The Blueprint: Volume 17, Issue 4

the

blueprint Hagerty High School

Vol. 19, Issue 4

February 24, 2022

Oviedo, Florida

Around the world

Teachers born outside of the U.S. find cultural and educational differences in social norms, food and academic rigor. Many of these teachers moved to the U.S. for better education and to be with their families. Story on page 12. Illustration by Dylan Wisner

Robotics wins championship

Breaking the code

Soccer season success

Robotics teams 4717 “The Mechromancers” and 4227 “Metal Morphosis,” take home awards and a bid to the Florida State Championship.

Junior Ilani Seguinot was nominated for the Sunshine State Scholars award for excelling in STEM with high test scores and robotics success.

After over 10 years, girls soccer beats Oviedo 2-1 in the quarterfinals to highlight a record winning season. The team made it to regional semifinals.

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Administration hosts Curriculum Night Sophia Canabal

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Lifestyles Editor

lthough this year has yet to end, counselors and administrators are already jumping ahead to prepare for next year, a vital part of which has been handling course registration. On Wednesday, Feb. 9, staff and administration held Curriculum Night to inform rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors about their curricular options for next year.

“Curriculum Night is just ‘Here’s how you can get involved’ and ‘Here’s what we have,’” principal Robert Frasca said.

The night began with an informative session on graduation requirements, course selection and diplomas in the auditorium presented by Frasca and student counselors Nick Maby and Erin Isaacs, followed by brief theater, chorus and band presentations.

Attendees were then directed to either the old gym or cafeteria, where teachers and students presented course options and answered questions.

“This event has helped me feel more reassured about the classes I’m going to take,” incoming freshman Jules Noorlander said. “I’m planning on taking AP Human Geography because it’ll look good on my college resume.”

Although registration cards for the upcoming school year were due prior to Curriculum Night, administration plans to keep the registration process flexible by allowing students to meet with their counselors before schedules are final.

“Nothing is final with registration yet, and students are still going to meet with their counselors individually after Curriculum Night,” Frasca said. “If a student finds something that they want to take, we can still

change that on time.”

Curriculum Night is especially vital to incoming freshmen who will find themselves in a drastically different school environment come next year. Noorlander feels lucky to have the opportunity to find out more about her options for the upcoming year.

“I’m really scared about next year because of all the AP classes I am taking and the homework that comes with them,” Noorlander said.

Among those representing their electives, members of the Leadership class seized the opportunity to showcase the best aspects of their program by decorating a tri-fold board with stickers, photos and twinkle lights.

“Everyone in the pictures we put up look like they are having fun, and that’s a big part of why I’m in Leadership,” senior Riley Sophia said. “So when [freshmen] look at the pictures of all of us dressed up or at events, they always ask us more questions about what we do.”

Besides fine arts, world languages and general electives, the math, science, language arts and social studies departments were also given an opportunity to showcase their courses.

Algebra and Precalculus teacher Aglaia Christodoulides attended to represent the honors level math track, one that can be intimidating to incoming freshmen.

“I would say more than 30 people came up to us,” said Christodoulides. “There were a lot of parents and incoming freshmen with questions about where to go from Algebra I and whether they should retake it.”

Administration has been unable to host curriculum night in-person since January 2020, having to hold the event through a virtual conference last year due to COVID. This year, however, holding the event in person was a top priority in order to foster real connections between parents, students and staff.

“Originally, our plan was to do [Curriculum

SPREADING THE WORD Sophomore Malou Anderson speaks to a parent about African American Studies, a course recently added to the curriculum, with freshman Natalie Rodriguez and history teacher Julie Duncan. photo by Sophia Canabal

Night] in January but medical professionals told us that we would start seeing a decline with [Omicron] come February,” Frasca said.

“We really felt it was important to do a faceto-face Curriculum Night more than anything because we wanted students and parents to be able to interact with their teachers.”

The previous year, administration had to learn adapt to the circumstances, holding

Curriculum Night on a conference call in light of the COVID pandemic. Although administration has frequently used digital programs to their advantage, going virtual was an especially drastic change.

“Getting everyone to record videos, put together websites and hold Curriculum Night last year took a different kind of planning,” Frasca said.

Getting dirty: Exolith Lab talks with classes Janell Lim

News Editor

ROCKET SCIENCE Dovali asks for two volunteers to help her with her presentation. The volunteers were given samples of meteorites and asked to identify which class they belonged to by their difference in density. photo by Janell Lim

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f you want to make space dirt, the first thing you need to do is study samples from space. Next, find materials on Earth most similar to those samples. After that, crush particles down to a powder-like substance. Finally, combine to create a crude product. Put all these ingredients together and voila, space dirt.

This recipe may seem out-of-this-world, but for the scientists at UCF’s Exolith Lab, it is a part of their daily lives.

On Wednesday, Feb. 2, lab researcher Ana-Paula Dovali came to visit Physics teacher Amany Bekheit’s classes. As the Education Outreach Coordinator at Exolith Lab, Dovali gives educational presentations to students K-12 throughout central

Florida. Bekheit’s students were given the opportunity to learn about space geology, the field of space research, and even touch “space dirt,” synthesized terrestrial material made to simulate the dirt on the moon, Mars, and asteroids.

Exolith Lab is a not-for-profit lab largely funded by The Center for Lunar & Asteroid Surface Science at UCF. They develop and produce lunar, martian, and asteroid regolith (soil) simulants, working with NASA while also performing its own research led by Dr. Daniel Britt and Dr. Zoe Landsman.

By manufacturing regolith, or “space dirt,” Exolith provides sustainable alternatives to test hardware such as rovers before leaving Earth, thereby decreasing the chance of failure once the rover actually lands in space.

“All the ‘dirt’ that we ship is to help further someone’s space research,” Dovali said. “The work we do is helping humanity take another step forward in space exploration.”

During the presentation, students learned everything from how the solar system first formed to properties of asteroids.

For senior Miriam Restrepo, learning about space initiatives on growing plants on the Moon was most intriguing to her.

“It’s just kind of crazy to imagine going out into space and you just start growing plants on this rock in space,” she said.

In addition to teaching students about space geology and handing out free samples of lunar simulants, Dovali spoke about the volunteer program Exolith Lab offers. Open to students 15 and up, student volunteers will work on Exolith Lab’s production team and help make regolith simulant. Dovali warns that the program is very manual labor-intensive. Applicants should be able to carry a weight of 45 lbs and not be afraid to get dirty.

Those interested can apply here with their resume, and any questions can be emailed to anapau.dova@knights.ucf.edu.

Although Restrepo does not plan to major in a space research

field in college, Dovali still encourages students of all interests to apply.

“People are usually under the impression that to go to space or work at NASA, you have to be an aerospace engineer and know how to build a rocket. That’s not true!” Dovali said. “The space science field is huge and encompasses a variety of unique fields of study. Students can choose to make a career in graphic design or biomedical sciences or agriculture or even civil engineering while still having a space focus.”

Convinced, Restrepo applied for the program just one day after Dovali’s presentation.

“I hope to gain a lot of knowledge about what goes on with space exploration and just get on-the-job experience,” she said.

As for Dovali, her admittance to UCF spawned her interest in the space research field.

“When I was little, I used to read all these old science fiction novels that would talk about humans exploring the galaxy and being able to find new worlds,” Dovali said. “As I grew up, I figured it would be a wishful dream to even think about going to space. Once I started at UCF, I learned that having a career in space isn’t a dream: it can be my reality. UCF is one of the top space research institutions in the United States and allowed me to explore my career as an astrobiologist.”

Living out her childhood dream is not the only benefit Dovali found in working at Exolith Lab. “I always nerd out when I realize I’m working with ‘moon dirt’ or ‘Martian dirt,’” Dovali said. “The research I’m doing is to help the human species expand to other planets. I’m proud to say that I conduct regolith research and help further space exploration.”

Dovali will be back at Hagerty on Feb. 25, presenting to the National Science Honor Society.

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Superior Showcase

Janell Lim

News Editor

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hen junior Mac Anderson found out he won a Superior, he was in shock. His eyes widened. His mouth dropped open. His hand flew to his mouth. His play, “After the End,” had won the highest rating possible at the districts competition on Nov. 11.

“I was overwhelmed with emotions. I had never thought my hard work would pay off in such a big way,” Anderson said.

On Nov. 13, at the close of the competition, Troupe 6885 gathered together to receive their awards. Including the award for Anderson’s play, the troupe won Best of Show for Solo Musical, Publicity Design and Costume Construction.

“It was such a big happy family moment,” junior Lily Joseph said, who won three Superiors. “We got our awards and we all just jumped and screamed for each other and there was crying and hugging and laughing. It was absolutely the best feeling ever.”

Now, three months later, the troupe will showcase the award-winning events to the public at the Superior Showcase on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5.

Although the troupe won a total of 24 Superiors, their successes did not come without challenges. For Anderson,

his greatest challenge was simply getting the first draft done.

“There were times I really wanted to give up or just completely rewrite it, but I kept going,” Anderson said.

“I remembered the reason I started writing this in the first place, and here we are.”

The play tells the story of five teenagers who have been long friends. When one of them passes away, the other four are left dealing with their grief in different ways. According to Anderson, his motive for writing the play was largely affected by wanting to tell a story of friendship and raise mental health awareness.

“I want people to take away that friendships mean more than you may think,” he said. “And I want anyone that is struggling with mental health issues to realize that they’re not alone, and that they are actually really important to the people around them.”

One of the characters, Brooke, is played by junior Hannah Kuerbitz. After her friend Zach’s death, Brooke struggles with depression and mental health issues, a topic explored throughout the play.

“I like how I can relate to her,” Kuerbitz said.

“While I don’t have severe depression, I can still relate to some of her experiences. I’ve had family members die before and I’ve been frustrated and upset with those family deaths.”

Joseph, who serves as stage manager for “After the End,” believes these successes could not have come

without hard work and practice.

“It’s definitely all about rehearsal and teamwork. I’m a firm believer that rehearsal makes good theater, and that we all have to do our part to make great art,” she said.

Whether it was dance, choreography, selected scenes from movies or a one-act play, the troupe dedicated immense amounts of time both in and out of school to rehearsing, beginning in August up to November, according to theater teacher Jamaal Solomon.

“I cannot tell you how many times my friends and I got together and said, ‘Hey, can we schedule an extra rehearsal? Can we all go over to so and so’s house and work on something?’ It was all about time management,” Joseph said.

To prepare for the upcoming Superior Showcase, Anderson and the cast of “After the End” often do script readings and character work during their fourth period theater class. Anderson first came up with the idea in January 2021, with the final draft finished in October.

In addition to appearing in the Superior Showcase, “After the End” will also be performed at Penguin Point at the Oviedo Mall on March 4-5 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be on sale starting Feb. 7 at $10.

Theater works on ‘Cinderella’ production Zahra Ateeq

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Staff Reporter

f anyone has a pumpkin the size of a minivan, the drama department would like to talk to you.

On Dec. 17, the cast and crew for Troupe 6885’s production of Cinderella was announced, with rehearsals beginning Jan. 5.

For this production, the theater department is focusing on the Broadway version of Cinderella: “Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.”

Cinderella will be played by junior Mackenzie Allis and senior Olivia Martin, as well as the fairy godmother, Marie, being played by sophomore Naia Johnson. “[My favorite part is] that I have gotten really, really close with the other Ella, and I didn’t really have that opportunity before,” Allis said. “It’s the same thing with [the actor] who’s playing Topher; we’ve become really really good friends.”

However, the production requires the work from crews of people who will not be performing in order to run properly. These crews include numerous people working on props, set, lights and sound, costumes and publicity.

“We’re like a big happy family,” freshman Katana Henderson, who works on the set crew, said. “When building the trees for set, we had to draw a lot and use power tools, but we just had to work together [to make it happen].”

Costumes coordinator Marlie Tollefson describes the onstage transformations as being one of the most exciting parts of the show.

“Our onstage transformations are part of what keeps the stage and music magic [alive]. It is a fairy tale; it’s got to be kept magical,” Tollefson said. “We are renting dresses right now and there is a transformation for the fairy godmother when she reveals herself. [The transformation] is done completely by the actor to keep the magic more real.”

Posters for the production will be out in the beginning of April, made by the publicity crew, who is responsible for the creation of the playbill.

The Cinderella production is set to air from April 7 to 9 in the auditorium. Tickets will be advertised through posters around the school, as well as through morning announcements closer to the production dates.

STROKE OF LUCK Sophomores Giovanna Sciulli and Liliana Cleider paint the set for Cinderella’s production. photo by Zaima Aurora

Band earns 117 Superiors at Solo and Ensemble Joshua Krob

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SMOOTH NOTES Junior Eshan Kabir practices his solo for solo and ensemble.

Of the 137 people who participated in solo ensemble, 117 got superiors. photo by Joshua Krob

Staff Reporter

unior Eshan Kabir sat down on the stage, nervously looking around. The judge stared at him, looked down and nodded.

Kabir pulled his instrument up to his mouth, the accompanist started to play the beginning notes to his solo “Concerto for tuba in F minor,” he took a breath, and his solo began.

Solo and Ensemble is an event held annually for band students across Seminole County. Students are tasked to pick a solo or ensemble (group) piece, learn it by themselves and perform it in front of a judge who will write critiques and recommendations.

Of the 137 band students who participated in Solo and Ensemble, 117 received the highest rating, superior. Performing three pieces, Kabir received superiors on all three of his pieces.

“I balanced the three pieces by starting

them pretty early, months in advance from the performance day,” Kabir said. “After all that practicing, I felt very good about all three pieces I was a part of.”

Practicing methods for solo and ensemble can differ from student to student. Strategies include using a metronome to get the song on one single speed, playing parts one note at a time to work out any possible kinks or playing along with a recording of the accompaniment. “[For the solo] you have to practice a lot in order to get your lip muscles to the point where you can play that,” Kabir said. “You basically take it very slow, measure by measure. If you find any mistakes, you just keep repeating and repeating until you get it right.”

Performing an ensemble takes more work than a solo does. It takes time to pick what part of the ensemble they will play, plan when to get together and most importantly someone to lead the group. As the leader of his group, Dayeh

acted as an adviser.

“I took the lead on most of the rehearsals, but I also acknowledged when I made mistakes,” Dayeh said. “It’s about balance. I want to take charge and be the leader but I also can’t let that get to my head because I’m just as much a part of the group as they are.”

Some students made plans for Solo and Ensemble even before the start of the school year, such as freshman Amya Waters, who played in a flute choir.

“Every week, my group got together [to practice our ensemble]. I just [practiced my solo] whenever I had time,” Waters said.

For all those in band, Solo and Ensemble is an event that allows them to become better musicians.

“I got to spend time with my friends. I got to perform music, which I really love to do,” senior Zack Dayeh said. “It motivates you to work on something and it helps me get better.”

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upcoming events feb 22 feb 25 mar 4 mar 4

Science NHS hosts Exolith Labs

Science NHS will have guest speaker Ana-Paula Dovali from Exolith Lab. She will come to talk about the artificial regolith (layer of rocky material) research that is ongoing in the lab.

Dare Week organized by Leadership

Leadership will hold Dare Week from Feb. 28 - March 4 to raise money for The Boys and Girls Club of Oviedo. Teachers will share fundraising goals with their classes, with rewards such as parties, movies or extra credit.

All band MPA assessment

Band will have their MPA assessments in Lake Mary High School.

Concert Band will perform at 11 a.m., Symphonic Band at 3:30 p.m., and Wind Ensemble at 6 p.m. All concerts are open for the public to watch.

Robotics state championship

Robotics students will create a presentation and engineering notebooks for judges with everything they have done for year, in addition to putting their robots through the assigned challenge against other state teams.

news briefs

Gabriella Jaye Herrera

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Editor-in-Chief

lashing lights, screaming teams, robots and obstacles clashing. 12 players lean over the fenced-in field, knowing the Space Coast League champions will be crowned after just two minutes and 30 seconds of scoring cubes, shooting balls and knockingdown rubber ducks.

Sunday, Feb. 6, Hagerty Robotics hosted the Space Coast League Championship, where their teams 4717 The Mechromancers and 4227 Metal Morphosis won bids to the Florida State Championship. Facing each other in the finals, both Hagerty teams were able to battle it out for the top spot, with the Mechromancers’ alliance winning 254-184 points.

“It was great because you could tell both teams were up there because they were amazing with their robot,” sophomore Jensen Miller said.

Playing a game called Freight Frenzy, the teams were expected to be able to collect and place cubes and whiffle balls into their team’s towers to score points, along with various other precision-based challenges. In the finals, the top teams sorted into alliances of three, with The Mechromancers aligning themselves with Gears Of Other Dimensions and the Oviedo High School team, the Roarbots. In the opposing alliance, Metal Morphosis allied with teams Uplift and F.R.E.N.C.H. F.R.I.E.S. Alliances were chosen based on chemistry and previous matches.

“They [Mechromancers and Roarbots] mesh so well together, and the teamwork and coordination between those two is on another

level,” junior Tyler Hancock said.

Although Hancock and his Metal Morphosis teammates did not win, they note how proud they were to hold strong against their rivals despite their significantly less experience, given that their team is made up of members who are new to the program.

“We were definitely very stressed because we are a rookie team. A lot of these teams out here are seasoned; they’ve been doing this for I don’t know how many years, so us coming in and winning these awards is just incredible for us,” Hancock said.

The Mechromancers faced their own struggles in the championship, noting that their programs malfunctioned in their earlier matches, until they discovered their sensor was focused on a green screen in the background instead of their cube.

“We had some challenges with that but we came back from it... I’m proud of that,” junior Nathan Forrer said.

To end the night, both teams walked away with their own awards: The Mechromancers won the Inspire award for top competitors and Metal Morphosis won the Think award for their engineering notebook, detailing their robot design process and community service events.

“I’m so proud of them for working through these challenges that we’ve been facing for two years, and super stoked and excited for them to really excel at states,” robotics mentor Po Dickinson said.

The Mechromancers and Metal Morphosis will both be competing in the Florida State Championship at Winter Haven on March 4 and 5 for one of two bids to the World Championship in Houston, Texas.

The Parent Teacher Student Association placed mental health posters around campus bathrooms in order to spread awareness and provide mental health hotlines and resources to students. These hotlines are meant to provide resources for students regarding suicide prevention, human trafficking and abuse. They contain descriptions for the hotline, numbers to reach out to and QR codes students can scan.

In addition, Student Ambassadors placed puns and memes around campus, and the Wellness Committee stuck positive mantras onto bathroom walls. photo by Sophia Canabal

TV Production attends convention

Ryan Cedegren, 12

Robotics teams win SCL championship

On Feb. 17, TV Production departed for Long Beach, California for the 2022 Student Television Network Convention to participate in competitions and attend workshops. The team entered a short film competition, in which they had eight hours to brainstorm, write, direct, act and edit a film of their own. After that, the team faced two more days of competition where they worked with small groups. “It is a great opportunity and I know we all feel lucky to be able to attend this year,” senior Helena Celentano said. photo by Eva Oberosler

Chorus held Valentine’s Day

Dynali Weerackoon, 9

BRINGING IT HOME 4227 Metal Morphosis celebrates with alliance partner Uplift after winning another match. Both teams would partner again in the finals against 4227’s sister team, 4717 The Mechromancers. photo by Gabriella Jaye Herrera

Mariam Al Lebban, 11

PTSA posts mental health hotlines

The Voices of Hagerty choir distributed lollipops and personal messages during first period on Valentine’s Day. For $1, students could write and send a heartfelt message to their friends or loved ones. Choir used these funds, along with concert admission costs and student dues, to fund their upcoming master work performance. “Apart from supporting the arts and your peers, this event allows students to buy something nice and special for their friends, teachers or for themselves with an encouraging and loving message,” senior Ariah Todriff said. photo by Zaima Aurora

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opinions

OUR TAKE The BluePrint staff editorial

Banning controversy in schools encourages ignorance

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alking through the library, you search for an interesting book to read. You have heard of the profound impact of Khaled Hosseini’s 2003 novel “The Kite Runner,” and search through the aisles of books, only to discover it is no longer there. Asking the librarian, she tells you the book has been retired permanently.

In several Florida school districts, school libraries are pulling books off shelves in response to parental criticism about their content, particularly those containing sexual content, themes of suicide or the experiences of people of color. In Polk County alone, 16 books are currently under review.

Florida is not the only state facing banned book battles. On the national level, the graphic novel “Maus” was pulled from the eighth grade curriculum in McMinn County, Tennessee due to its depiction of profanity, nudity, violence and suicide sparked outrage nationwide as consumers bought the book en masse, selling it out on Amazon.

We agree, however, that there are limits to what students should have access to at a school level. Books like Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” detailing the physical and sexual abuse of slaves, do not belong in an elementary school setting. But is it right to deny older students access to harsh, but ultimately true realities of their country’s history? Such descriptions may be uncomfortable for some, but the concerns of a small group of parents should not block the majority from being able to read what they wish.

When people cannot understand their differences, what separates them seems dangerous.

Preventing students from reading about the cruel realities of their history denies them the lessons we have already learned. If people become more educated about societal issues, racebased violent incidents like February’s anti-Semitic demonstration at Waterford Lakes can be avoided.

A majority of the books being censored contain themes relating to the experience of the LGBT community. “I am Jazz” by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings explores the life and struggles of a trans girl, and David Levithan’s “Two Boys Kissing” details public displays of affection between two boys. Stories like these are not something to ridicule, but embrace, as an exploration of the experiences of those different than ourselves.

Allowing a small but vocal number of parents to decide what is and is not appropriate for students to read goes directly against our right to education. While parents can talk with their own children about what kind of content they are ready to read, they should not be making that choice for everyone else.

Of course, book bans are just part of the battle between overreaching government and education. Bills such as the W.O.K.E. Act and the “Don’t Say Gay” bill prevent controversial but important conversations about identity from taking place. Limiting discussions on already sensitive issues stigmatizes them instead of making them easier to talk about and understand.

These topics might make some uncomfortable, but growth cannot always be easy.

Illustration by Alexis Madlang

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blueprint Hagerty High School 3225 Lockwood Blvd.

Oviedo, FL 32765 hagertyjourn@gmail.com Phone: (407) 871-0750 Fax: (407) 871-0817

Trading

out college Angelica Mendez

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Staff Reporter

hen you sit down for your family dinner, chicken is not the only thing on the menu. It comes with a side dish of lectures on your academic future, that specifically being of your college preparation.

Right after high school graduation, the expectation is that students will immediately go into a four-year university. And after the four years of rigorous courses and rising expectations, that is the only option students think they have. However, there are other paths.

Alternate options can range from a gap year, enlisting in the military, and even just going to a trade school. All of these other options are a great way to be successful without the stress and burdens college can cause, especially choices like trade schools.

Trade schools allow students to learn skills needed to enter a certain career field, such as cosmetology or plumbing. Students who attend trade school typically can finish in two years or less.

Although these schools may seem different from the normal four-year college experience, trade schools are just as helpful at shaping young adults to be successful in life. Just like college, they can help open career doors and ways for people to learn skills and earn money after high school. In the end, there are many pros that make trade school a good alternative for students who do not want to attend college.

While it may already be obvious, one of the biggest benefits of trade school is the cost.

According to recent statistics, college can cost around $25,487 a year, and that is only the cost of one academic year of in-state college. On the other hand, trade schools usually only cost around $33,000 all together. Not only does it significantly cost less, but spending less time in school means there are more opportunities to make money.

Trade school graduates have the advantage of entering the job market two years earlier than four-year college students. Along with that, due to attending a school primarily focused on one specific job graduates have a set of jobs they can work because of their trade, and can spend less time trying to find a career.

While some jobs students get after college pay more than trade school jobs, there are still a variety of jobs that will financially support students and let them live comfortably.

According to the median salary for elevator installers and repairers in 2020, they can make around $88,540. Compared to the necessary living wage during 2020, $67,690, a person who enters this trade can still be successful.

The BluePrint is a student-produced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions.

The newspaper belongs to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff ’s views as a whole (except for Our Take), the views of Seminole County Public Schools or Hagerty High’s administration and staff.

For information about advertising in the paper, please contact us via e-mail or phone. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement.

Illustration by Caitlyn Hale

Other trade careers that are good and can make a lot of money are electricians and welders. Welders can make around $37,830 and electricians can make around $43,300-$54,200, based on how much experience they have. Both of these careers also have expected growth rates of about 8–9 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So although college may seem like the only option you have to be successful, things like trade school are also available and can benefit students’ futures.

Another major bonus of going to a trade school is that most jobs are in high demand, according to 2021 statistics. Jobs students enter after trade school are typically more needed because most of these jobs are necessary for day-to-day life and most can only be done by people who learned the trade and have the specialized skills for it.

These schools, compared to colleges, help propel students into the work field by taking less time, teaching them the special trades and usually giving them real-world experience beforehand. This experience can be very helpful because it allows students to have more knowledge and hands-on experience through apprenticeships and internships, this in turn can make them a more competitive option for employers.

Trade schools are spread throughout every state, making them also just as available as colleges and registration for trade schools is easy, even easier than college registration.

Students interested in going to trade school in Florida just need to complete online registration or email the school, and typically there is no deadline.

While college is still a good option for students, there are still many other options out there that can help students be successful, one of them being trade school. College should not be the only option “available” and taught to students in high school. Parents, administrators and schools should put in effort in opening all doors and making them equally available for students, without creating the notion that college is needed to succeed and any other option will lead to failure.

Editor-in-Chief Gabriella Jaye Herrera

Sports Editor Karson Cuozzo

Print Editor Alexis Madlang

Opinions Editor Julia Sumpter

Online Editor Skyler Glenn

Social Media Editor Zahra Ateeq

News Editor Janell Lim

Adviser Brit Taylor

Lifestyles Editor Sophia Canabal

Principal Robert Frasca

Staff Reporters Greta Carrasco Reagan Eastlick Nadia Knoblauch Joshua Krob Angelica Mendez Ava West

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opinions

Black History Month misses the point: we are all Americans

Reagan Eastlick Staff Reporter, From the Right

“T

he way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

Chief Justice John Roberts declared those words in 2007, and they ring true today.

February is Black History Month, but the list of months that the United States recognizes also include Hispanic Heritage Month, LGBT History Month, and Polish-American History Month. I find them to be ridiculous; you ought not separate people along the lines of immutable characteristics.

I understand that the creation of months to celebrate ethnicity and race is an effort to increase inclusivity in high school and the community at large. I can appreciate the sentiment, but I disagree wholeheartedly with the product.

We are all Americans. That’s the point.

It’s a point that Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts understood. It’s a point that millions in the United States understand as well.

Americans are diverse and multiracial, a perfect mix of thousands of different ethnicities and cultures, all culminating in

the diverse melting pot celebrated today. The argument is simple – we ought to celebrate what makes us Americans, not what separates us from each other.

Imagine, just for a moment, the creation of a White History Month. Such an idea would be ridiculous; it would be deemed racist within seconds of being announced, banned within minutes. And I don’t disagree. To separate one race’s history from another’s is to drive deep a stake of discrimination and separation.

Separating history along racial guidelines is no better than separating people along racial guidelines.

History is like a gated community. The history we celebrate lives within the gates; everything inside the premise is taught and appreciated, learned and lauded. That history should include all different sorts of people, from all different sorts of backgrounds and creeds. I will be the first to acknowledge that the perfect history curriculum is far from being achieved. But I also realize that months which single out and separate history along racial lines are not the way to a better future.

Creating “____ History Month” doesn’t bring “____’s” sliver of history into the larger gated community. No – it creates its own gate,

POLI PO LI

Black History Month

constructing another community outside of the original, separating whichever group even further from the history it so desperately seeks to display.

“E Pluribus Unum” is our nation’s moto.

It means “out of many, one.” My mother is Hispanic. My dad is of Germanic descent.

And yet, they are both Americans. I am an American- my race doesn’t change that. That is what Americanism is, that is who we are.

We are one people of a thousand nations. We are a melting pot of hundreds of ideas and inventions and leaders; we reflect the diversity of our population. It was black and white, gay and straight, man and woman, working together that built us into what we are today.

And that should be taught, it should be proudly celebrated in every schoolhouse in America.

A melting pot accepts any and all objects that enter it. It is heated by the fire of a thousand nations, and its product is strengthened by the unique merits of the materials that compose it.

What goes in is not the same as what comes out, but what comes out is united. What emerges is a stronger material, a better metal. Diversity is weak without some semblance of unity. And unity comes from accepting all cultures and traits and objects as one thing alone: American.

TICK TI CK

Black History Month does not diminish anyone’s culture

Olivia Tulloch

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Guest, From the Left

iversity is this country’s greatest strength. The people who cannot recognize that feat are not deserving of a society as great as ours.

Immediately, I want to make something abundantly clear: pro-black does not mean anti-white. When Americans finally realize that the acknowledgment of another person’s greatness does not diminish their own, we will be much better off. Throughout history, various unspeakable travesties have been committed against black people and have been simultaneously buried in the mess of American history. Black History Month provides an escape to children who have had their culture erased while the culture of others has been forcefully shoved down their throats.

As a young child, the American school system taught me the basics about black accomplishments while requiring me to learn

barking mad

Barking Mad is a collection of short submissions about things that tick students off around school. If something at school makes you mad, e-mail us at hagertyjourn@gmail.com and it may be featured here.

extensive details about white accomplishments.

Every year, history classes included the ritualistic, lifeless lessons about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Yes, they were both incredibly influential people. Call me crazy, but I think a curriculum that has time for an in-depth explanation about Napoleon’s military can spend a few weeks explaining the significance of the 1973 Colfax massacre.

The initial problem with the idea “Black History Month does not change anything” is the thought that it is intended to solve the past. The past is the past, the future is the future. I think we can all agree on that. However, somehow, in our uniquely American way, we disagree in the celebration of specific groups of people.

The ideology that the celebration of one culture demeans or outcasts another is illogical.

The concept of Black History Month was founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. Since 1976, February has been designated as Black History Month. February serves as a reminder of everything Black people have gone through

as a collective unit. Just because someone else has something does not mean you need something equivalent.

However, somehow, the concept of reverse discrimination has still prevailed. As a black woman, I am sick of hearing “what if white people...” You are not me. Your experiences are not my experiences. And that’s what non-black people will never be able to comprehend.

Black History Month is not a simple “Black people are oppressed, let’s give them this handout” month. It is for the girl who has to constantly correct people when they mispronounce her cultural name. It is for the boy whose dreadlocks are called unprofessional.

It is for the child who doubts their greatness because of a society that perpetuates otherwise.

The creation of Black History Month is one of the few successful steps to promote Blackness across this country. Those who disagree, disapprove or dislike the concept are simply unaware of their own societal advantages.

“The short breaks between classes.”

-Kel Montgomery, 10

“The teachers because they make work hard to catch up.”

-Valeria Romero, 9

“Not being able to shut the doors in the bathroom.”

-Carolise Mercado, 11

“The kids in the bathroom vaping.”

-Jordan Young, 9

“The being late system sucks because I just won’t show up next time I’m late “People are rude to strangers.”

-Eva Boord, 10 to avoid a detention.”

-Blake Mendenhall, 11 “People don’t know how to walk a “Teachers aren’t very helpful, they normal pace. I swear they’re trying aren’t involved. They do what they to be zombies. It’s much better in need to do but don’t take the extra the lunchroom, but people jump step to keep us straight.” over the railings and cut people in -Mackenzie Wallace, 11 line.”

- Reagan Plumtree, 9

Fired Up!

Don’t say ignorance

Gabriella Jaye Herrera Unable to talk about numbers, you never learn about algebra. Unable to talk about parts of speech, you never learn English.

Unable to talk about sexuality, you never learn about diversity.

Recently introduced in the Florida Senate, Bill 1834 – dubbed by the media as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill – prevents discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity at “primary grade levels.” The bill aims to protect the rights of parents in education, and in doing so, potentially puts LGBT students at risk.

The bill is primarily intended to protect students in primary grade levels. The problem, however, is that the term is left vague and up for interpretation, meaning it could impact different grade levels than intended. Florida’s government does not have a legal definition for “primary education,” so many disagree to whom exactly it applies.

The most abhorrent aspect of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is the threat it poses to transgender students. The bill forces schools to report “critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical well-being” to students’ parents. These changes would primarily affect transgender students who ask their teachers and peers to refer to them by a different name or set of pronouns, as administration would be required to rat out the student’s choice for their “well-being.” Though the bill does offer exemptions for cases of “suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect,” it is unlikely the school would be aware of the danger of exposing a student’s gender identity until after it is too late. Protecting students should be a top priority, and exposing such private information without their consent actively goes against that.

The purpose of the bill seems to be nothing more than discrimination and the push of a political agenda. Gender and sexuality do not drive the high school curriculum, and are practically non-existent subjects in lower education. Fighting a problem that never really existed easily gives conservative politicians political leverage with their base, making them look more effective than they may actually be.

The motive behind the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is questionable, to say the least.

Supporters claim they want to protect students, but refuse to listen when LGBT students cry out in protest at the dangers of school exposure, ignorance and the stigmatization of their very existence.

“The unnecessary homework and rude teachers. As well as the rushed curriculum because you don’t get any time to understand what you’re learning.”

-Savannah Towne, 10 “The dress code, I feel like it’s sexist and over dramatic. It doesn’t relate to education at all.”

-Emma Stoner, 11 “The substitutes, because some of them don’t know what they’re talking about. They act like the teacher even they don’t have any qualifications with the subject.”

-Ava Enrique, 10

“They have no more Rice Krispy treats in the cafeteria, that’s all I look forward too.”

-Vanessa Markechi, 11 “Most kids are annoying. They feel entitled and better than everybody else.”

-Anthony Ainsworth, 9 “I really hate the early mornings and the long nights due to homework.”

-Malachy Crossan, 11 “People who wear dog tails and maid costumes. This is school, dress appropriately.”

-Parker Douglas, 12

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opinions

Running out of options Nadia Knoblauch

A

Staff Reporter

white piece of paper with seven blank slots sits in front of you with a curriculum guide and a visit from a guidance counselor. Every year, high school students face this scenario, and while filling in these blanks with fun electives like Ceramics, Culinary and Dance may be easy, choosing core subject classes is becoming more difficult with each decrease in options.

Within the past year, both the school and Florida Department of Education have cut classes in mathematics and language, and many have not been replaced with alternative courses. Taking away these honors options from students essentially forces them into taking AP courses that many may not feel ready to take. These decisions by the school and state will cause students to turn to Dual Enrollment or FLVS classes that still have previously offered courses, but online learning is not suitable for every student.

The lack of options for next year in multiple course areas places a lot of unneeded pressure on students as their high school and college GPAs could be affected. Students should be given more options to suit their needs and allow them to push themselves while still being successful.

According to assistant principal Kristi Draus, who advises the math department, the state notified districts of the decisions to cut Trigonometry, Analysis of Functions, Liberal Arts 1, Liberal Arts 2 and Math for College Readiness during the first quarter of the 20212022 school year. With no reasons given for these cuts, the school is left to find replacements.

The school is looking to add Mathematics for College Algebra, Mathematics for Liberal Arts and Mathematics for Data and Financial Literacy, but all of these are standard level classes. With no honors courses offered by the state to replace Trigonometry and Analysis, students currently in Algebra 2 Honors are left with few options.

In the school’s current flow chart from the 2022-2023 curriculum guide, students in Algebra 2 Honors must either jump to

Precalculus, move into a standard level course or take one that does not allow them to reach their full academic potential. While Precalculus is an honors class, the curriculum can be too demanding on students who struggled in Algebra 2 Honors. As the course prepares students to take AP Calculus, its rigor is understandable, which begs the question: why would students take the class if they don’t plan on taking AP Calculus?

Even though no student is obligated to follow the AP track after taking Precalculus, it seems unnecessary for those students that planned on taking other classes their senior year, like AP Statistics or Calculus Honors.

Even with the re-writes for Precalculus and other math courses next year, which is required by the state to follow Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking standards, many students still worry about taking Precalculus from what they have heard in past years and do not want to take the risk of affecting their GPA. However, the other option for honors students is just as or even more anxietyinducing: Dual Enrollment. Dual Enrollment at local colleges like Seminole State or UCF can bring a great opportunity for students that wish to begin taking college-level courses.

However, no student should have to feel forced into making this big decision.

With the new circumstances, the math department expects to see an increase in Dual Enrollment for next school year as colleges still offer Trigonometry and alternative courses for Analysis of Functions, like Precalculus Algebra. Even if there were an inperson replacement course for Trigonometry and Analysis of Functions, Dual Enrollment allows students to be granted college credit for their classes, and it is essentially free higher education with the same GPA weight as AP classes. But even with these pros, there are still a number of cons.

While unlike AP classes that require a mandated AP exam in order to earn college credit, Dual Enrollment credit is automatic, meaning it also automatically affects students’ college GPAs before they’ve even graduated high school. This raises concern for students taking Dual Enrollment courses as it may

have an effect on both their current and future academic records, especially in a society that holds a high value on performing well in high school and getting accepted into competitive universities.

Although there are many concerns over math course selections for next year, this subject is not the only problem area. In order to be eligible for college acceptance, students must have two world language credits, but competitive universities look for three or more years of language study. For students taking Spanish as their world language, their options have also been limited.

In previous years, including the current school year, Hagerty has offered Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4, AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature. However, Spanish 4 will no longer be offered in-person next school year, causing more students to flow into the AP level classes.

While this may not affect most students as they must be in Spanish 3 to feel the effects, this will hurt students that planned on earning their Biliteracy Diploma, which requires four years of a world language. Furthermore, native Spanish speakers are required to start at Spanish 3, meaning it will also be more difficult for them to earn four years of a language. This means that students taking Spanish that aim for this goal must either take AP or switch to virtual Spanish 4 offered on FLVS and SCVS. Some may see this as an opportunity to earn their online class graduation credit, but learning a language through a screen can be extremely difficult.

With the FLVS and SCVS curriculum, Spanish classes can be completed quickly, even within eight weeks, while the in-person class takes 10 months. This may not allow students to learn as much content in their online courses, especially since the curriculum contains mostly reading practice. However, students’ understanding of the language may also be impacted when taking the AP Spanish courses if they are not yet at that level, impacting both their ability to speak the language and their GPA, leaving more room for anxiety.

As the honors classes that are cut for next year have no in-person replacements, many students will end up flowing into the AP course

Illustration by Areli Smith

tracks, and it is hard not to wonder: is this the school or state’s intention? More students in AP classes means more AP tests will be taken and passed, which would bring in more money to the school from the state. The school’s focus on getting students into college-level courses forces them into classes they do not yet have the understanding to be successful in and did not plan on taking. With added pressure from teachers and parents to get into colleges and universities, many students will find themselves taking more APs than they can handle in order to avoid limiting their potential in standard level classes. Decisions made by the state and the school have both contributed to the already stressful process of selecting courses for next year, and with a newfound lack of options in multiple subjects, those seven blank slots are even harder to fill in.

Why we need to agree to disagree Greta Carrasco

W

Staff Reporter

henever politics are concerned, from national elections to the dinner table, a strong division exists between beliefs, losing the ability to politely talk about it. If someone has a belief you do not agree with, you cannot associate with them or even look them in the eye. The reason as to why most civil discussion turns into messy arguing is because school never taught students how to disagree.

Most controversial topics are avoided, and instead pre-established ideas are introduced.

Since people are young they are taught to think, believe and conclude in a specific manner so once they go out in real life and realize not everyone thinks the same, things get chaotic.

People don’t know how to work or even tolerate someone who doesn’t think like them.

The recent controversy between Joe Rogan, Neil Young and Spotify is a perfect example.

Music artist Neil Young demanded Spotify remove his music or remove Joe Rogan’s podcasts because Young felt many of Rogan’s

podcasts violated misinformation guidelines.

This conflict escalates from nonexistent to blow-up-your-enemies in the course of one Tweet. Out of the thousands of people that participated in relentless online slander, how many had actually listened to Joe Rogan’s podcast and decided for themselves?

Opposing sides do not necessarily have to adhere to two polar extremes. We need to

Illustration by Emily Patterson

learn to discuss the things that make us angry, and schools need to help. There are many ways to teach students how to disagree. Start by bringing up open discussions on topics without a concrete view. Bringing back books that are banned by counties due to sensitive topics, continue talking about mental health, abortion, racial injustice and historical events.

And keeping one thing in mind: people won’t

listen if they don’t perceive they’ll be heard or acknowledged back.

People need to accept that someone will always have a distinct view or perspective, but that doesn’t take away from their ability to do tasks. That’s also why diversity is so important when teaching, there’s always different ways to view the world and the issues that surround it.

Being able to resolve conflict and in exchange get something that benefits both sides. Two things will be gained from proper discussions and disagreements, either a compromise will be reached or a new perspective will be seen.

It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong, what matters is being able to tolerate each other and ultimately to be able to resolve conflicts. In real life, everyone will always encounter someone who they need to work with that may have completely different views.

People shouldn’t let that affect them or their work, nor should it create an unnecessary dispute. The only thing people need to do is accept that both opinions won’t change and that they should be allowed to disagree without making an all or nothing proposal.

hairs

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E Y D LIT

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or bold, adventurous and brave people like you, a split dye is the perfect hairstyle.

Standing in the bathroom with latex gloves and bottles of bleach, sophomore Kay McAdams made the decision to split dye his hair, with only the help of a friend and some store-bought dye. The style requires frequent touch-ups, but is still manageable for those who prefer quick styling, according to McAdams.

“It’s a super nice combo and super easy to change up the colors,” McAdams said. “I only touch up my roots every two to four weeks. It’s pretty lowmaintenance.”

Most people with split dyed hair decide to leave one side of their hair natural and change the other to a bright color. Sophomore Levi Cal-Rivera has experimented with many different colors, but decided fun colors, like neon pink, were his favorite.

“A split dye is a fun alternative to a basic dye job,” Cal-Rivera said. “I can always make the bleached side any color I want.”

For those who enjoy experimenting with their hair as if it is a blank canvas, a split dye is a great option. It allows for a vivid pop of color without causing bleach damage to all hair, and is easily manageable.

“I absolutely love [my split dye],” McAdams said.

“It helps me find another way to express myself.”

ARE YOU OKAY WITH USING LIKE A FLAT IRON Sure. As long as I have heat protectant spray, I don’t mind.

No.

DO YOU PREFER NATURAL HAIR OR POPS OF COLOR? Pops of color! I like to have some fun with my hair.

ET L L U

IS YOUR HAIR CURLY OR

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or people who prefer a rugged and natural look, a mullet is a popular hairstyle.

“I think it looks good, it suits me, I really could care less what other people think,” Terrill said.

Some had the mullet before the fad took off again, many getting it for different reasons, like fitting in with a group or standing out.

“In elementary school, I just grew it out and I just liked the look and I kept growing it and growing it until eventually it became a mullet,” sophomore Tyler Covelli said.

The mullet is a good hairstyle for those who prefer low-maintenance hairstyles, as the weight in the back keeps it all down, so it only takes a little combing in the front to be ready for the day.

“I just let the back go and then put some gel on the top and scoop it,” Smith said.

Mullets have long been considered more of a “redneck” hairstyle, which wearers want to change.

They have turned into another common style, like the fade or perm.

The mullet is also very adaptable as wearers are able to style it into a perm, a ponytail and even a man-bun. With the style being low-maintenance and popular amongst celebrities, the mullet has come back and will not be disappearing anytime soon.

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to read the full stories

My hair is either straight or wavy

My hair is very

B

ox braids are a great style for those who want to limit their use of heat products and promote hair growth.

Growing up, sophomore Amy Desroches saw unlimited possibilities with her box braids. Sprucing them up with shiny beads and different color braiding hair, she became confident and comfortable with her unique style.

“I’ve been braiding my hair ever since I was a little girl,” Desroches said. “This hairstyle is one of my favorites and I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing it, to be honest. It just feels like a part of me and my culture.”

Box braids is a protective hairstyle that is popular in African-American culture. The style promotes hair growth in extremely curly hair while preventing heat damage, according to freshman Misa Gibbs.

Additionally, box braids can be any length or color.

“You can wear it in so many ways and styles and have it in your own unique way to express yourself,” Gibbs said.

Box braids are not only a useful style for hair protection and growth, but they also provide a creative and cultural outlet.

“Braids really help me express myself, which is why I get them so much,” Gibbs said. “I get to pick colors and the style and they’re just me.”

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Natural. I like to let show

X

styles

FRESH HAIR START

spread by Skyler Glenn, Areli Smith and Joshua Krob

A BREATH OF

HEAT TOOLS, N?

. I’d rather let my hair be its natural texture.

COLORS,

Students experiment with different hairstyles.

Which one would suit you?

DO YOU PREFER LONG OR SHORT HAIR? Long. I like being able to do fun styles with my hair.

t my true beauty w.

R STRAIGHT?

Short. The easier it is to deal with, the better.

DO YOU USE SPECIAL PRODUCTS, LIKE HAIR MASKS? Yes. I do my best to keep my hair healthy!

Nope. I don’t have time to use things like that!

y.

IDS A R B

HOW OFTEN ARE YOU WILLING TO TOUCH UP YOUR HAIR? Around every four to six weeks would be best.

Often, like once every two weeks.

A

shaved head is the perfect hairstyle for anyone who wants a bold look with just a few minutes of upkeep every couple weeks.

A viral trend across social media platforms, the shaved head hairstyle has made a comeback. Often seen as a spontaneous, you-only-live-once style, it provides a clean hair slate to anyone who wants it, as well as a big change from long to short hair. Though the shaved head is typically a masculine style, it can work for all kinds of people, including senior LeeAnn Andrews, who shaved her head three years ago.

“I shaved my head because my hair was unhealthy, and I just wanted to start over,” Andrews said.

While a shaved head can be kept simple and natural, it can also be dyed or styled in different ways.

Junior Gavin Fishman shaves most of his head, but keeps a line of hair in the middle of his scalp to create a thin man bun.

“I really enjoy this hairstyle, as I’ve had it since third grade,” Fishman said. “I’ve gone completely short a few times and I regretted it so much.”

Similarly, Andrews experimented with different dye colors on the little bit of hair she left on her head.

“I dyed it blue, blonde, and black. I chose blue for the longest because I thought it was a fun color and something that I hadn’t done before,” she said.

S HA

y curly and thick.

A D E H D E V

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entertainment “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” (Amazon Prime)

r e v i e w b o x

Released Jan. 14, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” is the fourth movie and includes all of the same characters as the previous movies but with a big change to the voice acting. Instead of Adam Sandler, the Dracula all fans know, Dracula is now voiced by Brian Hull. Animation throughout “Transformania” looked too edited; even for an animated movie. Although this is a kids movie and a cartoon, the acting seemed very forced. Events were corny and it seemed as if directors ran out of ideas for this series. If you are considering watching more of this popular series, do not waste your time.

“Dimension: answer” Enhyphen

ENHYPEN’s most recent album “DIMENSION:ANSWER” was released Jan. 10. Just like their previous comebacks, this one does not fall short of amazing, and their title track “Blessed-Cursed” further demonstrates ENHYPEN’s skillful experimentation with different concepts. This track falls in the rock genre, and the aesthetics of a ‘90s boy band perfectly accompanied the initial “feel” many may get from listening to the song. However, “Polaroid Love” is an R&B track, it is a great contrast to “Blessed-Cursed,” allowing listeners to somewhat “recover” from the fast-paced title track.

- Valeria Romero

- Julia Sumpter

“The Real Dirty Dancing” (FOX)

“The Real Dirty Dancing” premiered on Feb. 1 and follows eight celebrities, who have no dance background, as they compete to be crowned the best Johnny or Baby. Simply put, the concept of the dance competition makes little sense, as it ruins the original “Dirty Dancing” for viewers and does a disservice to the actual cast of the movie. One of the biggest flaws with the show is the selection of competitors. Not only are awful attempts at the dances shown, but the contestants even recreate the acting scenes. Often, classics like Dirty Dancing are better left untouched, and this is one of those instances.

- Skyler Glenn

Playa Pizza

Playa Pizza is the closest to the unique experience you would get in the boroughs. Only it is a local business in Oviedo. Their cheese blends are something unheard of and so creatively crazy that they are actually amazing. They have traditional pizza with customizing options including a unique cauliflower gluten free crust. They refuse to repeat ingredients, not one slice is like another.

We have yet to even mention the vegan options of pizza and meatballs (known as “Neatballs”). You can wait for the delivery or take a seat at dine-in and watch, as a robot will come deliver your food with all politeness and etiquette.

- Anthony Basta

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

“Abbott Elementary” follows the life of young teacher Janine Teages (Quinta Brunson), as she is one of the newer educators working at the underfunded school. The first episode was released in December and the most recent was released Feb. 22. Janine and her coworkers face a different predicament in each episode, one that is normally caused by Ava, the principal of the school. The constant breaking of the fourth wall, as seen in shows like “The Office,” is refreshing to see. Abbott Elementary also does a fine job with character-to-character relationships. While the show is beautifully written, the pacing is a bit slow to start with.

- Rachelle English

“Bullet Hell Heroes”

Released Jan. 26, “Bullet Hell Heroes” is a mobile game that takes a lot of inspiration from the classic game, “Space Invaders.” It has many upgradeable fighters, starting with three and gaining a new one after defeating each boss.

This game is very smart as the upgrades are not just something you can live without, so you will need to constantly play to lose or play previously defeated bosses to save up for upgrades to defeat harder bosses. “Bullet Hell Heroes” is not for those who are impatient, but it is no doubt a fun and addicting game that many will enjoy.

- Joshua Krob

Rapping up halftime at the Super Bowl Angelica Mendez

F

Staff reporter

ollowing a long line of halftime shows led by pop singers, a true rap and hiphop show was long overdue. With a combination of newer and older artists, the 2022 halftime show was a dazzling performance that surpassed previous years.

The Super Bowl LVI halftime show was a great break from traditional halftime shows. The performance showcased Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and 50 Cent, all Grammy and MTV award winners for rap and hip-hop.

Although a lineup of six different singers presents a challenge, they all blended well, and the transitions were smooth when different performers started singing.

The artists performed some of their top songs like “In Da Club” by 50 Cent, “Alright”

by Kendrick Lamar, and “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.

All performers sang two of their popular songs, with the exception of 50 Cent and Eminem who sang one. Despite the songs being cut short for time, all were still catchy and could

be distinguished as soon as the music started.

Another big moment of this year’s super bowl was when 50 Cent not only made a surprise appearance, but also started his performance upside down. Along with that, Dr. Dre played a piano riff from Tupac’s “I Ain’t Mad At Cha,” which was a great addition to the show.

While most of the halftime show was a step forward from the past, the set seemed like a step back. In past years, the field would feature giant stages and crazy design additions like the hall of mirrors in The Weeknd’s 2021 halftime performance. However, this year was subtle and less extravagant with a giant rug rolled up, five box shaped rooms and a couple cars.

Even though the set was too minimal, the simplicity of other aspects of the show, such as the outfits and choreography, was good. With the exception of Blige, most of the singers and background performers wore simple colors and clothing creating less distractions from the music. This allowed viewers to enjoy the music and take in the performance as a whole instead of being distracted by other aspects.

Despite rap and hip-hop’s stereotypes of suggestive language and topics, this year’s show did not have much controversy – although there

were still moments like 50 Cent’s background dancers dancing – for the most part, the show was appropriate. There were more familyfriendly outfits and the dancing was not as provocative compared to past performances like the pole dancing of Jenifer Lopez and Shakira.

The most controversial moment, however, might have been when Eminem took a knee at the end of his performance, which many believe was a protest similar to Colin kaepernick’s kneeling to protest racial discrimination and police brutality.

And in Lamar’s song “Alright,” the word “po-po,” talking about the police, seemed to be cut from one of the lines, leaving many to believe the NFL wanted to censor anything controversial. But these moments seemed insignificant, and did not keep viewers from enjoying the entertainment. Nonetheless, both moments were largely unforgettable and symbolic despite the debatable purposes.

Despite having a simple set, the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was one of the best performances yet. With a first-time showcasing of rap and many notable moments, the show was one that will not be forgotten and hopefully will change the path for future shows.

Halftime Show Setlist 1. “The Next Episode”- Snoop Dogg 2. “California Love”- Dr. Dre 3. “In Da Club”- 50 Cent 4. “Family Affair”- Mary J. Blige 5. “No More Drama”- Mary J. Blige 6. “M.a.a.D City”- Kendrick Lamar 7. “Alright”- Kendrick Lamar 8. “Lose Yourself”- Eminem 9. “Still D.R.E.”- Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

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lifestyles

It STEMs from perseverance Skyler Glenn

Online Editor

C

oders are used to if/then statements: “if” a user clicks on the login button, “then” they will be redirected to the login page. But in the case of junior Ilani Seguinot, “if” you have a passion for mathematics and technology, “then” being nominated for county-wide STEM awards is possible.

Every year, Seminole County selects one junior from each high school who excels in STEM fields to represent their school and interview for the Sunshine State Scholars Award, which Seguinot was nominated for in November. Of these, two will be sent to a two-day STEM program in Orlando, creating a network between scholars and Florida universities.

“I was very honored and excited for this opportunity,” Seguinot said. “I didn’t expect it because there are so many accomplished students who are also interested in STEM.” To receive this nomination, a student must be a junior enrolled in advanced STEM courses, have a weighted GPA of 3.9 or higher, have 25 or more hours of documented community service, score at least a 30 or 1300 on the ACT or SAT respectively, score a 3 or higher on an AP test, score 4s and 5s on FSAs and EOCs and show leadership in STEM. Based on these requirements, AP Computer Science Principles and Statistics teacher Dan Conybear felt Seguinot was the perfect candidate.

“Ilani has demonstrated all of the qualities outlined for this STEM award,” Conybear said. “I know that she is a terrific student, with the added benefit of being a really good person.”

Seguinot’s interest in STEM began in her elementary school years as she participated in challenging STEM activities. After being accepted into her school’s gifted program in fifth grade, she began programming EV3 Lego robots, taking a particular interest in coding.

“I knew I loved STEM in fifth grade,” Seguinot said. “I loved the creativity and problem-solving aspect of coding the robots to do tasks.”

Once Seguinot reached middle school, her passion for coding and computer science continued when she joined the Jackson Heights robotics team. Seguinot helped lead her team to victories in regional and international competitions.

However, during her first season, her team was not chosen to advance to the regional tournament after months of tough coding and programming.

“When they started announcing which teams would be advancing, we didn’t hear our team name,” Seguinot said.

“We were very disheartened by the loss. I personally felt like I failed.”

Days later, Seguinot’s team was informed that one of the teams selected for regionals could not attend the competition, and her team was able to compete in their place. Seguinot describes this moment as a “win for the underdog.”

“We all started yelling and celebrating, it was amazing,” Seguinot said.

The team went on to take second and later attended the national competition in Los Angeles.

“It felt very rewarding to not only meet our previous expectations, but exceed them,” Seguinot said.

Seguinot was not able to continue robotics in high school due to schedule conflicts, but has found other ways to stay involved with coding. She took AP Computer Science Principles her sophomore year, and will enroll in AP Computer Science A her senior year. In the future, she plans to attend MIT and pursue a career as a software engineer at companies like Siemens, Lockheed Martin or NASA. “At MIT, I will be surrounded by people who are as passionate about computer science as me,” Seguinot said. “It will also push me to my limits, and I want to be challenged.”

Though Seguinot handles most of her schoolwork with ease, she also faces the occasional struggle. While completing a demo project for her final computer science exam, she discovered an error that she could not figure out how to solve. This proved to be daunting for days, leaving her discouraged. She eventually concluded that the error was caused by an incorrect number in her code that caused a chain reaction.

“There were a lot of tears and wasted hours during that project. Computer science can be a frustrating subject,” Seguinot said.

From her first day of preschool, Seguinot’s parents have placed a strong emphasis on education. According to Seguinot, this is largely due to her family’s culture and history. Her mother, Erika Ramos, lived in Puerto Rico before moving to the United States at age 8. Because English was not her first language, Ramos initially struggled in school, but later became the valedictorian of her graduating class. Following in her footsteps, Seguinot and her siblings were selected for the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program.

CODING FOR SUCCESS Junior Ilani Seguinot evaluates an EV3 robot built by the Minimancer First Lego League Challenge team. photo by Skyler Glenn

“I will be a first-generation college graduate, which is really special to me,” Seguinot said.

Beyond STEM, Seguinot enjoys participating in the marching band and Wind Ensemble every year, playing the euphonium. Currently enrolled in AP Music Theory, she loves finding rigor in even the most fun places of her life. She has received the highest rating at the Florida Bandmasters’ Association Solo and Ensemble festival five times.

“Band has an aspect of creativity, just like coding,” Seguinot said. “It allows me to have artistic freedom. I can experiment with different dynamics and phrasing.”

As of Dec. 5, Seguinot was selected as an alternate for the Sunshine State Scholars Award, meaning she will attend the Orlando convention if one of the selected students is not able to attend. Both Conybear and Ramos are pleased with Seguinot’s success, and feel that she has a bright future and will leave a lasting impact on the field of computer science.

“Watching Ilani excel through her education has been so rewarding,” Ramos said. “She works so hard and gives it her all.”

The cryptic world of cryptocurrency Reagan Eastlick

I

Staff Reporter

magine a dollar bill. You can hold it in your hands, fold it and put it into your wallet.

When you want to buy a candy bar, you can take it out again and feed it into a vending machine. Voila - you’ve used your dollar in the way it’s meant to be used.

Now imagine that the dollar bill only exists online. Instead of having to put it into your wallet, it already exists there. When you want to pay for a product, you can use that digital dollar and transfer it to whoever you are buying a product from. Voila - you have discovered the idea behind cryptocurrency.

Cryptocurrency (or crypto for short) is, according to Coinbase, decentralized digital money designed to be used over the internet. It has grown in popularity and prominence in the past few years, and some students have invested in it.

Senior Blake Watts has been invested in crypto for a little under a year. He describes it as “a way for people to regain their financial freedom, at least for now. It is a form of currency that is directed purely by the driving forces of the consumers and isn’t controlled by a government.”

Watts has invested some of his money into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Cardano and Shiba Inu. His experience has been mixed: “I was up, and now I’m down. I got too busy to

Illustration by Cat Eberlein

follow as much as I was. I guess I held on too long and then it crashed.”

Cryptocurrency is largely unregulated, as opposed to the stock market which operates within rules set by governmental bodies. The unregulated nature of digital money is what allows people to lose money quickly, but a lucky roll of digital dice lets some get rich quick.

Junior Caleb Barber invested in Dodge Coin and Shiba Inu. He’s made money investing in crypto. “If I sell [my investments] then I’ll make about 175 bucks.”

There are different approaches to making money with crypto. They range from an

involved, day trader-esque tact to a more laid back and leisurely market strategy.

“I just pull up my Robinhood app and look at it. I don’t really do anything to it, I just leave it” Barber said.

Watts took a more hands on approach while working with crypto. “It takes a lot of focus and attention to know when to enter and exit the market in order to make a profit. With school it takes away the time to analyze how the markets are moving, and that’s how I lost money,” Watts said.

The natural question after hearing about crypto is “should I invest?” The resulting

answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Barber views crypto as a risk worth taking.

“Absolutely (students should invest in crypto).

It’s a gamble, but I think it’s a good idea.”

Cryptocurrency is a gamble due to its unregulated nature. Government intervention in the stock market can be viewed in a similar way to jetties at a beach; when waves crash into the stones which comprise it, they “break” reducing their size and strength and keeping the waters calm. Governmental regulations act in a similar way. Waves of market change, be they good or bad, are reduced in intensity. The result is smaller gains, but also smaller losses; smoother waters.

Crypto has none of those protections, which is what led to the choppy results that Blake Watts saw in his investment. He stresses caution for kids considering a cryptocurrency investment.

“If they want to build capital for their future I would say they should look into it” Watts said.

“Or have a broker who invests your money into safer options like bonds or a Roth IRA. Those are the safest options.”

Digital currency is certainly risky. For some that risk pays off. For others, perhaps not. Read this same story online to see how our investment of $100 into Shiba Inu coin changed over the course of 10 days.

12

lifestyles

Home is where the class is Janell Lim

F

News Editor

or many sophomores, 10th grade is just another year of high school, the year before the stress of college admissions and SAT scores. For a young Amany Bekheit, it was the year she discovered her passion for teaching.

In 1990, 16-year-old Bekheit was sitting in a classroom in Cairo, Egypt, fascinated, as her Physics teacher demonstrated how white light could travel through a prism to produce a rainbow.

“I held the prism to the light and saw the rainbow and thought, ‘Oh my God, something is happening here,’” Bekheit said. “Where did the rainbow come from? [My teacher] started explaining and since then, I thought, ‘I want to be a teacher like her.’”

Thirteen years later, this wish became reality. At 29 years old, Bekheit found herself teaching elementary school in New York City after she married and moved to the U.S. with her husband.

Later, she would go on to teach physical science in two middle schools before moving to Florida and becoming a high school physics teacher.

However, Bekheit has never forgotten her roots. Born in Luxor, Egypt, Bekheit moved to Cairo shortly after her birth, attending Cairo University and earning a bachelor’s degree in theoretical physics. She always strives to share her culture with her students, whether it’s teaching them how to speak in Arabic or showing them videos of her home country.

From Physics to Geometry to Spanish teachers, instructors from all over the world have brought their experiences outside of the U.S. to their classrooms, providing their students with a variety of perspectives.

Becoming a Teacher Similarly to Bekheit, math teacher Aglaia Christodoulides, a Cyprus native, moved to America because of her former husband, whom she met in London while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in engineering. After marrying, she moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania and started a family. Although she had initially set out to become a civil engineer, Christodoulides found herself at a teaching job to help support her growing family.

“Teaching came by default. I was like, ‘What can I do that will help me with the family and raising kids?’ Use my knowledge, which was engineering based, and get a job teaching,” Christodoulides said.

By contrast, math and Chinese teacher Zhenzhen Zhang, born in Hengshui, China, knew she wanted to be a teacher ever since she was young.

“In China, being a teacher is a very honorable position. It’s respected by parents, society and students. So I said, ‘Okay, I’ll choose education as a major, since I like it,’” Zhang said.

Cultural differences Zhang, who taught kindergarten in China, moved to the U.S. after meeting her husband through a student exchange program.

However, even after more than 10 years living in the U.S., she still feels like the immigrant she was when she first came here.

“I’m still adjusting even now. I still don’t fully understand the American way of life, of dealing with certain things,” she said.

For example, many of the unspoken rules that govern American society are not present in Chinese society. Especially among family members, personal questions about age, salary and relationship status are not considered disrespectful or off-limits.

“Whenever you go back home and visit your auntie and uncle, they would say to anybody who is still single, ‘How come you’re still not married yet?’ [Americans] don’t do that,” Zhang said.

“Maybe [American] parents would have questions like that, but back in China, your uncle’s second cousin’s auntie would have already grabbed you and asked you personal questions like that.”

Educational differences When it comes to education, Zhang noted Chinese schools focus more on academics and grades. For American universities, college admissions officers evaluate the student holistically, looking at not only their grades, but their extracurriculars, community service and recommendations. “[In America], if you get a low score on the SAT but you have other extracurriculars and your whole profile looks good, then you’ll get in. It’s not like that in China,” Zhang said. “In China, you have to meet this line. If you’re under that line, no matter what you do, you’re not going to get admitted.”

Other minor differences included the way math strategies were taught. After spending her entire young adult life in the Chinese education system, Zhang was able to apply this knowledge to her geometry classes.

“I teach [my students] Chinese methods on solving problems and also the American method on solving problems,” Zhang said. “Then they can pick and choose which one works better, and sometimes I open up their eyes.”

Bekheit also found that American schools were more lax in certain aspects. According to her, rules in Egyptian schools were much more strict.

“You have to wear a uniform. No nail polish. You can’t talk loud, you can’t laugh loud. Even when you move in the hallways, you have to keep to the right. You can’t mix and mingle,” Bekheit said.

Speaking Arabic was also prohibited, as it was an English school. Instead of detention or referrals, punishments came in the form of deducting from students’ grades.

The Best of Both Worlds Despite differences, many still found ways to bridge the gap between their home and the U.S. For Christodoulides, that meant keeping some traditions from Cyprus and adopting others from America. “[I realized] there is no right or wrong, but there are different ways of doing things,” Christodoulides said. “Back home, we always have dinner together. So that I kept, but like giving responsibilities I changed. Back home, you baby them until they’re 50 years old. In America, there’s more responsibility given at a young age. So when my kids were in middle school, I was like, ‘You do your own laundry; I’m not doing it.’ It’s like taking the best of everything and just mashing it together.”

These experiences outside of the U.S. not only helped them

EMBRACING THE CULTURE Spanish teacher Nitza Ariza poses for a photo with her folkloric dress. In her Spanish classes, Ariza likes to sing and cook traditional foods as a way to expose her students to different cultures. photo by Nitza Ariza

in their personal lives, but also in their teaching jobs. Especially for foreign language teachers like Zhang and Spanish teacher Nitza Ariza, sharing their culture is part of their curriculum.

“For Hispanic Heritage Month. I dressed up in my folkloric dress and I saw that everybody liked it. It was nice to share my culture,” Ariza said.

Overcoming Obstacles Ariza was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and lived there until 1993, before moving to San Antonio, Texas because of her husband’s military duties.

Even though Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, Ariza still found herself facing challenges because of the language barrier.

“In my very first interview, I was told that I would never find a job because of my accent,” she said. “I left the interview crying, but two years later, I was already in a school working and I got nominated for Teacher of the Year.”

Today, after 23 years of teaching, Ariza can confidently say her experiences in Puerto Rico were not a liability, but an asset.

“It exposes you to a lot of cultures, a lot of people,” she said.

“You get to meet awesome people from a lot of different places.”

Christodoulides added that while at first she did not understand certain American customs like sensitivity to religion and nudity, she learned to appreciate the lives she lived in both worlds.

It gives you a different way of thinking,” Christodoulides said. “It makes you open your eyes and go, ‘Wow, there are other ways of doing things that you never even think about.’”

SRO Gil defends the defenseless Nadia Knoblauch

G EMBRACING THE CULTURE Ariza poses for a photo with her folkloric dress. In her Spanish classes, Ariza likes to sing and cook traditional foods as a way top expose her students to different cultures. photo by Nitza Ariza

Staff Reporter

lass and jewelry covered the floor. Bed sheets and pillowcases were ripped from the mattresses and broken windows let in the night air. Fourteen-year-old Milton Gil was frightened when he and his family came home from dinner to find their front door wide open. In his neighborhood of Jamaica, in Queens, New York, criminal activity was not uncommon, but as he looked at the clothes and magazines scattered across his bedroom, Gil felt defenseless, something he had never felt before.

School Resource Officer Milton Gil has worked for the Seminole County Sheriff’s office for six years. Growing up in Queens, Gil became familiar with crime following the

robbery of his childhood apartment. This event left an impression on Gil, motivating him to learn Brazilian jiu-f, Krav Maga and other martial arts as a teenager.

“I felt like I needed to defend myself,” Gil said. “You never know what your life is going to bring.”

The robbery catalyzed Gil’s passion for law enforcement, leading him to study criminal law at Rutgers University, but his plans were put on hold as he started his family.

Shortly after his move to Florida, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting made Gil relive his own childhood experiences, regaining his passion for law enforcement. Gil realized who needed the most protection: children in schools.

“The world has gotten crazier out there,”

Gil said. “Innocent kids don’t deserve that, they deserve to live happy, free and safe.”

A few years later, Gil graduated at the top of his class from the police academy and was hired by the Seminole County Sheriff’s office.

“I wanted to get into school safety mainly because it’s my way of giving back to the community,” Gil said. “How better to help than to help people who can’t really defend themselves?”

Read the full story on Officer Gil here

lifestyles

Accommodating the narrative GIVING AID IEPs and 504s are intended to uplift students that struggle with disabilities. “[Without an IEP] I’d have problems with things like taking tests, and I don’t think I’d be able to have a safe space,” John said. Illustration by Dylan Wisner

Sophia Canabal

T

Lifestyles Editor

rying to educate 2,356 different students in the same way is like trying to paint a rainbow with only one color. Whether a student is eligible for the Exceptional Student Education program, an Individualized Education Plan(IEP) or a 504, accommodations help level the educational playing field.

An IEP is an education plan tailored to a specific student’s needs. Depending on the disabilities they have, counselors, parents and support facilitators work together to assign specific classes that would best fit the student.

Junior Nina Honda only recently became eligible for an IEP, but being previously diagnosed with ADHD, was already familiar with how the disorder could impact her education.

“Instead of being hyperactive all the time, I have an inattentive type which looks more like being distracted all the time,” Honda said.

“I would forget to turn in assignments that I completed, I wouldn’t pay attention to what the teacher is teaching in class, and I would get distracted while taking tests or quizzes. Now that I take medicine and have developed coping techniques, I do these things less frequently.”

Developing and implementing an IEP depends on communication between counselors, students, parents and medical professionals, according to IEP counselor Erin Isaacs.

“I help facilitate between the teachers, support facilitators, the students and parents,”

IEP counselor Erin Isaacs said. “If we get a new student with an IEP, I’ll read it to determine the classes that they need.”

According to Seminole County’s “A Parent’s Introduction to Exceptional Student Education,” those assigned to a student’s IEP follow the Multi-Tiered System of Supports process by using past medical records, school progress reports and evaluation reports to decide if a student needs ESE services.

“Talk to the current counselor that you have, and they’ll be able to look at the process and get that ball rolling,” Isaacs said. “We look at the entire picture to determine if a student is eligible.”

For John*, ESE services became an integral part of his education in sixth grade, and he has since grown accustomed to what it means and how he can use it to best facilitate his education. “[In sixth grade] they added extra time and help in specific classes, and in ninth and tenth grade, they started to repeal some things because I started getting used to school in general,” John said. “At any point in time, you can go to someone and amend your IEP.” Amending an IEP might be a convenient process, but John struggles with its other aspects, such as its classroom dynamic. In his Social-Personal class, one assigned specifically within IEPs, students with widely varying needs often get put into the same classroom, and the environment can grow disruptive.

“For a person who has an IEP, I basically end up stressed at every period of the day,” John said. “And as soon as I walk out, it feels better.

But then I have to deal with that stress all over again. It’s just compounded stress.”

IEPs and 504s are seldom looped into the same category, as they each adjust a student’s learning environment in completely different ways.

“A 504 is for students with disabilities that need accommodations. This is not a specially designed instruction,” Isaacs said. “It’s designed to let students have an even playing field within the classroom.”

504s provide accommodations without affecting students’ curriculum. Both can grant adjustments like extended time or preferred seating, but 504s cover a broader range of disabilities, both temporary and permanent.

“They knew that I had ADHD since I was really young, and mine was pretty severe,” senior Allyson Myers said. “They got me a 504 when I first went onto medicine, because I was a really troublesome kid, to the point where I would do nothing but peel the papers off of

“If we don’t believe in freedom of speech for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”

Noam Chomsky

crayons.”

Myers has had a 504 since first grade.

Originally, it only entailed access to extended time or written notes, but she was later diagnosed with Dyscalculia during her junior year, a learning difficulty that prevents her from remembering basic arithmetic, which warranted the addition of a calculator accommodation within the classroom and on standardized College Board exams.

“Accommodations for school based exams are in place with IEPs and 504s,” Isaacs said, “but any accommodations for the ACT and College Board exams have to be applied for and are not guaranteed.”

Because school counselors have no jurisdiction over College Board exam conditions, Myers struggled to get any accommodations regarding Discalculuia on certain tests, and the process required constant communication through her counselor, a psychiatrist and rejections emails.

“When I tried to petition for the [accommodation], given that I have always had a calculator accommodation at the school, my request was rejected,” Myers said. “So we had to file an appeal, but the appeal got rejected, so I had to take a full psychiatric evaluation, get a full diagnosis, and an official recommendation from the psychologist.”

Many students with accommodations, whether it be an IEP or a 504 plan, struggle with miscommunication with their teachers on how they should operate in the classroom, but Isaacs ensures that in every situation, a counselor or support facilitator should always advocate for students’ needs.

“We need to be made aware if a teacher is not implementing something because there are so many check and balance systems for that,” Isaacs said. “If there’s ever a concern, talk directly with a teacher, and if it’s not resolved, go directly to the counselor, who will help facilitate the process.”

Despite suffering an ineffective adaptation at the hands of College Board, accommodations continue to uplift students with disabilities within their respective schools.

“I have had teachers that were supportive,” Myers said. “One teacher gave me a paper at the beginning of the year that asked if I wanted her to assist our accommodations or if I was comfortable with her talking about it, and she always made sure our accommodations were taken care of.” *Name changed for privacy

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13 POPPIN’ OFF Content Houses Skyler Glenn

Imagine waking up in a Los Angeles mansion surrounded by a bunch of people who you barely know. The room is littered with Prada bags, James Charles makeup palettes and ring lights. Someone approaches you and says, “You need to film three promo videos today to go on our TikTok.” This could only be in one place: a content house.

With the release of Netflix original Hype House on Jan. 7, followers got to see what living inside a content house, like the Hype House, is really like. Most of the members of the house claim that they are in it for the friendships, despite house manager Thomas Petrou saying that the purpose of the house is to make a profit.

It’s clear that the house is toxic, as the members publicly criticize each other about failed relationships, social media image and their personalities. But the Internet loves the drama, and they know it. You have to give them some credit – they’re fun to watch.

These groups of influencers never stay together, which adds to the drama – and the cash flow. There’s always one creator who has a problem with everyone else, and the house disbands. When the Hype House drama became “too much” to handle, houses like the Sway House and Not A Content House were born. Both of these ended just as fast as they started, which isn’t surprising. Putting a house and brand in the hands of a 20-year-old whose primary income is social media is a poor decision. Regardless, it’s funny to see these rich influencers freak out about first-world problems, like whether to drive a RollsRoyce or a G-Wagon.

The Internet feeding into the content house drama fills influencers’ social schedules and pockets. They might make themselves look dumb, but their brand goal is accomplished every time they post a video.

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14

sports

Boys basketball finishes in fiery fashion Hagerty loses 65-62 in final game after late technical and Seminole three-pointer

“I think that the ref was overzealous when he gave that call. Tensions were high, and that was our moment. He could have at least given us a warning, and he went straight to the tech,” Nze said.

After the technical was called, the game’s Reagan Eastlick momentum shifted toward Seminole and Staff Reporter eventually led to a deciding three-point shot, very once in a while, a game defines a shot that would cost them the game. But that a program. Every once in a while, does not mean they did not play a good game or the stars align, on the court and in have a great season. the sky, and a game ensues which defies all “I wouldn’t have done anything differently. normal expectations. Every once in a while, a We played our game well,” Kohn said. basketball game like Hagerty versus Seminole “Whatever we did for the entire game, we did in the district finals graces the courts. a good job. There’s a reason the game was so The game was tied 62-62 with 30 seconds close.” left, and Seminole took The team had an “We were a really good inspiring finish after a deep three from the corner of the court, team; we were right where a slow start. The putting them up by team was 5-5 before three points, pushing we were supposed to be. winter break, and them over the edge during three of those to victory. The shot And it just didn’t happen.” losses, they were was contested, and missing key players.

-Josh Kohn, head coach taken from the hardest After the break, the position on the court. It would be the last made team’s record increased to 15-3. Their wildly shot of the game. improved record was a reflection of improved “I give credit to Seminole because they team chemistry. played well,” shooting guard Jah Nze said “But “We were a really good team, and we were I feel like nearing the end [of the game] the right where we were supposed to be. And it just refs gave bad calls, especially on the technical didn’t happen,” Kohn said. call.”

As for Jah Nze, he walks away from the The technical was called with 40 seconds season with the individual points record for the left, and was issued after a celebration between program. It is fitting that his final game of the center Ian Salinger and Nze. season was as dynamic as his legacy.

“They got fired up, and I never thought it “[I appreciate] everyone who let me play should have been called. That’s a big deal to my game and has been with me through the call that. The timing was disappointing,” head ups and downs, successes and mistakes. Even coach Josh Kohn said. though we lost, I wouldn’t have had it any other Nze had the ball, and had the technical not way,” Nze said. been called, the team would have been up by Kohn still sees the season as a success. five instead of three. Those two missed points “The goal was to be good. We accomplished made all the difference. the goal.”

E

DRIVE THROUGH THE PAINT In the district final on Feb. 11, shooting guard Jah Nze drives through the defense to make two points. The leading scorer for the team, Nze would finish the game with 21 points, a 65-62 loss to Seminole. photo by Reagan Eastlick FINDING SPACE Senior Timothy Bock looks for the open pass in the second half of the game against Seminole. The team finished the season 19-9, including a 15-3 stretch to end the season, but barely missed an at-large spot for the regional playoffs. photo by Reagan Eastlick

athlete of the issue Who

Ethan Gomez

Team

Boys varsity wrestling

Date

Feb. 16

What

Purchase a yearbook! www.yearbookforever.com Yearbook prices go up Monday, March 14

Won first place at districts

Where

Hagerty High School On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the boys wrestling team took first place at districts. Senior Ethan Gomez placed first in the 170 weight class. This is Gomez’s second time taking first at districts; he also placed first his junior year. Last year, Gomez won third in regionals and became a state qualifier and is expecting to make it to regionals and states again. “It feels good to be a two time district champion,” Gomez said. “I have to keep going hard and win regionals and get to states.”

sports

15

Girls basketball makes it to regional playoffs

Ava West

I

CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE Guard Kiara Harris drives the lane against Seminole. The team won the SAC championship and finished runner-up in the district tournament. photo by Bela Guise

Staff Reporter

n the game that would decide the Seminole Athletic Conference championship on Jan.18, Lake Howell was leading 41-40.

The defense made a huge stop in the final 30 seconds and got the ball up the court to shooting guard Hannah Kohn. She got the ball, took a step back, jumped and shot, scoring a threepointer and winning the game, 43-41.

“It felt amazing,” Kohn said. “We talked about winning a championship as a team at the beginning of the year. When we did, it was great because we accomplished what we wanted to and it was so fun to do it with my teammates.”

With a SAC championship and a runner-up finish in the district playoffs, girls basketball enjoyed their most successful season yet.

“We have never got this far in the past,” center Ellie Wilkins said. “We are all so excited to get our first banner because we know how hard we worked for it this season.

The district championship was played against Colonial, and the girls lost 73-69 on Jan. 31.

“We definitely could have won that game.

We were in the lead for the majority of it,” center Edie Wilkins said. “We rushed ourselves too much and in the end, we ended up paying for it.”

Before the successful finish, though, the season started off slow. They were 1-3, but then the team started to build more chemistry and worked together on defense and ball movement, which allowed them to secure more wins. The overall record for the team was 19-10.

“Our defense was my favorite part because we were really aggressive and able to communicate well. We all showed up this

season and were very proud of each other,” Wilkins said.

Although the defense made great stops and game winning saves, the offense also proved itself. Kohn broke a national record making 19 three-pointers, scoring a total of 61 points, in a single game against Lyman on Dec.7. The initial goal was only to make eleven.

“We all put so much effort to get Hannah the ball,” point guard Kiara Harris said. “It was incredible when she broke the record and I have never been happier for anyone.”

Different improvements happen when a season comes to an end for any sports team.

This season, the main improvement as a team was being able to start out the games faster, according to junior Kiara Harris.

“At the beginning of the season we were definitely a second half team. We started off really slow and it made games close that should not have been,” Harris said. “After winter break we started to play more consistently and were able to play the full game well.”

The team bonded very well over the season and would often hang out outside of practice.

They did lunches, dinners, sleepovers, and pretty much anything else together. This in turn made them very close and able to work together well during the season.

“The best part of the season was all the little things outside of just playing the game,” Kohn said. “We would go get food and always cheer each other on and it made the season really enjoyable.”

The whole team is proud of each other for what they accomplished this season and are only looking to do better next year.

“Winning the SAC championship gave us fuel,” center Ellie Wilkins said. “We now more than ever want to win another championship.

Weightlifting takes 4th in snatch at states

Senior Hali Fildes wins state title for snatch while Thornsbury and Varady place in top five Karson Cuozzo

T

Sports Editor

he girls varsity weightlifting team took 14 girls to the state championship on Thursday, Feb. 10, and returned with big team and individual honors.

The team took fourth place in snatch, the first year it became a FHSAA-sanctioned event. Senior Hali Fildes (154 weight class) took first place in the snatch competition and third in bench and clean and jerk. Junior Ava Thornsbury (199 weight class) and senior Chloe Varady (169 weight class) both placed in the snatch competition as well, taking third and fifth respectively.

“I was happy to be healthy and competitive in the time where it mattered the most,” Thornsbury said.

The team drove up together on Wednesday and weighed in later that night. Lifting started early Thursday morning at Port St. Joe High School, with snatch being the first event of the day. The first session of snatch lifters started at 9 a.m., then the second session followed at 1 p.m.

After snatch awards were handed out, bench and

clean and jerk started around 2:30 p.m. It was a long but fast-paced day for the team, according to Thornsbury.

Before states, the team had practice every day leading up to the event. Practices mainly focused on snatch technique and finding their opening lifts. Practices also included some squat circuits, and finding openers for bench and clean and jerk as well.

“The girls who were going to be in the snatch competition practiced hard all week, which is why they placed so high at states,” senior Megan Kaplan said.

Coming off of a high at regionals, with placing first in snatch and tying for fifth in bench and clean and jerk, the team was feeling confident as they moved into the state tournament. Some girls were nervous as they started their day, but happy with themselves as they finished the competition.

“I was excited to compete at states for the first time. I have made a lot of improvements since last year, and I was very confident,” sophomore Rachel Matthiesen said.

Coaches David Attaway and Curvan Williams were proud of the team and how the season went this year, and are already looking forward to next year.

“States went well, there is always room for improvement, but I am very proud of these girls. They have worked hard all season long,” Attway said.

STATE CHAMPION Senior Hali Fildes took first place at states in the snatch competetion on February 10. photo by Erin Thornsbury.

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sports

Varsity girls soccer makes historic run

Julia Sumpter

Oviedo received many free kicks throughout the game, including three in overtime, but it was not enough to win.

“We had to hunker down in the last 10 hird in the state. Only 12 goals scored against them all season. Oviedo, the minutes,” midfielder Alexis Madlang said. “The varsity girls soccer team’s biggest rival. clock felt like it was going slower and slower Before a 3-3 tie on Jan. 14, the girls had not every time we looked at it.”

On Feb. 11, the girls season came to an scored against Oviedo in six years, and they had not won in over 10. But this season was end after their loss to Lake Brantley 2-0 in the regional semifinals. They ended with a 11-7-1 different.

On Feb. 8, the girls beat Oviedo, 2-1. This record overall and made it farther in postseason time, it was in the regional quarterfinals, and the play this year than they had in several years.

Last year, the girls only made it to the team knew they had a shot.

“We just have this edge against them. We district semifinals where they lost to Winter tied them at the beginning of the season, so we Park. This season, the team made it all the way to the regional semifinals. Head coach Angie just knew we had to win,” Fitzgerald said.

This was not the only obstacle the team had Densberger focused a lot on the girls playing for to overcome in this game. Goalkeeper Aryana their teammates more than themselves.

“I try to make everyone on the team feel like Rosenblum was injured in the second half, but she knew she had to shake it off for the sake they contributed to the overall success of our team and that everyone of her team, which is exactly what she “As games get [more] serious, has a role,” Densberger did. we all want do it for each other said. “Our focus was on being a good teammate “She was basically limping and we would do anything.” and what does that look like.” after that [for] the -Reagan Fitzgerald, 11 As games got more whole game but she still did really good,” striker and right wing serious throughout the season, the team stuck Valeria Romero said. “She couldn’t even take by what Densberger taught them: to play for the goal kicks any more [but] she still stayed in each other.

“We’ve had ups and downs but at the end goal [and] saved a lot of them.”

The first goal of the game was by Fitzgerald, of the day, we all looked each other in the eyes off a corner kick from center back Riley Sophia and said that we want to do this for each other,” where Fitzgerald headed it in from the back midfielder Reagan Fitzgerald said.

On Nov. 15, the girls picked up a 1-0 win post. The tying goal from Oviedo snuck in after against Bishop Moore, a huge victory for them the girls could not clear it fast enough.

Oviedo was ranked third in the state and had since the girls usually lose to Bishop Moore. only given up 12 goals all season, but five of This was just one of many achievements.

According to Fitzgerald, the girls were able to those were to Hagerty.

After the clock ran out during regulation, score in big games and score goals against good captains of both teams were called to the center teams which has helped them become better.

Since the girls were first seed, they had a of the field to flip the coin for who started with the ball in overtime. Oviedo won the coin toss ticket to district semifinals where they played and the teams switched sides. Romero scored University on Jan. 28 and won 4-0. They were in the last 20 seconds of the first in overtime. up 1-0 in the first 60 minutes of the game then After the ball bounced off of a teammate’s head, scored the last three in the last 30 minutes.

On Feb. 2 the team played Boone and lost Romero kicked it into the right corner of the 3-0 where Boone scored their first two goals goal and scored the deciding goal of the game.

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Opinions Editor

Baseball wins preseason classic Alexis Madlang

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Print Editor

arsity baseball secured an 8-5 win over Deltona in preseason action at Lake Mary on Feb. 15. Leading up to the game, practices focused on the fundamentals and repetition.

“Repetition, repetition, repetition… our

ALMOST HOME Centerfielder Cameron King rounds third as he makes his way towards home. King and the rest of the lineup manufactured several hits and runs leading the team to a win. Photo by Alexis Madlang

players compete every day with one another.

[The] team is more experienced than last year and they understand what it takes to face adversity,” head coach Mike Sindone said.

The boys set the tone in the game by putting up two runs in the first two innings and not allowing Deltona to score until the fifth inning.

Utility player Dylan Strickland scored the first run of the game. The whole lineup did their job, which helped facilitate the win, the players and coaches said.

“We will do well if we continue playing our level of baseball every game and not play down to other teams,” outfielder Talan Bell said.

The fourth inning was decisive, as the team was running on two outs for a long time but ended with 7 runs on the board. The boys showed solid defense and believe this will play a strong role in the season.

“After our late success last season, we will have a target on our backs,” Sindone said. “How we handle that as a team will go a long way. If our players stay true to who they are as a player, we do very well.”

Baseball’s first game of their regular season is Feb. 22 in the Husky Challenge versus Windermere at home. Tickets can be purchased on gofan.co.

BREAKING THE STREAK Freshman Olivia Cachat plays offense against Oviedo on Jan. 14.

The varsity girls soccer team tied Oviedo 3-3. Photo by Shannon Hahn

in the first few minutes of the game. This was not the end for them though; after this, the girls went on to play Oviedo in regional quarterfinals in a win-or-go-home situation.

The girls’ success over this season has set the tone for next season’s players. Densberger explained that post season play from previous

seasons sets up how the team plays the following year, and motivates the incoming and returning players.

“We have a very young and talented team,” Densberger said. “We will miss this senior class, but know we are returning a great team next year.”

sports shorts Wrestling takes first at districts

The varsity boys wrestling team hosted the FHSAA district tournament on Feb. 16. Overall, the team placed first at districts, and some individual placers were sophomore Hunter Tate (195 weight class), sophomore Connor Gilliam (180 weight class), junior Kamdon Harrison (160 weight class), senior Blake Watts (152 weight class) and senior Ethan Gomez (170 weight class) all placed first. The FHSAA regional tournament will be held on Feb. 25-26, while the state tournament will be held on March 3-5 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

Girls lacrosse beats Celebration

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the girls varsity lacrosse team won 15-4 against Celebration. This is the second win for the team to start the season. Attacker Ellie Wilkins had four goals and middie Stacy Glover had two goals. The team controlled a majority of the draws, the face-offs that happen after each goal, which led to lopsided time of possession and a gap in the score. This season the team will play 18 games during the regular season and will travel all throughout Florida as well as Georgia. The next home game will be against Lake Brantley on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m.