r&b, November 2014

[r&b]

the relationship issue november 2014

the relationship issue

the relationship issue

contents friend who is chris strickland?

group

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common white boy

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gina and luis

teachers mother knows boyce

alternative

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19

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16 19

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it’s not easy being green

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and a friendship was born

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sibling

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put your c’s up

love

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6 on the cover

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common name, not so common story

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it takes two to tango

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2. Gina Pamplona and Luis Clough goof off for the camera.

3. Mohamed Farah, Christian Morales and Charles Benjamin peruse a book full of pictures.

4. Deavion Miller and Calvin Miller joke around during lunch.

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1. Julianna Minor and Kathleen Loomis embrace.

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5. Charlton Homeroom celebrates Charlton Appreciation Day. 6. Xeena Brigante laughs at her lunchroom table’s antics.

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7. Gabriella Fernandez, Madison Schmidt and Juliana Althaus are entranced by homework.

Photos by Katie Frost, Annie Aguiar, Maria Roberts, Ellie Rodriguez and Amber Shemesh

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the relationship issue

editor-in-chief Ellie Rodriguez

design editor John Veliz

associate editor Samantha Votzke

editors

Annie Aguiar Dana Dinh Alyssa Ierna Maria Roberts Kathy Xie

contributors

Ivy Bennett-Ford Sarvika Bommakanti Aliece Brown Bianca Cegatte Katie Frost Daniel Hamilton Matt Lutton Suparna Narayan Vijata Patel Denzel Pierre Monisha Pillai Amber Shemesh Shelby Shoup Tonje Skraastad Tegan Smith Anthony Suarez

adviser

Joe Humphrey, MJE

R&B a supplement of Red & Black Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Avenue Tampa, Florida 33603 www.hhstoday.com

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letter from the editor Jane Austen said that “there is nothing I wouldn’t do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

We’re at an age when a quick glance across the lab tables means everything, and when a late night after the homecoming game with friends is simply unforgettable.

We walked into these halls knowing a couple people, maybe knowing no one at all. Four years later, many of us will have made connections that impacted us inexplicably, whether it was with our best friend or our boyfriend, our siblings or our teachers, our lunch table or our sports team. In learning how to connect with others, we’ve learned how to find and love pieces of ourselves.

High school is a series of circles; people connected by similar interests, addresses, course work. As multitasking students, we often find ourselves transcending many of these social strata, dipping our toe into a variety of social groups. It’s in these groups that we find our allies; the people to stay up with us working on English projects into the wee hours of the night; the friends to hold us after our first car accidents; the teachers to stay with us after school tutoring and reteaching.

As we transition into the adult world, we may not apply the Pythagorean theorem or Mischel’s Iron Law of Oligarchy immediately (or ever). But the connections we have made and the relationships we have developed within these brick walls will have taught us how to participate in society, how to make a difference, and how to leave a legacy.

What makes a relationship? Sternberg theorized that love is composed of intimacy, commitment, and passion. I learned that gem in psychology class, where it could be easily argued that I have grown closer to 20-some individuals simply as a result of suffering through the same exhaustive coursework and late nights (or more appropriately, early mornings) of essay writing and test preparation.

Or perhaps a relationship is better defined by my connection to the people I sit with at lunch. The odd amalgam of utterly insane and entirely irreplaceable individuals, some of whom have grown closer over shared extracurricular activities and global adventures but all of whom have bonded inexplicably through the witnessing of every possible cafeteria lunch option falling into the lap of one unfortunate table member or another. Better yet, a relationship is when nearly 60 wet, exhausted student swimmers cheer on the one new freshman who is swimming, albeit in last place, in the first event of his

high school career. A relationship is when nine student comics snuggle together at 4 a.m. to write a skit for a play they have produced themselves. A relationship is the unbreakable bond between two people who speak volumes without saying a word, who find themselves so close but so far at the same time.

I have the incredible joy and pleasure to be the “mama” of a family of student journalists. These are the high-schoolers who voluntarily choose to stay after school for sometimes over five hours, tirelessly typing away at tired stories, furiously updating the student news website or carefully designing 32 pages of a magazine.

We are a family — not one tied together by blood or ancestral lineage, but by a love of storytelling. As editor-inchief, it is a constant goal to create the most comfortable, relaxed, supportive and creative environment for my staffers. Whether I’m tossing Starbursts at my “journalism babies” for submitting good story ideas, hugging an editor in the shadows of the back room or screaming, unapologetically for “Ton-Ton” to write a headline, I want Room 506 to feel like a home away from home.

What’s incredible to me, is that while we work there are 60-some band kids rehearsing the same Gershwin piece for the hundredth time in the building over. There are 30-plus football players crashing again and again into each other in anticipation of the final game of the football season.

Relationships are connections, binding us to other people, ideas, and in rare cases, objects or even colors.

As journalists, it’s our job to not only bring stories of growth, joy, and heartbreak to you, our audience, but to most accurately and precisely cover the human experience in every way we can. Flip through this magazine and you’ll see every type of human relationship—twins who twin, couples in love, teachers who care, siblings with a Big Red legacy and more.

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1. tani pittard & dana tucker, 12

QA

QA Q

QA

Sofia: White Chicks Jessica: A Haunted House

2.

Which does Sofia prefer, Moe’s or Chipotle?

A

Jessica: Moe’s Sofia: Chipotle

Tani: People speaking mumbling, whispering Dana: People chewing gum like a cow

What is Dana’s most used emoji?

Tani: Kissy face Dana: Winky face

3. hillary gonzalez & meghan tindel, 11 best friends What superpower would Hillary want?

QA

Meghan: Flying Hillary: Flying

What’s Meghan’s favorite food?

Ellie Rodriguez editor-in-chief

best friends What is Jessica’s favorite movie?

best friends What is Dana’s biggest pet peeve?

QA

Happy reading.

2. jessica bahena & sofia negrin, 10

Meghan: Chicken wings, but tacos are a close second Hillary: Tacos

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friend

[r&b]

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the friend connection

who is chris strickland?

We asked:

Who at HHS do you feel the most connected to?

She is quiet. She is wholly absorbed by physics, music and humanity. She lights up when she sees a friend; she says she’s always been a pretty happy person. She has been for most of her life, despite the inherent loneliness of feeling … different. Despite the gulf of difference between one form and another, there is more to Chris Strickland than initially perceived.

According to Strickland, the feelings she felt as a result of being separated from her true and complete identity only affected her.

Strickland says that she had to learn to act, and to lie in order to pass undetected as “different” or “other” in the past. She says that this contributed to a heavier sense of loneliness. Strickland said this feeling caused more damage to her relationship with herself than with any other people.

“I realized that if I continued to hide, I couldn’t do this as efficiently or make the same sort of impact.”

“Even though there is this idea of loneliness resulting from this disconnect and misunderstanding, it’s OK,” Strickland said. Strickland has the other unique case of being surrounded by people who love her, even if they don’t all understand her.

Yet it is often difficult for Strickland to be herself even at home. Though her parents are very supportive of her life choices, it might be difficult to endure people who tell you that you will always be their son, if you do not feel like a son.

High school is a minefield; to declare one’s differences is to submit oneself to digestion by the student body.

“I realized that if I continued to hide, I couldn’t do this as efficiently or make the same sort of impact,” Strickland said. According to Strickland, her decision to come out has been made in order to benefit other people, other mem-

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“Ms. Parramore. I think we have the same temperament. She talks to me when [she] needs to vent. I’m beginning to understand her a bit better.”

-Tee Solomon, Assistant Principal

-Photos by Amber Shemesh

“Ms. Solomon. We spend more time together than I think I spend with my family at home. We’ve worked in Student Affairs together for 10 years. She would do anything for [the betterment of the school].”

-Quasar Givens, Assistant Principal

“I feel that people think I want to become a woman and change my lifestyle and body to do that,” said senior Chris Strickland. “But it’s not that, it’s that I am, and have always been a [woman] who happened to be born with a body which is incongruent with that fact.”

Strickland has lived a vast majority of her life attempting to fit in, “overcompensating to match other people’s ideas.” She denied an essential part of her identity in order to accomplish that. For Strickland, the concept of transgender sex reassignment surgery is not to “become a woman,” but to make that which was divided whole. In case it isn’t perfectly clear, Strickland was born a boy.

the friend connection

Senior Chris Strickland wants to raise awareness about transgender people and their struggles; she has been supported by her friends and family. Photo by Ivy Bennett-Ford. bers of the transgender community.

Yet, such a decision to “come out” cannot be made for another person. Strickland says to make the decision for anyone other than herself would “demean the process if [she] transitioned solely for other people,” because the process is entirely personal.

Another thing about Chris Strickland: she has a girlfriend, senior Lucy Gutierrez, and has had one since before she began identifying as a she to other people.

“When we began dating, she of course didn’t know,” Strickland said. “But when I mentioned some of my inclinations toward femininity, she really encouraged me to embrace that, which is really amazing.”

Strickland’s situation is very different from many other transgender citizens. Many are faced with constant adversity for who they are, even though the sexual component of their identity may only play a minimal role in their lives.

For Gutierrez, the issue revolves around what will make Chris happy. She says she is supportive of Strickland in every way, even though each day is a little difficult. She worries about Strickland and the implications of coming out to the culture of high school.

“I’m supportive of her,” Gutierrez said. “I do her make-up every morning.”

Strickland told her closest friends about her predicament at the end of last year. When she first brought it up to them, her friend, senior Aastha Rajbahndary assumed the worst.

“I was relieved!” Rajbhandary said. “We were worried she was sick or something! But then she told us she was [transgender].” Rajbahndary says she is genuinely

pleased Strickland was comfortable with her identity, and trusting of her friends to share that with them.

Strickland’s relationship with Rajbhandary has not changed at the essential level. Rajbhandary believes it is crucial to respect other people’s decisions. The only major difference in her relationship with Strickland is that now she gets to “compliment her eyeliner.”

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to be stuck in this predicament – how it feels to be a woman in a man’s body – Strickland compares it to trying to explain quantum mechanics. It’s something as “complex and unintuitive” as string theory or astrophysics, yet something as simple and relatable as science. Strickland also said scientists in these big fields of knowledge are still scouring the earth for answers. Strickland said she’s attempting something similar: she’s trying to find answers.

“My goal is not necessarily to help the world understand the complex nature of gender identity,” says Strickland. Her goal is not to throw platitudes in the faces of the masses, but to simply educate about the lives of transgendered people.

From Strickland’s perspective, transgender people are just as human, just as vital to the human experience as anyone else. She believes in the capacity for “scientific evidence and [a] rational argument,” as well as humanity’s often-neglected kindness to engender empathy for transgendered people all over the world.

-Ivy Bennett-Ford

“Mr. Givens. To be honest, he’s like the only teacher I talk to. I first talked to him when I had to get a bus pass.”

-Joseph Febres, 9

“Mr. Williams.

We work hand in hand, together.”

-Fran Paramore, Student Affairs secretary

“Ms. Herald. Our offices are one door apart. We became close by working every day together.”

-Melvin Williams, Assistant Principal

depp-th of friendship

Seniors Leidy Gonzalez and Cheyenne Trader-Malay have been best friends for seven years. Through the everyday struggles of middle school and high school, they have been by each other’s side. This friendship began because of a strong love for Johnny Depp.

“We both just really loved Johnny Depp,” said Gonzalez, and thus a friendship was born.

Gonzalez and Trader- Malay met in the sixth grade and have been inseparable since. They see each other every day and share everything from common interests to common wardrobes.

All best friends have similar clothing, but Gonzalez and Trader-Malay take it one step further.

Often accidently buying the same

clothing when shopping by themselves, the two eccentric friends have to text each other pictures before buying clothing to prevent constant twinning.

“She is my other half … if anything happened to her, I would die,” Trader-Malay said. They do everything together: Comic-Con, movies and even first high school parties. “I think stealing a lawn chair is probably the craziest thing we’ve ever done,” Gonzalez said when describing her first high school party experience.

Even the girls’ parents are great friends, so much that every Thanksgiving the families spend time together.

“All best friends fight, but that’s just a part of being best friends,” said Trader-Malay.

-Suparna Narayan

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the group connection

Ezequiel Martinez, 11 Austin Salb, 11 Pedro Perera, 10

Q A

What is the most romantic thing Ezequiel has ever done?

Ezequiel: “Man, [I’m] not like that.”

Pedro: Threw a paper airplane at somebody and said “will you go somewhere with me” Austin: Gave his grandma a kiss

Q

group

Q

Does Pedro prefer Moe’s or Chipotle?

A

Ezequiel: Both Pedro: Both

What is Austin’s favorite word?

A

Ezequiel: ‘You know’ Pedro: ‘Man’ Austin: ‘Bro’ Photo by Monisha Pillai

all aboard the indian party bus Since I’m a member of my carpool, I don’t really think of it as that crazy. But, as the years have come and gone, many seem to think it is the craziest carpool ever.

The group of people I drive to and from school with every day is pretty much known as “that one Indian carpool with like 12 kids.” (But actually, we have a Hispanic girl so that adds some diversity, and there are only six of us.)

In general, our carpool is not the most structured or organized. In fact, the only thing we have organized is a cutoff meeting time for waiting in the morning. And since then, I have been left without a ride. Twice. However, Kamil, who has consistently been late for the past four years until the cutoff time was implemented, has never been left behind.

The driving styles of the parents vary greatly; we have one parent who drives slower than pedestrians walk, one parent who epitomizes “Indian driving” and brings it to our carpool, one parent who might actually be James Bond, and another parent who changes lanes like it’s his job.

Needless to say, arrival time varies greatly depending on the parent driving. This can sometimes be a huge disadvantage because you can’t blame someone else’s parent the way you would your own; so regardless of how late the carpool is, you just have to sit back and let it happen.

Our group has evolved with time and we’ve had our share of antics, from throwing Pizza Hut chili flake pack-

ets out the window, to frantically finishing last minute homework, to drenching pedestrians in water. To elaborate on the latter, there was a time where one member of the carpool took it upon himself to give pedestrians a “bath.” Thus, he proceeded to open a water bottle and drenched the unfortunate crowd. This was, to say the least, not received well by the pedestrians.

There are times when the things people say during the drive are just so ridiculous we’ve started compiling a book of these quotations, dubbed the “Umbrella Book.”

Anything stupid that has been said gets forever engraved in the “Umbrella Book.” As for the name of this notorious collection, it was born as an insult directed at me and my less intelligent moments. Most of the time, these inside (in-carpool...?) jokes start as insults directed at me; however, we kind of went a little overboard with this one.

Ultimately, as painful as carpooling can be, it is actually an experience that I have enjoyed. I got to know people I may not have interacted with if not for spending almost two hours in the car with them every day. I’ve really come to enjoy each of them individually. To be honest, I can take them in small doses individually, but when they’re all together, mass chaos results. Sometimes, it gets so bad that I feel like jumping out the window… while the car is moving.

get to know your friendly neighborhood indian clown car... rebekah aledo-cubano superhero name: The Hispanic Girl superpower: being cynical and funny catchphrase: [unable to record over roaring laughter]

rishi parikh superhero name: Stretch superpower: not being able to fit in the car catchphrase: “#yoloswag”

rianna alex

In a way, our carpool can be described perfectly in one quote from the beloved Umbrella Book: “We don’t actually use the brakes when driving.”

superhero name: The Worker Bee

-Suparna Narayan

catchphrase: *cricket cricket*

superpower: being quiet

parth patel superhero name: The Freeloader superpower: eating curry catchphrase: “Your karma is waaay too low.”

kamil taneja superhero name: The Math Wiz superpower: calculator skills catchphrase: “Don’t use the brakes!”

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Graphic by Annie Aguiar

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the group connection

the group connection

put your c’s up Inside Room 232, every school day around 9:10 a.m., one can hear the sound of energetic students blaring out 18 numbers loud and strong. For an outsider, this may seem like a random occurrence, a hilarious joke or a onetime fluke. But to Judy Charlton’s senior homeroom, those 18 numbers represent a tradition they have engaged in since their freshman year: homeroom countdown.

There’s a melody to it, even with the awkward slight pauses generated by temporary student forgetfulness.

But while other students or teachers might be frustrated by the brief lapse in efficiency, these homeroom compatriots can’t help but grin at each other.

Charlton’s homeroom countdown is just one of the elements that makes them drastically different from other homerooms. “At the end we put our C’s up and that’s a little Homeroom sign,” Lupita Villagomez said.

They claim to share a bond that’s as strong as ties to blood. “We think of ourselves as a family,” Villagomez said.

“We celebrate each other’s birthdays and we sing happy birthday as a homeroom,” she said. In Charlton’s homeroom, all are united under the proud flag of Charlton. “Everybody’s so different [but] were still able to get along well,” Katie Wynn said. They all bond together to form one happy social unit.

Although they’re close now, the students of Room 232 started out with no special connection whatsoever.

“At first, we were all super quiet and reserved,” Taiwade said. “As freshman year went on, we began to like each other.” Eventually, the students took steps to talk to the

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people in their homeroom and form new friendships.

They all became, in one way or another, friends.

Homeroom countdown isn’t the only tradition they share together. On Oct. 29, they celebrated an important birthday: Charlton’s. “We [chipped] in money and we secretly [surprised] our teacher with a gift,” Villagomez said. They do this out of love for Charlton’s personality and her willingness to help others. Most people in the homeroom agree that Charlton always takes the extra steps needed to help anyone in the homeroom.

This year, Charlton cried when Taryn Watford and Katie Wynn burst through the door dividing Charlton’s room from the chemistry room with a gift basket, flowers and a yoga mat. “It was really good!” smiled Jessica Thornton as she remembered Charlton’s reaction, “she cried! And then Khoi [Wilson] told [Charlton] not to cry because it would’ve caused her to cry.”

The amalgam of seniors dashed over to Charlton’s desk as she rifled through the gift basket, a tear in her eye. The group who has tried to call themselves the “Charl-Tones” laughed and smiled as they watched the senior biology teacher’s eyes light up.

And they smiled as they hurried out the door to line up to take a picture, clamoring to surround Charlton and squeezing together.

They grew even closer after planning for International Day, a day when all IB homerooms get together to celebrate the countries of the world through the means of art, dance and food. “We’re pretty competitive [and] we like to be first so we can get the prize,” Wynn said.

Part of the reason why they bonded so well was because of their serious participation in International Day. Plans for International Day this year are already in the works.

Room 232’s bond isn’t solely based on fun activities. They are all willing to help their peers push through tough times. “Somebody will always come to you and ask you what’s wrong,” Sydney Stallworth said. Charlton is also known to help students whenever they need it, whether it’s a biology problem or a struggle in everyday life. No matter the struggle someone else is dealing with, there is always someone willing to put in the effort to help them deal with their problem, no matter how large.

“I don’t even know if I would be in IB right now,” Stallworth responded when asked what life would be like without Charlton’s homeroom. “I think it’s helped me day in and day out,” Abhishek Taiwade said.

“We just know we’re going to do one last homeroom countdown on that last day,” Nikki Trasmonte said. They also have joked that they might possibly go to Busch Gardens with Charlton after they graduate.

Wynn mentioned that she would be the kind of teacher who would do that. “Everybody supports each other,” Villagomez said. Charlton’s homeroom will continue to do what they do, with the support and strength of eighteen friendships that couldn’t have existed anywhere else.

-Denzel Pierre

It might have taken a couple weeks for everyone to chip in to the Charlton Appreciation Day fund, which made the celebration (and especially, the delicious marble cake, complete with a photo printed on the top) possible, but these seniors always come together for their homeroom teacher. The 18 kids were just like any other homeroom group until their sophomore year, when the entire homeroom came together in the hopes of winning an award in the International Day contest. Their junior year, Charlton Appreciation Day was created for no other reason than love for Charlton herself. Photos by Ellie Rodriguez

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the group connection

the group connection

We interviewed one lunch table of senior girls (Stephany Medina, Claudia Pina, Xeena Brigante and Juliana Soto) about friendship, life and being squad.

Q

Q & Ate Lunch QA

How long have you guys sat together?

A

QA

QA

[All]: Triple PC! Xeena: I am a member of Triple PC, I cannot further elaborate because it is a secret code.

Anything I can explain to readers?

Claudia: Oh, okay. We play a game at our table and it’s called ‘rehab’. Like, I would say “Hi, my name is Claudia,” and then everyone’s like “Hi, Claudia.” We say all our problems and we go one by one and then we try to imitate each other. Like, I would say “Hi, my name is Stephany”. and everyone’s like “Hi, Stephany”, and then I start saying something bad or good about Stephany.

Stephany: Also, on birthdays, we get each other, like, cakes and presents and sometimes we’ll have music and just jam all together. It’s really fun.

Claudia: It was my birthday, and when I turned 17 last year I kind of pooped on myself because they took me to Chipotle, so for my birthday this year they got me a diaper. And my best friend Anastasia wore the diaper around the cafeteria.

Do any stories stick out to you guys about sitting here?

A

Xeena: We have, like, a big group of friends, so we kind of migrated to these two tables because it’s by the football team and, like, that’s part of our group too, kind of? We just want to be close together.

Claudia: Squad.

Stephany: We’ve sat here since like the first day of school.

Claudia: We’ve sat together- the same people- kind of since like freshman year. Well, like, since last year, since like a different table. We’re all friends, we’re all in the same class, and it’s fun.

We’re outgoing, we’re loud, and we’re ratchet!

Do you guys have any inside jokes?

Q

Why here? Why this table?

Q

Who talks way too much?

A

Stephany: Julie talks too much because she really doesn’t care about people’s feelings. She’ll say anything to your face. She feels like everybody is too sensitive, and that people should know the truth, and she just doesn’t care if you start crying.

QA

Who doesn’t talk enough?

Q

Xeena: We have two mutes at our table. One’s named Laurie [Rodriguez], the other is named Andrea [Rivera], and they’re ninth graders. They’re part of the group’s sisters. I don’t know why they don’t talk to us, I think they hate us probably. But we love them anyways.

Do you guys hang out ouside of school? Why?

A

Juliana: All the time. We go out to eat, we go to the movies, we go to each other’s houses, football games, all that. We’re best friends, we love each other.

Claudia: Aww! Juliana: Kind of.

The offensive line has to work as one unit to make sure they do its job of protecting the quarterback. If someone misses a block or the line shifts incorrectly, he may as well not have been there.

Linemen have to be able to anticipate the movements of each other and move as one for the quarterback or running back to have a legitimate chance to get the ball down field for a touchdown.

Sun Chips cascade down senior Xeena Brigante’s hand as friend and fellow senior Stephany Medina laughs. Brigante and Medina are part of a group of “kind of” best friends that sit together at lunch every day. Photo by Annie Aguiar

and having a server take their order and bring them food, then paying the bill and leaving. With the members of the offensive line, that isn’t the case.

When they go out to eat together, it is more often than not an all-you-can-eat buffet style restaurant. They burn through a lot of energy together at practice and games, and it takes a lot of food to satisfy a 6-foot, 200-plus-pound teenager. While they do not necessarily care which all-you-can-eat place they eat at, the favorite is Cici’s Pizza.

Another bonding activity is when the members all get together at one of the houses of the members of the squad. At the house, the members play video game or just hang out and talk.

This requires a close relationship in between the members of the unit, which this season consists of seniors Demetrius Clark, John Munro, Willie Lanier and Justin Moore, juniors Michael Hilliard and Nolan Johnson and sophomore Zachary Carter.

This relationship overall begins long before the season does; long before the first time fans pack into Chelo Huerta Field for the first home game; long before the first school bell of the year rings. It begins at the first day of summer practice, and it is not a friendly one.

“We pretty much hate each other until we make starter. After you make starter, we grow together from there,” Munro said. Munro, who plays center, has been on the varsity squad for two years now, but has only been a regular starter this year.

Players have to compete for one of a very few number of spots for the chance to get to protect the ball carrier in a game during the season. This “competition” occurs during the summer practices, and it contains drills which pit the potential linesmen against each other.

Once the coaches confer and a starting depth chart is released, that is the end of hostilities between the members.

From then on, it is “forgive and forget” the things that happened during the summer. This concept allows the members of the offensive line to do the jobs of the position that they won at the summer practices, whether the job at is center, offensive guard, or offensive tackle.

The qualities of an IB student are wellknown: determined, stressed and dependent on plenty of venti.

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In football, the only thing protecting the quarterback from having a nice visit with the ground is the offensive line. Without the offensive line, there would not be forward progress and, therefore, no game of football.

These practices include things like tough man drills, where players go one-on-one against each other and the goal is to tackle the other person to the ground first. These drills are all-out and can go on from anywhere between 30 seconds to two minutes, depending on how long it takes for one person to tackle the other to the ground, according to Munro.

Xeena: Usually every Friday, one of the football players brings a speaker, and we turn on, like, Migos and some music and we kind of dance around the table and it’s really fun.

Go to hhstoday.com to read more about the beautiful and profound relationship between IB kids and their Starbucks.

lean, mean, football machine

Upon making the offensive unit, the players have many ways to bond. Among the favorites are going out to eat and hanging out at one of the member’s house.

People who do not participate in sports think about going out to eat as going to a restaurant like Chili’s or Applebee’s

All of the bonding activities the offensive line participates in plays into what you see on the field on Friday nights during the football season. They grow together as a unit, allowing them to move and function as a single entity. It even gets to the point where they can anticipate each other’s movements.

Overall, it all boils down to trust. The members of the offensive line have to trust that each one will do the job they are supposed to; whether that is block one of the defenders or make a hole for Lawson or Bell to run through. Without the trust they get from the bonding, this job would prove a lot more difficult.

-Daniel Hamilton

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the group connection

in sync and in stitches

Senior leaders Samantha Votzke and Ellie Rodriquez discuss what it’s like to be part of a group of student comedians who produce one show a year. On The Brink (OTB) writes sketch comedy throughout the year for their three-night show; there is also an off-script part of the show known as “Puppets” in which the cast roasts each other. After Puppets, most of the cast simply dismiss the tears running down their faces as a result of laughter.

Ellie: I didn’t think I was funny before I had joined OTB. Frankly, I didn’t really think I was funny until really halfway through the season.

Sam: I always thought you were funny. I also thought I was always funny. That’s my downfall, that’s the first mistake.

Ellie: Man, do you think they can hear our repoire?

Man, how do you even spell that?

*launches into laughter about knee deodorant*

Sam: But of course OTB is like a family in itself. What do you always say?

Ellie: “OTB fam!” Like I say it an annoying amount. *laughs* Sam: Yeah, OTB fam. I feel like I probably started saying that first when I was the only sophomore on OTB and I annoyed everyone by talking about it constantly.

Ellie: I know now, as senior leaders (I love saying that), that we’re a lot closer. But honestly, I’m really glad I joined OTB just because I think that was what made us like finally close, in a non-competitive, “I–love-you-butI-will-beat-you” type of way. We’re each other’s biggest supporters now whether it’s with a joke, a defense of the women’s rights movement, or a bad movie reference at the lunch table.

Sam: I’m sorry about that, but it’s part of being a new cast member. Think about how it was for me; my brother had been a part of it and I felt like I had to both live up to him and be totally different. The cast I joined seemed even closer; they had all been on cast for two years- two years under their belt.

Ellie: Well the nifty thing is that now OTB is family matters for both of us. You took the torch from Luke and Carly [Rodriguez, my sister] this is her first year and we’re on it together. And it’s my hope, sad prayer actually, that she runs with it next year and grows OTB more.

Ellie: No I’d completely agree, you gotta be able to laugh at yourself. Honestly I’m a bit terrified for this year’s Puppets because of things I have done since last show.

Sam: Don’t sell yourself too short Ellie. *cackles* Ellie: Like I know that we’re both part of multiple groups, in fact many that intertwine but I think this is the one we both hold closest to our hearts.

Sam: Agreed. This is our group. Even though Vinny [Ruia] got cottage cheese all over me last year and Alec [Tyler] messed up his lines.

Ellie: Man, I hate that guy.

Sam: No no it’s R-A-P-P-O-R-T *laughs* Ellie: It was difficult for me coming into this already seemingly tight-knit group who had shared more laughs and farts than I could ever imagine, and all the constant sharing of inside jokes from the past season didn’t really help at all.

Sam: You still got me worse though. We have to make fun of each other though, because we make fun of everything else. Nothing is sacred, no matter how much it hurts.

Sam: I don’t know what I would do without you. For a brief moment we experienced the nirvana of having a cast that was half girls, and now with three girls and eight guys, we ladies got to stick together. But I still love to make fun of you. And I like it when you make fun of me, keeps me grounded.

Ellie: So let’s talk about Puppets. I think it’s what people look forward to most in the show, both because they want to laugh and also crySam: And also see us cry, I think you mean.

Ellie: Yeah honestly, I can’t help but laugh when I think about how in the weeks leading up to the show last year, you and I were tirelessly trying to come up with really bad roasts for each other. Luckily we know each other so well, and still kind of hate each other, that it worked out.

Sam: *laughs* We still love them.

Ellie: You’re right though, I’ve never felt closer to every single member of a group so much. I would defend any of those guys at the drop of a hat. They’re my brothers, all of them.

Sam: And my sisters. Spell that S-I-S-T-A-H-S. Ellie: We always talk about group mind and it’s a very real thing. We all sort of grow into each other’s thinking habits, the type of jokes we make, the way we laugh frankly. I’ve never been happier to be part of a group of utter dorks.

Sam: Wait, who are we talking about?

-Samantha Votzke and Ellie Rodriguez

Rodriguez and Votzke outside Epic Problem the weekend of the show; with the rest of the cast. Photos courtesy of Ellie Rodriguez.

the group connection

common white boy

“Hey Will! Will Petro!”

take their class again.

I hadn’t expected to ever hear those words outside of school. But there I was, in the middle of Publix, turning around and looking into the face of their speaker.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to avoid any of the crippling psychological disorders that can arise from being mistaken for another person all the time.

James, the unfortunate orator of these words and a student one grade older than me at Williams Middle School, hadn’t talked to me much prior to this encounter.

We had perhaps exchanged a few words here and there because we share some mutual friends. But there James was, approaching me as if we knew each other well and talked all the time.

Since I had already turned around to acknowledge James’ unfortunate mix-up, without correcting him or so much as changing my expression to show my distaste, I carried on with the small talk that was to be expected from two moderately good friends such as James and Will.

If you hadn’t already noticed, James was not calling me by my correct name. He had identified me as someone else.

Will Petro, to be precise.

You see, this was not the first time I had been mistaken for Petro. Within the confines of the middle school we shared for two years, and later those of Hillsborough, I was known not only as “Anthony Suarez.” I was more commonly referred to as “Little Will,” “Will’s twin” and “Hey you’re that kid that looks like Will.” Or, to those who possessed especially James-esque facial identification skills, simply “Will Petro.”

The similarity between our facial features has been both a gift and a curse. For example, it’s a useful talking point for making friends with people that know him. That being said, it is a struggle to have some teachers believing you’re an embodiment of Will Petro who came back to

He asked me how I was doing, what high school I was going to (it was the summer between his and Will’s eighthand ninth-grade years) and whether my final grades for the past semester had come in the mail.

Being a barely-pubescent-13-year-old, I dreaded my own potential embarrassment as well as that of others. I didn’t even consider piping up to tell James that he was wrong and that I had perpetuated his incorrect assumptions.

I answered his questions politely, quickly guessing what high school Petro might be attending that coming fall.

As a result of my unwillingness to do what a normal human being would do, this deluded conversation carried on for another half an hour. After a solid commitment to stay in touch (James and my adopted persona were attending different high schools), we departed, James still thinking about the friendly conversation with his buddy.

Meanwhile, I was thinking about how I would never escape the curse of being a white guy with freckles and dark brown hair.

Personally, I don’t think Will and I look even remotely alike. My first impression of Will’s appearance can be summarized by “I can see how we might be mistaken for each other at first glance.”

Will’s first impression of me was similar.

“I just thought you were a white kid, brown hair, freckles. We don’t really look alike.”

I thought I had escaped the dreaded twin-imagery when I left middle school, little did I know in high school … there would be three.

Soon after arriving at Hillsborough, it was pointed out to me that I shared an uncanny similarity with yet another person, senior Alex Palacio.

Thankfully there was no frantic scramble to compare us, due to our obvious physical differences, which only seem to be apparent at second glance.

Upon being questioned as to whether he shared the common perspective that has been imposed on me for so long, Alex replied with a simple and somewhat amused “No.” Thanks, twins. I’m glad you agree with me.

-Anthony Suarez

The clones, from left: Will Petro, Anthony Suarez and Alex Palacio. Photo by Maria Roberts

14

15

the love connection

heidi and juliana carla marchi & marcos coronado, 11 dating

Q

What is Marcos’ favorite ice cream flavor?

A

Q Q

love 16

Carla: Pistachio Marcos: Pistachio

Who is Carla’s favorite president?

A

Carla: John F. Kennedy Marcos: George Bush

What emoji does Marcos use most?

A

Carla: Laughing with tears Marcos: Laughing

courtney boback, 10 & aj alicea, 12 dating

Q

What is AJ’s favorite sport?

A

Q Q

AJ: Basketball Courtney: Basketball

What is the most romantic thing Courtney has done?

A

AJ: Buy me food Courtney: Bring her food

What is Courtney’s favorite movie

A

AJ: How to Train Your Dragon Courtney: Fantastic Mr. Fox

To be honest, most high school relationships don’t start online.

Little did juniors Heidy Valdivia and Julianna Lopez know, a “to be honest” on Facebook would be the start of their relationship.

In 2011, the two girls met over Facebook when Lopez “liked” Valdivia’s status for a “to be honest.” Valdivia said, “I replied on her wall and posted ‘tbh you’re cute, text me.’”

From there they began talking more and getting to know each other, eventually they arranged a meeting at International Mall.

About their first meeting offline, Valdivia said, “I thought she was cute and really little.” Lopez, however, said, “I thought she was funny and awkward, but cute.”

The two immediately hit it off and the same day they shared their first kiss in the back of Hot Topic. Lopez and Valdivia laughed off the fond memory and Valdivia joked about their eagerness and subtle promiscuity. The two consistently cracked jokes about each other’s comments.

By Jan. 19, 2012, the meetings offline were regular and their relationship began.

Although the kiss is a fond memory, the couple agreed their favorite was a day at Valdivia’s house. Lopez recalled, “[Valdivia] was being funny and sucking the helium out of a balloon, saying stuff in [the helium filled] voice and I almost peed from laughing. I mean I’ve peed myself in front of her, but that’s another story. Sometimes I laugh at things that aren’t funny, but that was actually funny.”

They’re a simple couple and grand gestures aren’t necessary to see the love between the two. For example, instead of asking Lopez to homecoming in front of the entire school, or C Lunch, Valdivia asked Lopez to come to Lopez’s house after conditioning to do homework.

When Lopez walked in there was trail of candles in her living room making Lopez squeal a little when she remembered it. The trail led to Lopez’s backyard. Lopez said, “I followed the trail to go outside and there’s Chipotle on the table – because I love Chipotle – and she’s standing there like a little nerd with her little poster she painted. It said – what did it say?”

In sync they said, “It would be burritoful if you went to homecoming with me.”

Valdivia not only gave Lopez food she “loves,” but also did it in a place special to both of them. Lopez’s backyard is an area they frequent. Valdivia said, “It’s our little spot and we like to eat pizza. Lopez jokily said, “My backyard looks nice, don’t get me wrong. We don’t just sit in the grass and play with the flowers.”

They both admit that food is a central part of their relationship. There’s always a way to specifically work pizza into the conversation. Valdivia actually planned to ask Lopez to homecoming with pizza, not Chipotle, but Lopez specified she wanted Chipotle. Also, when asked about their favorite thing to do together, Valdivia mumbled, “to eat dinner.” Lopez respondedwith, “We’re just fat. Eat together, stay together.”

Jokes aside, this duo has been together for three years and despite the troubles they’ve encountered, such as breaking up and family acceptance, they’ve stayed together and figured it out.

Although their relationship was once plagued by issues with other people and arguments, they don’t have problems with others anymore because they try to talk about issues instead of ignoring the problem. They also don’t use social media much anymore. Lopez said, “I just post on Instagram once a week.” Valdivia added, “We deleted our twitters, that helped a lot. We stay off of Facebook and only post pictures on instagram.”

Since being together, they’ve grown to be better people. Lopez said, “I became human.” Before their relationship, Lopez was a troublemaker. Valdivia said, “She used to get suspended and get bad grades. Now she has good grades. She’s never been suspended.” Lopez cut in and said, “Yes I have, but not before high school,” as Valdivia continues, “in high school because of [our relationship].

I am very strict and [my girlfriend] cannot be ratchet.”

Valdivia and Lopez also have their future figured out.

They plan to move to Miami and get an apartment together. Valdivia said, “[Lopez] wants to go to Johnson & Wales University and I want to go to the University of Miami.”

Lopez believes a relationship won’t work if an individual doesn’t want to show their eccentricity. She said, “You have to let it out there and if they don’t like it then eh, but if they do and throw it back at you – maybe even a little weirder like [Valdivia] – then it’s obviously good.”

-Vijata Patel

17

the love connection

the love connection

gina and luis

not a fairytale Four years is a long time. It’s presidentialterm long, roll-your-eyes-because-teen-relationships-are-awkward long and leap-year-has-rolledaround-again long. That’s how long I have been dating my boyfriend: four years.

When you are with someone that long you forget what’s like to be single. You forget how to pose for a selfie because that would require taking a picture alone. You can’t buy a homecoming dress without planning out his shirt and tie.

Being part of a “we” does change you. You don’t lose your identity; you simply gain a new one, one that is linked to someone else’s. I grew into who I am now, but not in the same way that everyone else has. While I changed from a confused freshman to a pessimistic senior it wasn’t just me.

It’s strange to think about the guy I went on my very first date with.

In my head he looks like the same guy I am dating now, but he’s different. At the same time that freshman girl who went to the movies with him that first time couldn’t have been me. How could we have changed so much but remained together for so long? How is it possible we are still compatible? It could be luck, but it was patience. Just patience with each other as we grew up.

We are not Cinderella and Prince Charming.

We definitely aren’t Bella and Edward. And we aren’t Chuck and Blair (no matter how awesome that would be). During the past three years we have been figuring out who we are and in that time I have learned we are not a fairytale.

But who wants a fairytale? Not me. Not Max. I want to eat Mac n’ cheese from coffee mugs and binge watch Bones on a Saturday after-

18

I’ve never seen a boy so happy to be dragged from his lunch table.

Trailing behind his girlfriend of five and a half years, Luis Clough makes his way over to Gina Pamplona’s lunch table to be interviewed.

Photos courtesy of Maria Roberts noon. I want to be myself in ugly sweat pants and a cozy T-shirt, not dressed up in Starbuckschic at the mall going on a date with a stranger.

If you want that, kudos, but for me that’s like drinking week-old decaf coffee. It seems sour and a very half-caffed way to spend your time.

My relationship is about eating comfort food, singing to the radio at glass shattering decibels and laughing at truly awful jokes no one else would get. I love being able to be silly and goofy, with a person equally as goofy.

I have learned lots of life lessons from being in an abnormally long teenage relationship, the importance of honesty and trust, but one lesson will always stand out: where to get the best Indian food.

-Maria Roberts

Five and a half years, two break ups and a whole lot of drama -- but Pamplona and Clough are still going strong. The couple has been together since April 17, 2009, from the sixth grade until now, as seniors in high school.

Hugging her from behind, Clough hangs onto his girlfriend’s every word as she proudly describes their long relationship. He interjects occasionally, but mostly listens to her words with a captivated look on his face.

“We are complete opposites,” Pamplona says.

“But we work well together,” Clough responds.

“For some reason, we don’t really know why there’s no seriousness in our relationship” he says. They have never dated anyone else even when “on break.” Pamplona says they have remained together all this time “because [they] love each other.”

Pamplona begins to describe what the best thing about her boyfriend is, as they move onto the H Patio when a group of girls begin to shout behind her. Without a second thought, Clough un-

sticks his arm from her waist and walks over to them.

her closer.

“Do you mind going someplace else? We’re doing an interview and Gina’s trying to talk. Thanks,” he asks, getting them to oblige. “Sorry babe, go on.” Clough wraps his arms around her and resumes listening.

Six summers and seven school years, two schools, two break ups and they are still a couple. Their most recent “fall-out” was this past summer. However, they started their last year at Hillsborough the same way they began every other year: together.

Pamplona continues describing the best part of Clough. “He takes care of me and he looks out for me… like when [people] won’t leave us alone.” They laugh at “how accurate that is” and begin to whisper back and forth smiling at each other, as if they are the only ones in the whole world.

She looks up at him, hanging onto every word, as Clough did when she spoke.

He explains he loves her uniqueness most. “I’ve talked to many people, but I’ve only met one Gina,” he says smiling at her.

The transition from middle to high school is when most people undergo the biggest life changes. Staying with one person for that long is a process of growing together, according to Pamplona and Clough.

“I think our fallouts were because he was changing and I was pretty much the same person,” Pamplona says. They try to “accommodate for each other’s changes, be a couple and work through it.” According to Pamplona, it’s still difficult growing together as a couple and as individuals into adults. “We always had a childish relationship....now it’s adult” she explains.

After so many years together, most couples find pet peeves in their significant other’s little behaviors. Maybe she whistles while working or he sneezes too loudly, but that’s not the case for Clough and Pamplona. As in everything else they do, their patience and feelings for each other are clear in their responses. Pamplona insists that Clough doesn’t have any. Clough confesses that his girlfriend does something that bothers him on the daily: she stresses too much.

“Well, I’m loud...” Pamplona mutters under her breath. “No, that makes you, you” Clough says, pulling

During their periods apart, they were lonely. “We are always together,” Pamplona said. “Not having him was a shock.”

Senior year has cut down their time together, according to Pamplona. The couple has gone from spending most of their time together to only getting an hour a day. “This is the first year we don’t sit together at lunch,” says Pamplona, while Clough nods along. “We have completely separate friends.”

Although Clough gets along with her friends, Pamplona rants about how she dislikes his friends, exclaiming, “I hate them all!” But, she does like that “he [acts] different with his football friends.”

Pamplona describes her boyfriend as “loud, obnoxious, beautiful and crazy” while he says she is “funny, emotional, smart, rambunctious and caring” -- with a hard exterior. “[Gina and I] are complete opposites, but through sacrifice and love we learned to accept each other for who we are and have fun and keep it alive,” says Clough.

As of now, their future plans consist of one thing: running for prom king and queen. Beyond that, their future will be determined by what colleges they attend. The couple plans to remain together after high school only if they attend the same college; if not, they plan to go their separate ways and see what happens.

-Maria Roberts

19

teachers

the teacher connection scholastic sisters

Sylvia Sarrett eagerly anticipated a reunion with fellow “Golden Girl” Katherine Griffin. The two teachers have worked alongside each other for over two decades, until Griffin took medical leave in the spring.

“Ohhhh … SISTER,” I remembered the plan. “I’m her SISTER. Yes, SIS-TER.”

As one of the only two remaining members of the original IB corps, Griffin has a great impact on the school, and her absence was just as profound.

North Carolina? South Carolina? I always get those states backwards. Shouldn’t I know this?

Freshmen were left without their Inquiry Skills teacher, juniors faced extended essay deadlines without a coach and Sarrett’s best friend was missing from work.

It became clear that a simple “bff” status was not enough for the two teachers when Sarrett pretended to be Griffin’s sister in order to visit her in the ICU. *****

“Murphy,” I said quietly and with great authority. I was

She tapped her fingers on the edge of the monitor.

20

in!

Mrs. Griffin and Ms. Wilson are the only two remaining teachers of the original IB corps in 1990. I came here in 1992. The three of us have been friends for -- from my

This story moves within reading, baseball, and people.

She lives and breathes Debate. I don’t. But I have held their hands (metaphorically) these last 4 months that she’s been recovering. We do both love Sherlock Holmes but are wary of Kate Atkinson, can quote Shakespeare (I have better quotes than she, but she outdoes me with Plato), and like dystopian lit.

We’re huge James Shields fans- and Wil Myers and Evan Longoria and -- Joe Maddon! -- and, although I haven’t talked to her about it, I’ll bet she’s as down as I am that Friedman is going to the Dodgers. We like the same people, dislike the same people, are neutral about the same people.

We both think Mrs. Fitzgerald is a terrific IB Coordinator! And Ms. Hernandez is absolutely the best secretary!

We both even love Mr. Gast! Yes. I know, weird. We both disdain exclamation marks. They’re effusive.

I’ve eaten lunch alone in my room for about four months now. I’m ready for her to come back. BFF. -Sylvia Sarrett

beyond the syllabus

“It’s been a yearlong conversation with us,” Smith said. “It was a good opportunity to actually motivate each other to do it.”

The teachers bring each other “a little cup of Cuban coffee” before school each morning to “perk each other up.” The Spanish teachers both prefer Chipotle to Moe’s.

“And what is the password?” She asked with great superiority, knowing that she had caught me.

HAH! I knew that!

Chemistry teacher Elizabeth Smith and junior Tatiana Lester are buddies in weight loss. Lester needed a partner, and Smith volunteered. After talking about the desire to lose weight for a long time, they finally decided to do something about it when the opportunity arose.

phil packard & ana lejido

“TAMPA! TAM-PUH. Yes.” What was the matter with me? Why did I have to invent this whole cover story? I read literature. I can make up setting. All I wanted was to be admitted to ICU where Kaki Griffin had been for 2 days now.

Her husband and daughter had told me to just say “sister” and, oh yeah, to give the password.

“And what relation are you to the patient?”

The Biggest Loser program is not a one-man-challenge, but a team effort, made not only for students but faculty as well.

The school security officer and assistant principal answered most questions about each incorrectly, but are good pals. Amiel described Williams as athletic and Williams described Amiel as diplomatic.

She tapped her fingers on the edge of the monitor.

The ICU nurse looked up from her fortified cubicle.

Colleague? Rays fanatic? Plato devotee? Daily lunchdate? BFF!!?

joe amiel & melvin williams

“I see. And where do you live?”

counting -- 22 years. We have had great adventures! But, that’s another story.

The program has taught them about the importance of eating healthy and drinking lots of water in order to lose weight. They use the program to motivate them to live healthier lifestyles.

So far they haven’t been working out together but show their support by keeping tabs on each other’s progress.

“She’s my [Teacher’s Assistant] so we pretty much talk about it every day we see each other and check in with what we’ve been eating,” Smith said. “[We give] moral support if we’ve, kind of, gone off track.”

Their team is called the Waist Watchers, a witty name they created.

The school offers workouts every Friday, but so far

Smith and Lester have not attended them, as Lester has a gym at home and often attends with her cousin.

“We both have a lot of other commitments,” Smith said. “If it were on a day besides Friday, I would probably do it.”

Smith and Lester talk almost daily about their progress, but they are not the only support system they have.

“I always tell [my family] when I at the weigh-ins,” Lester said. Her family encourages her verbally and helps by buying healthy food and not tempting her by eating unhealthy foods when she is around..

a program that they offer to the teachers and the students, and give us an opportunity to team up together. You don’t see that a lot, it encourages more interaction between the students and the teacher,” Smith said.

“It’s not just teacher’s teaching,” Lester added.

-Tonje Skraastad

lose weight

Even after the program is over, they want to continue helping each other stay on track.

They have enjoyed the program so far and have found many positive aspects in it.

“I think it’s good that it’s

21

the teacher connection

the teacher connection

mother knows boyce It’s 6 a.m. Gillian Boyce and her mother Cecilia Boyce drive to school with the radio turned down, settling into the quiet ambience of a car ride in the dark. The only thing that sets them apart from a regular mother-daughter duo is upon arriving at school; Cecilia doesn’t just drop Gillian off. They pull in and get out together.

other downside. If your parents aren’t ‘cool.’ Some moms like to think they are down with all the hip and trendy happenings of the teen world. Knowing she’s not a ‘cool mom’ Cecilia reluctantly accepts the signal, a slight nose rub, she and Gillian created to acknowledge each other in the hall.

The mention of Cecilia, an English teacher, brings nothing but compliments. Students have deemed her a “cupcake” and a “ray of sunshine,” which are surprisingly accurate descriptors.

For Gillian the greatest benefit is being able to put stuff in her mom’s room.

Gillian is zoned for Steinbrenner and wanted to go to Blake, but ended up in IB as well as her brother before her, Griffin, who graduated in 2013.

For Cecilia, their relationship is practical for her work. In Gillian’s freshman year, she told her mom about an activity which inspired Cecilia to recycle it into an English lesson spin off. She likes to test her activities on Gillian, asking her if she would enjoy them in her own class. Seeing school work from the perspective of a student helps Cecilia plan lessons that kids won’t groan about.

“She wanted to go anywhere but where I was,” Cecilia said. After 22 years of teaching at Hillsborough, Cecilia has seen her son and soon her daughter graduate the IB program. “[I’m] not constantly aware of her presence; it just is,” Gillian said. She hardly sees her mom during the school day, only catching glimpses of her during passing period. Cecilia is known as the “easier” of the two freshmen English teachers. Instead of striking fear into the hearts of children over punctuation errors, she corrects them.

However, Gillian wasn’t too upset having the strict teacher because it “would probably be weird,” if she had her own mother as a teacher.

Like any mother, Cecilia can embarrass her daughter by doing anything. It is particularly awful when she decides to spill Gillian’s childhood stories to the freshmen and seniors.

Cecilia uses her stories to illustrate ideas in her English class, “it’s not like [she] just [says], hey, do you want to hear a story about Gillian?”

“I can keep stuff in her room,” Gillian said, without hesitation. Not much else.

With the good comes the bad, Gillian feels that some teachers treat her differently because they want to treat her equally but end up being too harsh on her.

“People think I’m born with a degree in English,” Gillian said.

“It’s kind of like being the preacher’s kid, [she’s] held to a higher standard,” Cecilia said. She doesn’t think it is true of all the teachers though and said one specific teacher probably trusts Gillian a little too much.

“She would write Gillian a pass to go smoke crack on the patio,” Cecilia said. “So I guess it’s a give and take.”

-Alyssa Ierna

Take this idea, “People define themselves based on their interactions with other people.” That’s confusing. Stories and anecdotes make concepts easier to grasp and relate to real life. Cecilia uses a story about “fourth or fifth grade” Gillian to get the point across.

One morning, Gillian decided in her elementary demand for maturity that independence called for her to make her own lunch. Instead of feeling happy about having one less morning task, Cecilia felt “kinda sad because in [her] mind this change and this interaction meant that [she] was going to be ‘mom’ not ‘mommy’ anymore.”

“It’s really convenient [having my mother at school with me]. I don’t find it embarrassing at all.”

-Jacob Nieto, 10

22

“I love it. I’m close to my son. I never really wanted to detach.”

-Susan Nieto, bookkeeper

“He can be frustrating sometimes when he wants to go talk with my teachers...”

-Laura Paloumpis, 12 “Now that I have her in class it’s even more fun because she tells me what she thinks of my assignments.”

-Tom Paloumpis, social studies teacher

Cecilia’s stories could have gone unnoticed if it hadn’t been for Gillian’s friends who like to spill her secret story telling.

Besides Gillian’s dislike for the stories Cecilia can only think of one

23

1. carson swope and & hugh nguyen, 11 bond over league of legends Carson’s favorite character?

Hugh: Vaine Carson: Ahri

Hugh’s go-to tactic?

Carson: Jungle Hugh: Jungle

Carson’s other favorite game?

alternative

Hugh: Counterstrike Carson: Osu!

love warmer than the arctic The name of her blog is a variation of his name. The title of her ask box, where other Tumblr users can send her messages, is “please talk to me about alex.” Some of her 12,326 followers even draw fan art of them together.

Junior Nicole Cagnina is in a committed relationship with him. He’s Alex Turner, the lead singer and front man of the English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys, and he has no idea who she is.

“There are no words in the human language to describe how much I am infatuated with this man,” Cagnina said. “He is the happiest thing in my life at the moment and I will probably never stop loving him.”

It’s what’s referred to as a parasocial interaction by psychologists, a completely one-sided relationship commonly seen with the celebrity/fan dynamic.

2. zach carter,10 & ken montgomery, 9

24

the alternative connection

members of the “scoop team” What does the scoop team represent?

Zach: Athletic movement Ken: It was just a group playing basketball

How many people do you think are on the team?

Zach: 12 Ken: 7

Cagnina first joined Tumblr after becoming a fan of the band Foster the People. For the four years that she’s had her blog, she’s been a fan of the Arctic Monkeys.

“I fell in love with Alex from the first couple of interviews. He’s got that vibe about him that draws me in -– it’s so pure and sweet and enticing,” Cagnina said. “I just want to be around him all of the time.”

For Cagnina, being with him consists of blogging about his band whenever she can. She doesn’t blog that often during the week due to the demands of being a junior in the IB program, but on the weekends, that’s all she does. Despite her dedication to the blog and to the Arctic Monkeys, Cagnina never wants the two to interact.

“That’s what scares me – if [the band members] were to find it,” Cagnina said. “That’s, like, terrifying.”

The band has a large following and their music has been on the radio for the last year with songs like “Do I Wanna Know?” and “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” Turner’s smooth voice -- which Cagnina swears could summon an angel -- serenades listeners around the world.

merchandise of the band. She owns three Arctic Monkeys vinyls, all of their albums, two posters, two shirts and a sweatshirt, and Turner is even her phone’s wallpaper.

“My friends make fun of me for having him as my screensaver and call me creepy, but I literally do not care at all because,” Cagnina said, “I’m so in love with him.”

-Annie Aguiar

The lyricism in their songs is part of Turner’s appeal, Cagnina giggles. “He’s really poetic. Before he even had the idea of being in a band he wanted to write poetry and be an English teacher and I just thought that was the cutest thing.”

Her followers support the relationship, which is documented under the Tumblr tag #nicolex. They encourage her affection through messages, create fan art and Photoshop the two together. One piece of art of Cagnina and Turner together was drawn for Cagnina’s birthday and is currently her icon on Tumblr.

They also send messages termed “imagines,” hypothetical situations involving Cagnina and Turner. “I’ve had this blog for so long I think people just associate him with me,” Cagnina said. “There are so many other fan blogs out there. I don’t know why it’s me, but it makes me feel special.”

Like many other fans, Cagnina has collected Ladyslacks/used with permission

tumblr fame forms friendships can whip one up and post it in 30 minutes, to meet my followers’ constant need for the highest quality artwork.

12,300. That’s the number of people who’ve followed me on my Big Bang Theory inspired Tumblr account made in March 2013. It’s mind-boggling to me how much people actually enjoy what I make and share online.

3. olivia piazza and juliana soto,12 spongebob enthusiasts How long has Olivia been watching spongebob?

Juliana: Her whole life Olivia: My whole life

Some of them I hardly know. Others I’ve Skyped many times, a few I’ve had the opportunity to even meet person while I was over in Europe. To some, having this online relationship with people I’ve never met would seem a little weird, but, it’s still friendship.

Who is Juliana’s favorite character?

Olivia: SpongeBob Juliana: Patrick Navigating complicated Photoshop techniques and crafting eye-catching gifs to churn out these photosets, which could be anything from gifs to just a screencap of a scene.

It took me months to master the craft, but now I

I started making graphics for The Big Bang Theory two years ago and over the summer the obsession grew to the monstrosity that it is today.

The blog was inspired by my friend Chloe, who encouraged me to start my own blog. I now co-own the blog with a close friend of mine, because of the increas-

ing amount of work from college apps and IB.

It’s the interactions with the few followers that I talk to on a daily basis that really keep me going. It always makes my day when I get sweet and encouraging messages in my inbox.

Instead of cruising around at the mall or hanging out with friends, I’m searching for the latest show news or episode graphics to blog. I’ve even been recognized by celebrities and websites (e.g. Buzzfeed and the stars’ publicists).

Tumblr isn’t just a website. For me, it draws out artistic talent, and connects great people together.

From fanfics to fanart, being famous on Tumblr gives me a chance to interact with hundreds, even thousands of people all over the world.

-Katie Frost

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the alternative connection

the alternative connection

it’s not easy being green No, no. I tried to explain to my parents at the dinner table for what felt like the hundredth time. Not that Eric.

The green one.

Seeing him at lunch or in the halls, senior Erik Ekendiz is your average high school guy -- your typical T-shirt-andjeans-with-ankle-socks-and-sneakers type of guy. The kind of guy to gently push his longish, flaxen bangs out of his eyes every so often, in a way reminiscent of Justin Bieber circa 2011.

There are dozens of students sitting at A Lunch in green shirts on any given day. But there is only one Green Erik.

It’s on his backpack, on his calculator cover, on his binders, on his AP US History notebook. It’s on his sweatshirts, on the blanket he keeps in his car for the drive to school in the morning.

The color green.

Freshman year in Ekendiz’s American Government/ World History class, there were three other Erics. One of four Erics in his IB class, “Green” became his title.

No no, not that Eric, Green Erik.

This was the same lanky, blue-eyed freshman who wore a green swimsuit to swim meets and practices when the rest of the team wore red. Four years later, he was the same tall, athletic senior to wear a lime green toga as he played alto saxophone on the field during the homecoming pep rally.

“It’s an innocent way to fit in, almost a social outlet really,” explained Teresa Klicker, his mom, although Ekendiz adamantly disagrees.

“It used to be a way for me to be an individual,” he

26

-Photos courtesy of Teresa Klicker

explained, although his connection with the hue began innocently as just his favorite color as a kid.

Klicker can’t help but smile when she explains the origin of his connection with the color. “This tall,” she grinned as she gestured towards a stool by her side, “growing up he was always shy and the conversation opener was always ‘what’s your favorite color?’ And it was always green.

He never understood why people kept asking him what his favorite color was.”

him “Green Erik” regularly from the start, although he admitted “probably only after she saw that my email was Erik the Green.”

It’s easy to focus on the green wall of his room, to let the eyes linger on the green Christmas lights near his desk or his green sheets. But then you’d be overlooking the video games, the rows of books, and the cat curled up on his bed.

And that’s kind of his whole point.

By the fifth grade, all of his shirts were green. As a result of his general shyness, that was “all adults knew about him,” Klicker sighed. Suddenly that was all the quiet, smiley boy ever received as gifts —green anything and everything.

Green makes him feel identifiable. “If people are looking for me, they’ll know how to find me.” But he emphasizes that if people don’t know him, they wouldn’t know him by his affiliation with the color.

“Green is a hobby,” he smiled as he rolled his eyes in response to the question about his relationship with the emerald hue. “It doesn’t even make sense; relationships go two ways and green is inanimate, it’s not real.”

There are freshmen who know him only as the “senior who wears green.” In the class with three Erics, his teacher, Zaan Gast, didn’t even notice the color commitment.

“I never paid attention to it,” explained the history teacher who was once infamously known for wearing only black, and is now Ekendiz’ homeroom teacher. “Had I noticed, maybe I would’ve said something, but I get it. That’s just it, there’s no effort, so I definitely appreciate the ease of it.”

He didn’t wear green for picture day junior year, as his mom forced him to wear a blue striped polo and black jeans. He wore a white T-shirt for a friend whose birthday wish was for Ekendiz to go a day without wearing green.

And instead of wearing green for senior homecoming, he wore gray and black, making his usually ice-blue eyes appear to swirl with gray for one night. He doesn’t plan to continue wearing green regularly in college. “It seems childish,” he said.

Green is a hobby, the color of the backdrop of the rest of his life. It’s in the background as he cracks up with friends at his lunch table; it’s in the background as he threads pieces of music seamlessly together to create new sax tunes for the band to play and it’s in the background as he grins, breathless after he places first in his 100 meter breaststroke race.

and a friendship was born The young woman lay on the crisp white sheets of her hospital bed. Outside, the August heat scorched the Tampa area. She scrunched her face from the pain of her contractions.

Her obstetrician, Dr. Ron Shemesh, got to work.

Soon enough, the cries of the newborn Jacob Kirchheimer echoed down the hallway.

Fourteen years later, Kirchheimer took his first steps into Hillsborough High, ready to begin his high school career. He coursed through the morning before settling into his desk in Zaan Gast’s Block 14 American Government class.

Sitting in front of him was Amber Shemesh, Dr. Ron Shemesh’s smiley daughter whose sun-streaked brown curls framed her face in a short pixie cut.

For the time being, Kirchheimer and Shemesh were simply acquainted. They rarely spoke to each other before Gast assigned them to work together on a group presentation. Both students were completely unaware of their connection for the first part of the year.

Their connection was brought to light on club picture day.

After passing a Jewish cemetery during a car ride together, Kirchheimer brought up Shemesh to his mother.

“I mentioned to my mom that this girl who goes to my school had a very extremely Jewish

last name,” said Kirccheimer. “She was like, ‘Oh that’s funny, that’s the [last] name of my OB-GYN.’” While waiting patiently to take their picture for Asian Club, Kirchheimer asked Shemesh about her father.

“All of a sudden, he asked if my dad was Ron Shemesh … if my dad was a doctor. I said yeah, and he said he was talking to his mom and [she] said that my dad had delivered him,” Shemesh said.

way about me. After he said that, we had a connection, like, ‘Oh, my dad delivered you,” Shemesh said. “We’ve become closer this year especially because he’s dating one of my best friends, Yesha [Shukla].”

Kirchheimer and Shemesh can be often spotted at the same lunch table, engaging in conversation with their group of friends, and joking around with one another.

-Shelby Shoup

For Kirchheimer, this coincidence meant his life.

However, for Dr. Ron Shemesh, it was just a day in the life.

“I couldn’t place his mom’s face right off the bat because I’ve delivered thousands of babies … but in his case, the name rang a bell. If his mom reminded me about the delivery, maybe I would remember it. Sometimes it’s a name, sometimes it’s the situation,” said Dr. Shemesh.

For Shemesh also, the situation did not seem too uncanny.

“It wasn’t that much of a shock, because in my old school there was a girl who my dad delivered … it was cool, but nothing really that shocking,” she said/ Although it wasn’t the coincidence that brought them together, Kirchheimer and Shemesh grew closer in the following months.

“I guess it brought us close…before, he was just some kid in my class and I guess he felt the same

Get past the green and you realize, green isn’t the most important relationship in his life. He dreads leaving his sister when he goes off to college next year and he and his mom share the same unbreakable smile -- even if all you see is a bright, blue-eyed boy in a very green, striped V-neck shirt.

-Ellie Rodriguez

Ekendiz groaned when thinking about his previous homeroom teacher, Karen Menard, who called

27

Jalen Chambers and Daneesha Davidson, 10

Nicole Moradiellos and Stephen Moradiellos, 10 and 12

Nicole Ledo and Sergio Ledo, 10 and 12

What is Daneesha’s favorite TV show?

Daneesha: The Walking Dead Jalen: The Walking Dead

What is Nicole’s favorite ice cream flavor?

Nicole: Mint chocolate chip Stephen: Mint chocolate chip

Who’s more bossy?

Nicole: Sergio Sergio: Nicole

What is Jalen’s favorite sports team?

Daneesha: Miami Dolphins Jalen: Miami Dolphins

What emoji does Stephen use the most?

Nicole: Smiley face Stephen: :)

What is Sergio’s favorite sports team?

Nicole: Bucs Sergio: Bucs

Who is more bossy?

Daneesha: Daneesha Jalen: Daneesha

Who is Nicole’s favorite president?

Nicole: Lincoln Stephen: She doesn’t know any presidents

What is Nicole’s favorite TV show?

Nicole: Teen Wolf Sergio: Keeping up with the Kardashians

What is Jalen’s favorite food?

Daneesha: Spaghetti Jalen: Mac and Cheese

What is Stephen’s favorite movie?

Nicole: Harry Potter Stephen: Forrest Gump

What is Daneesha’s favorite thing to do on the weekends?

Daneesha: Watch movies on Netflix Jalen: Go to the movies

Which does Nicole prefer: Moe’s or Chipotle?

Nicole: Chipotle Stephen: Chipotle

What is Sergio’s favorite thing to do on the weekend?

Nicole: Chill with friends Sergio: Sleep

siblings 28

What would Nicole’s super power be?

Nicole: Mind reading Sergio: Super strength

the siblings connection

common name, not so common story

When you ask IB English teacher Linda Wilson about the Smith family, you hear more exclamations than actual words.

Once you know that the Smith family includes 11 kids, eight of which have come to Hillsborough (so far; the youngest siblings are on their way), you understand her reaction.

As the youngest of three kids who have passed through the IB program, I thought I was a sort of “legacy.” After meeting Gabrielle Smith, the eighth Smith child to come to Hillsborough, I realized I barely understood the meaning of the word.

learning more than english

When Ai Hasegawa walked through the Hillsborough’s halls on the first day of school, she wasn’t just walking into a new school – she was walking into a new culture.

Hasegawa, a junior from Japan, is a foreign exchange student spending the year at Hillsborough.

“Learning English is hardest for [Hasegawa}… [It] affects making friends [and] learning in school,” said Hasegawa’s host sister, junior Sophia Diaz-Carraway.

Diaz-Carraway has always been interested in East Asian culture, so she decided to host a foreign exchange student from Korea or Japan. Diaz-Carraway searched through many different profiles of possible students to host, until one profile caught her eye.

Hello :) Thank you for accepting me. Let me introduce myself, the essay began. The words belonged to Hasegawa.

There are four members in my family, Hasegawa wrote. My mother, father and two dogs. My real mother passed away and I live with my foster parents … I joined this exchange program because first, I want to be able to speak English … Second, I want to have cross-cultural understanding. The U.S. is such a multiracial nation. People live accepting each other’s culture. So I want to learn more about it.

“She seemed humble and appreciative… that’s why [my family and I] chose her,” said Diaz-Carraway.

Hasegawa and Tonje Skraastad, a foreign exchange student from Norway, were two new additions to Diaz-Carraway’s friend group.

“It’s kind of fun being the eighth kid, one of the younger kids,”

said Gabrielle of being a younger Smith. The baby, or babies, of the family always get the most attention, as well as benefiting from protective elders. Before she even attended a single day as a ninth grader, Gabrielle’s siblings told her, “If anyone messes with you, call us.”

Gabrielle’s older sister Dannielle, who graduated in 2004, gave her some advice about surviving high school. “She told me it was going to be hard work, but she also told me it would be worth it.”

Even the advice of older siblings can’t save a person from the biggest shock of high school: actual homework. It’s practically a rite of initiation to be enrolled in Wilson’s freshman English class, and in the teacher’s own words, “get ya butt burned.” Wilson said she made Gabrielle sit in the front of the class because she was a Smith. “I know that family like a book,” said Wilson.

The Smith family patriarch, Al Smith Jr., has been president of the PTSA on and off for the past decade. He’s also a Hillsborough alumnus. “Hillsborough is really dear to me,” Al said. “[My wife and I] got involved with the PTA when my oldest kids were in elementary school. A lot of parents aren’t participants in their kid’s lives once they reach high school, but I think it’s the most important time to be involved.”

Despite difficulties Like any younger sibling, Gabrielle knows what it feels like such as a lanwhen teachers expect her to be like her older siblings. “We guage barrier, the all have our own personalities. I think I’m more outgoing, group has adapted to or, at least less shy than my brothers and sisters.” gaining the two foreign exchange students. “Sophia I always joke that I’ve been here for and Ai have a cultural connecnine years, not the usual four, because tion… There haven’t been any I was dragged around to every problems. We all go well together,” school event my brothers atsaid Josie Chappell, Skraastad’s host tended since I was eight. As and friend of Diaz-Carraway. a freshman, knowing your way around the halls To the rest of the friend group, Diaz-Carcan be a valuable raway’s relationship with Hasegawa can be deasset. For Gabrielle, her first scribed as sororal and caring. “In public, Sophia is wday was years in the like a big sister [to Hasegawa],” said Madison Stuart, making. “It was like, I friend of Diaz-Carraway. know all this.”

“Sophia’s really introverted and Ai’s really shy.

They don’t talk that much but Sophia always looks out for her,” Chappell said.

-Samantha Votzke

When they’re together, Diaz-Carraway and Hasegawa normally compare the differences between Japanese and American cultures. “Food is really different.

They eat junk food [in the U.S.],” Hasegawa said.

Despite growing up in two different countries, DiazCarraway and Hasegawa use their differences to gain knowledge about other cultures. “[I’ve] already talked about visiting Ai in Japan,” Diaz-Carraway said.

-Amber Shemesh

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the siblings connection

the siblings connection

it takes two to tango dan & chris

“They’re brothers, so there’s always competition. They kinda bully each other for laughs and giggles,” Rivera said.

Both Chris and Dan went silent as they pondered the question “Who’s smarter?”

After a moment, Dan said, “I don’t know. I have a higher SAT score.” Chris looked at Dan doubtfully, and the two compared SAT scores. As it turns out, Dan’s score was only a few points higher than Chris’s.

Upon hearing the word twins, one might think of Fred and George, Tia and Tamera and Zack and Cody. You think of nearly identical siblings, bonded by the kind of tie that can only come from sharing the womb for nine months.

Seniors Dan and Chris Coutu’s facial features are almost exactly the same.

They stand in the same relaxed manner and their words are laced with the same effortless dry wit. But, if you ask them if they’re best friends, they’ll respond with an identical “NO” without a second of pause.

Their relationship more closely resembles a “non-aggression pact” than a nearly inseparable bond.

“We try not to make each other mad, and we get along most of the time,” Chris said.

“Yeah, but we just build a bridge and get over it,” Chris added.

“Get a straw and suck it up,” Dan said, immediately following his brother’s remark with one of his own.

The brothers definitely have their differences Chris is more outgoing, while Dan is “more mature,” for example – but their attitudes are very similar, especially their senses of humor.

After 10 years of scholastic symmetry, the Whitworth twins changed paths.

“Yeah, but you’re doing pretty crappy in all your classes,” Chris said, pulling out a second defense.

Joining the traditional program has been a positive change for both Lily and Sophie. “I’m getting good grades and I am happier,” Lily said.

“Am I?” Dan asked, his words dripping with sarcasm.

She is less stressed out and isn’t pushed too hard to do something she doesn’t really want to do.

If you were standing there, you would’ve felt invisible, completely ignored, as the brother’s debated their intelligence levels.

The few times Dan and Chris actually “hang out,” they’re playing video games. The reason they play together?

“He’s easy to beat,” Chris said a millisecond before Dan answered, “I enjoy winning.”

Chris scoffed in reply.

According to senior Josvani Rivera, one of Dan’s friends, Dan and Chris are seldom seen together at school unless they’re exchanging a few words at lunchtime. Dan later explained that they “see enough of each other” at home and share some of the same classes, including their elective, band.

lily & sophie

Since kindergarten, Lily and Sophie Whitworth have taken the same classes, played the same sports and done the same activities. That all changed their sophomore year when Sophie stayed in the IB program and joined cross country, while Lily transitioned into the traditional program.

It’s easy to see Dan and Chris’s reluctance to admit they’re close doesn’t do justice to the complexity of their relationship.

For these two, a twin doesn’t mean a best friend, and they don’t mind at all.

Being in the traditional program has also led to new friends for both Lily and Sophie. Lily’s friends are very welcoming and are now acquainted with Sophie. Having the same friend group helps Lily and Sophie stay close and makes it easier for them to plan for the weekend, while still having time to be together.

During school, they see each other in the hallway or visit one another in their classes. Sometimes Sophie goes to see Lily in welding before third block or Lily comes early to A Lunch so she can sit at Sophie’s table. They see each other the most after school when they help each other finish homework and do chores around the house.

This gives them a chance to make up time they

could have spent together during the school day. They stay up late studying for tests, doing homework or just talking about their day.

Being in different programs has helped Lily and Sophie have an even closer relationship. They communicate more and make a bigger effort to cherish their time together. Always being around each other used to lead to stress-induced fights, but now when they’re together they can enjoy each other’s company and talk about their day.

Getting past a stressful and hectic first year of high school has also made them more mature and appreciative of their connection. “We are as close as two people could possibly be. We tell Photos courtesy of Lilly Whitworth each other everything,” Lily said.

Having a sibling means you will consistently have someone there for you who will always be loyal and trustworthy. Siblings are there to restore your hopes and provide support in times of need. But having a twin is so much more.

“We have an unexplainable connection that most people don’t understand,” Sophie said. It doesn’t matter how many fights, fits or feuds, they are each other’s biggest supporters and reliable confidants. Changing programs in no way

loosened their connection. “Sophie is my lifelong soul mate and I don’t know what I would do without her in my life,” Lily said.

No matter what comes between the sisters, they find a way to work through their issues. Lily and Sophie find strength in each other and are grateful for the connection they have.

-Tegan Smith

-Dana Dinh

a nguyen-nguyen situation Meet Brian and Steven Nguyen. Most days, you can find the two strolling through the hallways, chatting with their friends. Brian stands on the left ... or maybe the right. It’s impossible to identify them with just a glance.

30

It doesn’t help that the mirrored image doesn’t only extend to the style of their hair and the color of their eyes. No. Everything, from the soles of their shoes to the collars of their shirts is identical.

The brothers share more in common more than just their faces. Since their birth, the boys have often dressed in identical outfits.

Here’s a glimpse of the two throughout the years as they’ve given all their family and friends double vision.

-John Veliz Photos courtesy of Brian and Steven Nguyen.

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