Oakton Outlook May 2019 by Elizabeth Snyder

VOL. 13 | ISSUE 7

Official Newspaper of Oakton High School

OUTLOOK

7. COLLEGE BOARD ADVERSITY SCORE what does this mean for oakton students?

16-17. DIVERSITY AT OAKTON the experience of minority students

MAY 2019

20-22. US/VA COLLEGE MAP the destinations of graduating seniors next year

editor

snailmail

editorial board

Dear Oakton, Welcome to our third and final print issue of the 2018-2019 school year. Although a year of new construction and turbulent change, this year has marked new beginnings and unique narratives that the Outlook has integrally followed up with, maintaining a journalistic lens of deliberation and devotion. To continue our departing tradition, this issue highlights the narratives of our senior class with a whole section for our graduating seniors, filled with a variety of stories to recognize our beloved students who have made it across the black and white (—or burgundy and gold) checkered line; marking the tragic end of the high school chapter, but a fresh and hopeful future. An infographic that has long been a part of the tradition of our graduation issue is the US and Virginia College Map, laid conveniently in the center of our issue. If you haven’t already, visit our college maps (pages 20-22) featuring the destinations of our graduating seniors next year. To represent other trailblazing seniors, we’ve identified unconventional post graduation paths (page 26) and the alternative of gap years (page 15) as equally eloquent experiences. Further, we have a feature gallery (page 12-13) to highlight the accomplishments and destinations of student athletes. To seniors, we have relayed teacher’s parting advice (page 18) and to underclassmen, seniors with their own parting advice of enduring through high school (page 19). To recognize the hard work and success of Catch Me If You Can, we have behind the scenes features and interviews (page 4). Congratulations to the crew and cast on another successful production this year! Additionally, pages 16-17 showcase Oakton’s diversity by giving a voice to the minorities that exist in the margins of the student body. From the perspectives of LGBTQ members to voices of immigrants to various ethnic demographics, be sure to read their narratives and struggles that have gone unseen by pressures of mainstream culture. Following the theme of oppression, hear our opinion on the existence of toxic masculinity at Oakton (page 29) and a dialogue of model minorities (page 37). Before we depart, we have several thanks to issue. Thank you to our audience and readers for following up with our issues and giving us a reason to publish and share our stories. Thank you to our amazingly diligent team for creating content and meeting deadlines. Finally, thank you to Mrs. Snyder for another successful year and volume. We couldn’t have done it without you all. That being said, congratulations to all classes for another year of high school and a final congratulations for the seniors for making it to the end. To everyone else, stay tuned for our next print issue.

editors in chief

jake neuffer ashleigh tain

editorial board

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

adviser acting advisor

elizabeth snyder joanna esty

staff writers genevieve bavisotto sara boddie portia dai madelyn flickinger andres gonzalez katie le connor maloney alexandra martschenko claudia messina sebastian osea veronica preaskorn annabelle 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 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.

Thank you and we will see you next year. connect with us

Ashleigh Tain & Jake Neuffer

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table of

contents

OAKTON OUTLOOK oakton news catch me if you can giving back to your community the truth about nova’s guaranteed admissions adversity controversy

4 5 6 7

politics death row the road to a green new deal the democrat’s election problem alabama’s abortion ban

8 9 10 11

seniors the next step for oakton athletes scholarship oppertunities what is a gap year? diversity at oakton before you go... dear underclassmen national college map virginia college map clarium

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27

myth or fact: senior stereotypes seniors: regrets and achievments the unconventional choice graduating? heres a playlist!

opinion 28 29 30 31

improving sex education boys can be boys are language classes important for your future ramadhan during soccer

indepth 32 33 34 35 36 37

majors and jobs the senioritis epidemic oakton’s college culture: why everyone goes to college college through the years why still? the model minority

a&e 38 39

home automation in the college dorm the game of thrones finale aired

OAKTON NEWS portia dai staff writer

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Production and cast experiences

claudia messina staff writer

t the low price of a fifteen dollar pre-sale, students and families at Oakton High School were able to watch this year’s spring production, “Catch Me If You Can”. Based on the true story about Frank Abagnale’s - who was portrayed by Max Branciforte and Jonny Geerdes - life as a con artist, the musical opens with Agent Carl Hanratty finally capturing Frank after years of pursuit. From there, however, Frank turns to the audience and gives them his version of the truth in the form of a television show. The musical follows the journey of fifteen-year-old Frank running away from home to being captured at the airport six years later and displays his ventures during his time as a con artist in sixteen high energy numbers. This play has received high praise from many who have seen it. At Oakton, this became very evident when the musical won nine Cappies and upon the second weekend of shows, it became known that the man whose story this musical tells paid the cast and crew a visit. For the audience, the production was full of singing, dancing, and lots of humor, but for the actors, it was very gratifying to see their hard work pay off. From lighting cues, sound checks, and vocal cues, every aspect had to be perfected. The theater department started early, having auditions in December and callbacks after winter break. The Cappie Awards came out mid-January, and from there until opening night, there were rehearsals three to four times a week for around three hours. Two weeks before the show, the pit was incorporated in rehearsals and after that, the department began rehearsing with full costume, makeup, and set.

ana Friedman, a member of the ensemble, has spent a good amount of time in theatre. Having started theatre in elementary school with the drama club, it’s no surprise that she was one of the leading roles in her middle school’s musical, High School Musical, but Sana explains, “In freshman year it was nice to transition back to the ensemble because you get to be more of a part of the community.” Although it may seem fun to be the main focus of the play, theatre is a widely diverse community as much as it is a hobby to most people, and what stands out to most members of productions is the community that theater creates. “Even though I had a small role and wasn’t part of a lot of scenes, the scenes I was in were so much fun to work on. I really had to apply myself in rehearsal and focus on what was happening, but overall it was such a fun experience,” Sana adds. Although she’s only a freshman, because of the community that the production experience creates, Sana described how her relationships with upperclassmen strengthened because within the theater community it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, it’s all about being a part of something bigger than yourself and working with other people to create it. Sana plans to stay involved with theater by continuing to take the class at Oakton and auditioning for all of the future productions. “I really think it’s worth giving a shot if you’re even slightly considering it,” she advised. High school as a whole creates a unique community between people, given that it specifically applies to the people who come with the most difficulty, teenagers. Navigating one’s way through life is never easy, but doing it alone is nearly impossible, so when groups of people who share an interest, such as theater, come together, it can greatly benefit everyone involved. Overall, “Catch Me If You Can” was an amazingly put together production, great job Cougars!

Picture credits to Carson Cullen

arah Janson, who is a freshman at Oakton, had her start in theatre at after school clubs at elementary school. However, she was not extremely invested in theatre until later, saying, “The moment I realized that theatre was something I wanted to do was seeing my first Broadway show, “Annie.” From there, her passion in theatre grew and led her to be in “Fiddler on The Roof Jr.”, “Once on This Island Jr.”, and “James and the Giant Peach.” In this year’s production, “Catch Me If You Can,” Sarah was in the ensemble. She is very grateful for the role that she got because she says that, “it is very hard to get in as a freshman.” Similar to other members of the cast, she loved getting to know the upperclassmen as well see the show come together. The community of theatre is really what shapes the experience, and as a member of the ensemble, Sarah got to experience it. Sarah plans to participate in theatre for the next three years at Oakton in productions and the improv team as well as participate in other shows outside of school. We wish her the best of luck!

may issue

GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY Fun ways to give back over the summer

self, so going with an older sibling or a parent can be a great way to gain experience. One Giving animal shelter allows volunteers back to your 16 and above to come volunteer by community is themselves, and that is the Loudoun one of the most County Animal Shelter. To volunrewarding things you teer, you need to be at least 16 years can do. Whether it be big old and be able to complete at least or small, knowing that you 8 volunteer hours a month for 6 changed someone’s life for months. Volunteer interest sessions the better is one of the best are held once a month at local feelings. Volunteering can be libraries; you can find specific dates a great learning experience for on their website. There are many teenagers, but also for people of different volunteer positions, and any age. More than half of teenyou can cycle through them as you agers are said to have volunteered continue volunteering there. before, but it can be somewhat hard Babysitting can also be a simple to find somewhere to volunteer. way to help out the people in your Luckily, there are many places neighborhood. If there are young around Northern Virginia that kids that live near you, babysitting people can volunteer at. can be a great way to help out some For the animal lovers out there, parents in your neighborhood. To volunteering at an animal shelter advertise, you can put up flyers can be a great place to get volaround your neighborhood and unteer hours and hang out with at local stores. Babysitting may animals to help them find seem somewhat easy, but it is a big homes. Many animal shelresponsibility, and before you start ters allow many different babysitting, you should be sure that ages to volunteer, but you get CPR certified and are able most of the time you to handle an emergency situation have to be 18 and should the need arise. over to volMeal packaging events take many unteer by volunteers and signing up for one yourcan be very rewarding. A popular meal packaging organization

is Rise Against Hunger, formerly Stop Hunger Now. They host many different events at different locations, mostly churches. You can sign up to host an event, just volunteer to package food, or you can even donate to the cause. They strive to end hunger by the year 2030, and you can help them with that by volunteering at all of their local events over the summer. You don’t have to volunteer to give back to your community. You can very easily donate money to a charity of your choice, and much more. You can advertise for different charities as well, or raise money for a cause that you support. Actively trying to make your community and neighborhood a better place is one of the best feelings, and a great way to spend your summer. Happy volunteering!

sarah jeffries staff editor

6 THE TRUTH ABOUT NOVA’S GUARANTEED ADMISSIONS PROGRAM Prejudice clouds our perceptions of Northern Virginia Community College; but here’s the reality. emily richardson editorial board

here is an extremely charged prejudice in our community regarding Northern Virginia Community College. It’s common to joke about students who opt for NOVA, or look down upon them; I’d like to set the record straight in saying that this attitude is, plainly, wrong. Not only is it an extremely classist state of mind, but for some, NOVA is the most financially intelligent option. You may be familiar with the Guaranteed Admissions program at NOVA. It appears ideal; staying at home for two years, studying at the local college and then transferring, seemingly miraculously, to a traditional four-year university at half price. Honestly, all of this is true; save for a few other academic requirements, should you earn an A.A. or A.S. at any of the NOVA campus-

FAST FACTS requirements • Complete an Associates of Arts OR Sciences • Maintain the minimum GPA specified by the college where you would like to transfer (most sit at a 3.0) • Receive a C or better in degree plan courses from NOVA • Complete a minimum number of credits from NOVA • Submit a letter of intent • Others specified by colleges

es, you are guaranteed admittance to a long list of nearby (and a select number of far) colleges. Some facets of this program that may turn prospective students away, besides from a perceived lack of presitge, include living at home for a longer time than necessary and potential overpreparedness for classes. While all of these things might weigh heavy in the minds of some more than others, they could also be seen as pros; something that might have to be done based on the obvious important pro, which is the extremely low cost as compared to four years at a regular university. In any case, the decision to or to not attend NOVA is a very personal one; it cannot, and should not, be swayed by the opinions of others.

transfer schools • Christopher Newport University* • College of William and Mary • George Mason University* • George Washington University • James Madison University* • Liberty University • Longwood University • University of Mary Washington* • University of Virginia • Virginia Commonwealth University* • Virginia Tech** • West Virginia University + more *require a letter of intent **certain colleges require a letter of intent

may issue

ADVERSITY CONTROVERSY

alexandra martschenko staff writer

How SAT adversity scoring can affect your chances of getting into college

he SAT has faced years of questioning about whether the score a student acquires is a true measure of their academic ability. It had been found in many studies that students that come from wealthier families that could afford expensive SAT prep classes and books did better than the majority of lower income test takers. As colleges quickly drop SAT requirements from the admission process and look more into high school GPA and other measures of academia, College Board, the founder of the SAT has been looking for new ways to make the SAT fairer to those of lower social and economic status. The College Boards adversity scoring has already been made available to fifty colleges and universities but they plan to continue their rollout to 150 more and make it available to all colleges by 2020. The adversity score takes into account thirty-one factors under three main categories of information on the high school, assessment of the neighborhood, and SAT score in context of percentile in order to award a 0-100 score to each student. A score of fifty indicates and average level of adversity; the higher the score the higher the level of

adversity and vise versa. The issue with the suggested adversity scoring is that it doesn’t take into account individuals in the community. A higher income student living in a poorer community will have their adversity overestimated and a lower income student could have their adversity underestimated if compared to those of higher class. Despite this huge flaw

leges will be able to gain another factor on which to base their decision and a means by which to base a judgement about a students SAT score. So what does this mean for student at Oakton? Oakton is in the middle of one of the wealthiest counties in the United States and has low levels of poverty and unemployment. The school has also posted consistently high GPAs and average SAT scores. The adversity scoring for students living in the area is likely to be relatively low which could skew the chances of those who scored lower on the test.

“As someone whos’s on the lower end of the wealth gap and the SAT average, adversity scores could pose a threat to my future of the furture of my siblings” -Molly Lorenz, Fairfax 12 in the scoring, adversity scores offer an insight into the students background that was not previously available. Col-

POLITICS E H T D N I TH BEH

THE TRU DEATH ROW ROW DEATH

sally park staff writer Story represents the opinion of the writer.

Why the death penalty should not exist?

ould you support the popular belief, a slow and excruciat discrimination. For example, those execution of a hundred ing process.This could be seen as a who are white would be more likely people, knowing that an to get away with a more lenient pun- ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and unknown portion of them could be is overall, inhumane in an ethical perishment than those who are black. wrongfully prosecuted for a crime spective. In addition to this, similarly to the they have not commit? Our AmeriSome argue that terrorists would ancient times, those who come from can justice system have had numerneed to be punished for mass muran impoverished background would ous instances where some convicted dering rather larger populations of also be more likely to be convicted of crimes such as armed robbery or people. However, only an extremely of such crimes. If our current legal murder have been wrongfully executsystem is prevalent discriminatory to small population would be serial ed and incarcerated. killers, terrorists or “Once you get in a system like that, it just Gavin Newsom, the something of that type. governor of California, doesn’t go away just bewcause you see the per-So, this by itself, is a has openly disagreed with justification for son walk free. If they took your life from you logical the death penalty saying, the death penalty. “I know people think eye for something you knew you didn’t do and you “Once you get in a for eye, but if you rape, like that, it just get out and you don’t have a way to do noth- system we don’t rape. And I think doesn’t go away just beif someone kills, we don’t ing. What do you think is fair?” cause you see the person kill. We’re better than walk free. If they took Sabrina Butler Smith, a death row exoneree that.” With this, I agree. The conyour life from you for something cept of killing someone because you knew you didn’t do and you get they have killed someone else is hypout and you don’t have a way to do certain indigenous groups, wouldn’t ocritical and outdated. We can see nothing. What do you think is fair?” it be completely understandable this through how capital punishment A death row exoneree,Sabrina Butler to state that it would be inhumane was enforced through the HammuSmith had stated. In our current socito allow the legal system to kill rabi Code in ancient times. Even ety, it is prevalent to see the amount someone who is potentially just a in those times, often the rich and of corruption in our society. Thus, it victim of systematic oppression and powerful would take advantage of is not a reasonable nor ethical to exediscrimination? the system and those impoverished cute those who are often targeted due In addition to this, life in containwould have to face the cruel and to their race or background. In such ment could be seen as a punishment unusual punishment that is justified a developed country as America, we as harsh enough for those who have through the Hammurabi Code. shouldn’t resort to inhumane methods committed felonies. It would be, in In other words, the Hammurabi of punishment. Despite the crime the fact, cheaper for prisoners to live Code was not fair due to the corrupperson have committed, they should than to be executed. So in what way tion and oppression in the justice be recognized as a human being and would we be benefitting from the system at that time. In the same way, not just a criminal who should be death penalty? The process of exeour current justice system undoubtostracized in society. cuting someone is, in contrary to edly has prevalent flaws involving racial

may issue

THE ROAD TO A GREEN NEW DEAL Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenges center Democrats in addressing climate change

n Monday, May 13 House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Road to a Green New Deal” tour concluded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Over the past month, Ocasio-Cortez has stopped in eight cities across the country, while her student coalition of Green New Deal champions, the Sunrise Movement, put on over 200 town halls in 46 states to speak to the public about her economic and social plan to combat climate change. At her last stop at Howard University, Ocasio-Cortez delivered an unparalleled speech - slamming the right and left for not doing enough to solve climate change. Howard University may have marked the end of a nation-wide tour, but it was only the beginning to a long road to a Green New Deal and an influential 2020 presidential election. The Green New Deal entails an extensive program that involves a series of investments to create clean energy jobs and green infrastructure. In theory, the program would revolutionize both the energy and labor sectors while stimulating the economy. The name was coined after Roosevelt’s New Deal, which had a similar goal of revitalizing the economy and creating new jobs through public work projects. In her speech, Ocasio-Cortez criticized older members of Congress for refusing to act on climate change in the late twentieth century, despite reports by NASA claiming climate change was real and man-made as early as 1989. “I will be d— if the same politicians who refused to act then are going to try to come back today and say we need a middle of the ground approach to save

our lives,” she said to a crowd of cheers and overwhelming support. The public perceived this statement as a blast at Joe Biden, who had recently announced his climate plan that would appeal to “both environmentalists and the blue-collar voters who elected Donald Trump.” Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders later joined Ocasio-Cortez on stage and voiced that a “middle ground” approach is not sufficient enough in addressing a global issue.

Ocasio-Cortez’s rally comes in the wake of the fast-approaching 2020 presidential election. According to a CNN poll, more than eighty percent of registered Democratic or Democratic-leaning independents identified climate change as a top priority in selecting a nominee for the 2020 election. The Road to a Green New Deal preludes what could become America’s climate election, posing a challenge to center Democratic candidates like Joe Biden in a crowd of left progressive candidates seeking the same nomination.

“I will be d— if the same politicians who refused to act then are going to try to come back today and say we need a middle of the ground approach to save our lives.” House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

wendy gao staff writer

10 THE DEMOCRATS’ ELECTION PROBLEM

The democratic party is hosting a crowded field of flawed candidates for the 2020 Presidential election, and it doesn’t bode well for them.

Images courtesy of Phil Roedor, The Doug Jones For Senate Committee, and marcn respectively.

he 2020 presidential election is looming. It doesn’t feel like it, especially with the constant news cycle showcasing his antics, but Donald Trump was elected president nearly 3 and a half years ago. This fact makes the Democratic party’s general disarray at the moment very concerning, especially if you are a member of that party. The fact is, there is no “ideal” candidate for the party, and it seems to be predisposed to repeat the process of the 2016 election, which featured a flawed establishment figure going against a certain radical left-wing senator from Vermont. On Thursday, Bill de Blasio became the 23rd presidential candidate vying to win the American people over. This is a problem. Sure, many of these candidates have slim chances. It still poses a problem if they manage to survive longer than they are expected to, however. The current DNC debate format is 12 debates with a limit of 20 candidates for each one, and all one has to do to qualify is to secure 1% of the vote in that particular primary. Sure, borderline anonymous candidates like Marianne Williamson and Seth Moulter will be weeded out quickly, but the possibility still stands. This problem of overcrowding might be solved by the fact that many candidates occupy the same archetype- centrist white males. Candidates like Tim Ryan, John Hickenlooper, Steve Bullock, and the aforementioned Moulter are quickly going to find themselves battling amongst each other to see which one of them is the most palatable to the American public while more distinct and prominent candidates are guaranteed survival. Another issue, however, deals with the candidates that aren’t part of the anonymous majority. Many of them have clear flaws that can be exposed, a lack of in-depth policies, or simply no advertising or fundraising savvy. Of course, our current president won the 2016 election while dealing with the first two problems, but these candidates have a more precarious tightrope to balance on. Pete Buttigieg, the fresh-faced Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, seems to be one of the ideal candidates to disrupt what is essentially a two-man race at the top of the party. A Rhodes Scholar from Harvard, Buttigieg also served as an intelligence officer in the Naval Reserve, deploying in Afghanistan in 2014. At the age of 38, he has certainly commanded the attention of younger voters. However, he is openly homosexual, also supporting universal health care and strict gun control. While these things aren’t necessarily bad, they will immediately alienate him from a lot of the national electorate, such as religious funda mentalists and economic conservatives.

Kamala Harris, Californian senator and former Attorney General of California is yet another seemingly ideal candidate. However, despite being parallel to Buttigieg in terms of policy and ideas, he has built a definitive lead ahead of her in polling. This can be attributed to Harris’ reputation for her apparent refusal to go too in-depth into her policies, something that started with her appearance in a CNN town hall in New Hampshire, which Edward-Isaac Dovere of The Atlantic described as “responding to questions in the same way: ducking direct answers and saying, over and over, that she wanted to have “a conversation” about what to do.” Elizabeth Warren and Beto O’Rourke, who were being agreed upon as possible frontrunners as early as 2017, have definitely been less of a focus in recent news cycles. For Warren, it is because of her adamant focus on espousing detailed policy plans and her lack thereof on advertising and promotion. O’Rourke, meanwhile, has been recuperating from a brutal loss in the race for Texas Senate against Ted Cruz. He only recently started his focus on his Presidential campaign, commenting on issues such as education while surrounding himself with veterans who previously worked with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Of course, the two present frontrunners for the election, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, come with a host of issues as well. Biden, who was leading in polling even before he declared his candidacy, seems like the consensus best choice for president. He’s responded accordingly, developing an anti-Trump and pro-nonpartisanship campaign, and only strengthening his lead. However, he is facing extensive criticism for his frequently inappropriate behavior around women and questions from leftists about his inconsistent voting record. Bernie Sanders, one of the holdovers from the last election, is running into the same problem yet again; he is far too radical for a lot of centrist Americans, and his odd mix of Libertarian and Socialist policies are doing him no favors with building a consistent voter base other than his fervent supporters. Also, Biden and Sanders are 76 and 77 respectively, ages that aren’t very encouraging for a full 8-year presidential term. The Democratic party is facing a lot of issues, such as the sheer amount of presidential candidates, flaws with the frontrunners for candidacy, and division among party factions. If they can’t fix these issues quickly, they may be facing trouble come election time. kartik mukalla

staff writer

may issue

ALABAMA’S ABORTION BAN Essential information about the Alabama abortion ban.

he recent anti-abortion law passed in Alabama has rocked the country and has once again placed abortion in the national spotlight. Republicans and pro-lifers have been quick to back the bill as a step in the right direction towards less accessible abortion that goes beyond Hillary Clinton’s “Safe, legal, and rare” motto of the early 2000s. Democrats, on the other hand, believe the bill infringes on the rights of all women in the United States. Democrats have clearly re-affirmed their belief that the government shouldn’t tell women what to do with their body. As usual, the country is completely polarized about this issue and an easy solution does not seem within reach. While Alabama’s law is the most restrictive there is, many other states that have passed similar anti-abortion laws. Lawmakers in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Utah have also passed new anti-abortion bills, and similar measures are pending in other states. Alabama’s law prevents abortion in almost every situation except for circumstances in which the mother’s life is at risk or the fetus has “fatal anomalies” that makes survival outside the womb unlikely at best. Alabama’s law has no exception for cases of rape and incest. A common misconception about the law is that women who have abortions can be punished with jail time. Women who have abortions are protected it is the doctors who are targeted by the law. Doctors can be prosecuted for performing an abortion, a felony punishable by up to 99 years of prison.

“Two things can be true at once: 1. The Alabama bill is morally correct; 2. The Alabama bill is a strategic mistake, given the fact that the Supreme Court will not overrule Roe.” Ben Shapiro (via Twitter) jacob rutzick staff writer Story represents the opinion of the writer.

Many of the bills, in Georgia for example, are being called heartbeat bills. This is because abortion is restricted after the “fetal heartbeat” is detected. This normally occurs around six weeks into the pregnancy. Pro-choice advocates are very opposed to this specific provision because they believe that calling it a heartbeat is inaccurate because a fetus’s heart is not fully formed at the time. Pro-choice supporters believe this provision is unfair because many women do not find out they are pregnant until they are three or four weeks into their pregnancy. However, women who are not expecting to become pregnant can find out even after the six week deadline has passed, preventing them from the option of having an abortion.

“This law would force children - 12 year olds to carry a pregnancy by their rapist. This law would force people w/ mental disabilities to carry pregnancy by rape to term. This law forces people to be pregnant against their own consent. It’s horrifying.” -Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez (via Twitter)

SENIORS Mathew Desouza SUNY- Binghampton University Lacrosse

Kevin McDaid Rutgers University Lacrosse

Chris Arnold University of Tampa Lacrosse

Evelyn Pickett West Point Lacrosse

Bridget O’Donnell Bridgewater College Lacrosse

Nick Highman Lehigh University Swimming Cassie Brazinsky Northeastern University Field Hockey

Daniel Gyenis University of Virginia Swimming

Nika Sauger Florida Atlantic University Swimming Joseph Perrault Virginia Tech Diving

may issue

THE NEXT STEP FOR OAKTON ATHLETES Oakton High School has many athletes going to the next level this year to all divisions, and across many sports conor krouse staff writer nikhil trivedi staff writer

Seth Richards Villanova University Baseball

igh school sports is one of the biggest commitments a person can undergo. Regardless of the sport being in winter, fall, or spring. The majority of people who do sports at Oakton do them for fun with no intention of making it their career, however, many wish to take the extra stride in athletics, and attend a university for this same purpose. An extra four years of competitive sports is of the utmost importance, and interest in some of this years seniors. Getting into a university for sports is crucial for an athlete to have a chance to go pro. With commitments across Division one, two, and three, and at least one Oakton student from almost every sport, the cougar pride will be extended across the country. But what did it take for these cougars to get where they’re going, and how are they preparing for these next four years? Well, sports take a lot out of someone. The practice and dedication to a sport to make it to the next level is immense. Combining all of this training with school and homework makes it even more difficult, and only the most dedicated people can push through the challenges. Regardless of the sport, a love for it, and a strong sense of dedication and work ethic is necessary. So where are our Oakton High School athletes going?

Bella DeLew Cornell University Soccer

Carter Runyon Shepard University Football

Spencer Gregory The College of Willaim & Mary Soccer

Micah Johnson-Parrotte Bridgewater College Basketball

Michael Lee ColumbiaUniversity Crew

14 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Understanding scholarships

Athletic

An athletic scholarship is a type of scholarship colleges, universities or private high schools award to an individual based on his or her ability to play a sport. Athletic scholarships are common in the United States, but in many countries they are rare or non-existent.

Creative

The Arts are a large part of modern life in America, and while they not be as highly visible, there are still plenty of creative scholarship opportunities available for the artistically inclined student. These scholarships are highly competitive and applying students have to present samples of their artwork to be considered.

lthough the existence of scholarships is a well known fact, understanding the specifics of how to actually receive a scholarship is a bit more dubious to students. Although it’s currently too late in the year to apply for most federal scholarships, there are still many private scholarships available to look into and the general knowledge of how to receive a scholarship and the best place to search for scholarship opportunities is still useful to rising seniors and underclassmen alike.

The variety of scholarships is so great that almost everyone can likely find one that fits their skillset to apply for. Methods of application vary depending on scholarship type, but typically if you’re applying for a scholarship, you will be required to write an essay. Considering the sheer volume of scholarships available and that there’s no limit for how many you can apply for, it’s suggested you apply to as many as you can for the best results. The money provided from each scholarship will differ with many scholarships rewarding underwhelming amounts of money, but there are plenty of federal scholarships that provide large sums of money, though they’re very competitive with nationwide applicants applying. If you’re an Oakton Student looking to learn more about scholarship opportunities, as well as information about college in general, you can take your inquiries to Ms.Banbury and Ms.Collins in the Career Center at Oakton. Another valuable resource is College Access Fairfax, an organization stationed in Fairfax that provides all you need to know about college and finances and also provides scholarship opportunities and workshops to students. Academic Ethnic

Minority scholarships or ethnic scholarships are largely defined as those awards given to students of Hispanic, African-American, Asian, and Native American ethnicity.

Aubrey Harrell Staff Writer

Students with a high GPA, impressive history of extracurricular activities and a good history of public service are awarded with this type of scholarship.

Pari Abdollahi Staff Writer

william locklin staff writer

may issue

WHAT IS A GAP YEAR?

henever anyone talks about their plans after college, it is almost always the same. College is considered to be the right and only path after high school and will undoubtedly lead to a job and financial security. Many students feel the pressure and rigorous demands of high school, and as a result, they feel the need only to consider college in the future instead of other options. Another common pathway after high school is to jump straight into your career by finding a job. While this option can guarantee you cash for the present and near future, it could prevent you from reaching your ultimate goals in that chosen career path. One opportunity that seems to go unnoticed by many students is taking a gap year. A gap year is a year-long break between high school and college. A student can take this break in their own country or another one. Typically, people will work, travel, volunteer, spend time with family or take a break from studying during a gap year. A gap year has many benefits, but it is only right for some students. One benefit of a gap year is that it is a true resume builder. Employers are always looking for a life-changing experience in a person’s life that will help them in the job. A gap year is a perfect opportunity for this because you can gain work experience in your chosen career path. It could be an internship or just a minor job, but any experience will help. Additionally,

volunteering will yield positive outcomes to put on a resume, especially if you go abroad. Another benefit of a gap year is that it will help you discover your interests and passions in life. A lot of students struggle with picking a major because they don’t know what they want to do in the future. This problem can be solved by taking a gap year. “The feedback from students almost all the time has been that this experience was transformative. The more life experience you bring, the better off you are in school,” says William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard University. Everyone has interests, but it only takes one interest to develop into a passion and career for the future. By taking a break from the grind of high school and focusing on your interests, you can narrow down the decision for college majors and your career path. The final benefit from taking a gap year is it can give you new perspectives on the world. If you decide to take a gap year in a foreign country, then you get the chance to soak up the culture of another group of people. Life can move very slow in school, and the youth can often undervalue the worth of discovering the world outside of their own. Although there are many benefits to a gap year, there are also some reasons not to try it. The first being it can be challenging to plan. To successfully prepare to take a gap year, you must be fully committed well ahead of time. Picking

abudukadier zainaipuguli staff writer

locations and programs can also be hard as if you pick wrong, it can lead to an unfulfilling trip. That said the key to a fun and worthwhile trip is careful and in advance, then taking a gap year will be worth it. Another reason not to do a gap year is that it can be expensive. Experiences overseas can cost thousands of dollars plus the price of travel. A primary reason a lot of families agree to do a gap year is to try and save money for college while the student gets a local job to make money. The price depends on the family’s situation and can be the deciding factor on whether or not to take a gap year. The last justification for not taking a gap year is that you could not fit in with the culture of the country, and you could feel homesick. Not fitting in can be an effect of poor or rushed planning before the trip. Take time to research the country that interests you to find out what society does every day. Additionally, figuring out what you will be doing in your job or volunteer work can help with the adjustment to a new country. If you have an attachment to the home, then consider taking a local gap year. A gap year isn’t for everyone, but if the downsides don’t affect you, then taking a gap year should be a strong consideration.

rell dumlao (11) We moved from the Philippines when I was pretty young, and my parents didn’t initially have the best impression of America. We weren’t from a super nice suburb, and the Phillipines is really different from America. We didn’t know if we wanted to move here for a long time because of it. For a while we didn’t have a permanent home - we were kind of just bouncing from place to place until we eventually found one. I’ve never really felt different from anyone because of it though. To me, wealth is just a statistic - it’s not something I consider when I talk to people or when I make new friends. I guess I understand where it could be something that’s really impactful for other people, but it hasn’t ever effected my relationships with my friends, teachers or family - I don’t think it’s that closely tied to my identity.

My freshman and sophomore year, I felt less comfortable in my own skin and more generally with who I am. By now, I’ve kind of adjusted to being one of the only black girls in a lot of my classes, but it wasn’t easy. Clubs like BSU helped me to feel like there were other people like me at Oakton - like I didn’t have to compromise parts of my identity and could act and speak and live fully authentically. I think most minority students feel like they have to be “less-black” or “more-white” in a lot of situations, which has always really frustrated me. It’s not that it’s anyone’s fault, but when everyone else acts different from you, you tend to want to fit in. People used to tell me that when I spoke I sounded “white,” which I’ve never understood because I can be educated and speak like it and be black all at the same time.

sydney chen (10)

From a student-to-student perspective and a teacher-to-student perspective, Oakton has always been incredibly welcoming, but from an administrative standpoint, it suffers more. Every time I walk into the women’s bathroom, I hope that all the girls just think that I’m a girl with short hair. I’ve had experiences where I’ve been yelled at in a bathroom or people are taken aghast, which makes sense because they think that a guy’s in the girls’ bathroom, but they don’t know that it’s the administration that is requiring me to be in there. It’s always a huge thing of anxiety for me. I don’t want to make them uncomfortable, and I don’t want to be uncomfortable. Being trans I also have to allocate a lot of time to things that cisgender people don’t. For example, to transition, it’s required by the state that I go through gender therapy and my endocrinologist only meets during school hours, so I’ve missed a lot of days of school for hormone therapy. There was also a problem this year where I qualified for All-State band under the wrong name, and my incorrect name was in some of the concert programs. It was really defeating because after this year, when I legally changed my name, I thought that this wouldn’t have to happen anymore. I was just really disappointed because it’s not like any kid whose name is Samantha but goes by Sam has that happen to them, so why does it happen to me?

maria amare (12)

The “model minority” myth has impacted my life in so many different ways. Growing up, I was always taught that you had to love math or be in STEM in order to be successful. I always felt like I had to conform to this model of an “ideal asian,” in the sense that I always felt like I had to live up to someone else’s expectation for my success. People that I barely spoke to would ask me about my test scores to see if theirs were “good.” I felt like my worth and identity was tied to my grades, and anything short of living up to that was failure. I felt like I had to be taking 6 APs or choosing my grades over everything else in order to satisfy other people. Eventually I realized that my passions aren’t in STEM, they’re in humanities, and that choosing a courseload that’s healthy for me is more important.

devon petrecca (12)

may issue

emily bach - editor | tyler chapman - contributing photographer Ninth grade was really rough. I had one person ask if Osama bin Laden was my father. My gym teacher told me to take off my scarf and said that if he could see my hair he would give me a higher grade. He would purposely say remarks that bother me, like “if you’re in America you speak English and English only.” Even in the case of things like talking about 9/11 in the classroom, I always feel like I have to answer for actions that weren’t mine. When we talk about 9/11, we never talk about the impacts that it had on the Muslim community. People would ask me if my uncle was one of the hijackers. We should absolutely remember all of the people that died in the attacks - that was a terrible tragedy and never should have happened - but we need to start having conversations about the impacts on people like me. After the attacks, my family had to move back to Syria because people spray painted ‘terrorist’ on our house and my parents worried for their safety. They didn’t even tell me about that until more recently. My freshman year I would ask myself questions like “should I pray during lunch?” and “should I tell people I’m fasting?” I think a lot of Muslim women feel like they have to cover up their religion to fit in. I worried that people would be weirded out by me, but starting around last year I realized that I have nothing to be ashamed of. If you don’t like it or don’t want to hear about my religion, don’t be friends with me, we don’t have to talk about it, but this is who I am. Learning about my [Native American] culture mostly happened outside of the classroom. A lot of the time people like me exist as an asterisk in textbooks. I would visit our reservation with my mom and grandfather, which taught me things that I never would’ve learned through our curicculum about native people and our beliefs. He told me about the history that the school system leaves out, but also a lot about myself. My grandfather taught me when I was young about the importance of animals in Native American culture, as when observing animals, there is a lot to learn from them such as being patient and thoughtful in my actions I don’t think about my identity too much, but things like that influence my perspective and my relationships with others.

courtney te (11)

ben condill (11)

Oakton’s generally a pretty accepting area, so I’ve never felt the need to cover up being bisexual in school. I’m generally pretty open about it, but it’s also not the type of thing that’s instantly noticable about me or that I lead with in conversation. At times that has made things hard for me though, because it’s difficult to find people that share your experiences when you can’t really see it like you can among women or people that share a similar race. Eventually I learned that a lot of my close friends were also LGBT+, just by coincidence, which was really important because it helped me to be able to understand that this is what I am, but that it’s not something that entirely defines me.

roudah chaker (11) Sometimes I still feel like I’m trying to find a place for my culture within America. At home, I speak Urdu, eat Indian food, and try to pray five times a day. I don’t like the phrase “first generation American,” though sometimes, it has impacted my experiences. If you met me in middle school, I’d be almost unrecognizable from who I am today. I’ve had to do a lot of growing into myself because of what I was exposed to when I was younger, which happened because of the people that I’m friends with. I have done my best to find a compromise between being both American and Indian, but it’s really challenging. The diversity [at Oakton] has taught me that I can come from a different culture and still feel at home with people that come from another one - it helped me to develop my own perception of the world and to see that being different can bring people together too.

sameeha khan (10)

18 BEFORE YOU GO... Teacher’s advice to seniors

ll seniors feel the same way when moving to college; fearful, thrilled, anxious, and enthusiastic. Graduating high school and going to college is starting a whole new chapter in your life; you don’t know what to expect because it is new territory for you. Before you dive head first into a new part of your life, we’ve interviewed a couple of teachers at Oakton High School and asked them to give us advice for our graduating senior class. The first teacher we interviewed was Mr. Kaplan, a History and Social Studies teacher at Oakton High School. He talked about when he was a senior and his high school experience, saying “I worked pretty hard until I got into college… I pretty much coasted senior year until the school year ended.” While Mr. Kaplan was in high school, he applied for college in senior year in the fall and it made his decision for a college harder to make. “I put in all my applications early fall of my senior year, and when I heard back from the schools I wanted to go to, I was unable to make my decision”. He talked about what he learned throughout high school and as a senior, saying “I learned how to buckle down and study because I had no clue when I started high school, like I just tried to memorize everything. By the time I was ready to graduate high school I had a good base for when I went to college and I was on my own, without teachers on my case and my parents making sure I was doing what I needed to be doing. I had skills and plans, I learned responsibility, and keeping stuff on my own plate”. When we asked Mr. Kaplan what the hardest part of being a high schooler was, he said, “The pressure, I didn’t always handle

pressure that well, but I think what if I was a high school student right now handling what you guys had to handle, I’d forget it. It’s very impressive what our students can do these days from all the pressure, it’s scrutiny you guys are under”. Like most people, Mr. Kaplan has regrets from high school. He told us, “I think I regret looking forward to what was next rather than being where my feet were, like enjoying senior year with my friends and kicking back and relaxing as opposed to worrying for the future. I should’ve just been enjoying the last couple of months with the people you never really get to hang out with again in the same way.” Last thing we asked him was advices he would give to seniors. He responded by telling us, “Enjoy where you are at right now, live in the moment, and be where your feet are. Don’t worry about next year in college, or when you’re in college and life after college”. The next and last teacher we interviewed was Mrs. Kumpf, a math teacher at Oakton High School. We spoke to her about her advice for the senior class.he said, “Follow your passions and your dreams. Furthermore, find something to learn everyday. When your brain is engaged your life will pass slowly and happily. When you remain on the same train day after day you will waste your life away.” Mrs Kumpf attended Miami University in the fall. When asked how she felt about going off to college, she stated, “I was incredibly nervous and excited. There are so many new people out there to meet, new opportunities to seize, and ideas to learn. The roads are endless and overwhelming. Enjoy them all!” Mrs Kumpf said college was the greatest four years of her life and would not trade her experience for

anything. When we interviewed two teachers and asked for their advices to seniors and upcoming seniors, we had two different but equally savvy answers. While Mr. Kaplan was saying to live where your feet were, or live in the moment, Mrs. Kumpf was giving advices about following your dreams and interests. Also, she told us that it’s better to try and learn something new everyday, or engage your brain in some way because otherwise you’re letting your life go to waste. Both teacher told us about their high school experience, and told us how they felt back when they were in school. Mr. Kaplan told us about his thoughts on the hardest part of being a high schooler, and his regrets in high school. His responses are relatable to many students, and should be reflected to how your life is right now. Mrs. Kumpf ended her interview with an inspiring quote about shooting your shot even if there’s a chance that you miss; “Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars. Even though this is not astronomically correct it is still philosophically correct”. This quote should be kept in the back of your mind throughout life because you will not get somewhere in life without taking chances. Although these aren’t close to enough advices to help you with the new chapter in your lives, we hope that you will consider following some of these advices to help you with the future.

katie le staff writer genevieve bavisotto staff writer

Photo courtesy of Fiveprime.

may issue

DEAR UNDERCLASSMEN... Seniors reflect on their past four years at Oakton and share some advice for underclassmen.

it may seem like a long way ahead, graduation is sooner than you think so make the best out of the last few weeks of school, you can do this!” - Helen Dhue (12)

Q: What is something you’ve learned over the past four years that you only realized now?

“I’ve learned to appreciate my education, classes, and teachers.” Helen Dhue (12)

s the 2018-2019 school year comes to an end, many seniors are remiscining and reflecting on their past four years at Oakton. While they had their peers’ and teachers’ help to guide them in the past four years, they also wished they had some advice early on that they now only know. A few seniors voiced their advice to the underclassmen, hoping it will help them in the future at Oakton.

A: “The closer I get to graduation, the more I value my education and all that Oakton has to offer. We are privileged to study at a school with great resources and outlets to seek information or help if needed. Both inside and outside of the classroom, you are always learning, and are obtaining more knowledge than you think you are. I’ve learned to appreciate my education, classes, and teachers. With that being said, definitely try your best and make the most out of your years at Oakton. Although

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to underclassmen that you wish you knew earlier? A: “I would say to definitely not procrastinate. Although you may hear it a lot and this may seem basic, procrastinating gets you behind in your classes, which means you miss important lessons in class as well as multiple assign-

ments. Even though you may think it’s just one class that you’re missing, the work piles up and sooner or later, you have stacks of homework and numerous tests to study for in addition to the regular homework you get. If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s to stay on top of your work, especially when you aren’t present in class. Procrastinating has also limited me from enjoying other activities as I always had work left to do.” - Jackie Groseclose (12)

riya jain editorial board katarina faben editorial board

may issue

Gap Year Bayan Peikari

courtney te editorial board

22 zoe siamon staff writer Bridgewater Bridget O’Donnell Christopher Newport Annie Alperi Conor Krouse Kaitlyn Deharde GMU Bella Panciocco Josh Magpantay Michelle Pan Raveena Bilkhu Shana Yousef Yara Hussein JMU Christine Yim Daniel Rothwell David Guarnieri Elizabeth McCormack Julian Tarr-Ebina Olivia Schmitz Ryan Gaffney Wil Caruthers Mary Washington Delina Gedion Diego Galvez Old Dominion Jay Hetman Pierson Marshall Roaknoke Cesca Vaccaro University of Virginia Aidan Ricci Akhil Havaldar Alexa Schwartzman Allison Feeney Allison Pham Ananya Vavilala Arnold Mai Avni Garg Daniel Gyenis David Siamon Ellaina Jung Emma Ziselman Erin Reilly Gabe Sirak Gabriel Sirak Jack Waters Joseph Park Julian Chiao

Kenan Murray Libby Edwards Libby Edwards Lizzy Dallessandro Margaret Sparling Mason Bram Matt Kim Maya Nakhre Noah Ginsburg Saya Butani Sophia Stroud Wen Ip Zach Webber

William and Mary Alexander Rippey Emma Phelps Katie Morin Kevin Xu Matt Wydra Olivia Yu

UVA VT

Virginia Commonwealth University Angie Rodriguez Bre Nguonly Esha Kalro Jacob Staley Katie Lee Lina Kim Mihika Patki Nayara Gonzalez Rachel Bloom Reshmeena Khan Riley Layman Sarah Peng Sarah Xu

Virginia Tech Ana Catarina Anagha Sreenivas Aubrey Auerbach Bailey Kruse Bailey Sharpe Caroline Demarco Catherine Hiu Dawson O’Neil Devin Martin Ethan Robertson Ethan Tran Hannah McNeal Henry Shin Jay Do Joe Perrault

VIRGINIA MAP

Julia Byrnes Julianna Testoni Kelsey Brooks Lindsey Liddell Lucy Han Maggie Luo Marc Chavez Matthew Sabatella Nicole Gaspari Ryan Jones Samantha Odeh Sydney Morse Valerie Lambright

VCU Bridgewater Roanoke UMW CNU ODU W&M

JMU GMU The graph represents how Oakton students will be divided around Virginia.

24 MYTH

FACT

Myth

SENIOR STEREOTYPES

Senioritis is Okay

Everyone knows about senioritis, seniors don’t put any effort into the rest of the school year after being accepted to college, and stop caring about grades or tests. While many people assume this is okay seeing as the students already are going to another school to further their education, in reality, it’s a huge issue. Colleges continue to look at report cards and effort and can even retract a student’s acceptance. Therefore, senioritis isn’t okay and can lead to severe consequences. When asked her opinion on the topic, AP Lit teacher Kelly Tatian explained, “I suppose the stereotype is that they don’t care, and that they don’t come to school. I suppose for some students that is correct.” She explains that many students do stop putting in their usual effort, or even showing up for class as the year draws to a close, blaming it on “senioritis,” or what she describes as a “conscious decision to not do their work.” However, she continues to explain that while some students do not show up, she would rather appreciate those who do. “The stereotypical Oakton senior is more like the seniors who are sitting in front of me today at 8:56 on a Monday morning. These seniors are intellectual, tenacious, curious, and hard working even when they would prefer to be doing something different.” Seniors have worked so incredibly hard for four long years, and they deserve some credit for getting through it all.

You’ll Never Talk to Your High School Friends Again

The seniors are in their last year of high school. They’ve worked hard to achieve their grades, get into college, and find their best friends. They’ve lost friends and found new ones over the years. Their friend groups are close due to years of hanging out together, but, for most friends, it’s their last year at the same school. Some teachers, parents, or other adults will tell students that they no longer speak to their high school friends or only see them at reunions, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same for everybody. With all the new technology, it’s easier to keep in touch with friends. During break, college students can hang out with their high school friends. After college graduation, some people move to different states or even countries, but that doesn’t mean they won’t see their friends anymore. They can keep in touch through email, text, phone calls, and other social media.

Fact Seniors Skip School... A Lot.

Hand in hand with senioritis is seniors skipping school a lot. For most of them, being accepted to college means being able to slack off and be lazy. They see their classes as pointless; rather than sit through the class and listen to the teachers drone on, they tend to play hooky. Some students prefer to skip school to hang out with friends or go out for lunch. Other students only ditch their free periods or easier classes. Often times, students will ditch class the day of a big project or test so as to get more time to continue on their work.

Seniors Run the School Although this stereotype seems overly cliche, it happens to be true. Seeing as the seniors have been in the school for four years, they’ve made their way to the ‘top.’ One freshman, Katy Edgar, stated, “Coming into school as a freshman, I, along with many other freshmen, immediately looked up to the seniors, allowing them to ‘run the school.’” Many other freshmen feel this way. The most probable reason is the age and education gap. The seniors have learned much more than the freshmen due to the difference in ages. While the freshmen may feel this way now, they will be in the seniors positions in a few years.

veronica preaskorn, staff writer zoe siamon, staff writer

may issue

SENIORS:REGRETS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Seniors looking back at their biggest regrets and achievements

s the school year is coming to an end, seniors are starting to look back and reminisce on past memories. Senior year comes with a great deal of responsibilities and life-changing decisions, such as picking the most suitable classes, applying for colleges and scholarships, and completing your last set of standardized tests. With all of that happening, it is still important to look at where you came from. Here are some of Oakton’s seniors biggest regrets and achievements.

Blake Switzer Achievements: Winning the Jon Seager Memorial scholarship on senior night at my lacrosse game Regret: Taking AP Physics C

Alex Susana Achievements: Not failing AP biology and receiving 1st team all district and 2nd team all region for volleyball Regret: Letting my lack of motivation (senioritis) get to me because if I did what I was suppose to do on time, I wouldn’t have been as stressed and exhausted

Caroline Demarco Achievement: Not going to every school event because it’s my last year in high school and I wish I was more involved with student activities Getting into college and being captain of the volleyball team

asher tankel staff writer sara boddie staff writer

Mollie Simon Achievement: Getting away with not doing anything and still thriving Regret: Not caring and letting senioritis take advantage of me

26 THE UNCONVENTIONAL CHOICE

For the majority of the graduating Oakton class, students are focused on preparing to go to college in the fall, however, there are a few Oakton students that are breaking the mold, and taking the road less travelled

Dylan Herbig

ylan Herbig (12) is taking a productive gap year after he graduates from high school. He is originally from Germany, and plans to visit Germany over the summer, along with other travels. However, instead of going to school in August Herbig is taking an internship for SAP, which he will go on a three month world tour with. At the end of his internship starting in April, he will begin school in Germany, and because he is a German citizen, he can study for free. Herbig admitted in his interview, “ I was skeptical at first, but after hearing so many recommendations I decided to do it.” Herbig continued to admit, “I also believe that it will show me new cultural and societal aspects which I have never seen before.” Herbig said he is excited to make many new friends and compares the transition to when he moved to the US. Herbig does not regret his decision to take a gap year and gives advice saying, “I would say that people should not be scared of taking a gap year or considering other universities abroad. It’s a different experience which can change your view on almost everything.” We wish you the best luck Dylan and know you have a bright future ahead of you.

Gabi Shapo

abi Shapo (12) is doing the unexpected and taking a gap year to further her learning in Israel. She explains in an interview, “After, I graduate, I leave to study in Israel for nine months. I am deferring from the University of Maryland.” She will spend most of her time doing volunteer work and serving others as long as continuing her studies. Shapo was originally anti-gap year, and explained how living in NOVA made her think negatively of gap years, but through many mentors in youth groups, she was convinced that a gap year can be, “a great way to develop my values, and be the kind of person that I want to be.” Shapo is interested in public policy, and explained how going on this trip could be very beneficial to building up her major. She is most excited to learn in Israel, and learn about the different culture. We wish you the best of luck in Israel and at the University of Maryland.

zoe sauger editorial board

Zach Baker

fter Zach Baker (12) graduates high school, he plans to attend the US coast guard academy. Baker explained in an interview, “ I chose this path because I have always wanted to be in the military but wanted to serve in a more humanitarian way, choosing to go the the coast guard instead of other branches.” The military can offer many opportunities after high school, by giving students the opportunity of education and to serve their country. Baker admitted in his interview, “My friends were ecstatic because they knew how much this meant for me and my dad was proud because he graduated from the coast guard academy thirty years prior.” We are so proud of you Zach, and wish you the best of luck in the Coast Guard.

Lexi Perine

exie Perine (12) will be attending LIM college in Manhattan, New York to study fashion merchandising. Perine explained in her interview she chose this path because, “it specializes in my major and is in a prime location for future jobs and fashion opportunities.” Perine is setting an example to many other people at Oakton that you can set your goals high and conquer them, she gives advice about college saying, “Do your research about schools and never settle, sometimes a smaller, lesser known school is a better option for your major.” We hope to see you doing amazing things in New York City, good luck!

maddie flickinger staff writer

may issue

GRADUATING? HERE’S A PLAYLIST! The moment you walk down the aisle with your cap on, your life changes forever It’s your very last week as a high school senior and things are about to change dramatically for you. With that being said, you will obviously need a couple of tracks to accompany you along the way. Whether it be sad music, or upbeat music, here is our picks of songs that you surely won’t forget as you traverse through a time that you will remember forever.

kariann tan staff writer Paramore Ain’t It Fun

Bleachers

Dream of Mickey Mantle

Semisonic Closing Time

Jack Garratt

Surprise Yourself

JR JR Gone

Hippo Campus Bambi

MGMT

Time to Pretend

Tyler the Creator I Ain’t Got Time!

St Lucia Elevate

The Cranberries Dreams

OPINION

Improving Sex Education

ne of the most forgotten subjects, unless as a joke, is sex education. As a result there is no reliable impetus for students to truly learn about the material that is currently being taught, many tend to forget about it. It doesn’t help that the quality of this brand of education can vary. Several problems can emerge from a teen or young adult being unaware, or simply not caring, about the impacts sex can have. With the exception of being a celibate, a lifestyle that requires for one to have a will of steel, the most effective way of ensuring individuals won’t deal with a potentially unpleasant situation is by making them more informed about sex. Considering the purpose of schools is to educate its students; this means that sex education should be improved.

Sex Education’s Current Status Currently, describing sex education in its entirety as detailed and impactful would be inaccurate. The fact is it affects everyone at some point in their lives, whether one is properly prepared for it is a different story. A person’s readiness is definitely influenced by how much they know beforehand. As every state is somewhat involved in sex education for its public school students, then a person who has attended a public school at some point would be informed. However, the material being taught varies from state-to-state, meaning that there are plenty of people who aren’t as informed as others. That is not to say every public school is unreliable when it comes to this subject, but only thirteen states require the material be medically accurate, with twenty-seven being required to stress abstinence as the best option. The schools that do rely on an abstinence-only approach with their sex-education don’t produce effective results. Telling someone to do something, or vice versa, isn’t effective if a poor explanation is given. This ignorance often leads to unprotected sex, which in of itself can lead to a teen pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted disease. It goes without saying the number of these instances occurring could be prevented if those involved were more aware.

Possible Improvements Taking a more realistic view on sex education is the first step in improving it. It is important to accept the fact adolescents are likely to engage in risky behavior; public schools might as well do their best in minimizing the severity of the potential consequences by teaching their students. Due to the unreliability of abstinence-focused programs, a comprehensive sex-ed class is the best option in reducing the number of teen pregnancies and STDs. However, it is important to explain the components of a comprehensive sexual education program. Effective sexual education has its fair share of characteristics, with the most successful thoroughly covering multiple topics. These curriculums should include accurate information on human anatomy, physiology, families, personal safety, healthy relationships, pregnancy and birth, the various sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptives, pregnancy options, and sexual orientation. The more thorough the better considering the damage that can be done by someone who doesn’t possess enough common sense to utilize deductive reasoning. Using incremental escalation is also recommended, as it would be beneficial for individuals to learn all this information when their body is beginning to face these changes. In other words, the material being taught should be age appropriate, as it would be inappropriate and ineffective to teach a child every facet of sex at such an early age. A step-by-step approach will ensure that those being taught will understand what they’re learning.

(A bird and a bee, image courtesy of the Denver Waldorf School.) These programs should not be utilized with the mentality of scaring adolescents into not having sex by listing all of its consequences, such as the possibility of a teen pregnancy and getting a STD. That is not to say these repercussions should be avoided at all; they are very important topics. Everyone should be provided with this information so they would be more aware of an important aspect of their lives. Other than individuals being knowledgeable about something so vital, these programs would also decrease the instance of teen pregnancies and people being affected with STDs. Although the topic of sex can be uncomfortable when brought up, considering the benefits sex-ed can bring, it could be counted as an absolute win.

andres gonzalez staff writer

may issue

e live in a society filled with unrealistic expectations and pressures to fit into a cookie cutter mold of the “perfect” person. Over the last several decades, women in many cultures have spoken out about the imbalances of patriarchal societies, unrealistic expectations, and unfair working opportunities, and with the rise of social media, more and more societal pressures have risen to have the “perfect” body and live the “perfect” lifestyle. Recently, some influencers and organizations have spoken out about the unrealistic lives plastered on the internet which is a major step to improving the well-being of society. However, there is one flaw. Most people are now aware of the unbelievable standards for women, but many do not identify similar unrealistic expectations for men. Everyone is influenced by the pressures of society as young as their early childhood. Influences on boys are not always apparent but they shape the men of our society, and we should be more conscious of them and challenge them more frequently. Although there is nothing wrong with masculinity, it should not be the only thing that defines men. Masculine traits include being the leader of the house, never showing vulnerability, identifying heterosexual, being strong and athletic, competitive, and independent. Nothing is wrong with having these traits and there is nothing wrong with not having any of these traits.

BOYS CAN BE BOYS Toxic Masculinity and Gender Expectations in Society

One masculine trait specifically, lack of vulnerability, can be very damaging to both men and women. Due to the lack of identification of these standards, society steals healthy coping methods from boys who then resort to isolation or anger in replacement of vulnerability. In fact, many studies show that the reason domestic violence between couples is so unfortunately common is in part due to the incredibly unrealistic expectations men are held to every day. Unfortunately, schools have not been the best place to speak out on these unrealistic norms. The activities students participate in, the people they hang out with, and the classes they take are all influenced by society in one way or another. Examples of toxic masculinity can be found in students’ daily lives from conversations with friends to participating in class. Unfortunately, these masculine standards can spark bullying like the calling of derogatory terms or physical abuse. From a survey of 55 high school students, 54% said they fear judgment if they were to participate in non-traditional activities for their gender. So the question remains, what can we as a community do to decreases the social pressures on men? Although it won’t happen overnight, the first steps we can take are to eliminate gendered insults and accept the idea that boys have feelings. If we all open our minds a little bit and stop focusing on “boys will be boys”, we can significantly improve the well-being of society and take one step closer to equality.

payton wozny editorial board

30 GE ANT A U T R G AN IMPO URE L ARE SSES R FUT CLA YOUs R zevallo O F erine

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here are many people around the world who want to learn each other's language for better communication. In old fashion ways, using language books was the best solution of learning a language. However, schools have gotten into the idea of teaching any kind of language they are able to teach. On the Oakton high school website, a world language curriculum provides a comprehensive study of language and develops the four skills of language learning: listening, speaking, reading and writing. You can take chinese, french, and spanish. But next year around 2019 to 2020, will be new language classes such as japanese, arabic, and others that are still unknown. Getting good grades in those types of classes are important to

your family and your teacher. But is it really a big deal for your future, such as college? Oakton high school language classes are not taken seriously as math and science. According to oakton high school, language classes are not a serious class to take for college. Many say that it is still important to take more than one language because it can bring cultural awareness and allows you to communicate with other people. However, taking language classes isn’t always the best choice. Some argue that taking a language class is a waste of money. Yes these types of classes can help a lot of things but sometimes it can be too hard to understand and organize the language you have learned. It depends what type of language you are taking if it’s a hard one or a easy one. You need

to know how to organize and study your words. So should you take a language class and are they worth it for your future? It depends. “Language classes are really good for being able to communicate with other people of other cultures so yes i think it’s worth it” Junior, Thomas McTaggart. “Yes i think they’re worth it not only because it brings a creative opportunity to students, but also allows them to produce their own creative writings and invest their own ideologies and point of view into their writings.” Sophomore, Matthew Zevallos. That is the final answer students have given. Oakton students are excited for the new language classes to come and say that it is worth it.

may issue

RAMADHAN DURING SOCCER The Holy Month of Ramadhan

amadhan is the holy month for Muslims and they celebrate it by fasting. It commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of not ingesting fluids or foods from dawn to dusk and also refraining from sin otherwise the fast is broken. Muslims from all walks of life are fasting including athletes such as Moroccans Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui who play soccer. This was during a European fixture, that is, the Champions League semi-final.The pair broke their fast in the 24th minute, with Hakim Ziyech scoring just 11 minutes after. Mazraoui said: “I am used to doing it. Can a high-level athlete stop eating if he has to make a big effort? There are different opinions, but this is my choice, I feel quite energetic during Ramadan,” Mazraoui said in an interview with the Het Parool newspaper. Muslims, especially adults are obliged to observe Ramadhan. Since fasting takes longer than prayer, which takes around an hour, it is the longest and most effective way to thank God as it isalmost 12 to 16 hours a day. Last year, Liverpool players, Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane together with Real Madrid’s players Karim Benzema and Archaf Hakimi had to make a decision whether they would break their fast for the Champions League final. They opted to take a break and probably accounted for them during the rest of the year as is the custom. “We were in Marbella and the nutritionist established a work plan,” Ruben Pons told Spanish radio station Cadena SER. “Tomorrow and the day of the match he won’t, so it’s not going to affect him.”The coach Jurgen Klopp said religion was private and that there was “Nothing to say about that but all fine you will see him out there. This year, Liverpool again were in the Champions League and this time they were facing Barcelona in the semi-final.They were rumored to be fasting this time. How does fasting affect student-athletes in school especially now during SOL week and during spring sports? In a conversation with a teammate from the Oakton Boys Soccer team, Ivan Kurd, on whether fasting affects his performance or schoolwork, he responded that fasting does not interfere with day to day activities like school as it doesn’t require action and that he was still “fine to play soccer.” For the first few weeks one may feel but it doesn’t affect my school even though I have SOL’s coming up.” It is thus somewhat faster as other methods require reciting the Quran and this may take longer. If one deliberately misses Ramadhan without any religious justification or valid excuses such as illness, travel, old age, severe thirst and hunger and coercion such as execution or jail time. There are consequences. Compared to prayers, If one missed them, they could make up for the missed prayers. For fasting however, in addition to making it up, from an authentic hadith by Imam As-Sadiq, “ He must free a slave or fast two months or feed sixty poor people, but if he was unable to do so, he must give charity as much as he can .” and it the penalty becomes heftier if the fast is broken with something such as alcohol or masturbation. Fasting is started by sighting the crescent moon of Ramadhan and concluded by sighting the crescent moon of Shawwal. The first day of the month can be established if the person themselves have seen the moon, a number of people confirm to have seen it and their word satisfies the person and if two Adil, just persons confirm to have seen the moon at night. In a nutshell, fasting is one of the most, if not the most effective way of worship.

courtesy of wikimedia commons

sebastian osea staff writer

INDEPTH MAJORS AND JOBS A guide for people who don’t know what they want to do after college Business

Nursing

Are you getting above a bachelors degree?

English

Do you like math?

Do you like children?

N General Nurse Do you like research?

Business Analyst Economist

Pediatric Nurse

Do you like leading?

Nurse admin

Business Manager

General Nurse

Business Admin Do you like math

Financial Analyst

Are you critical?

Business Lawyer

Professor

High School teacher

Do you like teaching?

Do you like leading?

Research Manager

Are you interested in law?

Do you like leading?

Do you liketeaching?

Quality Coordinator

Nurse Executive

Author Technical Writer

Do you like math?

Are you going for a PhD?

Wrie

Are you creative?

Are you going for a PhD?

Y Are you going for a PhD?

Editor Do you like collaboration?

N Do you like reporting?

Try Again

Business Communication

Journalist

Try Again

sahithi jammulamadaka editorial board

Try Again

may issue

THE SENIORITIS EPIDEMIC Seniors explain their condition

very year, a devastating virus strikes hundreds of Oakton students. It thrives on consuming every ounce of motivation present in the body, and it is highly contagious. Symptoms include tiredness as well as a total loss of interest in attending school, let alone setting eyes on any schoolwork. Many juniors, sophomores, and even freshmen have observed the prevalence of senioritis quite apprehensively, anticipating either an academic low or an unproductive yet thrilling couple of months toward the end of their high school experience. Though, it is difficult to truly understand the severity of this condition without being troubled by it. How does one contract senioritis in the first place? Evidently, it begins as seniors start to divert their attention to applying for college and then committing to a college. Once they are actually safe in knowing that their home for the next four plus years is set, many see their academic efforts as even more unnecessary. Often times, though, seniors don’t fully intend to withdraw from schoolwork. Nevertheless, slowly but surely, they begin to let things slide. “While I was still grinding, it only set a precedent in forgetting about school,” explains Franco Medrano (12) of the attention he gave to his college applications at the beginning of his senior year. “Once second semester hit, it was all downhill from there.” Like Medrano, many seniors initially work hard. Then, they slowly descend a slippery slope, a downward spiral of neglecting their responsibilities at school. “I found myself still working hard after my college acceptances,” says Joe Malone (12). “Classwork was just as strenuous, and the idea that senior year is super easy went out the window. So I tried making the best of a bad situation, rearranging priorities and 1 being the mildest and 10 being the most detrimental putting stuff off. Then it got a little out of control when I stopped turning a few assignments in here and there… I’ve since become totally apathetic.” As Nick Mahajan (12) explains, “I didn’t really let my grades slip that much because of pride and wanting to maintain a high GPA, but it meant I wasn’t as willing to put in those long nights of studying or writing paone student answered 11 pers as well as before senioritis. Generally, I † sample size of 22 students was much more risky with how I approached my grades and how willing I was to not do as well.” When one senior was asked if she would be willing to describe her senioritis experience, she responded, “after my nap, yes”. The end of senior year certainly evokes a lot of emotions. Nonetheless, the symptoms of senioritis haley longfellow hold a notorious presence at Oakton High School, staff writer one that comes around every year. Watch out, juniors, you’re next.

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Rate Your Senioritis: 1-10*

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34 OAKTON’S COLLEGE CULTURE:WHY EVERYONE GOES TO COLLEGE

OAKTON VS. OTHER SCHOOLS: lizzie thompson staff writer

ll grades of high school are facing the stress of final exams and SOL’s, for seniors the main focus for the entire year has been college. Not all high schools have as high of a graduation rate as Oakton. Oakton’s high graduation rate has facilitated the idea that you have to go to college afterwards. Which is very different from how the rest of the country looks at higher education. The Fairfax county area has normalized the idea of always graduating and going to college directly after, whereas in other parts of the country it’s abnormal to go to college at all. For me personally, I know that if I were to tell everyone that I wasn’t going to college at all that everyone would be concerned for me. If I were to not go to college

I wouldn’t really have anything to do at the end of the year for senior or junior year because so much of that curriculum is oriented around carrying into higher education. The graduation rate for oakton is 94% compared to the country average of 67.7%. This is a good thing of course, to want everyone to have higher education, but it’s interesting to think about how other people look a the subject. For example, other parts of the country use education as a tool to get you ready for a job. Like teaching how to fix cars or agriculture classes. They wouldn’t be spending their last months thinking about what they want to major in or what subjects they want to study. In other states, it’s not even as common to graduate high school, let alone go to college. Oregon’s high school graduation rate is 30% less with a 73.7%. This is nothing compared to New Mexico’s rate of 60.7. Most people agree that the reason why these rates of graduation and higher education are so low is because these states have economies based on manual labor. New Mexico is known for their agriculture, and Oregon is a factory state. Meaning

the the people coming out of their schools aren’t looking to be scientists or engineers, because the jobs in their area are working on a farm or factory. The mentality is, why would they get an education when it’s not valuable to their family business. Fairfax county is the third wealthiest county in the country, and it shows in the school system. The reason why it’s expected for people in Oakton to go to college is because our parents went to college, and the proximity to Washington DC and seeing all of the growth and learning happening there, shows the students what they could be. The jobs in our area aren’t manual labor. Their intellectual which leaves us to see the value in a higher education, because we know the different fields and see them in our everyday life. Though it’s great that we know that we have an option of going to college, it’s important to treat it with the respect that it deserves, and not treating it like it’s a right. But knowing that it is a privilege.

may issue

COLLEGE THROUGH THE YEARS

How college in the United States has evolved over time

n 2019, many high schoolers’ ideal image of college life consists of Starbucks-fueled study sessions following their only class of the day before staying up through the morning with friends in their dorm. While many aspects of this image have stayed consistent throughout the years, like the classes and social life, others have come and gone (like Starbucks). In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that women weren’t allowed in Ivy league schools. Throughout the years, the dynamics of college and the programs offered have shifted to become the more extensive and inclusive experience we have today. In 1636, Harvard, the first college in America, opened in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Though today we think of Harvard as a premier institution in law and medical fields, it started with a very different purpose: to prepare men for the clergy, grooming them to be religious leaders (“History of Higher Education in the U.S.”). William and Mary was the next institute of higher education in the colonies, followed by many of the Ivy league schools. It wasn’t until the American Revolution that the trajectory of the college curriculum was changed, shifting the focus from religious studies to the traditional college subjects we think of today (“History of Higher Education in the U.S.”). More universities slowly emerged throughout the years. A wave of colleges materi- alized after the Morrill Act of 1862 allotted each state money to create a

public college (“History of Higher Education in the U.S.”). Many of these became the large state schools popular today, such as Penn State, Ohio State, and Clemson. However, it was not until the 19th century that women could go to college with men. There were opportunities for women to go to school, but they could only attend “sister schools”, which were the all-girls counterparts to traditional men’s colleges. Oberlin College was the first all male school to open its doors to women and become co-ed in the 1830s (“Early American Colleges, 1636 – 1860: A Timeline”). Other colleges slowly followed suit, but it wasn’t until the later half of the 20th century that women were admitted into schools such as Harvard and Yale. Thankfully, significant progress has been made for women in the past few decades. At college, especially, “there are more opportunities now for females,” explained Ms. Banbury, Oakton College and Career Center specialist. Even traditionally male dominated fields have had increasing numbers of women as time goes on. Recently, colleges have put conscious effort into ensuring they have diverse student bodies overall, through means such as affirmative action that support minorities. Colleges are finally becoming a more inclusive place. As for academics, these days universities are becoming more research-based, technology-based, and hands on, explained Ms. Banbury. This is all in order to better prepare students for jobs and the real world. There are increasing opportunities for internships encouraged by colleges each year. North Carolina State University, for instance, has the vast majority of its students get internships at some point during their studies before graduation.

olivia garrone staff writer

The school itself is partnered with a variety of companies and houses buildings for these companies on campus, where many students score the internships. It is promising to see that colleges are moving in this direction because the more internship and work experience students get in college, the more connections they have and the easier it will be for them to get hired as professionals once they graduate. No matter what year you graduate in, “whatever you choose to do after high school, you make it what it is,” explained Ms. Banbury. If you make the most out of the opportunities you have, whenever they may be, than you can be happy and successful. As times continue to change, higher education inevitably will, too. Luckily, it is only getting better as the years go by, offering more opportunities, more specific degree programs, and hands-on experiences. No matter what happens with the specifics of the college experience, however, the final result-a degree that opens the door to job opportunities-stays the same. Bibliography “Early American Colleges, 1636 – 1860: A Timeline.” Columbia University, 2014, edblogs.columbia.edu/ histx3570-001-2014-1/timelines/early-amer ican-colleges-1636-1860-a-timeline. “History of Higher Education in the U.S.” Cleary University, 7 Jan. 2016, www.cleary. edu/international/history-of-he/.

36 W HY

ST I L L ?

“...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

or the past decade or two, tragic school shootings have struck one community after another. They strike innocent towns, leav-ing only grief and anger behind. Many ripples of action have been the effect of these events. For example, after the Highland Ranch STEM school shooting, Colorado officials unanimously voted to provide $10 million towards improving school safety and to provide more resources for mental illness help, such as more school-assigned physiatrists. In events like these, the blame falls on one of two things: the laws surrounding firearms and/or how schools and authorities fail to not provide resources to certain individuals. While neither of these causes are entirely ‘fixable,’ they can at least be minimized. After all, some progress is better than no progress. Unfortunately, any step towards is always met with challenges Mental illness is always a sensitive topic within the general public. While mental illness doesn’t define or justify a crime, it sure does provide a potential cause for someone’s acts. In almost every public shooting, including those in schools, the shooter has had some history with mental illness. According to a CNBC article titled “Inside the mind of Nikolas Cruz and other mass school shooters,” Dr. Alan Lipman has described three common categories for a mass killer. He has come up with these categories by becoming a certified expert of the psychology of violence and following mass murder cases since 1998. These categories include A person between 16-25 who is depressed with a fascination for violence, a psychotic individual, and either a sociopath or a psychopath. Notice how all of these categories deal in some way with mental disorders. This lays some reasoning as to why the public demands more action to recognize early warning signs and resources at-risk people can go to. For at-risk teens, many more

obstacles approach. Seeking professional mental help can be very expensive and this makes receiving help near-to-impossible for many teens. Therefore, this students’ only resource would be the professionals inside their own school. Every school has counselors that are assigned a cluster of students. These counselors aid students in everything from class registration to practical counseling. However, at times, student problems might be too serious for a simple sit down with a counselor. This is where a school psychologist would come in. Unfortunately, according to a Health Affairs report, in over half of U.S. counties, there are zero licensed psychologists. This makes such an impact because this prevents students who need serious help from obtaining it. By highlighting this heavy influence of mental health on mass crime, it might bring light to those in leadership over schools, whether that be superintendents or even principals. Maybe then, more effort would be made towards reaching out and giving aid to those in need. Unfortunately, even if we, as a country, are able to improve the understanding and outreach to individuals with mental health issues, we can’t expect this problem to go away so easily. After all, normally people need weapons to harm others. The Constitution says that all citizens are entitled to a right to bear arms. This even reaches out to military assault firearms. These weapons are allowed, under law, to beb l permitted to any law-abiding citizen. For sensible reasons, this shouldn’t be the case. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 18.5% of Americans experience mental illness. While having a mental illness doesn’t guarantee that someone is more dangerous, it’s crucial that more precautions should be taken when issuing firearms to them. As said earlier, every category of a ‘school-shooter, has something to do with a case of mental health issues.

Based on it, it’s to be proposed that further background checks be performed to ensure that the receiver was safe to get the weapon. Now, of course, these through background checks should be proposed to all citizens but that seems like a long stretch in our country today. It’s also important to bring attention towards limiting access the public has to military-style firearms, such as the AR-15. The number of people these weapons have killed in just the past couple years bypasses those casualties of other firearms. Restrictions would definitely put a decline in shooting deaths. However, just like any other controversial issue, it won’t be easy to get official action. Lawmakers always hesitate to vote on controversial things, such as laws on background checks and weapon restrictions, because of all the backlash from lobbyists and the public alike. Many believe that intense backgrounds checks invade personal privacy and make it harder for Americans to express their second amendment. As for gun restrictions, that’s completely out of the question for supporters of the second amendment. By liming the types of weapons Americans can buy, they believe they’re being stripped of their rights. Their loud disapproval is made known to state and national governments and that’s what usually delays hearings on these issues. Though it’ll be a bumpy ride, it really is important to look into implementing more mental health awareness in schools and regulations towards gun laws. Actions like these would directly impact these sorts of senseless tragedies. Maybe we’ll see such actions in years to come.

annabelle rosse staff writer

may issue

THE MODEL MINORITY Deconstructing how Asians are pitted against other minorities “The narrative became, ‘Asian can succeed without our help, why can’t blacks?’”

ASIAN AMERICAN.

ashleigh tain editor-in-chief

jake neuffer editor-in-chief

he fate of affirmative action is set to be decided by a harrowing court case which is entering its final days. At the center of the discussion is a group of Asian Americans called the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) who claim that Harvard’s race-conscious admissions process unfairly discriminates against them, citing the fact that, despite performing highest on test scores, grades, and extracurriculars, they scored lowest on positive personality traits like likeability, courage, kindness, and respectability. The SFFA attribute this scoring to racism. At the root of the accusation is a collection of stereotypes many are intimately familiar with but don’t quite understand: the Model Minority. The term used to generalize Asians who get excellent grades, are good at math, and play an instrument. The Model Minority is studious, hard working, and law-abiding. The stereotype is problematic in a number of ways, but is notable for how it has been used to place a wedge between Asians and other minorities. To understand how this could be, one must understand the history. The story of the stereotype reaches far back into the 1850’s. Fleeing famine and civil strife, Chinese immigrants were the first wave of Asians to reach America’s shore. They were chasing gold (hence the Chinese name for San Francisco, “gold mountain”), but, most of all, opportunity. They found little of either upon arrived. California settlers resented the immigrants and the competition they posed. They were relegated to shanty towns (the very first Chinatowns) and excluded from higher paying jobs. Frustrations boiled over in 1871, when a mob of Los Angelenos executed a massacre that saw upwards of 17 Chinese lynched. According to some, the massacre is the largest lynching incident in American history. The logical conclusion of this dehumanization was reached in 1882 with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred any Chinese laborers from entering the nation. The state of general xenophobia and prejudice persisted until the 1950’s, when a newly liberated China seemed poised to

become a major world player. The US, wanting to improve relations with the country, began allowing entrance to immigrants again. This time, in order to sell the passage of the act, Asians were recast as ‘law-abiding, peace-loving, courteous people living quietly among us.’ The effect was that Asians began receiving better treatment and, slowly but surely, gained affluence. Enter the Civil Rights Movement. As racist politicians and political thinkers grasped for talking points, they quickly zeroed in on Asians. The narrative became, “Asians can succeed without our help, why can’t Blacks?” Of course, these arguments ignored the fact that the US specifically put efforts towards mitigating racism towards Asians, and that Asians hadn’t faced, at least to the same degree as Blacks, police brutality, workplace discrimination, and ghettoization. Asians had been treated horrifically by America, but Blacks had it worse. Still, the effect was a perpetualization of the Model Minority stereotype, and a wedge was produced with which racist politicians could push back against civil rights. The Harvard lawsuit is a continuation of the wedge. Affirmative action was used for a long while to ensure whites access to college and to exclude jews from prestigious universities. But, now that the system is finally realizing a more liberal goal, a movement has emerged to reform it to again favor whites. The SFFA is, at least unwittingly, being used by its white lawyers in order to further this cause. That isn’t to say there aren’t very legitimate grievances against the current way college admissions are run, but it is apparent that the SFFA is being used on behalf of white people to end affirmative action. The Model Minority has a host of other problems associated with it. It makes Asians seem quiet and meek; It gives Asians a sense of perpetual foreignness; and it excludes from the conversation Asians who have very real financial issues. But, when it comes to understanding America’s political culture, the ways in which the stereotype has hurt Civil Rights and pits Asians against other ethnicities is incredibly important.

A&E

HOME AUTOMATION IN THE COLLEGE DORM The bleeding edge of the automated dwelling

mazon offers a suite of home automation products that are attractive for those already in the Amazon ecosystem. Alexa has become a powerful virtual assistant in recent years and the third party products that connect to it have broadened. Amazon’s Echo and Dot both offer a good assistant for your home to kick start the automation process for as low as $50. Assistants like Alexa can be linked to Nest, Ring, and other products that automate process around your home. Nest produces smart thermostats, surveillance camera, smoke alarms, video doorbells, and door/window alarms. The company can be a good investment if you’re going all in with automation. All their products connect to Google Assistant or Alexa and can be controlled via the assistant app or your voice within the home. Nest products are quite expensive but it’s warranted because these all make life easier but are never needed to have a smooth living experience. Connected door alarms and doorbells provide a layer of security that can’t be matched by older alternatives to home automation. Real time alerts to your phone and automatic contacts for local police and fire departments make the security side of home automation a worthwhile

investment. For some families and students in communities where crime rates are higher, home automation is a must have. Google home hubs are screens that sit on a table in your home and controls all connected items. Live video feeds from your exterior and interior surveillance cameras can be accessed. Doorbell rings can be answered via a microphone and smart light brightness levels can be adjusted for lamps around the home. These central smart hubs or speakers double as a mediocre bluetooth speaker that can be casted to for a surround sound system with multiple speakers. When paired with a chromecast for your TV, these hubs can cast video that you speak to the assistant right up to your TV for viewing. Automation of the home is apparent for the rich single family home, in say Northern Virginia, but the college dorm should be a place for light automation via smart doorbells and a Google or Amazon assistant. The new smart living is a innovation that excites and breeds new questions about what dwellings should be and for what fee you can be at the bleeding edge.

brendan bellingham staff writer

Credit: Reid England

Credit: Computer World

may issue

THE GAME OF THRONES FINALE AIRED DID THE SHOW JUST END? OR WAS IT MURDERED?

ame of Thrones has always been a beloved show with high ratings and reviews, but recently it has been under fire for it’s last season. The show’s high production quality seems to have dropped ever since the original writer of the book series, George R.R Martin left the fate last season in the hands of the two amateur writers, David Benoff, and D.B Weiss. The season has had a noticeable change in dialog and story writing ever since the new writers took over, but tensions between the fans and the show’s producers came to a breaking point when a minor slip up happened while filming the show. In a small cut showing a main character sitting at a table in a dining hall, a starbucks coffee cup can be noticed sitting in stark contrast to the medieval setting around it. This sparked controversy amongst the fans and all viewers alike. How could a show that had a budget of 15 million have an avoidable mistake like a random coffee cup? With the high production value and the hype surrounding the conclusion of the show, there has been plenty of public outcry against the show’s new writers.

Another example of a small mistake being made with such a high production budget is when a character with a prosthetic right hand is shown with a normal human hand when hugging another character. To most viewers, it’s almost shameful how little the production team must have cared if a handless character magically has his hand back because of a small filming mistake. Despite the anger against the coffee cup and gold hand scenes, they weren’t as devastating as people advertised it as. It pointed to a bigger problem that stems from within the waning quality of the show and how it isn’t just ending as a show, it’s being murdered. Fans have come together and denounced the final season of Game of Thrones. It is universally agreed that the quality showcased from the show has recently been lacking and that it has been an unsatisfying ending to the show so far. The story has plenty of inconsistencies and plot holes alike, and with the final episode on the horizon, nobody can clearly say that they are genuinely excited for it. To an extent, everyone is just ready for it to be over, and for the meantime, every viewer can breathe

a sigh of relief as they soon won’t have to worry about another great show being ruined by terrible writing. Unfortunately for GoT fans, even after the show ends, it won’t be the end of the show surprisingly. After the last episode is aired, there are 3 spin-off shows planned for HBO. Even after the failure of the final GoT season, producers will still rake in cash from the hype surrounding the shows that come from the original. The writers of the new shows will not be George R.R Martin, and if anything, we should have learned that when people write in the place of GRRM, the story is never as good as it could have been.

cole starmer staff writer

OAKTON OUTLOOK

Oakton Outlook May 2019

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