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On Wednesday, April 17 faculty participated in Bring-Your-Kid-To-Work-Day.
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Blue ribbon committee narrows down proposals, elementary schools to close
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
Green and gold 50 year anniversary gala
HALF DAY Thursday, April 25 for all students
By Abi Murray STAFF REPORTER
BLOOD DRIVE Monday, April 29 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the P.A.C. HA
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COLLEGE NIGHT Tuesday, April 30 from 6-8 p.m. at South SAT TESTING Saturday, May 4 at 8 a.m. in the gym GREEN AND GOLD GALA Saturday, May 4 6-9 p.m. in the gym
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"WHEN PARENTS "GET ARE HEARING INFORMED COMPLAINING AND MAKE FROM THEIR YOUR VOICE KID, LISTEN TO HEARD. WE THEM. THERE’S A CANNOT REASON AFFORD THAT TOTHEY’RE LOSE
COMPLAINING. THEM." " PAGE 7 PAGE 6
By Emily Widgren PAGE EDITOR
On Thursday, April 11, the Blue Ribbon Committee announced their tentative plans for school closures in the district. Parent Colleen Hughes was happy to hear that her local middle school, Brownell, is safe. “That was my biggest concern, that we were going to lose one of the middle schools,” Hughes said. “I'm grateful that our three middle schools look like they'll stay put for now.” The plan as of now is to close on elementary school on each side of the district. On the north side, the schools under consideration are Mason and Poupard and on the south end, Maire, Kerby and Trombly are all being considered. On top of those, the board plans on closing Barnes and the administrative building. One of the closed schools will function as Barnes does now, acting as an early childhood center and classrooms for students with learning disabilities. School board and BRC member Judy Gafa said that the decision on the committee’s side is complete, but this decision can be accepted or rejected by the school board.
“The committee has completed its work,” Gafa said. “The Board can accept the committees recommendation or, after further discussions after the town halls, the board can decide on a separate configuration.” Students and parents alike have different ideas on which of the schools should close. Freshman Sophia Graham believes that closing Mason would be the most logical move for the north end of the district. “Closing Mason makes sense, because closing Poupard would require kids who walk to school to cross Mack or Harper in the morning,” Graham said. “That could be dangerous in the winter or during periods of high traffic.” On the south side, Graham believes that closing Maire would be the best choice, but that none of the options are favorable. “Closing either Maire or Trombly would require a total change in the way school boundaries are drawn, too, and affect kids who walk to school,” Graham said. “Also, closing Maire would leave a large space available in the Village, which could open up new real estate possibilities.” Throughout the process, many groups on social media were created for parents to share their ideas on the closures. Parents such as Hughes enjoyed having a place to share their thoughts on the issue because
according to her, community members were not allowed to talk at every committee meeting. Despite the open forum they provide, the creation of these groups led to the spread of information that is not completely factual. Hughes said that though these groups are beneficial, parents could not trust everything being posted. “I think that there's a lot of very well educated people who have really looked into all of this and has really smart, truthful things to say,” Hughes said. “On the flip side of that coin, I think there's a lot of people on there that are just spitting out rumors or personal thoughts. To me, it's great, I feel like it's a great sounding board for the community. I feel like it's almost our only sounding board.” Even with the backlash from the community and the misinformation that circles through Facebook groups, Gafa said that the mission of the committee has never changed, and that they stuck with that original purpose from start to finish. “At the end of this process Grosse Pointe will still have an excellent school system," Gafa said. "With the best teachers that will continue to offer and excellent education.”
Robotics team tackle states, win entrepreneurship award
By Maggie Carron PAGE EDIOTR
The conjoined North and South robotics team, Gearheads, participated in their state competition on March 31 in Detroit, and came back with multiple successes. The team got to States after winning the Chairman’s Award, which three members presented. The Chairman's Committee was made up of Senior Ritika Pansare, Sophomore Julia Magnan and Sophomore Ben Urum, who all presented to the judges. They served as representatives of Robotics during the on and off seasons to the committee. This is not the only year that Robotics has won this award, but to Gearheads, it was an exciting opportunity to showcase their skills nonetheless. For Sophomore Akhil Mankad, a Gearheads member of two years, going to States was an amazing experience. His favorite part was being able to meet new people while bonding with his team. “My favorite part was being able to work with strangers and over time becoming good friends with them,” Mankad said. “The team works together really nicely during competition and throughout the year. Some might say we fit together like gears.” At States, the team won the Entrepreneurship Award, which is an award that celebrates the team’s business plan and how they work to achieve their mission as a team. It was a very special accomplishment to them, due to the fact the state level plaques were awarded only to four teams in the state. For Ritika Pansare, business captain for the team and member of four years, winning was a bittersweet moment. “I was obviously thrilled that we had qualified for States, but it was also my last competition ever,” Pansare said. “Winning the award was especially exciting since I am business captain, so it was amazing to see the rewards of my work over the years.” The Gearheads compete in the organization, First Robotics, in a challenge known as FIRST robotics competition and release a new game every January. This year’s game was called, “Destination Deep Space.” Team members got six weeks to build a robot to compete in the competition and this year, the team had to build a robot that would drive very swiftly in order to deliver balls. The robot could do this in ways
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such as shooting them into a basket or delivering hatch panels to block cargo holes on a “spaceship” that would be blasting off. At these competitions, the robots can sometimes break. To those competing, it's kind of “rough and tumble” during the rounds. This year, the Gearheads had a number of problems with wiring difficulties, coding issues and physical mechanical issues, but members of the team
JULIA MAGNAN
FIT LIKE GEARS| Although sophomore Akhil Mankad has only been apart of the gearheads for a few years he said the best part of being on the team is the relationships he has made with his teammates. "My favorite part has been working with strangers and over time becoming good friends." said that they all worked together to work through those issues. Eileen Reickert has been the mentor for Gearheads for five years, and said she was thoroughly impressed with her team's attitude, despite the fact that they didn’t achieve everything they wanted to, such as making it to Worlds. “The number of ideas, solutions, and suggestions that have come out of the team members for how we can improve and do better next year is amazing,” Reickert said. “We aren’t grumbling (or) thinking about what we didn’t get. Instead, we are thinking of ways to improve for next year to get it, so I'm really proud of the team for that reason. One of our philosophies is that what we learn is more important than what we win and I think the kids have really embraced that.”
News Life
In honor of this school’s 50th birthday, the Parent Club will be hosting a Green and Gold Gala, dedicated to commemorating half a century of educating Grosse Pointe students. “The Gala is a great way to (get) people (to) come together, to be a community and to get to talk to other parents, because once your kids are out of elementary school, you're not standing outside anymore, talking to them and getting to know them,” copresident of the Parent Club, Gretchen Schock, said. “In high school, it gets harder to keep that community feel going, so I think it's important to do things like that, that have people talk to each other. It gets hard when you get older and your kids get older. You kind of lose touch.” To celebrate 50 years of education in Grosse Pointe, the Gala will feature performances by the choir, elementary schools as well as a fashion show and auction. Renee Ketels, a mother of two attending students, has been to the Gala many times and believes it is extremely important to participate in events similar to this to order to improve opportunities for students. Although Ketels cannot make it this year, she will still be supporting the event. “Unfortunately, I will not be attending this year again, we have a personal conflict. I will be buying the tickets, though, in order to continue to support the program but we will not be able to attend live,” Ketels said. “This will be our first year missing it.” Ketels greatly appreciates this annual opportunity to mingle with parents, teachers and administration. She also sees the Gala as a good opportunity to introduce new parents to the school and its community. “I think it's a nice way for the parents and the administration to get together outside of the class, get to know each other in a more relaxed environment,” Ketels said. “I think also, parents enjoy going out and having a nice evening out. It's a little less structure, a little less pressure. And it's a fun way to give to the school district.” Junior Cairington Stahl believes this time of the year is a prime opportunity to bring the district together and provide an event for parents that may not get to socialize with friends as much as their kids grow older. Stahl has participated in the school fashion show since her freshman year and looks forward to this years opportunity to raise money for the school by celebrating the momentous anniversary through fashion. She is excited for this year’s combinations of the Gala and fashion show because she predicts it will give the show a larger, more successful platform Stahl would like to encourage higher participation from students, especially male ones, despite the expectation that the fashion show is more for girls. “I think it's a great way for kids to not only be a part of the fundraising for the school, because I think that it's important that we participate. A lot of the money is going towards things that we will use,” Stahl said. “So it's a good idea for us to be a part of it.”
1 Editorial 3 Reviews 5 2 Indepth 4 Sports 6
By Hannah Zalewski & Kylie Duke
LIFE
North Pointe – Wednesday, April 24, 2019 – 2
Students, staff adjust to Ramadan during exam season By Michael Hartt & Farrah Fasse PAGE EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER
Humanities teacher Kareem Hakim has been observing Ramadan, a month-long Islamic holiday where observers practice fasting from sunrise to sunset, since he was in eighth grade; he has been dealing with the struggle of hunger during Ramadan ever since. Even though some who do not observe Ramadan may see it as a miserable month filled with hunger pains, Hakim argues that it is a month of understanding how lucky one truly is, although, he also admits that it can be difficult to maintain his normal energy when not eating or drinking all day. “It’s supposed to be all about if you can abstain from things that are actually good for you, like food and drink as they’re essential to life. There’s no way you could go everyday without it. If you can abstain from those things, then you can definitely abstain from things that are not good for you,” Hakim said.“It’s a super humbling time period, because you realize how fortunate you are that you take these things for granted.” Senior Ramsha Rizvi agrees with Hakim on Ramadan being humbling and emphasizes how much of a beneficial experience it is. Rizvi also says that she is not as occupied with routinely activities, which frees up time for her do work on other things. “I love Ramadan, because it’s so much fun for me. It’s oddly relaxing in a way,” Rizvi said. “There’s a schedule we all follow and it’s more family-oriented than other months. It’s a nice time of ref lection for yourself.”
Advanced Placement, which is owned by nonprofit organization College Board, currently has a policy in place allowing students to take AP tests later if there is a school-related conflict, important event, or a celebration of a religious holiday. Hakim is grateful for said policy, and says that if he was taking AP exams he would still take the tests as scheduled, but he understands others’ individual needs as well. “I really appreciate the fact that they’re (College Board) understanding of those things, because you want it to be a level playing field,” Hakim said. “At the same time, I know that those tests cause a lot of anxiety for everybody, so in the end you might just want to get it over with.” Normal in-class tests, even if not in an AP class, can be difficult for students practicing fasting during Ramadan, according to sophomore Jasmina Baci. “It does get a little hard towards tests, because I tend to eat my stress, but it’s not too bad if you focus on what you are studying,” Baci said. In order for students to be successful on tests throughout Ramadan, Hakim recommends getting a good night’s rest and eating brain food such as oily fish or walnuts. “I think (Muslims fasting) have to be really intentional with what they eat, when they can eat, and how much water they drink when they can drink,” Hakim said. “Getting a proper night’s sleep is essential and communication (is key) if they need any (extra) help.”
RAMADAN FEAST | The photo above depicts the traditional Islamic tradition of feasting after the sun goes down, during Ramadan. Junior Ramsha Rizvi said that she loved the holiday. “I love it because it’s so much fun for me. It’s oddly relaxing in a way,” Rizvi said. “There’s a schedule we all follow and it’s more family-oriented than other months. It’s a nice time of reflection for yourself.”
First time Bring Your Kid to Work Day hosted by Student Association By Sofia Ketels MANAGING EDITOR
On Wednesday, April 17, North’s median age hit a sudden decrease due to the addition of over 30 young children — all of whom were participants in the Student Association’s first Bring Your Kid to Work Day event. Sophomore and Student Association member Emily McCloskey volunteered to help out during seventh hour in the library, where many of the children were playing games and working on various crafts. To McCloskey, one of the highlights of the hour for her was simply seeing the change in her teacher’s behavior in a completely different environment than she was used to. “They were much more relaxed and fun,” McCloskey said via email. “North, overall, had a much more inviting environment.” Seventh hour was also a favorite for Social Studies teacher Bridget Cooley’s daughter, Parker. Throughout the day, kids participated in a new activity every hour: breakfast and German songs with German teacher Susan Sipos in first hour, science and chemistry related activities with science teachers Jaime Hainer and Kristi Lee in second, and a cooking class with lifeskills teacher Michael Viviani in third. After lunch in the Student Union during fourth
and fifth hour, kids went on to a field day, and split their sixth and seventh hours between the planetarium and the library with physics teacher Don Pata and library media specialist Amanda Pata, respectively. Cooley was able to spend time with the kids during her first and fourth hour prep periods, and said that the day was not only a fun way to hang out with her daughter and show her what her job is, but also to create a sense of family in school. As for her daughter, Cooley said that she enjoyed the planetarium, making crystals in second hour and getting to be around the “big kids” in high school. “Obviously my family is the most important thing to me, but North family is very important to me too, and this day brought that all together,” Cooley said via email. “I think any opportunity for parents to expose their kids to new things is great. My daughter also got to hang out with her Norsekid friends.” Leading up to the event, McCloskey said that she wasn’t entirely sure how the event would be run, or what to expect come the big day. But, like Cooley, she was thoroughly impressed with the work that Student Activities director Peggy Bonbrisco and Student Association adviser Jonathan Byrne did throughout the day. Between interacting with her teachers who brought their kids to class, along with playing with them herself in the library, Mc-
Closkey said that her experience was wonderful, and that she wished she had been able to participate more. She also said that she even had a learning moment when interacting with the younger kids throughout her day. “From this experience, I realized that even though some of the kids were much younger than I am, our interests actually aren’t that different,” McCloskey said. “We shouldn’t talk down to them because it only makes them feel more out of place.” Both Cooley and McCloskey said that, given the opportunity, they would be more than willing to participate in a potential repeat of this event next year, and even take on a larger role or increased participation. McCloskey said that she enjoyed the day so much that she wishes it had been available to additional students outside of mainly the Student Association and the National Honors Society. To her, this is a unique opportunity for all students to use their free period to help out with something fun, not necessarily just for service hours or brownie points. “By allowing more students to sign up to help with the activities during their tutorials,” McCloskey said, “I think that it could become a day that everyone in the school will look forward to and remember.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROOKLYN MCWHORTER
MINI NORSEMEN | English teacher Jonathen Byrne (right) poses in a picture with two of his children. Emily McClosky, a Student Association member, loved the experience of a Bring Your Kid to Work Day. I definitely had a wonderful time in my classes with teachers who brought kids, but also during my tutorial when I was directly working with the kids,” McClosky said.
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EDITORIAL
NORTH
POINTE
“Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the press for all students, regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.” BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY Syeda Rizvi EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Hartt PAGE EDITOR
Emily Widgren PAGE EDITOR
Sofia Ketels MANAGING EDITOR
Abi Murray STAFF REPORTER
Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITOR
Maggie Carron PAGE EDITOR
Adam Schwartz PAGE EDITOR
Amelia Nowicki STAFF REPORTER
Arzoo Chhaya PAGE EDITOR Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.
GIACOBI BUSH
OUR EDITORIAL
North Pointe – Wednesday, April 24, 2019 – 3
Not to be a hipster, but modern music sucks MY TURN AMELIA NOWICKI Contrary to popular belief, history can be marked by things other than wars and politics; the number one alternative method being music. Different musical movements have defined entire generations, and on a smaller scale, genres of music can define moments in people’s lives. Which is why a good amount of modern music is terrible. If we analyze the reason as to how music can narrate someone’s story, the first thing we look at are lyrics. The lyrics of a song come together to create poetry, and the meaning of the poems are dependent on the reader’s, or in this case, the listener’s, interpretation. The way somebody internalizes a song is going to determine what the song means to them, and that can change from person to person. In recent years, the lens through which lyrics can be analyzed has become more and more narrow due to the common interest of a new group of consumers — those seeking dirt that can only be found on social media. Many modern artists have capitalized on the fact that consumers would rather hear about the latest celebrity scandal on Twitter than figure out the “true meaning” of an old Beatles song, thus stripping away the depth that makes some music timeless. Today, the charts are being topped by none other than Ariana Grande — famous for reasons that change depending on whatever gossip swarms her. Much of her latest album, “thank u, next” was produced for the sole purpose of throwing shade at her exes, and honestly, it’s awful. Since many of the songs are about one specific person or incident, this leaves no wiggle room that lets listeners relate to her music. Leading by example, Grande is helping to create a musical phase that I’m calling, “Spilling Tea to the Same Beat Over and Over Again.” To me, timeless music is made by artists who have the ability to reach out to a wider demographic that can relate to their work, regardless of
how mainstream music changes. For example, the Beatles have been around since 1960, and are still relevant today. Heading the British invasion and carrying the title of the most influential group of all time, they incorporated a countless number of sounds, ranging from classical to rock, and managed to find success in their solo careers even after their 1970 break up. Despite their short career as a band, what really makes The Beatles memorable are their lyrics. Not only do they approach topics that most people can relate to, but they do it in a way that elicits multiple emotions from the audience. The Beatles had something to say with most of their music. Ariana Grande, like the majority of other pop singers, doesn’t. Obviously there are many modern songs that contain a plethora of different meanings, but they aren’t the songs that top the charts. These lost opportunities serve as examples of what chart-toppers used to be, and are more meaningful when compared to the multitude of autotuned complaints. Music has played a major role throughout my life. When I think about what it was like to be a kid, I think of dancing and singing along to old Johnny Cash songs with my mom and grandma in the backyard. Whenever I hear the song “The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, I think of standing around a campfire in the summer with my family, and every year, my grandparents celebrate the birthday of Elvis Presley by playing all of his music and movies. Christmas is often spent listening to Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday, and when I need a pick-me-up, their music is all I need. All of these songs and artists have one thing in common: they’ve had a long-lasting impact, and have been able to help me, and many others, build relationships with the people closest to them.
The wings of change This will not be the first nor the last time you will hear that your actions — even simple ones — have consequences. With suicide rates in America reaching an all time high in 2017, how we carry ourselves in our everyday lives needs to shift. During our teenage years, words seem to stick with us. Just about anyone can remember a time when someone they may not even know made a quick comment that completely changed the tone of their day. Unfortunately, the comments that stick out the most to us are negative; imagine if the ones that have uplifted us outnumbered those that have torn us down. The importance of expressing appreciation to those around us is crucial in this day in age, where so much of our gratification is derived from likes on our posts, a Snapchat from someone we admire or a repost on Twitter. While these things may satisfy us in the moment, we are often left disappointed when those likes don’t add up to the number we hoped for. However, when someone goes out of the way to congratulate or compliment you, that always means a lot more than the careless tap of the thumb. Our attitude can affect more than just individuals, rather, entire rooms of people. All of us have been in classes where one person’s stress and frustration spread like wildfire throughout the whole room and inspired panic over things that did not deserve that type of stress. This is especially common in the way we interact, for instance, when someone’s personal problems with a teacher has affected how others perceive them, or when one particular group of classmates condemn a class and warn an entire grade from taking it in the future. While it is natural and perfectly okay to vent, stress is not an absolute excuse for lashing out. As corny as it sounds, the quickest solution to a bad situation is a shift in your perspective, one that is more optimistic and understanding to whoever else you are experiencing it with. Nine times out of ten, lashing out only intensifies the toxicity of situations, making coming to an understanding an even more out-of-reach goal. We can put this practice into our current lives. As of now, anger is an expected emotion in wake of announcements that multiple school buildings on both sides of the district will be closing. Currently, Grosse Pointe faces a difficult decision. A decision that, no matter the conclusion, will hurt the hearts of many Grosse Pointers. However, this current trend of attacking one another at any at any opportunity paired with a mob mentality is only worsening tensions and distrust in our community, making this transition even more painful for Grosse Pointe. However, in order to heal as a community we need to encourage compromise and acknowledge that while your school may be safe, that may mean the closure of someone else’s. Moving forward means the acceptance of differing opinions and a new reality, which requires individuals willing to shift their perspectives to evoke a more prosperous future for our community.
"Well some people have to walk to school and the schools being closed may be the only in their area."
Ada Johnson FRESHMAN
"It's not a decision that folks are taking lightly and groups of people are doing their best to explore all possible outcomes to come up with a solution that is most beneficial." Tamara Shepard SPANISH
"I personally am really scared that this is going to close the Grosse Pointe schools in Harper Woods, I’m worried that the closings are just a ploy to shut them down, for bad reasons." Kai Lloyd FRESHMAN
YOUR TURN: What are your thoughts on the closing of Grosse Pointe schools? By Kylie Duke
“It’s mostly cons when it comes to schools closing because that's one school down and less education for so many children. Some people that go to the schools that are closing will have to drive farther.” Jermaine Woods
“It’s very sad. The schools have so much history and now there isn’t anymore to be made.”
SOPHOMORE
JUNIOR
Annie Fleming
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Syeda Rizvi MANAGING EDITOR: Sofia Ketels BUSINESS MANAGER: Jordan Craighead WEBMASTER: Brooklyn McWhorter PAGE EDITORS: Maggie Carron, Arzoo Chhaya, Michael Hartt, Adam Schwartz, Emily Widgren, Hannah Zalewski STAFF REPORTERS: Abi Murray, Amelia Nowicki INTERNS: Giacobi Bush, Niklas David, Colin Duffy, Kylie Duke, Farrah Fasse, Ray Hamilton, Ray Jason, Julia Magnan, Leo Peck, Victoria Wittenberg The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review.
“It is unfortunate that we have to close schools in the district, but it would be more beneficial to the school district than opening borders." Alex Jakubiak JUNIOR
Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe Public School System. We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center. We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com. One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at northpointenow.org. The North Pointe is printed on 100% recycled paper. CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com Phone: 313.432.3248 Twitter: @TheNorthPointe Website: northpointenow.org FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn
EDITOR'S DESK ADAM SCHWARTZ
Dedication to activities being valued Resumes filled out with extensive activities — various sports, clubs and community service — are what most colleges look for in their applicants. They’re focused on the busy student who retains a high GPA while balancing their multitude of extracurriculars. However, there are also individuals who appear to do less, but give much more time to their fewer activities. This pattern of participation is what should be looked at more and valued highly. The dedication to a few clubs and extracurriculars over a long period of time should matter more than a full resume with many activities that individuals may have only been part of for a few months. The perspective that admissions officers have is critical for high schoolers because we want the best chance of getting into the top-notch universities all over the world. While colleges look for wellrounded students, balance should also be taken into account. It’s not always about having the most jam-packed schedule with constant activities, but the loyalty and dedication an individual shows to one or two more significant activities. There’s an extraneous amount of stress on students when they’re in five extra clubs in addition to their often rigorous school schedules. There is more value in being part of a few activities, because it gives you time to grow and become a leader with dedication while learning to take on more responsibility in one area. This concept can easily be applied to careers, when you have a boss in the workplace. Businesses and employers want individuals who don’t slack off and come prepared and ready to give 100 percent to everything that is involved within their jobs; not people who can do ten different things half-heartedly. As high school students, we must be prepared for life outside of school. The number of activities we do will eventually put a strain on us because no one person can do it all forever. The workloads students have will become heavier and there won’t be the fallback of someone else picking up extra work because you couldn’t prepare for the club meeting due to the five other activities that were on your mind. I’m not saying to do less, but everything that a student does in high school and beyond should be valued as a way to grow. It shouldn’t just be an opportunity to check the box and fill up that resume to look the best for college. We need to recognize how these extracurriculars assist us with building our futures. Employers want workers who have dedication. The skills and opportunities that we gain from high school are going to be put to use in the real world and staying connected to a small amount of activities instead of a large amount can help promote communication and growth immensely. In the future, when we need to add to our portfolios, we need to weigh the benefits and disadvantages of that addition. Think, “Can this truly benefit me in the future?” and determine whether or not it’s really worth it.
IN-DEPTH
4 — North Pointe — Wednesday April 24, 2019
Suicide rates in America on the rise Grosse Pointe to hold Out of the Darkness Campus Walk to help raise awareness on mental health — an event some see as needed for the Michigan comminuty, as suicide rates continue to climb. By Syeda Rizvi EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Then it gets worse and the problem doesn’t get resolved and then that’s when (suicide) happens.” Mental illnesses and increased stress levels due to a variety of reasons are some of the main factors of suicide. However, the Department of Health Policy and Management at the University of North Carolina has found an association between minimum wage and suicide rates. By reviewing all states between 2006-2016, an increase in a state’s minimum wage by one dollar was linked to a decrease in that area’s suicide rate by around two percent a year. Although this association extends to those in the labor force, it
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I have lost a family member to suicide... in America, there is always so much happening at once, and it can make people feel like they’re going crazy. Dellia Barragan SOPHOMORE
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Every five hours, one person in the State of Michigan dies by suicide, according to a new study conducted by the University of Michigan. The research reports that Michigan is not an isolated case - suicide rates have been steadily increasing in America over the past 15 years. When put into perspective, however, America seems to be the global outlier. According to usnews.com, the global suicide rate has declined by nearly a third since the 1990s. In America it was the near opposite; since 1990, the suicide rate has increased by a third, the majority of these deaths being through firearms. Despite the suicide rate climbing so rapidly, there are certain clusters that face even higher numbers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in comparison to any other industry, male construction workers face the highest suicide rate, being four times higher than average. The suicide rate for farmers is more than double than that of veterans. And last but not least, children aged 5-11, who make up 43% of emergency room visits because of either suicidal thoughts or attempts, according to usatoday.com. Sophomore Dellia Barragan has lost a family member to suicide. Barragan is a firm believer that high school aged students are more prone to suicide, especially because of an evolving workload that only seems to increase. “Teenagers are constantly being told that their grades are the most important thing and that if they don’t do well, their future will be ruined,” Barragan said. “This causes stress that could lead to suicidal thoughts. There is always so much happening at once and can make people feel like they’re going crazy.” While Barragan has experienced the loss of a loved one because of suicide, freshman Cassidy Andrews, along with her close friend, has been hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and actions. After living through the experience, Andrews has realized that school involvement lacks in an area where it should be more prevalent. “I feel that they don’t recognize mental health as much as they should and it’s because so many high schoolers struggle with mental health,” she said. “I think they could do a better job at managing mental health in students.” However, Andrews believes that school is not solely to blame. To her, students need to work towards destigmatizing the concept of weak mental health. “I think the problem with America and the suicide rate is that there is so much stigma and kids feel that they don’t want to say something and they end up suffering alone.
still does not address the question of teenage suicide causes. While these causes may vary state-to-state, U of M has found a strong correlation between Michigan youth and opiates. Southeast Michigan urban areas, which include Wayne, Macomb and St. Clair counties, were the leading areas in overdose deaths due to the opioid crisis from 2015-2017 in Michigan. However, opiate overdose plays a strong connection to suicide rates, as more than 40 percent of U.S suicides and overdose deaths in 2017 involved them. Another significant factor to the high rate of selfcaused death, especially in teens, includes the inability to pinpoint behavior that is suicidal. While depression and isolation are the more obvious of the signs, mood swings, rage, excessive usage of drugs, personality
changes and alterations in normal routine like eating and sleeping, are all signs of suicide that are easily dismissed under the cover of “normal teenage behavior.” Researches also credit extreme teenage irritability to increasing academic pressure to succeed. For instance, in 2009, U of M had an admissions rate of near 40 percent; this year, the admissions rate dropped to near 28 percent. And U of M is not the only school that is getting increasingly competitive. Ivy League universities have an extremely low rate of acceptance. Just last year, Stanford University declined nearly 96 percent of applicants. But why is it getting so hard to get into college? One main factor is that there are simply more students, and more of these students are applying to school. Today’s applicants are labeled as Echo Boomers, the children of Baby Boomers. According to collegeadmissionsstrategies.com, more than 30 years ago, only half of high school graduates were applying to colleges, this group of students already being fewer than number than the average high school graduating class today. More recently, almost two-thirds of all high school graduates are applying to college. Colleges can only accept a limited amount of students, and the student pool has grown exponentially. Obviously, this is not the only cause of academic stress to students, but it is a contributing factor that can bring forward many types of overloaded feelings. According to the Mayo Clinic, suicidal thoughts are the result of people feeling like they are unable to cope when faced with what feels like an overwhelming life situation. This includes feeling hopeless for the future, as suicide can seem like a solution. For students under an extreme amount of stress, this thought process may only become more common, as generally more students apply for university each year and sophomore Jesse Fournier agrees. “I think that school can stress people out if you already have a lot of things on your mind,” Fournier said. “I do believe this could push someone to suicide.” Situational factors aside, people are more likely to commit suicide if they have the genetic disposition for it. Those who have a specific variation of the RGS2 gene inherited from their parents, who had the same gene, are more likely to inherit the likelihood of depression. According to theguardian.com, 43 percent of depressed patients who had attempted suicide had two copies of a particular variant of the RGS2 gene. However, it is important to remember that having this gene is not a determinant of depression and suicide; rather, it increases the risk factors, which may also increase after stressful personal events in life such as the loss of a loved one, military service or a medical condition that can be linked to depression such as terminal illness. With suicide being a prevalent factor in Michigan’s society, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting the fifth annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk and Mental Health Fair on May 5. The opening ceremonies and walk will start at 11 AM at North, and registration is at 10. The aim is to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025, doing so by collecting funds that will go towards research, creating educational programs, advocating for public policy and supporting the survivors of suicide loss. The funds collected will stay in the Grosse Pointe Community, and both North and South clubs, teams and students are encouraged to join. Here is where Andrews believes in hope for improvement. While she has struggled with mental health, after being admitted to the hospital, she has seen a change in attitude with those she discusses suicide with. “I think (our) school, I would like to say, they do our best because of my experience in the school and how much they have been sympathetic about what I’m going through,” Andrews said. “But other schools aren’t as open to the idea of mental health and so they (definitely) don’t talk about it as much as they should.” Contributing: Ray Jason & Victoria Wittenberg
REVIEWS
5– Wednesday, April 24, 2019 – North Pointe
You vs Wild: Back Into The Wild
"You vs Wild" (2019) Show VULTURE.COM
By Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITOR On April 10, Netf lix released its second choose-your-own-adventure show starring adventurer Bear Grylls. Titled “You vs. Wild,” viewers get to help Grylls make important decisions while he is stranded in the wild. In the first episode, “Operation Jungle Rescue part 1,” viewers are thrown into the rainforest as Grylls jumps from an airplane into a Central American river on a mission to save a missing doctor. This is how most episodes begin: Grylls deliberately puts himself in harm's way to showcase his travel advice while helping others. Once in the treacherous situation, viewers are given simple decisions that alter the show’s outcome. Each option for viewers to choose from ends in one of three ways: Grylls continues on the strategic, intended path, the episode ends because a poor decision was made or Grylls begins on a more risky, unintended path. While the action-packed nature of the show makes it easy to follow, it becomes very apparent that this show’s demographic is young children. Throughout missions, Grylls often comes across objects that are suppose to be naturally occuring in the wilderness such as remains of other travellers, carcasses, etc. However these artifacts found are many times used to further the plot of the episode or to prove a point Grylls had been trying to make, such as the harmful effects of dehydration in the desert. This makes their placement in the wilderness a little too coincidental to be realistic. While this is obviously a scripted television show, such placement highlighted the show’s distance from reality and banished any sense of urgency I felt surrounding Grylls’ survival. Although there is a downside to every decision viewers can make, it is
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obvious that there is a preferred option in which Grylls wants you to choose. The highlighted option first presented to viewers is frequently the “better” one. Grylls will often give viewers praise for selecting this option. However, if you choose the other option Grylls will talk poorly about the decision you’ve made. This aspect of the show can make it irritating to watch. I personally felt inclined to choose the better decision to avoid the speech about poor survival strategy that ultimately followed, even though it may not have been the route I wished to take. For a show that is supposed to be interactive, viewers are better off not making any selections at all. The choices highlighted by the show will be the one Grylls would have chosen, which is most often the “better” one. I found this rather upsetting because it eliminated the excitement surrounding this new form of entertainment, as I could get the ‘correct’ outcome by not making any selections at all. Even though Grylls is suppose to be a wilderness expert, he often makes questionable decisions. An example of such is when he ate a raw fish from a river while it was still alive in the first episode. A child may see this action as being ‘cool’ and required in order to survive in the wilderness. However, as a more mature individual I found this to be highly unrealistic because anyone who had the means to cook a fish would not willingly eat it without descaling it. Anyone who is looking to experience the choose-your-own-adventure T.V. that is revolutionizing entertainment should watch “You vs. Wild,” but know that it offers questionable advice about survival, is highly unrealistic and that your 7-year-old cousin will enjoy it a lot more than you will.
RESTAURANT
MOVIE
SHIELDS DETROIT
DUMBO
IN MY NEXT LIFE
KHALID: FREE SPIRIT
A n d r e w Bayer’s new album “In My Next Life” offers its listeners a new audio experience with its techno style. This album, while giving the MUSIC.ANJUNABEATS.COM vibe of rave music, is perfect for parties and festivals as it provides multiple listening experiences for the audience to enjoy. It’s April 12 release was worth the long awaited date, and the album will definitely be heard by many. Though the album’s content isn’t quite my style, I could definitely find myself dancing to the music during a party. The crazed vibe of the music left a lingering echo throughout my head the more I listened to the content. The echoing of the bass drop filled my ears, and the lyrics, though few, serve a greater purpose than what was originally intended. The lyrics carry a greater message with them, and travels from song to song as the album progresses. The album’s tracks were listed to be a bunch of remixes made by different featuring artists, which was confusing to me at first, but when I listened to the entirety of the album, I found that each song was able to be distinguished as separate from the rest due to the unique sounds that were presented in each individual track. The album was made to dance to, and lives up to that idea with it’s fast tempos and sudden bass drops. Bayer definitely put a lot of effort into this album, and it shows in the production value that went into it as a whole. Overall, the album was well put together, but it only felt appropriate for certain occasions. It can be inferred that you will be able to hear one of the songs on the album at a party or festival due to their upbeat and positive connotation. Bayer definitely put effort into the production of the music, and took his time making sure that each beat was placed perfectly within the melodies.
Contemporary R&B artist Khalid Robinson released his sophomore album “Free Spirit” on April 5; this much anticipated sequel to his 2017 album THATGRAPEJUICE.COM “American Teen” features 17 songs, some that he released as singles to tease the album. The 21-year-old singer has risen quickly to the top of the charts as “Free Spirit” debuted #1 on Billboard. The album features a short film accompanying it, which came out on April 3. Khalid was first noticed for his vocals, and he makes his mark clear again with clear and beautiful tones in songs like “Alive” and “Heaven.” His album features two collaborations — “Don’t Pretend,” featuring SAFE and “Outta My Head,” featuring John Mayer. As usual, his songs have a very laid back and relaxed vibe, much like “Location,” his original hit. It is clear to see how he has grown as an artist so rapidly. Khalid released “Better” and “Saturday Nights” as a part of his Suncity EP, and “Talk,” “Don’t Pretend” and “Self” as singles in order to build anticipation towards the album. It is clear that Khalid values his art and works hard on it. Every song on the album is amazing, with beautiful vocals and strong rhythms. He has an “Intro” song, which is something most albums lack. This song builds anticipation and creates an aura of new beginnings. It has lyrics about heartbreak and heartache, and his next track “Bad Luck” follows the same theme. His music is smooth and has a good flow to it, with a very good balance between upbeat music and laid back music. Obviously, Khalid has a lot of talent and has a place in today’s music industry. His art is something that is fresh and original, presenting a very cool and laid back vibe that is desired by a lot of R&B artists. Even though this is only his second album, he seems to have found his voice, which is something artists struggle with for most of their careers. He knows exactly what he wants the “Khalid Sound” to be — and he delivers just that.
At 5057 Wo o d wa r d , Shield’s of Detroit made its grand reopening on April 8. Located on the busiest avenue SHIELDSPIZZA.COM in Midtown, this place could not be more convenient. Not only is Shield’s a relaxing place to come to after a long day of class for Wayne State students, but it is also a great spot to come and grab a meal before a Detroit sports event. Although the walking distance from Shield’s to the ballpark or Little Caeser’s is far from ideal, its location on a QLine route relinquishes the long walk. To have a quality restaurant you must have a quality atmosphere, and Shield’s offers multiple. The lounge in the corner of the building next to the bar is a comfortable spot where you can enjoy a drink before arriving at your table, and the other side of the restaurant is perfect on nights when the Tigers are playing a division rival. Shield’s has the potential to rival the popular chain, Buffalo Wild Wings, with its endless flexibility. Although location and atmosphere are both important aspects of a restaurant, service and food are the main factor. Shield’s “Meat Lovers Pizza” does not sound very unique from the name. It was the usual pepperoni, sausage and bacon, so it was not the toppings that made the pizza special. Usually, square pizza is crunchy all around and gets old after the first couple pieces, but this dough had a different texture. The outer crust was crunchy as usual, but on the inside the dough was softer than usual, making this unique pizza unforgettable. Shield’s does a great job at making their customers feel accounted for. I was exposed to typical restaurant etiquette, constantly offered a refill or asked how my food was. However, what really struck me is that the owner of the restaurant even asked me how everything was. This change of pace was a good one, and based on my overall positive experience, more restaurants should take a page out of Shield’s book.
"In My Next Life;" 2019; Available to buy on iTunes
"Free Spirit;" 2019; Available to purcharse on iTunes
"Shields Detroit;" 2019; Available at 5057 Woodward Avenue
By Julia Magnan
By Arzoo Chhaya
By Colin Duffy
“How do you like that? They're giving him the cold shoulder. Poor little guy. There he goes, without a friend in the world. Nobody to turn to,” said Timothy Q. Mouse. LEROYANDROSE.COM Dumbo the elephant was neglected by others and made fun of for his abnormally large ears and for not being able to perform the same acts as the other elephants. Ultimately, however, Dumbo outperforms the others by standing out, and utilizing his ability. To begin the film, circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when the family discovers discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits Dumbo for his newest entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets. I recommend watching the original 1941 film Dumbo, it gives a good comparison on what the new live-action film is based off of. In particular, I enjoyed the result of a current day quality of this older film, it was visually pleasing, compared to 2D animation from the original Dumbo. On the contrary, I was disappointed with the film’s choice of scenes and plot. The legendary scene of Dumbo flying with his ears was only briefly shown on a few occasions, if even that. Other recurring scenes from the original film ruined the movie for me because they diminished what was anticipated after seeing the original. As for the plot, following the script word for word or changing it up in a fresh way would have been nice, but overall, the storyline wasn't all it was advertised to be. Still, the actor group on this movie was outstanding, the director couldn't have chosen better talent for this film. The sound track for this film was alright; it was not bad, but it did not entirely fit with the amusement park theme of the movie. Personally, I hoped for more out of this movie; the original was such a pinnacle of my childhood, and this remake wasn't close to the 1941 film. Overall, the film was still good and enjoyable, just not in the quality Disney “Dumbo” way. "Dumbo;" 2019; Available to watch in theaters By Giacobi Bush
SPORTS
6 – Wednesday, April, 24 2019 – North Pointe
ICE. HEAT. REPEAT.
UPCOMING GAMES BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL Home game against L’Anse Creuse High School on Thursday, April 25 at 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL Home game against Utica High School on Thursday, April 25 at 4:30 p.m.
BOYS VARSITY GOLF Away against Romeo High School at Greystone Golf Club on Friday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS VARSITY TRACK Warrior Invitational meet against Woodhaven High School on Saturday, April 27 at 9 a.m.
GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS Home match at 4 p.m. on Monday, April 29 against L’Anse Creuse High School
BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE Away game against Eisenhower High School on Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. at Swinehart Field.
Studies show higher numbers of pitches can increase risk of player injuries at high school level By Amelia Nowicki WEB EDITOR
Wanczyk said, “ Just because (it’s) a generally good practice to calm down any inflammation With eight years of baseball experience, and to help relieve soreness of the shoulders sophomore Chris Marshall said he has gained that are getting... strain and work on them.” a deep understanding of the importance The same study at UF said excessive pitching of thorough warm-ups and how they can can not only raise the risk of injury, but also alter impact a team’s game-time performance. the player’s form and speed of their pitches, thus “Ineffective warm-ups can hurt your game by potentially altering game-time performance. not being physically ready for it,” Marshall said. According to the Michigan High School Athletic “It can get to the point where if you don’t stretch Association, one player is limited to 105 pitches a before a game, it can cause a serious injury.” game, and three days of rest are required if they Last May, health researchers at the University surpass 75 in order to prevent injury. However, of Florida found that uncounted pitches can raise uncounted pitches can ramp up that number, a pitcher’s risk of shoulder and elbow injuries, and these uncounted pitches could be the point especially at the high school level, due to their at which a pitcher is thrown over the edge. informality. The study also explained that Marshall and Wanczyk both believe mental since younger players have become accustomed and physical health need to be taken into account to the seasonal workload, it may be more when discussing athletics. For Marshall, warm-ups difficult to source the causes of an injury. not only serve to physically prepare for a game, Marshall, who has been a pitcher for six but also help get him in the game-time mindset. years now, believes throwing too many pitches In addition, Wanczyk believes students who before a game could wear down a player’s can not or no longer want to play their sport can arm, but also that the same issues can occur become mentally deflated, and this could result when any player doesn’t warm up properly. in a decline in their performance. She believes “After every time I pitch, my elbow students need to voice their complaints when they gets sore,” Marshall said. “About three are hurt or not up to play their sport any longer.\ years ago, I tore a tendon in my shoulder “I honestly think that (concern) needs to be from not warming up enough.” heard from the player,” Wanczyk said. “When Throughout the spring sports season, athletic parents are hearing complaining from their trainer Chelsea Wanczyk sees most baseball kid, listen to them. There’s a reason that they’re pitchers on the daily in search of ice for their arms. complaining, and they don’t want to go play “Pitchers come in every day to ice their arms,” anymore. It may not just be because they don’t
Sports drinks see spike in popularity despite health concerns, study reports By Sofia Ketels and Ray Hamilton MANAGING EDITOR & INTERN
For many student athletes, coaches and inactive students alike, sports drinks — such as Gatorade and Powerade — have long since become staples in everyday lives as a healthy way to refresh strength and renew electrolytes. However, a study published in late 2018 by Hofstra University and Ohio State University claimed to take a closer look at the Centers for Disease Control Statistics on the matter. They found that despite sports drinks not being legitimately beneficial to students regardless of physical activity, the rate of students who drink them had gone up by around 2 percent between the years of 2010 and 2015, and the trend continues. Track coach and Parcells social studies teacher Scott Cooper said that he hardly ever drinks sports drinks. For years, however, Cooper said that he drank them “all the time,” and even developed a medical issue as a result of his frequent consumption. After his doctor told him to lay off the sports drinks, Cooper did, and now strongly believes that they are not always beneficial, and should only be consumed in moderation after sweating a lot during a workout or practice. “I think they can be very beneficial but only after physical activity,” Cooper said via email. Despite the marketing of sports drinks that may make them appear as a healthy option for students — athletic or not — they are not necessarily universally good for one’s health. According to ABC News, a popular sports drink may contain high fructose corn syrup, brown rice syrup, fructose, sucrose, cane juice and maltodextrin. The CDC classifies sports drinks with these ingredients as “sugar-sweetened beverages.” According to them, drinks that fall under this umbrella of beverages are associated with weight gain, type two diabetes, heart disease, kidney
QUICK HITS Varisty Girls Softball with Grace Haynes
For members of the varsity softball team, communication is key. According to junior Grace Haynes, a major link to success for most teams is being comfortable around each other, as she believes it heightens their overall performance during games. “I think (being close) makes us be able to perform together because we all mesh really well… and we all get along,” Haynes said. As a pitcher, Haynes is willing to put in the extra time if it means she
like the coach, it’s probably because they feel like they’re being overworked and they’re stressed.” Despite the potential for student athletes to overwork themselves, JV softball coach Jill Diehl believes that knowing one’s limits and keeping oneself in check can help mitigate any injuries that may arise. “I expect the pitchers at this level to know how many pitches will get them to a warm-up state,” Diehl said. In order to counter possible injury in high school players, UF suggests pacing oneself throughout the season — from start to finish — rather than overworking in the beginning in an attempt to “start strong.” In addition to sufficient and productive warmups, Marshall, Wanczyk and Diehl strongly believe the consistent stretching and icing of tired muscles can work to prevent injuries and soreness. According to Wanczyk, when a player feels fatigued and they’re not performing as usual, they should communicate that to their coach so they can rest. Although the main goal of most coaches and players is to prevent injuries before they occur with practices such as icing and warming up, Diehl believes that player-coach communication plays a major role in lessening the effects of an injury. “I would encourage players to communicate injuries to coaches and trainers,” Diehl said. “Athletes should keep in mind communicating injuries does not jeopardize their playing time. It only protects them and their athletic career.”
can work harder to better herself as a player. With the combined efforts of her team, she believes working harder emulates that of a game situation, which to her is crucial because of the number of games they play. “I look forward to playing a lot of games Haynes said, we are playing an average of five games every week.”
disease and cavities, along with forms of arthritis. promote the drinks,” Burton said. Senior Corey Burton has participated in To Cooper, it is the added sugar and sodium football, wrestling and track. While he never that can help make sports drinks so appealing, had a negative reaction to sports drinks similar but those are also ingredients that are not to Cooper’s, Burton has simply never had a need healthy all the time. As for those who are or desire to rely on sports drinks. Because of not involved in sports or physical activity at the health concerns and worry over the growing all, Cooper said that the electrolytes, sodium number of students consuming them, Burton and sugar are unnecessary, and advises even and Cooper both agree that students should student athletes and coaches to stay away consider avoiding sports drinks altogether, for from over-consuming sports drinks. the most part. To Burton, there are better and “The added sugar has made them taste better more effective ways to enhance performance so more are drinking them, but that added sugar that are available to student athletes. is not good for you if you drink them all the “The sports drinks does absolutely nothing time,” Cooper said. “(The) best option (I believe for an athletes performance,” Burton said via is)....water.” email. “In my experience, sports drinks make you more sluggish in performing in the sport.” Still, despite the health concerns arising over these sports drinks, their popularity was shown to be growing through the joint study. In addition to this, kids who watch more than two hours of television a day were more likely to not just consume sports drinks, but consume them daily. Burton and Cooper both suspect that marketing targeted at student athletes may be to blame for the overall perception and popularity behind sports drinks. An expert from Nationwide Children’s hospital confirmed that while student athletes may be more influenced to replenish their calories and electrolytes, inactive students who spend more time in front of a TV are taking in more advertising, which may draw kids into taking an interest in drinking sports drinks more frequently. Burton finds it feasible that all students are influenced by the advertising of drinks, while Cooper finds it probable. “(I think) kids may drink them SOFIA KETELS because their favorite athletes
Three sports, with three players in three columns Boys Track with Connor Troost
To sophomore Connor Troost, boy’s track is both an athletic and cultural learning experience. He believes that despite the fact each person on the team is different from one another, their diversity and different motives drive them towards one end goal: success. However, Troost believes this may change depending on the event. “I mean, definitely with different events that you’re doing, there’s kind of a different culture behind each one,” Troost said. “So we’re a little separate in that way
but within the event, we’re really close.” With this, Troost also believes each person must do their part for the success of others. To him, this means following his own set of goals for duration of the season. “I’m looking forward towards personally getting better to help the team, Troost said. (to being) better in meets and just doing the best I can at each meet and just learning new things.”
By: Amelia Nowicki WEB EDITOR
Girls Varsity Soccer with Eleanor Bernas As a freshman on the varsity soccer team, Eleanor Bernas feels more pressure than many, despite the fact that soccer has been her favorite sport for the majority of her life. However, she feels some of that pressure may be alleviated by solid team framework and a close bond. “That’s the biggest part of soccer, knowing who your teammates are,” Bernas said. Looking ahead, Bernas is hopeful that the team will reach their goals as
they progress throughout the season. Through a combination of pre-game rituals, team bonding activities and hard work, Bernas is determined to reach her personal goal of becoming regional finalists. “We practice every day,” Bernas said. “We write goals down before our games of what we can do to improve our performances and we discuss them as a team.”