Issuu

Fall 2025

Table of Contents Happenings of Hebron…

Welcome to Hebron Clock Failure! Making Friends Throughout Life From Czech Classrooms to Hebron Academy Life After Hebron

Body and Mind…

What if Sharing Your Goals Made Them Less Achievable? What Does Balance Truly Mean? Why Do People Like The Food They Like? What is Life Like Without Cell Phones? What's So Good About the Unknown?

Global Topics…

Trump's First Six Months in O ce AI is Going to End the World Spain: A Country Full of Diversity Young People in the Stock Market Lawsuit in Wake of the Lewiston Shooting

Opinion…

Women and the Draft Religion is Overrated Faith is Underrated

Sports…

Mental Toughness in Sports The Patriots' Great Rebuild My Figure Skating Story

Hebron Gallery…

Student Art Pieces

The Arts…

The Death of Classic Literature The History of Music

Creative Writing…

I Have Already Peaked in Life (Literally) Collection of Poems Is This the Real Life?

Editor's Note…

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Welcome to Hebron By Vivian Hamlin '27

Ms. Sweeney

Starting at Hebron this year has been both a terrifying and rewarding transition. I’ve faced the challenge of adapting to many new changes, but each one has led to unexpected growth and the best possible outcomes. Beginning again at a new school is never easy, yet Hebron Academy has made this experience as smooth and welcoming as possible. From the very first day, I felt accepted into the community. I've been surrounded by people who were kind, genuine, and eager to include me. Hebron continuously pushes me to become the best version of myself, helping me realize strengths I didn’t even know I had. Through academics, athletics, extracurriculars, and relationships, I’ve learned what it truly means to grow in confidence and responsibility. As a new day student at a boarding school, the experience has been unique in ways I didn’t expect. While many students live on campus, I’ve found that being a day student offers a balance between independence and connection. I get to experience the strong sense of community that defines Hebron, while also bringing a part of my life outside of campus into the mix. It’s easy to feel intimidated at first, stepping onto a campus where many students have already built close bonds, but Hebron’s inclusive atmosphere quickly erases that fear. Teachers, peers, and dorm students alike go out of their way to make sure everyone feels involved. Whether it’s staying late for study sessions, cheering on peers at their home games, or sharing conversations in the dining hall, I’ve learned that being a day student doesn’t make me any less a part of the Hebron family.

Clock Failure! By Oscar Gronros '26 In recent years, Hebron has implemented location based phone zones. Though there has been pushback, these new zones have created a closer community than ever. Looking around the dining hall, phones have disappeared. Tables are full of students eating, laughing, and studying together. In academic buildings, the halls are no longer lined with students on phones but rather students socializing and meeting new people. Without the presence of phones, the community is forced to connect. Even with a large population of first year students, the community is closer than ever. However, by removing phones a new issue has emerged: time. In past years time has been far from an issue. Students had access to phones and therefore easy access to the time. However, the removal of phones has also caused the removal of easy access to the time. Now, many students rely on the clocks around campus to get to classes, meetings, and dinner on time. The issue arises when one compares the campus clocks to an internet-connected clock. Clocks such as the School Building Clock Tower shift from a minute behind to seven minutes fast throughout the day. For example, at one past twelve the clock begins to ring. However, later that night at eleven fifty-three the clock rings again signifying midnight which it very much is not. With this extreme difference, students are left to question: is the time really what the clock says? Even though this is a big issue, actual time versus the presented time is the least important problem when looking into Hebron’s clocks. Across campus clocks are disappearing in classrooms, in hallways, and in common spaces. With research showing clocks in the classroom distract students, many are being removed by teachers in hopes of a more focused class. While many studies focus on the boredom, restlessness, and inattention of students, they ignore the time management skills accompanied by clocks. In a study from Lindenwood University, it was found that students with access to a clock perform equally on a word hunt than those without access to the time remaining. The researchers explained that Oscar Gronros '26

therefore they do not feel the pressure associated with time (Pashea). However, without that practice, such as the removal of clocks in Hebron, students are more prone to anxiety and stress when presented with a timed activity. While a distracted classroom is far from the goal, removing clocks will not solve it. In the short term the class becomes more focused. However, in the long term students fall behind in time management skills. In addition, classrooms without clocks see more phone usage as students are forced to use their phones to see the time.

Louisa Strong '26

Removing phones in academic buildings and the dining hall has seen success here at Hebron. Students are closer, happier, and more connected: however, time management skills are worsening. Without reliable clocks, students are arriving to classes late or arriving extremely early to avoid being late. These issues seem to be quite unique to Hebron. Many schools across the country have seen success removing phones. In an anecdote, someone explained that an older school of his implemented magnetic phone locks. While it was difficult to transition, in a questionnaire sent to students over eighty percent claimed they enjoyed the time away from their phones. This proves that phone removal works. However, lacking reliable clocks will result in higher phone usage. The only way for success is to present an alternative and reliable option to phones for telling time. Sources: Pashea, Zachary A. “Does Time Distract?” Digital Commons@Lindenwood University, 19 November 2021, https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1178&context=psych_journals. Accessed 11 November 2025.

Making Friends Throughout Life By Charlotte Corolla '29 and Natalie Beaulieu '29 When you’re in elementary or middle school, friendships form easily. Kids usually become friends because they sit next to each other in a class or play a sport together. Two kids might bond because they both love the same sport or play the same video game. When you’re young, friendship is about having fun and sharing experiences. Kids don’t think about trust or other differences that one friend might have compared to another; it's more about spending time together and enjoying each other's company.

Scotia O'Handley '29

As people age, friendships can become more complex. Young adults and adults look for friends who understand other mature feelings and can provide emotional support. Friendships when you’re older are normally about more than having a single thing in common. Adults tend to be more aware of who they open up to, and their friendships are often based around a deeper connection and are more complex than childhood friendships. Making new friends as an adult can also be harder because young adults and adults are busy with school, work, or family, leaving them less time to meet new people.

Making new friends as an adult can also be harder because young adults and adults are busy with school, work, or family, leaving them less time to meet new people. I’ve seen my friendships change when I came to Hebron. Meeting Natalie was much different from any other person I’ve made a friendship with. She and I connected the second we started a conversation. She understood me so well that I felt as if, after the first day, I knew her all my life. We had many more than just one thing in common, and it was so easy to get to know her. Playing field hockey together made us connect even more. Spending part of the days together, playing field hockey, and making memories together was one of the many highlights of my fall. Even though the way friendships form changes over time, they are still very important. Younger friendships help us to learn from others as well as how to share, while older friendships teach us many meaningful lessons. Both types of friendships help shape who we are and how we can connect to others.

From Czech Classrooms to Hebron Academy By Kris Bushey '28 My name is Kristian Bushey, I’m sixteen years old, and I come from the Czech Republic. Right now, I’m a sophomore at Hebron Academy in the United States. Living and studying here has shown me how different schools can be in another country. Czech schools and American schools like Hebron have very different ways of doing things, from class schedules and food to how students spend their time after school. In the Czech Republic, school usually starts early in the morning, around 8:00 a.m. Each lesson is about 45 minutes long, with short breaks in between. There is one longer break for lunch, and school usually ends early in the afternoon, sometimes before 2:00 p.m. At Hebron Academy, the schedule is more relaxed. Classes are around an hour long, and the day includes more free time or study periods. There are also sports and activities after classes, which aren’t typical in Czech schools. In the Czech Republic, students go home right after school, do their homework, and then have the rest of the day for themselves.

Ms. Waterman

The classroom system is also different. In a Czech school, each grade has its own classroom, and teachers move from room to room. Students spend most of the day in the same place, sitting with the same classmates. It feels familiar and comfortable because everyone knows each other well. At Hebron Academy, students change rooms for every class, and each teacher has their own classroom. It’s a bit confusing at first, but it also makes the day more active and helps students meet people from different grades. Food is another big difference. In Czech schools, lunch is cooked by the school cafeteria, and there are usually one or two meal options. The food is simple and traditional, like soup, potatoes, meat, and sometimes a small dessert. At Hebron, the dining hall has a lot more choices. There are salad bars, pasta, sandwiches, and vegetarian choices. Students can choose what they want and eat as much as they like. The food at Hebron feels more like a restaurant, while in Czech schools it feels more like home cooking. Another thing that makes Hebron special is that it’s a boarding school. Many students live on campus, so school is also their home. They spend time together not just in classes but also in dorms, sports, and activities. In the Czech Republic, most students live at home and come to school every day, so their school life and home life are more separate. Both systems have their own good sides. Czech schools are more traditional and focused on academic learning, while Hebron gives students more independence and choice. In Czech schools, students learn discipline and structure, In American schools like Hebron, they learn to think creatively and work together. Even though the two systems are very different, they share the same goal: to help students learn, grow, and get ready for the future. Experiencing both has shown me how education can look different in every country, but it always tries to prepare young people for life.

Life After Hebron By Krum Tsvetkov '25 and Tessa Sweeney '25 Hi everyone, I am Krum Tsvetkov from Bulgaria and I graduated from Hebron last academic year.

Hebron Academy Instagram

Over the summer, I got to spend time with many friends and family whom I hadn’t seen for months and even years, which was pretty fun. I also got to work as a waiter in a local restaurant which reopened after the previous owners ran the place down. This was exciting because many people thought that the previous personnel were still running the restaurant, but when they saw that everyone was very positive and happy to be there, they gave it another shot - it became the main restaurant in the area for many people! I spent the month of August helping out as an assistant soccer coach at one of Bulgaria’s best academies - Levski Sofia. I got to be present at practices and learn from coaches of U10, U11 and U12 teams which was a fantastic opportunity because I got to see how age really determines the way a coach would approach a training session through on attitude and drills. Lastly, before leaving for college, I got to be a staff member at the ASSIST orientation in Leysin, Switzerland which was a great experience - I got to see ex-faculty members of Hebron - Mr. Baker and Ms. Begin. (Hebron is everywhere!).

Now, I find myself at Springfield College in Massachusetts where I am studying Sport Management. I couldn’t be at a better place for the sports management world as this college has produced very influential graduates in the world of sport and entertainment - James Naismith (inventor of basketball), John Cena, William Morgan (inventor of volleyball), and Chris Olsen (senior director of football administration at the Atlanta Falcons). Here, I’ve been able to meet a lot of great people, attend many sports games with friends, and further pursue what I want to do in life. With all that being said, Hebron is still a huge part of my life. I have been to Evan Miller’s home in Philadelphia for a long weekend, went to Red Rose Pizzeria with Johnny Blase, traveled with Sergio Romero to Hebron’s Homecoming this year (all fellow Hebron students), will be going to Mrs. Dulac's house for Thanksgiving break, and I keep much more Hebron in my life on a daily basis. Hi all, I'm Tessa Sweeney from Hebron and I graduated from Hebron Academy in May of 2025.

Tessa Sweeney '25

Life after Hebron has shown me just how much my teachers shaped the path I am on today. When I look at the classes I take, the work I produce, and the journey I’m committed to, it’s obvious that the foundation was built long before I arrived at the University of Rhode Island. When it came to choosing a college, URI honestly wasn’t my first choice. I had other schools I had been dreaming of attending for years, and for a while, I was convinced that my life wasn’t complete if the college I was attending wasn’t “prestigious”. But, once I got deeper into the process, two things became impossible to ignore:

the financial piece and the advantages of being in the Honors College. Between the affordability and the academic support, resources, and community, URI became the place that actually made the most sense for my goals and my future. It wasn’t what I expected, but it was ultimately the right decision. What made that decision feel solid were the experiences I gained at Hebron. Mrs. Waterman and Dr. Oakes pushed me to take my writing seriously and to major in something I was passionate about: English. Their feedback built my confidence and made me want to keep writing, which eventually turned into The Corner Room, a website I created where I publish personal essays and reflections. That writing is directly connected to my work from being co-editor of the Hebron Review. Being a part of the magazine taught me how to edit, collaborate, and shape stories for a real audience. The Corner Room and the Hebron Review reinforced each other—they helped me figure out my voice and understand how much I enjoyed creating for others. My involvement on campus was another huge part of why I feel ready for college. Being a proctor, class copresident, and working for CAM Crew gave me the leadership and communication experience I needed. Those roles helped me realize I didn’t have to choose between creativity and structure, or writing and design. English and marketing were always at the center of what I was doing. That’s why committing to a double major in English and Marketing at URI felt like the right next step. Hebron made it clear what I care about, what I’m good at, and how I want to grow. The Honors College gives me the chance to keep developing those strengths, and the financial aspect makes it sustainable. Life after Hebron is busy and full of new challenges, but I don’t feel unprepared. My teachers didn’t just teach me content—they taught me how to think, lead, and communicate. URI wasn’t the plan I expected, but with the support Hebron gave me, it’s become the perfect place to build on everything I’ve already started. I faced many challenges at Hebron, none of which was simple, but all of which prepared me for college in ways I didn’t fully understand until now. To be honest, the social aspect at Hebron for me wasn’t easy during my senior year. I struggled heavily with my mental health, and being at a small boarding school means everyone knows everything, so it can feel like there’s no space to make mistakes. There were moments when I felt isolated. But navigating that environment during my lowest time taught me how to be independent, how to trust myself, and how to build true, real friendships and relationships based on authenticity instead of just convenience. My family, blood or not, my teachers, and coaches were the stability through it all. They took me seriously—all my problems and flaws—pushed me academically, and encouraged me when I felt unsure. Looking back, without the combination of supportive teachers, coaches, and my family around me in those difficult moments, I’m not sure where I’d be today. Although Hebron wasn’t perfect, those difficult moments taught me how to advocate for myself. URI is entirely different than Hebron, but I’m ready to tackle something more than just my small town school— because even the hard parts gave me something important to look forward to.

What if Sharing Your Goals Made Them Less Achievable? By Mathilde Boisvert '26

The Independent

People around me are always saying to dream big, to always have a goal. “What is your dream sweetie?” they would ask me. The more I grew up, the harder this question was to answer. I just knew that I needed to have goals in order to succeed in life and always have something to pursue, but it felt so hard to know everything already. The more I grew up, the more I had goals to achieve and challenges to overcome, and it made life fun. Sometimes they were small goals like getting a good grade on my French test, scoring a goal in my hockey game, or simply just getting out of bed one morning. Sometimes they were bigger goals like getting out of my head when I overthought or overcoming a significant injury. The thing I realized is that the more I shared my goals with others, the harder they were to achieve. Much later, I found out about dopamine and how it is released and is helpful for motivation and rewarding experiences. It all clicked. The fact that I was sharing my dreams to people was creating dopamine in my brain, the same dopamine I needed to motivate myself about that dream. When hearing the word dopamine, people usually think of happiness, sports, and even laughter, but dopamine is

way more complex than just joyful moments and excitement about something. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone that acts as a chemical messenger to the brain. Furthermore, it is one of the main influencers of movement, motivation, and reward. When anticipating a successful event, or imagining the great path of pursuing a dream, dopamine is released in the brain and functions as the “motivation molecule.” In other words, dopamine is released when we talk and imagine ourselves doing or achieving that goal, but it is also released when actually doing and working towards that goal. As researchers questioned the effect of this idea, this imagination of your success and path pursuing it, they found that when making those goals and dreams public, the goal-related performance was compromised. Our brain is fooled by thinking that the goal has been achieved and therefore stops putting energy into investing more work related to the goal (Azab, 2018). This shows how sharing or just thinking about the success of a goal can “trick” the brain into feeling the effect of dopamine, satisfaction, before the goal is even achieved. When people share their goals, they get this sense of accomplishment before anything even happens. People often think that receiving encouragement and support from others, their peers, will help them achieve it, but studies show that it intensifies the brain’s illusion even more. Social validation, in this case, may be the brain’s worst enemy when working towards a goal. When receiving admiration from others for this potential success or excellence, it multiplies the dopamine that had already been released due to the imagination, which lowers the investment efforts put in accomplishing that goal (Azab, 2018). It enlarges this false motivation, this fake satisfaction. It makes our dreams and goals less likely to be achieved because the motivation to make it happen drastically decreases. Because of this, many people lose motivation or even interest in pursuing the goal that has been shared. While they may have good intentions and be excited about it, the amount of dopamine released to

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do it will not be large enough to really motivate them because the fact that they have shared it and have been pushed and encouraged to pursue that goal tricks the brain again. The brain thinks that there is no need for dopamine concerning that goal as it’s been accomplished already. Peter Gollwitzer, a German psychologist, did a study including forty-nine students from a German university. Those students were asked to fill out a questionnaire related to their interest in becoming psychologists. They were then asked to write down, on a piece of paper, their two main study intentions for the week such as “I will study more statistics.” or “I will take reading assignments more seriously.” Gollwitzer then took half of their questionnaires and told them they were wrong, that it would be discarded, to create a feeling that their intentions were unknown, untold, unreal. After a week, he sent them a second questionnaire, asking them to restate their previous goals and indicate in which days of the week they had acted on those intentions. The conclusion of this research showed the people that had their intention known were unlikely to act on them compared to the people that had not shared their intentions or that those had been disregarded. This shows that telling people what you are going to do creates this feeling of completeness. Even if it made people feel proud and excited knowing that those goals were encouraged, it took away their motivation and, later on, even had negative consequences (Chu, 2017). Keeping track of their goals was effective, as they had the motivation to do it while realizing the progress, but not sharing them. To summarize, sharing your goals and dreams is likely to make them way less achievable because it releases dopamine that imitates the success of actually achieving it. Dopamine is a molecule that may influence movement, reward and motivation, but can also trigger false satisfaction and loss of motivation. Keeping your goals and dreams to yourself until real progress happens will more likely help you achieve them. After all, the biggest fan you should have is yourself, so clap for yourself during the pursuit of your goal and let others applaud for you at the end of the finish line. Sources: Azab, M., PhD. (2018, January 1). The more committed to your goals, the more secretive you should be about them. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuroscience-in-everyday-life/201801/ why-sharing-your-goals-makes-them-less-achievable? Chu, Melissa. “Research Reveals That Publicly Announcing Your Goals Makes You Less Likely to Achieve Them.” Inc.com, 8 Aug. 2017, www.inc.com/melissa-chu/announcing-your-goals-makes-you-less-likely-toach.html.

What Does Balance Truly Mean? By Paula Menning '28 When I first asked myself this question, I immediately thought about scales, numbers, something precise and measurable. But after thinking about it a little longer and talking with several people about what balance means for them, I realized that balance is not something you can measure or define in one way. Balance is different for everyone. Balance is not the number you see on a scale, a particular grade, or how you look in the mirror. It’s not a specific diet or a strict routine. No, balance is much more than that. It is about combining every aspect of your life: your work, your health, your relationships, your passions… in a way that feels right for you and without having the impression of burning out or being lost. Balance means to be ambitious, but not to the point of exhaustion. It means to eat healthy, without being obsessed with your food and every single calorie. It means to move your body and do sports, but listen when your mind or muscles tell you to rest. It means to spend time with your friends and your family, but also to spend time alone to recharge your social battery. To put it short, balance means to be and to do everything and nothing at the same time, but in a way that makes you truly happy and at peace with yourself. If balance seems so simple, why is it so hard to accomplish? Because balance doesn’t look the same for everyone. Each person has their own rhythm, values, and priorities. Finding your personal balance starts with truly knowing yourself, understanding what matters most to you and what you can let go of. In today’s world, this has become even harder. We live in a society that constantly pushes us to be busy, productive, and efficient. There’s always something to do, somewhere to be, or someone to answer. Between school, work, sports, family, friends, and personal hobbies, time feels limited, and energy even more. Of course, it is necessary to set priorities, but if you want to be involved in one category in particular, you often need to sacrifice another. You can not do everything at once. Who doesn't know the time limits? There are only 24 hours in a day, and it often feels impossible to fit everything in without stress, especially if you are a student or working more than 7 hours a day. As a student, I do have difficulties managing my hobbies, spending time with my friends, going to practice, and doing my homework all at the same time. Maybe you don’t need to do everything today; you can spread your goals throughout the week, or even the month. And of course, life doesn’t always go as planned; it is full of surprises. You can get injured or sick or face unexpected challenges. It is then more difficult to do the tasks you normally do. Everyone has emergencies that disturb their routines and plans, which could lead to the impression of being out of balance. Balance isn’t something you “achieve” once and keep forever; it’s something you adjust to, over and over again. Life changes, and so must your idea of balance. Even the most organized person in the world doesn't have a perfectly balanced life. Social media has made this struggle even harder. Every day, we see twenty-year-old influencers promoting

“perfect” lives: flawless bodies, perfectly balanced routines, aesthetic meals, constant productivity, and happiness. They pretend that finding balance is a formula: eat this way, work out this much, do these hobbies, and you will be happy and have a balanced life. But the truth is that no one's life is perfect. Behind these perfect photos and TikToks hide moments of doubt and anxiety. Everyone needs to find what is best for them, and not everyone has the same resources and possibilities. Social media creates the danger of chasing an unrealistic idea of balance that’s actually unattainable. And by chasing the unattainable, it is impossible to have a balanced life and be happy. These perfect lives, bodies, and persons give us an internal pressure of always wanting to do better and more, to meet these high standards and compare ourselves to each other. Real balance isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being honest with yourself. It’s about knowing when to slow down, when to say no, and when to take care of yourself without guilt. It’s about accepting that some days will be messy, and that’s part of life. Maybe the key to balance is not about doing everything right. Maybe it is about finding peace with the fact that you can not. It is about feeling happy at the end of the day and forgiving yourself for not always keeping up. To find balance, you first need to know yourself and what is important to you. You need to

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learn how to manage your time wisely and to take care of your body. But at the end of the day, our balance is not a destination; it is a continuous process. It is a dance between rest and effort, and it is different for everyone because we all have different goals and challenges. It is about feeling whole with the fact of not doing and being perfect.

Why Do People Like the Food They Like? By Carmen Carmona Zuniga '28 People's food preferences come from a mix of culture, childhood experiences, and personal tastes. Some love spicy flavors because they grew up with them, while others prefer sweet or mild. Our senses, memories, and even emotions influence what we find delicious. In the end, food isn't just about taste. What we like to eat also depends on where we come from, what we ate as children, and even the memories that food brings back. For example, someone might love soup just because their grandma used to make it when they were sick or sad, and now that food gives them comfort. Food is kind of like a time machine because it can remind us of places, people, and moments. Another reason people like different foods is because everyone’s body is different. Some people like strong flavors and love trying new dishes, while others prefer simple food and don't like experimenting. Social media also plays a big role nowadays. Sometimes people try new foods because they saw them online or because everyone is talking about them. So in the end, people like the foods they like for many reasons: memories, emotions, culture, and even trends. Food is not only something we need to survive — it’s part of who we are, what we’ve lived, and the world we grew up in. patientser.com

What is Life Like Without Cell Phones? By Isa Fischer '26 Imagine almost a full week free from the pressures and responsibilities of the modern world; imagine a week where the only thing that existed was the present moment, nothing more, nothing less. That's what we got to experience at the Technology and Social Media detox Intermezzo at Fernwood Cove this year: no phones, no devices of any sort, just fourteen people and five days to spend together. The first day, I was expecting it to come as a harsh shock to most of my peers who were adventuring with me, but, much to my excitement, I was proved wrong almost instantly. Based on my experience, most people are almost always in possession of their phones, always awaiting the next text, the next Snap, the next like, always connected to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Except right here. Except right now. They allowed themselves to live in the moment, not picking back up devices the moment a whiff of boredom taints the air. I am not above this phenomenon, although I do possess a certain disdain for the necessity the modern world has made of phones, and the immediate responses we are expected to provide to others through them. Our society has made it nearly impossible to separate ourselves from devices, from each other, from the entire world. From the moment we handed in devices and set foot into the toaster to leave campus, there was an immediate sense of freedom and connection palpable between us; for the next

Mr. Smart

five days, our world was contained to just one another. Personally, I felt as though I had escaped all of the pressures of modern society. I physically could not email, text, or call people, so worrying about things of that nature was unnecessary, as I could do nothing about it; everything that normally caused a lot of stress was simply not my problem for the week.

Mr. Smart

After we arrived at Fernwood Cove and received a tour, nobody was bored; in fact, this was probably the most entertained group of teenagers I could remember encountering. We went swimming and paddleboarding together, splashed around the water, laughing and playing catch with a frisbee; some in our group played basketball with each other, people whom I would never expect to be on a court together were having a blast in each other's company; near constant music could be heard from a guitar on the beach, piano in the theater, or group in the music room; even those of us who appeared to be just sitting around were having a good time: we had time to read, to write, to have meaningful conversations, or to simply lay in the sweet autumn sun and just think. At Fernwood Cove, time did not exist in the way that it does normally. There were no alarm clocks–or clocks in general–and there was no rigid structure and check-in times to organize our days. We got up in the mornings whenever we happened to wake up, wandered over to the kitchen whenever we were ready for breakfast; time was an abstract concept we were loosely tethered to, instead of dictating our every move. After breakfast, most

most days we packed lunches in our bags and ourselves onto the toaster to go on a hike. We hiked mountains, saw spectacular views, and watched the sun set over the autumn wilderness. There was beauty all around us, and we were in the present moment to experience it fully. We were not snapping pictures or texting our friends; the only distractions to be had were what we created ourselves. On one hike in particular, we journeyed to a place known as Rattlesnake Pool, which was a small, naturally formed, picturesque pool with miniature waterfalls on one side and rocks everywhere. Most of us ended up jumping into the freezing cold water, its icy shock making us feel more alive than ever as we shivered and laughed together. In the evenings, to wrap up our days, we took turns– three to five of us at a time–and cooked dinner for the whole group. On some days, the food may not have been exactly what we were expecting, but our hard work made it taste amazing every night. After dinner, we all sat around the campfire together and ate s'mores while either doing a group activity, telling stories, playing games, or simply talking and enjoying each other's company. The campfire was a time to connect, to reflect, to be honest, and to have fun. After our time as a group, the campfire lasted until the last person decided to head to bed for the night; there was no strict lights-out time to head to the cabins, so some of us would sit in the cold night air talking over the crackling fire until late into the night. One night when the stars were particularly breathtaking, four of us brought our sleeping bags out from the cabins and set them up on the grass so we could fall asleep under the sky; the next morning, we woke up freezing cold with our sleeping bags covered in frost, but it was well worth it. When it was time to head back to campus, it felt both as though we had just arrived and had been there for months simultaneously. The experiences shared and memories created caused tight invisible bonds between all of us to form. We got a chance to experience true freedom and live in the moment; this was the first time in years for most of us to not have been bound to our devices and truly live. Some in our group even elected not to have their phones returned for another week. Personally, I now leave my phone in my dorm room when I go to meals and often don’t even take it with me to my classes, as I feel it is not necessary. I don't think that any of us will ever forget our week free from the modern world at Fernwood Cove, the adventures we had, and the connections we formed together.

What's So Good About the Unknown? By Jeremy Lavoie '26

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My dad once told me to become comfortable being uncomfortable. These words struck me deeply as they gave me confidence in everything I wanted to put my mind to. This also resonated with me because I should not be scared of trying or discovering new things. Exploring the unknown is very valuable. Exploring the unknown has proven to have various positive effects on the world and people. Whether it is historical, scientific, or psychological benefits experienced from exploring the unknown, it is, without a doubt, very valuable. When we think about history classes, we have to realize that they wouldn’t exist without exploring the unknown. The exploration to the Americas can be attributed to Christopher Columbus, who braved the unknown and brought the rest of the world to what we call today South and North America. This connection initiated the beginning of a new prosperous world economy, or as some would refer to the Columbian exchange. This exchange permitted the exchange of goods, animals, plants, and ideologies across the globe. This was the start of the development of our world trade system which eventually evolved into the economy we know today. This can all be attributed to the exploration of the unknown and makes us realize its true value because we could evolve

as a planet with by delving into the unknowns of the Americas. If we didn’t explore the unknown, the world would still be in ancient times. The exploration of the unknown doesn’t just lead to historical or scientific discoveries but also personal discoveries. I explored the unknown by trying something new that I never thought I would do, and because of that, I met a superb human being whom I can gladly call my friend. This school year, I decided to join the quiz bowl team without knowing the people or the concept of it. To my biggest surprise, I learned more about Quin Doyle, whom I had briefly known from the previous year. Exploring the unknown brought me the start of a friendship that I never thought I would have. Quin is an incredibly smart, interesting, and funny guy whom I did not know about before joining the club. We have plenty of interesting conversations, and it brings me balance in my everyday life. This discovery also made me more open to meeting and trying new things or people. I can attribute this psychological evolution to personal exploration of the unknown.

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The unknown is very valuable in many different ways. I learned this from personal experiences and historical evidence, such as the discovery of the Americas. Everybody should become comfortable with being uncomfortable, because many positive things happen when you open your mind.

Trump's First Six Months in O ce By Trinity Nardelli '27

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A lot has happened in the last six months of Trump's presidency. There's many ways to perceive what he has done, what he has said, and what has happened. Whether you agree with his actions is completely up to you, but in the first six months of his presidency, Trump sought to enact a broad agenda. He has been very focused on border enforcement, major trade, and other regulations. On January 20th, 2025, Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States of America. In late January he immediately started targeting immigration reform, border security, energy production, and regulatory rollback. The administration issued a large amount of executive orders focused on immigration and border enforcement. It accelerated the wall construction for our border and ended sanctuary city protections. The second month of his presidency, which was February, the administration pushed for regulatory reform which was the “one in, two out” rule that got signed. This basically means for every new federal regulation, two old ones must be cut. Also something that happened in February was an “energy emergency.” Basically, the administration permitted the advancement of oil and natural gas development, which expands exports of U.S. coal and LNG and reopens federal lands for drilling. Efforts to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine

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devolved into a heated, publicly-broadcasted meeting between Trump and Ukraine President Zelensky, which had critics questioning the administration's handling of international affairs. The third month of his presidency, March, Trump delivered a divisive major address to a joint session of Congress, which saw Democrats walk out in protest and Republicans standing to applaud. He described the administration's first week as a “common sense revolution” which highlighted the number of executive orders, regulatory roll-backs, and policy shifts. In mid March, the administration announced the national defense budget for the year which expanded America's Space Force and increased spending on advanced technologies. Throughout the month of March, domestic policy activity continued. The fourth month of his presidency was April. Most of what was happening in March was still going on in April, but in late April, the administration published a report of its first sixth month achievements (which would be completed later on). This report would include statistics on immigration enforcement, energy sector progress, and regulatory savings for households. So not much was going on in April as the administration was mostly just continuing what it had already started; however, April 30th did mark the 100th day of the administration. The fifth month was June, and a considerable amount of things happened during this month. From the reports it showed that inflation had stayed pretty steady at 2.1%, so prices for goods from factories and importance hadn't changed much. The Trump administration had said that lower gas prices in the summer and the fewer government rules helped keep prices down. Around mid June the foreign policy from the administration stated that it secured agreements for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP and positioned the U.S. as having “obliterated” the Iranian nuclear program. The sixth month of Trump's presidency was July. During this month the media highlighted big shifts in trade, economic policy, regulation, and federal government structure over this time. In late July the administration posted a summary that contained information about the metrics of action taken and how society responded to them. The first six months mostly focused on our border patrol and protection. Trump may have prioritized this because he thought that it was hurting our country and there wasn’t much control over it. The policies definitely changed pretty quickly and numerous executive orders were made. It’s up to you to decide how you feel about these changes and it is clear that Trump certainly has been working hard to achieve his agenda and his vision of the United States.

AI is Going to End the World By Conor McCarthy '27 Anarchy. Global destruction. Dystopia. It all starts with ChatGPT. Artificial intelligence and the role it plays in our society may be fundamental in technological and economic development in the future and could help to propel the world forward. Simultaneously, the world of artificial intelligence will certainly have a negative impact on the world in the near future, specifically regarding the environment, public image, neuroscience, and the current infrastructure of the world. The environmental impacts of growth in AI Data Centers are hard to ignore. In 2023, data centers consumed about 4.4% of the United States' electricity. This may seem like a small percentage, but not only is it expected to triple by 2028, it is also primarily made up of fossil-fuel-based electricity, creating a large carbon footprint (U.S. Department of Energy). Another problem that is visible with the increase in AI utilization is the shocking amount of water used for cooling technology. Individually, a large data center can consume nearly five million gallons of water each day, a statistic that is similar to that of a town populated by tens of thousands of people. A chatbot, such as ChatGPT, will use roughly one bottle of water for every 100-word prompt (Washington Post). Environmental impacts of the increased use of Artificial Intelligence by the general public are clearly large, negative, and on pace to increase greatly in the coming years.

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There are also many AI platforms that can create high-quality videos and images of anything that a person can think of, increasing the odds of large issues with the public image of known figures, a problem that is yet to be very present but will only be more realized with the improvement of AI technology. Many videos have already been created of famous celebrities or deceased public figures. At the moment, there is a watermark on every video created on the popular Sora Two AI platform, but it seems to only be a matter of time until it is removed, and AI content is then nearly impossible to distinguish from “real” media through the naked eye. The difference between Sora 2 and editing softwares of old is that the skill level required to create these videos has been significantly lowered, giving the general public access. Discriminatory videos are often created using famous people's likenesses, blurring lines on whether or not these videos are defamation or simply an act of free speech by the creators under the First Amendment. It is a tedious situation that will only grow in the future as the technology used to create these videos improves and the ease of access and creation increases. The constant use of Artificial Intelligence in schools and the workplace has many detrimental effects on the brains of students and workers. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology tested how using ChatGPT to help adults write essays has significant effects on their brain function. A group of adults used ChatGPT as the main resource in writing three different essays and demonstrated less electrical connectivity in their brains than in groups using search engines or no resources at all. This is a thorough test by MIT that proves how the use of AI decreases brain function and ability. This example also does not account for how the repeated use of these technologies will compound and decrease overall brain activity, not just in the short term. Artificial intelligence will be visibly detrimental to the mental ability of humankind in the next thirty years. In my opinion, the increased use and advances in the field of artificial intelligence will be a leading contributor to the collapse of the worldwide infrastructure that has been in place for hundreds of years. There are many key reasons for this: the lowering of general intelligence due to AI usage, the cancellation of public figures in the near future, and the environmental toll that will be taken due to water usage and carbon output. The choices that we make to limit the use of artificial intelligence and focus on positive changes in the next ten years will affect the next one thousand. AI is not an inherently bad tool, but we as a world need to be better and save our children and grandchildren’s lives. Sources: “Doe Releases New Report Evaluating Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers.” Energy.Gov, 20 Dec. 2024, www.energy.gov/articles/doe-releases-new-report-evaluating-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers. How Much Energy Can AI Use? Breaking down the Toll of Each CHATGPT Query - The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/18/energy-ai-use-electricity-water-data-centers/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025. Kos’myna, Nataliya. “Your Brain on Chatgpt: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt When Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task.” MIT Media Lab, www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

Spain: A Country Full of Diversity By Inma Gonzales Lucas '28 Spain is my country of origin. Spain is a country full of life, history, traditions, and a great variety of landscapes and cultures. One of the most interesting things about Spain is that when you travel from one region to another, everything seems to change the people, the accent, the food, and even the way of celebrating festivals. This diversity is what makes Spain such a special and unique country in Europe. Spain is located in the southwest of Europe, occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula, and it is surrounded by France, Portugal, and the Mediterranean Sea. The country is divided into 17 autonomous communities, each one with its own identity and traditions. For example, in the Basque Country people speak Euskera; in Catalunia, they speak Catalán; and in Galicia, Galician. This cultural richness shows that Spain is not just one culture, but many cultures living together under the same flag. The history of Spain is very long and full of important events. Spain was once part of the Roman Empire, and there are still many Roman monuments that can be visited today, like the aqueduct of Segovia or the amphitheater in Mérida. Later, the country was influenced by the Arabs, who lived in the Iberian Peninsula for almost 800 years. Their presence left an enormous artistic and architectural legacy, like the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita of Córdoba, or the Giralda in Seville. These monuments are today symbols of Spanish heritage and attract millions of tourists every year.

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During the 15th and 16th centuries, Spain became one of the most powerful countries in the world thanks to its explorations and colonies in America. Famous explorers like Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, and Francisco Pizarro expanded the Spanish culture and language across the ocean. This historical period also gave birth to Spain’s Golden Age, when great writers like Miguel de Cervantes, painter Diego Velázquez, and many others created masterpieces that are still admired today.

Les Femmes D'Alger, Picasso

In the 20th century, Spanish art continued to shine with famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró. Their works are displayed in museums like El Prado and Reina Sofía in Madrid, or the Dalí Museum in Figueres. Art in Spain is not only found in museums; it can be seen in the architecture, the streets, and the traditions of every town and city. Spain is known for its colorful festivals and traditions that change from one region to another. In Valencia, people celebrate Las Fallas in March, where giant sculptures made of wood and paper are burned in the streets with music and fireworks. In Pamplona, the San Fermín festival is famous around the world because of the running of the bulls. In Andalusia, especially in Seville, you can enjoy the Feria de Abril, a week full of dancing, flamenco, and traditional costumes. One of the most emotional traditions in Spain is Semana Santa (Holy Week), which is celebrated in many cities with religious processions, music, and impressive decorations. Every region has its own way of celebrating it, showing the deep cultural and religious roots of the country. Spanish gastronomy is one of the most famous in the world. Each region has its own typical dishes and flavors.

In Valencia, you can taste the original paella, made with rice, saffron, vegetables, and seafood or meat. In the north, in Galicia, people enjoy fresh seafood like pulpo a la gallega (octopus). In the Basque Country, small portions of food called pintxos are served in bars, and in Andalusia, gazpacho, a cold tomato soup is perfect for the hot summer days. Of course, we cannot forget tapas, which are small dishes that can be shared among friends. Spaniards love to go out and have tapas while talking and enjoying a good time. This habit shows one of the most important parts of Spanish culture: social life. Food in Spain is not only about eating; it’s also about sharing moments with others. Spain’s geography is very varied. In the north, regions like Asturias and Galicia are green and rainy, full of mountains and forests. In the south, especially in Andalusia, the climate is hot and dry, with beautiful beaches along the Mediterranean coast. In the center of the country, around Madrid, there are wide plains and high plateaus. Spain also has two groups of islands: the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, both of them with amazing beaches and landscapes. This variety of climates and terrains allows people to enjoy very different experiences: skiing in the Pyrenees, hiking in the mountains, or relaxing on the beaches. Today, Spain is a modern and democratic country that continues to value its traditions while moving forward. Spanish people are known for being open, friendly, and proud of their culture. The mix between the past and the present can be seen everywhere in the architecture, the festivals, and the daily life of the people. In conclusion, Spain is a country full of contrasts and beauty. Its rich history, art, gastronomy, and traditions make it a place full of color and emotion. Whether you visit a big city like Madrid or Barcelona, or a small village in the mountains, you will always find something different, but equally authentic. Spain is not just a country, it's a collection of experiences, flavors, and cultures that make it truly unique.

Young People in the Stock Market By Freeman Campbell '29

Kellen Anthoine '26

Last weekend I held an interview with Hebron student Kellen Anthoine to answer the question of why he and many other young people are so obsessed with the stock market. Kellen has been involved in the stock market for the past three years and it has become more than just a hobby for him. I first asked him how he got into the stock market, whether it was a sudden decision or a slow, growing passion. Kellen said he tried drop shipping first “because I wanted to make a lot of money really quickly and saw a bunch of people doing it. I also tried making online stores, but none of them really worked. However, my freshman year a close friend of mine introduced me to the stock market and I was fascinated by it. Right away I thought it was the coolest thing. While I didn't fall in love with it right away, I thought it was interesting for me, and on top of that, it was a way to make money.” Over the next couple months, Kellen started getting more involved and eventually the stock market became less of a hobby and more of a passion for him. It became a part of his daily life; reading the news, checking stock market prices, and following trends all became very common for him. When his parents learned about Kellen’s interest in the stock market, they appreciated his passion but didn’t force him in that direction, which is ironic considering almost his entire family works in various areas of finance.

I asked him if his parents did anything to get him involved with the stock market or if it was all his friend he met in his freshman year. He said, “My parents didn't get me into it, they appreciated my pursuit of it, though. They liked that I was doing something and I was trying to learn a new skill. My parents set up custodial brokerage accounts and gave me a lot of resources that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to obtain as a minor because there are a lot of restrictions.” Kellen said he is very self-taught, explaining, “everything I've learned is either from books, lectures, programs, courses and experience.” I then asked Kellen how a normal person like me can get involved in the stock market and succeed in the stock market, and what the first steps are. Kellen advised that “the most important thing in my trading journey is meeting people with more experience than you so you can talk to them and ask them for advice. It's so easy with the amount of free resources online to dive into it and think that you can teach yourself everything.” Researching solo worked for Kellen for a while but he eventually realized that he needed personal guidance from someone more experienced. He said that “even if they're not the most successful traders in the world, you need someone that has some direction at least to tell you how to teach yourself. I've had a couple people that have helped me along the way.” Even though guidance is important, Kellen gave another piece of advice: never try to follow somebody else's strategy in the markets, you have to make your own decisions. I also asked Kellen about how much money you need to start working with the stock market, because, for me at least, I’m scared to put a bunch of money in and then lose it all. Here are Kellen's thoughts: “I think everyone should start with a very small amount of money. For me, I took a bit of money that I had and said, okay I'm spending this set amount no more no less.” Kellen said that you should not plan on making money with the stock market, especially when so much luck is involved; this initial money is to experiment with it, see what works, see what doesn't. And when you’re putting money into the stock market, make sure to stay aware and read the news to better monitor the market. As a final question I asked Kellen what his future plans were, and I was pleasantly surprised by what he told me. He said he is “building a hedge fund called Quartzwood Capital… I have a full logo of a mission statement and now I've been getting into the basics of strategy development and back testing with AI,” but is facing some challenges developing this hedge fund because of the restrictions of still being a minor. He summed up the goal of the company as “managing investments for other people.” From the amount of money that Quartzwood Capital Management makes for a person, the company takes a percentage of the profit. While he is working on and starting up his business, Kellen is going to attend Bentley University so he can learn more about the financial markets. He is “also planning on climbing the ranks of Bentley Investment Group which is a live, student-managed investment fund that they have in the University. My goal with this is like I said before: to meet people and make connections. ” After university, Kellen plans to get a building and invest in the expensive financial technology that he will need. He also said that when his company starts doing well he hopes to “channel the profits that [he makes] into charity to developing third world countries.”

Lawsuit in the Wake of the Lewiston Shooting By Louisa Strong '26 In October of 2024, 109 victims (direct victims and family members) of the 2023 Lewiston shooting announced their plan to sue the U.S. government for the negligence that led to the shooting. There were many warning signs and opportunities to prevent the shooting, which were not taken seriously, leading to forty year-old Robert Card, a member of the Maine Army Reserve, killing eighteen people and injuring thirteen. The suit addresses the Army’s failings to follow its own safety procedures that the DOD itself (Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force) found are only followed 52.2% of the time. This report from the DOD is one of the only new factors in the case compared to a year ago. The report recognizes that medical professionals are supposed to relay violent threats made by patients to the Reserve’s law

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enforcement agencies. It also details that violent threats made by Reserve members against the Reserve’s command must be reported, but violent threats made against non-government civilians are not required to be reported. In this way, the DOD is attempting to avoid blame for the shooting. At the follow up press conference

this fall, lawyers said that though they have learned no new sensational facts over the past year, they have become deeply familiar with the process that the army was supposed to take in response to the Card’s violent expressions.

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As the lawyers have been digging into the army’s failed safety procedures, they have put together a cohesive timeline of Card’s warning signs which were ignored by the Army. Five months before the shooting, Card’s mental health issues were known to his supervisors. Four months before the shooting, Card reported feeling homicidal and admitted that he had a hit-list. In July, three months before the shooting, Card was sent to a psychiatric hospital and doctors tried to commit him involuntarily, but this effort fell through. He was released under the condition that he not have access to guns, which was soon violated because of the army’s failure to relay this restriction to local law enforcement. Six weeks before the shooting, Card’s coworkers began to feel afraid of him and his best friend warned the army that he was afraid that Card was going to snap and commit a mass shooting. Despite all of this, there was minimal reaction from the army. These offences and apathetic negligences have continued to this day, as the army has not yet responded to the lawsuit, despite it being announced a year ago. Last October, the lawyers stated that they did not expect the army to respond to the announcement of the suit, and sure enough, the army did not. It may have been because of the increased media presence at this year’s press conference, but the attorneys emphasized how hurtful this lack of response is to the victims, even though, as the team stated rather unemotionally last year, they did not expect a response anyways. If the army does not respond to the filing of this suit in sixty days, the suit will finally be taken in front of a judge. The damages will be sought case by case for each of the 109 victims, as they all suffered in different ways.

The negligence by the Maine Army Reserve is not isolated to this state and neither is gun violence. Shootings have been terrorizing the United States for years; they have taken thousands of lives in America, yet there has been little federal action to prevent this from continuing. The current administration has undermined gun control progress with the support of its pro-gun base. Right-wing speakers are strong advocates for gun ownership, some, like the influential conservative figure Charlie Kirk, going as far as to say that it is “worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment". The intensely divisive political climate in the United States has caused many people to care more about their right to an object than every American’s right to life. Basic human empathy is being lost to the intense hatred of the other side, but as attorney Ben Gideon reminded all of us at this fall’s press conference, “bullets don’t choose sides”. Exactly a week after Gideon’s reminder, Kirk was assassinated by a bullet to the neck, right before debating the topic of gun violence, further showing that this is an issue for all Americans. Maine is a state with a varied mix of rural far-right people and more progressive clusters in our cities. The Lewiston shooting affected all the people of Maine and killed people on either political side, reminding us all that if shootings kill bipartisanly, they should be addressed bi-partisanly as well.

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There is currently an effort to pass a red flag law in Maine, a stricter gun control method than our standing yellow flag law. The red flag law, opposed by Governor Mills, temporarily stops a person from having access to guns or other dangerous weapons if law enforcement, their family, or household members can prove that said person poses a danger to themselves or others. The yellow flag law was not useful in preventing Card, since the law enforcement did not follow through with the mental health evaluation necessary to take away someone’s guns. Law enforcement did not follow through because they had no information from the army about Card’s mental state, though they still should have. Because the yellow flag law has not proved very effective, the November ballot will suggest the institution of the red flag law. This is a chance, as a people affected by the tragedy of gun violence, to make a safer home for us all. Whatever choice voters make, hopefully they make it as citizens who have experienced tragedy and learned from it, not as citizens blindly following politicians who always sit behind bullet proof glass. (Editor’s Note: the red flag law has passed since the writing of this piece)

Women And the Draft By Sylvie Gill '26 For decades, the controversial topic of whether or not women should register for the draft like men do has plagued the U.S. as a nation. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the Selective Service agency, bills have been proposed to Congress, and yet there are such strong feelings from both opposing sides of the argument that no concrete solution has been found. The question remains: should women have to register for the draft? Though the topic is highly controversial, the military’s increasing reliance on women, its need for more recruits, and the U.S.’s overall need to cultivate a more equal society—while also keeping up with other countries—point to the most logical decision being to require women to register for the draft. The draft, managed by the Selective Service Agency, has been an integral part of the military for decades. However, its history has become more complicated in recent years, as conversations around including women have become more and more prevalent. Today, registering for the draft is a major responsibility most men between the ages of 18 and 25 must take on, with failure to register being considered a serious crime (Jimison). Since 2016, women have been allowed to serve in all military positions that men do; however, they are still not required to register for the draft. The reasons for this may have less to do with logic and more to do with personal preconceptions of women in society. In many ways, women are an integral part of the military and could be the future solution to meeting recruitment goals, which the Army has been falling short of “by about 15,000 soldiers” (Mathur-Ashton). The women-in-the-draft issue may be the underlying cause of some of the military’s current recruitment troubles, thus, putting women in the draft would be “in the national security interest of the United States” (MathurAshton). Having women in the draft could boost their feelings of military responsibility, and more may volunteer to serve. However, if women are made to feel less important to the country’s defense than men, there may not be that same enthusiasm to enlist. An author writing for the ACLU said that “Limiting registration to men sends a message that women are unqualified to serve in the military, regardless of individual capabilities and preferences” (Mar). If the military wants any hope of increasing its recruitment rates—and therefore the national security of the USA—women must be made to bear the same responsibilities that men do. Not only could this boost recruitment among women, but if men see that there is more fairness in the military, they may feel more inclined to join as well. On the other side of it, if women aren't made to register, it creates a sentiment of inequality that goes against so much of what the USA stands for. Not requiring women to register for the draft is not only a bad military decision but also a form of gender discrimination that further cultivates unhealthy gender roles in the U.S. On the ACLU website, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving equality, one article stated that excluding women from the draft reflects an “outmoded view that, in the event of a draft, women’s primary duty would be to the home front — and, on the flip side, that men are unqualified to be caregivers” (Mar). For over a century, activists have been fighting for a

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more equal country and, in many ways, have succeeded in challenging gender roles that confine people to the checkbox that was ticked at the time of their birth. Not allowing women to be drafted perpetuates the idea that men are the ones who have to be fighters, and women are only the caregivers, regardless of if they want something else. Many say that the decision to not require women to register comes from an outdated viewpoint; others go even further to argue that it is also completely unconstitutional. In an article published in the Penn State Journal of Law & International Affairs, the author states that under the equal protection clause, having men but not women register for the draft is unfair and goes against the Constitution (Hanlon). If indeed requiring only men to register for selective service violates constitutional laws regarding equality, then the government would be obligated to amend the laws surrounding the draft in order to preserve the rights of all citizens in the U.S.—a country that preaches equal opportunity and freedom, but may be behind the curve in the case of women and the draft. While there is much support for including women in the draft, the almost equal amount of dissent has caused the effort to never be backed by the Supreme Court or approved by Congress. In an article by Mary Beth Waddell, published by the Family Research Council, the author argues that women are not needed for the draft since there hasn’t been one since 1973, and there are plenty of men already registered in case of war. While this part of it may be true, examples from history show that without men on the home front, there was also a

struggle. Having both men and women on both fronts would help to maintain a better balance. Waddell continues by citing a study which showed that “all-male teams outperformed co-ed units in 69 percent of ground combat tasks,” saying that women are a distraction to men and that females and males don’t work well together —blaming women for any inefficiency (Waddell). While these stats may be factual, the author does not fully consider other circumstances. She cites no statistics about how all-female teams perform, therefore it is potentially inaccurate to assume women were the sole factor in the co-ed teams' inefficiency. The evidence may actually just indicate that the military should work on co-ed teamwork during training and ensure that male soldiers are not easily distracted, as that is a poor quality for troops to have in general. Personal feelings may be the reason why the many efforts to amend the draft and include women have been continuously dismissed over the years. According to a poll by YouGov, most people overall said they agreed with requiring women to register, and those who didn’t were mostly women (“Currently…”). Women’s disapproval may stem from their fear of fighting in combat; however, they may not be considering that the military assigns positions based on individuals’ strengths—and women could serve in noncombat positions if better suited, says Bryant, a former Army Captain (Martinez). The poll also shows that people from across the political spectrum agree with having women register (“Currently…”). Contrastingly, in the government, liberal politicians are more likely to support women in the draft while conservative politicians write it off as woke. Multiple men—politicians and others, such as a reporter for Fox News—have spoken out, saying things such as “our daughters will not be forced into the draft,” and “[women] shouldn’t be forced to serve if they don’t want to” (Jimison). Their conservative viewpoint—which sees women only as things to be sheltered and protected while viewing men as protectors—largely affects many politicians' decisions when voting on laws about allowing women into the draft. While it’s true that some women may balk at the idea of being drafted, many others strongly believe that in order to be a completely equal country, women must take on the same responsibilities as men along with the privileges. The many legal efforts to amend the Military Selective Service Act to include women show the dedication to equality and the understanding of the responsibilities that come with it. Throughout history, women have fought for their rights as citizens in the U.S. For so long, the roles women have played in places like the military have been direly overlooked and under appreciated. Women kept the war efforts going from the home base in World Wars I and II, and in more recent years, they have reached new heights in the military, serving both combatively and not. Including women in the draft would not be a punishment. It would be a milestone in feminism, recognizing all that women do to keep the country running and bestowing upon them the full responsibility of citizenship that activists have fought for throughout the ages. Though the U.S. is supposed to be in an age where women and men share equal rights, the situation is more uncertain than ever for women in the military, as the current Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has plainly said that he does not support women fighting in combat positions (Baldor). Only time will tell if our country’s politicians will agree with this thinking or will be willing to accept the facts, change their mindsets, and finally recognize women's full responsibilities as citizens by requiring draft registration.

Sources: “Case: Equal Means Equal v. Trump.” Clearing House, 3 April 2025, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46338/ #:~:text=The%20Plaintiffs%20alleged%20that%20their,it%20on%20January%2027%2C%202020. Accessed 9April 2025. “Department of Defense Releases Annual Demographics Report — Upward Trend in Number of Women.” Department of Defense, 14 December 2022, https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/article/ 3246268/department-of-defense-releases-annual-demographics-report-upward-trend-in-numbe/. Accessed 20 April 2025. Granlund, Dave. “Granlund cartoon: Women and the draft.” Journal Star, 16 May 2026, https:// www.pjstar.com/story/opinion/cartoons/2016/05/02/granlund-cartoon-women-draft/31056850007/. Accessed 7 April 2025. Hanlon, Kylie. “Sharing the Burden of Citizenship: It's Time for America's Daughters to Register for the Draft.” Penn State Journal of Law & International Affairs, vol. 8, no. 1, 2020, p. 37. elibrary, https:// elibrary.law.psu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1248&context=jlia. Accessed 9 April 2025. Jimison, Robert. “Congress Debates Expanded Draft Amid Military Recruitment Challenges.” The New York Times, 19 June 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/us/politics/military-draft-women.html. Accessed 7 April 2025. Mar, Ria Tobacco. “Requiring Men but not Women to Register for the Draft is Sex Discrimination.” ACLU, 8 January 2021, https://www.aclu.org/news/womens-rights/requiring-men-but-not-women-to-register-for-thedraft-is-sex-discrimination. Accessed 7 April 2025. Martinez, A. “The question whether women should be required to register for the draft resurfaces.” NPR, 25 June 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/06/25/nx-s1-5017714/the-question-whether-women-should-berequired-to-register-for-the-draft-resurfaces. Accessed 9 April 2025. Mathur-Ashton, Aneeta. “Is it Time for Women to Register for the Draft? Congress Considers a Change.” USNews.com, 21 June 2024, https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2024-06-21/is-it-timefor-women-to-register-for-the-draft-congress-considers-a-change. Accessed 7 April 2025. Morrison, Francis Henry. “The Draft: Will, and Should, Women Have the Duty to Register?” American Bar Association, 10 May 2024, https://www.americanbar.org/groups/senior_lawyers/resources/experience/2024april-may/draft-will-should-women-have-duty-register/. Accessed 7 April 2025. Waddell, Mary Beth. “Women Should Not Be Drafted into Selective Service.” Family Research Council, 27 July 2021, https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF21G42.pdf. Accessed 7 April 2025. “Currently, men have to register for the draft when they turn 18. Do you think women should also be required to register for the draft when they turn 18?” YouGov, 1 July 2024, https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/ survey-results/daily/2024/07/01/6a655/1. Accessed 8 April 2025. Baldor, Lolita. “Hegseth's views on women in combat, infidelity and more — in his own words.” AP News, 14 January 2025, http://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-background-defense-secretary-confirmation-hearinge160e10c86385a8beff110d9190fb34e. Accessed 1 May 2025.

Editor's Note: As a magazine, we pride ourselves on printing a wide array of viewpoints from Hebron Academy students and teachers, which readers might not always agree with. The following two opinion pieces express strong, opposite viewpoints on the value of religion. The first article, "Religion is Overrated," is a revamped version of a similar article printed in the Spring 2025 edition. The second article, "Faith is Underrated," was prompted in response to the originally printed first article. We encourage intellectual debate about all topics printed in our magazine.

Religion is Overrated By Casidhe Madsen '26

theatlantic.com

In the past, religion helped people understand and find answers to things they didn't know, like where we came from, why bad things happen, or what happens after death. It also gave people rules to live by and helped communities stay together by giving structure and stability. But now, science offers explanations for many of those old questions. Through scientific questioning, we understand things like how the Earth formed, how the universe works, evolution, and what causes illness. Meanwhile, many societies have developed laws and systems, like human rights and democracy, that are not tied to a specific religion but aim to treat everyone equally, regardless of their beliefs. Today, people broadly tend to see science as beneficial. According to a 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center, about 52% of the U.S. adults say that science does “more good than harm.” Similarly, the same survey shows that many Americans believe science and religion are mostly in conflict, particularly Americans who are less religious. Some research suggests that science, treated as a secular institution, has taken over some of the roles that religion used to fill. For instance, a psychological study found that priming people with “science” activated ideas about secular authority, increased moral sensitivity, similar to how religious priming used to (Yilmaz).

Meanwhile, religious affiliations and practice have been declining globally. According to a recent research overview by the Pew Research Center, from 2010 to 2020 at least 35 countries saw their share of people identifying with any religion drop by 5 percentage points or more; in many places, including wealthy and developed societies, religion is losing much of its hold (Hackett). In the United States and other Western nations, this shift is especially strong (Lingier). While religion can still bring people together, giving comfort, meaning, or a sense of belonging to some, these benefits are not unique to religion. Studies suggest that many of the advantages long attributed to religion (like moral behavior, community support, reducing anxiety, offering purpose) can often be reproduced by non religious practices; volunteering, clubs, community groups, art, activism, and friendships (D’Ardenne). Moreover, religion has caused, and continues to cause, serious social problems. Throughout history, religious differences have fueled conflict, discrimination, and wars. As societies diversify, religious beliefs can also be used to justify prejudice against people who don't share those beliefs, or even against entire social groups. In a world with diverse beliefs, following religion rigidly can divide rather than unite. Just because religion once helped build communities doesn't mean it always does, especially now, when other more inclusive, flexible ways to find community and meaning exist. Similarly, clinging to old religious traditions can hinder social progress. In some cases, religious beliefs resist scientific discoveries or social changes. For example: some religious groups oppose modern scientific theories (like evolution) or resist equal rights for all people (like marriage equality). By holding onto outdated or restrictive beliefs, religion can slow down society’s ability to grow, adapt, and solve new problems. In conclusion, religion has played an important role in human history: giving it meaning, community, and moral guidelines when nothing else existed. But in today's world, with scientific knowledge, secular laws, and many ways for people to find purpose, religion is no longer essential as it once was. While it can still be meaningful to individuals, giving comfort and identity, it's not the only path to living a true, moral, and meaningful life. For many, science, reason, and secular communities can do the job just as well, or even better, without the conflict or limitations religion brings. Sources: D'Ardenne, Kimberlee. “ASU study examines psychological benefits of religion.” News ASU, Arizona State University, 23 August 2022, https://news.asu.edu/20220823-religion-important-not-special. Accessed 1 December 2025. Friedersdorf, Conor. “The Christians Protesting at the RNC and DNC.” The Atlantic, 29 July 2016, https:// www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/atypical-christians-in-the-public-square/493526/. Accessed 2 December 2025. Hackett, Conrad. “How religion declines around the world.” Pew Research Center, 2 September 2025, https:// www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/09/02/how-religion-declines-around-the-world/. Accessed 1 December 2025. Lingier, Anton. “The Decline of Religious Life in the Twentieth Century.” MDPI, MDPI, 27 May 2021, https://

. Accessed 1 December 2025. Smith, Gregory A., et al. “How Americans view religion & science.” Pew Research Center, 26 February 2025, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religion-and-views-of-science/. Accessed 1 December 2025. Yilmaz, Onurcan. “When Science Replaces Religion: Science as a Secular Authority Bolsters Moral Sensitivity.” PubMed, National Library of Medicine, 11 September 2015, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26360826/. Accessed 1 December 2025.

Faith is Underrated By Kellen Anthoine '26 and Todor Tomov '26

The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo

In a world driven by technology, science and the constant search for tangible proof, the concept of God is often overshadowed and undervalued. Many view success, luck or human effort as the main forces shaping our lives, leaving little room for acknowledging a higher power. Yet, the proposal that God is underrated invites us to pause and reconsider the role faith plays not only in religious life but in everyday moments. Atheists argue that spiritual faith is unimportant in the modern day, claiming that it fails in comparison to scientific explanation, is unnecessary in the search for meaning, divides people, and is not essential to having a strong moral structure. All of this is untrue, however, because it arguably makes one’s life, and society as a whole, existentially better in many different ways. Belief in God adds further context to scientific discoveries, provides meaning in a way nothing else can, brings people together, and makes one’s moral structure unshakably strong. On a logical level, one of the most common arguments against religion it fails as an existential focus in comparison to science. Some say that religion is no longer necessary because science is a ‘superior’ way to explain the world around us. The two can go together, though. Beliefs about the Abrahamic creation story, for example, have been expanded upon with the introduction of the theories of the Big Bang and evolution. The belief that God’s breathing light into the darkness was the Big Bang, and His seven day process of creating the

world was millions of years of evolution. The creation story scene from the 2014 film “Noah” beautifully exemplifies this cultural shift (Aronofsky). Aside from the argument that science is superior, though, it’s also not uncommon for one to claim that religion and science are in direct opposition to each other, resulting in religion slowing down progress in society. In reality, though, some of the most impactful scientific discoveries, such as heliocentrism, genetic inheritance, and the Big Bang Theory, were made by influential religious figures (Mazurczak et al.). When it comes down to it, the atheists’ argument that science contradicts religion is flawed because of the ties between the two and the major scientific developments made by notable religious figures. Furthermore, connecting to God provides something unmatched by any material success or scientific explanation: a sense of peace and purpose. This is more than a philosophical belief, though. Scientifically, the deep meaning found through religious practice has been proven time and time again. According to the National Library of Medicine, "Many studies have been conducted which repeatedly show that religion can be a powerful source of meaning in life (Chamberlain and Zika 1992; Emmons 2005; Park 2005, 2013). Religion can be defined as “a search for meaning in ways related to the sacred” (Pargament 1997, p. 32). Despite the fact that the relationship between religion and meaning is intimate and complex, many people find in religious beliefs a sense of purpose, understanding, and psychological support (Park 2013)." (Krok). This suggests that from an unbiased perspective, having spiritual beliefs and practices significantly improves the quality of life. Life is unpredictable, full of hardships and uncertainties that money, knowledge or power cannot fix. Faith offers a grounding force, a reason to keep going even when the future looks bleak. It gives hope and strength when human abilities seem limited. In the absence of that purpose, one's personal happiness takes precedence, leading to a lack of connection to something greater than oneself. To say that God is underrated is to acknowledge that this source of hope and guidance is often ignored in favor of immediate, worldly solutions. In many ways, society promotes independence and self-reliance, encouraging people to believe they are entirely in control of their destinies. While personal effort is undeniably important, ignoring the spiritual dimension can leave us feeling isolated and empty. God reminds us of our interconnectedness and that there is a bigger plan than what we can see. One might argue that religion sows the seeds of ethnic and cultural divide, but this is simply not true. Humans are naturally flawed, and in the same way that they use other non-divisive vehicles like politics and science to pull people apart, they use religion. Religion itself, however, actually promotes community, selflessness, and tearing down those walls of division. In the Gospels, for example, Jesus repeatedly counters the systemic racism towards Samaritans and Canaanites in Israel at the time through telling the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), his healing of the begging Canaanite woman despite his disciples urging him not to (Matthew 15:22-28), and his friendly interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-26). In all of these cases, he was expected by society to act adversely to these ethnic groups, however, he taught his followers to reject this bigotry with his exemplary acts of kindness. In the modern day, religion continues to unite people. Currently, there are several multifaith organizations such as Inter Faith Network UK and the Pluralism Project that are dedicated to fighting racism, marginalization, hate crime, and

poor treatment of immigrants and refugees (“Inter faith engagement in social action - Resources”) (“Pluralism Project - About”). These and many more examples prove that although people use religion to divide, religion itself can unite people and bring them together. Recognizing God’s presence can inspire humility and gratitude, transforming how we view ourselves and others. Moreover, faith in God often motivates people to live with compassion and integrity. Many atheists argue that it’s possible to still act morally in the absence of religious influence, but this is untrue. The sensible and healthy morals that atheists hold in the modern day have religious foundations in the first place, even if the holder of those beliefs himself does not believe in God (Moore et al.). Because morals are so intertwined with faith, when God is underrated, so too might be the values of kindness, forgiveness and unconditional love that flourish through spiritual belief. These qualities build communities and foster understanding in a divided world. By embracing God’s wisdom, individuals can find meaning beyond material gain, developing richer relationships and a deeper sense of belonging. In conclusion, the proposition that "God is underrated" challenges us to look beyond the surface and appreciate a fundamental but often overlooked truth: that our lives are shaped not only by what we see and control but also by unseen forces that nurture our souls. Whether through moments of gratitude, hope, or moral guidance, acknowledging God’s role can enrich our experience and bring light to the shadows of doubt. Belief in him not only changes one’s perspective on life, but also expands scientific explanation of the world, provides a divine sense of purpose and meaning, encourages us to more deeply connect us with those around us, and gives us a resilient, concrete moral structure. In a world that values the obvious and immediate, God quietly waits to be recognized and appreciated. Sources: “About.” The Pluralism Project, https://pluralism.org/about. Accessed 6 November 2025. Aronofsky, Darren, director. Noah. Regency Enterprises, 2014. “Inter faith engagement in social action - Resources.” The Inter Faith Network, https://www.interfaith.org.uk/ resources/inter-faith-engagement-in-social-action. Accessed 6 November 2025. Krok, Dariusz. “The Role of Meaning in Life Within the Relations of Religious Coping and Psychological WellBeing.” PubMed Central, 19 December 2014, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4580713/. Accessed 6 November 2025. Mazurczak, Filip, et al. “Ten Catholic scientists and inventors everyone should know.” Catholic World Report, 21 July 2022, https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/07/21/ten-catholic-scientists-and-inventors/. Accessed 6 November 2025. Moore, GE, et al. “Religion and Morality in Western Philosophy (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 27 September 2006, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religionmorality/. Accessed 6 November 2025. Zondervan. NIV Pocket Thinline Bible, Bonded Leather, Red Letter, Comfort Print [Black]. Zondervan, 2021.

Mental Toughness in Sports By Noah Romanelli '27 Mental toughness is one of the most important parts of being an athlete. It’s not just about being strong physically, but also being able to stay focused, positive, and confident no matter what happens. Every athlete faces challenges, whether it’s making mistakes, dealing with injuries, or hearing negative comments from others. The way you respond to those challenges can make the difference between success and failure. One of the biggest parts of mental toughness is staying positive. In sports, not everything goes your way all the time. You can have bad games, tough practices, or times when you feel like nothing is working. But staying positive keeps your mind in the right place. If you keep a good attitude, you can bounce back faster and learn from your mistakes instead of getting stuck on them. When you believe in yourself and focus on what you can control, it helps you do better and enjoy the game more.

pexels.com

Another key part of mental toughness is not letting mistakes get to you. Every athlete messes up, even the best ones. You might miss a shot, turn the puck over, or make the wrong play, but what matters is how you react after that. If you hang your head or keep thinking about what you did wrong, it’ll only hurt your game more. But if

you can shake it off and focus on the next shift or the next play, you’ll be a better player overall. Learning to move on quickly shows real mental strength. Being mentally tough also means pushing through injuries. Injuries can be hard mentally and can test your patience. Sometimes you have to sit out, and it feels like all your progress is gone. But mental toughness means doing what you can to stay focused and positive during recovery. It’s about listening to your body, working hard in rehab, and trusting that you’ll come back stronger. It’s easy to lose motivation when you can’t play, but staying mentally locked in helps you heal faster and stay connected to the game. If you let things get to you, like negative comments from other people or your own frustration, it can ruin your confidence. In sports, there will always be people who doubt you or say things that get in your head. If you start believing those things or take them personally, it can mess with how you play. Mental toughness means blocking out the noise and focusing on yourself and your goals. You can’t control what others say, but you can control how you respond. The best athletes use negativity as motivation instead of letting it tear them down. In the end, mental toughness is what separates good athletes from great ones. It’s what helps you stay calm under pressure, bounce back after mistakes, and keep going when things get hard. It’s not something you’re just born with; it’s something you build over time by learning from failure, and never giving up. Whether it’s on the ice, the field, or anywhere else, mental toughness is what keeps you moving forward no matter what’s in your way.

The Patriots' Great Rebuild By David Lee '28

bostonherald.com

From having a 16-0 undefeated record, the most Super Bowl appearances, and a Super Bowl win, the New England Patriots' dynasty was undeniably the dynasty of the century. However, after the departure of Tom Brady, widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time, New England quickly became one of the worst teams in the league. However, in this season, the Patriots are currently 10-2, ranking number one in the AFC East. How did this happen? In my opinion, it was caused by a poor roster. Even before Brady's departure, the New England Patriots lost players who were the foundation of the dynasty, and they were unable to replace them. Therefore, they showed decline in their offense: their offensive line had poor performance; they didn’t have a skilled wide receiver on their team - impacted by the departure of their top tier wide receivers such as Julian Edelman, Jakobi Meyers, and Rob Gronkowski who was tight end, who was also the reason of offensive line deteriorating; and they had poor running game caused by poor offensive line performance and not having dynamic running back. While defense-wise they had a successful season, their poor offensive performance showed the world that they were no longer the dominant team.

Going into the 2020 season was when the dynasty began to come to an end with the departure of Tom Brady. Brady was a leader and dominant force of the team, which meant losing a quarterback who had been a rock and foundation of the entire offense for the last 20 years. Without having a dynamic and elite player on the team, the dynasty came to an end. Losing their quarterback and not having any elite talent on the team, they had a 7-9 regular season record, and for the next three years, they became one of the underperforming teams in the league. After Brady’s departure, the Patriots began to rebuild. But, rebuilding in 2021 was more of filling in the gaps rather than rebuilding the structure and foundation of the team. While they did make it to the play-offs, their rebuild was unsuccessful, losing the wild-card round to the Bills. In 2022, they drafted Christian Gonzalez. In 2023, they signed most of the draft picks and traded for draft picks to attain younger players. Going into 2024 was the year when Patriot seriously began to go into the rebuilding phase. They began to build the organization from the ground up. But it was followed by Bill Belichick's departure from the Patriots, after being the head coach for the last 24 years, and with his retirement, Jared Mayo became the new head coach. Going into rebuilding, the Patriots' focus was to build a strong roster by gathering young talent and replacing older players, and they actively replace most veteran players and sign mainly rookies or young players. One of the major events in the Patriots' rebuild was selecting Drake Maye as a new quarterback in a first-round draft pick to be the franchise quarterback in 2024. By doing so, they built the offense around Maye by drafting or signing younger players and signing an effective wide receiver and running back. In 2025, the New England Patriots replaced Mayo with former Patriot player and Tennessee Titan coach, Mike Vrabel, and with the signing of elite WR Stefon Diggs and other players, the New England Patriots are No.1 in the AFC East and 10-2 this season. Personally, I believe the Patriots have built from the ground up and now are a dominant force in the NFL. They have a strong passing game, defense, a 26.5 points per game average, and their offensive line has improved significantly. So, there is no doubt in my mind that they will make it to the play-offs.

My Figure Skating Story By Juliet Son '28 Some people grow up measuring their lives by birthdays, anniversaries, or school years. I measure mine by the times I jump, spin, fall, and carve on the ice. I started skating at 6 years old, and I have been skating for 12 years. Although I dedicated 12 years of my life to figure skating, I still love figure skating more than any other sport. I still clearly remember how fascinated I was when I first stepped on the ice, but I didn’t know how tough it would be later.

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When I became a competitive skater in 2nd grade, I consistently had a schedule of waking up at 4 am to go to practice and skating until 1 pm. Therefore, I missed a lot of classes since elementary school, and do not have many memories with my friends. But I also want to be the best in the school, so I self-taught and studied really hard between my practices. I was living a very different life from my friends, but I had more opportunities to see the world from a broader perspective, such as going to different countries to learn and practice under famous coaches and skaters from a young age. As a result, I earned a place as a representative of Seoul for 3 years and later became a junior national representative in Korea. I also won in a major Korean national competition,

which was the moment I achieved my dream. However, behind those good moments, every single day, I had so many pressures that I had to overcome, fighting with myself every time. I also had so many injuries that I had to hold back tears every time I jumped, with the terrible pain in my ankle. Going to the orthopedics clinic and getting a strong injection and painkiller was my daily routine. For many years, I could not walk properly, eat properly, or have a stable mentality. I had a really bad obsession with checking my weight every single morning and night to not gain weight. I had to restrain myself from eating since I was 10, and sometimes I would only just drink water and skate for the whole day. At one point, I had such a bad crash out that I did not want to skate anymore. Eventually, I reached the point of my ankle where I could not jump anymore. After a break to heal my ankle, I changed my field to ice dance, where no jumps are needed. I actually started to like skating again, and truly enjoyed it as a 6-year-old me when I first started skating. Then, I moved to the States to learn under Olympic medalist coaches, which was the turning point of my life. I learned not only the skating techniques, but also how to view and overcome in difficulties of the training processes as a professional skater. Adapting to the new training style and advice made me realize how trapped I had been in my old mindset and how I had not approached things with a more open perspective. This change in mindset still influences me today and is the reason I now study abroad and aim to compete in figure skating in the States – something I would not have thought about in the past. When I look back, I realize that skating shaped almost every part of who I am. There were painful moments, but it taught me how to stand up again every time I fall. Even through ups and downs, it continues to teach me even a small thing every day. This journey is still going, and I am grateful that skating is still with me.

Hebron Art Gallery By Hebron Students

Juliet Son '28

Guilhermo Felis '27

Isla Andrews '29 52

Perrin Gill '28

Addie Lydon '26

Sophia Ozuna '28 53

The Death Of Classic Literature By Vivian Hamlin '27 and Eila McCarthy '29 Do you ever wonder what your kids will be reading in school? Look at books coming out now compared to what are considered classics. Classic literature books are full of rich language, different world views, morals, and lasting impacts. Modern literature often has simpler writing, is more action focused, and teaches less of a lesson. Even though they are few, these things can make a big difference. To quote Mark Twain, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug” or Brandon Sanderson, “The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.”

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In our digital age, we often think of classic literature as works that have stood the test of time: novels, poems, and dramas that were once central to education and were considered cultural cornerstones. However, recent evidence shows that the engagement with such works is concerningly declining according to The National Endowment for the Arts. This decline is significant because classical literature has historically been a thought provoking medium. If this art fades, the consequences may ripple across personal, educational, and societal realms. The National Endowment for the Arts found that less than half of U.S. adults read literature, and those

rates have steadily fallen. Similarly, studies suggest that the broader role of literature in society is shrinking. Meanwhile, technological changes (digital devices, screen based cultures, shortened attention spans, etc.) are frequently cited as shifts that disadvantage the kind of slow, immersive reading that classic works often require. Classic literature often invites readers into complex character situations, moral dilemmas, and historical contexts. Through the reading of these works, readers gain a sense of patience, empathy, and the ability to hold ambiguity. If these works become less read, we risk eroding these abilities. In schools and universities, classic literature has functioned as a scaffolding for teaching reading, writing, and critical thinking and analysis. As fewer students approach these works, or if they choose to support them superficially, the quality of literary education declines. Understanding why classic literature is declining is critical to grasping the importance of its longevity. With social media, short form content, or streaming services as entertainment, readers have less patience for the slower pace, denser language, and older style of classic works. The American Psychological Association confirms that our attention spans are shrinking, and Northeastern Global News explains that this is due to the shortform content overload we receive on our devices daily. Platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube thrive on fast, flashy content that keeps the consumers scrolling. This has rewired how people read and process information, and, as a result, long and complex narratives that demand a sustained attention span seem daunting, boring, and pale in comparison. As The Guardian notes, even avid readers admit that they find it harder to stay focused on long novels, finding themselves with described “fragmented’ reading caused by constant digital interruption. When this attention becomes fragmented, the deep, immersive engagement that classic literature requires becomes almost impossible. In this sense, the 'death’ of classic literature is also the death of long-form attention. Sources: Archer, RM. “Classic vs Modern Literature – Strengths and Weaknesses.” Kingdom Pen, https:// kingdompen.org/classic-vs-modern-literature/. Accessed 11 November 2025. “Reading At Risk.” National Endowment for the Arts, https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/RaRExec_0.pdf? utm_source.com. Accessed 11 November 2025. Shafak, Elif, and Holly Pester. “Given up on reading? Elif Shafak on why we still need novels.” The Guardian, 11 May 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/may/11/given-up-on-reading-elif-shafak-on-why-westill-need-novels?utm_source.com. Accessed 11 November 2025.

The History of Music By Alexandra Hounsel '27 The world is always changing around us, and few aspects of life stay constant; however, some aspects of the world do stand the test of time and these prove very valuable. One of these valuable aspects is music. Music can awaken the soul; everyone has a story with music, even music itself tells stories, no matter where you are in the world. Music has a powerful global reach because it has made its way through society since the earliest stages of humanity. Humans in the modern day typically think of music as different genres. People like pop, R&B, hiphop, jazz, rock, etc. When they think of instruments, people think of piano, trumpets, cellos, and drums. People don’t usually think of bones and animal skin as instruments used to make music, but these objects were instruments in the past. This form of making music dates back 40,000 years, to around 38,000 B.C. Around the world, people would use instruments from bone and their mere voices to get a point across. Thousands of years later, while people moved along the Silk Road, they traded language, knowledge, medicine, and stories; music was exchanged as well. For example, the results of this interaction caused the Tang dynasty’s music to be influenced by other Central Asian societies. This was not only a cultural trade, but a musical trade. Each culture can tell stories and spread powerful messages through music, showing that no matter how different cultures are, music remains miraculously constant. Religion, a motivating factor for the majority of the world’s events, also goes hand in hand with music. Nowadays, we might just think of religious music as Sunday church hymns, but religious music goes back a lot farther than that. The Vedas of Hinduism immensely influenced Indian classical music, the Five Classics of Confucianism led to the basis of Chinese music, and the Golden Age of Islam was highly impacted by an increase in music. Simultaneously, the Western Classical music tradition stemmed from early Western Christian ideologies and developed into medieval music with polyphony and staff notation. Music unites by being an unchanging factor through cultural and philosophical divides. Though music has the power to unite, it also has the power to highlight the never ending conflicts in the world. When music calls attention to controversies, it can challenge how the world thinks and lead to global progress. For example, blues music rose to prominence during times of segregation in America. Enslaved Africans developed African rhythmic structures and vocal techniques and call and response-techniques into the blues genre. Themes of these songs often included strong spirituality and faith, which were acts of hope and perseverance. Music can help many through times of stress and make the people feel their voice. For the blues, this music later moved into an era of rock and roll and blues. During this time of segregation, those with more conservative values would label this type of music as “devil’s music”, even though many, especially of the younger generation, thoroughly enjoyed listening to this music. Essentially, although of different origins, multitudes of people enjoyed rock and roll and blues music, and it united people in a time of segregation; music

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multitudes of people enjoyed rock and roll and blues music, and it united people in a time of segregation; music can unite people towards rebellion. What about today? Since we are in the digital age, many have access to all different varieties of music at any given time, so music isn’t as concretely tied to culture as it once was. Although this aspect has changed, musical controversy still exists. The Super Bowl halftime show is an example of this. The Super Bowl halftime show has been a musical tradition since 1967. Earlier this year, Kendrick Llamar performed. The performance heavily critiqued the government and showed how divided a nation we are. An array of angry opinions came after this performance, highlighting the differences still existing today. In 2026, Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. Bad Bunny is a Latino rapper from Puerto Rico who claimed in multiple interviews that he wants his music to unite people by connecting generations to his culture and advocating for social rights. Many complaints about him performing at the Super Bowl center around the performance not being “American” enough or relating this performance to his progressive views on certain issues. Human controversy is not gone, and music is not gone either. This further displays how music highlights the stories of humans. People have conflicts, culture, and progress; music represents all of these aspects of humanity. Music itself can connect generations upon generations of people. Music comes from our beliefs, from what we like to hear, and essentially the feeling of human creation and the very feeling of the human soul, and will continue to for all time.

I Have Already Peaked in Life (Literally) By Riley Phillips '27 Isabella Bird famously says, “The Rocky Mountains realize - nay, exceed - the dream of my childhood. It is magnificent, and the air is life-giving.” Isabella Bird, alongside Rocky Mountain Jim, climbed to the top of Long’s Peak in 1873, making her the first woman to stand on the 14,258-foot-high summit. My childhood summers were spent in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and I, much like Isabella Bird, hold a special place in my heart for the park. You feel truly alive when you are there, immersed in the serene beauty of the natural world. Long’s little brother, Mount Meeker, was my first big mountain. Meeker stands 13,916 feet tall, but standing on top of it feels like standing on top of the world.

Riley Phillips '27

Some background may be necessary. Every summer, starting the year after 6th grade, I have flown to Colorado to attend a month-long summer camp called Cheley Colorado Camps. The camp’s other epithet, from the mouth of my mother, is Psycho Wilderness Camp, and this description is too accurate. We sleep in covered wagons with no electricity. It’s located in Glen Haven, otherwise known as The Middle of Literally Nowhere, and Cheley offers intense and semi-dangerous programs such as hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Most of these

intense and semi-dangerous programs such as hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Most of these activities take place in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is conveniently only roughly an hour away. The camp is divided into various units, and I attend Girls Trails End, or GTE, as we often call it. It is hard to describe GTE since it is a truly singular place. Around 75 girls, aged 12 to 17, all live together, brush their teeth together, and grow as individuals together, for the entire month of June. Part of the beauty of Cheley is the amazing opportunities and experiences that it has as options. For example, one has the option to hike every day and get to experience a wide variety of nature, from the breathtakingly crystal clear glacial lakes to humongous aspen groves to the view from the mountain tops. Four Early Breakfast hikes, or EBs, are offered per camp session. These are typically long-mileage days in which you get to peak mountains that are too exposed or large to accomplish on a day hike. EBs are highly selective, beginning with a process in which the hiking counselors pick 10 of the strongest girls to go on the hikes. A typical EB entails waking up around 2:30 AM, driving into RMNP, and then hiking for 9-ish hours. Safe to say, EBs are very physically and mentally challenging. This is the story of my first-ever EB: Mount Meeker. Flashback to the summer after 6th grade. I was 11 years old, technically too young to attend GTE, but my family’s legacy at Cheley afforded me a little special treatment. Throughout the summer, it was a running joke how young I was, which only made me all the more shocked when I was chosen for the Meeker EB. Certain that my hiking counselors, Taylor Phillips and Annie Price, had made a mistake, I approached them and asked if they had accidentally put me on the list. They both looked me in the eye and said, “We believe in you and that you can do this”. My counselors' belief in me made me feel capable, and my fear of being the weakest hiker dissipated. Someone else Riley Phillips '27

believed in me, which made me believe in myself. The day of hiking Meeker is divided into three parts: the ascent, the peak, and the descent. The ascent begins under

the shroud of darkness that the night provides, when the stillness of the world around you is a physical thing, only broken by the thumps of hiking boots on the hard-packed earth. My companions and I, all bundled up against the early morning chill, quietly trudge our way up the trail, scattered headlight beams our only source of

the trail, scattered headlight beams our only source of light. There is something almost sacred about the peace of being awake before the rest of the world has even stirred, let alone opened their eyes. There’s this unofficial rule of EBs: No talking before the sun rises. Typically, on day hikes, stories of lives outside of camp, trail games, and random chatter occupy the airspace. At this moment, however, only quiet, labored breathing and the rattling of the trees fill the air. A commonly accepted fact is that miles hiked in the dark are miles that do not count. And so, hiking the 2.3 miles up to the treeline passed by uneventfully and rather forgettably. Getting your first glimpse above the tree line changes all that. As the sun's first light spreads across the sky, the mountains, the aspen trees, and the distant horizon serve as reminders of the omnipresent forces at play. Forces that exist outside of oneself and humanity in general, forces that constantly balance the scales of life itself. You find faith in the world itself - the promise of a new day gives one something to believe in, and the promise of tomorrow is always just out of reach. As the climb continues, everything is shifted into a new perspective. The “true” peak itself is unreachable. Make a metaphor out of that, I guess. Mount Meeker has two peaks, the east peak that you encounter first, and the taller west peak that is only accessible via a black-listed knife ridge. As a camp, Cheley does not permit us to access the west peak route due to a mishap in the 1900s in which a camper tragically fell to their death. So, we summited the East peak. The view from up there is truly indescribable, and the endorphins felt are unimaginable. It is like being drunk on life itself. This feeling is only multiplied by all the effort that it has taken to reach the point where I was standing. Looking out at the jagged fingers of mountains stretching towards the sky while a blanket of white clouds swelled and shifted below, I had an epiphany. Peaking a difficult and unforgiving mountain like Meeker tests your faith in yourself. There were numerous times during the ascent that I questioned my capabilities, whether that be physical, mental, or even

Riley Phillips '27

emotional. But I persevered and pushed through those self-built roadblocks, ending up higher than I ever thought I could reach. All the physical exertion that it took, the mental strain, and the pure and utter exhaustion were made worth it because I proved to myself that I could do it. And so, I learned to have faith that the tops of even the highest mountains are reachable if you believe in yourself. The descent of any mountain is as challenging, if not more so, than the ascent, and Meeker is no exception. In fact, to reach the East Peak of Meeker, we had to clamber up a 75-degree scree field. Scree fields are huge stretches, approximately 12 football fields in this case, of loose, smaller rocks. Imagine trying to walk down an extremely steep slope covered in constantly shifting and loose rocks, with a backpack strapped on that feels like it weighs nearly 800 pounds since you have been carrying it for so many hours, and you are struggling to keep your eyes open because you woke up at 2:30 AM. It sounds like hell, and in some ways it is. At this point, many girls become scared, validly so, of slipping or causing a screen slide. A fall would be catastrophic, and kicking a rock down on the hikers below you would be like a deadly game of dominoes. And so, to help ease fears, Cheley has coined a term; Trust your boots. Doubting that your hiking boots can maintain their footing actually makes you more likely to fall down. The entire way down that scree field, I internally chanted, “Trust your boots”. And lo and behold, I made it down without a scratch on me. The lesson here is that much like your hiking boots get you safely through challenging terrain and offer stability and protection, faith grounds you in difficult times and gives you the confidence to forge ahead, even when the path is sketchy. Faith is not a tangible thing or even a destination. Rather, faith is a journey. It is struggling with uncertainty but trusting enough in something to go forth headfirst into the unknown. Faith is felt in those instances where others see your true potential, in the quiet, unspoken trust in yourself that you WILL make it up whatever mountain you are facing, and in the world as a whole. Meeker is not just a mountain, but a physical representation of life’s greatest challenges - those instances where we are asked to rely on our faith, either to place it in others' hands or in ourselves during times of struggle. So, when you finally reach that summit, you are celebrating the faith you found along the way. Your real reward is the understanding that faith is an omnipresent force in your life - not just on the peaks of your figurative mountains but with each and every step you take on the climb up. In the end, hiking and life in general are a test of faith.

Apple Head By Basil Lee '32 Everyone is insecure, Everyone is scared, Everyone is different. In the bustling city of New York lived a girl, and her name was Lily. Lily's mother always told her to be herself because you can't be anyone else. Not that Lily didn't listen, but she was always insecure about one thing: her head. Too big, too fat, too round, everything was wrong with her head! Usually hiding her head with a beanie, Lily would wear her hood if she was feeling really insecure, then pretend her head would disappear.

Basil Lee

One morning, as usual, Lily proceeded to get up and brush her teeth, but as she looked in the mirror, her eyes went wide, her jaw dropped, and her mind went blank, for what was looking back at her in the mirror was a body with an apple head. Can you imagine running for your life with the immediate instinct to run, scream, and hide?

This was different. She couldn't run, hide, or scream. All Lily could do was stare into something that was apparently her. I mean, what could she do, looking in the mirror at something that isn't human, yet it is? Something that is Lily but isn't? What to do or what could she do? Lily called her best friend Rose. When Rose picked up, she was confused about why Lily was freaking out, “ I have an apple head,” exclaimed Lily. “What are you talking about?” asked Rose, confused. “I have an Apple head!” Lily exclaimed, almost shouting. Rose, instead of trying to convince Lily, just hung up. It’s so bad, even worse than my head. This is even bigger, even fatter, even rounder! Lily touched it; she didn't know what to expect, what does an apple face feel like? Lily reached to touch her new head; it felt lightly rough but soft. Not exactly what she was expecting, but still, it was. Maybe it was because Lily grew used to having an apple head over time, or perhaps she no longer felt insecure, but either way, she knew she didn't care about having an apple head. One crisp morning Lily woke up, and as usual she went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth but as she looked in the mirror her head wasn’t an apple head anymore, not even close. Lily's head was hers, the one she grew up with, the one with round cheeks and a fat head but hers and she missed it. She had missed who her head made her be and what her head did to make Lily the unique girl she was.

My Best Friend By Chase Longsworth '28 my friend, my hope, the one I've never known, my heart, my half, with love no one's ever shown, my peace, my joy, through the late-night calls, my sadness, my anger, always leaving me to dream, You're the best, and it's true, My spirit feels complete, through the ups and the downs, You were always there for me. coping life our teenage years, We are almost halfway through, petty fights, boys for life, We would always see it through Can it be, This friendship is, The one that's meant only for us? We’ve known life fighting strongly, since Leman, Been this long? Know you well, and know you now, We will know each other for some time, your my friend, truly my very best, I will always say it aloud. Chase Longsworth '28

Chase By Chase Longsworth '28 My name is Chase,

Although I thought I figured it out,

simple starting line.

through self-doubt and public hate,

Artistic verses I've learned to rhyme,

I have been raised to hate myself….

my heart's release through pretty lines,

right now, as I read up on this stand,

stories I've kept among these words,

I bow my head to say each word,

my own receipts of my own life….

"I'm still insecure".... or maybe I'm scared, Public speaking was never my best,

It is my dream to be a star, Though I've never been someone to see.

But I knew I had to speak,

When they see me..... do I look

for once let myself say MY truth,

like a puzzle, incomplete?

beyond what all may think,

Do I look like a fool?

I myself must stay true,

through my hair and my clothes, Do my looks keep you humored when I step through these halls? Do I wonder for no reason, as if someone could have cared, Are my wounds leaking out through the presence of my stare,

true to who I am since I've known myself last, These last few years made him seem like a distant past, I look for myself through every known space, past hangouts, old friends, my mirror, MY face.

Do I scare you?

I think I'm starting to understand,

Do I make you feel

who I’m meant out to be, I lived through pain I won't relive,

Unease?

even though it wasn't all that sad I've been treated badly,

Has my reputation preceded what I've seen myself to be?

through old friends that I've missed, I reminisce

Does it seem like I'm a mess, though I try not to be?

I've been the villain, ironic enough,

form-fitting clothes that don't fit right,

wasn't the victim my whole life,

I am just TRYING to be me.

But now I feel, I know me now,

But being me can't be enough,

My name is Chase

When I am trying to be something else,

Please hear me now.

Being strong isn't enough when I've ignored myself weak, Loss of friends and meaningless texts have killed my self-esteem. I don't KNOW myself quite well,

Thank you.

Barely Blue By Madeleine Long '26 My eyes, barely blue, I’m told I look like you.

in our shared eyes and hair.

my hair was blonde, yours was too.

I worry though for these traits are heavy with honor,

mine’s long and wavy,

This honor made a wish, a wish to be brave and loyal just

yours was short and straight.

like you.

I’m told I look just like you, But those are just looks.

Trouble has erupted in my life, with no end in sight. But I found out last year, a decision was made after a

Out there you were in the war, a master sergeant.

year,

A wife left home, don’t worry she’s OK

A decision in November.

Though her heart was hurt, she found love again.

It said you’re dead, lost in battle,

She never let go of those times with you,

My sisters and I were all born in that month.

Filled with love and warmth.

This brought a perspective, a belief I questioned, maybe

Her memory now is not how it was, but you never fade,

it's true.

you've forever earned a place in her heart.

Maybe you're still being a hero watching us from the stars.

That day you were brave, that day you shined of loyalty,

In truth I don’t know, I have your hair and eyes,

For those you hardly knew.

Maybe that's why I feel a sense of pride.

Retreat, fall back, our weapons run dry,

When I remember I have your blond hair, and barely blue

Comrades have fallen, the enemy is here.

eyes.

Fallback was commanded, that was said to your ear. From the radio you carried, to the decision you made. A comrade injured, just one choice in your mind, You definitely without a doubt didn't waste any time.64 You saved friends, you showed your spirit and pride. My eyes are blue, though barely, just like you, And my once gold hair lost its color over time just like yours. I've been told I look like you. More than my sisters, more than my mom. I feel a connection,

Madeleine Long '26

Is This the Real Life? By Liam Snodgress '26 Bohemian Rhapsody played over the platform’s surround sound as the train hovered into the terminal. The doors open, wish I’d never been born at all, letting out a stream of passengers. They milled about, writhing in an incessant pool of voices and vices. Faces full of emotion flashed their wild disposition, will not let you go. Spitting on the ground, I move my mouth into a grimace and cut my way through the crowd. A group huddles by the doors, blocking my way onto the train. I don’t feel like talking, so my body offers the alternative of crushing a few skulls. I pick up the pace, lifting my arms as I do so. My coat trails behind me, flapping at its increased disturbance. Gloved hands meet one head hairy and one head smooth. The two heads greet, both leaking, violence creates commonality. No one cries out, and the other three move away, sidestepping their friends and clearing the path to my hovering ride. I kick the one at my feet, the bald one, who gives out a shudder, wrapping tighter in its oversized sweater. Steel-toed shoes hurt; I have experience on the receiving end. Let me go! A shudder runs through my spine as I board the vessel, darkness seeps from every corner, and the lights flicker to an unnatural rhythm. The doors close. Through the scratched panes of glass, I see the crowd converge on the two men. Hands outstretched toward their bodies, eyes locked. The clothes are gone first. The blood flows through the cracks in the platform. Tearing fades from my ears as the train pulls away. I need no sympathy. My eyes glaze over as I stare into the passing scenery, smokestacks, grated walkways, layers upon layers of housing. Levels begin to form as your gaze lingers skyward, and smog quickly brings you back down. My face burns into my retinas as the train travels through the tunnels, warped and scratched, but still my own. I turn away. Is this just a fantasy? In the car with me, toward the front of the train, are two passengers. Toward the back is one. The lights flicker, and the cabin goes dark. Four passengers sit toward the front of the train. A freeze-dried corpse sits immobile at the back of the train. I reach inside the recesses of my blood-crusted coat, pulling out a ball. I bounce it on the once silver, now dented floor panels and watch as it shoots at an odd angle away from my hand. It lands dead center in the palm of a glove. I bounce it. The radio system clatters as the integrated computer system attempts to communicate with it; no escape from reality. The train car’s heating system has slowly defrosted the thing at the end of the train car. Red water drips from the

body's fingertips, drip, drip, thud. The thing crumbles to the floor, excreting the red fluid into the train's ventilation. Five passengers walk from the top of the car towards the thing. I bounce the ball in the glove and wait. Another glove begins to draw into my coat. The ball comes up wet, glistening. Outside the damaged windows, more of the same rolls by, gray, choked with clouds of smoke. Easy come, easy go, will you let me go? The lights flicker. This time, I’m ready. The glove shoots out from the left of my coat, bringing out a bat that sat strapped to my back. At the same time, the glove to my right takes the ball and spikes it at the middle figure in the pack. A solid connection knocks the figure to the floor. A new dent forms. My left hand tosses my right the bat. Carry on, carry on.

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A crack to the ribs doubles the first over as its back pops under the sudden pressure. With a rasp, it kneels. Steeltoed shoes, I’d been on the receiving end before. Teeth, fangs, and mandibles litter the floor as viscous liquid splatters the row of seats nearest the thing’s head. I never should have looked down. Here comes number two, shoulders down, mouth bared. Reflexes lift a knee straight into its lower jaw, right where its cleft chin used to

be. Disoriented, it staggers, tongue bitten of,f spasming just before the exit doors. I stand above it. I wind up, squaring shoulders, engaging back and core, pivoting foot. I swing, crunching right below the temple. Gray matter covers the windows on the side of the platforms. No, no, no, no, no! The middle figure lies sprawled on the ground, the ball wedged in its left eye socket. It stares blankly at black boots. The integrated computer finally aligns with its radio system; together, they blurt out an approaching arrival warning. Three figures remain standing in the car, including one in a black coat holding a bat. Two of the figures do not like the one in a black coat holding a bat. It killed their “friends”. Soft light flickers over the party, casting confused rays of artificial light through puddles of now murky mixture. Figure four raises its arms, leaps over the body of figure three, slips in figure one’s blood, and is met by a gloved hand. The hand feels its neck, tumbling over vertebrae, squeezing, reaching for something absent. Mamma Mia, let me go! The fourth body folds nicely amidst its fellows. Figure five watches on. It studies the bodies of its other four. A gurgle pressed through its mouth, squirms into the world, and the figure scrapes its foot forward. The exit doors ope,n and the train hovers to a stop. I turn my back on the fifth figure. I kneel to the third. I retrieve the ball. I step out onto the platform, smoke fills lungs, a cough escapes lips. I gaze at the train; the inside is pristine. No figures huddle in the shadows, no matter splatter the windows. It hovers over the next platform. Nothing really matters to me.

Letter from the Editors Louisa Strong '26, Sylvie Gill '26, and Jeremy Lavoie '26

Ms. Waterman

Thank you so much for reading the Fall 2025 edition of the Hebron Review Magazine. This is our first edition that we edited and formatted without the help of the previous editors, and we hope that you are just as happy with how it turned out as we are. Thank you to everyone that contributed and worked so hard to make this magazine as amazing as it is; we really appreciate all of you, our staff writers and artists! We are looking ahead to an even better, hopefully even bigger spring edition of the Hebron Review. We can't wait to read all of the new perspectives and ideas from as many Hebron students as possible. See you in 2026!

Editors Sylvie Gill ’26 Louisa Strong ’26 Jeremy Lavoie ’26

Graphic Design Emily Finch ’27

Cover Photo Aaron Smart

Advisor Barbara Waterman

Special Thanks To: Hillory Oakes

Fall 2025