V42 Issue 6

IN A HAZE

Formative years spent behind the mask

Returning to school after COVID-19, students worldwide have experienced increasing levels of anxiety, depression and feelings of social isolation. This has dramatically affected test scores and overall academic and social performance. Teachers are increasingly concerned about the future of adolescent learning as valuable social and academic skill sets have not been formed because of online schooling. This has caused budget cuts, an influx of teacher resignation and frustration with school districts worldwide. Pages 16-17

ESD goes Global

On March 26, ESD celebrated its first Global Day to educate middle and upper school students about the moments of awe in the world. Through a variety of activities, the community encouraged students to broaden their perspectives, deepen their understanding of global traditions and appreciate the beauty and complexity of diverse cultures and places across the globe.

Page 5

The Episcopal School of Dallas

Photo illustration by Annabel Brown, Margot Cathey and Beau Mcknight

ESD upholds diversity, inclusion as states restrict programs

School leaders reaffirm their mission to foster belonging, opportunity

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who leaves his flock of 99 sheep to find the one that has gone missing. One of Fr. Swann’s favorite parables, the message that every individual matters is a guiding principle behind ESD’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, even as such initiatives come under national scrutiny and rollback.

DEI programs, which aim to promote diverse representation and foster welcoming environments in educational and corporate settings, have been challenged by the Trump Administration. On the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14151, dismantling all DEI programs within the federal government. He has since urged educational institutions to do the same, even threatening to withhold federal funding if DEI offices continue to operate. The administration advocates for a strictly merit-based admission and hiring process.

“The public release of [DEI] plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination,” the White House wrote in Executive Order 14151. “That ends today. Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great.”

A 2024 poll by the Pew Research Center found that 21 percent of Americans shared similar views to President Trump and believed that DEI initiatives do more harm than good. Even so, many are alarmed by this hostility toward DEI programs, arguing that the concept has been politicized and misunderstood.

During an interview with CNN in 2024, Former Merck Chief Executive Officer Ken Fraizer expressed that DEI programs were introduced to address

the lack of equal opportunities for marginalized groups and to help build work environments where all can thrive.

“Companies turning their backs on [DEI] will limit equal opportunities for people who face disadvantages because of their skin color, the neighborhood they grew up in… and other forces beyond their control,” Frazier said during the interview. “DEI is about developing talent, measuring it in a fair way and finding hidden talent in a world where not everybody has an equal chance to exhibit their abilities.”

At ESD, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Elizabeth Goatley believes that America is not yet at a point where DEI positions can be removed in favor of a purely merit-based system.

“It’s an admirable ideal, but the history of our country does not give us proof that leaning into one’s merit has been an equitable process,” Goatley said. “We needed laws and policies for universities to desegregate. If you needed laws and policies for universities to hold themselves accountable for admitting students who [exceed] their criteria, that means they weren’t looking at merit.”

The push to create a more equitable America gained momentum in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10925, introducing “affirmative action” policies extending educational and labor opportunities to historically marginalized groups. The DEI movement reached its height in 2023; according to another Pew survey, 61 percent of adults reported that their workplaces implemented policies regarding equality in hiring, promotions and pay. But on June 9, 2023, the United States Supreme Court condemned affirmative action, ruling race-conscious college admissions unconstitutional.

We believe that having people from different walks of life, who have different experiences and perspectives, helps enrich a classroom experience.

Dr. Elizabeth Goatley Director of Diversity and Inclusion

“The student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the official opinion of the Supreme Court. “Eliminating race discrimination means eliminating all of it.”

Since then, 13 states have banned DEI in higher education, and 20 more states are debating similar measures.

The Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 12 on Mar. 19, 2025, a proposal seeking to extend the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion to K-12 public schools. In protest, Houston Sen. Borris Miles expressed his concern that removing DEI programs in high schools will counteract America’s progress in ensuring equal educational opportunities.

“The state has demonized DEI, but I refused to accept the narrative,” Miles said during courtroom discussion. “Minority students have borne the brunt of this assault. This bill seems to create a double standard. All the programs and strategies that traditionally uplift minority students seem to be under attack.”

As a private school, ESD’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative remains an influential part of its framework. For Ann and Lee Hobson Head of School Dave Baad, the values expressed in DEI are ingrained in the school’s mission.

“[The framework for what is now DEI] was Fr. Swann’s initiative, back in the mid ’90s, to live into our Episcopal identity,” Baad said. “It's a nice focus on what is embedded in the Episcopal Baptismal Covenant about treating everyone with dignity and respect and [seeing] everyone in the image of a loving God. To me, it's just an extension of that effort to ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging and that they’re fully part of this community.”

Goatley emphasizes the importance of diversity on campus in bettering the ESD community.

“When we talk about diversity at ESD, we are talking about how we can ensure that we are casting the widest net to capture the best and brightest students and faculty to come to ESD,” Goatley said. “We believe that having people from different walks of life, who have different experiences [and] perspectives, helps enrich a classroom experience.”

As the program continues to impact the lives of students, faculty and alumni, Baad reflects on his goals for its future.

“My vision is embedded in the strategic plan, ESD 2030, and part of it is geared toward community and belonging,” Baad said. “I want to ensure that every student, family and faculty member feels completely part of who we are. I often reference one of Fr. Swann’s favorite gospel passages: the 99 sheep and the one. [It’s] this idea that we want everyone [to feel] completely included. We have such a wonderful community here, and I want to ensure that everybody feels the benefit and warmth of [it].”

The diversity and inclusion initiative at ESD is here to stay, and Goatley believes that the program’s work will guarantee that, going forward, all students feel seen, valued and included.

“I think ESD offers a respected and excellent education, and it's my hope that we get students who love the opportunity to learn, grow and discover their purpose here,” Goatley said. “What I do know is that we only thrive as a community when we are kind to each other, when everyone is willing to engage with each other, where people aren't feeling isolated and where [they] feel like their ideas and voices can be heard.”

PURPOSE THROUGH BELONGING

As Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Elizabeth Goatley works to shape a community more inclusive of everyone. "My job is to make ESD a place that allows every student to live into their purpose and figure out what they were created on this Earth to do," she said. "[Then], we can help put them on the right path to do that work." Illustration by Gracie Nealon

Gracie Nealon | Views editor

50th anniversary Day of Service impacts lives across Dallas

Day of service unfolds as a testament to Fr. Stephen Swann's founding commitment to serve others

Members of the ESD community came together to give back in a meaningful experience one that impacted them as much as it did the community.

Three hundred students, teachers and parents participated in the 50th anniversary event on March 29 and volunteered at various non-profit organizations around the metroplex. The organization of the event was challenging; however, working to give back brought a strong sense of joy and fulfillment among the community.

“The Day of Service was created to honor ESD's founding commitment to our highest calling to serve others,” Parents Association Associate Head of School Ruth Burke said. “Community service has been in ESD's DNA from the very beginning, and we wanted to pay tribute to that by bringing our community together for a day of service.”

Director of Community Service and Learning Courtney Phelps led this project and managed the partnerships. She was able to engage and secure seven service organizations to support the service day: United to Learn, Austin Street Center, The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, Old Samaritan, The Birthday Party Project, Hope Supply and Rainbow Days.

This was the first time the school organized a community service event of this magnitude. The preparation behind this project started more than a year ago, and numerous people played a role in bringing this event to life.

“My role was leading this project, managing the partnerships and partnering with the communications team to promote and provide updates for the event,” Phelps said. Justin Powell, the digital content specialist and web-

master, helped promote the event to the community. Middle school Community Service Coordinator Laura Gomez was also key in making the event possible.

This event was unique not only because of the way it was organized, but also the fact that it took place on a Saturday.

“[The Day of Service] was different from our other events that took place by grade level or division and during the school day,” Phelps said. “Once I was able to confirm all sites interested in partnering with us, the event and all details were promoted to our community with the help of our communication team.”

Freshman Wynne Horton volunteered at Rainbow Days, an organization that focuses on helping kids with disabilities, and was one of the many volunteers who felt gratitude while volunteering.

“I knew my service was benefiting a good cause and overall, the impact made me feel glad I could help kids in need,” Horton said.

Another service opportunity was volunteering at The Birthday Party Project. This organization gives birthday gifts to children who otherwise would not receive gifts because their parents do not have the means to afford them. Sophomore Beall Carothers volunteered with this organization and enjoyed her time because she was able to meet younger kids and help a cause that she cares about.

“My role was setting up the stations before everyone came and then walking around the event to help people when they needed it,” Carothers said. “Also, [I] was able to make some bags when I wasn't helping people.”

The Day of Service helped fuel a variety of learning experiences for everyone who attended the event.

“I learned to be very patient with the little kids because they were trying their

A Global Focus

President Donald Trump has attracted criticism from the Catholic community after posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope. As the Catholic community prepared for the selection of the next pontiff, the official White House social media account posted the AI-generated photo. The image features him wearing a white cassock, pointed mitre and a cross around his neck, all of which are traditionally worn by bishops. The New York State Catholic Conference remarked on Trump’s social media post as disrespectful and a mockery of the Catholic faith. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni refused to answer questions in response to Trump’s social media post during a briefing with journalists on May 3.

SHOVELING AND SERVING

Some members of the football team worked on landscaping projects at The Samaritan Inn on March 29. This organization provides housing assistance for those in need. "It was a special experience to volunteer with the team and bond through service," Director of Sports Performance and middle school PE teacher Phil Mosley said (pictured

best, and I was trying mine,” Carothers said.

Similar to Carothers' experience, Horton also felt that she left the experience with new skills.

“I thought I was [going to] lose count of the supplies because it was over 200 pencils in a bin,” Horton said. “I had to count them, so everyone worked together to come up with strategies on how to keep track of the numbers. I just learned to connect and serve with other people.”

Students were not the only ones who volunteered. Several parents and faculty participated as well. Upper school history teacher Philip McCarthy went to The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center and helped put care packages together for homeless people

On May 2, the White House released its proposed federal spending budget for Fiscal Year 2026 with a series of cuts to discretionary spending, including NASA. If officially adopted, America’s space agency will face a 24.3 percent funding cut, dropping from $24.8 billion in 2025 to $18.8 billion in 2026. The decrease in funding will largely affect studies in NASA’s Earth Sciences Division; however, nearly $7 billion will be allocated towards lunar exploration and Mars-focused programs. Additionally, the Trump administration aims to eliminate funding for “low-priority” climate monitoring satellites just months after NASA scientists determined that 2024 was the warmest year on record. The Trump administration has threatened to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and eliminating funding to the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, along with many other small agencies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a multi-phased response to Yemen’s Houthis after the Iran-backed militants struck near Israel’s main airport with a missile on May 4. European and United States airlines have canceled flights into Israel for the next few days. After recently resuming service to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport following a suspension of nearly a year and a half, carriers including Delta Air Lines and Ryanair have once again discontinued flights. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, began targeting Israel and the Red Sea shipping in late 2023 in the early months of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. Following the missile attack, President Donald Trump ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities to target commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

moving into apartments.

“For four or three hours of work, you can see your impact,” McCarthy said. “But then you also see how much work and how much help these organizations need. So it kind of inspires you to come back.”

Burke, having led and coordinated other community service events such as the ESD History Chapels, “ESD Eras Tour” Community and Homecoming Picnic and the Time Capsule unearthing, said that the Day of Service was one of the most impactful events because of the large turnout.

“You know, more than 300 ESD people, students, faculty, staff and parents were doing something to give back to the Dallas area at the same time,” Burke said. “So that was just a goose-bump moment.”

A United Nations judge has been jailed for six years and four months after forcing a young woman to work as a slave for her in the United Kingdom. Lydia Mugambe, a scholar at the University of Oxford who studied for a PhD in law, was found guilty in March for facilitating the commission of a breach of UK immigration law. In addition to Mugambe’s judicial work in the UK, she also held a high position as a judge in Uganda, where she stopped a local Ugandan woman and forced her to work as her maid and provide childcare. Mugambe exploited her by taking advantage of her lack of knowledge about employment rights, ultimately misleading her as to why she came to the UK.

Rawaan Khan and Nahla Whittier | Staff writers

A deeper look at the events happening around the world, compiled by Lilly Traylor | News editor

TRUMP AS POPE

HOUTHIS STRIKE ISRAEL

Section of a screenshot featuring an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump dressed as the Pope, which was posted on X and published on whitehouse.gov.

United Nations General Assembly hall in the UN Headquarters, New York City, February 2024 Photo by Mojnsen, CC BY-SA 4.0 Creative Commons.

wearing the ESD shirt). Photo by Ruth Burke

Head of school expresses concern for growing hate culture

David Baad gives upper school homily, addresses values that the community should uphold

Emmy

Moss | Co-editor-in-chief

The chapel fell silent as Ann and Lee Hobson Head of School Dave Baad walked up to the podium on Tuesday, April 1. But instead of his usual uplifting homilies, Baad offered to the upper school an intended message that was different from previous ones.

Baad addressed the congregation of upper school students about their widespread use of negative language and attitudes among their peers, highlighting how these behaviors shape and influence young minds. Racial slurs, abusive sexual language and excessive competitiveness are just some of the sensitive topics that Baad, along with other faculty, students and parents, believe to be present in the lives of the student body.

“I have been [the Head of School] here now seven years, and these kinds of behaviors have popped up and existed from time to time,” Baad said. “We've tried other strategies [like] addressing things individually. It didn't appear that the types of behaviors were dissipating, so I just wanted to try a new strategy, and that was to really get up and address it directly in front of everybody.”

These issues are not just prevalent in the ESD community. Shifting societal norms have impacted students nationwide, normalizing aggressive language and attitudes in everyday interactions.

“I see it everywhere. I'm in conversation with heads of school all over the country, and I think at virtually every

school, they are addressing some or all of these issues,” Baad said. “Everyone is trying to solve the issue of how we interact in a way that is civil and respectful.”

The broader trend and spread of these words can be attributed to social media platforms that allow people to use those types of language from behind a screen. According to an Associated Press-MTV poll taken in 2011, 71 percent of people are more likely to use slurs online than in person, and only half of those who responded said they were likely to ask the offender to stop if they came across that type of language. This number has likely risen since then.

“The point I tried to make in my homily was that I think you all are growing up in a different culture with all of the social media you see, and I think generally our culture is sort of more overtly mean,” Baad said. “I, in no way see this as some sort of stain or mark on the ESD kids; it's just that I think we all are influenced by the culture in which we're sitting. I'm not talking about ESD culture, I'm talking about American culture [and] world culture. We're all susceptible to those influences, and I just want to remind us all that as an Episcopal school, we have certain values that we want to uphold.”

Many students connected with the overall message of Baad’s chapel talk, which was viewed as a supportive message for students navigating an already difficult time in their lives.

“I thought [Mr. Baad’s] chapel talk addressed a lot of issues that are in the community, and ways to grow stronger together,” sophomore Matilda Houghton said. “I

I, in no way see this as some sort of stain or mark on the ESD kids; it's just that I think we all are influenced by the culture in which we're sitting. I'm not talking about ESD culture, I'm talking about American culture [and] world culture. We're all susceptible to those influences, and I just want to remind us all that as an Episcopal school, we have certain values that we want to uphold.

David Baad Ann and Lee Hobson Head of School

thought the most important part of the talk was talking about the general social scene and how it can impact a person. Since his talk, overall, people have been more respectful towards one another, but change doesn't happen overnight.”

Although this unhealthy trend is broader than just the ESD campus, it has affected the school’s admissions office over the years as well. And the most explicit way these types of behaviors are displayed to prospective families is through sporting events.

“Unfortunately, we have had some families reference these issues [concerning] why they did not accept an offer of enrollment or as a reason that they chose to withdraw an application mid-cycle,” Director of Enrollment Management Cindy Newsom said. “It is sometimes reported in the anonymous surveys that we send to all families [who] chose not to enroll at ESD, and it has also been communicated through direct conversations. The majority of comments are related to comments [or] behavior that were experienced at sporting events.”

But some of these negative attitudes are not from the actual players but from the atmosphere in the stands during a sporting event.

“I feel the heated nature of sporting events is ripe for some non-ESD-like behavior,” Newsom said. “I have had a couple of conversations with families in the application process that have called to share what they perceived to be poor sportsmanship from our players and parents at a game. It may be small things like mentioning that they didn't feel comfortable or welcomed in our stadium or more direct observations

A Rapid Rundown

PASS IT ON

On April 30, upper school and middle school students, parents, faculty and staff gathered in the Competition Gym to celebrate Pass it On. This event is where the senior class passes a candle to each rising freshman to welcome them into the upper school, passing the spirit of ESD through a candle flame.

This cherished tradition dates back to 1976, when Fr. Stephen Swann organized the first Pass it On ceremony to honor the eighth graders for finishing their time in middle school.

“There is not another school that I know

STUDENT BODY WEEK

From March 31 to April 11, upper school students experienced two weeks filled with fun and excitement. Kicking off with Powderpuff games and wrapping up with a week of spirited dress-up days, Student Body Week brought lively competition and a welcome break from the usual school routine.

“I think that everyone gets excited and spirited for [Student Body Week], and people go all out, which is really fun, senior and Student Body President Tessa Cabrales said, “[It s] a week to give the students something to look forward to and keep the school year super fun. Each grade competed in several events

LOGAN BETT'S PHOTO CONTEST

The winner of the second annual Logan Betts Photo Contest was announced during chapel on April 24. Freshman Jackson Laske received first place for his photo, “Lightning Tree, and received $50. Logan Betts 24 passed away in the spring of 2023, and in his memory, the class of 2024 wanted to share his love of photography through an annual photo contest.

“We created [this] last year. The class of 2024 decided to do multiple events [to] honor Logan in between community service and other actions that we took, senior class Dean Marcela Garcini said. “In one of the events was this photo contest, and we decided to do it because Logan really enjoyed photography

of in the United States that has a ceremony exactly like this, Stemmons Family Senior Chaplain Fr. Nate Bostian said. “I love the way that it ties in with the campfire that started our whole school up at the camping retreat on the beach in Galveston.

During the ceremony, one to two rising freshmen pair up with one senior to receive the light of the candle. Senior Jack Provost passed the light down to his brother, Mason Provost, at the ceremony.

“It was a special moment when I took my brother's place because I have always looked up to him, Mason said. “I will take the light and continue to shine the ESD values.

to collect points for their grade. At the end of the two weeks, the grade with the most points won a prize. This year, the competition was intense with the juniors and seniors continuously trading the lead right up to the final day. This took a turn when juniors created a fake line during the rock, paper, scissors competition on Friday, April 11, causing them to lose 30 points that were in turn distributed among the freshmen, sophomores and seniors, placing the seniors in the lead. However, the juniors made a comeback after receiving the lowest number of community violations during the two-week event, earning them an extra 40 points and making them the overall winner with 105 points.

and had a passion for it. The contest required a $20 entry per person, and contestants were allowed to submit several photos in the three different categories: nature, abstract and portrait. In total, $480 was donated to Family Gateway, the organization that Betts frequently volunteered with.

“The pictures that we received are really cool, Garcini said. “I am very amazed [at] the quality of pictures that people took. Winners of the contest have their photos framed and displayed in the library.

“After I won the contest, felt very good and proud of my work, Laske said, “My inspiration for the photo was from nature pictures online, and I thought that getting lighting on a photo would be cool.

about comments made on a court [or] field between students or from our crowd.”

The line between a good game and unsportsmanlike behavior can be thin, and ESD’s history of rivalries with other schools has not made it any easier to decipher. While some people may be worried about aggression during games, some students and athletes see it as healthy competitiveness and a good match.

“I agreed with everything except the sportsmanship stuff,” Scout Smithson* said. “I think that's just how you play sports, you know, you might bring some people down, but that's how winning and losing works.”

Prospective families base their decisions on more than just sporting events, but any interaction with a member of the ESD community—students, alumni or faculty. While a negative interaction has been the reason a family chose not to enroll, a positive impression from a student or alum has often inspired families to join our community.

“We know there is always more than one side to a story, but we also know that our community is judged by many on the outside by their experiences and interactions [with] anyone wearing or representing ESD,” Newsom said. “I would also like to counter with the positive feedback we receive through the admission office. Many folks say they choose to apply to ESD because they know some of our alumni, parents and students and are so impressed with the way they conduct themselves, the qualities they possess [and] the friendships they maintain.”

* Name changed at the request of the source for anonymity.

LIGHTNING TREE Freshman Jackson Laske wins first place in the Logan Betts

History reexamined: Trump releases files on JFK, MLK

Society questions the government’s transparency

Cassidy Brausa and Searcy Ferguson | Staff writers

After more than 50 years, classified information about the assassinations of three influential American political personalities was made available to the public.

On Jan. 23, during his third day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“The continued redaction and withholding of information from records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is not consistent with the public interest,” Trump said in the Oval Office during the signing. “The release of these records is long overdue.”

Each of these assassinations occurred during the Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted until 1991. This was a key reason why these documents were withheld from the public for nearly 60 years and why national security concerns were cited as a reason for not releasing the files.

According to AP U.S. history teacher Claire Mrozek, there are significant reasons why the government sometimes keeps information from United States citizens.

“There are good, important and legitimate reasons for not being 100 percent transparent as a government,” Mrozek said. “There were also probably some revelations of some shady practices that [the gov-

ernment] knew would put them in a bad light.”

The assassinations of Kennedy and King have been surrounded by conspiracy theories, with many questioning the true culprits, motives behind the killings and possible involvement of both the CIA and FBI in the events leading up to the deaths. For example, a Washington Post article published in 2017 discussed the possibility of Lee Harvey Oswald being a CIA agent.

However, when information is kept from the public and unavailable, people create speculations that can ultimately harm society and fuel mistrust.

“I think conspiracy theories are a genuine concern for me because healthy skepticism of the government is great, but there also needs to be healthy respect,” Mrozek said. “I think we’ve crossed the line into disrespect in a lot of regards, [especially with] skepticism.”

Now more than ever, the integrity of the details surrounding the assassination is being put on display and questioned. The events around the assassination of Kennedy, investigated by the Warren Commission,

a committee that President Lyndon B. Johnson created to investigate the assassination, reported that Oswald fired a single bullet in 1964 and that it pierced Kennedy’s suit from the rear before exiting through the front of his neck.

“A bullet had entered the base of the back of his neck slightly to the right of the spine. It traveled downward and exited from the front of the neck, causing a nick in the left lower portion of the knot in the President’s necktie. Before the shooting started, Governor Connally had been facing toward the crowd on the right. He started to turn toward the left and suddenly felt a blow on his back,” as stated in the Warren Commission Report: Chapter One: Summary and Conclusions.

However, upper school proctor and substitute teacher Alison McClelland has a different view of the story from most. McClelland’s father, Dr. Robert N. McClelland, was one of the four house surgeons at Parkland Memorial Hospital on Nov. 22, 1963, the day of Kennedy’s assassination.

According to McClelland, her father was giving a lecture that morning when a medical resident came frantically knocking at the conference room door and told him he was needed immediately in the emergency room—the President had been shot. Dr. McClelland rushed to the emergency room and examined the president’s bullet wound in his head for 10 minutes.

“Because of where [my] dad was positioned, directly above JFK’s head, that day in trauma room one, he had a view of [the president’s] head wound that the other surgeons did not have,” McClelland said. “From

what he saw up close, he felt that the gunshot to [his] head had to come from in front, rather than behind.”

Dr. McClelland was one of the few witnesses who, for decades, continued to stand by the belief that Kennedy had been shot from the front.

“[He] refused to change his story over the next 40 or 50 years,” McClelland said. “He was often singled out, many times, in a very derogatory way, and dad was and still is recognized today as an extraordinary surgeon, teacher and pioneer.”

One of Mrozek’s AP U.S. history students, junior Courtney Del-Cid, believes that the release of these documents benefits the public and makes important historical information accessible.

“I think it is great that Trump is releasing these documents because it gives the world a different perspective on the pressures the government faces and the number of decisions they have to make daily that affect the country as a whole,” Del-Cid said. “But these decisions, like killing nationally recognized leaders, were something that almost everyone was blindsided by.”

Subjectivity has enabled society to develop its conspiracy theories and interpretations, much like the public is doing regarding the released files. Mrozek believes history is essential because of the way it initiates subjectivity and interpretation.

“The good news is that one of the things that makes history interesting is the interpretive piece of it,” Mrozek said. “The bad news is that it is really difficult to come up and find uncontroversial evidence that everybody is going to take.”

Paying the price: the fall of 23andMe, personal privacy

Concerns arise over the selling of personal information, DNA

livelihoods.

It was simple: $99, a few clicks and a package at the door. A strand of hair or a cheek swab held secrets of one’s genetic heritage.

But the consequences of those quick swabs and statistics were deeper than many anticipated.

On March 24, 23andMe, the company that uses people’s genotypes to analyze their DNA, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which meant the company’s 15 million customers’ DNA was in jeopardy. With the threat of their genetic information being sold to the highest bidder or undisclosed agreements with various companies, concerns about data privacy quickly escalated. As people began to realize their data might not be as secure as they had believed, they quickly began to remove their information from the site, citing dubious legality and ethical concerns. Ethics teacher and History Department Chair Bryan Cupp believes that the rights to a person’s genetic information lie mainly with the consumer, not the corporation.

“I still think, no matter what, users' genetic data is important,” Cupp said. “Private data should not be used for economic matters in that way, particularly in this case.”

According to CNBC, 23andMe has lost 98 percent of its original $6 billion value. As the company descended the stock market, its bankruptcy was declared. And while the plethora of customers is concerned about their data, this fall also compromises the workers'

“Chapter 11 [bankruptcy] is restructuring, where the company continues to operate but usually under a court-approved restructuring plan,” upper school business, entrepreneurship and marketing network coordinator Amy Livingston said. "It will attempt to cut costs or perhaps sell off part of it to pay its debts. Employees may lose jobs, investors may lose money and creditors may not get fully repaid.”

A key issue often brought up when discussing changing ownership of a person’s information is how a company can exploit a person’s data and personal information, especially DNA, which contains knowledge and insights that someone may not even know about themselves, such as preferences or trends. Numerous companies have used people’s DNA for advertising. A few years ago, as this DNA fad took off, Spotify curated playlists based on a listener’s DNA, and Airbnb created cultural trips based on a person’s heritage through a partnership with 23andMe.

Companies and the internet are able to confine people to a box or type, especially when selling this data for advertising or other business purposes. Nowadays, one’s identity and reputation are even more vulnerable with the trend of sharing personal data, whether that be DNA or preferences.

“[People can] post whatever they want, opinions or whatever, but they should be considerate about the fact that future colleges, employers [and] companies in general, will be able to pull up anything that is posted and you could be judged or even not make it

through an application process because of what you posted. That information [stays] with your reputation,” sophomore Jordan Johnson said. “What’s acceptable in society today might not be acceptable in society in the future.”

In the rising digital age, it has become common for people to overshare online. Whether it is submitting DNA to an ancestry company or posting photos to social media, there are several ways for people to overshare online, which could put their future, reputation or personal information at risk. The question arises: once a person agrees to the privacy policy online, how much of themselves do they truly own?

“I think in general, people should always be skeptical of companies. It's your information. I do, however, think that companies shouldn't sell your information and shouldn't collect [data] more than they are open about,” Johnson said. “They should tell you all of the information they're

collecting, who they're sending it to and what they're using it for, but overall, people should be cognizant of the information they're sharing.”

As the responsibility and ownership of people’s data and information shift between the hands of the company and the consumer, a common problem emerges: literacy. When privacy choices pop up when clicking onto a website, the easiest solution for most is to simply consent, but how much of that choice is fair?

“Part of the challenge is that with software updates on your phone, the familiarity with all those legal terms or what the changes are and [its] technicality is beyond the average individual, myself included,” Cupp said. “So what we tend to do is just click. And the problem is that companies also know that. In their eyes, they are being fully transparent, but at the same time, are they truly giving sufficient information and [delivering it] in an understandable way to the consumer?”

KENNEDY’S LAST RIDE

On Nov. 22 1963, President John F. Kennedy (back left), Jacqueline Kennedy (back right), and Texas Gov. John Connally (waving) started their drive from Dallas Love Field to downtown. Photo by Tom Dillard/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

Josephine Holmes | Arts editor

AUCTION FLOOR People’s DNA and personal information is made vulnerable as companies auction off their consumers’ information to the highest bidder, often with the consumer unaware. “We put so much stock into social media that it can certainly have negative reprecussions, ethics teacher Bryan Cupp said. “We are moving into a world where privacy is less and less available.

Illustration by Josephine Holmes

High school sophomore goes off to college

Rising junior Wendy Chen will be a freshman once again, this time at UNT

While her classmates are becoming juniors, sophomore Wendy Chen is starting over as a freshman once again. However, this is not the result of a failing grade. In fact, Chen scored in the 95th percentile on the PSAT, and soon after, promotional emails began coming in. One thing led to another, and Chen is now enrolled in the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science program at the University of North Texas.

“TAMS is an opportunity for high schoolers at UNT,” Chen said. “It's a pre-college program that allows you to take the UNT classes”.

By doing so, students earn college credits and are co-enrolled as high school juniors and college freshmen. After two years in the system, students are awarded a high school diploma, and their first two years of college are geared towards a bachelor’s degree.

“I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to go, even if I got in,” Chen said. “But then I thought it was pretty cool that [I] could get college credit.”

The idea of accumulating two full years’ worth of college credits sounded attractive to Chen, especially as a student on an accelerated track. Because of this, she applied in October of 2024 and was eventually accepted in December. Applying wasn’t

something she could do on a whim; it required four letters of recommendation and four supplemental essays.

“Wendy is a conscientious student who consistently approaches her work with care and dedication,” Maggie Ferris, Chen’s AP Calculus AB teacher who wrote one of her recommendation letters, said. “She completes her assignments thoughtfully and is attentive and eager to learn in the classroom.”

Chen is already taking advanced courses typically taken by upperclassmen, such as AP Calculus. As an incoming TAMS student, such rigorous classes largely prepare students for the college-level coursework offered in their curriculum. Furthermore, she’s active in multiple extracurriculars, such as the robotics club, investment club and chess club. Outside of school, Chen also plays piano and runs a small business.

“I also resell clothes on Poshmark and eBay. I've been doing it for a while,” Chen said.

“It's something I first started doing because I wanted to clear out my closet, but [since] then, it expanded.”

On top of this, she is committed to community service and has earned two Presidential Service Awards. Chen received the Silver Award for the 2023-24 school year with 75 hours of service, and the Bronze Award for the 2024-25 school year with 100 hours of service.

Even less common than Chen’s high school achievements is the opportunity to

I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to go, even if I got in. But then I thought it was pretty cool that [I] could get college credit.

Wendy Chen Sophomore

head to college as a 16-yearold high school student.

“The acceptance rate is around 25 percent, and they have a graduating class of about 250 people,” Chen said.

Most students begin college around age 18. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Chen is among the 3 percent of students who are able to accelerate their journey. This opportunity doesn’t come to many—only some colleges, such as Dallas College, Tarrant County College and others have programs for gifted high school students.

“It is weird, [and] I’ll have to get used to it,” senior Vivian Chen, Wendy's older sister, said. “[I would have liked to see her] become a senior at ESD and follow through with the ESD traditions.”

As the oldest child, Vivian feels a sense of responsibility to guide Wendy through the high school and college application process, and originally felt that Wendy should stay at ESD.

“I thought Wendy would benefit so much more from continuing at ESD,” Vivian said.

“She has so many friends and there's so much potential.”

However, TAMS could provide Wendy with opportunities that would foster her growth and help her succeed to her fullest potential. Although this was her initial position, Vivian soon realized that what worked best for her might not be the best decision for her younger sister.

“I like seeing things laid out in front of me,” Vivian said. “[These programs] are not in the books for me.”

Vivian was the first in her family to attend ESD. Now, the sisters are on track to graduate from college in the same year–2029–and the idea of graduating the same year as her little sister proves to be an odd feeling for Vivian.

“My mom was not very supportive at first,” Wendy said. “She wanted two more years with me.” Although they were previously skeptical, both of Wendy’s parents are now fully supportive. They believe it is a good opportunity and are excited about her future. Wendy herself also feels a mix of excitement and nervousness. As a boarding-only program, Chen will live on campus starting Aug. 7, in the TAMS dorms on UNT's campus and has already found a roommate. Some students opt to enroll in one of various academic tracks, which specialize in topics such as Computer Science & Mathematics, Music, Visual Arts & Design, Engineering and more, but Chen has chosen to follow the general track, which provides students with a strong foundation in math and science courses most related to preparing for health and medical schools. This includes classes such as biology, chemistry and physics, as well as seminar, political science and other math, history and English classes.

“The emotions and sadness of leaving ESD obviously hit harder as we get closer to the end of the year,” Wendy said. “However, I’m excited for my freedom next year.”

PRACTICE IS INTEGRAL TO PERFECTION

During a quick review before her AP Calculus AB quiz on April 30, sophomore Wendy Chen works through a problem with her math teacher Maggie Ferris. "The review packets that she hands out in class [and meeting with her] help me clear up any last-minute questions that I can't answer myself," Chen said.

Photo by Gabriella Loewen-Eells

Gabriella Loewen-Eells and Carter Maddox Staff writers

READY FOR ACTION

Despite a tough loss to the juniors in the initial round of the Powderpuff tournament on March 31, the sophomore team put in the work in the weeks leading up to the tournament. During four practices and two team lunches prior to the game, coaches William Elliot, Curtis Mathes and Khizer Salmon put together playbooks to give the players the confidence they needed. The week before the game, the team practiced on Founders Field and worked out strategies.

“Football is not only fun to play but also so much fun to coach, Salmon said. “It was hard to lose, but we are going to come back stronger next year.

THE CHAMPIONS

The junior class claimed the Powderpuff trophy after a 14-11 victory against the seniors on April 3.

“Both teams put up a great fight, junior team member Tatum Reynolds said. “I am so proud of my team and can't believe we got to experience such a fun day.

ITS GO TIME

On March 31, the juniors played the sophomores, and the freshmen were matched up against the seniors. Tensions rose as the juniors and sophomores went into double overtime during the tournament’s semifinal game. In the end, the juniors won with a two-point conversion. In the other semifinal, the seniors beat the freshman by one touchdown.

“We only had a few plays, but we executed them well,

Powderpuff the Curtain

Design editor Betty Wheeler offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Powderpuff games from coaching and semifinals to the championship as the student council works to make the event thrilling for the entire student body.

Photos by Betty Wheeler

THE LAST HURRAH

Student body president Tessa Cabrales, along with the student council executive team, planned Powerpuff week. The student council made sure they had all the appropriate equipment and referees for the games.

“Something hard [about planning the week] was that I knew little to nothing about football, Cabrales said. “So when it came to rules and materials, I had to rely a lot on the student council members who knew better than [I did].

Viva-La-Prom

Reese Rawson | Co-editor-in-chief

Junior Stella Wynne and her friends eagerly ascend the elevator at the upscale Thompson Hotel in downtown Dallas, unsure of what to expect as they await their first prom. When the sliding doors open, they are met with Las Vegas dancers, bright neon lights, a vast dance floor, casino tables, DJ music and a spectacular night ahead.

April 5 marked the annual prom for the junior and senior classes. Planned by four junior moms since March 2024, the dance came together seamlessly and was themed “Viva Las Vegas.”

“After spending all day getting ready for the dance, I nearly couldn’t hold back my excitement,” Wynne said. “Since it was my first time attending [prom], my expectations were definitely higher than for any other school dance.”

All the upperclassmen were right when they said prom is the best dance of the year. This week at school, we haven’t been able to stop talking about how fun it was. I cannot wait for [next year’s] dance.

Stella Wynne Junior

Props representing Las Vegas—including gambling tables with fake money, raffles, large martini glasses and expansive centerpieces—filled the ballroom.

“I was very impressed when I walked into prom because of how eloquently it was set up,” senior Jack Provost said. “I loved the DJ and the dance party and even did some gambling.”

Many students don’t realize how much time and effort go into the behind-the-scenes planning of prom. The moms on

the prom committee met twice a month for the past year to discuss the details of the dance. In these meetings, they selected a venue, sampled the food, booked entertainment and photographers, coordinated raffle prizes and ordered props. Once prom co-chair Monica Eastin P’24, ’26 and ’29 proposed the “Viva Las Vegas” theme, they unanimously agreed because of its lively and fun spirit.

“I thoroughly enjoyed planning prom with my friends and co-chairs,” Eastin said. “The Vegas theme was awesome and we loved coming up with all the ideas to make it an amazing night to remember for the juniors and seniors.”

The seniors arrived at 7 p.m., 30 minutes before the juniors, to have their mother-son and father-daughter dances. Because prom marked the seniors’ last official school dance, it was a sentimental time for students preparing to leave the nest. The mothers and sons danced to “You’ll Be In My Heart,” by Phil Collins, and the fathers and daughters danced to “My Girl,” by The Temptations, highlighting the bittersweet emotions of the evening.

“It was truly a special experience dancing with my mom, and these memories will last a lifetime,” Provost said. “Plus, seeing my friends and their moms dancing made me soak up the moment even more.”

Not only did prom consist of dancing and gambling, but a raffle also occurred throughout the night, giving attendees the chance to win prizes, including Miron Crosby boots, Roller Rabbit pajamas and various gift cards to restaurants around Dallas. Junior Blake Gubert won NFL tickets to go to a Cowboys game this fall.

Culture crash

Sweeney and Powell dating rumors

After the release of “Anyone But You, a romantic comedy starring actors Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell on Dec. 22, 2023, viewers immediately began speculating about a relationship between the two. The chemistry was undeniable, and the press paid close attention to the time they spent together off the set. While the film wrapped almost two years ago, Sweeney and Powell still hang out as “really close friends, according to Powell’s mother, Cyndy Powell. However, a recent addition to the speculation caught the media’s attention when Sweeney called off her engagement with fiancé Johnathan Davino, with whom she shared a seven-year relationship. A few days after the news of the split, Sweeney attended Powell’s older sister Leslie Powell’s wedding on March 30. While nothing has been confirmed, the “friends are closely observed by the press and fans.

Alix Earle’s Meals in Heels

TikTok influencer Alix Earle has not only used her platform of 7.1 million followers to make a living, promote brand deals and grow her online presence, but she has also utilized her influence to positively impact the Miami community. Earle recently hosted her sixth “Meals in Heels event on April 18, in which her followers come together wearing high heels to prepare meals for those in need while enjoying a fun social event. Earle’s philanthropic efforts have proven impactful, with each event producing 3,000 meals distributed by the Caesar-Iglesias Family Foundation and Major Food Group to Miami’s most vulnerable

“When the DJ called my name [saying that I had] won [a raffle], I was shocked,” Gubert said. “I feel so lucky and am looking forward to seeing the Cowboys play, especially because they are one of my favorite teams.”

When it comes to school dances, ESD goes all out. With the nonstop dancing, casino games and general excitement, it was hard for some students to leave when the clock hit 10:30 p.m.

Thanks to the intricate attention to detail and the effort put in by the planning committee, calling it a night to remember would be an understatement.

“All the upperclassmen were right when they said prom is the best dance of the year,” Wynne said. “This week at school, we haven’t been able to stop talking about how fun it was. I cannot wait for [next year’s] dance.”

Gaga is back!

After being the face of the pop genre in the early 2000s, Lady Gaga took a period off after telling her fans at a Toronto concert that she needed to “slow down for a moment for some healing. Gaga took a break from releasing new music aside from starring in the 2018 rendition of “A Star Is Born, “ where her hit with co-star Bradley Cooper, “Shallow, debuted. However, Gaga has returned to releasing new music and is back and better than ever. The pop singer’s newest single released this year, “Abracadabra, “ has already blown up the Billboard Music Charts at number one in the dance/pop song category. One of the first performances of this new hit was Coachella, and it received rave reviews. It is safe to say that the iconic Lady Gaga has fully returned to the

Festival frenzy

Stagecoach, the country and rock music festival, is always a favorite amongst popular music events of the year. This year’s festival was in Indio, California, from April 2527, and featured classic artists such as Zach Bryan, Flatland Cavalry and Luke Combs, as well as up-and-coming musicians like Dasha and Shaboozy. The fan favorite moment and biggest hit of the festival was Luke Combs’ back-to-back surprises during his performance. Combs sang some of his greatest hits, including “Beautiful Crazy” and “When It Rains It Pours.” Just when his fans thought it couldn't get any better, Garth Brooks, a beloved country music artist, joined him out on the stage to sing one of Brooks’ hits, “Friends In Low Places.” The duet was the cherry on top of the festival, and made the festival live up to its esteemed reputation.

While the Kentucky Derby’s predictions, bets and official race are exciting, it is also a time for celebrities to display their vibrant, diverse and occasionally over-the-top outfits. The 151st Annual Kentucky Derby took place on Saturday, May 3, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and had many fashion favorites. The elegant, upscale attire has many different interpretations, and while celebrities are often the stars of the shows, this year, Carson Grisham, a woman from Dallas, takes the cake. Grisham made her grand entrance in a simple red dress, cardigan and high heels, but her hat was far from traditional. The widebrimmed, red hat included a rose on top, with long red tassels hanging from the

While feathers are normally worn on women’s headpieces, Grisham s

which was crafted by her

was extravagant and unforgettably unique.

DANCING AWAY Juniors exit the dance and await their after-party. "My friends and I danced the entire [prom]," junior Ruby Cuccia said (pictured on the right). "When the clock hit 10:30 [p.m.], you had to practically drag us off the dance floor."

Photo provided by Stella Wynne

sides.

hat,

mother,

Photo by (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images/TNS)

Photo provided by Sophie Slotnik

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach/TNS

Derby day in style

Photo by Saul Loeb/Getty Images/TNS

Palooza

Pup Star

Sebastian Guzik

SENIOR SEBASTIAN GUZIK ARRIVED at Senior Dog Day with his dog and best friend, Cookie. Cookie, an all-white Maltipoo, is almost two years old, a fact evident in his boundless energy around others. Despite still being a puppy, Cookie loves lounging on the couch and spending time with Guzik and the rest of the family. He can spend hours relaxing in the comfort of his owners’ home.

“I loved bringing Cookie to Senior Dog Day, Guzik said. “It was cool to see him interact with all my friends dogs.

Although Guzik hasn’t had Cookie for long, he cherishes the time they’ve had together. Some of his favorite moments are the simplest: just hanging out and watching golf.

Pawsome Pet

Katherine Clark

SENIOR KATHERINE CLARK STRUTTED onto God’s Front Yard with her one-yearold Goldendoodle, Holly, in tow. The playful pup showed off her energy, leaping, running and tackling anything, or anyone, in her path.

Holly’s favorite activities include racing around Clark’s backyard and playing fetch, both of which help her burn off energy and give Clark a chance to bond with her.

“It was so fun bringing my dog to school and it is such a special memory that we will always remember, Clark said. “I am going to miss Holly so much next year because she is always so sweet and greets me every time I get home. When they re not in the backyard, Clark and Holly enjoy long walks around the neighborhood. It’s one of the things she says she’ll miss most when she heads off to college.

Each issue, the Eagle Edition features the most exciting pets around campus. Co-editors-in-chief Emmy Moss and Reese Rawson highlight four dogs on Senior Dog Day.

Top Dog

Matthew Charlton

SENIOR MATTHEW CHARLTON AND HIS rescue dog, Revy, stepped into Senior Dog Day with confidence and excitement. A fan favorite among the senior class, Revy was eager to see the familiar faces of Charlton’s friends and their dogs. Because Revy is a rescue, his exact breed is unknown, but his unique personality shines through. Every summer, Charlton takes him to Colorado, where they hike mountain trails and explore the outdoors together.

“Senior Dog Day was special because my friends got to see [Revy], and got to meet other people’s dogs, Charlton said. “It was really cool to bring all of our dogs together.

Charlton is already planning to bring Revy back to Colorado this summer for another adventure. Get ready, Colorado, your favorite furry friend is coming back to town.

Fur Real Friends

Pheobe McMillan WHITE AND BLACK PUFFS MADE THEIR way down the chapel steps, and to the senior class’s surprise, they were senior Phoebe McMillan’s Sheepadoodles. Despite their fluffy, mature appearance, Birdie is only four years old, and Daisy is six.

“I loved bringing my dogs to [Senior Dog Day] because it was so sweet seeing the little kids playing with them and petting them, McMillan said. “I think Daisy and Birdie had fun too because they love all my friends and got to play with the other dogs.

Like Charlton, McMillan brings her dogs to Colorado each summer. In Crested Butte, Birdie and Daisy enjoy hiking and soaking up the mountain sun. In Dallas, McMillan finds joy in taking them on long car rides, where they gaze out the window and watch the world pass by.

Coffee House brews coffee, creativity

Itinerary's 44th issue is distributed to the community, students share their original work

Most would think the smell of coffee would lure people into Coffee House, but on Saturday, April 26, guests who attended the 37th student-run Coffee House stepped into the Frank Building atrium and were greeted by a different aroma—one of warm mac and cheese and chocolate chip cookies.

After enjoying the food, guests entered the Bray Theater, where this year's Itinerary was revealed. Sophomore Kate Lewis, who hosted the event, welcomed the audience and added her spin to Hamilton’s traditional “The Reynolds Pamphlet” song. The 13 students presenting during the event were excited to reveal their original artwork to the ESD community.

“I was a little bit nervous to go up and talk,” sophomore Emory Turner, who presented a film, said. “But it was really fun getting to do this event, and I'll probably do it [again] next year.”

Turner showcased her original film, “Supercut,” about the phases of friendships. She wanted to reveal one of her films that went along with the bright colors of this year’s Itinerary’s theme: Duality.

This was the first year that Itinerary had two coeditors-in-chief: senior editors Brooke Ebner and Sofia Mercado. To reflect this change, the staff decided to create a contrast between dull and bold by dividing the magazine into two sections. This duality highlighted the difference between brighter, more intense work and more subdued pieces. The editors used half circles on the cover pages that met in the middle of the magazine to highlight the dual effect.

“We brought our ideas together when making the two different sections,” Ebner said. “We tried to create dual effects by having more dull and less emotional sections and brighter, more intense

sections”.

The unveiling of the Itinerary magazine has occurred every year at Coffee House since the event was established in 1988. The magazine features students' creative work, such as prose, poetry, film, photography, sculpture, painting and original songs. Each piece goes through a selective process to fit with the year's theme.

The magazine staff decides which pieces should be featured from the year. The staff anonymously ranks all pieces on a scale of 1-10. After the ranking, Ebner and Mercado insert the pieces with the highest rankings into the magazine. From then on, the heads of communication reach out to students whose work was chosen for the magazine to ask if they would like to present it at Coffee House.

This year, Daniella Woodhouse and Valentina Boltchi asked students with original films and songs to feature their work at the event because they couldn’t be featured in the magazine itself. Turner was one of the two films displayed at the coffee house event.

“My favorite part was probably getting to talk with everybody on the staff” Turner said The audience buzzed with excitement and applauded as students presented throughout the evening. Students were drawn to the event by the extra credit offered by the English department, but after attending, they appreciated the experience.

“I was driven by the extra credit opportunity, but it was interesting to hear all of the poetry, and it inspired me to read more of it,” freshman Max Barrow said. “I also enjoyed the films [because] they were really good.”

Heather Cernoch, English teacher and Itinerary’s sponsor, has been involved in this event for 10 years. When she applied for a position as an English teacher, she was told that her job included being

I think the event puts into perspective how great of a community we have, but also the boundless opportunities ESD has to offer its students,

Daniella Woodhouse Senior

in charge of the Itinerary and the Coffee House.

“I realized [at] that moment how special Coffee House was and how important tradition is to us at ESD,” Cernoch said. “Being able to go back to [ESD’s] founding and think about how long these traditions have been in place is a pretty cool thing, and so I'm thrilled to be able to be a part of that history and tradition to keep it going.”

The first Itinerary magazine was published in 1981; however, the first Coffee House wasn’t hosted until six years later in 1987. For the first few years, students sat in a circle and shared their original poetry, but as the school expanded, the event did as well and was eventually moved to the Bray Theater.

Former middle school substitute teacher Beth Ellsberry ’83 was one of the original Itinerary editors. Her staff chose the name Itinerary because it means guidebook.

“I was pleased to have had a small part in the initial groundwork for Itinerary,” Ellsberry said. “I am proud of what the magazine has become and how it represents our school.”

Thirty-seven years later, students and staff are still coming together to enjoy cups of coffee, witness the reveal of the Itinerary and see their peers work. As the event came to a close, cameras clicked and smiles appeared throughout the atrium. The final sips of coffee were consumed, and the last bites of mac and cheese were taken. This event brings the community together and allows students to showcase their work, as it is a fundamental part of the ESD tradition.

“I think the event puts into perspective how great of a community we have, but also the boundless opportunities ESD has to offer its students,” Woodhouse said. “Students are able to express their writing over the course of high school.”

ORIGIN OF COFFEE HOUSES DATES BACK TO THE 15TH CENTURY

The first recorded Coffee House was named Kiva Han and took place in Constantinople, Turkey According to the University of Delaware, the idea of a Coffee House dates back to the 1400s. In early times, coffee was only available to those with wealth, however, the creation of coffeehouses defied social norms and allowed anyone to engage in the social atmosphere, with freshly brewed coffee being served to all. The environment was an alternative to socializing in bars because Muslims weren t allowed to drink liquor.

These venues were known not only for socializing but for sharing intellectual ideas. Coffeehouses began to grow, and some people started to feel that the effects of coffee were insufficient for the human body. Those in high authority, whether it was political or religious power, began to view coffee houses as a place of birthing knowledge, which made them feel threatened by that idea.

These ideas led to the closing of coffee houses, but by then, the idea had spread all over Europe.

Today, Coffee Houses around the world still hold the same values and purposes to bring people together.

FALL PLAY REHEARSAL

Senior Dana Friedrich sits on the Bray Theater stage and reads her poem, "The Angst of Aging," in front of the audience on April 26 during Coffee House. Her piece was one of 13 poems published in this year's Itinerary. "[The poem is] about all of the issues I have had growing up and having to leave behind the eassy part of childhood," Friedrich said. Photo by Hayden Houston

Hayden Houston, McCall Moore and Harley West | Staff writers

so it is hard to continue to fully develstage wasn’t met.” article on Simply Psychology by Dr. qualified psychology teacher with over 18 throughout the progression of Piagare determined by biological maturawith the environment, social experience not interrupt biological maturation, it impact on the environment, social exequilibrations that infants and young chilearly years in. Piaget and the origins of child develthe biggest part,” Wiley said. “Kids inconsistencies between words and to a level of hypervigilance. It serves purpose.”

the areas of development that was resulting in children today with speech selective mutism and overall difficulty had a mask, they weren’t necessarily modeling to learn early language fordelayed language acquisition, [caused language gap,” Wiley said. “The research indiassessed at 18 months during the panincreased risk of impaired language suggesting that limited social exposure early language skills.” most influence on a child’s developable to read facial expressions and was another infants. These now toddlers todistinguishjoy appear on Their ability to lot of the time, have children realized the developthat their newfaced, causing a the birth rate. United States birth rate defrom 2019 to significant drop instance, the one percent in illuminating the sigpercent drop. endured the pandemic for the to adapt to the circumstances and towards their including Anne find ways to normalcy to her possible, in a time normal. play dates [and] [doing] everysaid. “Birthday interactions] parents and edto play a game of catch-up, trying to time and experiences. stage was not fully established, then as have difficulties with certain types problem solving,” Henderson said. “Howimpossible to develop these skills to some life through learning, experience and require more effort than years before the specialists, parents and educators the playing field for children who exsocial and emotional learning setbacks. Bright Horizons, a child care organization around the U.S., one of the best ways a child is by gradually exposing them interactions, even if they feel uncomfortable at experiences are essential to make up for lost of early isolation can extend beyond later life. preoperational stage, children are very egocensaid. “If the child is not taught empathy empathy, then they might not progress. to their lack of empathy as a young adulthood.”

ADOLESCENCE

dysregulations], anger [and] limited emotional vocabulary. So I think these were kind of all the unintended consequences from that social limitation, and I really don’t think we’ll see the full effects of this for years, which is shocking.”

Due to these children being pulled away from in-person classrooms, social activities and regular elementary fundamentals, there are lingering effects of disruptions that are becoming increasingly more noticeable to educators and learning specialists.

“I think the biggest thing, even when kids went back into in-person learning, [was the masks],” Wiley said.

“Preschools tried to do a clear mask because they recognized the importance of [facial representation]. For them, when they had a mask, they weren’t necessarily getting the visual modeling to learn early language formation, and so they had delayed language acquisition, and there was a widening language gap.”

As post-Covid elementary schoolers roll into their middle school years, learning specialists have observed a rise in diagnoses of ADHD, anxiety and depression. Whether this increase reflects a genuine surge in cases or improved diagnostic practices remains a subject of ongoing debate.

“The kids with learning disorders suffered the most, and we are really starting to see that in the middle school ages, but I’ve seen [progress] in schools with how they’ve tried to overcompensate by hiring more literacy experts,” Wiley said. “We could have seen an increase in ADHD, but when you have kids exposed to online and virtual learning, their [brains don’t] work well [at this age] anyway.”

[One of the greatest behavioral differences explored] was emotional dysregulation. I’ve had to hire more people specifically for social skills that do lots of building on resiliency and you know, kind of exploring that concept of rejection, sensitivity and dysphoria and perspectives, helps enrich a classroom experience.

Eve Wiley Director of Clinical Training at the Housson Center of Psychological and Educational Services and ESD parent.

With Covid online learning taking place for about a year, current middle schoolers were not given the correct amount of exposure to typical learning. Their attention span was significantly altered, which created prolonged effects seen today.

“For example, [during online learning], my fourth grader would just close his computer and go fishing, so keeping their attention the whole time [was] hard,” Wiley said. “The assumption was that in a lot of studies, with parents being home, they would have more time to read, more time to play [and] more intervention, but with all the environmental and parental stress, they ended up falling even more behind.”

Alongside Covid, kids are falling behind in school due to online learning and a lack of in-person education and technology. Devices have become more normalized and almost overused, leading to an obsession and constant need for such usage. Through Covid, children tended to become device-bound, not allowing them to thrive without one.

“I think that there was a lot of unintentional reinforcement enabled because of screen time,” Wiley said.

“Lots of us joked about having such respect for teachers when you’re trying to monitor online school.

The level of stress [and] cortisol [changed] the family system, so it was easier to just let the IPAD babysit.”

Online learning affects the physical and mental health of students tremendously, decreasing social skills, especially among middle school students. Associate Director of Emotional Wellness Meredith Stuelpe saw an increase in counseling visits following the pandemic, relying heavily on the switch from online to in-person learning.

“I think what we saw in the pandemic was very little socialization and lots of isolation, anxiety and fear because [kids] didn’t know what was going to happen next, they were restricted from doing a lot of things,” Stuelpe said.

“Coming out of Covid, I think it was hard for students to figure out how to communicate and interact with each other, almost like they lost a little bit of those skills. And [for] the people who were social during Covid, I think it just made everything [a little bit more clicky for them].”

Before the pandemic, social groups and friend groups were persistent, and with quarantine limiting that social interaction, the social dynamic was completely shifted.

“[The pandemic] made it very hard for some students to break in because students were so used to moving in their groups, so I think just socially with communication and friendships, it made it more difficult,” Stuelpe said.

“Kids learn a lot from being with other people, you learn from your peers and that’s how you figure things out.”

45

percent of parents of school-age children say the pandemic has had a negative impact on their child’s social skills development

“I think you could ask anybody, especially my peers who work in hospitals, [and they would say] there was so much uncertainty, loss and restriction that year, anxiety and depression rates just skyrocketed,” Stuelpe said. “After leaving the cohorts and returning to everyone being in the classroom together, that was very challenging [with these rates as well].”

As students began to return to the classrooms post-online learning, the switch from constant technology to limited or no technology was very difficult, leading to a significant decrease in students’ attention span and focus levels.

“I think having kids maintain focus after just being on their phones or around their computer all the time was hard,” Stuelpe said. “Because during the pandemic, most people had unlimited time on their devices, so then you come back [to school] and you’re expected to pay attention and focus, I think that’s really challenging.”

ADAPTING TO POST-COVID LEARNING

High school students and educators nationwide are still unknowingly experiencing the lingering effects of Covid, specifically regarding testing, mental health and social skills.

According to the Annie E Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy dedicated to giving grants to underserved persons, $31 trillion in U.S. economic activity goes towards helping young people complete learning that was set back by the pandemic. This significant spending increase is due to the continued decline in test scores and proficiency in core subjects such as math.

overlooked kids are current middle to Dr. Eve Wiley. Students who were school during the pandemic’s adin foundational education, where friendship and emotional regulation these children find themselves in situations, attempting to navigate their with significant developmental gaps. one of the greatest behavioral differemotional dysregulation. I’ve had to specifically for social skills that do lots resiliency and you know, kind of explorrejection, sensitivity and dysphoria,” that middle age, and [current] middle harder for them [with the emotional

With the constant limitation of peer interaction, middle schoolers’ identities were shaped in unusual ways, leaving developmental gaps that are typically addressed through early social learning and experiences with peers.

“In adolescence, the main developmental goal is learning ‘who am I,’ ‘what do I believe in’ and ‘who are my people,’” Stuelpe said. “When you don’t have that, I think it’s very hard on kids.”

Although these constantly limited social interactions persisted for nearly two years, middle school students have shown an increase in rates of depression and anxiety due to stress about social situations and finding friends post-pandemic. Because quarantine provided such a “safe haven,” coming out of it was much harder on students, especially after being online for over a year.

42

percent of parents say their child’s mental health has been negatively affected by the pandemic

“Every student in the U.S. faced academic disruption that resulted in learning loss during the pandemic,” Nellie Brenan Hall, a researcher and writer for Top Tier Admissions, said. “Resulting in not just lower average testing but also loss of executive-functioning skills traditionally taught in school through schedules and scaffolding.”

According to a study conducted by the Adolescent Wellness Academy in March 2021, one in five teens experiences severe mental health struggles. With the shift to remote learning, the majority of students reported that their mental health continuously declined.

“In middle school during Covid, life was different because many policies were put in place to keep us safe, like cohorts, not going to chapel and only four people sitting at a lunch table,” sophomore Maanya Jyothinagaram said. “I had to adapt as a new student that year [too].”

Currently, high school students experience intense academic anxiety due to the unstable foundation they believe has formed due to learning loss during the pandemic. According to Bookings’ public schools, test score declines spiked when schools were closed for an extended period. Public schools were typically closed more due to their large student population, which caused less social interaction compared to private schools.

22

percent of parents report the social difficulty as a result of Covid is ongoing

6th 8th to

graders report the greatest ongoing negative effects compared to elementary and high school students in areas such as social skills, math, reading, and science.

SOURCE: February 2025 Gallup survey

“I think private schools were able to implement better policies because they had more resources,” Jyothinagaram said. “[Private schools had] fewer students to think about and a more connected community, which made it a lot easier to manage the stress of Covid.”

These mental health and education challenges have heavily impacted public school systems, as these school districts typically have fewer resources than private ones.

“Public schools weren’t nearly as successful,” Clark Family Head of Upper School Matt Peal said. “Kids [who] have been at ESD for a long time tend to be, at times, better prepared in certain things like foundational math and reading and writing skills than some of our applicants who might be coming from the public system and [starting] high school at a private school level.”

These students, in particular, have trouble building the necessary skills, such as time management, for success in the school setting.

“Bells, routines, schedules and even reminders from staff fell by the wayside, and students struggled to manage their time and complete tasks post-Covid,” Hall said. “Notably, teachers have increasingly struggled with the lingering effects of COVID.”

A Top Tier Admissions study found that elementary and early middle school students are still significantly behind in test scores regarding foundational math and reading skills. The pressure that educators nationwide feel to close this gap from the pandemic is continually increasing, adding continuous stress on teachers.

“There was and still is a learning gap from Covid,” upper school learning support counselor Ashley Beck said. “From my perspective, I have seen an increase in test anxiety in students since Covid.”

Olina Berley, a journalist for EdWeek, found that the impacts of Covid include a spike in student absences, deteriorating testing scores and consistent challenges with behavior and discipline practices.

“All of these effects of the pandemic significantly impact how educators feel about their profession and the future of academia,” Bern said.

Additionally, the uncertainties surrounding education funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, have increasingly concerned educators, especially with the lingering effects of Covid. The administration has threatened to cut funding and resources to public education if educators refuse to adhere to President Trump’s ideological line regarding concepts like race and gender.

Many teachers have resigned due to low pay and school budget cuts, especially in public schools. School systems and intellectuals nationwide are concerned about the future of academia.

*Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of the source.

Featured Artist

Bauer Berkley | Photography Phenom

What began as a passion project-making basketball highlight graphics for his friends on Instagram-quickly turned into something much bigger for junior Bauer Berkley.

Berkley began designing graphics for the boys basketball team s social media page in 2023. This interest in graphic design and photography granted Berkley a new outlet for his curiosity; he created an Instagram account called “HoopsDailyNews, where he used Pixart to create simple graphics.

“I wanted to make original content about basketball, Berkley said. “Once I really got into it, then began to use Photoshop.

He first started using his younger brother s camera “At first, I was just taking pictures of anything, games, nature, friends and whatever was around, Berkley said.

But over time, that old camera developed into much more than a new hobby. It led to a new passion. Eventually, Berkley upgraded to his own camera and started taking photography more seriously.

“I really like the creative aspect of it, Berkley said. “Being able to express myself through photos is a great way to [express my creativity]. That is what keeps me taking photos.

Berkley has found his passion in sports photography. Whether it is a basketball player shooting a shot or the reactions after a big play, he is drawn to capture moments of pure emotion.

“I love sports, Berkley said. “I love capturing that emotion, the reaction after the play, the celebration and even the frustration. That's when you feel how exciting and intense these rivalry games are.

While Berkeley enjoys capturing sports photos, he also has an interest in taking photos of cars. But no matter the nature of the photo, he always pays close attention to detail.

“When am taking a photo, I [try to] have a picture in mind and take a bunch of photos to make sure I get the right one, Berkley said. “I always try to keep my ideas in mind before I execute.

Because of the environment and energy, Berkley s most memorable game to capture was the ESD vs. St. Mark s football game on Wednesday Nov. 11, 2023, but he also enjoys taking pictures at all of ESD s football games. When the ESD Eagles played the Fort Worth All Saints in The Star, on Sept. 21, 2024, Berkley took photos at that game.

“It was awesome, I had to have my backpack searched and also needed the correct credentials to get down onto the field, Berkley said. “Being on the field rather than in the stands [was] really an amazing experience.

For Berkley, capturing emotions is crucial when taking photos. While he always aims to capture excitement and feelings, his favorite emotion to capture is joy.

“Whether it's after scoring or a play that's really exciting, capturing joy is unbelievable, Berkley said. “Capturing it makes you feel a way that no other emotion really does.

With “HoopsDailyNews, Berkley is able to update his friends and followers on what is happening in both college and professional basketball.

“Overall, I am so happy with my decision to invest in photography and graphic design, Berkley said. It [has] become one of my greatest passions throughout my first three years of high school.

Jack Coben and Craighton Jefferies | Podcost co-editors

Track Legend

Photo of a vintage Porsche taken at a car meet in Highland Park. Berkley positioned himself behind part of a tree to add layering. 2024 Sony a7iv camera

Momentum Berkley captured an action shot of junior lacrosse captain Josh Logan, as he warms up for his game against McCallie high school. 2025 Sony a7iv camera'

Views

Staff Stance

Students would benefit from quiet libraries

Anxious students tend to go to the Gill Library in search of a quiet space where they can concentrate, study for their tests, and complete their assignments in silence. But to their surprise, the library is constantly filled with the noise of other students playing cards, building puzzles or working on group craft projects, making it impossible to focus on school work. Students then look for a quiet place inside the library and flood into the silent study room, hoping that the noise won’t follow them inside as they close the doors. However, the glass doors and thin walls allow noise to crowd the “silent” study room, leaving students distracted and stressed, desperate for a quiet place to study.

The Eagle Edition believes that the library is an inviting place. Students gather and hang out with friends rather than study because of its open layout; six square wooden tables seat four to six people in the center of the room, filling the majority of the space. Wrapping around the room are bookshelves lining the walls and there is an elevated space by the entrance with an inviting couch and a set of chairs placed by a warm fireplace. We love the library, but this open layout provides only one secluded space in the library; a window seat placed behind the bookshelves. This secret and highly coveted area allows students to focus and concentrate instead of being dis-

tracted by the buzz happening around them. Research conducted at the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, an independent charity and the UK’s shared admissions service for higher education, found that learning environments are crucial to student success. Factors including light, noise, color and seating contribute to a student's ability to absorb information and stay focused. They also found that some low-level background noise can encourage creativity and help students relax while they study. The Gill Library is a great learning environment, but, unfortunately, it has become a place where middle and upper school students congregate and socialize, especially in the mornings or after school. This behavior distracts students who want to use the library as a study place, preventing them from studying and learning effectively. While we agree that students need a space to gather during their free time and the library may seem like the ideal place for this, it is only distracting those around them. We have a big and beautiful campus and there are other places for them to socialize, including the study commons, dining commons, the Cook Building or any outdoor environment.

According to an upper school poll conducted on 115 students, 61 percent of people said they would prefer a silent library and find it more beneficial for studying. And

this is not a surprise. A study conducted at King's College which is a Catholic institution of higher education animated and guided by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, found that students learn and retain information best when in a completely silent environment. Some students on campus have said that studying in a loud environment makes them unproductive, and in order for them to finish their work quickly, the room needs to be silent. Others feel that they can never focus in the library because of all the excessive noise, and even though they have tried using noise-canceling head-

Hindsight signs off

Jamie Henderson | Former managing editor

Charlotte Traylor | Former copy editor

In our ever-competitive high school environment, success is often synonymous with independence. We pride ourselves on self-sufficiency, often overlooking our network of support. However, asking for and recognizing support is truly the key to success. In our final year of high school, we began to fully appreciate the individuals who have shaped our high school journey. No milestone was crossed alone, and in hindsight, we both wish that we had leaned on others a bit more during difficult decisions or periods of transition.

At some point or another, we have each received the same cliché advice: Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help. This is undoubtedly

true, but it requires one addendum: don’t be afraid to ask your upperclassmen or peers for advice. We remember discussing the pros and cons of editorial positions with the Class of 2023 seniors who ultimately helped guide our decision. As sophomores, we remember organizing a peer review system for our English “Inferno” essays, weighing the opinions of each class member. ESD upper school (and especially the Class of 2025), thank you for being the best partners on this long journey. Newspaper staff, we are so grateful for our time with you over the past two years. Your positivity and enthusiasm for growth are an inspiration to us, and we cannot wait to admire your paper next year! As

Although these are just a few people who have influenced us, there are countless more to whom we would like to extend a thank you. There’s a saying, “It takes a village,“ so find your village.

you know, you have an incredible advisor who will always serve as a source of wisdom and encouragement. However, lean on each other as well; each of you has a unique and invaluable contribution to the paper. And please, from your former copy and managing editors, please meet your deadlines.

We would also like to give a huge thank you to our role model and mentor of the past four years, Mrs. Rosenthal. If you have yet to have the pleasure of meeting her, we implore you to make it a priority before you leave. She has not only seen us grow as writers but as young women, and she has been a constant pillar of support during our high school years. We want to thank her for all the work she has put into this program, through late weeknights, all day Sundays, workshops, classes and more; the newspaper could not be what it is without her. The phrases CMYK, 300 DPI and overset text will forever be ingrained in our heads; we will forever appreciate her sacrifice that shaped our high school experience. We love you, Mrs. Rosenthal, and will miss you and the calming presence of the journalism room so much next year, but we promise to come back to visit!

Next, we would like to acknowledge our senior staff members whom we have

phones and sitting in the silent study room, they can still hear all the commotion outside.

The Eagle Edition believes that the library should be a designated silent space for students to work on their assignments without the distractions of other people gaming, talking or making crafts. To achieve this, students who want to socialize with their friends should redirect themselves to another spot on campus. This adjustment would allow the library to be reserved for silent studying and preserve a peaceful refuge for students who need to get work done.

worked with to make the newspaper our own. Ethan, thank you for always keeping the light and fun environment in the newspaper room; although you joined late, we cannot imagine the newspaper without you. We wish you the best of luck in the future at UNG! Brooke, we have loved working alongside you the past four years and are so grateful for your hard work. You have truly transformed the Eagle Edition website, and we are in awe of your dedication. Congrats on all you have done, and we cannot wait to see what your future holds. Lauren and Sophia, we truly admire all that you both have done this year; you shone in your roles as EICs, and we wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. Our high school experience would not be the same without the rants, jokes, late nights, weekends and lunches we have shared through this program. We are so proud of you both. Lauren, you are truly amazing, and we hope you have the best time at UNC. Sophia, you have worked so hard, and we know you will end up somewhere as amazing as you are (wherever that is).

Although these are just a few people who have influenced us, there are countless more to whom we would like to extend a thank you. There’s a saying, “It takes a village,” so find your village.

BY THE NUMBERS

A group of fifth-grade boys build a marble tower in the Green Library. On May 2 at 8 a.m., they introduced a fun game for all the kids to play. This year, the library has became more of a social gathering spot than a quiet place for studying.

Photograph by Lincoln Clarke

breakdown

glow to match the trip’s tropical vibe. First impressions were terrific; it smells divine and applies like butter. However, I learned the hard way that this oil doesn t offer

Beyond the brace: emotional significance of sports injuries

On Jan. 23, performing our last routine at home before competing at the National Cheerleading Association High School Nationals competition, 48 hours before taking the mat, I collapsed to the ground after tearing my ACL, MCL and meniscus while performing. As I fell to the ground, the music jolted to a stop mid-routine. The crowd of families and friends supporting our showcase sat in silence, unsure of what had happened. Though I had never felt that level of excruciating pain before, all I could think of was the fact that I wouldn’t be able to compete and how that was going to affect my team.

Oftentimes, when athletes suffer serious injuries, all people think about is the physical pain they are going through; what they don’t realize is that sometimes, the mental struggle is far worse than the physical pain.

Throughout my athletic career, I have experienced numerous injuries, including broken bones that left me sidelined for weeks. Though my previous injuries have taken moderate amounts of time to heal, I had never sustained an injury that needed surgery. Suffering from my knee injury was an experience full of firsts.

The “first” that surprised me the most was the effect my injuries had on my mental

health. I had always heard of ACL recovery being physically demanding and hard on the body, but so far, the cognitive challenges have been the most difficult.

After working hard all season to perfect my team’s cheer routine, being unable to compete on stage at nationals and watching the routine from the crowd was one of the hardest parts of being injured. Along with participating in cheer, I was a part of the musical cast and the lacrosse team. Not only did this injury affect my cheer season, but it also affected my musical and lacrosse seasons. I had spent many hours rehearsing for the musical before I injured myself. Just like cheer, after dedicating lots of time to rehearsals, I had to watch the winter musical backstage. Watching the musical from the theater’s wings was far more painful than any part of the physical process. Now, cheering on the lacrosse team is just as difficult. I didn’t know it then, but this injury would change the trajectory of the next six months of my life.

I am a person who enjoys being involved in multiple activities, so being taken out of these activities that have filled up my time for as long as I can remember has taken a drastic toll. While my knee is in a brace, my mind is in a different kind of cage.

As someone who loves

The Talk

The

mental struggle of injuries,

which is often overlooked, can be more challenging than the physical aspect

Kate Lewis | Social media co-manager

nothing more than participating in sports, musicals and miscellaneous student groups, my different extracurriculars have become a foundation for who I am. So, when all those activities were suddenly stripped away, I lost my ability to participate—and a part of my identity that I cherish.

Watching the people I love do the things I love, knowing I won’t be able to participate again until August, is a challenge far greater than trying to bend my knee 90 degrees. I quickly realized that staying positive would be the hardest part of my six-month recovery process.

Physical recovery has milestones and goals like locking your knee out, running and jumping, but the mental journey is far from a clear path. There are days when you exceed your goals, when you make no progress and even when you feel you’re moving backward. Those are the days that feel like a fragile house of cards.

I try to stay positive while the fear of never being able to return to who I once was creeps into the back of my mind daily. Whether in class, at home or driving, the thought of this injury being the turning point in my athletic career haunts me. There is no telling what will come out of this injury, so while I recover for the next four months, I constantly have intrusive

Social media has completely transformed the health industry. Every scroll promotes a new, magical product or workout routine that is supposed to make consumers feel better both inside and out. We are constantly told that a simple switch or product can “change our lives,” when in reality, the surplus of content can quickly become overwhelming.

A recent example of this phenomenon is on TikTok where gut health has become a major health sensation as creators and influencers share how fixing their gut has changed their lives. Creators cite how because they have improved their gut health, they experience no bloating, lower stress levels and balanced emotions. New products claiming to heal one’s gut have taken the internet by storm.

Coconut Cult, a probiotic yogurt, exploded on TikTok after it went viral for its supposed effects on bloating, energy and overall health. It includes gut-friendly microorganisms that are kept alive through fermentation. The yogurt has sold out nationwide, with people visiting

thoughts of failure living in my mind.

Being able to return to sports is one thing, but as someone with high expectations and who holds myself to a high standard, I yearn to return to where I was, if not better.

So, while I fight mental battles every day, I also have to remind myself to take a moment to recognize the progress I am making. I tell myself that no matter my attitude, my injury will take the same amount of time to heal, so I might as well be positive.

It's not an easy journey, but the mental side of my recovery has taught me more than I thought it ever would. It has taught me patience, resilience and the power of believing in myself, even when the future is uncertain.

Soon enough, I will be back on the field, stage and mat better than before, and that’s what’s important for me. If there is a benefit to injury, it is the mental resilience it teaches you. One day, I will stop playing sports and performing, but when I do, it is times like these I will look back on to remind myself that I am capable of overcoming hardships. The lessons I have learned during this process will not only make me a better athlete, performer and cheerleader when I return, but also a better person in life: someone who can face challenges with courage.

Social media transforms health industry

Online trends influence how people approach health, mixed results

stress and anxiety and improve sleep. It has become so popular that it’s now sold directly through TikTok’s shopping feature. Many videos promoting Ashwagandha include affiliate links that allow creators to earn commissions. Still, many users attest to the benefits.

multiple grocery stores and paying up to $39 for a single jar. Many TikTok users have even reported difficulties finding this product due to its popularity. Having tried Coconut Cult, we believe its effects differ from person to person. As we felt both negative and positive side effects—some days it significantly reduced bloating, while other days it worsened it—we recommend experimenting with a small amount (such as a tablespoon a day) to see how your body reacts. If you don’t notice any difference, it may not be worth continuing. Another viral sensation is sea moss, which is said to improve gut and skin health. Many creators have gone viral for showing their morning supplement routines, which often include a spoonful of sea moss. The health industry has responded by producing alternative forms, such as sea moss vitamins and gummies. While we have not tried it ourselves, junior Harper Sands takes a spoonful each morning and claims it has improved her skin and given her the nutrients to help her feel healthier.

Ashwagandha, a traditional herbal remedy from India, northern Africa and the Middle East, has also skyrocketed in popularity online for its supposed ability to manage

Because most of these products are promoted on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, influencers may be paid or receive commission to promote them even if the product is not of good quality.

Junior Estee Bines said that Ashwagandha has helped her manage her stress and handle situations more calmly. Bines said that before she started taking it, she noticed she would easily crash in stressful environments. But now, after taking it for a year, she feels more easygoing at school and has a more positive mindset. Not only are health supplements rising in popularity on social media platforms, but workout trends and techniques are as well, drawing in followers eager to participate. Many creators claim their method is the most effective and that doing their workouts will help you achieve your “dream summer body” in the “shortest amount of time.” For example, influencer Hailey Fernandes has gained hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok this year because of her inspiring weight-loss journey and six-pack abs, which she attributes to using the StairMaster and doing a 10-minute ab workout daily. Similarly, Pilates, a form of exercise focused on strengthening and toning the body through controlled movements, has increased in popularity among both men and women, as it helps achieve a lean look while improving core strength, flexibility and

body awareness. Being a universal form of movement, Pilates can be done at home or in a class setting. On YouTube, Nikola’s Pilates channel offers short, effective workouts (mostly under seven minutes), requiring no equipment and delivering a strong burn. We believe that if you do not want to spend $30 or more on workout classes, watching free videos like these is a smart alternative.

However, this health craze raises a question: Which products on social media are truly effective, and which are falsely advertised? Because most of these products are promoted on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, influencers may be paid or receive commission to promote them—even if the product is not of good quality. This creates dangerous situations that can slow progress or negatively impact someone’s health. If you want to test out a product you saw online, make sure to thoroughly research it before clicking “order.” Moreover, if something seems questionable, talk to a professional—or skip it entirely. Thanks to social media, millions of people are becoming more educated about their health and how to care for their bodies, but it is crucial not to believe everything you see online. Next time you scroll past a video where someone raves about a product and claims it “changed their life,” remember it may be misleading or financially motivated. Do your own research, consult professionals and avoid falling into the trap of conspicuous consumption.

Valentina Boltchi | Managing editor

Reese Rawson | Co-editor-in-chief

from Letter the Editors

Iknew that applying to 24 colleges and universities would be a mistake. But I fell victim to second-guessing and I felt that I needed to exhaust all my options—or so I thought. It took me until May 1 at 6 p.m. to decide that I was going to Vanderbilt University. Similar to the earlier stages of my college admission journey, I was again faced with second-guessing. The pros-cons lists, the analysis, the stress and finally the pressure to decide all pushed me to procrastinate my decision further. But what truly stunted me was the one plaguing question: What if?

What if I didn’t fit in at Vanderbilt? What if it is too difficult and I flunk out? What if I hate it? What if? I had never been so indecisive. As of now, this single decision would set up the rest of my life, and I didn’t think I was ready to handle the weight of that. Yet, what finally pushed me to decide was the moment I chose to just “pull the trigger” and take the risk. If I don’t take those chances, I won’t know the answers to my what-ifs.

There’s a warmth in comfort that humanity seeks. We like to predict all outcomes and consequences. Lauren and I are no different. Predictability stabilizes our hectic lives, and there is nothing wrong

with enjoying the expected.

While I understand there is comfort in knowing and familiarity, you cannot fulfill your goals without an aspect of risk-taking. I know “what if” can stain our thoughts, causing us to doubt and maybe limit our opportunities, but our advice is to ignore the persistent what-if hypotheticals and, as Nike likes to say, just do it.

Besides my most recent risk of deciding where to go to college, I decided to join the ESD crew team for my last spring sport. The idea of joining the rowing team had always lingered when basketball season ended, yet I was apprehensive about joining because of all the rumors and horror stories I had heard.

“Just wait until you flip into Bachman Lake” or “I have seen people vomit after their workouts” would pop into my head every time I drafted an email to coach Jones. What if I couldn’t handle the workouts? What if I were to flip? What if? However, during my senior year, I set those thoughts aside and thought to myself, at least I can say that I tried rowing. To my surprise, erging was not too bad–but being on the water is a different story. On my first day on the water, I almost flipped six or seven times, but I can confidently

Co-editors-in-chief

Sophia Sardiña and Lauren Shushi recall their experiences together in high school, and share the importance of not wishing your time away.

The consequences of risk-taking always include growth, regardless of whether the risk produced a positive or negative outcome.

say that I haven’t flipped since. Although the workouts are difficult, even at a novice level, and rowing on the water is way more difficult than it may seem, I truly have enjoyed being part of such an amazing team.

And while I get the occasional strange look when I mention I joined the crew team my senior year, I would not have changed anything about my decision. The team exudes an energy like no other team I have been on. Every hard piece is met with cheering each other on, hype music and a shared sense of grit and accomplishment. I cannot help but wonder what could have been if I had ignored the hypotheticals and joined the team earlier in my high school career. By choosing to finally go after what I wanted to do, I gained a sense of fulfillment. If I had listened to my doubts, I would’ve regretted not trying something new. While mine is more recent, one of Lauren’s risks was during her freshman year of high school when she joined our school's investment club. When she joined, the club was male-dominated, with only a few other girls attending the meetings.

Originally, Lauren was deterred from joining because

to Letter the Editors

Istarted off this school year as a loser. While all of the students, faculty and staff of ESD attended the first three days of school in August, I was on a flight to Los Angeles to film Pop Culture Jeopardy! where my team (spoiler alert) lost in the first round. For the next five months, I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone how my team did and so that was my big secret: I was a loser. I hyped the show up, of course. I had told everyone where I was going and what I was doing, and now I anxiously awaited the airdate of the episode, unsure of how my colleagues and students would respond. I’m a pretty big trash talker– I recapped each win of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in class throughout the fall, talking a big game to the haters and deniers of the greatness of those teams. Just like my PCJ! team, both football teams suffered spectacularly grand and public losses in the championships, too…

this was just not my year. And so when the episode of PCJ! aired in December, I was ready for a barrage of zingers and barbs about my own television performance. They never came. Instead of snarky comments, every single person who watched my episode responded so positively. I felt supported– people took time to watch the episode and were inquisitive and kind. Students told me that they watched the episode with their entire family and had a great time answering the questions. Friends and colleagues reached out over Christmas Break to discuss the episode. Instead of being made to feel embarrassed, I felt proud for showing up and trying something big and new, for saying yes to a fun, yet intimidating, experience. As much as I’d been bracing for jokes at my expense, what I received instead was a masterclass in grace.

I also realized how lucky I was to have people in my life that encourage my own curiosity each day. I was grateful for the group of senior boys who quizzed me and tried to stump me

Passion isn't embarrassingit's what makes us interesting, connected, alive.

as we watched a beautiful sunset together at the Senior Retreat. I was thankful for the girls in my advisory who took time to teach me the names of the biggest TikTok stars, what “GRWM” means, and which songs by Chappell Roan were the most popular– all of which were questions on the episode! I was thankful that my colleagues and officemates would keep me on my toes, quizzing me with the songs they heard on radio that morning or who the stars of 1980s comedies that they watched over the weekend were. My appearance and performance on the show and love for pop culture wasn’t belittled– it was encouraged.

Ever since I was little, I have always loved learning about the trivia and minutia of everything– pop culture, history, literature. My older brother and I shared a room growing up, and even when we were in elementary school, we would quiz each other about the most obscure Nickelodeon facts as we went to sleep: “What kind of animal is Rocko in Rocko’s Modern Life?” (A wallaby); “Who sings the original theme song for All That?” (TLC); “What was the name of the group of friends in Are You Afraid of the Dark?” (The Midnight Society). We would whisper and laugh and chat and try to stump each other over and over, creating a sacred ritual over inane facts. I now see how important and beautiful trivia really is.

Trivia rewards curiosity. To succeed at it, you have to pay attention to the world–not just to what’s “import-

of the environment, but she joined alongside Nina Rastin and ended up loving the experience and opportunity the club gave her. She learned about her new passion for investing and grew her interest through the club. By her senior year, she became president. By stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new, Lauren was able to foster an interest in the economy, which she likely wouldn’t have discovered until later in her life.

While our experiences may differ, they both emphasize the importance of taking risks. The consequences of risk-taking always include growth, regardless of whether the risk produced a positive or negative outcome.

If you tried something new and weren’t met with your desired outcome, you now have the learned experience of avoiding that in the future. Or perhaps you took a risk and ended up better than before. But at least you can say you tried.

In the end, the beauty of risk-taking or stepping out of your comfort zone is that no matter the outcome, you learn something, grow and change from it. As T.S. Eliot said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one could go.”

ant”, but to what people care about, laugh at, argue over and make art about. And as a teacher, it shows students that knowledge doesn’t always have to be formal or academic– it can be fun, surprising and joyfully weird. It encourages one to stay curious, of wondering and then seeking, skills that are essential in today’s world.

So dive down headfirst into those Wikipedia rabbit holes and continue to search and learn more about the topics– important and trivial– that interest you. There’s something really powerful about caring deeply about something, even if it seems silly or trivial to other people. Passion isn’t embarrassing—it’s what makes us interesting, connected, alive. I want my students to be the kind of people who dive headfirst into the stuff they love— whether it’s history, musical theater, coding, The Office or 1980s yacht rock music. I want them to know that it’s okay to be obsessed, to get invested, to show up fully. Because being passionate is brave. It means you’re willing to risk failure in pursuit of something you love. I am so lucky that I belong to a community that reminds me that my value isn’t based on whether I won or lost–but on the person I am, the relationships I’ve built and the enthusiasm I bring to everything I do, win or lose. So yes, I started this school year as a loser. But it turns out, I learned how to be a better teacher, mentor,and person because of it. And let’s be honest–there’s always next season.

Tim Woodward | Upper school history teacher

Eagles reach for the sky at SPC

Lacrosse, tennis, track & field, golf compete for top seed against teams from across Texas

Junior varsity boys lacrosse captain Josh Logan turns and shoots against the St. Mark’s goalie, securing their five-point lead in the second quarter during the Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship. The stadium was filled with the screams of excitement from the student body and the crowd.

The varsity boys lacrosse team competed in the SPC Championship game on Saturday, April 12, against St. Mark's School of Texas at the Jones Family Stadium. Throughout the entirety of the game, ESD remained in the lead. By the time the game was over, ESD won 14-7 and claimed the title of SPC Champions for the 10th consecutive year.

“Our defense played much better during the championship,” Logan said. “We were way more aggressive, and we dictated the game a little more. We also definitely pushed the ball in transition, and just played into the team. I think that was one of the reasons we were able to do so well.”

As the season progressed, the varsity boys lacrosse team utilized their time in practice to improve as individual players and as a team. This allowed the coaches to have players ready on the field for any given circumstance.

“It's kind of it's a unique situation [for us],” head varsity boys lacrosse coach Jay Sothoron said. “We've had such success in the SPC, it's almost like [we] don't [allow] our guys to let [the team] down, and just try to have good practices leading up [to games]. We have a few injuries here and there, [and] we're trying to get some guys back in time for the tournament. The one thing about practicing at 100 percent every day is when you get to the SPC weekend, you can have whoever's hot give you a good game.”

As spring sports prepared for the SPC tournament, coaches focused on building team chemistry and working on improving specific skills to secure a victory as champions. While the varsity boys tennis team focused on training to hopefully win the SPC Division I bracket, varsity tennis coach Tim Barnard

made sure to create a fun and supportive atmosphere for his players. This entertaining setting allows players to enjoy practice and compels them to play their best.

“I think the main thing is that coach John and I have to try to keep it fun for everybody,” Barnard said. “So when you're having fun and they don't realize that they're working hard, it goes hand in hand. Tennis is an individualized sport where everybody works mainly on their own skills. Then, when we get into practice formation, that's when we work more on the tactical side of the degree.”

On May 3, after three days of playing in the SPC tournament, the varsity boys tennis team ended up placing sixth overall. The players have decided to learn from their mistakes and improve in specific areas for next year.

“From the tournament, I have learned not to focus on the past during a match, but instead to focus on the present,” freshman and varsity boys tennis player Franklin Custard said. “I try not to let my past mistakes and losses haunt and affect me during my matches. Next year, I'm aiming to improve my mental game as well as my physical stamina, due to losing a three-hour match because I could no longer move efficiently.”

The varsity girls lacrosse team has also been prioritizing their time during practice. Each practice works on different skills to slowly prepare the girls to go head-to-head against their competition. Varsity girls lacrosse coach Faith Renner emphasizes the importance of building connections within the team.

“We expect players to treat one another with love and respect and work their hardest each day on the field,” Renner said. “Our practices aren't long, and we know that if we come ready to work and focus, we'll get the training done that we need to prepare for competition. [This week,] we are focusing on fitness and conditioning. The team is learning a new defense and focusing on fast ball movement on the attacking side.”

After a hard week of prepa-

From [SPC], I have learned not to focus on the past during a match but instead on focus on the present.

Franklin

ration and conditioning, the varsity girls lacrosse team fought its way to compete in the SPC Championship.

On Friday, April 11, the girls beat Episcopal High School to move to the semi-finals, where they beat St. John’s School. On Saturday, April 12, the girls played their hardest against the Hockaday School in the championship. The game resulted in a 15-6 loss.

“I will always stand on the idea that team bonding is crucial for winning games,” junior and varsity girls lacrosse player Harper Sands said. “When we played the best, our team chemistry and bonding [were] the best, and when we played the worst, our team chemistry was at its lowest.”

Seeing the value in building up the team’s skills through competition and experience has been a valuable aspect in training the varsity golf team. Throughout the spring, players have been participating in numerous tournaments, ensuring they will be fully prepared for SPC.

Varsity golf coach David Tollison made it his priority to build up his players to have the right amount of confidence and skill to secure a victory.

“Practicing and working on specific areas of each player's game is necessary while preparing for SPC,” Tollison said. “However, there is no substitute for competition. I try to enter the team in as many tournaments as possible leading up to SPC, and also have the boys compete against each other during practices. I expect the players to play the game the right way - with integrity. I also want them to trust the process, try their best and enjoy the journey.”

The golf tournament was held on April 28 and 29. After two days of competing on the course, the Eagles placed third overall in the 3A division, accumulating a total of 322 points. Senior Wyatt Ayres and junior Clay McElree on the varsity boys golf team both earned second place, while additionally receiving the “All-SPC” award. However, the golf team as a

whole was not satisfied with their outcome.

“I tried to talk to my teammates, saying how hard a course it was and that it was nobody's fault we lost so that no one felt blamed,” McElree said. “While I was very sad and disappointed that we lost, my teammates reminded me how well I had done individually and that I placed second, so I needed to be happy for that. Golf is a week-to-week game, and you can not win all tournaments, but you can always do your best to put yourself in the best position to win.”

The main goal for the varsity track and field team was to get more athletes to qualify for the SPC tournament. Before the last track meet, 15 players had qualified for their specific events. Varsity track and field coach Evan Hadrick aimed to break his record and have at least 25 total athletes qualify this season.

“I want everybody to understand what they're capable of,” Hadrick said. “Coming from my point of view of somebody that works with athletes every year, and is obsessive about the sport, I usually can see what athletes are capable of before they can, especially if they haven't been running for very long.”

May 1 through May 3, 22 of the varsity track and field athletes traveled down to Houston, Texas, for the SPC tournament, where they competed against various schools from across the state. Senior and varsity track and field player Brooklyn Singer earned first place when she ran in the 100-meter, 200-meter and girls 4x1 relay. Each athlete worked hard in each of their events to create an SPC that their seniors will remember.

“I am happy with how it turned out,” senior and varsity track and field athlete Sebastian Guzik said, “We had a lot of personal records as a team. I think that everyone put their best effort into the meet. It is crazy to think that I am done with high school sports forever. It is a sad feeling since I know I will never get to do it again.”

EAGLES SOAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP

Junior lacrosse player Ryan Tran receives a pass from his teammate and heads to the goal during the SPC semi-finals against Kinkaid, leading the Eagles to a 12-2 point victory, on April 11 at the St. Mark's School of Texas. “Something took away from the game was the importance of energy, effort and playing as a team, Tran said. “Because we are almost unstoppable when we play with those attributes.

Photo by Sloane Everett

Custard Freshman, boys varsity tennis player

Sloane Everett Content manager

Eagle

How long have you been running track, and what motivates you to keep up with the sport?

Every issue, the Eagle Edition highlights two athletes who stand out on the field for their Interviews and photos by

I have been running track since seventh grade, and honestly, it's just really fun. Having good coaches motivates you to be better, so under their guidance, I try to work my hardest to perfect my starts and my form in general.

What is a favorite memory you have from track?

My favorite memory is probably in seventh grade when Elijah [Tayengo] hopped on this kid in the 800. Everybody was cheering for him, and he won the whole race, so that was really fun and memorable. There has always been such a strong sense of family and belonging when I step onto the track. I have so many memories from just being around the people I love.

What goals or aspirations do you have for yourself for the rest of track season?

My goal for the rest of the year is just to be faster. I want to get my time down to 11.9 seconds by next year for the 100-meter [dash] and I want to get my 200-meter [dash] time down to 24 seconds.

What is your favorite thing about track?

Probably the high jump. Also, recently, the 400-meter I ran at Texas Relays was fun. I thought it was gonna be terrible, but I actually enjoyed it.

It was a little overwhelming at first, but now that the season has been going on and I have built relationships with everyone, I feel very at home with everyone on the team.

What is the best part about the team?

The best part of the team is how close we all are. We don't have a lot of players, which can sometimes hurt us on the field. However, when it comes to bonding and relationships, it is very easy for everyone to be included and have great relationships with each other.

How have you grown as an individual this season?

think I have grown as a leader. feel like I have stepped up and learned not only how to lead by words but also lead by example. As a team, we have grown by learning to keep fighting the whole game, no matter the score or situation. We always fight to the last out.

What has been the hardest thing about this season and how are you responding to it?

The hardest thing about this season so far is the fact [that] we have very few people on the team. We only have a couple of substitutions, and it makes it tougher on the team because everyone has to step up and be able to play multiple positions. The team is responding by trying our best to dig deep and give it our best, no matter the circumstances or what position we are playing.

ESD builds a lacrosse legacy with Ryan Brown

Professional Lacrosse League champion assists the boys lacrosse team on a championship run in 2024

It is five minutes before the final buzzer. The boys varsity lacrosse team is tied at seven goals against Jesuit Preparatory School on April 4. Soph-

omore Hudsen Young catches the ball running onto the field; he dodges, beats his defender and shoots the ball on the run. His coach, Ryan Brown, knows from the moment Young gets the ball that all he has taught him will come into effect in a matter of seconds. Young perfectly pings the top left corner and gives his team momentum. The Eagles defeat the Rangers 10-7.

This was not an unusual win for Brown—his teams have consistently performed at a high level. Although this is only Brown’s second year at ESD, the lacrosse team has won the state championships each year under his and Jay Sothoron’s coaching.

Brown’s passion for lacrosse started at an early age in a competitive neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, where everyone played lacrosse.

“Lacrosse is my favorite sport,” Brown said. “As a kid, you played three sports, and it just went football, basketball and lacrosse.”

Growing up in a fierce lacrosse environment, Brown was surrounded by top-tier competition. More than 20 players in his high school graduating class were committed to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I programs.

“It wasn’t like I was the

only guy out there [playing lacrosse],” Brown said. “If you weren’t working hard at [it], you were behind.”

The drive from wanting to practice with his friends at a young age led to him having one of the most decorated lacrosse careers at Johns Hopkins University, with 118 goals from 2013 to 2015. He is known for his quick release and deadly accurate shot. Brown’s ability to shoot the ball wherever and whenever he chooses quickly earned him comparisons to Golden State Warriors player Steph Curry.

“Paul Carcaterra called me [Curry] once on ESPN,” Brown said. “And it just kind of stuck.”

While Brown was outstanding at every level of lacrosse, he remembers a single moment as his favorite: winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2018 World Lacrosse Championship in Israel.

“That was pretty fun,” Brown said. “We played the game at 9 a.m. because it was their national holiday. It was just a very interesting experience.”

While playing in the Professional Lacrosse League with the Philadelphia Waterdogs from 2017 to 2019, Brown scored 175 points in 71 games, with 151 goals and 24 assists, making him one of the greatest players the league has ever seen. However, a couple of injuries set him back in the PLL, and he eventually retired from the league in 2022.

“I got really hurt,” Brown said. “I got two bad concussions, hurt my foot, was

But Brown ended his playing career on a high note, winning the PLL championship with the Waterdogs just before his retirement.

“I was getting married that fall,” Brown said. “It felt like the right moment to shut it off and move forward into a new chapter of my life.”

Today, Brown is the offensive coordinator for the ESD varsity boys lacrosse team, where he helped lead the team to a state championship in 2024. Before coaching at ESD, he coached at High-

land Park High School. “There are a lot of similarities between ESD and Highland Park,” Brown said. “So it wasn’t a huge culture shock.” Brown, who has a 2-yearold son, Beau Brown, has a lot to manage—work, coaching and parenting—but he finds a balance by bringing his son to practice. While he doesn’t expect Beau to fall in love with lacrosse, he hopes his son finds a passion that teaches him the same life lessons that lacrosse has taught him.

“There’s so much value in working hard toward something,” Brown said. “You learn a lot from the journey.”

Jack Coben | Podcast co-editor

PIN POINT ACCURACY

Boys lacrosse coach Ryan Brown scores a goal against the California Redwoods while playing with at the Philadelphia Waterdogs.

Photo provided by Ryan Brown

History at the Masters: golf Grand Slam recorded

ESD seniors witness Rory McIlroy accomplish one of professional golf's greatest feats at Augusta National Golf Club

Craighton Jefferies | Podcast co-editor and subscriptions manager

The crowd waits in silence as ushers motion for quiet. Then suddenly, screams erupt at the tee box. Scottie Scheffler, the American professional golf player ranked number one in the world, amazes the crowd.

At the Masters Tournament, which took place from April 10 to 14 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, senior Hutch Chipman was one of the many fans cheering on Scheffler and watched him smoke a drive on hole 10.

“Seeing Scheffler in person was amazing,” Chipman said. “[Jack Ray, Thomas Barrow, Rett Detwiler and I] followed him for four holes, and the crowd watching him [compared to] other players was insane. He is a hometown guy, from Dallas, Texas, and the best player in the world. It was really cool seeing him getting to play in person.”

The Masters, a golf tournament that started in 1934, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. As the first major of the year on the Professional Golfers’ Association Tour, it holds a rich history and is a cornerstone of the sport.

“Before [the Masters,] I went to the Byron Nelson [my] freshman year with Vaughn Langston,” Chipman said. “Besides that, I've never been to a golf tournament.”

The Masters is also famous for its various traditions. These include the iconic green jacket presented to the winner every year, as well as giv-

ing the winner lifetime access to compete in the Masters, regardless of qualification. There are also traditions for the fans.

“My favorite tradition was leaving phones in the car and not being allowed to have them,” Chipman said. “It made the whole experience 10 times better because all you could do was take in the beauty of the course, watch golf and talk with your friends. Seeing everyone else being phoneless and taking in the moment was really cool to see.”

Another tradition at Augusta National Golf Club is that they rarely change their prices on food, keeping many of the classics at the same price; since 2002, the egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches have cost $1.50.

“I had most of the foods, but the barbecue pork sandwich and the peach ice cream sandwich definitely lived up to the hype,” Chipman said. “The pimento cheese sandwich was insane, too.”

The winning player also receives access to other esteemed tournaments such as the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship for the next five years. The total prize money, or purse, for each of the four majors is significantly larger compared to other PGA events. The 2025 Masters offered a 21 million dollar purse and over $4 million awarded to the winner

This year, the expected winners and favorites were Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Other top contenders were Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa,

Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau.

Photo provided by Hutch Chipman

“I was super excited because it was my first time and we wanted to walk through and see the course and the famous pass,” Chipman said. “Just exploring and seeing [the tournament] in real person was surreal.”

However, during the tournament, underrated players like Justin Rose from England and Patrick Reed from the United States made strides towards winning. This year was the first time since 2017 the Masters went into a playoff; Rose and McIlroy played with McIlroy winning after the first playoff hole.

“I was not there for the playoff or the last day,” Chipman said. “But watching the tournament in person, we went into the stands for hole 16–the par 3–and the reactions and atmosphere were

electric when someone would stick it close. The final day was probably even crazier.”

McIlroy completed the PGA Grand Slam, meaning he won all four PGA majors; the British Open, US Open, PGA Championship and the Masters. McIlroy became the sixth person to complete the Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

“It was amazing to [see McIlroy win]. Sadly, we only went on Saturday, so [we] had to watch his final round on TV, but we followed him for a couple of holes and seeing him in person was surreal,” Chipman said. “He had waited more than 10 years to secure his grand slam and make history, so going to the Masters, where he was able to complete such a historic accomplishment, is something I will never forget.”

Classroom to calm: student certified as yoga instructor

Senior Caroline Rochon turns her passion into purpose, becomes a yoga teacher for CorePower

Betty

Wheeler | Design editor

Amid the whirlwind of high school stress, senior Caroline Rochon finds herself taking deep breaths in the quiet yoga studio at CorePower.

Poses such as the downward dog, Chaturanga and tree pose serve as stress relief when she goes to yoga classes.

Rochon began taking yoga classes her sophomore year of high school and decided to become an instructor at CorePower in the spring of her senior year

“I wanted to become an instructor because yoga is a huge part of my life and the journey has been monumental,” Rochon said. “It is a safe spot for me and somewhere I can go when a lot is going on in my life.”

The training to become a yoga instructor at CorePower consists of taking 50 hours of training classes before receiving a teacher certificate. Her training classes were on weekends or late at night: Sundays from noon to 7 p.m., Mondays from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“After 50 hours of training, I joined something called ATP for advanced yoga practice before my audition,” Rochon said. “At the audition, you have seven minutes to show the [CorePower] managers that you know what you’re doing as they throw random parts of the yoga sequence at you.”

Considering Rochon began her teacher training as a high school senior, she had to find a way to balance her social, emotional and academic life. Rochon would get home at 11 each night she had training, which put her in a difficult situation.

“It was really hard with school and getting home so late each night,” Rochon said. “But it was all worth it, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my friends' support and love.”

During each class, instructors focus on a specific area of the body, but are required to incorporate exercises that target all major muscle groups. They research various workouts to perform and create a lesson plan ahead of time so people taking the class can follow along.

“Planning a class is a lot more challenging than you would think because everything is based on the beat of the music,” Rochon said. “On Sundays, I focus on [targeting] my lower body, so in the beginning, we do stretches, hitting those areas and [incorporating] pieces that will engage your lower body throughout the class.”

With each exercise being on beat, the instructors must time the exercises with the music. In her training, Rochon learned to master this skill.

“Once you know your focus, every section of the class is a certain amount of time,” Rochon said. “For example, squats are a two-minute flow, so your music must be two minutes long.”

My favorite thing is meeting new people coming to class. Knowing everyone [is] there for a reason and coming together as a community is such a great experience

Caroline Rochon Senior

Through Rochon's journey, she has had the support of her friends. A few of them even went to one of her classes.

“It was cool seeing her teach the class,” senior Addy Mayer said. “She did a really good job and was really motivating to the class.”

Mayer has been able to see Rochon’s growth.

“It’s been so exciting to see her come this far,” Mayer said. “She has worked so hard for it and I love seeing it pay off.”

The yoga studio serves as a place where Rochon has built a community of people who share the same interests as her. She needed a job to occupy her time, so she chose something she genuinely loves doing.

“My favorite thing is meeting the new people coming to class,” Rochon said. “Knowing everyone [is] there for a reason and all coming together as a community is such a great experience.”

Slipping through my fingers

As graduation is on the horizon, many seniors reflect their time at ESD

Alexa Sardiña | Cartoonist

Sept. 12, 2009

Aw, your first day of pre-school. You were so little!

Do you remember your first day of high school with Lauren? You two were so nervous

Aug. 26, 2017

Oh my goodness, remember when you cut and dyed your hair the day before fifth grade?

Aug. 20, 2021

Look at you now, you grew up so fast...

May 23, 2025

It is surreal to think that someone I have shared a home with is about to start a new chapter, and I imagine it feels more surreal for her. Watching graduation approach from the outside, I have noticed how it brings people together how suddenly everyone wants to be present, to connect, to soak up the time that is left. There is a kind of quiet community that rises up at the end, one that might have gone unnoticed for four years. If anything, graduation teaches us not just about endings, but about the importance of showing up before they arrive. I hope the rest of us underclassmen, siblings and friends really hear those little reminders during senior chapel talks that time moves fast, because it does. The best thing we can do is live like we know.

I want to share with you: My stoic secrets to sucess

These phrases altered my brain chemistry, turned my world upside down and forced me to take a long look in the mirror. First: “Your thoughts create your reality.” - Marcus Aurelius

Now, you may be underwhelmed, since you’ve probably heard this phrase before and don’t understand how it could be so powerful. But this phrase highlights that you control every single aspect of you, and when you act with this in mind, it is absolutely life-changing. Last summer, Stoicism changed my life. Here are some of my favorite Stoic quotes that I do my best to live by every day.

“It is not in our control to have everything turn out exactly as we want, but it is in our control to control how we respond to what happens.” - Epictetus It is imperative to take control over your own life, your own emotions and your own goals. This may sound like tough love, but NO ONE can make you angry, only YOU can make you

angry. No one can MAKE YOU think sad thoughts, you have full control over your mindset and your emotions. In life, it is too easy to make excuses, to blame others and to let yourself down. Next time you start feeling angry or sad, I challenge you to take a deep breath, search deep inside yourself and think about the root of this anger inside of you. Once you’ve pinpointed that root, try to shift your perspective, and you’ll find that you can also shift your emotional response.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” which means that you, and only you, are in control of how others make you feel. In order for someone to hurt you, you have to give them the power to do so, so don’t. Understanding the power you have over yourself, and most importantly, acting with that power in mind, will change your life.

"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." - Seneca Our brains can be a scary

Highschool

can be hard, but a little advice from history's great influencers can go a long way

Jess

Coit | Senior guest writer

place. Between overthinking, anxiety and negativity, it is so easy to become comfortable with thoughts like “I can’t do it.” Someone I used to know constantly repeated, “Do not suffer imagined troubles,” whenever I began to audibly doubt myself. Now, whenever I slip down a mental well of “But what if…” I say this phrase to myself. “Do not suffer imagined troubles,” echoed endlessly in my mind when I worried that I’d fail my physics test, that colleges wouldn’t think I’m worthy or that people didn’t think I’m enough. My mom often asks, “Why would I invite a problem into my life?” and it seems obvious that the answer would be “You wouldn’t,” but that is exactly what we do when we suffer imagined troubles. We create these problems all by ourselves and for ourselves. It is hard to put up that boundary and force those negative thoughts out. But with practice, it becomes easier. And once we stop holding ourselves back, no one can stop us.

This quote isn’t from Stoicism, I just like it: “The universe has no budget” - J.B.S. Haldane The only limits that we have are the limits we place upon ourselves. If your goal is to play three sports, get all As and all while having a social life, do it. If you want to become the very best writer, athlete, painter or singer, do it. Do not place arbitrary limits on yourself based on what sounds “hard” or “impossible.” If you want to be robotics club president and homecoming queen, do it. The last quote I will leave you with is probably my favorite. It has carried me through hard times and pushed me until one day, I stopped, and looked back on my life with a sense of pride. Yeah, I did that. The quote is, “They never said it would be easy, but they did say it would be worth it,” by Mae West. Hard things are hard. Life sucks sometimes. But taking back your control and looking toward the positive makes life so much better; it is hard, but so very worth it.

Alexa Sardi ña Sophomore cartoonist

The final whistle: a goodbye to high school sports and brotherhood

Sports editor Ethan Pham offers his insights on the life of student-athletes at ESD as well as his takes on sports. Through his personal experiences and analysis, he sheds light on the challenges, triumphs and daily routines of balancing academics with athletics.

sports more seriously.

Mr. Langston also encouraged me to try lacrosse in sixth grade. I wasn’t sure at first, but I decided to give it a shot. Soon, I began to love it. To be honest, I was only initially drawn to it because it just looked cool—the gear, the sticks and the whole vibe. I loved it all. However, I was not good at it, and to be honest, am still not that great. Watching the varsity team play in the state championship and win, I continued to have big dreams as a middle schooler.

Well, I hate to say it, but my time in sports has come to an end. It feels weird because I have yet to accept that I might never play a sport again. I will probably never be part of a team with all my high school friends and share the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows together.

lighter to ESD in fifth grade was an interesting journey because sports are more intense at ESD than they were at Lamplighter. I remember my first practice with my new tackle football team, the Red Tide. Senior Vaughn Langston’s dad, Greg Langston, organized the team and helped coach. I remember how friendly he was to my family and me, making us feel at home. During a tackling drill, I remember him hyping me up and getting me excited. I think that was the moment I knew I wanted to take

In middle school, I was able to play football and lacrosse, along with wrestling. I wanted to excel in all three because I loved the contact and playing the sport. Those three reasons were pretty much my drive until the end of my sophomore year football season.

Our sophomore football team was amazing. We started 6-0, then in the last three games, fell to 7-2. I was very disappointed we didn’t finish with a championship, however, the part that got me the most was realizing I was done playing with that senior class. Whenever that season ended, I realized how much I missed being with that team and all the

memories we created together.

But this year my reason for playing sports was because of my brothers on my team. I call them brothers because they are like family to me. I would take a bullet for anyone on that squad to this day, and that goes for the lacrosse team as well.

A big reason for me being so passionate about sports is coach Mosley, who has been my mentor since the day eighth grade ended and summer workouts for football started. He was always there for me and made an effort to become more than just a coach. He pushed me harder than I wanted to be pushed because he saw something in me. I got bigger and stronger that summer, which helped me excel in my freshman year of football. I eventually got pulled up to the varsity football team as a freshman, and it meant the world to me. I don’t think the coaches would have even thought of bringing me up if it weren't for my man Mo. Now, as a senior in high school and with my final ESD days ahead of me, I have been thinking a lot about everything that has happened since I got

here. Still, it was not until early April that I started appreciating what I had gained from ESD. This entire year, I have been thinking and saying how happy I am that this is my last year of sports, and I can’t wait to be in college in Athens. But now I’m upset that this was my mentality all year, instead of appreciating the moment while I was in it.

I have talked to the older guys I played football and lacrosse with, and they say playing high school sports is the best experience they have ever had. One even said he wished he ran every sprint harder during conditioning and would go back to those days in a heartbeat.

I already know I will think this way next year when I am in college, and my only physical activity will be working out on my own. I am so thankful for everything I have experienced in high school sports. It was a once-ina-lifetime experience. I wouldn’t trade my four years for anything, and I am going to look back on them for my entire life. If any of my teammates -- my brothers-are reading this, just know I love you, and I am going to miss you next year.

Eagle Edition

Staff writers Veda Bodhanampati, Cassidy Brausa, Blake Dundon,

Rawaan

Recognizing the Class of 2025’s college commitments

James Altizer | Dartmouth College

Wyatt Ayres | University of Texas at Austin

Josephine Bank | Indiana University

Thomas Barrow | University of Texas at Austin

Owen Bellson | Hampden-Sydney College

Dario Benaglia | Hampden-Sydney College

Tristan Blackwell | Benedictine University

Elle Brennan | San Diego State University

Xander Bromberg | Texas A&M University

Tessa Cabrales | Texas A&M University

Will Campbell | Texas Christian University

Landen Capetillo | Oklahoma Baptist University

Campbell Carothers | University of Mississippi

Matthew Charlton | Vanderbilt University

Vivian Chen | Texas A&M University

Hutch Chipman | Yale University

Sarah Chiste | Southern Methodist University

McKenzie Clancy | University of Texas at Austin

Katherine Clark | Sewanee: the University of the South Jess Coit | Vanderbilt University

Jack Cronin | Rice University

Tatum Croucher | Southern Methodist University

Rett Detwiler | University of Texas at Austin

Matthew Durante | Auburn University

Brooke Ebner | Northwestern University

Carolina Elizondo | Undecided

Jake Elliston | University of Georgia

Ella Ferguson | Wake Forest University

Ella Floyd | Southern Methodist University

Aubrey Fomin | Wake Forest University

Dana Friedrich | Clemson University

Emma Garrison | Texas Tech University

Jesi Geier | Texas State University

Jake Gierkey | Blinn College

Alexander Gillikin | Auburn University

Fernando Gomez-Quinonez | Boston College

Austin Goodiel | Indiana University

Declan Graham | Texas A&M University

Jett Guy | Indiana University

Sebastian Guzik | University of Texas at Austin

Lyle Hawkins | University of Texas at Austin

Jamie Henderson | Texas Christian University

Caitlin Hills | Florida State University

Logan Hope | University of Texas at Austin

Katelyn Hurt | Wellesley University

Jake Infante | University of Florida

Zach Javaherian | University of Arkansas

James Jones | University of Texas at Austin

Roman Jovanovic | Indiana University

Arbaz Khalid | Baylor University

Ayaan Khan | Baylor University

Kate Kornman | Indiana University

Connor Kowalewski | Binghamton University

Sarah Lane | Oklahoma University

Vaughn Langston | University of Alabama

Kent Lanyon | Indiana University

Jane Leopard | University of Alabama

Cindy Lin | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ritvik Maridi | Bentley University

Bobby Massoud | Southern Methodist University

Cheney Mathes | University of Georgia

Luke Mauser | Mercer University

Addy Mayer | Texas Christian University

Phoebe McMillan | Texas Christian University

Sofia Mercado | University of Texas at Austin

Libby Miller | University of Mississippi

Brady Miltenberger | Auburn University

Benjamin Moorman | University of Notre Dame

Milam Olson | University of Texas at Austin

Brady Osterstock | Pennsylvania State University

Jane Pennington | Texas Tech University

Ryder Perez | Oklahoma University

Ethan Pham | University of North Georgia

Jack Provost | Southern Methodist University

Nina Rastin | Brown University

Jack Ray | University of Texas at Austin

Caroline Rochon | Texas Christian University

Alden Rodgers | Clemson University

Ivy Runyon | Texas Christian University

Sophia Sardiña | Vanderbilt University

John Schindel | Wake Forest University

Lauren Shushi | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Brooklyn Singer | University of Texas at Austin

Emily Singleton | Oklahoma State University

Sophie Stager | Wake Forest University

William Stahl | Washington and Lee University

Addison Stibbens | Baylor University

Evan Terra | University of Mississippi

Clara Tolleson | University of Texas at Austin

Charlotte Traylor | Stanford University

Liam Walters | Texas Christian University

John Weinmeister | Texas A&M University

Johnny Willingham | Texas Christian University

Daniella Woodhouse | Texas Christian University

Abby Wooley | Southern Methodist University

Andrew Wysk | Pomona College

Zaen Zaidi | Texas A&M University

Parmida Zandinejad | University of Southern California

Mae Zimmer | North Carolina State University