Oakton Outlook March 2019

VOL. 13 | ISSUE 6

Official Newspaper of Oakton High School

OUTLOOK

11. YOUTH CLIMATE MARCH student voices for climate change

18. AN OPEN LETTER TO SENIORS reflecting on our application journeys

MARCH 2019

27. EATING DISORDERS AT OAKTON understanding the hidden eating disordered culture

editor

snailmail

editorial board

OAKTON OUTLOOK T

he end of the year approaches, and Oakton students are already breathing a collective sigh. Third quarter is ending, winter sports have drawn to a close, and Oakton seniors finally (finally!) know where they’ll be going to college. For now, though, we need still weather fourth quarter.

For about 3/4ths of the school, it’s too early to start slacking off. The Outlook staff is keeping motivated, and we are excited to present our second print issue of the year!

Exciting things are happening at Oakton. The seniors completed a day of Model Congress (5), the school has a new internship program (8), and the Science Fair has wrapped up (9).

Students and staff are also using their voices in stories with suggestions from the librarians (36), interviews with the counselors (7), in an “Oakton playlist” (30), and in a story with testimonials on how the renovations have affected everyday life at the school, for better or for worse (25).

In politics, we have stories about the FCPS board members (10), a survey of the recent youth climate march (1), and a profile of the current presidential field (yes, folks, it’s already starting) (12). More controversially, we’ve also included opinion pieces on identity politics (20), the growing popularity of unpopular opinions (19), and the case for getting rid of three hour early releases (22).

And, now that seniors have gotten their college results back, it’s important to meditate on the whole application process, and how it affects us as people. We have an open letter to Oakton’s seniors (18).

This month, we’ve worked hard to publish a wide array of stories that cover Oakton perspectives, politics, and news analysis. We are incredibly proud to give you the penultimate print magazine of the year, the March Print Issue.

Thank you, and we will see you next month.

Jake Neuffer & Ashleigh Tain

editors in chief

jake neuffer ashleigh tain

editorial board

katarina faben riya jain emily bach courtney te zoe sauger payton wozny sahithi jammulamadaka

adviser

staff writers amira bashir genevieve bavisotto sara boddie portia dai madelyn flickinger andres gonzalez katie le connor maloney alexandra martschenko claudia messina sebastian osea veronica preaskorn anabelle rosse cole starmer kariann tan asher tankel elizabeth thompson

nikhil trivedi abudukadier cainaipuguli katherine zevallos olivia garrone aubrey harrell sarah jeffries conor krouse william locklin haley longfellow kartik mukalla sally park zoe saugar zoe siamon pari abdollahi brendan bellingham wendy gao jacob rutzick

Editorial Policy: The Outlook is an open forum for student expression. Unsigned editorials reflect the collective opinion of the Outlook staff. Signed editorials represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Outlook or Oakton High School. Reader opinions are important to the Outlook and contributions are welcome. Make your voice heard by sending us a line about what’s on your mind.

Letters to the editor may be sent via e-mail to efsnyder1@fcps.edu, or dropped off in Mrs. Snyder’s box in the main office or in room 258. The Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions for grammar and content provided the meaning remains unchanged.

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table of

contents oakton news lacrosse expectations after state win model congress ap tests: fact versus myth counselors preparing juniors for college seniors take on internships stunning science

indepth 4 5 6 7 8 9

politics fairfax democrats prepare for the primaries youth climate strike democratic candidates spotlight modern holocaust

10 11 12 13

sports zion and ncaa politics nfl offseasons trades springing into the new season uh oh, where did the cougars go?

14 15 16 17

opinion an open letter to seniors the popularity of unpopular opinions crisis hits venezuela the p in prom stands for pointless getting rid of early releases

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

when privilege meets the elite college obsession about the exhibition of learning “i was dripped on, it went in my eyes” does money make you happy? oakton’s hidden eating disorder culture doing away with daylight savings why do we take tests?

a&e 31 31 32 33 34

oakton’s playlist fashion editorial upcoming spring concerts prom on a budget catch me if you can

35 36 37 38 39

the happiest place in the world what to read this spring the saint patrick’s day dance gaithersburg book festival advocating for a great cause

feature

18 19 20 21 22

Culture Festival, a facet of Oakton’s school-wide culture, was better than ever this spring. Acts, including the AASA fan dance, featuring both the ethnic and personal cultures of dozens of students amazed the general population of Oakton, reminding us of the importance of supporiting diversity in our schools today.

Congratulations to all the students who performed and those who contributed to the show! culture festival photography courtesy of Joe Wong

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(The team holds up the State Championship trophy. Courtesy of Oakton Smugmug)

OAKTON NEWS LACROSSE EXPECTATIONS AFTER STATE WIN

How the season is expected to turnout

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veronica preaskorn staff writer

(The team storms the field after the win. Courtesy of Oakton Smugmug)

fter a last minute win in the state championship game, with a final score of 11-10, all eyes are looking to the Oakton boys varsity lacrosse team.

Expectations are high, and the competition is fierce. The team plans to meet these expectations despite losing last years seniors.

As well as many different faces on the team, the practices have also changed substantially. Instead of long practices with half an hour of film, they’ve switched to shorter, more intense practices, and about fifteen minutes of film.

The returning players are all very talented,

and many new players show great potential.

All the players are very goal-oriented, and most have a very high GPA. These athletes who’ve trained for years are looking for another state ring.

In the championship game, Oakton was down by two with fifty seconds left on the clock. After an illegal play by Robinson, their best player was penalized, and his goal was stricken from the record. Two goals by Jared Cole in the final forty seconds brought Oakton an unexpected win. However, many Robinson players, coaches, and parents thought the penalization was inappropriate,

but Oakton’s players and coaches knew it was a crucial moment in the game.

In an interview with the head coach, Jake Bullock, he stated, “That’s [another state win] always the goal. Nothing’s ever promised, but that’s something we always try to achieve, and if it doesn’t happen, that doesn’t mean we weren’t successful.” Although last year’s win was very controversial, Oakton looks to repeat this experience.

Even though there have been many changes to this team, from new players to new practices, expect a great season from the boys’ lacrosse team.

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march issue

MODEL CONGRESS A report on Tuesday’s Model Congress

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nce a year during March 19 and March 20, all of the seniors who are taking a Government class have to participate in Model Congress, which is an educational simulation of the United States Congress. Initially, students need to create at least one bill and submit it to their government teacher on March 15. On the following Tuesday and Wednesday, the students who attend the Model Congress have their attendance taken through a QR code that is available nearby the entrance of the Auxiliary Gym; the location of this year’s Model Congress. During Tuesday’s Model Congress there were 272 students present. These students were meant to represent the members of the House of Representatives. After having their attendance taken the Division of the House takes place. The seniors had to choose which political party they will be apart for the day; there were 169 students for the Democratic Party and 103 for the Republican Party. As soon as the Division of the House is concluded, the elections for the leadership positions occur. Seniors from the Democratic and Republican Parties are voted into positions of power. For this year’s Model Congress the Speaker of the House was a Democrat since it was the majority party while the President was elected from the Republican party. Unsurprisingly, the winners of the following were those who swore they would ensure everyone receives good grades by the end of the event.

This is America’s legislative body in action. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)

When the leadership elections were finished, the committees in which the student’s bills would be passed were formed. Although many bills were passed by the twenty committee groups, only a few made it into the floor debate. The floor debate is when the chosen bills were presented to the House so they may discuss and possibly pass the bills into law through votes. Should an addition to a bill be considered, then an amendment may be added. If the president doesn’t want a bill to be passed, they would veto it. In response to a veto of the bill, the House itself can override the president’s veto with their own. Despite the detailed arguments and discussions regarding the bills, most of the bills that were related to the Democratic party were vetoed due to the president being Republican, and there were almost no overrides due to insufficient votes. Not that it would’ve been any different if the president were a Democrat.

In hindsight, even though Model Congress does have a few similarities with real life Congress, to say that the experience is completely accurate would be incorrect. However this is due for the sake of convenience; if Model Congress were a perfect simulation then nothing would be done. It goes without saying that Model Congress’ success in providing a meaningful experience for those involved is dependant on a participant’s interest. After all, those who aren’t really interested won’t think highly of this event. Regardless of one’s opinion of Model Congress, there is no denying that every student eagerly wished to return home, judging by their swift exits.

andres gonzalez staff writer

6 AP TESTS: FACT VERSUS MYTH With so many rumors going around, how do you know what is true and what is simply overexaggeration?

ONE: HOW WELL YOU DO WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADES

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f you have an older sibling or friend, they might have told you about how if you get a 5 on the AP exam, your grade in the class will automatically be changed to an A no matter what it was before. You could have a D in the class and score well on the exam and end up with an A on your transcript, which seems like a pretty good deal for most people. This rule was stemmed from the idea that if you did well on the exam and understood the material, then that should correlate to your grade in class. While this was true a few years ago, recently they changed this rule and it is no longer in affect. The only purpose of the AP exam now is to award college credit, which is why you should definitely still try if you want to save some money in the future on specific classes.

TWO: I SHOULD BE STUDYING MONTHS IN ADVANCE

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his is probably one of the biggest misconceptions for underclassman who have never encountered an exam like this. Even though this is dependent on your teacher, you have essentially been studying the entire school year on this material. Even if you feel uneasy and like you’ve learned nothing, you’d be suprised what you know just because you’ve been exposed to it for months. While studying for months in advance can be helpful if you truly feel like you’re lost in class, it is means you’ll most likely just have to review the same material when you get closer to the date because you forgot it all. Studying a month or a few weeks in advance will give you enough time to absorb the infromation without necessarily cramming it all and feeling overwhelmed. Plus, you’ll have time for teachers to clarify any misinformation.

THREE: THIS IS GOING TO BE OVERWHELMING

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his is, unfortunately, true. College board has a strange way of testing its students—they like to make tests with ridiculous time constraints, almost as if they don’t want their students to do well. Most AP exams are made to be difficult, that’s the point of taking a “college level” class even if it doesn’t always feel like one. The best thing to do is take a deep breath and realize that you are not alone and there are about 300 other students feeling the same way. Take this from one anxious test taker to another: sometimes you just have to accept that this is going to happen and once you’re done, you’re gonna feel so relieved. Anxiety is the worst enemy of focus and test-taking in general, but you will be just fine like everyone else who took the test before you.

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courtney te editorial board

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FOUR: THIS TEST DOES/DOESN’T MATTER

his is subjective and answers will vary depending on who you ask. Truthfully, like mentioned in the first point, AP exams don’t hold as much weight as they used to. And it is also no secret that AP classes do not hold the same rigor as acutal college classes, resulting in those hard earned credits going to waste if you have to end up taking the class again to learn the fundamentals of a subject before moving on to a higher level college course that is miles from what you learned in good old high school.

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ith that being said, I do think AP exams matter to a certain extent. While exempting out of a harder subject courses like Biology and Chemistry at an elite college might not be the best course of action, there are a lot of AP credits that could be used depending on where you go and what you want to major in. AP Language, for example, is useful from exempting out of entry level English classes. Since it is not necessarily memorization based and more strategy-based, things you learned for the exam will be similar if not the same as the equivalent class at any college, which is great if you do well on the exam and recieve credit.

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march issue

COUNSELORS PREPARING JUNIORS FOR COLLEGE How Oakton has increased college programs for juniors

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ith the near end of the school year, the Oakton community is making a larger effort to prepare current juniors for both senior year and college. Everyone knows that the gap between junior year to senior year and then college is a large one and lots of preparation by students and their families must be done prior to this transition. During this school year, during the 2018-2019 school session, an increased effort by Oakton has been shown by the influx in programs available to students and their families to get their students ready for their future academic careers. But what exactly are these programs and how are they really helping students step their foot out the door of Oakton into the real working world?

Ms. Wyatt, a counselor here at Oakton has the answer. She, among numerous of her colleagues, have held one-on-one student counselor sessions to talk to students about their future plans and college ambitions. According to Ms. Wyatt, these programs are a great way for students to decide what they want to do in the future and get “advice on the topic.” According to counselors at Oakton, the new program has been implemented this year because of the renovation and difficulty scheduling sessions which construction is happen-

ing.

Junior students will have the opportunity to meet with their counselors periodically throughout the day until the beginning of April and can sign up for an appointment through SignUpGenius.

According to counselors at Oakton, the new program has been implemented this year because of the renovation and difficulty scheduling sessions which construction is happening. Previously, the junior counseling sessions included both parents and students talking to a counselor. This new program, unlike last years allows students a better understanding on the college admissions process, while allowing both students and parents to have their own programs to increase Oakton community understanding. The new program has offered students more information on the overall college experience, while giving students the chance to sign up for college interest programs and internships before college applications are due in the early fall time.

Another program that was available to junior students and their families this year was the Junior Parent’s Night assembly that took place on March 14th and was a great opportunity for parents of current juniors to learn more information about college admissions and

the overall process from Oakton faculty and staff. The program provided parents with information on the college admission process and how to best write your essays to get into college. The program left parents and students with a plan of action for the future, helping to set students up for success in their upcoming endeavours.

Without a doubt, Oakton’s increased involvement in guiding juniors through their future ambitions have proved beneficial for students. Jenna Feldman, a current junior, remarks that the counselor interviews have been very helpful and have helped a lot with her deciding what to do in the future. The Oakton community has done a great job creating programs this year to help students and their families find their career paths and learn more about college. Hopefully in the future, these programs will continue to persist to be available to next year’s rising juniors!

katarina faben editorial board

8 SENIORS TAKE ON INTERNSHIPS An insight on the student opinion on the new opportunity seniors have: interning for two weeks.

riya jain staff writer

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he administration recently notified the seniors that they will have the opportunity to be excused from the last two weeks of school and the assessments given during that time period. In place of attending school, seniors can work in an approved internship to gain more exposure in the field they would like to go in. The internship must be unpaid and be two weeks long for the students to participate in. At the end of the two weeks, students must present their experience and learnings in a Presentation of Learning (POL) style at school to their peers and teachers. This opportunity is meant to help and motivate students to explore their interests in the real world and have a bigger understanding of what they want to pursue as a career before they graduate high school. After seeing successes in other schools, Oakton High School has taken the opportunity to implement here so that students can get a jumpstart on their career.

Senior Himavarsha Yerraguntla says that as she looks for internship opportunities, she is diverting her attention away from research internships as it is rare for research projects to last only two weeks.

She says that she may try to find

opportunities in working for a startup company and learn about the field she’d like to pursue through that.

Senior Maggie Sparling also says that although she is interested in the opportunity and hopes to find an internship, she wishes that seniors were notified of this opportunity earlier. Because they are given around a month to look for internships, many seniors aren’t given enough time to look for an opportunity. Many places that seniors have contacted haven’t returned their calls, don’t have availability for internships, or don’t have a two week project they can offer to students. Due to the limited options seniors have and the time constraint, many have found it difficult to find internships.

Amanda Taylor (11) says that this is an opportunity that she hopes to have next year so that she can find an internship to explore her field of interest.

All in all, this optional opportunity allows seniors to expand their horizon and have more exposure before they graduate high school and go to college (or pursue other opportunities).

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march issue

STUNNING SCIENCE Oakton’s science fair success and a deeper look into how Oakton prepared to peform at this year’s Fairfax County Regional Science Fair.

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akton High School is known for its students’ ability to achieve great academic honors such as being selected as participants for the Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. This year Oakton was well represented by 28 students looking to share their discoveries with over 125 judges and hopefully bring home an award or two. Of the 28 students that attended the science fair, I was able to catch up with two of them along with Dr. Wang, who coordinates the science fair for Oakton, to talk about some of the projects that were presented along with the many awards that were won.

Dr. Wang who has prepared students for science fair for over 10 years was impressed with this years results stating, “There were 22 projects that were presented by Oakton this year. [Of those projects] there were 8 first place prizes, 20 category awards, 37 organizational awards, and one grand prize winner.” She then went on stating “we were number #1 in the county besides TJ, the best results we’ve had in the last 20 years.” These results aren’t surprising due to how much hard work and effort that is poured into

these projects. Two students that I interviewed know just how hard you have to work to get there. Maggie Tong (10) and Sydney Chen (10) presented a project to help with the growing concerns of droughts. “Our project was The Effect of Varying Atomic Radii Sizes in Cloud Seeding Nuclei on Lux Yield.” Tong explained, “Basically, we made a cloud chamber and tested cloud seeding nuclei to see how the atomic radius of the cloud seeding nuclei affected the cloud density.”

The partners came up with this idea when they were reading about the droughts that have been affecting the MIddle East and California.

They were inspired to try and help combat such an urgent and pressing issue. The science fair proved to be a way to help get their idea out into the world. Judges in their category drew and interest to their project and ultimately nominated it for Grand Prize judging. “We were super excited and nervous too. We never thought we would be nominated for a Grand Prize award.” Chen said. They then had to go through another more intensive round of judging and would have to wait to find out if they received the award at the ceremony the

next day.

Sunday, the day of the ceremony, was also the day that the projects were opened to the public. Members of the community were able to walk through the fair and receive information and sometimes even live demonstrations of the projects. Members of Oakton such as Principal Lane were there to support Oakton along with members of the school board such as Ryan McElveen. Finally after the public viewing the award ceremony started. Members of Oakton were recognized for several different achievements and received prizes ranging from certificates and medals to trips to the international science fair in Arizona.

While Tong and Chen did not receive the Grand Prize award they did receive first place in their category and were thrilled. Chen stated, “The best part was watching all of our hours and hours of hard work pay off.”

The students that presented at Oakton did an amazing job and we wish the students that will be attending the state and international science fair the best of luck! Next year maybe you’ll be inspired to get creative with some stunning science!

Photos courtesy of the Oakton High School Instagram and Google

maddie flickinger staff writer

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POLITICS DEMOCRATIC FAIRFAX COUNTY CANDIDATES sahithi jammulamadaka PREPARE FOR THE PRIMARIES editorial board

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ith the primary elections for Fairfax County coming up on June 11, Democrats running for these positions are getting ready. Because of the increase in incumbent members retiring there are more open seats than ever before. The positions open include Chairman for the Board of Supervisors, members of the Board of Supervisors, members of the School Board At-Large, members of the House of Delegates, and member of the Town Council. With forty-eight candidates running for these positions as a Democrat or an Independent it is sure to be a difficult race.

Here is a look at some of the people that are running: Ryan McElveen: Ryan McElveen is a Marshall High school graduate and currently a member of the Fairfax County School Board. He hopes to leave more of an impact on Fairfax County by running for Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He believes in creating programs for universal pre-Kindergarten so, “every child is ready to enter the global workforce.” Creating innovative and sustainable infrastructure is very important along with creating a fiscal discipline plan, so taxes are kept low while making all of these changes.

Abrar Omeish: As a graduate from Robinson High School in 2013, she knows the most important problems within Fairfax County. This is her first year running for the at-large seats on the school board but has worked on the campaigns of both Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. If elected she would be an advocate for equity across the board. She believes that regardless of the area you live, your socioeconomic status, or race you should be receiving the same level of education.

Rachna Heizer: Rachna Heizer’s is a professor at Texas Tech University, an attorney, and now is running for an at-large seat on the school board. As a parent of two kids who are or were in the Fairfax County school system, she has long said that FCPS works in a bucket system. She said, “to those who fit in the bucket it works great, but those who don’t are excluded and aren’t able to receive as great of an education as their peers.” As a mother of a son with autism, she hopes to make schools more inclusive regardless of a student’s disability. She also hopes to make schools more environmentally friendly and create a cost-efficient and creative plan for current infrastructure issues.

Karl Frisch: As a former small business owner Karl Frisch has helped the National Education Association, Rock the Vote, and other tech companies improve their communications strategies. He has also been a staff member of the House Rules Committee and has worked to expose political corruption. He has repeatedly challenged the Trump Administration and Education Secretary, Betsy Devos, and has also worked host for many Democratic officials. Frisch runs on a platform for equity and opportunity for all students regardless of where they came from and wants to work on actively closing the achievement gap.

He also would like to work on creating smaller classes and having fewer classrooms in the trailers by reducing the 37-year renovation cycle, to 25 years.

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march issue

About the School Strike for Climate and the rising climate generation.

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n March 15th, 1.6 million students around the world put down their pencils and skipped school in unison to protest climate injustice. More than 2,000 School Strikes for Climate occurred in 123 countries. March 15th is significant in that it was a school day, enabling students to skip class to demand climate action and the protection of their futures. The day also happened to be the Ides of March, the Roman day for the payment of debts. For students who attended a strike, the 15th was a day for settling debts with policymakers and legislators - who owed them their futures and depriving them of a clean and inhabitable Earth.

Over 100 cities from nearly all 50 states in the United States stood in solidarity on the 15th with countries located on every continent - New Zealand, India, Israel, Luxembourg, Italy, Scotland, Nigeria, Sweden, Turkey, and Spain to name to a few.

Strikes around the world protested for climate action in each of their respective governments, but the US Climate Strike outlined their specific agenda in their platform. Strikes in the United States called for a na-

tional Green New Deal, an end to fossil fuel infrastructure, a national emergency on climate change, climate education, the preservation of public lands and wildlife, and clean water supply. For decades politicians and government authorities neglected to take steps toward resolving the impending global crisis of climate change, and by striking, today’s generation declared they would no longer tolerate this inaction.

Closer to home, thousands of students from the Washington Metropolitan area attended the strike on the U.S. Capitol.

From Oakton, senior Catherine Xiang attended the strike and said, “I went to the climate strike to demand action for our future and ensure that it included renewable solutions.”

Crowds of students, young people, teachers, parents, and adults alike rallied in front of the Capitol, chanting mantras about democracy and climate action. Later, they heard from the teenage leaders who had organized the DC strike, activist music performer Rebel

Rae, Havana Chapman-Edwards “The Tiny Diplomat,” and Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar. During her speech, 12-year-old co-director and co-founder of the US Climate Strike Haven Coleman said, “Today, the tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of kids who are striking around the world are doing it not because we want to skip school, but because we are scared.” Today’s youth have learned from their predecessors’ mistakes, and will not let their futures or their Earth be taken from them.

wendy gao staff writer

12 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES SPOTLIGHT Three politicians running for the executive chair brendan bellingham staff writer

Trump’s divided America is not sustainable. The next presidential election warrants bipartisanship from both sides of the political spectrum and a progressive leader to patch a divided nation. Many are looking to be the democratic candidate as that is the person who has the voting power to push Trump out of his second term. Fifteen democrats are officially running as of now, and many are speculated to announce their campaigns as we get closer to the first democratic debate in June. Many that are currently running have already begun campaigning and among them are Bernie Sanders, Beto O’Rourke, and Elizabeth Warren.

Bernie Sanders is perhaps the most well known of these three as he ran for president in 2016 but was beat out by Hillary Clinton to run against Trump. As many candidates do, this 77 year old Senator from Vermont preaches about his “grassroots campaign” and ability to defeat Donald Trump in the 2020 election. More specifically, Sanders’ policies sometimes reflect that of a socialist as he speaks about breaking up the top 1% and big pharma. Other policies of Sanders include raising the minimum wage and medicare for all. Bernie Sanders is a promising candidate in the eyes of many, yet his age is a defining characteristic that should be accounted for.

Courtesy of The Hill

Beto O’Rourke is a less liberal, more pro-business, United States Representative that represented Texas for three terms in the House of Representatives. As a citizen of a border state, O’Rourke disavows the need for a wall on the southern border and advocates for immigrant rights. He supports the push for gun restrictions and wants to legalize marijuana nationwide. O’Rourke is a spry 46 years of age and offers the poster boy look for the democrats with his appeal to young people much like Kennedy did.

Courtesy of Business Insider

Elizabeth Warren is the last in this list of candidates but she is not the last in line for the spot as the nominee. The 69 year old senator from Massachusetts has a background in bankruptcy law and offers a much needed female perspective to the race. Warren is progressive on most policies and focuses her campaign on consumer protection and economic opportunity. A woman in the white house would be a shocking successor to the Trump administration and bring the country to a more moderate, unified place.

Courtesy of Vox

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march issue

A MODERN DAY HOLOCAUST China’s Muslim internment camps force prisoners to pledge support to communism

courtesy of bryan denton (ny times)

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hina’s Communist Party has long been subject to western criticisms of human rights abuses. From the party’s widely-covered suppression of internet freedom to off-the-record torture cases in ‘black jails,’ or extralegal prisons that house political dissenters, the ruling party is no stranger to political scandal. However, the recent development of modern internment camps represents the country’s latest crackdown on religious expression, posing broader questions about the nature of China’s industrial rise and seemingly uncompromising conservative principles.

Reports of the concentration camps began nearly two years ago, after satellite imaging captured footage of large, industrial complexes in the city of Xinjiang, which previously housed nearly 12 million members of China’s Muslim ethnic minority. Reports indicate that nearly the entire minority has since been transferred to internment camps.

Human rights advocates claim that these transfers occur without trial and by physical force.

Inside the camps, prisoners are meant to decry their support for Islam and pledge support to the Communist party. Under the guise of ‘education’, the Communist government performs these practices through language immersion and legal theory.

Additionally, detainees are forced to perform labor for incredibly reduced wages or, in many cases, for free. The city’s physical distance from other opportunities and the reported militarization of the camps makes seeking alternative work options almost impossible, locals report.

Typical to the government, press access to such facilities continue to be almost non-existent. Attempts to speak with ‘students’ by organizations like BBC and The New York Times continue to be declined, and the government has wholeheartedly denied any such camps existence. Their functional necessities, like electricity and guards, do not show up on Chinese budget reports, making their sustenance reliant on a process similar to that used in ‘black jails.’

The policy is the party’s latest attack on

Muslim minorities. Since 2015, the government has rolled out a series of regulations banning headscarves (which are traditionally worn by Islamic women), long beards, religious schooling, and even Islamic-sounding names. For Uighur citizens, the ones most directly targetted in the creation of the camps, ethnic profiling also continues to impact their travel abilities and job security.

Despite international criticism from countries like the United States and United Nations human rights officials, the camps appear to be steadily growing. Satellite imagery shows that since 2017, the camps have grown to house 10 more buildings. The crisis poses a larger international question of the effectiveness of international actors in limiting China’s human rights abuses, and paints a dim future for the country’s treatment of ethnic minorities and marginalized populations.

emily bach editorial board

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SPORTS ZION AND NCAA POLITICS

kartik mukalla staff writer

The NCAA has bigger issues to deal with than who wins March Madness.

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ion Williamson is an anomaly. Even coming out of high school, he drew favorable comparisons to NBA legends such as LeBron James and Charles Barkley, and for good reason. During his tenure at Spartanburg preparatory school, he became a viral sensation, throwing down monstrous dunks, whipping bullet passes through fast breaks, and bullying his way past opposing big men like a grown man playing with kids. Recently, players who have dominated in the NCAA due to their physicality, like Hasheem Thabeet, Shelden Williams, and Anthony Bennett, flamed out in the big leagues due to their lack of skill or feel for the game. Zion looks to be different. Standing at 6 foot 7 and 285 pounds of muscle, his body is definitely ready for NBA-level competition, drawing the aforementioned comparisons to generational stars like Barkley and LeBron. However, his talent and skill is on a completely different level. In addition to his speed and athleticism, his ball-handling skills and court awareness have made him the consensus #1 pick for this year’s NBA draft and the main reason Duke is a title favorite.

The Zion Show is an electrifying experience night in and night out, producing must-watch TV for anyone who’s interested in the sport of basketball. It is a great source of entertainment for the NCAA, and makes them millions of dollars while the main star isn’t paid a penny. It serves a welcome distraction from the uncomfortable situation surrounding the imbursement of players and the true meaning of the word “amateur”. The fight to get so-called “student athletes” paid appropriately and educated properly has been going on for decades now, and the NCAA, true to form, is mishandling it again. On Sunday, March 17th, they released a video that was supposed to depict the life of an average student athlete. It was showed in a heavily positive light, but the reception to the video was anything but. In fact, multiple former student athletes came out on Twitter and other social media platforms to voice their disgust at the video. Current and former NBA and NFL players tore into the video, exposing the real life of student athletes.

“I know I’m ready to play in the NBA right now...That’s been my dream since I was eight years old. It was never college.”

-Ben Simmons in One & Done (2016) Other NCAA stars have made a mockery of the NCAA’s predatory policies. Ben Simmons, the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2016 #1 pick from Australia, openly disregarded the league, knowing that his one year at LSU served as an avenue to the NBA instead of a way to get a proper education. Simmons partnered with his sister, a business major, and made her his agent while signing with Klutch Sports, LeBron James’ sports agency. In a form of protest, he subsequently made One & Done, a documentary chronicling his lone season at LSU that was eventually cut short by injury. He barely went to class, doing the bare minimum to pass, and focused more on establishing his business connections and playing well to increase his draft stock. He even started skipping classes and practice after his fall semester and stated, “I know I’m ready to play in the NBA right now...That’s been my dream since I was eight years old.

It was never college.” These decisions and the documentary he released was eye-opening, but he was met with antagonism from fans.

Image courtesy of Keith Hairston The NCAA, despite many of their coaches being the highest-paid state employees in areas with Division 1 schools, don’t pay their players a dime and even bans players from receiving gifts or extra food other than their school-mandated meal plan, punishable by harsh sanctions. A few particular instances saw players getting fined for eating too much pasta, teams getting apprehended for having inappropriate icing on their cookies, and even coaches getting punished for paying for an “inappropriate laser tag match” for their baseball team. While the NCAA claims that players are student athletes, they barely get by in class and usually spend only one year in college if they’re a top basketball player. Despite averaging a revenue of $1 billion annually, the NCAA has still kept a facade of its league being a bigger version of high school competition, where student athletes simply go to class and practice and have games every once in a while. Additionally, they are either extremely incompetent or they have essentially turned a blind eye to schools recruiting top prospects with money and premium items, which is entirely another problem.

Zion’s decision-making off the court has been unique, however. After bursting through his shoe and heavily spraining his ankle in the opening seconds of a game on February 20th, he could have easily bowed out and called it a season, like past #1 picks Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. This would have resulted in a firestorm of news, reigniting the conversation the useless nature of the NCAA’s one and done rule and even attracting attention to the quality of Nike’s footwear. However, he decided to carry Duke to an NCAA title and play his heart out. At the time this article was written, he barely carried them past Tacko Fall and UCF into the sweet 16 with his play.

Duke went 3-3 without Zion and 28-2 with him. He knows his value to the Blue Devils, and rather than be a mouthpiece for a movement against the NCAA, he has chosen to stay away from a potential PR fiasco and take his team to a national championship, no matter what the moral implications are.

15

march issue

NFL OFFSEASON TRADES

Analyzing the most notable offseason trades in the NFL will locklin staff writer

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he landscape of the NFL has changed once again after another busy offseason. After years of futility, teams that are usually at the bottom of the league (namely, the Browns and Jets) have vastly improved this offseason through thorough trades and free agent signings. Meanwhile, teams like the Steelers and Giants have taken steps backward in the offseason. While the main contenders are still relevant, several teams are on the rise and are set up well for the future. Here are the most significant moves in the 2019 NFL offseason.

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dell Beckham trade: Perhaps the most surprising move was the Giants trading away superstar receiver Odell Beckham to the Cleveland Browns. In return, the Giants received Cleveland’s 2019 first and third round picks and safety Jabrill Peppers. This move comes as a surprise because the Giants gave Beckham a contract extension over the summer and looked to keep him long term. But that changed after the season as the Giants finished last in the NFC East. This is an extremely puzzling move for the Giants because of their return value, or lack thereof. While Peppers is a young and versatile player to add to a struggling defense, the picks they received will most likely be used to move up in the draft to pick quarterback Dwayne Haskins. While Haskins can be a starter at the next level, it was indeed not worth giving up Beckham.

This is especially since they could have got him at their current pick. The Giants lost this trade because they gave up one of the best receivers in the NFL for trade pieces and one young player.

The Browns, meanwhile, have moved from a one-win team in two seasons to division favorites. This trade is an absolute win for the Browns because they add Beckham to an already young and talented offense. They have studs at every position on offense, and even though they lost Peppers, they still have talented players on the defense.

Antonio Brown trade: The Steelers trading Antonio Brown had been expected for weeks, but the only question was what the team would acquire him. The Raiders give up a third and fifth round pick for all time great wideout, Antonio Brown. For the Raiders, this trade is an absolute win. Not only did they get the most productive receiver in the league in Brown but they also gave up just two picks that weren’t even in the first two

rounds. The Raiders also had three first-round picks and managed to keep them all. Brown has had the best prime of any receiver since Jerry Rice and now comes into a rebuilding process in Oakland. This is also a win for Brown himself as he has wanted out of Pittsburgh for quite some time. It started with his feuds with Ben Roethlisberger then moved to him missing practice and skipping the last game of the season. After the season he was active on social media posting and telling fans about the situation and how he wanted to be on another team. However, this is a bad trade for the Steelers because of their low return value for Brown. Some would say it’s not their fault because Brown has intentionally tanked his value through social media but considering Amari Cooper was worth a first round pick; this trade is still bad for Pittsburg. Not all is bad though, as the Steelers still have young and talented players to replace the skill they lost. Juju Smith Schuster and James Conner look to have bright futures in the league.

16 SPRINGING INTO THE NEW sports season has just SEASON

The spring begun, and for many of the sports at Oakton, the results are a mixed bag.

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he weather is getting warmer and it’s time for spring sports. The spring sports that Oakton offers include boys and girls lacrosse, soccer, track & field, baseball, softball, crew, and tennis.

Most teams offer a jv program and all teams offer a varsity program.

Last year at oakton the boys lacrosse team won states, boys soccer went to states, baseball got first in their conference, and tennis won regionals. Springs sports are also some of the longest seasons for high school sports, generally running from March through May, and depending on playoff runs finishing in June.

When asked by students, most of them say that third quarter is the most stressful quarter because it has the most work, tests, projects, and summer seems so far away. Here are some quotes of students who were asked if they thought participating in a sport interfered or added stress to their school work.

For the teams returning from either a win at states such as the boys lacrosse team, or competing at states such as the boys soccer team, the pressure is on.

Many coaches, and student athletes are feeling this said pressure. Especially if the season has not been going as well as anticipated, such as the boys lacrosse team. With an alternating record of wins and losses, and a loss by a huge deficit to Robinson, the competition of last years 6A state

championship, the season is off to a rocky start.

Pressure is quickly building up for every spring sport, regardless of the current situation of their seasons, or their successes in the previous year. With conference games beginning, this is where it all counts. The team records up until this point in the season were the practice rounds, the flukes, and the confidence boosters. A win has far more depth on the score charts now, and the participants, including the coachings staffs, athletes, and managers all know it.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the work from school and an after school sport, here are some ways to get extra help. Make a detailed schedule laying out what times you want your homework to be done, get extra help from the tutor center, or work with a friend that’s one the same sports teams as you.

Oakton is a huge community, and if you’re feeling stressed with either the season, homework, projects, extra curriculars, or all of the above like many, ask your teammates, coach, or friends for help.

Finally, as a school Oakton High School challenges our teams, and hope that all spring sport teams succeed this year. As usual we’re hoping for some great games and meets, and big wins. Just try your bests, and keep pushing through this long, tiring, and allergy filled season.

“It definitely is a little bit more of a challenge doing a spring sport because I have less time for homework but it is so worth it because school sports are so much fun and I have made so many new friends.” - Emily Martin (9), JV glax.

“Doing an oakton sport actually helps relieve stress because it gives me something to look forward to after school instead of just going home and doing a pile of homework and studying for hours and hours.”

Janelle Roy (9), JV glax.

conor krouse staff writer genevieve bavisotto staff writer

17

march issue

UH OH, WHERE DID THE COACH GO? Oakton Volleyball struggle to find a new coach

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akton varsity volleyball seven year consecutive coach, Dan Courain, will not be returning next year due to an offer for a job in DC. “My work requested and I accepted an assignment working directly for Congress… with the long hours and three hours of commute each day, returning to coach next season was not feasible and would be an extra burden on my family,” said Courain in an email to the 2018 volleyball team. Courain led the girl’s volleyball team to district championships and to the semi-finals for states in 2016.

“I loved Dan as a coach, he was really nice to me my freshman year and this year, and he was an amazing coach, so I’m really sad he’s leaving,” said Abby Chen (10), a defensive specialist on varsity for two years. Although everyone is sad about Courain leaving, there’s a bigger problem on our hands; Oakton is struggling to find a new coach.

In an interview with Oakton’s athletic director, Patrick Full, he stated that only two interviews have taken place for the coaching spot, and neither coach seemed to be the right fit for the job. He

explained, “One of the applicants has no experience at all and is definitely not ready, the other applicant is a maybe, I was just concerned that the personality might not be a good fit for our program.”

Many of Oakton’s returning volleyball players are concerned and anticipating the arrival of a new coach. Courain was an extremely intelligent and experienced coach, so the girls are worried about the program falling apart without him. “With a new coach comes a completely new routine, new drills… It’s scary but also exciting to see a new chapter of the program, ” said Julia Colet (10) a JV player who joined Courain’s team for tournaments and playoffs. The Oakton athletic office made a decision to re-advertise, hoping to get some different applications in whom are better suited for the job.

“I’m kind of surprised at the lack of interest,” Said Mr. Full. “I know Coach Courain has gone to clinics… and tried to drum up people to get interest and he’s been trying to support us in getting that coach, but so far it hasn’t panned out to anything,” he continued

Many of the returning players have been wondering whether or not the assistant coaches will be returning, and why none of them have taken the spot as head coach. According to Mr. Full, most of the coaches have indicated they would like to return to the program the

following year, although none of them are able to take the head position. This is unfortunate due to the fact that the assistant coaches have been with the varsity team for years and are accustomed to the way the program is run. Thankfully they are able to return because Mr. Full says that “if we really don’t get any qualified candidates this time around, then we might try to talk to the assistants again see if we can work out a deal.” It is made clear that a coach will definitely be found by the time the program must begin, but the biggest concern is the eligibility of the director. “We may do an interim kind of position with some of those assistant coaches and hopefully piecing something together this year, and then hopefully giving it another shot next year… as our worst-case scenario.”

After months of advertising and scouting, Oakton is still in search of a suitable volleyball coach. Mr. Full, who runs the Oakton’s activities office, ensures us that a coach will be found, but finding the right one remains a struggle.

We all hope a qualified coach makes his/ her way to Oakton, as volleyball players from all grade levels are anxious to get back on the court and play for the Cougars.

sara boddie lizzie thompson staff writer staff writer

OPINION

18

AN OPEN LETTER TO SENIORS: COLLEGE DECISION LETTERS To a senior that is reading this right now, The past couple of weeks have been really tough, haven’t they? On top of dealing with an insurmountable number of homework and tests, an overwhelming amount of personal drama (unless you’re not, and if so, good for you!), there’s the notion of finding out what schools you got into and where you might go. For some, this may be an easy decision, but for many, it could be a decision that would pivot you in the direction of where you want to go. And with that comes a heavy burden and lots of stress.

I’m sitting behind two seniors discussing college right now during Cougar Time. That’s how big of a topic this is for many of us. By the time you’ve read this, you have probably gotten a majority of your decision letters from a myriad of universities all over the country. That could obviously go both ways negatively or positively. I’m writing this letter to you to address both sides. Here goes nothing.

If you got into your dream school, I just want to say the biggest congratulations to you! It’s clearly evident that you worked so hard towards achieving the best, and so here you are, reaping what you sow. I am so excited for you to traverse the abnormalities and the exciting aspects of college life, while navigating the paths of your future career and whatnot. This is not to say that everything will be peachy from here on out, as we all know that life isn’t always what it seems. That being said, however, you’re starting off on a great footing and that’s something you should be most certainly proud of.

If you didn’t get into a school of choice, or if you didn’t get into school at all, that’s fine. I definitely get how it feels to be rejected from the schools that you aspired to be a part of. I’ve been there. It’s hard to describe the sinking feeling from your stomach upon realizing that everything that you were hoping to nab with regards to a specific college of your dreams won’t be happening anytime soon. But if there’s any consolation, it’s that whatever happens, happens for a reason. If anything, you might be accepted to another school that may not be inherently better in your mind, but is a better fit for you not only on paper, but better for you as compared to your original school of choice. I’ve learned to accept that sometimes things may not go your way, and that’s completely okay. That’s life. We just have to make it through the speed bumps that we sometimes might even be aware of.

I also just wanted to say that gap years, or community college, is an option that you should definitely consider. In spite of the ongoing stigma against these choices, I sincerely believe that doing either of the options can not only help you, but motivate you to grow as a person, the same way you will when you’re in a university. Gap years give people the chance to further think about what they want to do, and who they want to be, without being pushed into a corner (or a major) that a person doesn’t want to be in when they’re at a university. The same thing goes for community college; it’s a lot more freeing to be able to just take a handful of general education courses while being given the opportunity to do something else in your free time. So, if you’re ever concerned about your future at a place you don’t see yourself in, definitely think about these options I’ve mentioned.

It might seem like I’m talking down to people. Believe me, I’m not. I’m going through the same things that you are. But I want to assure you that I will be here for you and will try and empathize with how you’re feeling with regards to your future, no matter what. I suppose this is my way of helping in a rational manner, and if it works for you, then I’m glad. If it doesn’t, again, it’s alright. That’s just the way it goes.

However, I really do hope things work out for you. I really do.

Best, Kariann

kariann tan staff writer

19

march issue

THE POPULARITY OF UNPOPULAR OPINIONS what’s really behind this twitter trend? “hawaiian pizza is delicious.” “cinnamon buns are nasty.”

“the jonas brothers shouldn’t make a co meback..”

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he internet is full of conflict, so much that you don’t have to be online for long before you’re met with negative energy.

With all the differentiating thoughts and ideas on the internet, it’s hard to believe that a trend such as this one exists. The trend I’m referring to is the sharing of one’s unpopular opinions that has taken social media by storm. Although it’s all over the web, this sharing primarily happens on Twitter; the perfect site for expressing ideas. It’s worldwide platform gives people a virtual limitless audience.

The appeal of this trend could be given to the fact that it gives an array of topics to pick and chose from and talk about. Throughout the internet, you can find almost anything to give your opinion on. You can find topics ranging from fashion to TV shows to sports. This gives this trend the mobility it needs to be able too spread quickly, thus making it as popular as it is. You can also give props to the simple human need for attention. Though this may sound cruel, it is a common desire for teens to be able to press against the norm and say something that they know will gain them attention. Whether it be a rowdy stunt or a one-word sentence in their opinions of Marvel movies, teens are always saying or doing something that will guarantee eyes on them. Unfortunately, this plays into another aspect of the reason unpopular opinions gain so much favor and it has to do with when a teen gains a little too much confidence in their words.

Normally when you say something controversial on the internet, you tend to always get backlash from somewhere: someone is always against you. On the other hand, if you were to say the same thing on a page built for those kinds of things, that would be very appealing. These hashtag pages and boards seem to allure as a ‘safe space’ for provoking or disagreeable opinions. After all, the only way a person can see these comments is to keep on reading, scrolling, watching, etc, even when given the warning that some unpopular opinions will be shared. If the speaker is presented with conflict and/or anger by a fellow internet-user, they have a pretty solid defense, especially since the reader chose to indulge in the speaker’s words on their own.

However, this false sense of security has gotten to some users’ heads, turning this trend sour. Among all the innocent, good-natured opinion, you shouldn’t be surprised to find a few harmful ones. For example, in a thread of opinions about certain actresses, you may come across some neutral ones: “I think Scarlett Johansson is a way better actress than Angelina Jolie” or “Ellen Page is underrated.” However, soon you’ll be met with the hurtful ones, ones that go after the person themselves, like: “Rebel Wilson needs to calm her career down.. and maybe lose some pounds with the free time.” To make it clear, all these examples were pulled from actual tweets with the hashtag #unpopularopinions. These types of comments are meant to hurt the person or group themselves, not just the job they do and it’s comments like these that start to make the trend most people try to avoid.

On any issue, of course, it’s best to get some outside word, so I interviewed some students to see how this trend sits in their minds. In all, one freshman, one sophomore, and one junior were interviewed. When asked the question of whether they think the opinion trend is turning towards a negative purpose, they agreed that even though it didn’t seem that way on the surface, it was probable that the deeper you dig, the more mean posts you’ll find. Much like the platform it’s spread on, this trend started out as just a cool way to be able to share your opinions with people interested in them. Gabriel Crutchfield seemed to sum up the inevitable negative turn by saying, “Unfortunately, certain people kinda have to taint [the purpose of the trend] by saying rude things about people and that’s where nobody likes it anymore,” They were also asked about the physiological aspects of the trend’s appeal. For instance, it was asked whether they believed that the basic human want to be recognized plays into the popularity of unpopular opinions. While both the Sophomore and Junior said it was highly unlikely, the Freshman seemed to really have a strong say. Lisa Gaspari (9) said that that was probably the main reason the trend was so popular, stating, “People want to stand out from the crowd and be their own person with their own differing opinions,” In all regards, this trend has both negative and positive aspects, making it a tricky topic to fully see. But what about you? What’s your opinion on the Unpopular Opinion trend?

annabelle rosse staff writer

NBC News

20 CRISIS HITS VENEZUELA HARD

Growing Entropy in Venezuela is Spiraling Out of Control

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enezuela used to be the wealthiest country in Latin America. Sadly, though, conditions in Venezuela have taken a dramatic turn for the worst. Former president Hugo Chávez led the country to prosper from 1998 until his death in 2013, but this came to a halt once power shifted into the hands of Nicolás Maduro. The country has been experiencing economic decline, and it is threatened by hyperinflation, scarcity of food and medicine, and violence that has led to many deaths and arrests. In the midst of heavy conflict earlier this year, activist and National Assembly President Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela, justifying his leadership using an article of the constitution.

Maduro has refused to resign from office and make way for Guaido. This conflict has not only brought civil war to Venezuela, but it has also divided other countries and instigated conflict relative to who should be recognized as the true president of Venezuela.

Countries such as the United States and Argentina have recognized Guaido as president, while countries such as China and Russia have decided to support Maduro.

Mainly, Guaido declared himself interim president due to suspicion regarding the validity of Maduro’s reelection in 2018. The majority of the population did not support Maduro, and the presidential election is based on votes cast by the population; many people are confused as to how he could have won. Maduro continues to decline allegations, shaping the

UN Dispatch

opinions of many individuals as well as countries over who is the true president of Venezuela.

Controversy has led to disagreements between countries, which is very concerning. Russia has sent troops and military equipment to Venezuela, claiming that the sole purpose of this is to “fulfill technical military improvement”. Even if the intent of Russia is not to cause any harm, the act of sending troops to a foreign country is worrisome. There could be an underlying reason for the military involvement. The other highly questionable factor regarding Russia’s decision to send military forces to Venezuela is that Russia supports Maduro, and Maduro still has full control over Venezuela’s military. The collaboration of the two militaries is offsetting, and it could easily become very dangerous.

On another note, Venezuela’s economy has been suffering, and it may endure (or collapse from) more blows.

Soon after Maduro took his first term as president, he brought on an inflation rate of 56%, and that was when he was just getting started with leading the country in 2013. The economic state of Venezuela has gotten worse, and it now faces more trouble. One of the most prominent oil suppliers in the world, the country’s oil industry has served as a major contributor to the economy. Because of conflict related to the United States recognizing Guaido as president, though, the Trump Administration has banned the importation of oil from Venezuela. Statistics from the U.S. Energy

Washington Post

Department indicate that, last year, the United States sourced around 500,000 barrels per day from Venezuela. This may significantly reduce demand for oil from Venezuela. Additionally, it may affect people in the United States by raising gas prices.

Imaginably, political and economic turmoil has traumatized Venezuelans.

Many have fled the country, and those who remain face a severe lack of food, medical supplies, electricity, and drinking water. In attempt to support Venezuelans, the United States sent over supplies, but Maduro refused to accept the help. The unused supplies sit in a warehouse in Colombia. In the meantime, it is incredibly difficult to obtain food in Venezuela; bare grocery store shelves and insanely long lines are an indication of the level of desperation. There are frequent blackouts, many people are dying from improper healthcare, and clean water is hard to come by. Life is strenuous, and hard times are pressing down harder and harder on Venezuelans.

The Venezuela crisis is only growing more dangerous. It is unclear what the future holds, but what is most important is to help the people of Venezuela stay safe.

haley longfellow staff writer zoe sauger editorial board

Public Radio International

Down to Earth

21

march issue

THE P IN PROM STANDS FOR POINTLESS Learn a students perspective of the unnecessary stress of prom

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ow before I start I want to make it clear that I think prom can be very enjoyable and is an important part of the American high school experience.

However, there is so much unnecessary stress to prom that defeats the purpose of having it. Prom is the biggest school dance of the year and should be a night filled with fun memories. Although, for the most part, the night of prom is fun (well hopefully it is fun), the months, weeks, and days leading up to magical night are insane and hectic. Between people switching groups and dates and where to eat and take pictures the whole planning of prom is stressful. But why is it stressful? There is really no need, maybe everyone just needs to take a chill pill and remember the reason for prom.

I think that prom should be spent with only people you actually enjoy to spend time with, there is really no need to spend one of the biggest nights of your high school ex-

perience with people you do not like. I know sometimes it is hard to get in a group because a group is filled and the other group you want to go into won’t let you for some unknown reason, but you are all going to see each other at the dance so there is no need to stress about going into a big group. Personally, I prefer to be in a smaller group, say maybe ten to fifteen people, and then meet up with other people at the actual dance.

Remember, you want to have fun on this special night not constantly worrying about this person or that person.

This will be an unpopular opinion, so brace yourselves for this… If prom is just a dance why does everyone go out to dinner before? What if you go to an Italian restaurant and spill pasta on your prom dress, that would be HORRIFIC! I guess going out to dinner is fun, but to me, there is no need to go to an ornate, expensive restaurant.

You are already spending so much money on other things.

zoe sauger editorial board

That’s the other thing that makes prom so stressful, it’s expensive. Some girls will buy dresses that are $500, or even more than that, and you only wear it for that one night.

Then, along with the dress and tux, you have to buy an expensive ticket for the dance.

To conclude my thoughts, prom is supposed to be an enjoyable night to spend with your friends, but people have made prom become stressful.

Now this opinion is coming from a sophomore who has never experienced the stress, and maybe my opinion could change by next year, but I hope that people start to have fun planning prom and not fighting over restaurants, where to take pictures, and who is going with who. Prom was not created to be stressful but was meant to help students relax and celebrate the end of the school year. So, when planning this night focus on having fun, and know that everything will work itself out and there is no need to stress.

22 SHOULD FCPS GET RID OF 3 HOUR EARLY RELEASES?

Students opinions of the 3 hour early release

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CPS has implemented a new measure that replaces the two hour early dismissal, the three hour early dismissal. They have been putting in three hour early releases throughout the school year, placing them on days when the quarters end and when there are staff meetings. Although, some students might not like or enjoy this new rule. Even if students get a shorter amount of school in a day because of this, the schools have sometimes put early releases on a Monday which means students will have to go back to school the next day.

Most kids enjoy having releases on a friday because it means going into the weekend sooner.

When a three hour release is put on a monday, kids will still have school for the rest of the week so it feels like it could be pointless to put it in the beginning of the week. I interviewed students at Oakton to see what their thoughts are on this new early release for school. Each student was asked about their opinions on the three hour early dismissal and whether they would want to keep it or have the school take it away.

Michelle Xiao, a freshman at Oakton, says that she enjoys the early releases but does not like how it was put on a Monday. Also, she would not want it to be taken away. “I like the three hour early dismissal because I’m able to sleep more and get more homework time. I agree with how when it’s put on a Monday it is pointless because you still have school for the

katie le staff writer

rest of the week. Although, I’d like to keep it.”

In another interview with freshman, Ayush Sundararaman, he says that it should be taken away because teachers don’t have enough time to teach the materials they need in the amount of time given, and it’s harder to focus.

“I don’t think we should have them because when there’s a three hour early release, all the classes are so short I can’t really focus on one thing at a time since it’s all rushed to try and pack 90 minutes worth of material into an hour.”

The last student I interviewed was freshman Taylor Richlin, saying that the early dismissals are good because it gives students more time of the day even though they have a little school. They’re able to have time to hang with friends and get more work done. She also made a good point by saying we should keep them because it’s better than missing two days of school every couple of months, since the releases gives students more breaks throughout the school year when totalled up. “The three hour early releases are good because we have school, but we get most of the day to ourselves and it allows kids to get home early and just take time to relax, or hang out with friends, or do homework. We should keep them because it’s better to have three hour releases spread out, than to miss two days of school once every few months.”

Image credits to Constant Contact

From the interviews, it seems that most students prefer to keep the three hour early releases because it gives the students more of a break and time to do things like spend time with friends, or studying for classes. Although, one student brought up a good point that some students are unable to focus on days where they are released from school early. This could also be the fact that students are unable to focus because school is overwhelming them which is a great reason why three hour early releases are good. There’s another negative to the early dismissal which is how teachers are unable to teach all the things they were planning to, or rush when teaching because they have to fit it all in a one hour class period instead of a ninety minute class period. So, FCPS should keep the three hour early releases because there are more reasons to keep the three hour early releases then to take it away from the students.

Picture credits to ECRA Group

23

INDEPTH

march issue

WHEN PRIVILEGE MEETS THE ELITE COLLEGE OBSESSION

olivia garrone staff writer

What students should take away from the college admissions scandal

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ust weeks ago, the largest college admission scandal in U.S. history broke out, exposing the fraud of dozens of wealthy people, from CEOs to college coaches to former Full House actress, Lori Loughlin. While there have already been serious ramifications for the affluent LA residents involved, the scheme (nicknamed “Operation Varsity Blues”) is affecting more than just its culprits; all over the country, it has opened the floodgates to conversations about wealth, privilege, and the college admissions process.

It all started in 2011 with a man named William “Rick” Singer and his college counseling company in California. Though most of his customers were using his services to help their children get into college the honest way, he began to use fraudulent methods to guarantee the admission of certain rich clients’ children.

Using his “side door” ways, he could make sure that an average student would be admitted to elite universities such as University of Southern California (USC), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Georgetown, and Yale, at the cost of up to $6.5 million and personal integrity.

For the 33 parents charged (and the additional coaches and ringleaders), every story was different. Many parents arranged for their children to cheat on the major college entrance exams, the SAT or the ACT. One student got unlimited time for the SAT because of “medical reasons”; other parents hired professionals to “clean up” their student’s tests after they finished in order to artificially inflate their scores.

Others got their students recruited to college as athletes, sometimes for sports that they didn’t even play. Loughlin, perhaps the most high profile celebrity involved, went as far as staging photos of her daughters as coxswains for the local crew team to get them recruited as USC crew team members. This was despite the fact that they did not row in high school. The former Yale women’s soccer coach and the former Stanford sailing coach allegedly accepted similar bribes.

Naturally, there had to be an extensive cover-up for such intricate crimes. A good portion of the money parents used as bribes masqueraded as donations to a foundation, as to avoid suspicions. The carefully crafted plot came crashing down, however, when it was all

uncovered by officials who were investigating a different situation. When some of the people involved cooperated with police and revealed what they knew, the truth came pouring out from every news outlet.

Now that the world knows, there have to be consequences for their actions. As for now, the fate of those involved is still largely uncertain. According to the LA Times, many of the bribe-accepting coaches have already been fired or put on leave. Many others, such as Singer himself, have pleaded guilty in court.

Ironically enough, others, such as Loughlin, were arrested and released on bail for more money than they spent in the scam itself.

The students themselves have not been legally charged; however, they could still face disciplinary action from their universities.

The colleges are handling the situation on a case-by-case basis privately. It is difficult to determine what is fair because while some of the students involved certainly knew, many parents went to great lengths to hide their “pinocchio strings” from their children. Regardless of whether this will get anyone kicked out of college, it will immensely affect the rest of their lives. For example, Loughlin’s YouTuber daughter, Olivia Jade, has already lost her buisness deals with influential companies such as Sephora and has faced the intense backlash from the public.

The scandal has affected not just the students directly involved, but other students around the country. A group of students and parents are pursuing a class action lawsuit against many of the colleges involved in hopes of getting back the amount of money they paid to apply.

Their reasoning is that if they had known that the admissions process was not fair, they would not have applied to said schools in the first place. Though this case may not have enough substance to be successful, it is a commendable step students are taking in search of justice.

W

hile it is unlikely that even a scandal as massive as this one will be the catalyst for substantial change in the college admissions process any time soon, it could inspire minor reforms in the system, at least in an attempt to prevent future exploitations. Luckily, despite what this particular incident may suggest, the college system is not

impossibly corrupt.

“Most colleges do a holistic review. The number one thing that goes into a decision is the grades and rigor of classes,” said Ms. Collins, an Oakton College and Career Center specialist. While legacy at a school and sure, buying a building, would provide an advantage, colleges are trying their best to be fair when it comes to admissions and affordability. Through financial aid programs, families with lower incomes can afford to send their children to college, and through affirmative action, schools are creating a more diverse student body.

One message students should take from this is to be truthful in college applications. Do not “stretch the truth” about details on your application, do not spend millions of dollars on an elaborate cheating scheme, or anything in between. “People may cheat the system and things may sometimes be unfair, but it is always best to be honest and authentic,” said Ms. Collins.

But the whole situation is about more the lies themselves. “I hope students and families don’t take this story as another thing to fear or worry over in college admissions, but that it would challenge our assumptions about the ‘best’ colleges and broaden our research. There are so many excellent colleges out there and ‘where you go is not who you’ll be’. College isn’t a status to obtain,” said Ms. Collins. “I hope students realize the power of the prestigious name is less than the experiences they will gain in those years.” Instead of doing anything to get into a prestigious college, students should try their best and apply to colleges that fit their personal needs.

Though the crimes of everyone involved in the college admissions scandal were undeniably wrong, more than that, the situation is sad.

It is sad that these parents wanted their children to go to big-name schools, just for their names, so much that they would put everything on the line. Ultimately, because of it, everyone involved has shattered their reputation, lost even more of their money, and could lose their freedom, if they face jail time. The public should take this tangled web of fraud as a cautionary tale about what happens when privilege is mixed with the unhealthy emphasis our society has placed on getting into the so-called “top” colleges.

24 All ABOUT THE E XHIBITION OF L EARNING

“

Nerdy and beautiful” is how Mrs. Hovanec, an English and an AP ™ Captone teacher at Oakton, described our Exhibition of Learning(EoL) which is quickly approaching. On April 9 and 10, our students will gather in the gyms to share stories of their learning with peers, staff, county personnel, and community members in the annual EoL. The exhibition is an amazing opportunity for students and teachers to present things they have learned in and outside of the classroom in a celebration of learning.

The EoL is not like a traditional classroom presentation. At the exhibition, people from across the community have the opportunity to listen to these innovative presentations, and, more importantly, students get to present about topics they genuinely care about.

Mrs Hovanec described talking to one of her students at EoL several years ago. This particular student hated English class and “always looked angry,” but at the exhibition, he presented something he had made in his art class, and “he was smiling,” Mrs. Hovanec said enthusiastically. She explained how the “transformation on his face” was indescribable, and how it allowed her to see this student differently. “It would be totally irrational for me to expect all 165 of my English students to love English, but to know that the kids that don’t love English do have something that they love makes me feel very happy,” she said.

When asked what she thinks makes a good presentation, Mrs. Hovanec simply said, “passion.” Picking a topic that is important to the student is a key factor in creating a meaningful presentation. Mrs. Hovanec explained how it’s not difficult to decipher which students are talking about topics that are truly significant to their learning and which are presenting about last-minute or ‘easy’ topics. Those who choose to present about something they care about “would

payton wozny editorial board years. First, one student presented on traditional iron smithing. He displayed pictures and videos of him pouring molten metal into molds to create things like swords in the forge he had set up in his garage. Another presentation was about a brother-sister pair who did Taekwondo together. What made this presentation so memorable was that the sister was in middle school, but she so eagerly wanted to present with her brother that her parents excused her from school for the day so she could come to the EoL with her older brother.

As of right now, Oakton is the only school with an EoL, but several schools are joining us in the journey of the Capstone experience. Soon these other schools will start implementing EoLs and “we are going to bring that joy to some other schools and I’m very happy about that,” said Mrs. Hovanec. In addition to spreading the EoL, Mrs. Hovanec hopes that in the future more family and community members can come to the EoL.

Photo courtest of Mrs. Hovanec. stand there and talk to somebody about this topic regardless of EoL,” said Mrs. Hovanec.

Whether it be about learning to cook, origami, or an extreme LEGO build, the Exhibition of Learning is a place to demonstrate learning in a non-traditional and joy-provoking manner. Members of the Oakton Community are lucky to get to take part in the cutting-edge and pioneering EoL.

Mrs. Hovanec shared some of the most memorable EoLs that she has seen in past

“Because they are already energetic about it, it changes the whole nature of the presentation.” -Mrs. Hovanec

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march issue

“I WAS DRIPPED ON, IT WENT IN MY EYE”

Student testiomonials from a school turned construction zone jake neuffer emily richardson editor-in-chief editorial board

I

t’s no secret that the effects of reconstruction on our school experience have been prominent. From the infamous cafeteria ‘box’ to the hanging wires in the history hall, construction has given us Oakton students plenty to complain about. However, that statement begs the question: how rightful are we, the students, in having adverse reactions to the inevitable tailings of the project? The plans presented to us at the start of the project and the digital mock-ups hanging in our main hall promise a modern, up-scale school for the future students of Oakton to conduct their work. A more overpowering conclusion, though, is that we the current students, specifically upperclassmen, will never see the re-finished school in its entirety.

The topic, while not black and white, has at the very least generated some humorous reactions to the decrepit state of our school.

“I was walking in the Oakton hallways, back in February.. down by the cafeteria, I was about to take a step when, all of a sudden, I saw the dead rat.. there was a dead rat, in the middle of the hallway.. with its neck broken, bleeding, right by the little vent that’s open to the world. Everybody was just stepping around it, stepping on its tail, and kicking it.. it was so revolting. I tried to go to the bathroom, to gag, but it was locked. Typical.”

- anonymous senior

“The renovations have been, in a word, annoying. I’m on the tennis team, so because of the renovations trailers were put on our original courts and we have to travel to Nottoway Park to practice. It’s difficult trying to find rides, and the walk is pretty long. But, at Nottoway, the courts are also being renovated, so we have to play on the asphalt nearby! I understand there was nowhere else for the trailers, but it’s frustrating.”

- anonymous junior

“I walk home from school every day, right? So whenever I walk past the construction site on the way to Sutton, the dust.. literally all of this dust goes up into my throat and my eyes. Genuinely, it burns. I’m concerned for our health and the environment.. all the particulate matter up into the air.”

- anonymous senior

“This is just an unfortunate reality of the situation. There’s not really much we can do about it. In teaching, you always have to be able to adjust. I appreciate my students’ efforts to adjust during these.. these *sarcastically* difficult times.”

- anonymous teacher

26 DOES MONEY MAKE YOU HAPPY?

A

merican society is generally seen as one of productivity, work ethic, and perseverance, which is a far cry from the laid back and relaxed attitude that many mediterranean and other western countries take towards working. There is no denying that Americans are “workaholics” and devote themselves to their jobs in ways that could be described as zealous, passionate, or even greedy in context. Most would say that Americans work hard solely for monetary gain, after all, money is said to be able to buy happiness. Some would say that wealth is something to be sought after because it gives it holders a euphoric feeling. So in theory money is the key to being happy in American society, but as research shows, that might just not be the case.

Although money can bring temporary happiness, it cannot sustain long term happiness.

One undeniable fact is that people living above the poverty line are generally happier than people living below it, which is understable given the circumstance.

As stated by Easterlin’s paradox, the growth of a countries overall wealth does not correlate to the happiness of its citizens above the poverty level. As an impoverished country like Haiti grows in GDP, its people will become happier until it reaches a point above the level of complete poverty. The countries wealth would continue to grow, but the happiness of its people would cap eventually. In context of society, people only become more happy as they grow within the poverty level, but once they exit poverty, they won’t become any happier once they pass the lower class line and grow through the middle class, and into the upper. Therefore, acquiring money only makes you happy to a point. Aside from socio-economic levels, spending money in certain ways is also guaranteed to make the spender happier.

Spending money on causes such as a charity, church, or even volunteering organizations can leave a happy feeling in the heart of the spender, but not everyone is at a point in which they can spend money on charities. Of course wealthier people can spend more on such have that luxury, but with the gap between lower and upper class widening, most people don’t have the money to be give lump sums of cash to charity organizations like Bill Gates or Jeff

Bezos do. The average American just can’t sustain happiness by being extravagantly charitable with money. In the Ted Talk, “How to buy happiness”, Michael Norton explains that spending money on other people lead to happiness but only in small terms. For example, buying a close friend a coffee in the morning can bring happiness because it brings a feeling generosity. Money doesn’t bring happiness and being grossly charitable doesn’t either, but spending money in the right can bring temporary happiness.

A common thought in America is that money makes people genuinely happy. It is the oil that runs through the machine that is our government. It supports families, homes, businesses, and livelihoods. There is no doubt that at first glance, money looks like a source of joy, comfort and peace, but in some circumstances that couldn’t be further from the truth. Money itself does not bring happiness as it is a material item. Having nice things can bring temporary happiness, but it doesn’t sustain. People generally look back on trips they went on or experiences had rather than items received.

Experiences induce more happiness than gifts as they are more memorable than getting something for yourself. If one makes it their goal to only accumulate more and more money,

cole starmer staff writer

the time they have left to focus on family and spend with friends is tight at best. After all, life is short and if experiences outweigh money by far, it might be wise to fixate less on currency and more on family.

Nobody can deny the fact that money rules the modern world. It has allowed humanity build a society so advanced that perhaps it has outpaced human emotion and decency. People stress themselves beyond reason all to gain more money when there are many ways to be happy without it. Only after maintaining happy relationships with friends and family members, reconnecting with nature, and keeping a healthy lifestyle can one realize that money doesn’t make anybody happy. At most it can buy experiences that can lead to a memory that can be treasured forever, but money in itself cannot bring happiness, and devoting oneself to it can only lead to sadness. Currency can only bring joy if it is spent in the right way, but at the end of the day, it will not complete anyone in itself. Only by being surrounded by positivity and healthy lifestyle choices can bring joy where money can only distract the mind for temporary comfort.

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march issue

PRESSURED INTO SILENCE: OAKTON’S HIDDEN EATING DISORDER CULTURE emily bach editorial board

F

ebruary 25th marked the beginning of National Eating Disorder Week, a campaign centered around breaking the harmful stigmas surrounding eating disorders and the people that are affected by them. This year’s theme ‘come as you are’ was a clear nod of acknowledgment towards the intersectionality of the advocacy movement, and its necessity for further inclusion of people that perhaps don’t look like they struggle with a disorder.

Perhaps one of the most damaging stereotypes surrounding eating disorders is that of the ‘ideal’ victim. For advocacy purposes, campaigns have commonly highlighted emaciated young girls, in an attempt to garner public support for the issue and highlight its potential physical effects. However, the visible realities of the disorders are often incredibly different. Men suffer from eating disorders at a rate of around 1:10, and often people with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorders are in healthy or obese weight classes. But, these types of victims make for less attention-grabbing posters and campaign videos, which has often rendered them invisible in broader public spheres.

For people that look like ‘atypical’ victims, the urge to reach the physical appearance of an ‘ideal’ victim can place an undue and heightened pressure on them to lose weight.

For people that struggle with handling pressure, this, combined with other familial or life stressors, can make recovery even more difficult.

For young people, these types of stereotypes are particularly damaging. A slew of studies

have proven that young people often fail to adequately spot disordered-tendencies, and as a result, fail to reach out for help. In 2017, an anonymous Fairfax County youth survey found that 7.4% of seniors reported intentionally skipping a meal in order to lose weight. The same survey found that 2.7% of seniors reported forcefully vomiting or taking laxatives to lose weight. When asked if they thought that they had an eating disorder, a similar study found that in Fairfax County, less than 1% said yes.

This clear disconnect between what is known and what is thought to be true among FCPS students illustrates a daunting reality for students in need of professional help. Eating disorders have been linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the futures of young people.

While FCPS students have high rates of eating disordered tendencies when compared to national averages, Oakton’s are particularly high among the county and country. “[My eating disorder] never started as something I thought of as a disorder. At first, it was just counting calories, and then it was cutting calories, and then it was cutting meals,” said one Oakton student. “I think it was an escape more than anything. I was super stressed out by school work, and it was easier to focus on being skinny than on my grades.”

While most teenagers will encounter some degree of academic stress while growing up, Oakton’s academic pressure cooker-like nature places students at heightened risks for eating disorders, and a number of other mental and physical health disorders. While this can manifest into disorders like bulimia and

anorexia, in which students will focus on starving themselves or forcefully-vomiting as a distraction from other stressors, it can also impact students by way of binge eating.

Another student explained, “I used to stress eat a lot. I think everyone does it sometimes, but I would eat like three or four extra meals a day. By the middle of Junior year, I had put on almost 2o pounds. Prom and summer were really close, and I hated the way that I looked. As much as I could have exercised and eaten healthy, nothing would have changed my body fast enough for Prom. So, I took diet pills, dropped the weight. It never really occurred to me that it was unhealthy until I realized that I was addicted to them.

Nobody ever commented on my weight, and I looked pretty average, so I just kept going so that maybe I could be as skinny as I wanted to be. Everyone else was doing it, so I didn’t really think of it as a bad thing until it got out of control. ” This type of story is probably one that most Oakton students are more familiar with: the struggle to rapidly lose weight to look perfect for Prom, summer, or events in which appearance is pressurized. While eating disorders don’t arise because of any monocausal explanation, disordered tendencies can, and can later manifest into full-blown disorders.

As important as it is to recognize disorders themselves, it’s also important to recognize warning signs for their development. For students, this may look like watching out for your friends and the way that they handle stress. It could also look like watching the way that you view your own body image and recognizing personal risk factors. There’s no easy solution to developing self-acceptance, much less self-confidence, but understanding the many faces of eating disorders can help combat the issue of ignorance and ultimately students’ ability to ask for help when it’s needed.

28 Daylight Saving... More like Daylight Ending All About DST and How It May Be Coming to an End

A

payton wozny editorial board

t 2:00 A.M. EST on March 10, we all time traveled. Not actually, but we set our clocks forward seemingly traveling through time. What I’m referring to is daylight saving time(DST), which is everyone’s favorite day of the year in which the entire country essentially gets one hour of jet lag without the fun of traveling. While it has been a national standard since the 60’s, every year it seems to become more and more controversial.

In addition to productivity, there are some minor concerns with safety. Practically losing an hour of sleep throws off everyone’s biological clocks, which makes everybody a little bit off for the first few days after the change. Studies from John Hopkins University and Stanford University have found that there is a minor, but noteworthy, increase in car accidents, heart attacks, and other injuries the Monday after the time change.

First, to truly understand where all the controversy is coming from, it’s important to have some background. It’s a common misconception that it affects the amount of sunlight in a day, but it’s rather when we experience the sunlight. DST’s main goal is to save the most productive hours of the day for time when the sun will be out. Not only is it nice to have more time in the sun, but it actually has economic benefits and decreases criminal activity. People are more inclined to run to the store or participate in activities after the work day, and if the sun is out later people are more likely to do so; theoretically gently boosting the economy. Also, people are less likely to commit crimes like robberies if the sun is out later into the evening. Another contributing factor to its rising of a national standard was because it was considered to be a energy saving trick, especially during World War I. It was thought that having the sun set earlier in the evening would save electricity by having less time with lights on, but it has been proven that there is no notable change in energy conservation from daylight saving.

Due to all of the above and just the inconvenience of losing an hour of sleep, some people have began begging lawmakers to change the DST policy. On March 11, the first Monday after the 2019 time change, President Trump tweeted,“Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!”It was overwhelmingly supported on Twitter(quite surprisingly as Trump’s tweets usually spark mass chaos on the internet). Recently several states have pushed for legislature to make DST year round.

All of this seems good in theory, right? Of course, but daylight saving time doesn’t really accomplish everything we would like it to. With the current observation of daylight saving, the sun rises at a reasonable hour a little less than a majority of the days on average in America, but it’s pretty effective at setting at a reasonable hour most days in most places in a year.

Some states have tried to change the policy of daylight saving time. Arizona, in attempt to combat incredibly high temperatures during the day, and Hawaii and Alaska, due to different sun positionings, already don’t participate in daylight saving, but other states like Florida and California have proposed legislature to change the policy to keep DST in effect all year long. If it were in effect all the time, the sun would rise after 7:00 A.M. for most of America for most of the year, but it would have the sun set after 5:00 P.M. pretty much everyday in participating regions in the country, ultimately accomplishing the goal of having more productive hours in the sun later in the day.

You may be wondering why they wouldn’t just stop daylight saving all together. Although, abolishing it would increase the amount of days the sun sets and rises at a reasonable hour across the country from the current policy, it wouldn’t fully maximize the productive hours as much as keeping it in effect all year long.

When asking Oakton students for their opinions, many were on the same page; it has a good concept, but could use some revisions.

Carlyn Switzer(9) thinks, “It’s kind of stupid but can be useful.”

While Kelsey Washlack(10) believes we should have “longer daylight all year.”

It’s not certain what the future of daylight saving will hold for America, but it is interesting to see how can hour of lost sleep can influence politics. And, fortunately, March 11 is National Napping Day to get caught up on your missed sleep.

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march issue

WHY DO WE TAKE TESTS?

An in-depth look discussing the pros and cons of standarized tests nikhil trivedi staff writer Every American will go to school for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, for at least 12 years of their life. We learn content, take a quiz or test, and repeat the process. But why do we take tests when we could use that time to extend our learning and use projects to express ourselves? The simple answer is that tests evaluate how well the students understood the content that was taught and to make sure students are paying attention. But test taking is a pretty controversial topic, and whether or not tests are beneficial is a much more difficult question to answer.

As with most things, there are positives and negatives to test taking. Taking tests makes it much easier to give out awards, college credit, and way to figure out who the smartest and most engaged students in the class are, but they don’t always judge the knowledge that a student has on a topic. Test-taking can make students very nervous.

In a perfect world, the teacher would be able to have a conversation about what has been learned with each student to best assess their knowledge on a topic, but in a classroom with more than 20 students and only 1 teacher, that just isn’t feasible. It seems like standardized tests are easily the way to go, but not all people agree.

Alternatives To Testing

Standardized Tests Aren’t Perfect

A popular alternative to tests is to assess students through projects, where they can express what they’ve learned in their own way and in the best way possible. Something that has been brought up repeatedly is that teachers end up teaching to the test and ignoring things that may be important but not on the test. If testing was removed, instead of memorizing information on a slideshow presentation, students could use critical and creative thinking to deepen their knowledge on what is being taught. With students being more active thinkers, it would be much easier to retain information, and class would likely be more interesting as well.

So is removing tests from the curriculum the way to go? Probably not, because even if we use projects to assess students learning, it’s more difficult for colleges to determine which students are the fittest for their school. Standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT may not be the best way to determine the knowledge of a student, but it allows colleges to get through the thousands of applications they get every year. Testing is just the most time efficient way to judge a student’s knowledge in our world. Maybe school systems will be able to figure out a way to incorporate project-based assessments into the curriculum over standardized tests in the future, but for now, the removal of tests from all school systems seems very unlikely.

30

A&E sarah jeffries staff writer

Oakton’s 2019 Playlist

OAKTON’S PLAYLIST

By Oakton Students, for Oakton Students 1,000,000 views A collection of Oakton student’s favorite songs.

Time Pink Floyd “The structure and message of the song deal with the theme of wasting your time in your youth and realizing it’s too late once you’ve grown. It’s especially cool because the structure of the song reflects it. It begins with a two minute meandering drum solo to represent childhood, then the first verse and chorus come in and they’re like ‘we run out of time’ and then, boom, guitar solo, because they don’t have time to save it for the end. And the the last lyric is the guy dying and receiving the ‘softly spoken magic spell.’” Roberts Jansons (11)

Under Pressure Logic “I like it because it’s rap that isn’t superficial. It combines the good sounds and melodies of modern rap but retains a strong message.” Nick Mahajan (12)

Behind These Hazel Eyes

Kelly Clarkson “This song has a very powerful message, and it is very catchy. And the singer has a very powerful voice, which makes the song 10 times better!”

Grace Barnhart (9)

Golden Days Panic! at the Disco “The thing with this song is it’s one that can really make me feel better.

It’s also a song that rallies me up before I swim; it really motivates me by

From Eden

Hozier “The song From Eden by Hozier is probably one of my favorite songs due to the meaning behind the lyrics and the feeling you get when you listen to it, especially the chorus. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to say the least, but I really do enjoy the blues/rock vibe Hozier brings with his music.” Monti Hushon (10)

Happy Together Turtles “Happy Together is a really great track that has a lot of memories associated with it, always bringing me back to the summer.” Sam Condro (12)

Better Khalid “I like this song because the beat is really nice, and the song itself is really catchy. And honestly, Khalid is one of my favorite artists, so when he dropped his album, Suncity, I kinda became obsessed with all the songs.” Vinee Verma (11)

I Promise Radiohead “A bonus off of my favorite Radiohead album, OK Computer, ‘I Promise’ just has an incredible vibe and builds in a special way.”

Matthew Sargent (12)

hyping me up and boosting my confidence.” Joe Wong (11)

I’ll Do David So “This song’s message, although basic, of wanting to be better is something I can easily and strongly relate to. Complimenting the lyrics are the beautiful vocals and the instrumentals. All and all, even though the song may seem generic, it hits a lot of personal queues that make it my favorite song.” Brandon Nguyen (11)

Supernatural Turnover “It’s super mellow and chill, but also upbeat and happy. It’s just fun to listen to and such a feel-good song.” Caroline Kearns (11)

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march issue

develop their own style. I definitely took this opportunity to express myself that way, so I’d say that’s how I got into it.

Are there any fashion matters or politics that matter to you?

MARCH FASHION EDITORIAL It is in the transitions of seasons where new styles emerge in the ever changing fashion culture of Oakton. To start off the spring, the Outlook extended the spotlight on underclassmen to share their own narratives in this so called change. Sophomores Julia Colet, Olivia Martinez, and Abby Chen share their own stories and advice represented through the craft of silver chains and borrowed layers.

Could you give a quick breakdown of your outfits?

J: So I’m wearing a cropped black turtleneck and over it, a silky lace cami top. I have a bunch of chains on, some black mom jeans, a belt with these like little holes in them, and then boots. The chains either bought online or made on my own and since I usually thrift, I do a lot of my own alterations to change the clothing to how I want them to look like.

O: I’m kinda wearing a casual outfit but I’m wearing Air Force Ones the I through 1. And some mom jeans that were accidentally ripped. So I have a black Miami tee, and I have this flannel on which belongs to my dad.

A: I’m wearing platform Doc Martens, American Eagle black ripped jeans, a Pacsun top, a thrifted mens yellow dress shirt, and necklaces from Forever 21 and Missguided.

What’s one thing you like about your style?

J: I’ve gotten a lot better at not caring about what other people think. I remember last year I was less confident with my style whereas this year, it changed.

O: I like how my style is comfortable. Like I don’t put into too much effort in, but at the same time, I try to look good.

A: I like that my style is also comfortable in a sense that it isn’t too out there but also isn’t boring so a lot of different people can enjoy it.

J: I’m doing my sophomore capstone on environmental degradation on the fashion industry. Because I know that there’s a lot of waste that goes into it and a lot of harsh chemical dye and i think it’s important that we should pay attention to how it’s affecting our environment because not a lot of people do A: One big fashion related issue that matters to me is the body image issue. Even though most fashion houses are evolving and including different body types, many still use abnormally thin models. I think this broadcasts an unrealistic body image and I think it turns many people away from fashion because they don’t think they have the body for it. Everyone’s style is unique, it doesn’t matter the body shape, but what type of clothing they like.

When and why did you get into fashion?

J: So I grew up in New York, and I go back there frequently. That and a lot of media and music that I listen to influences me and the way I dress.

O: I’m not exactly sure when it was, but I feel like I started getting into fashion with the same time Julia did. My cousin also designs clothes clothing for celebrities and I’ve found that talking to her got me into it too.

A: Ever since I was young I’ve loved shopping and buying clothes and I’ve always had a sense for what looks good. In middle school, people mostly wore the same thing, but in high school everyone starts to

ashleigh tain editor-in-chief

sally park staff writer

32 UPCOMING SPRING CONCERTS

alexandra martschenko staff writer audrey harrell staff writer

ASAP Rocky - April 27 Virginia Beach, VA This April, famed grammy nominated rapper ASAP Rocky will be coming to Virginia for his “Injured Generation” tour. This is his first tour since his “Too Cozy” tour that took place fall of last year. Some confirmed artists opening include Playboi Carti, Ski Mask the Slump God, and Comethazine. He will be performing at the Something in the Water Festival in Virginia Beach, along with other famed artists such as Migos, Travis Scott, Sza, Kaws and Janelle Monáe. The festival is instate, as compared to many other concerts and events, which will be convenient to those unwilling to pay much for travel expenses.

The 1975 - May 21 Washington DC The Anthem - Richmond VA MAY 22 International Raceway

Popular indie band, The 1975, have been on a North American tour to promote their recent album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, since November. They will be performing two dates, one in Washington DC at The Anthem and another in Richmond International Raceway, so if you are unable to get tickets for one event, then luckily you have another opportunity. Ticket prices are very reasonable, ranging from $40 to $180. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, the band’s third album, has been acclaimed for its unique style and composition, as well as the political commentary it provides.

Topics discussed in the album include systematic racism, how refugees are treated, and depression, all heavy topics that The 1975 manage to spin seamlessly into 80’s esque pop melodies.

Ben Platt - May 11 Washington DC The Anthem Ben Platt, most widely recognized for his main role as Evan Hansen in the Grammy award winning broadway show Dear Evan Hansen, is currently in the midst of his 2019 Sing to Me Instead tour. In total, Platt has been awarded a Tony, a Grammy, and an Emmy award, an incredibly impressive feat considering his young age of 25. Notable artists joining him on tour include Ben Abraham and Wrabel.

This tour is following the release of his long awaited debut studio album, Sing to Me Instead, released March 29.

BTS - May 18 MetLife Stadium, NJ This May, Korean pop sensations BTS will be coming to New Jersey as a part of their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself stadium tour. Metlife stadium will be one of eight stadiums on the tour, the other events spread around the world across North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The tour follows their previously released Love Yourself album series, popularized in the beginning of the 2019. BTS has gained a rapid amount of recognition and success worldwide throughout 2018, scoring two #1 albums on the Billboard 200, landing on the cover of Time magazine, and winning top social artist at the 2018 Billboard Music awards. Despite the many seats the stadium has to offer, the venue has sold out, so if you’re interested in seeing the group in concert be prepared to deal with ticket scalpers.

Billy Idol + Steve Stevens - April 1 Washington DC Lincoln Theatre Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, famed punk rock duo, will be coming to Washington Early April for their “Turned On, Tuned in and Unplugged” tour. The duo will be touring through the United States and Canada for the tour, performing their greatest hits. Ticket prices for the event in Washington DC range from around $40 to $130, which is pretty reasonable considering the fame of the duo performing. If attending, you can expect to see an exciting and captivating show;their never-ending energy and passion for their music is sure to entertain.

33

september issue

PROM ON A BUDGET

Student opinions on saving and spending for the dance

pari abdollahi staff writer

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he most exciting time for Juniors and Seniors in high school is prom. Prom is a formal dance held at the end of every academic year for Juniors and Seniors to get together and celebrate. Students tend to spend a lot of money on their appearance because they have to look stunning for their end of the year dance.

Some students, however, don’t want to spend as much money but they still want to look good, so they try to limit the amount of money they spend.

One of the Seniors at Oakton talked about how much she plans on spending for prom. She explained “The tickets will cost me 65 dollars and I spent around 195 dollars on a dress. I do have a budget but I might go over it because I still have to buy shoes on the day of prom, and I will be spending some money on hair and makeup”. She goes on to talk about how much she spent on prom her Junior year “Junior year I spent a lot on prom. I don’t remember the exact amount but it was somewhere around 450 dollars. Last year I did not have a budget”. To her it’s worth the money because the students get to spend their time with their friends and have fun for their last two years of high school.

Another one of the students gave some advice on how she kept track of her own prom budget. She said “The first step to keeping a budget is knowing how much the person wants to spend on prom. After that, I made a list of the things that I need for prom and at the end of the list, I added a few things that I wanted to the list. The next step was finding out the prices. I did some of my shopping online and for the rest I went out.There are so many stores that offer beautiful dresses at a lower price.

I just tried my best to not overspend because people can still look beautiful and have fun at prom even if they spend less money”. This student used a few basic steps to keep track of her spendings. She said that I still had fun and looked good even though I spent as less as I possibly could.

Even though students are paying a lot of money for prom, hopefully, they’ll enjoy themselves and have as much fun as they can while they’re there. Prom doesn’t have to cost a lot with these tips and it can still be so much fun.

34

A&E

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his spring, the Oakton Theatre Department is set to perform an upbeat, funny musical entitled “Catch Me if you Can.” You may recognize the title from the book, which was later turned into the 2002 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. All three forms of this story follow Frank Abagnale Jr( in our version played by Jonny Geerdes and Max Branciforte) after he runs away from home. After posing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, and forging checks to do so, he is eventually discovered by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Joe Malone) who pursues him across the country. This show is extremely dance heavy, and so a professional choreographer was brought in to add an extra flair.

Ahmad Matty has choreographed a number of impressive shows besides our wonderful Catch Me if You Can. “I have choreographed so many projects, especially this season, it’s hard to just name a few,” He has worked with a youth theatre company called “Acting for Young People,” for many years, as well as assisting with a number of other high school shows. There are roughly 70 people in this dance heavy show, and with no breaks during rehearsal, everyone is putting their all into

making this performance amazing.

Matty explains that in terms of actually learning the choreography, they are very close to done. However “that’s just the first phase of things.

Usually, once everything is complete, there is a whole lot of cleaning that needs to happen.

It’s my favorite part, in a way, because it’s down to details.”

The rehearsal week typically begins with a dance rehearsal or review on Monday, and then smaller rehearsals for the rest of the week, typically vocal or working on staging, explained Head of marketing and publicity, Samba Pathak. He is in charge of many things, including but not limited to: designing the playbills, contacting reporters for articles, writing/publishing press releases, managing social media posts, and more. In short, he is in charge of many of the efforts that no one ever thinks about, but are completely necessary for a production’s success.

The performance date is approaching quickly, and with so much still to do, it is, of course, not the most relaxed environment. It does help, however, that this musical is so lighthearted and fun. “I would love for everyone to leave the show feeling lighter. This is broadway at its best...I hope everyone leaves the show feeling like they want to get up and dance!”

So, mark your calendars! On May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 10 at 7 p.m. in the Oakton Auditorium, with tickets going on sale on April 12th. So many people have worked so hard to make this show one to remember, so get ready for a fun show full of energy!

zoe siamon staff writer

CATCH THIS SHOW WHILE YOU CAN Behind the scenes of the upcoming spring musical, Catch Me if You Can.

35

march issue

THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD Music assessments and Disney trip

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he orchestra and band assessments were the weekend of March 16th and the Oakton High School orchestra played at Washington Liberty High School while the Oakton band played at Centreville High School. On March 20th, after assessments, they headed off to Orlando to have a fun weekend at Disney.

This is an overview of how assessments works and how the students prepared.

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This is a picutre of the Cinderella Castle at Disney Credit to Sarah C.

ll students went to assessments where they played three pieces in front of three judges; one warm- up and two graded selections. These pieces were graded based on difficulty and the judges provided recorded and written feedback for both the students’ and director’s performance. Each piece received a rating based on a scale of one to five, with one being superior and five being poor. This year, all orchestra ensembles and bands received superior ratings. Students also participated in sight reading where students had seven minutes to prepare a piece that they and their director had never seen before and after the time was up, performed it in front of the judges for a rating.

Orchestra students started preparing their music in January by rehearsing the music together in class. They also had a playing test based on the music that they played for assessment. While learning the music, they focused on musical concepts such as the key and time signature, rhythm, intonation, and aspects of the bow that bring out emotion in the piece. Orchestra director Mr. Oppenheimer said about bow usage, “All the different tools that

BAND RESULTS

ORCHESTRA RESULTS

Assessment: All superior ratings

Assessment: All superior ratings Disney String Ensemble- 3rd place overall Chamber- 1st place overall

This is a picture of Mikayla F., a freshman in concert 1 band, at Disney Credit to Aravind K. we have to really bring out the meaning of the music and not just the notes or rhythms. That expressive, musical side of the whole process, and that’s ultimately what I think is the most important part.”

Band students prepared by participating in a program ran by their director Mr. V called smart music where students work on rhythms and notes in the music, but not dynamics or playing ability, which they rehearse in class.

Similarly, during the Disney trip, orchestra students competed and were judged. The competition at Disney is called Festival Disney and students were rated similar in fashion to the format at assessments. Additionally, students were ranked, and based on these rankings, awards were given. While during assessment all students played, not everyone attended the Disney trip. Youna Wang, a freshman in the philharmonic orchestra said, “Not everyone goes to Disney, so there’s less people, so it might affect the outcome.” Regardless, both Oakton orchestras that participated did well, with string ensemble receiving the award for 3rd place orchestra overall and chamber orchestra earning the award for 1st place

This is a picture of Mickey Mouse Credit to Mickayla F. orchestra overall.

Contrary to orchestra students, band students did not compete at Disney, but instead participated in a sight reading workshop with a professional trumpet player. Mikayla Feldman, a freshman in concert one band said about the trumpet player, “Of course, I knew he was a trumpet player because he had the personality from the moment he stepped in to the moment he stepped out.” This experience stuck with her because she learned valuable skills about sight reading saying, “If you’re sight reading, give it your all the first time and don’t be lazy about it.”

All music students did phenomenally at assessment as well as Disney this year and Oakton High School is proud of all their accomplishments.

portia dai staff writer

36

FEATURE

G N I R P S S I H T D A E R WHAT TO abudukadier zainaipuguli staff writer katherine zevallos staff writer

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alking into a library is a exciting thing for book lovers. But what gives you the exciting thrill in reading a book?

There has always been a special reason for why we usually get drawn into a story and are pulled away from reality. We don’t just read them, but we also talk about them to our friends and families and tell them how incredible they are to read.

Book lovers have many books that are their favorites. Some have always been a fan of reading since they were little, and others became interested later in life and learned to enjoy the experience, which can be addicting.

There are many reasons why people love to read. It helps you grow to be more successful in life, boosts your creativity, takes you in multiple realities, challenges your perspective, helps with your memory, heals your depression and other bad moods, gives you the feeling of never being alone with your problems, makes you feel more alive, and more.

Suggestions

Spring break is coming up soon and there are many ways to enjoy it. What books are available for this spring break? At the Oakton library the school has brought brand new books that would be perfect to read and make your spring break ten times better. Books like “What If It’s Us” by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera, “The Map of Alt and Stars” by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar, “When Light Left Us” by Leah Thomas, “Ash Princess” by Laura Sebastian, “Hey Kiddo” by Jarrett J. Krosoczka,

“Bored and Brilliant” by Manoush Zomorodi, “Sometime After Midnight a cinderFELLA story” by L. Philirs, “I Am Still Alive” by Katie Alice Marshall, “The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein” by Kiersten White, and much more to read for spring break.

OHS Librarians Say:

Mrs. Rowley, an Oakton Librarian has shared her thoughts about books: “Everything you do in life whether you

into another world. My favorite book series that i suggest for spring break is Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.”

Your Favorite Books

Mrs. Newland, one of the Oakton Librarians have shared her thoughts as well, explaining concepts of books as windows and mirrors. The difference being reflecting someones own life and being able to see their own life. “In my own opinion, having a favorite book depends on the seasons of life and in my own experience, I had many different favorite ones in my phases of life. I have many different favorites for different purposes. But the books i would suggest are Pride and Prejudice and The Glass Castle, Those two books are not something I can relate to but they’re very powerful books and definitely worth reading. We all have books that we feel really connected to in many reasons.”

What’s the type of success of reading in Spring break? It’s a great time to practice using those reading skills.

Not everyone has to do activities like camping, swimming, painting, catching fireflies, flower picking, biking, or sleepovers. Reading can be just as fun.

So take advantage of Spring break!

Reading outside to enjoy the spring air is a great way to connect with the world. You can take your reading habits outside and enjoy it even more.

“I love books. I love that moment when you open one and sink into it. You can escape from the world, into a story that’s way more interesting than your will ever be.”

-Elizabet Scott become a lawyer or a doctor or a good mechanic that requires you to have good reading skills and more that you read independently, the better success you will have in life. There are all kinds of reasons why people love to read, they read for pure entertainment or to have sort of escape or some sort of story that they somehow want to reach in reality, the experience of another human that they will never get to have for themselves or another cultural that they want to experience that they will never have in their life, like walking

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march issue

THE SAINT PATRICK’S DAY DANCE Best Buddies at Oakton

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s a high school student, there is a lot of stress put on doing well in school, participating in several extracurriculars, and doing good by the community. For most, it is easier to focus on all three activities but for others, it may be more difficult. Whether it be the lack of time or inability to find charities to volunteer at, many students barely volunteer or participate in community service. Luckily, at Oakton, there are many charity opportunities that give back to the community and fun to be part of. One of those charities being best buddies. Best Buddies is a national nonprofit organization provides opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The best buddies organization hosts many fun events for the buddies to attend including Special Olympics and numerous holiday-themed dances. Oakton High School has been a proud sponsor of best buddies for several years and is reported to be one of the most fun clubs to join.

volunteers had several things for them to do.

First, when they walked in, there was a desk that asked the buddies to guess how many pieces of candy were in the jar. Then, there was a photo booth where the buddies would take pictures with various props. There was plenty of food offered and there was even a cotton candy machine. After the buddies ate their food, there was cornhole, temporary tattoos, and karaoke. There was also a special performance from one of the guests named Justin. He played an amazing drum solo to the music of his choice and got an extremely enthusiastic round of applause afterward. At the dance, there were buddies from Oakton, Chantilly, and Madison, each accompanied by a member of the club at each school. It was a great event for the buddies to socialize.

The Dance Recently, there was a best buddies dance sponsored by the National Charity League (NCL) for buddies in the area. This dance was originally supposed to take place at Oakton but due to reconstruction, it was moved to a local church. The volunteers put lots of time and effort into the decorations, food assortments, and activities that would be held at this dance. There was a lot of green and several four-leaved clovers taped to the walls to symbolize Saint Patrick’s day. From the moment the buddies entered the building to the second their feet left the doors the

Group picture of all the volunteers featuring Justin.

The Best Buddies Impact “I feel like best buddies just makes me more aware of myself as a person. It’s also really fun when the buddies come up to you and ask you for a hug,” says Christine Chiapponi, one of the volunteers. By being part of best buddies, the members get to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They become more aware of the world around them and make amazing new friends along the way. The positive impact that best buddies has on an individual with disabilities is something that everyone should want to be a part of. “Knowing that I can make someone who might not usually be included in things feel included is honestly the best feeling in the world,” says Gabriella Hubchen, another volunteer.

Overall, best buddies is a beneficial organization with tons of fun activities and various ways to make new friends.

claudia messina staff writer

38 sebastian osea staff writer

GAITHERSBURG BOOK FESTIVAL

Six Haikus To Summarize Earth

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igh school students all across Maryland, Virginia, and D.C submitted poems no longer than a page to the Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest.

The deadline was February 21, 2019 by midnight. Poems were submitted electronically and the number of submissions were one per author. Twelve poems are going to be selected as finalists and they will be posted on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website prior to the book festival. The top three poems and a fan favourite will also be announced at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

Furthermore, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners and the fan favourite will receive $250, $100, $50 and $25 gift cards respectively. I managed to get an interview from one of the poets from my English 12 Honors class, Carolyn Brown.

The poem was about global warming and its effects on future generations.

Poem originality Carolyn doesn’t try to copy other author’s styles but instead speaks her mind and doesn’t just deliver to the reader what they want to read. Her poems are an extension of herself and each poem she writes has a little piece of her embedded in it.

Editing Most authors try to censor themselves and thus taking out some parts of their pieces in order to not ruffle any feathers. Carolyn, however, did the opposite of that and actually added four stanzas to her poem in order to deliver a more clear message. She taps undisturbed waters and travels on untraveled ground, a mark of a true poet."I did not edit anything out , but I did add four stanzas for a more clear message."

Hidden messages A lot of writers and poets and even musicians have a double meaning in their respective masterpieces. They often use words that can be interpreted differently and could mean multiple things but still deliver the same message without diverting from the main topic of discussion.

Carolyn, however, is concise in her writing and means exactly what she says and in this case, writes. A principle that not so many writers abide by.

The price Every artist has a price that they are willing to pay to improve their fields.Cara is no exception. She described writing as a hobby that she happens to enjoy and didn’t really care what anyone thought about her work whether it was good or bad. This is a path of internal validation which puts one on a different playing field not just as a writer but as a human being in general. Indeed there is something to be said about individuals who are content with what they have.

The Process What went on behind the curtains in the making of the poem? Carolyn is a free writer and the most difficult stage in her writing process is the initial brainstorming of deciding a topic.

What makes this stage even more challenging is when she, the writer has to conform to a certain theme or style. She prefers the freedom

of expressing oneself as an artist and letting ones work speak for itself. The process that a writer goes through where they write multiple drafts which they sometimes throw away or may keep, depending on the writer, is the most important stage as the writer goes through hardship to acquire the desired result.

Writer’s Block There it is, the dreaded writer’s block where the writer’s stream of ideas suddenly dry up leading them to get frustrated. It happens to all creative people, photographers, artists, poets and writers. In the past, there have been various ways of combating this stage of the project.

Famous painters had muses who would spark creativity in their minds when things would run dry and this lead to most of their artistic work to be inspired by the same person. In Carolyn’s case if and when she experiences writer’s block she stops trying to write and focuses on something else. "If I have writer’s block I usually leave it alone and come back to what I’m writing later, sometimes leaving it alone will give me time to forget about it and let the creativity flow on its own."

Poetry as an art in itself There has been a debate on whether poetry is an art in itself. It enables one to think before speaking and the quality depends on the weight of the words upon the reader. Carolyn does believe poetry as an art in itself but surprisingly isn’t her favourite type of art. She claims she is best at drawing and painting. Another surprising thing is that on the particular piece she wrote she didn’t conduct a lot of research and basically went off prior knowledge.

Carolyn is a sincere and honest writer. Her words are powerful and engaging and her language is natural and effective. She is a unique writer who speaks her mind but in a relevant and effective way. She is a good example of an artist in not just poetry but in art in general.

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march issue

ADVOCATING FOR A GREATER CAUSE Students Demand Action and Their Upcoming Event

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his year, Oakton’s diverse scene of clubs has been graced by yet another powerful force. After the Parkland shooting devastated the country and fed the movement against gun violence about a year ago, sophomore Sydney Chen felt compelled to do something. Chen decided to start a chapter of an organization called Students Demand Action, or SDA, at Oakton. The mission of this organization is to bring students together to help prevent gun violence and advocate for a safer world.

The SDA club at Oakton holds biweekly meetings that focus on implementing changes at Oakton as well as in Virginia. One might question how successfully a group of high schoolers with cookies at their meetings could fare at making the community safer, especially since their ambitions relate to gun control, a heavily-debated subject. However, the members of SDA have accomplished a lot for their first year at work.

Club activities have included writing letters to local legislators, conversing with a Moms Demand Action representative, spreading awareness with orange ribbons to commemorate shooting victims, and speaking with Principal Lane about the effectiveness of lockdown drills. Members also attended Advocacy Day in February.

“Advocacy Day was a big event for us. We went down to Richmond on a bus and spoke to our representatives and legislators. We also handed them letters that we wrote as constituents. Later, we actually saw them in session and were able to view the legislative process as they voted on bills,” says Chen.

Oakton SDA wants to make it clear that they are not trying to ban guns; they are actually supportive of responsible gun owners. The club does, however, want to see more common sense gun laws implemented.

Although the things that Oakton SDA has done may seem small when compared with the greater movement against gun violence, one could definitely argue that change begins with grassroots activities. Widespread participation by kids and teenagers is a crucial component to this movement in particular. Plus, if nothing else, Oakton SDA has helped students become more educated, capable citizens of the country. Club members have gained a better understanding of legislation as well as perspectives that divide society. Of course, the club is nowhere near finished making its impact.

A party and gun violence might seem incongruous, but these are two of the topics that Oakton SDA has been focusing on lately. The club will be hosting a Student-Teacher Party in the near future to not only spark some fun energy within the Oakton community through trivia and exciting prizes, but also to promote positive relationships.

Club Members Participate in Advocacy Day “The goal of the event is to foster student-teacher bonds.

Photo Courtesy of Sydney Chen Even though that may seem contradictory to the nature of the trivia game, I think that the competitive spirit will help build memories. We want students to have a better connection to the school because of the past when shootings have happened because of disgruntled students. Lacking connection to their school, there was no barrier stopping them from opening fire on school grounds. This event and other events we hope to host aim to build connections between the students and staff,” explains Chen.

There is always a greater, more significant mission in mind when Students Demand Action strives to implement change or plan an event, and their upcoming Student-Teacher Party is no exception.

haley longfellow staff writer

EDITORIAL BOARD: A series of fresh monthly picks from the editorial board to our readers

SONG: DONT CALL ME UP BY MABEL

“Lately, the effect of the fatigue on my motivation has been heavy. With the imposing end of the third quarter, I’ve been in need of a new hype song to keep me going for these last few days; “Don’t Call Me Up” has been just that. I’m not usually one for such upbeat club songs, but this breakup anthem has yet to get old to me with its catchy beat and irresistible lyrics.”

- Emily Richardson

BAND: LITTLE BIG LEAGUE PLACE: FAIRFAX CORNER “My favorite local spot is Fairfax Corner because of the ample amount of things to do there. You can practically spend the whole day there, shopping and walking around. Not only is it close by, but one of my favorite places to stop by on the weekends.”

- Katarina Faben

BOOK: CHILDREN OF BLOOD “This book uses African Mythology with beautiful prose to paint a vibrant world with a mystic magical system. The world building was amazing with a flawlessly executed history and story. This book is sure to satisfy and fantasy lovers needs.”

- Sahithi Jammulamadaka

“Little Big League is a punk rock band which emerged from the emo and garage rock movements of the early 2000s. Songs can be incredibly hit or miss (probably because each member wrote their own part independently), but they all have a home-brewed quality that gives them a charm which makes up Little Big Leagues “sound.”

They’re honest, unafraid to tackle taboo topics like abuse and sex. Their music is out on most music platforms.”

- Jake Neuffer

MEMORY: MICHIGAN ROADTRIP “Many hours were consumed by the movie of unforsaken foreignity in the wheat fields. Of the sixteen hours we spent in our beaten-up red minivan, around four were drawn in greys, six in golden hues, and the remainder in an unintentional mismatch of colors. We drove from forests to highways to riverbanks in minutes, birthing quilt-like collisions of color that didn’t have any concrete purpose.

The silky voice of our GPS guided us between mountain tops and dried fields, as if intentionally creating images of artful discordance.” - Emily Bach