortions. That is a common misperception amongst society. Planned Parenthood listed some of the various reasons abortions happen, such as being “in an abusive relationship or being sexually assaulted,” or “the pregnancy [may be] dangerous or bad for their health,” and, “the fetus won’t survive the pregnancy or will suffer after birth.” It should not be up to the Supreme Court, in which the majority of justices are men, to decide for women what is right for their bodies. Why is it that guns are less regulated than a uterus in the United States right now, anyway? Abortion does not do nearly as much as harm. Mass shootings have been circulating all around our country for years, and no laws are being passed to stop it. But of course, laws are attempting to be passed to keep women from making their own health choices. It takes less than a couple of seconds to sign a petition and take a stand.
as a kid, it made it hard to have the innocent carefree spirit I wish I had been granted. This continued in middle school. Personality wise, I think I’ve probably been the same since 7th grade, with different interests of course. Anyone that knew me in middle school knows I was very… well, unique, I suppose that’s the most polite way to put it. I wanted to be different from the majority of the people in my grade. But in turn, I stopped myself purposefully from enjoying being a kid. Time has passed, I’m almost a junior year at this point, third quarter of sophomore year. Universities, driver's license, high school sweethearts, straight A’s. I was ready for it all, because that’s what I felt was expected of me. I was 15, I had to make sure I didn’t fall behind.
And then suddenly, I wasn’t allowed to grow up. The entire world in 2020 came to a harsh pause. As briefly mentioned earlier, I’m severely asthmatic, so my family completely quarantined themselves and me away from the world. I didn’t even leave the house until late summer 2021. My family grieved the loss of my last few years of childhood, but that wasn’t really my concern. I just worried that it would leak into my college years, and I’d be behind. What I didn’t expect was this two-year period actually being a blessing in disguise. For the first time in years, in bored desperation, I was forced to enjoy activities I hadn’t been into since I was a kid. Most of my quarantine included playing Animal Crossing, my favorite game series from my childhood, and I
actually got back into drawing. My passions flowed back into me, and I realized that the reason I never felt complete or good enough was because I never took care of myself. Because since I was in elementary school, I refused to let myself be a kid. So no matter your age, if you’re a freshman, if you’re graduating with me, or if you’re a teacher– do something today that you did when you were 10. Your favorite food, game, song, do something that reminds you of that simpler time. What makes us so uniquely human is our emotion, and what’s the point in living if you don’t work towards happiness? I can’t stop myself from getting older, mom, as much as I wish I could. But I’ll never let myself grow up completely, because everyone deserves to feel that innocent bliss.
EDITORIAL
Slippery slopes into adulthood CHLOE WARD Reporter
Growing up is a funny thing. I remember my mother jokingly telling me to stop growing so quickly throughout every stage of my life. I brushed it off and never really listened. Obviously I have to some day.
The period where you’re allowed to be a kid and told to “grow up already” is so brief it’s unfair. It’s been only recently that I’ve made myself slow down. When I moved to Norrisville in fourth grade is when I started really trying to define myself. I made sure everyone in my new school thought I was so “grown up for my age”--- I loved hearing that. Feeling like I was one of the grown-ups made my little brain feel like it was worth something and had potential, when other aspects of me made me feel otherwise. Not to mention, I have faced quite an array of medical emergencies since I was 2, mostly to do with asthma or tragic accidents, so my awareness of my own mortality has been pretty intense since probably 5. I’m more cynical than I’d like to admit, and
Cry of the Hawk 211 Pylesville Road Pylesville, MD 21132 (410) 638-3650
News Editors: Alexa Falls, Kris Gray Opinion/Editorial Editor: Noel Bailey, Mackenzie Scott Features Editor: Isabel Kropkowski IDR Editor: Emily Johnson Society, Students & Culture Editor: Meghan Kalck Video Editor: TBA Copy Editor: Ben Iampieri, Levi Corcoran Events Coordinator: Bella Arist
Health and Science Editor: Mekenzie Mccann Entertainment Editor: Kim Edgar Sports Editors: Reese Showalter, Stella Manns Social Media Coordinator: Bella Arist Business Manager: Kensi Boyanich Reporters: Matthew Ledford, Gabrielle Moxham, Brookelyn Priebe, Raye Roberts, Brynn Cespedes, Alexis Gott Announcements Tech Meghan Kalck
The Cry of the Hawk newspaper is published 10 times a year by North Harford’s Journalism II/III class. All editorials and viewpoints express the feelings of those on the staff and not necessarily those of fellow students, administrators, or teachers. Please do not hesitate to submit letters to Advisor Jen Chandler in room D207. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, must be signed, and may not contain vulgarity.
Page 3/ OP/ED
Cry of the Hawk
Middle school mindset in high school NEAH SHAW Reporter
The last school I went to was Magnolia Middle School. In my area, Magnolia was known for its fights and theft problems. During lunch, I would have to bring my tray everywhere with me because it would get stolen otherwise. In the gym locker room, I would have to store everything in my small locker because girls would take your clothes, phone, money, or anything valuable to them. If they had something against you, they would fill up the clogged sink with water and put your belongings in there. Since this happened often, one of my friends had to start changing in the teacher’s room because girls kept trashing her locker. This is the type of middle school behavior that some of us took part in because of how immature we were. Going through ninth grade, that type of behavior mellowed out by the second quarter. I don’t know if it's because of quarantine and the lack of interactions, but some of us still have
that child-like middle school mindset. Doing silly TikTok trends like the “Devious Licks Challenge'' that prompted kids to steal from their teachers and bathrooms is not funny. It’s quite annoying when the whole school must deal with the consequences. Actions like these show that students in this school have real character problems. The entitlement and disregard for our school and the community in it are sickening. We should not have to walk all the way across the school to use the bathroom because someone decided to vandalize or smoke in there. We should not have programs that might be stopped because you don’t know how to follow simple rules that even kindergarteners can understand. The art show is a great example of how disrespectful students are to the artists in our school that want to show off their hard work. Senior Silvia Martinez participated in the art show, and a, “geode [she] had since fifth grade and a little potions bottle” brought for decoration was stolen from her art piece. At the art show, there was a sign that said not to touch the artwork. It was a simple sign with simple words that should be easy to comprehend and follow. When going to an art show, you need to have some degree of respect for the artist and the hard work the individual put into it, even if it’s the smallest piece of respect you could muster.
Broken promises of protection; Create shattered justice systems VIEWPOINT This country was built on the basis of guaranteed freedoms to individuals. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were preached in the Constitution, yet the same country allows the death penalty to take place. Capital punishment violates the right to be subjected not to be subjected to, “torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment,” according to the International Commission Against Death Penalty. A viable form of crime control does not stem from the death penalty. According to Brtiannica, there has “never been any evidence that the death penalty reduces capital crimes or that crimes increased when executions stopped.” If there are no statistics that can support the number one argument for keeping the death penalty, why is it still around? Amnesty International reports that in some countries, people who were under 18 years old when they commited capital crimes could be sentenced to the death penalty. This form of punishment can also be used against people with mental and intellectual disabilities, or after unfair trials. While the United States Su-
preme Court prohibits the execution of persons under the age of 15, they still waste large sums of money on resources used to kill. Not only that, but mistakes happen more often than they should. According to Witness to Innocence, 68.7% of all innocent members of the death row (187 as of 2021) were falsely accused of a crime. Without any reason at all, their lives are taken from them. Within the justice system, there are countless cases of discrimination and biased trials. Amnesty International reports that the unfair trials were led on the basis of “torture-tainted evidence with inadequate legal representation.” Some countries have the death sentence set as the mandatory punishment for certain offenses, meaning that “judges are not able to consider the circumstances of the crime or of the defendant before sentencing.” The aforementioned guaranteed rights of US citizens are blatantly disregarded in terms of capital punishment. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been directly protecting these liberties since 1948. How can this country shoot, behead, lethally inject, or hang individuals when they promised to protect their rights? There are no positive outcomes to these punishments. Innocent lives are at stake.
June 13, 2022
The art of showing up for life; Making everyone sees what you can do MARISSA ALTENBURG H/S Editor
The first time I met Maizie she was short, a little shy, but super spunky. I was 14 years old and was unsure what our relationship would look like. Maizie was my very first pig project for 4-H and it was a brand new adventure for me. I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I agreed to go with my brothers to a 4H meeting in 5th grade. They invited me to be a part of the meal appeal and the archery teams as a means of trying to entice me to go. I decided after watching my brother Noah show pigs for three years I wanted to show them as well. I got Maizie and shortly began working with my project and dedicating hours or work to spending time with her, teaching her to walk for the show and caring for her. My first time stepping in a show ring I was rigid with fear, trying to do the right thing, walk in the right spot, and
show off my pig. I was so scared that that moment turned to a foggy blur in my head in mere moments of stepping out of the ring. It felt like I was in the spotlight of a game. All of the other players were still standing, all eyes on me as I took the face off or draw. I try to follow behind the kids in front of me wandering aimlessly as they show off. I ended up placing third out of seven in my class that first time. I had landed in the middle of the crowd just like so many kids feel wandering around in life feeling unsure they have a goal to accomplish. Little did I know what my life would look like three years later. With five more shows under my belt, I walked into the ring for what would be my last time. The second I got in I was loose, stood there with confidence, made direct eye contact with the judge to show him that I had brought all I could into the ring that day, and showed t loff my pig like I had never lost. It’s that moment that we all are seeking out, standing in front of the crowd finally not feeling terrified. The way that my confidence had sprung out of my stiff and scared self just a few years prior amazed me. I was now competing against some of the best showmen for the entire day and was able to hold myself with confidence. I was all credited by my dedication to spend nights with my
pig working on our walk and presentation so that when the day came it felt like another casual night out at the barn with Noah. From an outside perspective you would never see the amount of dedication people put into projects. My summers consisted of working during the days on my indoor projects like sewing and taking the nights and mornings to dedicate to my pigs staying out until two and three in the morning in the cool hours of the night feeding and caring for them. To be dedicated to something is one thing, but carrying something to completion is different. What I really want my project and experience to show is that if you want it you can have it. I had been told that it was too late in my life to get into showing and become good. I was told that what I was doing was a waste of time. But I didn’t listen and I kept going. I’m the one who got to show in the championship drive in just my second year of competing, proving to all of them that my time was valuable. I was using it to accomplish the goal that I knew was possible. In the end, you shouldn’t continue to sit around and wait for the world to make the situations that you want. If you do, you are going to spend your whole life without achieving what you want.
Pollution causes shark attacks EDITORIAL
According to scientists, sharks take up over a billion of our ocean’s population. They are a necessity to earth’s ecosystem because of their fascinating ability to maintain a balanced population of marine life. Unfortunately, most people view sharks as vicious and deadly creatures that would harm them at first glance. Little do they realize that it’s humanity’s laziness and disregard of toxic wastes that lead to the pollution that haunts our oceans and in turn makes marine life retaliate. According to Independent, sharks have a very simple, yet detailed hunting pattern. Smaller sharks tend to consume more amounts of food because their weight is much less. Shark’s diet consists of seals, dolphins, turtles, small fish, and other sharks. Shark’s hunting requires lots of physical activity and drains their energy quickly. Almost all sharks feed a couple of times a week because of their large size. Research shows sharks have very bright minds. They remember the migration pattern of prey they want the most, which is more intricate than the migration
patterns of birds. Sharks can smell blood from a quarter of a mile away and can pick up vibrations from 330 feet away. If you wear a bathing suit with the colors white, silver, or yellow, you could attract the shark even more, as sharks are attracted to those colors more than any other colors. Each year there are approximately 100 shark attacks. According to Florida’s Program for Shark Research, there has been a huge increase in fatal shark attacks since 2005. Locations such as Florida and Hawaii are highly susceptible to shark attacks because of their high numbers in tourism. Scientists have discovered that pollution, tourist activities and constant construction are the cause for the spikes in shark attacks. Beaches that have a high population in tourism on top of having developments being built, are trifling with shark's natural habitat. Climate change also has had an effect on sharks being more aggressive. For example, if a forest, lush and filled with wildlife is suddenly torn apart into a construction site, the ani-
mals will move to a different location. In turn, animals have to cross roads to get to new forests, which would cause an increase in roadkill and a decrease in wildlife population. The same goes for sharks - if you disturb their home, they’ll most likely attack because it’s their instinct and in their blood. If trash and oil is thrown into their habitat, they’ll most likely be forced to move to a different location. Sharks are natural born survivors. They’re hunters, pollution controllers, and fighters. If there’s anything to learn from sharks, it’s that the more humanity acts carelessly with simple things such as trash, oil, etcetera, the more shark attacks will increase. In order for our world to function as a whole, order has to be maintained in the ecosystem. Animals of all shapes and sizes continue to do their part, but will humans wake up and take the initiative in helping save the planet? Once pollution decreases, shark attacks will decrease. Sharks are simply trying to have people wake up and realize that our beautiful home is crossing a dangerous line.
June 13, 2022
Cry of the Hawk
Losing yourself is the first step to finding yourself ANDREW HARTLOVE Video Editor
I thought I knew everything. Turns out, a few things have become very clear recently: I am not a smart man. I am definitely not perfect. But at least I’m human. Recently I have had a problem. A problem with myself. For a long while, I lost the meaning of what it was to be myself. I’ve given up a lot of things to try to appease to what I thought was right in other people’s world. Activities, hobbies, things are all on the list. For a long time, I have thought making other people happy is the secret to what made me happy. And it still is; don’t get me wrong, there is no greater joy I have in life than making others have a good time. It’s why I became a video editor (both in school and for fun) and I am going to college for that reason. Truth be told, I don’t know what made me lose my way. It could be a multitude of things, and those things may change with time. It’s hard to find a reason for change when it happens naturally to people. Change can be good, there is a lot that has changed in this world, and a lot of it is for the better. But if there is change for no reason, and you aren't happy with the change, there’s no point. When you realize that you are unhappy with where you are, it might be traumatic. You’ll
question everything you’ve ever thought and cloud your mind with millions of mixed thoughts. It might be that bad where you lose sight of what is true. It’s understandable, if you realize that everything in your life up until this point is untrue to yourself when you thought you were honest, your thoughts can come tumbling down. In the darkest of hours, lowest of lows, and toughest of moments, its hard-to-find which way is up. And you have a choice, you can stay there or you can find some way to attempt to redeem your prior self going forward. My friend told me that in those moments where you don’t know what is true in your mind you can start with telling yourself something you know for a fact is true. At first I didn’t know what that meant but I thought about it more and I decided to give it a try. I started with simple things. Geese have wings. Flowers have petals. The sun is hot. Wood is solid. Water is wet. (even though that’s a heated debate in on itself) The clouds started to go away at that time, and I kept thinking of more truths I knew for a fact. Later that day I talked to another good friend about my issue and I realized something else that was true. I’m not a smart man. I am definitely not perfect. But at least I’m human. I have hobbies and interests that are only interesting to me and in a weird way it’s what makes me who I am. I feel like those hobbies and activities are not to appease to others but to myself. I know this seems like a therapy session but to sum it up into a quote by Author Morgan. (If you don’t know who that is, it would be a service to look it up and do research) “Lack of something to feel important about is almost the greatest tragedy a man may have.”
Page 4 - Op/Ed
Fulfilled with surreal moments HANNAH KRIZEK Op/Ed Editor
The best moments in life always feel surreal, and the worst ones normally feel as real as humanly possible. How does that make sense? It doesn’t. I find it hard to believe that something so silly would ever make sense. It seems so backwards, but that's simply because it is.
High school has been a contradiction of sorts for me– both the longest and shortest four years, I really can’t decide which. At times, feeling like it was dragging on forever, but now that I'm here, it feels like yesterday I was walking around the school at freshman orientation like a lost puppy with no collar. It felt so long when I was doing everything in my power to get that .5 percent at the end of the quarter to get my grade to the next letter, or when I was struggling taking a test knowing it was 50 percent of my grade. And it was even longer when I was just trying to find interest in a class that I simply just didn’t like. It all seemed like such a burden. Not only did the drag have to just do with the school aspect,
but sometimes good people really are hard to find. It took me a while to understand how true that statement was. Freshman me, I didn’t quite understand that your circle didn't have to be huge, that's entirely not important. A small group of people will win every single time. Now, life has changed in a full circle. Coming up to the final day of high school, which feels more surreal than ever, along with graduation when that day comes. I say that like it's so far away, but it's only in a couple weeks. None of it feels exactly real, but I am sure at some point it will, or maybe not. In the end of it all though, it’s all come together, and now I feel like I am living in an endless tunnel of surreal moments, but I am living them, gladly.
Letting go of childhood expectations KIMBERLY EDGAR Entertainment Editor
This year is coming to a close. Seniors are gone and the underclassmen rise up to gain the almighty senior title. Every rise in the ranks secretly (or not so secretly) means the world to every student. Or maybe it doesn’t. Maybe being that close to graduating terrifies those getting closer. I know I’m terrified. Reaching sophomore year caused a panic attack and hours of rocking back and forth. I’m growing
up. It is normal for that feeling to set in once you are weeks away from turning 18 or weeks away from graduating. I don’t know about you but I have been afraid of growing up for as long as I can remember. I have been getting myself up for school since the third grade, doing my own laundry for years, I have my first job, my first car, and my first debit card. I’m learning how to change a tire and I’m learning how to take care of a newborn. I am 17- years- old and my mom started over with a new little girl. Why can’t time slow down a bit longer? Graduation is a joyous occasion with the underlying sadness that life is changing. Juniors get excited to finally be the “top dogs,” but what is so great about that? What is so great about being months away from getting booted out the door from a place you spent four years
growing as a person? To say goodbye to the usual school schedule and the teachers you adore? To leave the underclassmen you befriended behind. To have to embrace the next chapters of your life. Even as a junior so much preparation is started for college and after high school plans. After sophomore year you start to say goodbye to your childhood and say hello to adulthood (ugh). College wasn’t originally made to be directly after high school way back when, and now there are scholarships only high school seniors can get. This forces you to go right away, even if you aren’t ready to. Growing up is a current that is too strong to fight, you reach an age and everything changes. New expectations are on your shoulders and you must somehow keep your head above the water.
Rewriting the script: finding focus in figuring yourself out GHOST STATES Reporter
If I could choose one word to describe my life at this school, it’d be chaotic. Writing down every little thing that’s happened at this school, both to me and to other students, would make this column three pages long. Plus, the whole ‘reflecting on the last four years’ Schpiel is a bit cliche, don’t you think? So instead of writing a big long lecture on my school year and “what a great time it was” and
all that, I’m going to give all you freshmen and other underclassmen reading this some advice that I wish someone had told me when I first showed up at this school. First and foremost: be yourself. In my experience, being myself made me the happiest person I’d been in years - and this is coming from someone with clinical depression. Being who you are and being proud of the things that make you can surprisingly work wonders for your mental state. Plus, if you’re more open about your interests and your identity, you’ll inspire others to be more open too. Who knows? Maybe it’ll help you make a friend or two. Second: Find your people. This part of this column will sound very cliche, but joining a club or a sport can seriously improve your high school experience. When I first walked through the doors of this school, not only was I
transferring from middle school to high school, but I was transferring from one school district to another because my family had moved houses. I didn’t know anybody at this school, so needless to say I was terrified. But I found people I could connect with. I’m an art and drama geek, so I found them through art class and the school musical (my freshman year it was the Wizard of Oz, I was a flying monkey) and I can tell you with certainty that they are some of the bestest friends I’ve ever had. We all have things in common like being good at drawing and showing a lot of passion about our interests, but we also all have different things that make us unique in some way. For example, one of my friends is really into fashion. They can look good in anything, I swear. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t envy them a little. Another friend (later turned girlfriend) is a very talented animator. She’s won
awards for her projects, and the characters she creates and the world building that she does is phenomenal, it really sucks you in any time you watch it. My best friend, who graduated from here a year prior, is known for their impulsive decision making and various bumper stickers they have on their car. It’s hard to forget an encounter with her. And then there’s me. I don’t see myself as any special person like my friends, though I do like to think that I’m talented when it comes to the world of cosplay, which is essentially me dressing up as fictional characters and feeling confident, handsome and/ or pretty for once. I’ve been told that I’m kind, that I make killer chocolate chip cookies, and that I’m not the worst at art, but I believe that can be left up to interpretation. The last thing I want to tell you is that you don’t have to listen to anybody’s negativity. It doesn’t
matter who it’s from, whether it be a random kid, a parent, or a so-called friend, you don’t have to take any of their words to heart. You didn’t ask them to say the things they said or to do the things they did, so why should you pay attention to them? Sure, they may try to influence you with certain words or actions, but your decisions aren’t up to them. You are the one in control, you do what you want with your life. If you want to get a tattoo, you get that tattoo. If you want to buy a camera and start getting into photography, you buy that camera. Do the things that make you happy, not what you think will make others happy. Your true supporters will accept you no matter what you do. It took me four years to figure myself out. It definitely wasn’t easy, but I did it. And I know that those of you reading this can find yourselves too, it will just take time.
Cry of the Hawk
June 13, 2022
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Sports for Life organizes tournament; Next year’s SGA results are in Students compete in cornhole competition LIORA TOLLIVER Reporter
the pandemic and subsequent quarantine, the competition was held virtually and students competed from home. This year is the first ‘in-person’ iteration of the event. According to Lambert, every high school has coaches that assist the teams, help to coordinate everything, and communicate with parents, athletes, and organizers.
ISABEL KROPKOWSKI Features Editor Opponents, voting and campaigning. The annual SGA elections are taking place. The results are already in for next school year’s president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. The students running are ready to take on their future positions for next year. Junior Lauren Kramer, who is running for senior class president, hopes to listen to students’ requests for events like spirit week and other SGA events. They hope to take all suggestions into consideration. Lauren states they, “hope to be an advocate for everyone in [their] grade no matter the social group.” Jenna Amrhein, who is running for senior class treasurer, has a goal of working with other students to have an enjoyable senior year. She stated, “I chose to run for SGA because I want to be more involved in the school.” Amrhein hopes she can provide a fun and memorable senior year for her class. There are currently no requirements to run for a spot in the SGA. However, a speech is needed for the campaign. If elected, an acknowledgement is necessary to show the commitment to the SGA. If anyone wishes to run in the years to come, Ms. Fisher-Smith and Ms. Martin are the teachers who are in charge. During late March or early April, the announcements will give dates for a sign up window. To sign up, Ms. Fisher-Smith (room D220) has the sign up sheet. All that is needed is your name next to the position(s) you would like to run for. Fisher-Smith states that in non-Covid years, “the SGA is responsible for homecoming, an academic awards assembly, class elections, a blood drive, Hawkstock and many class council meetings including in school and countywide.” Each position is chosen by the student with the most votes. The elections are conducted in social studies classes. Each grade level has their own president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. But the whole school also has one SGA for all grades. The president’s job is to oversee all events and to delegate responsibilities to make events run smoothly. The vice president, secretary and treasurer do what is asked by the president. As well as the treasurer keeping track of finances. The secretary has the responsibility of note taking at meetings. The results of the election have not been posted yet, but are coming soon. Those students will start to take their position in the SGA starting next school year.
high school teams compete in a countywide tournament against teams of a similar skill level. High NHHS has a variety of sports school teams are comprised of teams, from football to softball athletes of various skill levels – including less common sports and the competition is designed like cornhole. North Harford based on skill levels,” reads the High has a dedicated team of transcript. students who’ve been training Over 50 games were played for the Sports for Life Corn Hole across nine courts, where teams Tournament for weeks. The event of students got the chance to was held on May 23 at Bel Air compete against groups from High School. “The name Sports other schools, for Life describes work together, and the essence of learn cooperation the program, and team-building [building] skill skills. for a lifetime of “The first Harparticipation,” ford County Sports said Kay Lamfor Life program bert, adapted PE originated in 1999 specialist. as a basketball proThe NHHS gram[...]” the script team is made up reads, “The program of 18 dedicated then grew to include students, as well every high school as coaches Mrs. Victoria Bridges The NHHS student team competes. They attended in and evolved into and Mrs. Sara a competition May 23, where they played against other three seasons of sports including Testerman. Over schools. PHOTO CREDIT: Kay Lambert. basketball, bocce 140 students ball, and bowling.” participated The competitions themselves According to Lambert, the from schools all over the county. “Sports for Life is a program that are divided into sections, where event builds skills and incluis built on athletes helping ath- students are able to compete in sion for students–that everyone letes,” Lambert said. “Some ath- ways that best suit their needs “regardless of their abilities” deletes are impacted by a disability and abilities. “For example, in serves sports and activities to be and need some modifications to bowling the higher skill athletes a part of, and to have a place to bowl without bumpers, and in socialize with their peers. Lamsuccessfully participate.” According to the transcript for cornhole there were three differ- bert added, “The most enjoyable the event, “Teams are a combina- ent throwing lines [...] to make part of these events is seeing the tion of students with and with- competition fair athletes are joy on the faces of the athletes out disabilities working together divided by skill into different as they compete. The pride they show when walking in with their to compete against the other high leagues,” said Lambert. “At the end of each season, team is a beautiful sight.” school teams.” Last year, due to
Music Man Theater Production performed over summer 2022
Harford County Public Schools changes names of schools;
CLAIRE MOFFITT Reporter
Local figures’ slave ownership history sparks controversy KRIS GRAY News Editor In a Harford County Board of Education Informational Board Report, HCPS announced their decision to change the name for the John Archer School and William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School. The John Archer School is located at 100 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air. According to the Baltimore Sun, Dr. John Archer was, “an American medical pioneer and one of Harford County’s most distinguished residents.” Archer was one of the first to graduate medical school in America and also served as a member of Congress. Archer’s many achievements and advancements in medicine, education, and law as a resident of Harford County can invoke a sense of pride in the community. Nevertheless, some feel a sense of discontent as to the other aspects of the physician’s life. The congressman was a slave owner of more than 100 persons according to the Baltimore Sun. This was also found with the William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School at 2706 Philadelphia Road in Abingdon. William Paca was a former governor of Maryland, lawyer, and politician. Paca was one of the founding
fathers of the Declaration of Independence and served as a Supreme Court Justice. Fox 45 News states that, “Paca owned at least 100 slaves when he died in 1799.” Legal counselor for the school board Patrick Spicer addressed that, “the superintendent and administration believe that maintaining the name of an owner of enslaved persons as part of the name of a school is inconsistent with the educational mission of Harford County Public Schools.” Black Student Union overseer Mrs. Melissa Winter believes that, “as a community, [she thinks] people will have mixed reactions. Some people in this county don’t know the influence these figures had in Harford County history so [she doesn’t] think it will affect them.” On the other hand, Winter knows that, “others will be angered that we’re not remembering the positive things that both these gentlemen accomplished.” Also, she thinks that those who disagree with this decision will say that, “Harford County is erasing their history because of something that was acceptable during their era.” An anonymous student believes the decision was “unnecessary” and disagrees with it.
The student feels as if HCPS is bringing, “something to light that was not a problem during that time period” by, “attempting to change history, which unfortunately can’t be changed.” Another point that the government and psychology teacher raises is that, “others will be grateful that Harford County recognizes the immorality of slavery and is making changes to keep up with modern-day societal norms.” Sophomore Caine Blosser supports the changing names of schools in Harford County and thinks that these schools and even other monuments and public places are, “named after people who did things that some could consider great.” Still, “weighing out the positives and negatives of what these people have done to determine whether they should have a school named after them is useless.” Blosser opposes the option to name schools after people because choosing, “a good role model” is a struggle when there are no “perfect figures to choose from”. The student ends with the idea that, “we must band together to fix the problem that we have of glorifying old and racist ideologies and people because we, as a society, need to change.”
Want to see one of the saidto-be best musicals that have been featured on Broadway? How about one that has won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, the first Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, and more? Well, now is the chance. From August 3-13 of 2022 in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, the Stewartstown United Methodist Theater is putting on the show. The Music Man is being performed this summer by some of the most talented group of actors, singers, dancers, and more ranging from young children to grown adults all close by in Stewartstown, Pennsylvania. The Music Man is a very popular show that was displayed on Broadway as well as on our very own North Harford High School stage by the drama club four years ago and has won five Tony Awards. The musical is about a con man named Harold Hill, who poses as a boys’ band organizer and leader, promising to train the members of the new band. He sells instruments and uniforms which he pockets, and he prepares to leave town without giving any music lessons, as he has no musical experience whatsoever. Hill had been doing this for quite a while, and he would move on to the next town, doing the same thing, continuing across the
Midwest. However, Hill falls in love with the librarian, Marian Paroo, and as he develops feelings for her, it gets harder for him to leave town. Eventually, his scam is exposed and the show unfolds from there. Now, the United Methodist Theater Production is re-creating this musical. Pastor Mr. David McDowell is in charge of this production and has been working in theater since he started it in 1980. Junior Julia Eakes, who is participating in the show, says this is McDowell’s last year and, “It is very sad to see him go, and it won’t be the same without him.” Eakes auditioned for the part of Marian on Saturday May 21, 2022 and was invited to callbacks the following Thursday. The young actress, who has been involved with the theater program since the sixth grade, says, “It’s a great summer theater program…for youth ages 12 to 19…that’s extremely professional…[and] it’s just a great experience.” Eakes mentioned that there were people from Broadway on lighting and set for their show last summer, Jesus Christ Superstar. There was also famous actress Dina Desmone, who has worked on and off Broadway. She took part in the production, playing the role of Judas Iscariot. Eakes will hopefully be on stage this summer in The Music Man alongside senior Patrick Barker, as well as junior Monica Cespedes.
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Gun law argument gravitating country after school shooting;
Students’ response to tragedy, gun laws, society’s cycle ALEXIS GOTT Reporter
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 21 lives were lost at the hands of a school shooter, an 18-yearold gunman, who first shot his grandmother and then proceeded to an elementary school. Nineteen students and two teachers were shot and killed in Texas’s Robb Elementary School, reportedly the deadliest school shooting in a decade. According to The Gun Violence Archive, in the United States there have been over 200 mass shootings in 2022. There have only been 153 days since January 1. On the social media platform Instagram, there have been multiple posts touching the topics of the shooting, gun laws, and the cycle that continues due to mass shootings. A user on Instagram posted a picture of a whiteboard; on the
board, it explained the cycle of mass shootings in the U.S. It claims that the pattern starts with a mass shooting, then media extravagance, leading to “thoughts and prayers,” and then to social media debates. It concludes with, “no one actually does anything,” and then the cycle repeats with another shooting. The post has been reposted by various users, agreeing with the observation. It expressed the idea through repetitive arrows. Other posts circulated, one showing a man with a sign claiming that “More gun laws equal less gun violence. It’s that simple.” Some users also share government officials’ contribution to this cycle, sharing multiple senators’ tweets on the app Twitter, giving their “thoughts and prayers.” Junior Rileigh Crawford be-
lieves that “It’s ignorant that [government officials] aren’t using their power to restrict gun laws, knowing that so many shootings are happening and so many people are getting their lives taken from something that could be resolved.” “Not one major gun-control bill has passed Congress since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre,” claims BU Today. The site also commented that states in the U.S have been “loosening” gun laws. According to Politico, in a Fox News interview, Alabama Representative Mo Brooks stated that, “If you’re talking about depriving people of their second amendment right to bear arms, well, first, it’s unconstitutional.” He added, “What we have to do is stop the motivation that causes these criminals, these horrific individuals, to do what they do.” Junior Alyssa Edwards consid-
ered the response of the representative, describing it as “fair,” but the junior also elaborates that, “representatives always talk and never take any action to ensure people don’t abuse the power of the second amendment.”
Freshman Deanna Zipp explains she “feels that people should be able to own guns,” however the student also adds that “it should be less easy for just anyone to access guns to prevent these crimes.”
North Harford animals take trip around show ring;
Students work to lead them through future competition STELLA MANNS Sports Editor
North Harford's own students will be proudly representing the Hawks this summer. Down in the barn students are building bonds with the animals they cherish the most by preparing for the summer showing showdowns. The animals at the school all have purposes, which are often seen at any town, county, or state fair in the show ring. Some students in our school show their animals in their free time, but some magnet program students will get their debut animal showing chance. The NH agriculture program is working to show a total of 13 animals, including 10 pigs, one lamb, and two steers. Students ranging from ninth to eleventh grade, get to work with one animal each. Agriculture teacher Mrs. Aimee Densmore discussed how she is hoping the students can learn to work with and form, “a bond with the animals.” She is, “excited for the students to learn the process of raising these animals.” Densmore said that this will not be the first year this happens at NH, as it has happened many years in the past. This is a privilege for students enrolled in the NRAS program, according to Densmore. Students were told to fill out an application form and select an animal they were interested in showing, according to sophomore Izzy Hendricks. She was selected to show one of the school's steers. This will be Hendricks' first time showing. Hendricks is excited to be showing but knows she has to have full control over the animal in the ring by, “making sure their posture and stance is right.” Freshman Harley Weisman is currently working to show a
lamb. While in school she maintains her lamb every time she has barn duty, but once school is over she will have to work with it three times a week. Weisman is working on, “building a strong relationship with the lamb.” She will be debuting her skills this summer at the Harford County Farm Fair, and hopefully the Maryland State Fair. When freshman Andrew Sharff was told he could get a spot to show a pig for the school this coming summer, he jumped on the oppurtunity. North Harford’s own students will be proudly representing the Hawks this summer. Down in the barn students are building bonds with the animals they cherish the most by preparing for the summer showing showdowns. The animals at the school all have purposes, which are often seen at any town, county, or state fair in the show ring. Some students in our school show their animals in their free time, but some magnet program students will get their debut animal showing chance. The NH agriculture program is working to show a total of 13 animals, including 10 pigs, one lamb, and two steers. Students ranging from ninth to eleventh grade, get to work with one animal each. Agriculture teacher Mrs. Aimee Densmore discussed how she is hoping the students can learn to work with and form, “a bond with the animals.” She is, “excited for the students to learn the process of raising these animals.” Densmore said that this will not be the first year this happens at NH, as it has happened many years in the past. This is a privilege for students enrolled in the NRAS program, according to Densmore. Students were told to fill out an application form and select an animal
they were interested in showing, according to sophomore Izzy Hendricks. She was selected to show one of the school’s steers. This will be Hendricks’ first time showing. Hendricks is excited to be showing but knows she has to have full control over the animal in the ring by, “making sure their posture and stance is right.” Freshman Harley Weisman is currently working to show a lamb. While in school she maintains her lamb every time she has barn duty, but once school is over she will have to work with it three times a week. Weisman is working on, “building a strong relationship with the lamb.” She will be debuting her skills this summer at the Harford County Farm Fair, and hopefully the Maryland State Fair. When freshman Andrew Sharff was told he could get a spot to show a pig for the school this coming summer, he jumped on the oppurtunity. Sharff will get his first shot at showing at The Mill’s Jackpot show on June 5, 2022, according to Densmore. He had to “watch videos about showing etiquette,” and purchase the stick used for pigs in the ring. Catch the students in action showing steers at the Cecil County Breeders Show, the pigs at The Mill’s Jackpot show and all animals at the Harford County Farm Fair this summer. Sharff will get his first shot at showing at The Mill’s Jackpot show on June 5, 2022, according to Densmore. He had to “watch videos about showing etiquette,” and purchase the stick used for pigs in the ring. Catch the students in action showing steers at the Cecil County Breeders Show, the pigs at The Mill’s Jackpot show and all animals at the Harford County Farm Fair this summer.
Traveling to Punta Cana KIMBERLY SAWYER Reporter Ava Grabowski, a junior at North Harford High School, was offered an opportunity to go on vacation with her boyfriend’s family to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic. The plane ride is four hours to Punta Cana. The only thing Grabowski had to pay for was her ticket, which was, “$700.” She will be staying for ``eight days,” which will be the end of July to the beginning of August. When asked how she will be preparing for this trip, Grabowski said she will be packing several things. She will be packing, “sunscreen, headphones for the plane ride, and a couple of books.” She is excited to go shopping for new clothes for this trip as well. She is staying in a resort called the “Majestic Mirage resort.” The resort has a 4.6 out of 5 stars on their website. The resort is a 1000 square foot luxurious facility. The rooms have coffee machines, soda in the mini bar, and offer room service 24 hours a day. The building also has eight different restaurants and 12 pools. Due to COVID-19, Grabows-
ki will have to have a negative covid test before she can enter the plane. The planes no longer require passengers to wear masks, but they are recommended for all riders. The resort does not require masks, either. According to NOAA, the average climate for Punta Cana is 75 degrees fahrenheit. The best time to go is during the months of March, April and May, where the average temperature for those months is 80 degrees, as mentioned by Lopesan Costa Bavaro. Grabowski stated that she would be “tanning a lot,” while there. When asked if she thought it was going to be too hot, she said, “no, I think it is going to be comfortably hot,” meaning it will be warm. According to Fishing Booker, Mahi-Mahi, snapper, barracuda, and trigger fish live in the clear water. Punta Cana is one of the best fishing destinations in the Caribbean Sea. The entire coastline of the Dominican Republic has coral reefs, which creates a barrier for the sharks to stay away, being perfect water to swim in. Grabowski said in the future she would be interested in going to Europe, specifically Germany, because of the architecture, the history, and the nature.
Envirothon competes in recent event MEKENZIE MCCANN Reporter
old tests” to study. The team also took a trip to Hidden Valley to identify trees because “if you do not look at the trees right before the competition, then you are in trouble because they can look totally different from week to week,” O’Leary states. The teams compete as a five person team, and O’Leary sends an A, B, and C team. When the team gets to the competition, they split up into their teams and take a paper and pencil test, but still while doing hands on things. At the competition, the teams participate in “forestry measurement[s], identification, wildlife has all kinds of cool dead things they are identifying, aquatics has all kinds of questions they answer but
On April 29, 2022 the Envirothon team headed to a competition at Eden Mill. The team addressed different topics of forestry, soils, aquatics, wildlife, and a fifth topic that rotates every year. Envirothon is an academic environmental team that learns about natural resources, aquatics, wildlife, forestry, and soils. At the beginning of the year there is a “county wide training held at Rocks State Park, and [...] experts come in for all of the different topics” states advisor of the team, Laura O’Leary. The team meets every Friday after school, and they “just learn about stuff, it starts off in the classroom where Envirothon is an academ[the ic environmental team that team
learns about natural resources, aquatics, wildlife, forestry, and soils. ~Laura O’Leary, learns] also different identeacher concepts, tify verteand then takes [the learning] outside” comments O’Leary. “Envirothon is all about the outside, where [the team] learns about trees, aquatics, soils, and wildlife all on our campus,” says O’Leary. Mid-way through the year the students on the team attend another county wide training where they talk about the fifth topic. This year the fifth topic was waste to resources, “so it was all about recycling and composting,” comments O’Leary. Then the team continues to meet after school on Friday’s and then in the spring there is another County Wide training, then at the competition is held. O’Leary comments, “The week and a half before the competition there was some serious cramming, [the team] used the
June 13, 2022
Cry of the Hawk
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brates, and fish as well. The soils go into a huge soils pit they walk down into, and the fifth topic is usually paper and pencil,” O’Leary comments. The teams can take the test together or split it up, as for “the soils, Anna O’Leary and Blake Carberry went into the soil pit and identified the soils layers and then the other kids worked on the soil survey, which is this book that tells you all kinds of weird things,” O’Leary adds. At the competition, there is also a presentation portion. “The kids get together and present, [...] they give you a problem to solve, and the problem was all about increasing composting and reducing the waste in Harford County Public School cafeterias,” says O’Leary.
Larrimore plans to retire, Martinek taking over athletic director position ALEXA FALLS News Editor Since 2008, social studies teacher Timothy Larrimore has been the athletic director for North Harford High School’s sports. As of this year, health teacher Justin Martinek will be taking over that position. This is Larrimore’s last year at North Harford, and Martinek took this position to continue Larrimore’s achievements and make his own. The athletic director’s job includes many things, such as, “coordinate and administrate all athletics at the high school. Teams, coaches, facilities, buses, officials, schedules, etc.” Larrimore explains. He says that one of his goals when starting his job as athletic director was to “provide quality and dependable coaches, equipment, and leadership to the athletic program.” He adds, “I also have a very close and productive relationship with the Booster Club. I pride myself on being organized and hopefully that has been reflected in my work.”
Although Larrimore says that he “enjoyed being the athletic director at North Harford for the past 14 years,” he mentions, “it is mentally and physically challenging.” He adds “being athletic director is a full-time job” and that he is “ready to retire.” Larrimore is happy that his job will be taken over by Martinek, “I'm certain that Mr. Martinek will be a great athletic director.” He adds, “he deeply cares about the school and has the energy to do a great job.” Larrimore says, “I'm sure Mr. Martinek has some ideas of his own to improve the athletic program. There is always room for improvement.” After retiring from his job, Larrimore plans to “spend more time biking, hiking, boating, fishing, crabbing, and hunting” since he enjoys the outdoors. He adds, “I also enjoy warm weather and the beach and plan on spending more time there.” Martinek says that he is, “excited but nervous because it’s going to be a new position for me.” He adds, “I took this position
because of my enjoyment for all sports, not just the ones that I coach.” Martinek says that he plans to accomplish a few things as the new athletic director, “one is providing athletes a network of resources outside of the school.” Although he is happy to spend more quality time outside, he mentions “I will be around [North Harford for] some [of] the games. I enjoy watching high school sports.” Another plan he has is, “preparing athletes to play at the next level with a focus on grades, types of workouts, change in mentality, time management.” He also hopes to have, “a State Championship team return to NH, the last was lacrosse in 1995.” Martinek is confident in his ability to be the AD and says, “I have the education background for the position with a Master’s in Coaching and Athletic Administration. He adds, “Mr. Larrimore has been slowly introducing me to some of his routines and how he does things to give me some sort of starting point.”
Sophomore travels to Europe this summer;
Student wants to apply for German citizenship AVERY DUDA Reporter School is coming to a close and many kids are looking forward to traveling this upcoming summer! But, did you know that a student is traveling to Europe for over a month this summer? Sophomore Timothy Morrow is traveling to five countries throughout the summer. He will be heading to Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Ireland. Many individuals might spend months organizing long travels like this, especially because a German passport is involved. But this extensive vacation to various countries, “only took a few weeks” to organize according to Morrow. Morrow is going to depart June 20 and return from his trip on July 31. That’s a month and 11 days! He doesn’t have a precise plan he is going to follow, but is instead just going to go and “have fun” and “visit family.” Morrow says the major reason for this vacation is that he has, “been waiting to see [his] family since last year and it's for fun.” Many families have been unable to visit one another via traveling due to the epidemic, but Morrow is finally able to see his. It’s been hard for people
Timothy Morrow applies for a German passport. Morrow planned over a month of traveling through Europe. PHOTO CREDIT: DW News throughout the world to travel ever since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Morrow applied for a German passport but has struggled to get it. It has been quite tough for people to gain citizenships due to Covid and even Morrow says “it takes a long time and it's been delayed due to covid.” Morrow has been, “in the middle of applying for a German passport, but appointments are hard to get.” To obtain a German passport through descent, you must go to the German embassy in the country you live in currently or the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) in Germany. They are the two places where you may submit an application for German
citizenship based on your ancestry. Before you can submit your application, you are expected to have all of the necessary documentation regarding your paternity and family history, such as birth certificates and family books. Morrow says he has family in Germany that could help him with this. For most individuals, this would be a very expensive vacation which would take a lot of time to arrange and plan, but since Morrow has family in Europe, he will be able to accomplish this without any preparation. Morrow, “will be staying with various family members” while traveling so this will assist with the budget.
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Long awaited release of Stranger Things; Conan Gray releases new song, Yours PRIEBE New season makes its anticipated debut BROOKELYN Reporter NOEL BAILEY Reporter
Season four, volume one of Stranger Things came out on May 27 after fans waited about three years for this new season to make it to Netflix. The second volume comes out on July 1, which will include two more episodes for this season. Volume two will include an over-an-hourlong episode, with the last episode of this season being two and a half hours long. The new season took two years of filming and around one year of editing with CGI. This is the second to last season of the show, fans believe. There is controversy going on with the fans of the series, if the show’s volume two of season four is going to count as season five, since Stranger Things only has a 5 season contract with Netflix. This theory has neither been confirmed or denied by Netflix. The show has a continuous plot of a group of kids fighting creatures from another dimen-
sion called “the upside down” which carries on into season four. The ending of volume one of this newest season ended on a plot twist that was not expected, left many questions unanswered,
and had lots of cliffhangers as to what's going to happen next. Sophomore Bella Brockmeyer, “really loves[s]” the new season. “I like this season more because it's creepy,” Brockmeyer
says. This season, a new creature was introduced named “Vecna.” Brockmeyer, “liked the idea of Vecna and I love the horror aspect.” Brockmeyer also has the character Steve Harrington as her favorite for this season and previous ones. Sophomore Cole Hellwig is also a fan of Stranger Things, who also enjoyed this season along with the rest of the fans. “I like the new focus on the Dungeons and Dragons element, making it a bigger deal,” Hellwig said. With the series taking a couple years to release new seasons, fans began to feel upset with the long production. “It met my expectations but took way too long to release,” Hellwig said. The plot twist had many fans speechless. “I really liked the twist at the end, it caught me off guard and keeps the series fresh,” Hellwig said. The show includes lots of fan favorite characters, especially the character Steve for Hellwig. “He remained my favorite character from previous seasons and will always be a babysitter in my heart.”
In-person Art Show returns to The Nest this spring; Students, staff, public enjoy variety of creative works LILY CORCORAN Copy Editor
boards full of artwork to create a walk-through gallery while more art was displayed on shelves and tables. Junior Ren Kramer, who is the president of Art Guild, stated, “I think all [of] the artwork was
years of high school. Each table was put together and decorated This year, North Harford by the seniors. Senior Silvia MarHigh School and its surrounding tinez commented, “With the discommunity was invited to witplays this year, I really liked how ness the best artwork from art different all of them were students during the from each other. By lookannual Art Show. ing at a display, you could From Monday, get a sense of who the May 9 to Friday, May artist is as an individual 13, students in the art and feel their overall vibe program were given through their work.” the chance to show The event was also open off their skills in the to the public on Wedneslibrary and atrium day, May 11, at the same during the show. time as the chorus concert. Many different kinds Many showed up to the of art were displayed show, such as math teachthroughout the spacer Mrs. Shelly Sparks. es. Sparks stated, “I loved it. I Mr. Jason Blevins’ never get to see that side of students, who take students since I’m usually fine art prep and focused on mathematics, drawing and paintso I was very impressed ing, had pieces rangwith what I saw.” Students display their artistic talent. The art ing from charcoal Similarly, English drawings of squids show was brought back to enjoy. teacher Mr. David Orth to paintings of pur- PHOTO CREDIT: Kimberly Edgar commented that he “realple deer. Mrs. Lisa ly enjoyed the art show… Campbell’s students, who focus beautiful, and each piece had its Sometimes kids aren’t great at on 3-D design, had works such own unique message and inter- English, or don’t like it, so it’s nice as fairy houses and stained-glass pretations. The senior tables real- to see some of those kids excel in ly stood out to me the most with another area.” boxes. Blevins commented, “I think each student’s own artwork all Freshman Maddie Spangler it was really awesome for kids compiled.” added, “It was fun since I got to That being said, art pieces cre- see other people’s creativity.” to finally, after almost two years of not having an art show, to see ated by senior artists such as SilWhen asked if he had any words the work back up and be able to via Martinez, Hannah Williams, for the students whose work was celebrate what the student body Annika Peterson, and more had in the show, Blevins, a veteran art their own displays towards the teacher, stated, “I’m proud of you created artistically.” The show itself was set up back of the library. all. Some of it was challenging to The individual tables gave make, and the folks that stuck it by the North Harford Art Guild with help from various art class- each senior their chance at show- out with their work…it really paid es. The groups put up accordion ing off their work from all four off for them.”
Conan Gray had his fans so excited in the month of May. Gray released a new song called Yours. Some think it is a “preview” for his upcoming album Superache this month. Not only did Gray just release a song, but he also released a music video with it. The video shows Gray in a field with thousands of colorful flowers. At the end he is seen on the ground next to a petal-outlined “body.” On May 19, Gray posted on Instagram a picture from the music video and then a picture of the track list, with the caption of, “with Yours out everywhere now, I'm extremely pleased to share the track list to Superache. These 12 songs chronicle misery, joy, yarning, and all of the heartbreak existing. I cannot wait for you to hear this album in five weeks. Hope you enjoy yours<3” The last album Gray released, Kid Krow, was in 2020, and fans went absolutely crazy. That album is what got a lot of people into his music. Sophomore Ethan Sealy says, “I got into listening to Conan
Gray by my girlfriend and the first song she had me listen to by him was Heather. I actually liked it and now I just listen to his music and have some of his songs on my playlist.” Junior Audrey Letoumeau says, “I got into him by just hearing one of his songs and I just loved how his music sounds and I love the messages behind it. And when Yours came out I cried so hard. It is such a good but sad song.” Sealy says, “when Yours came out I was really excited and the first thing I did was texted my girlfriend about it. I went on Spotify, sent her the song, and then we listened to it together and we both loved it.” BAHS sophomore Meghan Davis loves Gray. She says, “Basically when I got Spotify, I had no clue what I was doing, so I just played a playlist from Spotify with popular songs at the time and his song “Maniac” was the first song I liked...” Davis continues, “I knew [Yours] would be a sad song because of the announcement and it is a bit slow at first but his vocals are so strong, and the bridge is literally his best. I still play it on repeat.”
Encanto entertains fans CLAIRE MOFFITT Reporter Viewers are going wild over Disney's magical, comforting and relatable film, Encanto. After a tragedy, Abuela Alma Madrigal (María Cecilia Botero) was blessed with a miracle in a candle that gave her family a magical casita (house). Fifty years later, the Madrigals use their gifts to help their community. The main character, Mirabel, is an optimistic young girl who, despite her lack of having a magical gift, manages to get by with her “downto earth-approach to solving problems.” She is known for being imperfect, quirky, and a little weird, but also emotional and empathetic. Mirabel tries her best to fit in a family that is so different that her judgmental Abuela Alma offers only her disappointment towards her. For Mirabel, it’s hard to stand out when her mother, Julieta (Angie Cepeda), can heal wounds with her cooking, her sister, Luisa (Jessica Darrow) is incredibly strong and can lift almost anything easily, and her eldest sister, Isabela (Diane Guerrero) is known as the “golden child” and can grow the most beautiful flowers. Mirabel notices the family’s casita starts to crack and the
gifts of her family are starting to fade, but they downplay her worries. It’s up to Mirabel to find out what is damaging the magic to save the casita. The Encanto songs, in order of their appearance in the film, are “The Family Madrigal,” “Waiting on a Miracle,” “Surface Pressure,” “We Don't Talk About Bruno,” “What Else Can I Do?” “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” “Dos Oruguitas” and “All of You.” The songwriting is adequate. Each of the songs conveys an appropriate and effective message based on hardships the characters are facing. Freshman Alayna Shrodes says, “My favorite part of Encanto is the music because all the songs were catchy and upbeat.” Given the world that we are living in today, Disney did an astonishing job being sensitive to different cultures and social issues. They tackled issues of diversity in an absolutely successful and tasteful way. Encanto is a great movie to watch with the family or even with friends. It sets good examples for young girls, showing them how to handle difficult situations when feeling insecure or jealous of others but staying humble and kind. Disney deserves to be commended for crafting a film that encourages young people to know their worth.
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Kendrick Lamar releases fifth studio album; Fans comment, compliment on new tracks ALEXA FALLS News Editor
Movin’ and groovin’ through summer; Live music, local concerts happening in area EMILY JOHNSON IDR Editor Finding fun summer activities can be difficult. However, instead of listening your way through the summer heat with AirPods stuck in your ears, there are many popular artists headlining locally at live music events. Different bands and singers are performing within the greater Baltimore, D.C. and Philadelphia areas this summer. Within the genre of pop music, performers such as Halsey, Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Imagine Drag-
refunds. This summer, sophomore Mia Coleman will be going to a Tim McGraw concert. She’s been listening to his music since she was a child and when asked about her favorite song by him, she couldn’t pick just one. She hopes it’s going to be “really fun because I’m going with my 2 aunts and my mom.” According to her, the venue will most likely be crowded. Another sophomore, Ethan Sealy, recently attended a concert headlining The Lumineers. He’s been a listener of their music for
On May 13 of this year, American rapper Kendrick Lamar released his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. This is his most recent album release since DAM which came out in 2017, In MMATBS, Lamar released a specific track, ‘United in Grief,’ that states just how long it has been since he last released music. He states, “I've been goin' through somethin.’ 1,855 days, I've been goin' through somethin.’ Be afraid.” Including ‘United in Grief,’ MMATBS has 18 tracks in total. Junior Dominic Franklin says his favorite song on the album is the fifth track, ‘Father Time.’ He says, “Kendrick explores the long-ingrained, toxic masculinity that is passed on from generation to generation, sometimes actively by a father who is present and other times through the absence of a father figure, and it’s extremely relatable to me.” Sophomore Ava Pippitt says her favorite track is the second track, ‘N-95’ “because it is so
catchy. I knew the lyrics after the third listen.” Her favorite album of Lamar’s is To Pimp a Butterfly, “because it is one of his first albums and it really shows
how he influenced rap,” Pippitt mentions. Franklin's favorite Lamar album is Section.80 because Lamar, “[keeps] up a consistent 90’s-sounding hip-hop album through the production” while also explaining, “the vices and pitfalls that follow his generation.” He adds, “he makes bold and powerful statements throughout the entire project [such as] attacking the connotations associated with different skin colors
and commenting on how beauty is internal.” He mentions that Lamar also focuses on “deeper topics of abuse and someone’s own personal demons.” Franklin mentions, “[Section.80] also contains one of the greatest hiphop songs of all time in my opinion, ‘A.D.H.D.’” The song talks about, “the heavy drug dependencies of his generation which I feel is prevalent in our current generation.” Franklin says that he would see Lamar in concert since, “he’s such a timeless artist and brings such a variety of music to the table.” He adds, “it’s impossible to look at his [discography] and not like at least something.” Pippitt also says that she would go to his concert because “it would be so much fun, and I know that everyone would be pumped up!” Lamar’s The Big Steppers USA tour starts on July 16 and he will be performing for 65 days during the tour.
The Lumineers perform for their 2022 world tour in Columbia, MD. They became popular in 2005 for their folk-rock music and have since then skyrocketed to fame. PHOTO CREDIT: Caitlyn Travagline ons and Macklemore will be in the surrounding areas. Rocking and rolling on over to upcoming rock and rap concerts, these include Nelly, T-Pain, Kendrick Lamar and Franz Ferdinand. Country music fans won’t be left out. There are plenty of events happening in the area as well, including Dylan Scott, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett, and Morgan Wallen. Other performers who may not fit in the above categories include Tears for Fears, The Lumineers, Gorillaz and The Weeknd. Ticket prices range all the way from $40 to $500, but these prices vary based on seating arrangements, venues, and the performer themselves. Something else to keep in mind is that there can also be extra fees when purchasing tickets, including parking passes and ticket insurance for
a few years and likes their song Stubborn Love. He also said he “expected the venue to be a lot bigger,” when referring to Merriweather Post Pavilion, a venue in Columbia, MD, but that it was still very crowded. The price of his ticket was $130. Junior Ogunyemi “Yoyin” Oluwayoyinsola also went to a concert, featuring K-pop group Monsta X. She’s been a fan of their music for over a year and a half, and currently loves their song Wildfire. All she hoped for was “to have a lot of fun,” especially after paying $165 for the ticket. According to Frontiersin.org, some of the fun in attending live concerts can be “…engaging with other audience members through moving to the music.” Concerts are also great for those who are seeking spontaneity and anticipation, due to unique performances that aren’t pre-determined.
Everyone Everything All At Once review; What family trauma movies wish they were NEAH SHAW Reporter Family trauma movies are always done the same; they’re always in the point of view of the person who is receiving the trauma. But what if there is more than one side of the story? Actor Jonathan Ke Huy Quan, who played Data in The Goonies, has come back into the spotlight after 20 years to co-star alongside Michelle Yeoh in Everyone Everything All At Once. Quan and Yeoh play a married couple in a complicated family unit with expectations, stress, differences, and failures, giving the audience a chance to connect to the indi-
vidual characters or family as a whole. The witty comments, bantering, and questionable choices makes the characters feel personal and real. These relatable characters in an abstract world make for a great conflict and a unique viewing experience. The stunning visuals and CGI produced by a team with no background experience capture the true essence of the expansive nature of the universe with glitz and glam or wacky turn of events. Even with these special effects and a dirty comedic tone the message of the movie is never lost. It presents itself in a well thought out manner by observing differ-
ent sides of relationships. Both sides are represented fairly with little to no biases. If you are a visual person this movie is for you. The attention to detail and realness will leave you satisfied when leaving the theater. One of the last visually exploding visual scenes will leave you feeling out of this world. This movie does not have a soundtrack you will replay or remember, because it does not need one to keep it alive. This movie is truly a wonderful film that takes one through the family experience. It’s an eye-opening heart felt experience for anyone who watches it. Be prepared to watch it again.
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Counting down days to summer;
Beach fun only just beginning CLAIRE MOFFITT RILEY STONEBACK Reporters
Fielder travels overseas for studies;
Alumna describes experience while abroad MEGHAN KALCK SSC Editor/Studio Manager
Sam Fielder graduated from North Harford back in 2019, and is currently a junior at the University of Maryland. She decided to study abroad this semester in the south of France. Fielder was studying abroad for international business and marketing and also attended international business school. “[she] also [has] worked as well as being a full time student,” Fielder says. Places that she has worked include jobs such as Amazon, Joann Fabrics, supervisors for club sports at UMD, and also one internship as a social media intern at a small business in Harford County. “The overall experience I had really challenged my view on life and gave me a perspective that I otherwise would never have had,” Fielder also said as she explained what her overall experience while studying abroad was like during her time overseas.
Being in a different country had shown her opportunities and other ways that people in the world lived. Being in this mindset took her out of the US and showed so many possible futures. “[She has] made incredible relationships that [she will] never forget,” she says and she hopes to be able to maintain these connections in the future. Studying abroad has really grown her love for traveling as well. One of her favorite experiences that she had while she was traveling was hiking a 10k in Santorini, Greece. “[She] had no plans or idea what [she] would do when [she] got to Greece,” she says, but the people she was staying with in her hostel suggested this hike from one town on the island to the other. A hostel is “a place where people, especially young people, can stay cheaply for short periods when they are traveling, with shared rooms and sometimes
some private rooms,” according to dictionary.cambridge.org. “The hike took me three hours,” Fielder says and she got to see beautiful views of the “traditional white buildings and blue roofed churches.” She also explains how she saw black sand beaches and volcanic rocks while she was on the island. “The eruption of the famous Volcano of Santorini in 1600 BC not only gave a new shape to Santorini and made it the unique and gifted place that it is, but also led to the creation of its black sandy beaches that cannot be found elsewhere in the Aegean,” according to www. santorini-view.com. She said it was an amazing experience for her as she got to spend a lot of time in the cities and also be in nature to enjoy the world's beauty. This experience was one Fielder said “truly showed [her] the beauty and love in the world that so many people try to hide.”
In charge of summertime fun; Students work as camp counselors KIMBERLY SAWYER Reporter
This year, spring felt like it lasted forever; pollen was everywhere, kids were coughing, and allergy medicine flew off the shelves. Finally, after a long time, summer is here, and camps are opening for kids’ laughter and entertainment. With little kids running around everywhere, there must be counselors to look after them. Harford County, Maryland, has a lot of options for camps for young children. According to Google, camps in this county include Camp Hidden Valley, Boy Scouts Camps, camps at gyms like the Arena Club and Bel Air Athletic Club, the Y Camp, and the 4-H camp, just to name a few. For instance, junior Elisabeth Holmes is going to be a counselor at Harford County 4-H Youth and Education. According to The University of Maryland, the 4-H camp has clubs designed for youth ages 8-18. The clubs
also have “Clovers,” ages 5 to 7. Holmes signed up for a camp counselor because, “[She’s] been going to camp since [she] was 8,” and thought that was the, “best next step.”Holmes’ older brother also went to that camp, and “was also a camp counselor.” Her favorite thing about counseling is, “spending time with the kids.” Holmes says that the counselors, “try to plan events both outside and inside.” They always must plan with the climate in mind. Holmes also stated that, “the first thing that comes with camp is the rules, and then we have fun.” According to indeed.com, the average camp counselor is age 16 and up. A lot of camps will allow younger counselors if there are enough older counselors. Counselors that are paid have an average pay of $12.45 an hour. Camps like Boy Scouts, 4-H, and the Y are volunteer. However, camps at the gyms are paid. According to Workable Better Hiring, to be a camp counselor,
a person needs to be organized. They will organize groups for games, sports, and other events during camp time. Counselors plan and lead the events, providing opportunities to help the children’s skill level grow. A leader should work on their level to keep them calm, controlled, and comfortable, all while maintaining control of the campers. For camps that parents must pay for, according to cnbc.com, “The average camp cost is anywhere from $199 to $800 daily,” and $680 to $2000 a week. Between the different camps, the age to sign up for a camp varies, but the average is 4 to 17. Some reasons to become a camp counselor, according to Campwatitoh, are that a person can gain work experience, have something positive to do all summer (instead of laying in bed playing video games), gain volunteer hours for high school requirements, and learn the responsibilities of leading a youth group.
As the school year winds down and the heat winds up, students all over Harford County and elsewhere are anxious to spend their summer at Ocean City, Maryland’s local beach. Senior week in Ocean City is dedicated to celebrating seniors’ graduation and kicking off summer before heading to college in the fall. This annual tradition generally takes place the week after graduation for most schools. NHHS students will go June 11-18. Senior Allison Stewart is staying with 8 of her friends. They plan to go to the beach, surf, go out to dinner and go shopping. Stewart says, “I cannot wait, I am so excited!” Senior Andrew Gainey is also staying with 10 of his friends, and they plan on mini golfing, going to the beach and walking the boardwalk. Senior week entails numerous weekly activities hosted by Play it Safe, a local organization dedicated to helping seniors have an exciting and safe beach trip without alcohol. They organize events like beach volleyball, pizza eating contests, and dance parties. Jet ski parasailing is open by rental companies, or day trips to Assateague Island are popular to see the world-famous wild ponies. H20, OC’s under-21 dance club, is also available to dance the night away. Along with Stewart and Gainey, seniors Austin Arist and Joshua Woods plan on going down to Ocean City for a few days. Both said that they were “really excited and looking forward” to the week. Arist mentions that he “hope[s] the water will be warm for surfing and being on the beach.” In a poll of 150 students, 75% said they vacation to Ocean City during the summer. Junior Grace Underwood lives at her grandparent’s beach house on 130st Street bayside during the summer. She goes to the beach, kayaks, paddle boards, goes jet skiing, takes walks and bike rides to get ice cream. Underwood works at Freddie’s on 64th Street when she isn’t tanning the day away. “It’s such a fun job, I love it there. The environment is amazing, everyone is so nice and fun. Plus, I get to be outside.” Freshman Maggie Dawson stays in OC most of the summer and comes home often. She stays on 120st Street. “My friends and I ride bikes to Starbucks, Dunkin, and shops almost every day, and we love going to the arcade at Ally Oops. We spend most of our days on the beach, and in the evening, we surf and ride our bikes around the community.”
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Darlington Fire Station’s new recruit prepares for position
AIVA PERRON Reporter
North Harford High School sophomore and member of the Darlington Fire Station, Karlee Neel, has just become a cadet firefighter. On Monday May 23, 2022, Neel completed and passed all the necessary training to be a junior firefighter. This status means that Neel can now do just about everything exterior on calls. However, there is still a lot to do such as more training and classes. She said she is thrilled to report that she can go on all the calls the firehouse gets. But getting to where she is now was not an easy task, according to Karlee. After her parents got involved with the firehouse in 2021, Neel became greatly interested in saving and helping people. Karlee spoke to her parents when she turned 15 asking if she could take part in activities pertaining to the firehouse. Mr. and Mrs. Neel agreed, and Karlee has been involved since. According to Karlee’s dad, firefighter Shane Neel, who has been with Darlington Fire Station since September of 2021, a person must be between 10 and 16 years of age and have the proper training and experience to qualify to be a cadet. Training includes learning how to break down doors, windows,
and even break into mangled ve- hoses, they must be pulled off which is about 4,000 feet, achicles to rescue people in them. the truck and sprayed at 300psi cording to Neel. Sometimes this means tearing the (pounds for square inch) Despite this, it still takes an roof off a car or removing a windThis is especially strenuous for incredible amount of strength to shield. Believe it or not, these several reasons. For one, fires are hold the hose steady, says Neel. things and more are all necessary normally fought at 90psi, accord- “There have been times when for some rescues. ing to Neelak, making the hose I’ve been at the hose nozzle, and In addition I’ve literally to these pracbeen lifted off tices, Neel the ground participates while trying in stimuto hold it. As lated resin, I’m almost cues that she a foot off the walked out ground,” Karof with lots lee adds. of bumps, As previbruises, and ously menscrapes. tioned, the However, hose lengths Karlee said it range from was all very 200 to 4,000 helpful to feet and are her, especialabout six ly because it inches in is like what diameter. you have to Before the do as a firehose can be fighter. wrapped up UnfortuDarlington Fire Station in Dublin across from Dublin Ele- and put back nately, there on the truck, mentary School. Darlington V.F.C. is where Karlee trains daily. are a lot of all water difficult and PHOTO CREDIT: Marylandvolunteers.org must be emppainful tasks tied, and the that come hose must be from being a firefighter, Neel very difficult to manage when flattened. Then, the hose must be says. tested. delicately rolled up and placed At least every sixty days, the It usually takes five to six peo- back on the truck. hoses on all the firetrucks must ple to hold the 200-foot hoses. This takes about 35 to 40 minbe tested for their effectiveness This takes about 2 ½ to three utes after a fire, but after testand to ensure there are no cracks hours with six people helping, ing, it takes longer. It then takes or other problems. To test the not including the supply line, about three people to put the
hoses back on the truck. Another adjustment for the senior cadet is having to deal with a wonky schedule. Right when she gets home from school, Karlee must get as much homework done as she can, squeeze in a quick nap – if possible – eat, and head over to the firehouse, usually returning home around 10:30 at night to get a shower and go to bed. However, the time she gets home when she goes out on a call varies depending on the call. But despite this, Neel is still holding onto a 3.8 GPA. She adds that good grades are necessary to keep her in the fire program. But sleep and physical exhaustion are not the only things that have and will continue to affect Karlee as she continues her career. According to .samhsa.gov, 30% of firefighters struggle with this: mental health.mAs a member of the force, you see many things and some of those things may haunt force members for years to come. Karlee says. “It’s sad that people do lose a lot in car accidents and in house fires, but at the end of the day, I’m doing my job of helping people and keeping them safe.” So, despite the devastation, the sophomore says she intends to keep going with her journey and hopes to help and save as many people as she can.
Boy Scouts of America member gets innovative ANNIE FINHOLM Reporter
Are you looking to always be on
01. the move?
Then your vacation spot is the mountains.
02.
Are you hoping to catch a tan and swim? Then the beach is the place for you.
03.
Are you more of an introvert?
04.
Are you more like an extrovert?
05.
Introverts like to spend vacations at the mountians.
Extroverts tend to spend their vacations at the beach.
Are you ready to chill or are you up for a thrill? People who prefer peace and quiet like the mountains. Someone with the opposite personality would choose the beach.
Compiled by: Isabel Kropkowski
times.” In addition to pushing the importance of leadership, the organization wishes to “provide the opportunity for all people to develop greater appreciation and awareness of the natural and historical resources of the area.” It was important to Burton to create something of use for Eden Mill because she had “gone to their camps when [she] was
For example, she says, last summer, she and the fellow members At the Eden Mill Nature Cenwent “backcountry canoeing,” ter, there lives a highly popular which is a combination of canoebox turtle by the name of Cecil ing and camping where travelers who needed a new home. paddle to different campgrounds Junior Danielle Burton, inover a period of time. spired by a project given by her Burton found the prospect of Boy Scout troop leader, took it carrying all her belongings across upon herself to raise money to a lake in the Adirondacks of New construct a new enclosure. York to different campsites inFor her project, Burton created credible. She expects to be ena cage for the turtles at Eden Mill, thralled once again by a “10-day who, according to their website, backpacking trip, [involving] is a “non-profit, volunteer-run hiking up a mountain in New “Provide the organization that creates and Mexico.” opportunity for all peosupports educational and enWhen reflecting on her years vironmental programs and in Boy Scouts of America, the ple to develop greater apprepartnerships for our surscout admits that she has ciation and awareness of the rounding communities.” shared many memorable natural and historical resources moments with her friends. Burton joined Boy Scouts in November of 2019, beShe reminisces on the last of the area.” coming the first female day of their canoe trip when member of her troop. they “all went outside and She joined because she were watching the stars'' late ~ Danielle Burton, “wanted something to chalat night. junior lenge [herself] to learn more and She adds that where they were wanted something to fill [her] camping, there was “little to no free time.” light pollution, so [they] could Through joining Boy Scouts y o u n g e r and wanted see the edges of the Milky Way of America, she has been able to to allow other kids to have as clearly[,] and could see the stars “teach people to be better mem- good of, if not a better, experi- well.” bers of society, to learn more ence as [she] had.” According to Burton recalls that this was the about the outdoors, to be more Eden Mill, they offer a plethora of first time she got to see a shootactive outdoors, and to give back summer camps, parks and recre- ing star. to the community.” ation programs, bird searching, As she was witnessing that According to the Boy Scouts of and other family-friendly activi- moment for the first time, she reAmerica, by instilling these val- ties. members the sound of her troop ues of the Scout Oath and Law at Without this troop, the student singing songs. a young age, they are preparing would not have been granted any In combination, the night made young people to “make ethical of the experiences she has gotten for one that she will “remember and moral choices over their life- to explore nature. for a while.”
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Chlorine affects body; Healthy options for students in summer months Effects of lone Pool chemicals can be dangerous AVERY DUDA Reporter Does your skin ever feel dry after getting out of the pool on a hot summer day? Or, more seriously, have you ever felt respiratory problems after taking a dip in the pool? Everyone recognizes the smell of chlorine in the air when the temperature starts to rise. Most people don’t think twice about the impacts of it and would rather just go for a swim on a hot day. But the effects of these pool chemicals could actually be fairly serious according to Chemical and Engineering news. Some swimmers have had “chlorine cough,” and the symptoms of this are burning at the back of the neck and oxygen deprivation which are a health danger, according to BrenDid. Experts say that the reason for wheezing and respiratory types of discomfort can come from two different things: the mixture of the chemicals with sweat and urine and poor ventilation. The problems could have a physical impact. Junior Janie Evans says, “whenever I get out of the pool my hair will get so dry and tangled, it’s honestly a pain to have to deal with when it’s dry and damaged.” Put on a layer of hair protectant found in beauty stores to help prevent damage. Girls also go on to mention the effects these pool chemicals have on their skin. Junior Mackenzie
Ellinghaus said “my skin always feels so dry and kind of cracked when I’m out of the pool…I have to over moisturize for a week to get my skin back to normal and it makes my hair feel so dry too.” If you want moisturized, healthy skin, then you’ll need more than Aquaphor or Aveeno Body Lotion. According to Children’s Skin Center, glands in your body that are meant to fight off chemicals like chlorine are destroyed by extended contact with the chemical. The skin’s barrier of defense might be compromised if it is broken down. The good thing is, the skin’s glands will heal on their own but in most cases your skin will become flaky or itchy, and may sting or burn. There are ways to protect skin from the damage of chlorine so you don’t have to miss out swimming on a hot summer day. One thing you can do is put on a layer of lotion before getting into a pool. This will help create a barrier between your skin and the chemicals. Another thing that could help prevent damage is washing off with clean water when getting out of the pool Sophomore Sam Kurek says she kept her skin moisturized by putting “on a lot of lotion a lot of times during the day and trying to drink a lot of water” after getting out of the pool. Wearing goggles while in the water can also help keep the chlorine from irritating the eyes.
Washing poultry according to physics concepts; High velocity from faucet causes contamination
DELANEY O’NEIL Reporter
Using physics concepts, researchers have conducted experiments by placing raw chicken under running faucets and monitoring the spray of water and bacteria to nearby surfaces, according to Science News. Within the experiment the height of the faucet above the chicken was the largest factor. If the water fell 40 centimeters before hitting a chicken breast or thigh, the germs traveled farther than for faucets just 15 centimeters above the chicken. In tests involving the higher faucets, droplets of water splashed more than 22 centimeters in the air, contaminating much of the surrounding area. For lower faucets, droplets splashed only about 5 centimeters high, and there was comparatively little sign of contamination making it to nearby surfaces. Physics teacher Mrs. Christine Jestel says, “the faucet starts with kinetic potential energy and gains velocity as it falls from the faucet, increasing kinetic energy.” Therefore, when the water drops a little bit, only a small amount of velocity is gained and when it falls further it has a faster velocity and therefore greater impact, which is momentum
when the water hits. Another factor contributing to contamination found in the research was water pressure from the faucet. Water hitting the chicken creates a small divot in the soft surface, which shoots the splatter farther than it would if the chicken didn’t deform. Keeping the water pressure turned down reduces the dimpling and resulting germ spread, according to Science News. Jestel says, “when you have increased water pressure you have more force per unit area and when you have low pressure the water hits the chicken with less force, but for the same amount of time, which is known as impulse and momentum. “When change in momentum is smaller and the change of velocity is smaller with less pressure, there is a small amount of time for the water to accelerate and cause contamination,” according to Jestel. Science News confirms that turning on the water gradually to avoid creating a burst of droplets across your counters will reduce the chances of diseases found in raw chicken, such as Salmonella and other foodborne illnesses. Even minor splashes can cause bacteria to come into contact with hands and other food.
MATTHEW LEDFORD Reporter As described by the health department, the activity known as exercise is described as engaging in a form of physical activity which increases the person’s heart rate beyond normal resting levels. Whether people engage in light exercise, such as going for a walk, or high intensity activities, for example, uphill cycling or weight training, regular exercise provides a huge range of benefits for the body and mind. Psychiatrists report that people who exercise have increased confidence, peer acceptance, leadership skills, and empathy. Mr. Justin Martinick, both a teacher and the varsity football coach, states “Both healthy weight and strong muscles are all things that are important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses.” Feeling good about oneself and taking care of one’s health is important for people’s self-esteem and self-image. Studies show that persistent exercise can improve cardiovascular health and a person’s posture. Maintaining an increased fitness level at an adolescent age can also set individuals up to be healthier later on in life, preventing future problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Regular physical activity can also increase muscle strength and boost endurance, says the Maryland Department of Health. Muscular strength and endurance are important for many reasons in all people, especially teenagers. To increase a person’s ability to do activities which can include but are not limited to opening doors, lifting boxes or
chopping wood without getting tired, and can lead to healthier, stronger muscles and bones according to health professionals. Studies show that it can improve confidence and how people feel about themselves. According to the health department exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and helps the cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when the heart and lung health improve, an individual has more energy to take on more daily chores. It is proven that while many people may see exercise more as a chore rather than an activity, daily and consistent exercise is proven to have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps a person sleep better, and boosts their overall mood. All these things can be accomplished through daily exercise. “Daily persistent exercise keeps muscles strong and joints, tendons and ligaments flexible, giving people the ability to move more easily and avoid injury. Strong muscles and ligaments reduce your risk of joint and lower back pain by keeping joints in proper alignment” says Johns Hopkins. While exercise is a key factor in a healthy lifestyle, the diet a person eats also plays a key role in their health. According to the health department, a healthy diet helps children and teenagers grow and develop properly and reduces their risk of chronic diseases, including obesity. Adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
star tick bite can be dangerous BROOKELYN PRIEBE Reporter According to acaai.org, a bite from the lone star tick can cause people to develop an allergy to red meat and pork. This tick can be found as far west as Texas and southern parts of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. When people get bitten by the lone star tick, according to igenex.com, the symptoms do not begin until usually five to 14 days (about 2 weeks) after. Some symptoms of a bite may include a mild fever, headache, chills, malaise, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, joint pain, confusion, rash, and or a cough. According to Pestworld.org, if someone gets bit by the tick and treats the bite fast enough with the right materials, they will likely recover in a few days. To take care of the bite, the person should wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water, and if a rash appears, the person should go see a doctor. Sophomore Reese Carroll said he has known about this tick and even knows someone who has been bitten by it. He says, “she knew she was bitten by it because there was a huge circular rash on her shoulder and then she got sick for a little afterwards.” Carroll says, “She isn’t allowed to eat like any meat now and if she does, she said she will get sick or even worse. But she could have prevented it by literally just not going into a bush.” If he were ever bitten by this tick, he says he would not eat meat, or may even go vegan because “what would the point be in even eating meat if [he] can’t have beef or pork?” Junior Wyatt Chatham says he doesn’t know anyone who has ever been bitten by a lone star tick but he says he would be very upset if he was ever bitten by one. He says, “the tick is kind of scary, you know? It’s kind of creepy how a tick can bite you and now you’re allergic to meat. I would freak out if I was bitten by one because I don’t ever want to be unable to eat meat.” He says “I think if I was bitten by one I would still try and eat the meat and maybe that would build up a tolerance to the allergy because not being able to eat that meat would be horrible.”
Lone star tick has effects on people that can last for a long time. The tick’s effects can be treated if help is sought quickly. PHOTO CREDIT: b_nicodemus
June 13, 2022
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Cry of the Hawk
Students sweating away school stress for free;
Planet Fitness is offering teen summer membership EMILY JOHNSON IDR Editor Calling all busy bees who are already preparing for the summer and fall sports seasons. You’re in luck! Planet Fitness is offering a free summer gym membership to teens across the United States and Canada. The membership allows you free access to one specific Planet Fitness location for free, starting May 16 and running through August 31. Anybody ages 14-19 can sign up, and those under 18 just need parent permission. Signing up is simple. Their website has a link for the High School Summer Pass, and registration takes less than 10 min-
utes to complete. Afterwards, all that’s needed to access the pass is their app downloaded to your mobile device. The app has features that tell you how crowded your club is, virtual tours, and workouts for beginners, gym rats, and everyone in between. When signing up for this pass, you’re also automatically entered in a scholarship giveaway. Sophomore Kaylin McCoy took advantage of this opportunity and signed up for the program. She’s gone “…about three times, for about an hour each…” so far, and it’s been very crowded each time. Everybody seems very friendly and helps each other out too.
Spring sports end with teams in playoffs CLAIRE MOFFITT Reporter Spring sports have ended, and the Hawks did not havemuch luck in the playoffs other than the girls track and field team. Sophomore Finley Lavin says that “the girls team did well at regionals; we got 9th place for the 4 by 8.” Lavin also said that in states, they got 13th place in a 4 by 200. Both varsity baseball and varsity tennis got knocked out of the second round of playoffs. The baseball team stole the win against Harford Tech with a final score of 9-5. Regionals came around and the boys lost to Fallston in a close game, the final score was 2-3. Junior Colin Brosh said that “it was sad because it was the last game for the seniors.” Tennis had their first playoff game against North East, and took the win. The final score was 8-3. In the regional game against Bel Air, the Hawks lost in a close
game 5-6. Sophomore Cara Dyke said, “the game against Bel Air was tough and nerve racking.” Dyke also states that she cannot wait for next season. Girl lacrosse had an overall record of 9-5, but the Lady Hawks were eliminated after the round of playoffs against CMW, 187. Junior Jody Cadden says that she’s “sad because we had a good team and I don’t want to lose the seniors.” Cadden says the ladies did better the first half than the second. Cadden also said that she believes they could have won. Boys lacrosse won against Elkton in the first round of playoffs, 21-0. They lost in the regional game 27-3 against Kent Island. Junior Cruz Cespedesthat the game was “rough and chippy on both ends. Kent island ran up the score.” Girls softball got knocked out in the first round of playoffs by Elkton, 6-15. Sophomore Mackenzie Dunaway said that the girls “ fell apart in the beginning and came together at the end.”
Freshman Colin Moore is a regular member at this gym, so he offered insight as to what you can expect when working out here. According to Moore, the environment is “…really chill and everybody’s nice to each other…”and judgment free as well, as promised by the company itself. The ninth grader also said that for cleanliness procedures, “…you just have to wipe down the machine when you’re done…” for the safety and health of others. This program is being promoted by singer, songwriter and actor, McKenna Grace. This 15-year-old is partnered with the company because “Fitness is important to me.” It’s helped her
de-stress and keep a positive attitude. She believes that Planet Fitness’s pass is a great opportunity for teens to get moving in a “…safe and welcoming environment”. According to prnewswire.com, less than 15 percent of teens met the daily physical activity recommendations during the pandemic. Advocates of the Planet Fitness initiative believe this chance to use gym equipment and resources as frequently as wanted will hopefully motivate teens to take action for results and future opportunities. Science proves that exercise also releases endorphins, so moving will help to attain positive feelings, alleviating and/or reducing depression, especially in teenagers.
Club lacrosse prepares Hawks for fall season REESE SHOWALTER Sports Editor
School sports have ended for the year, but that doesn’t stop athletes from participating in sports over the summer. Many athletes play for a club team over the summer and into the fall. Most club teams start practicing a few weeks after high school sports end to prepare for upcoming tournaments at the start of summer. Junior lacrosse player Reilly Holmstrom plays for Skywalkers, she currently has played club for a total of four years. The first two years she played for TLC [Towson Lacrosse Club] and now Skywalkers. Junior Piper Wright plays for NEMS [North East Maryland Select], she has played club for four years, when she started she played for True MD lax but the program folded so she moved to NEMS for her last year. Holmstrom said, “I chose to play for Skywalkers because I get to work with my amazing goalie coach, as well as being coached by amazing current college players. Skywalkers also has a high commitment reputation which was something that I was looking for going into recruiting.” Junior Kendall Fortune plays on the same team as Holmstrom. Fortune said, “my favorite part is being on a team with girls from different areas and playing at a more competitive level.” Junior Wyatt Ralph plays for Strippers, he started playing his freshman year when his coach asked him to play. Ralph said, “Playing over the summer is fun and keeps me doing something and I love being with a different group of guys.” Both Ralph and Holmstrom said they think that playing club is important if you are planning to continue into college. “Without club lacrosse I don't think I would know how to effectively communicate to people in a business-like manner,” said Holmstrom. Fortune said, “I don’t think playing on a club team is necessary, but I do think the benefits are more notable in a player that plays club compared to one that does not.” Wright said, “My favorite part about playing club lacrosse is being able to make new friendships with so many people, and just being able to have fun with friends over the fall/summer.” She added, “The relationships I’ve made not only with the players but coaches are unforgettable.” Wright's NEMS team also has winter training from Dec. through Feb. along with the fall season [Aug. through Nov.] and the summer season [May through July]. Which keeps her busy all year.
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Cry of the Hawk
Tracy, Smith break lacrosse records MEKENZIE MCCANN Health and Science Editor
less of what is in front of him, [...] and has been one of the key components of [the teams] close defense” Tabeling comments. Tracy says, “[...] other goalies [should] be confident in yourself, be the leader/quarterback of the defense, any opportunity or chance you get to play, take it,
[that number].” To be the goals in a game record he “scored nine Senior Ryan Tracy and jugoals in one game, and the renior Owen Smith recently broke cord for that was eight [goals in school records during this past one game], Smith says. lacrosse season. Tracy broke the Smith comments that he is record for single season saves, able to accomplish these goals and Smith broke the records of while playing by “having good goals per season, average goals teammates and having a good per game, and defense because the goals in a game. [offense] can get the Tracy states that ball down to the ofhe “had a total of fensive end more.” 225 saves and the “I believe our ofrecord was 184.” fense was weak, and “When lacrosse our ball movement was not in seawas really slow, but son, I was training as [the team] grew with my persontogether, we got betal trainer, Scott, ter and [had] better along with playing chemistry, and then club ball in the [the players] could summer[...],” Tramove the ball betcy says. ter,” Smith adds. Senior goalie Ryan Tracy saves a shot from going into Head lacrosse “Owen has imcoach, Richard the goal. The varsity team ended their season with a record proved over the Tabeling states of 10-6. last three years due “Ryan has im- PHOTO CREDIT: ERIN TRACY to hard work on proved exponenhis own bucket of tially in his high balls and putting school career. His investment in and lastly have fun every second in reps. Also, he has played a off-season work and his in sea- [while] playing the game.” lot of lacrosse in the off-season, Tabeling says, “Ryan has set the which really improved his field son drive to be the best is what has gotten him to be a first and standard as a captain and player IQ and ability to score. Owen at North Harford Lacrosse, he is ended this season as first Team second Team All County.” “A long term goal that I a shining example of “No hand- All County and second Team in achieved during the season was outs” and’’ everything is earned!!” 2021,” Tabeling comments. “Owen has been a captain that I wanted to set/break a reSmith says that all players cord for something, and I want- and [the teams] offensive leader should “play confident and do ed to leave a name behind that for the past two years, leading not doubt yourself.” Tabeling younger guys will shoot for,” the team in goals in the 2021 and adds “Owen will continue to 2022 seasons,” Tabeling states Tracy comments. grow and lead his team in 2023. Smith says that the goals per I expect Owen to once again be “Ryan sets an example for the young guys, he plays hard, season record “used to be 47, and a leader on the field and get the works on his weaknesses and then this year [he] got 69, and young players to rise up to his is always ready to play regard- [in his sophomore] year [he] tied level of play.”
June 13, 2022
Celebrating season achievements; Bringing teams together one more time RILEY STONEBACK Reporter The spring sports season has officially ended, and with the end of the season comes the celebration of banquets. Recently, multiple teams have begun using Pond View Farm to host their banquets. Pond View is a family owned and operated farm in rural northern Harford County that hosts weddings and does catering. Starting off, boy’s lacrosse had their banquet at Pond View a few days after their season ended. Junior Brennan Leonard commented on the night, saying, “The banquet was pretty cool, and the coaches gave out custom lacrosse balls to the seniors. It was a really fun season and I’m definitely going to miss the seniors. Even though it was my first year here and my first year with a lot of them, it was still really fun and I feel like I had a good relationship with a lot of them.” Girl’s lacrosse had their banquet a few weeks after the boys at Pond View. Senior Allison Stewart said that she thought the banquet was, “really fun and really well decorated. The venue was so pretty and some of the girls took some great pictures even though it rained a little bit. I also loved the awards and I thought they were really well deserved. My favorite was Haley Stone’s Most Improved award because I think we all saw how hard she worked this season.” Sophomore Stella Manns helped organize the tennis ban-
quet this year, and the tennis team is also using Pond View as their venue. Manns said she thought the banquet went, “really well. We have a lot of new people that got their varsity letters and then we have some returning players that just got their tennis rackets, but I think that it went really smoothly and it was really nice.” The softball team had their banquet at Pond View, although theirs was later than most of the other teams. Junior Abby Buckland was sad to see the season end. “This year I got to play with my older sister, Morgan, so watching her get her award at the end of the season was really cool. I also really liked the venue for the banquet this year, and the food was great.” The baseball team's banquet was at NH’s elementary school pavilion this year. Senior Vance Haire said the banquet was, “super cool and I was pretty excited. We got fried chicken to eat for dinner and it was really good. It was my only season of baseball in high school because of Covid, so it sucked that it ended so soon. But the banquet was nice and I was happy to have spent the season with the guys on the team.” Finally, the track team had their banquet in North Harford’s cafeteria. Junior Jenna Amrhein said, “It’s been a great season, so it was fun to get together one more time with the team. We had a lot of people break school records, so we had a lot to celebrate. Overall it was a great night.”
Student athletes soar above others; Pratt College track team gains new athlete Players anticipated becoming Iron Hawks STELLA MANNS Sports Editor Varsity sports are the goal for many athletes, however, these teams only select the best of the best. Often, freshmen do not make the roster, however, in rare cases an elite few do. Athletes who participate in four years on varsity in any given sport are called Iron Hawks. NH has several players who are already trying to attain this goal. This year, they include freshmen Jenna Trzeciak, Reagan Cadden, and Lukas Smithson. These freshmen all made the varsity teams for their sport and without knowing were put in the running to receive the name during their senior year. Trzeciak made the varsity softball team this spring season. Even though the season had “a lot of challenges” she agrees that varsity has made her into a better player who seeks to play the sport in college. Student athlete Cadden is one of the newest girls varsity lacrosse members. Cadden thought that being on varsity “was good for her.” She agrees with Trzieack that being on a varsity sport has been beneficial for her as a player. The freshman plans to return next
spring for another season. Varsity football kicker, Smithson started his freshman season surrounded by his team of juniors and seniors. Smithson dubbed his debut season, “nerve racking” but still “exciting.” Smithson felt like a part of the large football family and is ready to make his way out on the turf for his second time. Tenth grade student Mackenzie Dunaway has made the varsity softball team her freshman and sophomore years. Dunaway felt very welcomed when she entered the team. “The higher level” she played at seemed “to keep her in the game.” She wants any freshman who makes a varsity team to know that even if you mess up, “no one really cares”, and just to be confident in your skills. Lacrosse and football junior Owen Smith had been on varsity for his respective sports the past three years. Smith has always felt like a part of the family of his sports and sees lacrosse in his college future. For freshmen who get the privilege to play a varsity sport, he wants them to know the best tool is to “have faith in your skills” and just like Dunaway said, to be confident.
BELLA ARIST Reporter
Track runner Tristin Charron, graduated in 2020 and decided to go to Pratt Institute College. He was on the North Harford track team, and he specialized in running long distance. Charron chose Pratt for “the academics; the school ranks highly for their architecture program so [he] wanted to go somewhere that prioritized that,” according to the runner. Pratt College is located in Brooklyn, New York and has around a 66% acceptance rate. The runner had “never received sports offers but if they were offered at my school of choice I definitely would have considered joining.” Charron said he “has always considered running in college because it’s something [he’s] always loved.” The athlete reports that running in college mostly requires challenging work, dedication, and training. The runner said, “I try to stay in shape outside of current running practices with just weight lifting and other light cardio.” At the high school, Charron mostly ran long distances. He
later said he “expanded into pole vaulting, then started sprinting and throwing for the few weeks we had my senior year.” At Pratt, Charron mentioned he’s continuing sprinting and throwing events. High
“I expanded into pole vaulting, then started sprinting and throwing for the few weeks we had my senior year.” - Tristin Charron, alumnus
school and college have different levels of competition and difficulty. Charron said, “I mainly joined the team in college to stay in shape but was also curious what the college competition would be like.” The runner mentioned “balancing running with my major is actually quite difficult due to time restraints, but practices were
made flexible, and each competitive meet is on weekends which makes events fairly easy to attend.” The type of practices are mainly different because of the sizes of the teams and different scheduling. Charron said, “we currently have 2 times to meet for practice so everyone can work around their own classes; and with the team being much smaller,it's easier to support one another in everyone's respective event.” The runner mentioned the training at North Harford transferred well to collegiate sports. He said “the coaching staff at NH made high school track very serious and competitive, and had consistent and wellplanned practices which made conditioning effective.” The team at Pratt is more “inviting and supportive.” Charron explained “with it being such a tight-knit group, it makes it easier to push one another past our individual limits.” The runner shares, “I'm definitely looking forward to continuing track in my upcoming years at Pratt as I enjoy the environment the team creates and it allows for an output of stress from classwork.”