Huntley High School's The Voice Dec 2018

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Contents 04 12 16 17 26 35

NEWS

Editorial Board Emma Kubelka Editor-in-Chief

huntleyvoice.com

A very merry Huntley comes to town; annual Christmas festival brings the community together

Madison Barr Opinion Editor

The math team becoming a force to be reckoned with hard work and a supportive group

Skylar Sharkey Features Editor

E. Kim

Riley Murphy Arts & Entertainment Danielle Rhody Sports Editor

Later late starts or weekly late starts. What this could do for both students and teachers.

Olivia Mack Double-Truck Editor Arianna Sanchez Photo Editor

A&E

Ashley Reilly Social Media Manager

A dissection of “Boy Erased.� Conversion therapy and the fear of homosexuality in America.

Z. Issenger

SPORTS

Austin Stadie Business Manager Staff Writers Kyle Abruzzo, Mady Borst, Riley Flickinger, Jordyn Grist,Garrett Heinke, Jarrod Khoo, Riy Walker, Trevor Wolinsky

Senior Erica Bishop considers future with the circus after years as a tumbler.

Photographers Zach Isenegger, Elizabeth Kim, Sydney Laput

HUMANS OF HUNTLEY

Teacher Lise Antonacci discovers herself through DNA

Braden Turk Online Editor Ayman Mirkan News Editor

FEATURES OPINION

Faith Losbanes Print Editor

A. Sanchez

Dennis Brown Adviser Editorial Policy

S. Laput

HHS Media are the official student-produced media of news and information published/ produced by HHS Media students. HHS Media have been established as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be viewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisers may - and should - coach and discuss content during the writing process. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of HHS media is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself; its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete and financial liability for the content of the publication.

News Holidays

M. Borst

Starting the Holidays Right

Christmas glee fills the air with a great turnout at A Verry Merry Huntley festival

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By Mady Borst

The sight of colorful lights on the snow-glazed trees and the uproar of Christmas cheer provided families with memorable experiences at A Very Merry Huntley.

A Very Merry Huntley is an annual two-day event that gets community members in the holiday spirit.

This year, A Very Merry Huntley was on Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1.

On Friday, events were held at the Village of Huntley Municipal Complex.

According to Special Events Manager Barb Read, this marks the seventh year of A Very Merry Huntley, but its fourth year as a two-day event.

“We used to have just a one-day event down at the square, but it was very weather dependent,” Read said. “We had so many people who wanted to have crafts and other activities, so we now make it a two-day event.”

Jewelry, clothing, and other goods could be purchased at the Kris Kringle Market.

Free train rides on the Huntley Holiday Express and an entertainment room provided children with a fun-filled evening.

Mrs. Claus and reindeer even made an appearance, which stirred up more excitement amongst the youth.

The children’s joy was the highlight of those volunteering that day.

Jim Wallor, a member of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, connected with the community inside the lobby of the Municipal Complex.

“My favorite part is interacting with the kids and looking at the

wonder on their faces,” Wallor said.

Eight trees were featured in the annual tree decorating contest.

All spare change used for voting was donated to Grafton Food Pantry.

Outside of Village Hall, Journey Church provided hot chocolate and s’mores.

“I keep coming back to the hot chocolate and s’mores,” attendee Jenifer Czachor said. “They’re my favorite thing every year.”

Additionally, Huntley Area Public Library held a Holiday Open House with musical entertainment, face painting, and more.

On Saturday, the Indoor Farmers Market and Craft Fair were held in the Fellowship Hall at the First Congregational Church.

Huntley’s Farmers Market was composed of various vendors, including candle-making business EdSpecial Scents.

The company sells soy candles, which are handcrafted by the Huntley High School Job Skills students.

Until noon, there was a selection of Christmas cookies being sold at the First Congregational Church Cookie Walk.

Following the Cookie Walk, the Genesis and Whitechapel Handbell Choirs put on a cheery performance inside the church’s sanctuary.

Genesis Bell Choir performed “Bring a Torch,” “Toyland,” “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime,” and “Jingle Bells.”

Whitechapel Bell Choir played “The Christmas Song,” “God Rest Ye Merry,” “Now the Holly Bears a Berry,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Attendees could take a trip next door to Trinity Lutheran Church to play free family games and shop the Scholastic Book Fair.

The remainder of Saturday’s events occured in Huntley Square, with free hot chocolate and cookies kicking off the evening.

Families dined at the Community Pasta Dinner at American Legion, and gathered around the reindeer near the gazebo, waiting for the highly anticipated moment: Santa arriving to the square on a fire truck.

Prior to Santa’s arrival, Barb Read announced the winner of the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest, which was 2 Gingerz.

“Santa comes, we do the countdown, the lights go on,” Read said. “I immediately get goosebumps every year.”

Red lights flashed around Town Square, capturing everyone’s attention. The fire truck appeared, siren blaring with Santa waving from the window.

Every child’s dream was coming true, as they watched Santa head towards the gazebo.

A Very Merry Huntley ended with a fireworks show, following the lighting of the square.

Children eagerly waited in line to take pictures with Santa inside of American Legion.

This festive event ignited bright smiles on the faces of both children and adults in the community.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM 3

4 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

News Business

Class of the Future

HHS planning to implement new Incubator Business Program.

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By Skylar Sharkey Innovation. Entrepreneurship. Creativity. All are vital characteristics that are necessary to create a successful business. In the fall of 2019, a new innovative Business Class that follows the Incubator Business Program curriculum will begin teaching these qualities to students at Huntley High School.

The Incubator Business Program is a high school course curriculum that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation among students. It is a year long class, and tasks students with the challenge of creating their own profitable product within a year.

According to Career and Technology teacher Nick Wedoff, this program has been around for seven years. It was kickstarted at Barrington High School by a group of proactive parents.

“The parents wanted to change the business program [at Barrington High School]. They thought about their careers and how that was disconnected from the classroom,” Wedoff said.

“In hindsight [they thought about] what lessons they learned and what their job experiences taught them about what business is and how to use that in the classroom.”

Students who enroll in the class will get hands-on, real-world experience in the business community. As student groups create their products, they will be coached by entrepreneurs and business owners from the Huntley area.

Students will become familiar with the particular skill sets that are needed to be successful in business, all within the walls of a classroom.

“It’s highly connected to the community, it’s highly connected to the businesses in our community,” Wedoff said. “It sets up a lot of cool relationships to help guide you, and ultimately possibly even hire you or sponsor your business. This class brings a lot of real world experience into the classroom.”

During the third quarter of the year in the Incubator Business Program, students will participate in something called a “Pitch Me.” At this point, students would have advertised their product on social media and figured out the logistics, such as cost and production, for their product. During the “Pitch Me”, students will be able to present their idea to investors and attempt to gain financial investments in their product.

“You present this [product] to people who are looking for something to invest into and they’re going to give you the money to get the parts,” Wedoff said. “Ideally you’d be looking into getting trademarks for this, patents for this, getting a license for

Photo Courtesy of Incubatoredu

a business, to actually produce this.”

Along with the opportunity to get tangible business experience, students will learn a multitude of skills that can be applied in other career areas other than business. “[You’re going to learn] soft skills, communication skills, you have to have the confidence to give an elevator pitch and to have your facts down, you’re going to learn some marketing in there, you’re going to learn some accounting,” Wedoff said.

Senior Samia Desai has taken multiple business classes within HHS all ready, and she anticipates this program will encompass a lot of the material that is taught in individual business classes at HHS. “I think the [Incubator Business Program] is going to be really good for students who want to go into business because it shows them all the different aspects in one class,” Desai said. “It shows you how you have to create your product, market it, manage the finances. It also gives you leadership experience.”

The board of education has approved the class at the last meeting, and organizers are now working on gaining funding for the class. According to Wedoff, the classroom will be different from others within Huntley High School. It will contain collaboration rooms, comfortable furniture, and large workspaces.

At this point in time it is unknown who will be teaching the class, but a business teacher will take on the project.

Prerequisites for the Incubator Business Program are simple - students must have taken at least one business class in the past in order to join. This means that this class is available to everyone but freshmen.

For any student who has a possible interest in going into business, HHS offers multiple exceptional opportunities to explore that interest, including the Incubator Business Program.

“I like that [business classes at HHS] expose you to business pretty early on,” Desai said. “I took a lot [of business classes] freshmen year and [they] made me realize I do want to do this in my future. They were one of the few ways to get exposed to business early on.”

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News Hero App

students.”

Administration has worked very hard on bringing this app to our community. Administration has designed the app in a way that allows every student to be eligibe for the app.

Administration feels strongly that this app could potentially help a lot of students with things such as serving detention hours and finding out days you were late to class.

Huntley High School has around 3,200 students. Each and every student has something that they need to keep track of.

“I am not very familiar with the Z. Isenegger app, but it seems that it could be very great and successful with helping other students stay on top of things,” junior Kayla Mitchell said.

Not a lot of students know about

By Kyle Abruzzo the Hero App. tions a lot more seriously this year.

Technology has progressively This app serves other purposes “We have made changes this year become one of the biggest influencthan just school related actions. regarding detentions needing to be es in our society today. Every day, “My swim team uses the Hero App served. Rather than at the student’s students, and adults alike use techto keep attendance. It is a nice way convenience, it is now during nology, whether that be to stay organized and remind you of “It is a nice lunch, after school, Saturon their chromebooks, way to stay days, or in school,” Ohlinger tasks you need to complete by certain phones, or computers. dates,” junior Cameron Bentley said. organized said.

Millions of different Administration has sent out inand remind With the Hero App, you applications are offered formation about this app via email you of tasks cannot forget about the to everyone who has an earlier this year. you need to consequences that need to electronic device; the Hero As a student, to create an account, complete be attended to. This app will App being amongst those go sign up online and verify on the by certain tell you exactly what you applications. dates,” need to do. When you finish website that all the information is Tracking your behaviorcorrect. Once you sign up online, CAMERON BENTLEY serving detention hours, the al history here at Huntley detention will disappear and download this app from the app store High School has never on your mobile device. You can find be recognized as completed been easier. the directions to help you sign up in on the app.

This new Hero App allows students numerous places. They will be in “We had to make sure the funcand parents to keep track of the stuyour email, your parents email, in a dent’s behavioral issues, tardies, and tions of the app align with the current disciplinary procedures at HHS,” dean’s office, and online under ‘Office detentions.

Of The Deans’ on the Huntley High “This is the same thing as a plasco. Ohilinger said. “Once we made sure School webpage.

Just a different company and a differ- we had everything under control and ent name,” Dean Alice Ohlinger said. were able to adapt to the application of the Hero App, we sent it out to all Huntley has been taking deten-

Technology making life easy.

New Hero App introduced to HHS

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News Friendship

Z. Isenegger

New paths to friendship.

Pineapple Table makes its entrance.

A

By Riley Flickinger As of this year, Huntley has introduced a new way for us to meet different people and to make friends: the Pineapple Table. The Pineapple Table is a new table in the cafeteria dedicated to making students feel as though they have a home here at Huntley High School.

The Pineapple Table was started by two teachers: Shannon Vanek, head of the Buddy’s Club, and Craig Jahnke, head of the Gay Straight Alliance Club. The two decided to start working together last year, during Freshmen Night.

Recent studies show that 25 percent of all teenagers, 30 percent being girls, have social anxiety or anxiety of some form. This means that there are a handful of students at Huntley High who feel uneasiness when talking to new people, which is why this table is so important. The Pineapple Table

creates new opportunities when students are feeling as though they have no one.

Having friends in high school is crucial if you want to make everlasting relationships with people.

Students throughout the world, need support systems through the awkward stages, the high school drama, and more. Student’s brain health, stress, and mental health is overall improved with friends as they allow us to rebound over issues in life.

According to Vanek, who was particpating in the Freshmen Night last year, a new student felt as though she had no place in the Huntley community yet. The student told Jahnke and Vanek about her anxiety and stress of coming to a new school where she had not made friends yet. The discovery of this girl sparked a new idea and the two teachers began working together.

Vanek and Jahnke began planning over the summer and for the first month and a half of this school year.

Due to conflicting schedules, the table wasn’t made official until later this year. However as of Oct., the Pineapple Table finally arrived. “[The hope for the Pineapple Table is to ]make students more comfortable at school and help people who don’t have many friends meet someone new,” Vanek said. Incoming students, and students who have been new in the past, know how frightening it can be to come to a new school where the people, teachers, and schedule is entirely new.

This new table isn’t just dedicated to new students though. The Pineapple Table is dedicated to everyone here. If any of Huntley’s students are feeling as though they don’t have any friends, or even if their friends are gone one day, they can come sit at the table. Once at the table, other students and staff can come up and talk to you and new relationships can start to bloom.

“I think [the Pineapple Table is] a good idea, I think it gives people an opportunity to meet people that they wouldn’t talk to normally,” sophomore Nina Engelhardt said.

So, with the benefits of Pineapple table, students, peers, and teachers can take this information and move forward. As the Huntley High School community understands the importance of the Pineapple Table and what it is, they can either improve the many lives or improve their own.

Vanek and Jahnke’s idea to start this table can be the reason we end our school year with a positive frame of mind.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM 9

Features Innovation

E. Kim

HHS’s Math Team goes beyond the curriculum for competitions

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By Garrett Heinke

Huntley High School’s Math Team has proven itself to be a very strong competitive organization within the school. Math Team has consistently competed in tournaments and has qualified for state competitions the last few years. But despite their success, they have remained under the radar at Huntley High School.

There were 39 Math Team students who competed at their first meet Nov. 21.

The students are divided into a underclassmen and upperclassmen groups. A typical meet can take three hours, but including the time that it takes for ceremonies and grading could mean that competitions can take up to five hours.

Competition events involve individual testing, two-person, and even eight-person testing. The tests that are taken are not all the same; some stu10 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

dents might be taking a test on Geometry while others might be taking a test on Pre-Calculus.

Questions asked during competitions are meant to touch on more topics than the students are expected to know.

“On individual tests you have 20 questions and 50 minutes to do it. And people who win get a score that would be a failing grade on a traditional test,” junior Kayle Yakimisky said. “I like that it’s this crazy challenge to really push even the smartest person beyond their limits and to make them really see things in a new light.”

Math Team is full of students who are dedicated to being the best they can be at math and constantly wanting to improve. Math is much more than what is taught within class. Math Team is about exploring what is beyond what is taught in the classroom.

Math Teamers like the challenge and the technicality math has to offer.

“You’re basically working around how you figure out a problem. For every question you have to find the most efficient route to finding the solution in a certain amount of time. That has helped me with timing myself for solving problems on any test,” senior Pranav Yandamuri said. “Basically we analyze every question very deeply so that we get a better understanding of our math.”

It can be challenging to feel adequately prepared for a competition.

Math Team meets once a week to practice. Instead of giving students lectures about various topics, coaches give their students handouts to help build a sense of self-reliance. The ability to confidently answer questions to problems they have not learned is very important.

One of the best qualities of Math Team is their unwavering focus on improving problem-solving skills. The team motto is “You’ve got a problem?

Yo, I’ll solve it!”

Society continues to evolve and innovate, so the focus on problem solving skills within the Math Team is very important.

“I’ve all ready learned a lot about how to solve different types of problems, how to adapt to stuff I’ve never seen before and how to work through problems, and recognize patterns I can use in other competitions,” senior Brody Lauer said. “I think that moving forward it is something that will be super helpful.”

There are as many bright and talented underclassmen as ever so the future of the Math Team look promising.

Features Inspiration

She took a break and during that time she was inspired; an idea sparked inside of her that made her want to continue writing.

“I don’t think I would have finished my book if it wasn’t for me running into my friend in the grocery store, [a friend] that I hadn’t seen in 20 some years, and that was what sparked ideas and the truth,” Wills said.

The writing process for Wills has not all ways been easy. It has been especially hard for her to find time to write.

“If I’m being really honest, this book has been really hard to write,” Wills said.

“I truly believe writers put themselves in their character’s shoes, and I have no time E. Kim to really do that. There’s a part of me that feels like it’s going to be really hard for me to feel like my book is ready for the world to see it, but I’ll just have to get over it.”

There are some key differences between Wills’s first and second book.

By Riyana Walker “This book is definitely a novel through a book never went away. and through,” Wills said.

Many people wait an entire lifetime Wills went through a difficult time at The fact that Wills is able to write two to figure out what they want to do. Tara one point in her life, but she gained expetotally different type of books is a huge Wills, high school English teacher, has all rience that was worth telling people about skill.

When someone is able to go from ways known that she had a story to tell. as well writing a book about. writing personally about something they Although Wills had a long-lasting goal to “I find that I write better when I’m sad went through to writing about a different write a book, it was going to take some or heart broken, that is when I’m able to world through their eyes, is truly amazing. time and experience before she could get write and be siplical, ” Wills said.

To be able to write your own story and started.

Some authors find that they are best at tell the world about how you feel through “For me it was kind of like writing the writing when they least expect it. your own words and experiences is truly story that didn’t happen, like if my life had “When I’m alone in my car and I’m just admirable. gone differently,” Wills said. driving that is where I’d say most of my “[Don’t] give up on telling the story, tell This book was an extremely difficult the story if you have one to tell, so figure topic for Wills to write about and she was writing ideas come from,” Wills said.

To write a book and get it published is out a way to tell it,” Wills said. very fearful of what people might think, never easy, it is not just a one step process.

Courage and positivity can go along but she kept writing.

Wills has been writing her book over way when you want to voice an opinion As a teenager, Wills wanted to originally or tell a story. Not everyone is capable of study journalism, but she later went on to a long period of time, but only recently really got into writing it. doing this. become an English teacher.

“I started writing my book a little over To be able to write about something and “If you had told me back in high school that I was going to be a teacher, I would’ve three years ago. November makes it three to be able to tell a story that is deeper than years,” Wills said. “I didn’t get to the point one person’s’ story and one persons life said, ‘no way,’ but now I truly love what I where I actually expanded on the idea is incredible. Everyone’s path is different. do,” Wills said.

Although becoming a journalist was not until the end of last summer. That is when But everyone has a story that is worth I really started to writing it.” being told. in the books for Wills, her desire to write

Tara Wills incorporates difficult past experiences in new novel

M

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Opinion Politics

A student body divided cannot stand

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By Jarrod Khoo

Too often do we forget that insults and outrage will not change minds. In light of the current political landscape, that has only become more commonplace. The former overall climate of respect within politics has been replaced with accusations, browbeating, and mudslinging. This has been accompanied by vicious social media attacks.

This new way of the world is more apparent in American schools than anywhere else.

The common wisdom has long been that touchy subjects such as political opinions are better left unsaid. However, this has contributed to the problem society faces today. After years of bottling up viewpoints, the ability to debate in a civilized manner has atrophied.

“I’ve definitely felt very uncomfortable expressing my views,” senior Chase Hickman said. “During an in-class debate, a student argued that I didn’t understand the issue at hand because of my race and gender.”

The main source of this hostility seems to be coming from the students. No matter where you turn, there seems to be someone attacking another for their beliefs.

“I consider myself a conservative-leaning moderate,” an anonymous student said. “I’ve expressed that view before and it’s assumed that I’m an extremist or radical. One time I mentioned Donald Trump and someone blew up on me and went on a rant, saying, ‘I just lost all respect I had for you.’”

When arguments consistently devolve into shouting matches, division in the student body will only continue to grow.

A perfect example of this is the straw man, in which an argument is exaggerated or misrepresented, and both sides of the

aisle are guilty. Those on the left are referred to as communists, while those on the right are compared to neo-Nazis.

“There was one time where we were talking about politics in speech class, and the teacher asked if anyone supported President Trump,” another anonymous student said. “I was the only one who raised my hand, and was immediately called a racist and a white supremacist by another student.”

Teachers have begun to take notice of the polarization in the classroom as well.

“It’s the place of a school to make sure students can share their beliefs,” social studies teacher Anne Sharkey said. “I think it’s a national issue where things are so polarized. Conversations are in terms of ‘always’ or ‘never.’”

While some teachers try their best to ensure a safe environment for students, the situation is far from perfect.

“I think politics is something you have to talk about, but you have to be logical and civil,” said Sharkey. “There’s a lack of discussion.”

“In one of the classes I’m taking this year, the majority of the students do not agree with my point of view, so I feel uncomfortable expressing my opinions and calling out opinions that I believe to be wrong,” said a third anonymous student.

According to another anonymous student, they don’t want to express their views because the majority of students “openly bash conservatives.”

If the situation has reached the point that students’ political stances are causing them to fear for their own safety, then it is clear that opposing viewpoints are not tolerated at Huntley High School.

Despite these circumstances, many students recognize the need to change.

“The only way our government works is if people have different views, so that’s why we compromise and figure out what’s best for our country,” an anonymous student said. “We don’t have one party, we have multiple parties, so to be able to represent the country as a whole, opposing viewpoints are necessary.”

“Everyone should listen to the other side and be willing to compromise instead of jumping to conclusions” another anonymous student said. “Supporting Hillary Clinton should not imply that I support criminals and supporting Donald Trump should not equate me with racism.”

It also seems that this intolerance is heavily skewed.

“Always hear out what other people have to say no matter how crazy it might sound to you,” Hickman said. “What they’re saying might only sound crazy because of your own political views.”

Respect for others political viewpoints can seem impossible at first, but it is a necessary trait, especially in high school and in higher education.

Students and teachers alike need to reach the conclusion that people’s minds are not changed by disrespect and disregard of their own opinions, but that civilized and respectful debate is healthy. Only when opposing viewpoints are accepted can the school’s population form a more unified whole.

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Opinion School

All too much work, all too little time

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By Ashley Reilly

In 1996, Minnesota’s Edina School District changed their school starting time from 7:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota began to study the effects of this time switch over the next year.

This hour and 10 minute difference caused the teens to be more awake during their first hour class, decreased disciplinary incidents in the school, and lowered the number of students in the school who reported feeling depressed. 92 percent of parents at the school also reported that their children were happier and easier to live with.

At Huntley High School our students day begins at 7:25 a.m., but many students are leaving their house to make it to school as early as 6:30 a.m. On every other Wednesday, students get to start their day at 8:00 am.; this is our late start.

“Late starts really are an opportunity for teachers to get together and collaborate,” Principal Marcus Belin said. “Allowing teachers to know that they get 45 minutes to be able to be in the same room at the same time more often. It’s never enough [time].”

Late starts were designed to give students and staff time that is built into their everyday schedule to get what needs to be done, done. Whether that is teachers meeting to create lesson plans, the Principal Leadership Council meeting, or students getting extra help, late start is undeniably helpful to our school community.

“I feel more efficient during the day,” junior Karly Melendy said. “I’m more successful on tests when it’s late start because I’ll have rested a lot better and have a good mindset.”

With more rest, students can feel motivated and are almost guaranteed to have a good day. Late Start Wednesday is one of the most looked forward to activities that Huntley High School has to offer, and not only for students.

“Typically during late start, our Spanish II teammates, instead of meeting after school, meet during late start so we can kind of be more focused on whatever we’re doing,” Spanish teacher Kelli Swanson said. “If we have grading or stuff like that, then we still have that alloted after-school time where we’re not having to be here for an hour because we have that hour built into late start.”

Meetings that can often take up teachers personal time fit perfectly into the slot that teachers are given during late starts. Extra work like grading, small homework assignments, and printing papers, can all be easily done during the time that the school is in

session, but we are not in class.

Late start is an unproblematic time built into the lives of students and teachers that only stands to benefit our school. We don’t see a jurassic time change in class periods and are able to continue to end school at 2:25 p.m., saving us from pushing back any after school activities.

Every other Wednesday we see all of these benefits happening right before our eyes, yet we continue to only allow for this time once a week. A weekly late start could do nothing but benefit the lives of staff, students, and the community of our school.

“The school I came from had late starts every Wednesday,” Belin said. “It’s an opportunity to develop that community sense.

If it was every week and we knew it was every week maybe there’s something that happens in the central gym where there’s more activities there’s more things to do. I’m for it.”

Late Start Wednesdays pose as a built-in time in student and staff schedules to be able to create a stronger connection with one another. As of right now we have Late Start Live, which showcases musical talent, but if we were able to grow late start, we could create so much more. Game rooms, activites, movies, and more that could be held in our field house, gyms, or classrooms that are not being used in the morning.

This time would benefit the entire student body. Many students not only have school, but have some extracurricular involvement outside of school that can affect their ability to stay after or arrive early to school.

These students would be given a time built into their everyday schedule to be a more involved part of our Raider Nation and to be active members in our community.

We, as a school, continuously introduce new ideas, like blended, and as soon as we see the positive results we put those new ideas into action on a large scale. We have had late start for years and have seen the benefits of this time for just as long, however, we continue to keep it on a small scale.

If we were to implement late starts into every week we would see a rise in student grades, as they would have quick and easy access to teachers and Raider Aid at minimum once a week, more collaboration amongst teachers, and less stress for them to get everything done in a busy day full of classes. We would see the student body coming together every Wednesday morning, becoming one Raider Nation.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM 15

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16 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

Opinion Relationships

Learning how to diagnose your toxic relationship

N

By Riley Murphy

Nowadays on social media we are seeing a word that is being thrown around a lot: toxic.

As I scroll through any given social media platform, I feel like I am reading the same type of comments and posts over and over: ‘I can’t believe he did this to me he’s so toxic,’ ‘I just need to get rid of toxic people who are in my life right now,’ or ‘now that you’re not in my life I feel free. I’m so glad I’m not surrounded by toxic people any more.’

But what we fail to ask ourselves is what exactly is a toxic friendship or relationship? And is it now just being used as an excuse to break off contact with someone you do not agree with?

The term ‘toxic’ is open to many interpretations and we all have our own personal definition and examples for it. Whether this be marked by jealousy or ‘fakeness’ it is fair to say that we all have had our share of ‘toxic’ experiences at one time or another.

And social media is not exactly helping this problem either. Most conflicts in either friendships or relationships start with the classic, indirect spam post that goes along the lines of: ‘I can’t believe you did that to me and I just feel so hurt right now. You are so toxic and you make me feel like nothing.’

“Going to social media isn’t the correct way to do it,” junior Jolie Woodside said. “If you think you’re in a toxic friendship you should directly deal with the person.”

Feelings of despair and dejectness are valid in every way. However, lately I have been wondering if we are just using the term to blatantly label someone we just do not agree with or have conflict with.

“I think if they are making you feel bad about yourself and constantly destroying you, tearing you down, and making you feel things that you shouldn’t be be feeling in a good relationship or friendship,” freshman Mallory Kindl said.

If there is someone in your life who is constantly making you feel worthless, tearing you down, and changing you into someone that you do not even recognize when you wake up in the morning, that is the epitome of what a toxic relationship is. The phrase ‘toxic relationship’ should not be used as an excuse to write off the problems you have with a friend, girlfriend, or boyfriend.

Friendships, and relationships for that matter, are not going to be all ‘BFFs forever, let’s hold hands every day and make matching bracelets’ all the time. They take work and communication which is primarily what should be at the core of every relationship you build.

If you are not actively continuing to work on and improve your

relationship with someone, is it really worth holding onto?

In fact, relationships are more likely to become toxic when one, or both, parties are unwilling to communicate honestly. You have to be able to have meaningful conversations about how their actions are making you feel. And as cliché as it sounds, it works.

“You should talk to them about how they’re making you feel, but in a very respectful way by not blaming them for every single thing that they’ve done,” Kindl said. “You should also take part in your situation or mistakes that you’ve done and just ask them politely to change how they’re acting towards you.”

As important as it is to let the person know how their actions are making you feel, it is also equally as important to own up to your own actions and the part you played in the situation.

Not only is it extremely unfair and a “jerk move” to blame the other person for every little thing that has failed in the relationship, it also heavily impacts the person you are blaming by making them feel as if they are the problem.

With all this being said, sometimes even with all the communication in the world, the relationship just cannot be saved. Maybe you have tried talking to them countless times and they have not listened or you feel like you are being emotionally abused, left worn out and torn down from being around them.

That is when it would be appropriate and reasonable to consider ending it. You should not consider ending the relationship due to a comment that you might have taken as slightly offensive or because they cancelled plans with you once. When you feel like you have no motivation to be with this person that should be a red flag right away.

High school should be a time where you are making friends that treat you well and support you throughout the highs and lows of your life. It should not be a time where you make friends who only want to emotionally hurt you and make you feel like you are worth nothing to them.

In some ways, experiencing a toxic friendship can be viewed as positive.

“It made me aware that I deserve better in a way,” Woodside said.

“We’re only in high school for four years and I didn’t want to waste half of that being friends with someone that doesn’t support me or treat me like the way friends should treat people.”

Toxic friendships are a real concept, however the term should not be taken lightly and used as an excuse to cut someone out of your life.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM 17

humans of huntley

“I’ve always known that I was adopted. I had such a great childhood. I never felt adopted. I was talking to Mr. Jahnke and he’s like ‘have you ever done ancestry DNA?’ So I did it. Right before mother’s day last year, I get my little ancestry results back. I opened up everything and right away there was my birth father. I never expected it. As I’m sitting there staring at it I’m like, ‘What do I do?’ I sent him a message, just very basic information of, “Hey, turns out we’re pretty closely related.” I don’t hear anything from him in 3 months and then right before I’m coming back from school I get a message from him and he’s like, ‘I had no idea that I had a daughter, this is a shock. Can you give me more information?’

It had never occured to me that he might not know about me. We’ve been slowly sharing information. I learned about his childhood, I told him about my childhood.I wanted to get a sense of where my family was from. It sounds so strange to say but I wasn’t looking for a birth parent. I really just wanted to find out where I was from.”

- Lise antonacci, special education teacher -

interviewed by faith losbanes // photographed by arianna sánchez

“I am most proud of my social skills.”

“I used to be so shy but since I joined yearbook and got my job I’ve been become a lot more comfortable and confident talking to new people.”

- Megan spoerlein, junior interviewed by emma kubelka // photographed by arianna sánchez

Opinion Culture

How I learned to love my home

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By Elizabeth Kim

Generally, Korean culture is a very interesting and a very proud country. There are many ways I can start this off with, like “Do you know the boy group BTS?” a phrase which most K-Pop fans ask others.

An interesting thing about Korea is that every one, born in Korea, is considered one from the time they are born.

Depending on your birth date, your Korean age is always one or two years older than your American age. South Korea they is known to be the No. 1 plastic surgery capital of the world.

Over the years Korean culture from their entertainment to foods, have gradually became more known in different countries and to more people.

The main thing people hear about Korea is K-Pop. In Korea, music is known and appreciated by their people so dearly.

A lot of young Korean children and most Asians are encouraged to learn an instrument, it is known in Korean culture to be musically talented too. This is what people in Korean society are told to be, to fit into their society.

“Since a young age I have been encouraged to play many instruments to be well educated in vast skills,” junior Matthew Kim said. “I have learned the piano, cello, saxophone, and still continuing violin for 7+ years.”

Korean society places great importance on obtaining a solid education, and as such everyone strives to be as educated as possible. In Korea the people are so hardworking and students strive to get into a good college at a young age to make their 20 THE VOICE OCTOBER 2018

families happy.

One of the Korean staples is Kimchi.

This is a fermented cabbage vegetable.

This vegetable is loaded with health benefits from vitamins A and B also top of the gut-healthy bacteria. Kimchi has been eaten for decades back and eaten every day by Koreans.

“I feel like the food there is, hands down, the best Asian food because you get so much variety. If you don’t like spicy foods, then there’s stuff that is not spicy, but also the Gochujang and the peppers they put it into it makes the dish so much better,” freshman Sunni Kwon said.

So now is what really started to make Korean Culture more seen and that is from their entertainment industry. The K-Pop music really made other countries more knowledgeable about South Korea.

Music is very universal and people can connect to it even it’s a different language.

A lot of people still enjoy listening to it from the beats and different style it gives

off.

K-Pop has a really powerful impact because the groups and solo artists connect with their fans a lot and social media has made that possible.

“K-pop sounds pretty similar to a lot of the popular music in America so maybe it’s just that Americans are a little bit more opened minded as far as music goes and it’s just another cool thing to listen to when your mood is right,” Chemistry teacher Chris Klein said.

In K-Pop it’s interesting how there is a lot of boy and girl music groups with a large number of members. In western music there are not a lot of groups because it does not usually work out well and they usually split up. In Korea, the boy and girl groups are a success and the visuals in the music videos are truly art, because they look like they put a lot of hard work into them.

“Their style of music is very energetic, poppy, flavorful and I like the dancing

my culture and really makes me happy to know that my culture is impacting someone.

One of the most popular groups of all time is BTS and a lot of people might of heard of them. Their fan base is so strong.

They came so far and became more known in the western music industry too. As a group they won Billboard Music Awards for Social Artist in 2017-2018.

Who knows what group would be the next big thing five years later?

“It’s dope. I think K-pop has made Korean culture glamorized but I think Korean culture is much more than just K-pop,” senior Ronel Noll said.

I’m very surprised to know how many people listen to K-pop in Huntley and from students I asked the top groups and solo artists listened to are BTS, TWICE, BlackPink, NCT, Crush, Red Velvet, Dean, Zion t. Etc. The heart figure is what is really known to be as “Korean.”

“I think [the heart figure] is really cute it’s not like the peace sign or anything, it’s like unique and I never seen anything like E. Kim that and original,” junior Rachel Wegrzyn and choreography in K-pop,” senior Kyle said.

The heart figure is something made by Adams said.

K-pop artists, but not a specific person One song that came out around 2012 made it because it’s been around for was Gangnam Style. I really believe this several years.

The heart figure is made is one of the first examples that made with your pointer finger and you thumb Korean culture more popular. From the together to create a heart. popularity of K-pop, a lot more people are I truly feel like Korean culture has more interested in the culture and really such a big impact on the world.

From the appreciate the country more. attention made from K-pop the culture “I want to study abroad there because it made me really appreciated of my ethI really like it and it seems really internicity.

I felt very proud of my background esting. It’s a lot different from American culture because they have a lot of respect and now I’m an extreme lover of K-pop for elders and they use certain phrases for because my friends got me into the hype.

“I’m more Americanized but I still hold older people or people that are younger my Korean Culture to me very close I love than you, so I think it’s just more respectthe food. I’m very proud of my culture ful and really interesting,” senior Marissa I’m very proud who I am. When I was Deem said. “I really want to study abroad growing up I faced a lot of criticism, bulbecause I love their culture and the Korelying and because who I was, and that just an food. I like how spicy it is and specifimade me stronger and a lot more prouder cally kimchi. In K-pop, they connect more of who I was, ” John Woo said. “The counthan western artists and the concepts and try developed in history over run by two seem they put a lot of work into it.” different countries and still prosper and I really admire people who are into find its own identity which is amazing.”

With all this K-pop and everything it shows how Korea is been getting into the mainstream media and It has a positive effect because more people are interested in the culture and more people are wanting to know about Korea. As K-pop started to rise I started to hear more people asking about it.

“Oh are you from Korea because like your culture is so cool and I learned to much about it through K-pop. I found more people that I can talk to about my culture” freshman Sunni Kwon said.

I really connect with Woo because before I used to get made fun of for who I was and I really became insecure of who I was as a person but from K-pop and the popularity of my culture it really opened my eyes of how I’m so much more than those hurtful words that people would say to me.

Also in society now Asian culture is becoming more prominent in entertainment like the movie “Crazy Rich Asians.”

It really makes me so proud because Asian culture is not shown enough in theaters and the entertainment industry in America. It really shows how society is growing to be more diverse and shows example to kids of themselves of how they can achieve anything. I know that a lot of people were impacted by that film and other more that are coming out with leading Asian actors and actresses.

I became aware overtime of how my culture is so important and how I should be appreciated and especially for the hard work my family made to start a family in America. My confidence is strong that I can’t believe where I am in life now and I never imagined what my life is now because I connect with a lot more people and I feel strong for myself of everything I say. I was so shy but I outgrew that and became the better person of who I always wanted to be and I’m continuing growing myself.

I’m going to forever keep my culture so close to me and spread my knowledge to others. In this time of my life I am truly happy and so grateful for my home, South Korea.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM 21

A&E Film

“Boy Erased” Paints a stark and depressing picture of gay conversion therapy

C

By Ayman Mirkhan

Coming out. A phrase we have all heard before. A phrase that many may laugh at or be disgusted by, but at the same time, many may be afraid of it. The thought of not being accepted by society, once you announce your sexuality, has driven many people to the point of suicide.

According to recent studies, suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24 and LGBT victimization has increased those numbers each and every day.

However, as distressing as this is to hear there is a fight to this oppression. It all starts with a movie: “Boy Erased.”

“Boy Erased” came out on Nov. 2 and is still streaming in theaters today. The movie takes place in northern Arkansas where 19 year-old Jarrod Conley (played

by Lucas Hedges) lives with his parents and is preparing to move into college; Jarrod’s father, Marshall Conley, is played by Russell Crowe and Jarrod’s mother, Martha Conley, is played by Nicole Kidman.

The movie starts with a car ride where Jarrod and his mother are going to an unknown destination. After a few flashbacks between the car ride scene, it is revealed that they have finally arrived to their destination: a “gay-conversion” therapy facility.

The unique start to this movie really attracts the attention of almost any viewer. The ideal way to start a story, as many already know, is to begin chronologically and slowly develop the story and characters will the movie has reached its resolution.

“Boy Erased” completely disregards this movie layout and recreates the design of this story to fit the characters. In the conversion therapy, Jarrod constantly has flashbacks to earlier times in his life which led him to this facility and these memories structure the 22 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

Actors Théodore Pellerin (left) and Lucas Hedges (right) in “Boy

movie’s plot to be parallel to all the differma that was to come. ent emotions and issues Jarrod has in this White walls gleamed slightly as Jarrod time of his life; each scene being excellently made his way through the facility and was performed by Lucas Hedges. guided to a storage room. Without any As Jarrod enters the conversion facility, it warning of what is going to happen, the becomes apparent what type of program he employee that was guiding him immediately will endure and definitely leaves you curious demands for all his belongings and takes in how Hedges can reenact these dynamic very sensitive items from Jarrod including and sensitive his journal. scenes.

Before Jarrod The interior goes to meet the of the facility other “sick” people is just like any in the therapy sesother doctors sion, the employee office with establishes all the a secretary rules to Jarrod and dealing with tells him that there the new is no touching, no occupants talking about the AYMAN MIRKHAN and seating session outside of arrangements therapy, all bathfor waiting room visits must be guests. supervised, and many more restricting rules.

It was not until Jarrod went into the center If you did not know what this place is, of the facility that he realized the shear trau- you would either suspect it to be a prison

“Boy Erased” completely disregards this movie layout and recreates the design of this story to fit the characters”

Erased”

Based on the fantastic portrayal of Jarrod’s mother and father, it almost seems that his parents would rather hear that Jarrod was diagnosed with cancer or some other terminal illness; being gay seemed to be equivalent to a fatal disease at this hostile time period.

However, Victor Sykes in this situation makes the analogy of ruining a dollar bill and how we can always put it back together.

From this comparison, my opinion in how homophobic people at this time viewed gay people changed as I saw that they didn’t just resist gay people, but they brainwashed themselves that gay people were legitimately sick; ignorance filling in their mindset as they lack the acceptance of people being different.

Lucas Hedges portrayed the self-struggle of Jarrod perfectly as for a majority of the movie Jarrod just seems confused about who he is. It is at this point of the therapy session that we get a flashback in how this all happened.

It is Jarrod’s first day at college and he meets his roomate Henry Wallace (played

by Joe Alwyn). The two start to form a great friendship until Henry starts to notice Jarrod looking at Henry’s crotch unintentionally.

From “Boy Erased” official website Next thing we know, Henry that night slowly descends onto Jarrod’s bunk bed and or a cult like organization taking hostage of starts to rape him. This traumatic scene is so kids who they think are condemned or some sudden that it completely takes the audience off guard as they witness this sinister act. other deluded thoughts.

Some knocking on the door disrupts this And to be honest, the facility was distressing scene as Henry cries out loud in basically a cult that was clouded by ignoregret of what he has done. It is here where rant thoughts; the innocent children they Henry tells Jarrod this is not the first time he have chose to “save” having to go through has done this and scares Jarrod into going immense mental trauma. The recreation of back home. this environment was produced to directly The last thing I was expecting in this film mimic the feelings of Jarrod as he experiwas a rape scene, but somehow it worked enced the different lessons in therapy. perfectly for this story’s purpose. When Director Joel Edgerton really needs to going into a cinema to watch a movie about be accredited for this perfect set up as any person who watches the movie can see how homosexuality, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As a straight male, I everything revolves around the experience felt it would be very difficult to relate to the of this boy who is being forced to “redeem” struggle the gay protagonist might be going something that does not need to be rethrough since I believed our mindsets would deemed.

Edgerton plays preacher Victor Sykes who be very different.

However, this movie was able to display is the main lead in “converting” the “sinners” who have commited “wrongdoing” by being so much depth that you almost felt like you grew up with the characters. gay and must be “saved.” Edgerton emphaIt was not like Jarrod knew that he was sizes the mindset of not only the facility, but gay and he was just hiding from everyone also most of the nation at this time as the to escape disownment from his family and country is at its high peak in homophobia. friends. He did not know what he was for

a majority of film and only recognized his true feelings when people’s paranoia and ignorance allowed him to accept three crucial words: I am gay.

Simple as it may sound, the acceptance it takes to admit you are gay at a time of hatred like this is major for anyone and witnessing it from the sidelines really allows your eyes to open much wider than they used to and understand the mindset of others.

The movie ends with Jarrod’s mother taking him from the conversion therapy and revealing to Jarrod that she accepts who he wants to be.

The amazing part about this scene is that as Jarrod and Martha talk about acceptance and dealing with Marshall’s ignorance, we see the story be told just from the facial expressions of Lucas Hedges and Nicole Kidman.

Their eyes tell the story of a mother and son’s bond that has kept them connected since the beginning of the film. Also, the fact that Jarrod knows he has someone who has his back gives the audience some sign of hope that there will always be someone out there to help you in a time of need.

We also see Martha’s character development into an independent woman as she doesn’t have to listen to what the crowd has to say any longer. This defiance welling up inside her is very transparent and reveals a hidden message of female independence and shows that when a matter comes to the fate of their children, mothers will always protect their kin; a trend we have seen in multiple instances in all of our lives.

Conversion therapy is a sad attempt to make others who do not accept homosexuality feel better. The idea that people can be “cured” for their differences gives ignorant people some consolation that whatever they are doing is correct.

This is a crucial message that people do not understand as neither side of homosexuality feels like they are doing something wrong, but at the end of the day, it is clear who is creating more harm than good.

“Boy Erased” recognized an issue that needs to be collectively accepted: conversion therapies should be illegal across the entire country. These methods are cruel and abusive and the moment humanity starts to completely deny people’s differences and progressive thinking will lead to our demise.

HUNTLEYVOICE.COM 23

A&E Books

“Throne of Glass” series ends with a riveting twist

A

By Danielle Rhody Author Sarah J. Maas is not as well know as Veronica Roth or Suzanne Collins, but she is making her way to the spotlight with several of her series. Her latest novel “Kingdom of Ash” won the Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy.

The “Throne of Glass” series, her most well-known, has a total of six main books, and one side book. Maas has written three series as well, “A Court of Thorn and Roses,” “Catwoman,” and “Crescent City,” but only “A Court of Thorn and Roses” has been finished.

“A Court of Thorns and Roses” has a total of three books, and is going to have a sequel series as well. A movie based on the series is also in the works.

One big difference between the series “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and “Throne of Glass” series is that “Throne of Glass” is written in third person, with additional points of view added when another main character is introduced in the novel.

“Throne of Glass,” the first book of the story, follows Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin, through her journey of becoming the King’s Champion. Celaena has been a slave in Edovier’s salt mine for over a year, after being captured as an assassin.

Dorian Havillard, the Crown Prince of Adarlan, chooses her to be his competitor in his father’s King’s Champion competition. Chaol Westfall, Dorian’s best friend and Captain of the Royal Guard, is her trainer for the competitions.

Since she is supposed to be in Endovier, she is forced to hide her identity. As the competition progresses, competitors start dying, and Celaena eventually figures out that something is possessing one of the competitors, compelling them to kill the others. She sets out to not only win the competition, but to also stop the person 24 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

Illustration by RVKA Rowan (left) and Aelin (right) fan art

killing the other competitors.

I was hooked after the first couple of chapters. This book was so different than others that I have read. Celena is such a strong character from the beginning to end. This book does have the typical love triangle, but that is not the main focus of the novel, which is a nice change.

In the next book, it is revealed that Celena is not just the country’s number one assassin, but is also the lost princess of Terresean, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius.

Personally, I think that parts of the second book are not that important. The book is a little slow in the beginning, but it does pick up about half way through. After that, it was hard to put down.

Throughout the next four books, there are a plethora of important characters introduced.

Maeve is Aelin’s distant aunt, and the Queen of the Fae. She orders Rowan to train Aelin with regard to her magic ability in “Heir of Fire.” In “Tower of Dawn,” Chaol learns that she is actually the Queen of the Valg, and has deceived the world into believing that she is Fae.

Rowan Whitethorn is a Fae warrior that had been serving Maeve for centuries. He ends up being freed from Maeve by Aelin, after he trained her in “Heir of Fire.” Eventually, he becomes apart of Aelin’s court.

Fenrys, Gaveriel, and Lorcan also serve Maeve. They all serve in Aelin’s court as well.

Aedion Ashryver is a Demi-Fae, and Aelin’s cousin. He is the leader of the Bane, an army of Adarlan. He meets Chaol and Dorian in “Heir of Fire,” and becomes an ally of them, and a part of Aelin’s court.

Lysandra is a courtesan of Aelin’s former master Arobynn. After Aelin is sent to Endovier, she does not see her until “Queen of Shadows,” where Aelin finds out she is a shapeshifter, and becomes apart of Aelin’s court.

Manon Blackbeak is an Ironteeth witch in the Blackbeak coven, as well as the leader of the Thirteen and Wing Leader of the wyvern army. She first appears in “Heir of Fire.”

Erawan is the King of the Valg, and is determined to take over the world. Aelin and her court are assembling an army to defeat

him. He is first mentioned in “Crown of Midnight,” but his first appearance is in “Empire of Storms.”

Elide is the daughter of the Lord of Perranth, a territory of Terresean. She is locked in a tower by her uncle, and is eventually freed by Manon.

Yrene Towers is a healer from the Southern Continent. She has the ability to heal anyone, and can destroy a Valg possessing a person, saving the person’s life. She is married to Chaol, and their life force is tied to each other. After Chaol’s injuries in “Queen of Shadows,” he was paralyzed from the waist down, and through his healing process, was tied to Yrene.

One aspect of all the characters is that they all go through some sort of hardship.

Many book series only has a few characters face an obstacle somewhere throughout the series, and the fact that there are so many characters in this series, I think it makes

the characters more human-like. Even the antagonists have some sort of obstacle they have overcome, which is another special part of this series.

In “Kingdom of Ash”, the final book of the series, the characters are scrambling to gather allies and their armies for their fight against Erwan.

Aelin is being tortured by Maeve, while Fenrys is being forced to watch. Maeve is torturing Aelin to try and find where the Wyrdkeys are, as well as to prevent her from sacrificing herself to seal the Wyrdgate, which is what will send Erawan back to his realm.

Aedion and Lysandra are in the north leading the army in Terrasen. None of Aelin’s allies know that Aelin is being tortured, so Lysandra decides to transform into Aelin to make it appear like Aelin is there.

Dorian and Manon are searching in

Aelin fan a

the west for the Crochan witches, scattered around The Wastes. In “Empire of Storms,” Manon finds out that she is the last Crochan Queen, and decides to try and convince them to fight Erawan with them.

Chaol is sailing back from the Southern Continent with an army to assist Aedion in the north. He was sent there to heal from his wounds he received in “Queen of Shadows,” as well as to find allies.

Rowan, Gaveriel, Lorcan, and Elide are searching for their queen, Aelin, in Wendlyn. They need to find her before the army in Terrasen find out that Aelin is not there.

With everyone having their own points of view, it was a little difficult for me to know who’s point of view I was reading at that time, but after reading a few of them, it became easier. That is one negative about having all of these points of view.

Rowan eventually rescues Aelin and Fenrys, and brings them back to Adarlan.

Dorian leaves Manon and finds the last Wyrdstone, what is needed to seal the Wyrdgate.

Dorian finds Aelin as she and the army are heading up to Terrasen. One night, Dorian and Aelin decide to seal the Wyrdgate together, to try and prevent one of them from dying. Aelin eventually kicks Dorian out to save him and to give Terrasen a fighting chance against Maeve.

One of the goddesses notices Aelin’s willingness to help a friend even when she is about to die, gives her a little bit of magic, and allows her to return back to her friends.

Eventually, all of Aelin’s court meet up in Terresean. In order to give Terrasen a fighting chance, Dorian and Yerne lure Erawan away from Maeve, and are able to kill him by themselves. Meanwhile, Aelin, Rowan, Fenrys, and Lorcan take on Maeve. With their combined power, they take down and kill Maeve.

Overall, “Throne of Glass” is an excellent series. All of the characters have depth, and develop throughout all of the books in the series. Many of the characters are sarcastic, which was a major plus for me.

The plot is interesting, and even though there are multiple points of view in the series, there are major plot twists that leaves Illustration by Vicka the reader wanting to know more. There is never a dull point in the series.

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A&E Film

A Holiday Classic Recap

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A LOOK OVER THE SAGA OF GRINCHES . . .

By Austn Stadie

he holiday season is here, and with it, a movie release that should make all smile and cheer!

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966) “Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot...But the Grinch, who lived just

north of Who-ville, did not!” The year was 1966 when critics were surprised for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was released and gave them even more than was advertised. It began as a famous book, but was soon transformed into something animated that allowed people to look.

The runtime was a mere 26 minutes, but the quality remained high and certainly didn’t diminish. It featured one Boris Karloff, who played both the narrator and the Grinch. He played many famous roles during his time, that pushed his career ahead inch by inch. These roles included the famed “Frankenstein” and “Thriller” both of which were box office killers. As mentioned before, the movie was impossible to ignore, and for that reason the people clamoured for more. . .

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ll three films were very solid and unquestionably funny, b they decided to include. Most notably, where they raise th it indeed means something significantly more. It isn’t som side. It is a time for giving, sharing, and spending time wi

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) It was 34 years later when a reboot was created, this time with a runtime

that was heavily inflated. The 104 minute film was certainly merry, in it came a much younger Jim Carrey. He was cast as the Grinch, a perfect fit, who did an excellent job, I will definitely admit. “Gossip Girl” star, Taylor Momsen, acted alongside him. She played the little Cindy Lou Who, who was only two, and let me tell you, she was adorable all the way through.

Other great actors and actresses I must include, for the likes of Christine Baranski and Bill Irwin both performed fantastic too.

The first movie was not released in the theater, so it could not have been a box office leader. With an opposing hand came a studio with a plan, to the theaters they released the flick, and oh did it bring in money quick.

The first weekend it opened, it blew the doors wide open, with a sizable $55 million, which is more than enough for any civilian. The revenue continued to climb until it hit $260 million, there it stalled, but it payed for itself and more with all the money it had hauled. Another recreation wouldn’t be seen until many years later, but the question was, would it be greater?

“The Grinch” It is now 2018, and here it arrives, “The Grinch,” what a pleasant surprise. The movie is back, this time an animation, something that was seen within the first generation. When compared visually with (2018)

what was seen in the past, this movie has more than surpassed. 86 minutes flat is where its length sat, and this may very well have affected its stats.

I’d hate to be seen as a hater due to this review, but perhaps this movie wasn’t something they should have pursued. This is reflected well in its Rotten Tomatoes score, where it landed a lowly 58 percent, and left many asking for more. Nevertheless, it has made bank, and lifelong fans are likely to thank. In just a month, the movie has made $276 million worldwide, which should certainly make the studio feel satisfied.

but at times could leave your eyes runny. This is due to the lessons he question that perhaps Christmas doesn’t come from a store, but mething you can just buy, but it is a feeling that comes from inith those who care, because nothing else is able to compare.

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Sports Basketball

Pasco Plays On. Senior Davis Pasco starts off the season successfully

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By Olivia Mack

Perspiration drips from his forehead as a sudden jolt of adrenaline surges through his body. He steals the basketball from his opponent, then runs in a zig-zag motion in order to create some form of distraction.

Reaching the three point line, 17-year-old varsity Red Raiders basketball player Davis Pasco leaps into the air, and successfully gets the basketball through the hoop, aiding us in our win against Dundee Crown.

Pasco has played basketball ever since the young age of six, and has played for Huntley High School for all four years. Pasco fills the role of a shooting guard on his team.

HHS varsity basketball coach William Benson has known Pasco since his freshman year, and holds a close relationship with the team in general. Pasco shares his excitement for this years season, preparing in as many ways possible.

“I think [this year] I’ll do pretty good,” Pasco said.

“Coach Benson and the other players have pretty much set me up for success right now.”

Last year Pasco was the fourth top scorer for varsity, and so far is off to a good start for this years season.

He was recruited for two division three colleges, both in Iowa, Loras college as well as Central College. Pasco has yet to commit to one of them.

Benson is glad of his decision to make Pasco one of the leaders for the team, with Pasco starting out with filling a role similar to what a team captain would do last year.

“I think he’s doing a really good job being a vocal leader. He has all good leadership qualities,” Benson said. “I think he kind of does a little bit of everything for us. He rebounds, he passes, he can score.”

Pasco also plays two other sports, baseball and football. He is very interactive and involved in the school, as he is also one of the leaders of Student Athletic Leadership Team. He has a bright future ahead of him, and hopes to major in Sports Management once he does choose a college.

His father is the one that sparked his interest basketball.

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“My dad played basketball at the University of South Carolina so he got me into it,” Pasco said. “He taught me basically everything I know for basketball.”

Pasco would call his dad one of his biggest supporters, as his family tries to attend every single one of his games.

Outside of playing for the school’s team, last year he played for Mercury Elite, a youth basketball program.

Not only did playing for that team contribute to making him a better player, but it gave him more practice.

Pasco never misses the chance to watch film footage from the game to see how he can improve. Outside of that then he trains with some of his friends from the team.

Senior Blake Ottaviano, a power forward for the team, has known Pasco since middle school. They continue to work together on the team and aspire to win as many games as possible.

“Even on the football field, he’s very competitive. Baseball, same thing,” Ottaviano said. “Basketball is going to be a real ride playing with him and making sure we can do the best we can to win each game.”

Pasco is known for working hard in order to seek out what he wants in regards of his future within basketball, and the season now.

“He’s a great kid and I think he’s a kid thats filling the high school experiences as well and as best as he can,” Benson said. “He’s been our heart and soul.”

Pasco is known on the team for being very competitive and adamant about winning, working as hard as he possibly can. Benson notices how unselfish Pasco is as a player, which is a beneficial quality to have as a student athlete.

He continues in the right direction for basketball, and has a promising future in the sport.

Pasco has the chance to learn from his experiences and athletics and grow.

“Focus on the people and the practice and then the wins that follow,” Pasco said.

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Sports Tumbling

Tumbling Into Her Future.

Erica Bishop uses background in gymnastics to pursue her dreams

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By Madison Barr

Fire breathers and trapeze artists had performed in Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena, and avid tumbler Erica Bishop loved what she saw and knew she had to be a part of it.

Bishop has been tumbling at Flight Club in Huntley for approximately 10 years and can not remember a time where she did not have a whole-hearted passion for the sport.

“I’ve been tumbling for as long as I can remember and I honestly didn’t know how I was oing to stop,” Bishop said.

Faced with the challenge of being a high school senior and moving onto the next chapter of her life, she began to search into looking for any possible way to continue her love for tumbling when she transitioned into college.

After finding out about a program at Illinois State University, it seemed like a no brainer that she had to at least check it out and learn more about it.

But this newly-introduced program was not a typical tumbling extracurricular or club.

Bishop had been introduced to the Gamma Phi Circus which is held through Illinois State University, which is located in Normal, Illinois.

Illinois State’s Gamma Phi Circus first opened its doors in 1929 and has gone on to have its alumni perform within organizations such as Cirque de Soleil and Disney World.

The oldest collegiate circus in the United States has multiple youth programs, typically for children in 3rd through 8th grade such as their summer camps and Junior Gamma Phi CIrcus.

And since she did not have much of an idea as to what she wanted to pursue in college, Bishop thought there would not be any better way to start her search than by looking into the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State.

The Gamma Phi Circus hosts a full supply of acts ranging from fire eating, to their strong roots in gymnastics and tumbling.

“I was mainly interested in the flipping ones, especially trampoline, because last year I made it on the United States Tumbling and Trampoline Association elite national team and I like to show it off,” Bishop said.

30 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

In fact, she was so excited about the different possibilities of things she could do, that she almost bought a unicycle just to try it out and see if she was any good at it.

While she was stuck on the idea of going to Illinois State and potentially auditioning for Gamma Phi Circus in the near future, Bishop still made her rounds at other college campuses to see what they would offer to her educational career.

After visiting schools like Michigan State University and DePaul University, Bishop practically had a revelation in discovering what would be more fitting for her as she transitions into college.

“I really loved these other schools, like DePaul and Michigan State, and I started to realize that I only wanted to go to Illinois State to join the circus,” Bishop said. “Not because I loved the school, and I thought I’d probably regret that at some point in my life.”

Not to mention that the likelihood of pursuing a successful career in professional tumbling would not be the most logistically-sound route nor would it be the most financially stable or supportive when it comes to the long term.

“When I first wanted to go to Illinois State, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Bishop said. “Then I decided I wanted to be a lawyer, so I was looking at, and visiting schools that had good criminology or criminal justice programs.”

While joining the Gamma Phi Circus program at Illinois State is the opportunity of a lifetime for Bishop, the school just has not filled her needs in regard to her future, which is of the utmost importance.

Even though joining Gamma Phi Circus does not look to be as much of a possibility as it once had to Bishop, if the opportunity to be a part of a circus-centric program ever came her way down the line, there is no way she would be able to turn the offer down.

“If you’re not 100 percent decided on your major, you should do what you want,” Bishop said. “You can always transfer if you find you need to, but for a year or two, why not have some fun?”

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Sports Karate

Shotokan Karate Taken to the Next Level. Erica Bilderbach represents US in Karate World Championship

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By Jordyn Grist

Sophomore Erica Bilderbach first donned a gi when she was just 8-years-old. At the time, she was a beginner, a white belt, now, eight years later, she proudly wears a second degree black-belt.

Joining karate is a custom in her family that began on Erica’s mother’s side of the family. Her grandfather participated in shotokan karate, and afterwards he raised Erica’s mom and aunt with the sport too.

“Her mom, grandfather and aunt have all done karate. Her aunt competed at the level that Erica is performing at, so I think it is in her blood,” Brian Bilderbach, Erica’s famade it clear she could stop if she ther, said. disliked it.

“Being able to have the At first it The rest is was merely option to compete at inter- history. experimenIt wasn’t national competitions and until tal; Erica’s she grandwas 12 years wear the U.S. flag patch mother that Eron her gi is something she old asked if she ica began to would give takes pride in.” try out for shotokan the Illinois karate a shot Shotokan BRIAN BILDERBACH through a Karate six weekClub Team, long camp through the Park District. a group where she could train and Her family was supportive and always compete in state, national, pan-Amer32 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

Erica Bilderbach using a roundhouse kick in the middle of a m

ican, and world championships.

She made it onto the junior karate team when she was 12 as a backup competitor, and finally made it on officially after she turned 13. With this new chapter open before her, Bilderbach knew she would have to train harder than ever.

It was intense to say the least, ruthless strain on muscles, and merciless heat while running in the summer.

But she fought on and came out even stronger than before.

“In the summer, we go to this hill in Palatine, and we have to run there.

It’s maybe a mile and a half or two

match.

Sports Karate

tion with over 2,500 competitors from with others gathered from all over the 67 countries,” Brain said. “[Erica] will U.S. [compete in the same division as] 85 “I’ve made a lot of friends just by competitors from 26 countries in kata traveling. Just by traveling to nation[forms], and 88 competitors from 32 als, you see them, and maybe they countries in kumite [sparring].” compete in your division. When you Even with so many competitors travel outside the country, not everyfrom so many countries, Erica never one makes the team, so you’ll travel becomes discouraged. She believes in with some of [the people you know]; herself and her capabilities, and she many of them you don’t really know,” goes into her matches with a positive Erica said. “It’s stuff like that where outlook.

I’ve made a lot of friends; I’ll keep in Her sportsmanship, ambition, and touch with some of them, whether it skill has won her a second place title be on Snapchat or following them on and medal Instagram.”

“In that moment I realized in the 2017 UnforShotokan tunately, that I’m representing my Karate World country right now and that I because Tournakarate is not just placed second. And it’s formally ment for her previous age an amazing feeling. It just recognized and weight as a sport feels like such an accomdivision. for college plishment because of all “I went to scholarships, Italy last year the hard work I’ve put into Erica has and placed received it, and now it all finally paid not second in a anything S. Laput world chamoff.” regarding pionship for colleges. But Courtsey of E. Bilderbach Kumite. It’s she will conERICA BILDERBACH so cool, you tinue to train can’t even miles there, then we do exercises up and compete put it into words, ” Erica said.

“It was and down the hill, then run those two in the sport for as long as she enjoys unbelievable. In that moment I realmiles back,” Erica said while laughit; she even plans to pursue a career in ized that I’m representing my couning, “And yeah, it’s hot.” sports medicine. try right now and that I just placed She has been training a bit more “Erica is a really devoted, dedicated lightly since fall began because of the second. And it’s an amazing feeling. It and disciplined athlete. She trains decrease in competitions in the win- just feels like such an accomplishment very hard,” Brian said. “Being able to because of all the hard work I’ve put tertime, but according to Erica, that have the option to compete at interinto it, and now it all finally paid off.” national competitions and wear the won’t last through the summer.

She is thrilled to be returning to the U.S. flag patch on her gi is something Although, recently she has been world tournament held in Italy again she takes pride in.” preparing to head off to the Shotokan this year; she will be participating in Karate World Tournament, which The young sophomore will remain the week of Dec. 10 in both kumite will be held in Italy from Dec. 14 in karate for as long as time permits. and kata, though she prefers kumite. In 2019, she will be at the competithrough Dec. 16.

And Erica won’t be alone. She’s “The tournament in Italy this tions in Las Vegas and Chicago, and made many friends just by traveling month is an international competifor many years thereafter.

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A&E Film

“Widows”: A cunning and dark film

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By Braden Turk Steve McQueen has proven himself to be one of the hardest directors to pin down. Despite having directed four films, he has somehow covered a wide array of genres, ranging everywhere from heist thrillers to docu-dramas.

His latest work, the Chicago-set “Widows,” is an example of the former, following a group of widows whose criminal husbands’ deaths leave them in financial crisis. After Veronica, played by Viola Davis, finds her spouse’s notebook extensively detailing their next heist, she decides to take matters into her own hands and finish the job.

But before moving onwards, it is is best to reflect on what the director has already done and if his newest film holds up to the expectations set by his previous works, all three of which are worth revisiting.

McQueen’s feature debut, “Hunger,” focuses on the final days in the life of Bobby Sands, as well as the Irish prison strikes of 1981 swirling around him. Sands and other prisoners took place in what is now known as The Troubles, a guerilla war demanding Northern Ireland’s sovereignty from the United Kingdom.

Three years later, he dipped his toes into fictional work with 2011’s “Shame,” a movie starring Michael Fassbender as a sex addict. Critics praised the acting and uncompromising truths of the film, but it ultimately went under audience’s radars due to its NC-17 rating.

A mere two years afterwards, McQueen directed without a doubt his most popular work, “12 Years a Slave,” a 150-minute biography of free-man-turned-slave Solomon Northup. After winning an Oscar for Best Director, McQueen disappeared from the public eye and created only a handful of short films -- until now.

In addition to Viola Davis, “Widows” also stars Elizabeth Debicki, Colin Farrell, 34 THE VOICE DECEMBER 2018

From “Widows” Twitter Cover photo of “Widows” actors and actresses

and Daniel Kaluuya, among others. This ensemble cast is generally very strong, with Kaluuya’s minor antagonistic role commanding the audience’s attention despite only being a small part of the overall plot.

Farrell’s character, a politician trying to step out of the shadow cast by his father, is also surprisingly interesting. In one of the movie’s best scenes, shot in one take, Farrell is driven across town, with the background eventually turning from a rundown Chicago neighborhood to his own posh residence. It’s a really meaningful shot and elevates what would otherwise be a solely expository scene.

Another scathing social statement is made when an African-American teenager is shot by a policeman when he reaches for his glove box, with several copies of Obama’s “hope” poster plastered on the wall behind him.

The action aspects of “Widows” are similarly solid. The heist scene in particular was very well executed, the tension palpable and weight of the characters’ choices looming heavily over the audience.

McQueen’s direction is as strong as ever.

He leads his ensemble cast with confidence and aims his camera at the finest of details.

In “Hunger,” he captured the fall of a feather on Bobby Sands’ deathbed and in “Widows,” McQueen focuses on the tip

of a record player’s stylus when Veronica plays some music. These intricate observations help breathe life into the films’ worlds and immerse the viewer in the action.

Another trademark of the director is that of unflinchingly brutal violence, which McQueen uses to great effect, especially in the first scene, which intercuts romantic moments of Viola Davis and Liam Neeson with a frantic car chase.

Unfortunately, the weaknesses of the movie are impossible to ignore, especially when analyzing the script. Character motivations are understandable but ultimately confusing due to how thinly spread the development is. As it stands, the characters are mostly just archetypes, with very little rhyme to reason as to why they do what they do.

Even with this flaw, “Widows” is an exciting heist thriller that proves the talent of its director and shows great potential for him in the future. Whether McQueen returns to the docudrama genre or sticks with his newfound prowess for fictional work remains to be unseen, but whatever he does next, it is sure to be worth watching.

If you like your action movies with hints of deeper meaning, then you will savor the taste of “Widows.” Just do not expect to be leaving the theater completely satisfied.

Editorial

A look into blended culture Its impact on the way we learn

There are many liberties Huntley High School offers us as students. We have the ability to go hang out with our friends at Starbucks third hour and collaborate on a project, a 47-minute class period to take a nap and recharge or meet with your favorite teacher. The sad truth is that many of privileges we have are misused and have caused our student culture to deteriorate.

Blended learning has opened up a new avenue for students to take charge of their education and learn the way they want to. However, at what cost does school culture have to suffer for this?

Since blended has become more popular at Huntley, it is obvious that it has shifted the student culture.The pros to this shift are extensive as it teaches self-motivation and time management, but the cons are heavily prevalent as well.

The blended program has inadvertently affected student involvement and school spirit as students become more comfortable with their freedom outside of the classroom.

While work expectations for blended days are treated equally on paper, in practice, many students spend very little time actually doing work.

At pep rallies and spirit weeks we see less participation. If a student is blended in 4 or more classes, they can realistically be at home for over half of the school day. It’s hard to make Huntley a home if students are not even present the majority of the time.

This not only lowers the expectation for school involvement but also effort. If a student is told that it is acceptable to be blended while bordering a D+, then a students motivation to do well in a class halts as long as they can hover above a 69 percent.

The structure of traditional school learning provides a foundation for everything we do in life, from our future 9 to 5 jobs, to the arguments we may have with our peers we do not see eye to eye with.

When half the week is spent outside the classroom students are not able to form as strong of bonds with teachers as well as build relationships with their peers. This can be isolating for many students. More students pass through their days in high school without building any meaningful relationships.

“There have been studies and research done about people who have substance abuse problems, depression, anxiety, and how that correlates to the lack of true connection in their lives, connection with other people,” psychology teacher Shannon Phillips said. “When you are going home half of the day and spending your days alone, I just think that’s weird.”

This makes it difficult for teachers to spot a struggling student. So while other students may get more help than ever possible before blended, others are being left in the dust.

“I think it depends on the person you are and who you surround yourself with because blended can be really beneficial if you make it that way,” senior Zoe Strepek said.

“If you actually take it as an opportunity go in and get that one-on-one help you need.”

Collaborating with other students on projects, discussing different opinions amongst colleagues, knowing when you need to ask questions, all these skills are vital assets that we do not realize we are missing out on.

Though many of these skills are already learned in middle school and elementary school, the severity and intensity is more relevant to post-high school obstacles.

Our blended program provides students with the opportunity to learn in a way that works for them. It takes pounds of stress off of many students and lays down the foundations for a student to have valuable one-on-one work with teachers and more involved conversation. This however, relies on each students own personal drive.

“As we really try to think about the direction of the school and what we’re trying to do with it, we’re trying to give students pathways for them to pick which way of learning is best for them,” Assistant Principal Shelly Kish said. “We’re still teaching the standards, we’re still teaching the same skills and content for the classes, it’s just a matter of the learning method or which way that works best for student.”

Blended is not for everyone and we should be tightening regulations to make the most of what blended should be.

Students, parents, teachers, and counselors should have honest conversations about the good blended can potentially do for a student but also what negatives there may be.

This is a school of young developing minds and while we should let them experiment with independence, we must be careful to make sure we are instilling good work ethic and the value of community along the way.

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