February 2022 Issue

Harvard-Westlake • Studio City • Volume 31 • Issue 6 • February 16, 2022 • hwchronicle.com

Students take part in SDLC

School board member visits class

Students who attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) gave their annual presentation to the faculty and administration Jan. 25.

During the discussion, students responded to a post by the Instagram account @wokeathw, which featured a leaked transcript of the previous year’s meeting.

Dylan Perkins ’23, Fernanda Herrera ’23, Nicole Lee ’24, Nilufer Mistry Sheasby ’24, Zenmarah Duruisseau ’22 and Cionnie Pineda ’22 attended the conference, which unites diverse students from independent schools around the country to discuss how they can create change at their respective academic institutions. After the conference, students gave a presentation to faculty members, focusing on the importance of identity in everyday life.

Duruisseau said the presentation was intended to both inform teachers and administrators about SDLC and introduce various opportunities for social justice efforts on campus.

“The purpose is for the faculty to understand what we do [at SDLC],” Duruisseau said. “Most [faculty members] have no idea what SDLC is, which is a problem. They need to know what it is. We give the presentation about how [the school] can diversify [its academic] curriculum or how they should diversify the faculty, staff [and] student body.

Last year, we gave the idea to create a diversity board, which is basically [an] Honor Board specifically for cases [relating to] racism and racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, etc.”

Duruisseau said she finds it empowering to use what she learned at the conference to help create change at the school.

“SDLC has impacted me by allowing me to really make change that I can see within my own community,” Duruisseau said. “For example, [the school] will be implementing an African American studies course next year, starting in fall 2022.”

• Continued on A3

with racist experiences in the Stu- passed away a number of years dio City community. ago who accused me of plagiarism “Every now and then, some in the classroom,” Price said. “I’ll of the neighbors of the school on never forget [how] I had to call my Coldwater Canyon intentional- father, and he had to take off from ly called the police on us,” Price work to come up to the school said. “For whatever reason, I guess and share with that teacher that I we didn’t belong in the neighbor- didn’t plagiarize, but that he had hood. And there were a number helped me with my homework. of times where a As he asked the few of us ended teacher what ciup in the backtation she was Some of the seat of police cars looking for, and neighbors of the school where I plagiawith handcuffs on, [and since] rized the [assignon Coldwater Canyon we didn’t have ment] from, all intentionally called the cell phones back the teacher could police on us.” then, of course, say was, ‘Well, [we tried] to pe— Emmett G. Price III ’92 I just know he tition the police didn’t write this.

Educator and Speaker I know he didn’t officers to call the school so write this.’” that the school could vouch that While Price said he experiwe were students and that we be- enced racial bias on campus, he longed in the neighborhood and also said he had positive memories in the community.” from his years at the school, such Price said he also faced racism as participating in Latin class and on campus, citing a teacher who learning the importance of teamaccused him of academic dishon- work while playing basketball. esty and insisted he was incapable He said several teachers made an of producing strong writing. impact on him and helped shape “I remember a teacher who his career path. • Continued on A2

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education Vice President Nick Melvoin ’04 spoke to the Directed Study: Public Education in America—Ideal to Reality course Feb. 9.

Before his work on the board as representative for District 4, which encompasses West Los Angeles and the West San Fernando Valley, Melvoin attended Harvard College, received his law degree at New York University and worked as a LAUSD teacher.

Melvoin said he wanted to have a positive impact on his listeners by responding to their questions, providing details about his work and providing career advice to students planning to enter similar fields in the future.

“The opportunity to come back and talk a little bit about my journey with students whose seats I [once sat] in was important to me,” Melvoin said. “I knew that I would meet some great students and leaders, learn, get to answer some questions, hopefully clarify some things and maybe inspire some folks to go to the path of politics or education or both.”

Associate Head of School Laura Ross, who teaches the course, said she hopes that students from a private institution like the school gain a better grasp of the country’s education system through the directed study.

“I hope [students] see that a strong education system for all students in the United States is central to our democracy and that we are falling short in this fundamental promise in many ways in our country,” Ross said. “I also want them to understand that these are incredibly complicated issues with no easy solutions, [so] we look together as a class at various efforts on the local, state and national levels to help improve our situation.”

Junior Prefect Yoshimi Kimura ’23 said she enjoyed the class discussion with Melvoin.

“I thought he was a very charismatic speaker who understood the complexities of his constituency well,” Kimura said.

C1

D1

By Sydney Fener and Alec Rosenthal

By Will Sherwood

LUCAS COHEN-D’ARBELOFF/CHRONICLE

LOOKING BACK: Dr. Emmett G. Price III ’92, the inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music, recalls core memories from his time in high school, including harrowing experiences of racism on campus.

Alumnus and scholar speaks during recent Community Flex Time webinar

By Lucas Cohen-d’Arbeloff Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club (BLACC) hosted educator, writer and speaker Dr. Emmett G. Price III ’92 in a webinar honoring Black History Month on Feb. 7. Price, who serves as the inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music, spoke to the community about his experience in high school and contemporary issues of racism. The virtual event featured several student performances and a Q&A session in a webinar format on Zoom.

The meeting opened with Olivia Sparks ’22 reading an original spoken word poem about the experience of Black people in America and performing a dance celebrating the beauty of natural Black hair. BLACC co-leaders Ash Wright ’22 and Eghosasere Asemota ’22 discussed the significance of Black History Month and introduced Price, who was part of the inaugural year of BLACC when he attended the school.

Price reflected on his experience as a Black student dealing

“

IN THIS ISSUE

A7 Winning Designs: Julia Im’s ’23 “The Leap of Motherhood” earned her a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

A10 Maintaining Diplomacy: Amid conflict with Russia in Ukraine, the West must improve its diplomacy to avoid catastrophe.

B4-5 The Rise of ASiA: With the Asian Students in Action (ASiA) club doubling in size this year, members reflect on its cultural impact.

Passionate Performers: With “Spring Awakening” officially opening Feb. 18, cast members consider its explicit content.

Breaking Boundaries: This season, Prentiss Corbin ’22 becomes the first girl to play on the school’s lacrosse team.

A2 News

The Chronicle

BLACC presents educator

Feb. 16, 2022

• Continued from A1

“I think about folks like John Thomas West, who was my guidance counselor,” Price said. “In my senior year, as I was graduating, I did an independent study with him that actually birthed my scholarly interest in the Black American cultural experience, both musically but also in terms of broader culture.”

BLACC leader Camryn Williams ’22 said she noticed significant parallels between the current Black experience at the school and Price’s several decades ago.

After the event concluded, she said she was saddened to hear many students were distracted by their surroundings and did not lend their full attention to Price’s words.

“The thing about this Community Flex Time was that a lot of people didn’t think it was mandatory,” Williams said. “Some people that I had talked to afterward were expressing to me how they sort of tuned out, and they were mainly the students that were not of color. I think that those are the people that honestly needed to hear [Price’s] words the most.

So that was a little disappointing, but I think other people that were paying attention will definitely [be impacted] from hearing him.”

Singer-songwriter Kiki Cooper ’23 said she admires how Price has used music to advance social change and cultural expression throughout his career.

“As a musician myself, I really appreciated how he talked about how powerful music can be in terms of topics of race, and how it can bring a lot of people together,” Cooper said. “Just knowing how influential he can be, and how [music] can give people strength in times when he himself experienced incidents due to his race, he took a lot of those as important opportunities to learn and be inspired. I really liked how he intertwined music with his overall message.”

PHOTO PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SCARLETT PINKEY

PICK UP STICKS: Danny Liu ’24, Matteo Dall’Olmo ’22, Ethan Joie ’22 and Josh Barnavon ’23 look on as Nicole Lee ’24 and Nilufer Mistry-Sheasby ’24 compete in a chopsticks race at ASiA’s Lunar New Year Event. Lee won by moving all her M&Ms from one bowl to the other first.

ASiA hosts students and faculty at afterschool event celebrating Lunar New Year

By Kriste An

Asian Students in Action (ASiA) hosted a Lunar New Year Festival on Feb. 1. The event, held on the Quad, featured a variety of booths filled with games, crafts and traditional foods.

The festival welcomed around 500 students and faculty members from both the Middle and Upper School, according to ASiA leader Avery Kim ’23. Kim said the celebration was a meaningful event for club members and community members, given the importance of the holiday in Asian communities.

“We’ve been planning the Lunar New Year Festival for a couple of months,” Kim said. “We wanted the event to be ASiA’s biggest event of the year, given the cultural significance [the holiday] bears within Asian families and communities. We’ve asked club members regarding [their

thoughts and] took [their opin- ddak-ji and mi-bao, for examions] into account as we planned ple, was an enlightening experithe [festival]. We wanted to make ence. Seeing students’ and faculthe festival a fun and easy op- ty members’ enthusiasm for the portunity for students to take a games I had grown up with is a glimpse into Asian traditions.” memory that is definitely going ASiA member Natalie Lim ’24 to stick with me for a lifetime.” said she is glad students Club member Ryan of various cultural Cheng ’24 said he apbackgrounds were able preciates the welcomto connect with Asian ing atmosphere that culture and traditions the leaders fostered. through the variety of He said in the past he activities featured at celebrated only with the festival. She also his family, and that he said she enjoyed watchenjoyed being able to ing people learn about share the special event L. Wood cultures different from with other students.

Avery their own.

“The festival was Kim ’23 “The Lunar New an amazing experience Year Festival was amazing,” Lim that brought students and faculsaid. “It was incredible to see ty members around campus tostudents and teachers of all back- gether to celebrate the new year,” grounds take a genuine interest Cheng said. “The food and fun in Asian foods, traditions and games allowed people to enjoy games. Witnessing students’ eyes Asian culture with their friends light up after winning rounds of in a welcoming and approachable

way. Growing up, I viewed Lunar New Year as a family tradition, so being able to celebrate the holiday with others at the school was a unique experience. The school community felt like a giant family in a lot of ways.”

Kim said she is proud of the festival’s large turnout and she enjoyed bringing together the school community to celebrate the event. She said she is happy students from different campuses could join.

“The Lunar New Year Festival was a great opportunity to unite with other members of ASiA as well as with the rest of the Harvard-Westlake community,” Kim said. “It was an exciting and beautiful experience, witnessing students from the Middle and Upper School, as well as teachers, come together to enjoy Asian culture. I am truly impressed with the turnout of students and faculty members we had.”

School releases updated Visions

By Davis Marks and Natalie Cosgrove

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

President Rick Commons released a report summarizing the results of the school’s Visions survey in a email Feb. 7. The school sent the survey to the school community in September for feedback on what the school’s future priorities should be.

The report highlighted six areas of growth for the school: excellence (strengthening academic, athletic and artistic programs), inclusion (diversity, equity and inclusion work), balance (campus transition, homework policy and testing calendars), pedagogical and curricular innovation (cross-campus consistency, professional development and more interdisciplinary subjects), service to Los Angeles (River Park, sustainability and community service) and character (student leadership, service learning and social-emotional programming).

Commons said he views the report as a way to progress on the

school’s ongoing goals.

“We are imagining what this school might be when everyone feels that equal sense of belonging,” Commons said. “We have an opportunity to reimagine things when we think strategically. We can recognize goals unfulfilled that we can still pursue.

The next steps are to take the visions for 2020 and revise [...] and strengthen and modernize [them] for the upcoming chapter of the school’s history.”

To implement changes at the school, Commons said he will analyze data collected in the survey with Director of Institutional Research Mike Barker and then discuss the results with the Board of Trustees and other members of the administration.

Barker, who played a large role in creating the Visions survey and report, said it is necessary for the school to listen to the community to be able to implement meaningful change.

“One of the primary responsibilities in my role at the school

is to help analyze and synthesize information and various forms of data to facilitate decision making,” Barker said. “I think it is important for schools to listen closely to their communities, [and] while I have not been here a full year, it seems to me the leadership team is deeply committed to listening as they lead.”

2072 people responded to the survey, 56% of whom were students, 27% parents and guardians, 9% staff and 7% alumni.

Sophomore Prefect Nyla Shelton ’24 said the report shows that the administration considered feedback from the community to improve the school.

“I really appreciate [Commons’s] and the faculty’s effort to use feedback from students, parents, faculty and alumni to better our school and community,” Shelton said. “Though I believe there to be more room for growth [within] certain aspects of the survey, it is evident in the report that necessary and valued growth is being made.”

Feb. 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/news

News A3

Students address SDLC quote leak

• Continued from A1

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Ethics Bowl team places third in virtual regional tournament

By Jackson Mayer

Ethics Bowl team members participated in the virtual Southern California High School Ethics Bowl on Feb. 5. Club co-leader Micah Gold ’22, Editor-in-Chief and co-leader Tessa Augsberger ’22, co-leader Rhea Madhogarhia ’22, co-leader Izzy Welsh ‘22, Assistant News Editor Natalie Cosgrove ’23, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor Georgia Goldberg ’23 and Rohan Madhogarhia ’22 competed at the tournament. The team debated issues such as predictive policing, private data usage and the rights of unvaccinated people in triage situations before a panel of judges.

The team advanced to the semifinal round of the tournament, placing third overall. Rhea Madhogarhia said although the tournament was virtual, she appreciated having in-person practices after a year of meeting over Zoom.

“This year, the seniors on the

team were the only ones to ever experience an in-person season and tournament, so it was really fun to get back to discussing cases and holding meetings in person, rather than on Zoom,” Rhea Madhogarhia said. “I think in-person meetings really helped build a successful team dynamic, which was helpful in making sure we had a good team connection during the online competition.”

Rhea Madhogarhia said she initially signed up to partake in Ethics Bowl over debate because she believes Ethics Bowl promotes more quick thinking and requires less policy research.

“While I really enjoyed being a parliamentary debater when I was younger, I began to find that debate for me became less about argumentation or crafting logical responses and more about research and preparedness,” Rhea Madhogarhia said. “I really enjoy environments that push you to think quickly on your feet and wanted to continue exercising that skill. Ethics Bowl was the

perfect mix of learning something new, ethics and continuing the parts of debate I enjoyed.”

Gold said since the team did not work closely with a faculty advisor following former advisor Dr. Charles Berezin’s retirement last year, they worked together to prepare for the tournament.

“This was the first year that we did not have a coach helping us prepare,” Gold said. “In prior years, the now-retired Berezin had helped us run through the cases and write up responses. This year, the entire process was student-led.”

Team member Carter Staggs ’23, who said he did not compete in the tournament, said he enjoys Ethics Bowl because it allows him to engage in discourse on moral issues and hear his teammates’ viewpoints.

“I like the idea of engaging in conversation about ethical concepts with my classmates and having to find common ground and reconcile our ideas,” Staggs said.

English Teacher Stephen who met with Duruisseau on Feb. Thompson said both faculty and 4 to discuss the issue, said he does students benefit from the SDLC not know how the leak happened presentations because faculty but that he is disappointed by the members are provided with a incident. He said the SDLC prenew perspective and students are sentations were valuable for the given a forum to use their voices. staff and that the Instagram post “I feel that it is really import- was not made in good faith. ant for the faculty to hear the re“I’m unclear on how the @ ports the students give from the wokeathw account became conference, not only because it aware a year ago of the presentais generally edifying and infor- tion by SDLC,” Commons said. mative, but I also think that it “There was a post that was critis empowering for the students ical of that presentation. That themselves, students who often was hurtful to the people who may not feel the most confident made the presentation, and I in their voices,” Thompson said. was sorry to see it because I felt “I think it is really important for that that group has been very us to value those students and good at kindly helping us to unfor those students to know that derstand how to do better, and I they are valued.” didn’t like seeing a criticism on Diversity, Equity and Inclu- [the account]. I thought it was sion (DEI) Director not in keeping with Janine Jones said that the spirit of the presenthe presentation to the tation or the spirit of faculty also serves the our community.” purpose of bringing atIn this year’s SDLC tention to the valuable presentation, Duexperiences students ruisseau addressed have outside of school. the publishing of the These presentations quotes on @wokeathw. are private, according She said she specificalL. Wood to Duruisseau and Pily spoke about how the Zenmarah neda, so that the stuadministration did not Duruisseau ’22 dents’ disclosures realert her to the leak main confidential and the school or apologize for the incident at can make decisions about social the time it occurred and how it justice efforts without height- affected her. ened public scrutiny.

“No one from [the school] However, in July 2021, tran- notified me and [Pineda] that scripts of the presentation ap- we were mentioned in a post peared on the Instagram account that has the school’s name on it,” @wokeathw. The account, run Duruisseau said. “No one apoloby parents, alums, students and gized to us. It’s very frustrating faculty, is dedicated to docu- that [the school] never took an menting the self-destruction of initiative to look out for their the school, according to their own kids. My biggest issue is Instagram bio. Although the that a grown adult recorded chilpost did not name the students dren, which is illegal in the state, whose quotes they leaked, call- and sent it to an account that is ing them “Student 1” and “Stu- run by faculty, staff and students dent 2,” Duruisseau and Pine- who are against everything that da said they were the students I stand for. It’s disgusting, and it quoted by the account. angers me so much.”

President Rick Commons, • Continued on hwchronicle.com

Admissions receives record applications

By Will Sherwood

More students have applied to attend the school this year than ever before, according to new data from the Admission ffice. The school received 1,260 applications for the 2022-2023 academic year, about a 3.3% increase from the average of 1,220 applications over the last three years, according to Assistant Director of Admissions Meagan Salmon.

Applications this year were submitted from 356 different sending schools and 268 different zip codes, Salmon said. Of the 290 zip codes in all of Los Angeles County, an area larger than Delaware or Rhode Island, the current student body currently represents 175.

Head of Admission and Enrollment Aaron Mieszczanski said he and his team had to adapt and work hard to increase the number of applications because of [COVID-19].

“It hasn’t been easy, but our

team has been creative, adaptable and steadfast to help prospective families engage with our school community,” Mieszczanski said.

“We did our best to meet people where they are in these uncertain times and also had an extended community of volunteer faculty and staff step up to support our work both virtually and in person.”

Of 1,260 applications overall, 856 applicants—68%— self-identified as people of color, Salmon said. According to the school’s website, the school’s current population includes 59% of students who identify as people of color.

Mieszczanski said the Admission Office has dedicated itself to building classes that are made up of a variety of personalities and cultures.

“We’re intentional about sharing how much our school values diversity of all kinds, and it’s a central part of our story to share with prospective fami-

ILLUSTRATION BY LUCAS COHEN-D’ARBELOFF AND ALEXA DRUYANOFF

lies,” Mieszczanski said. “We’re looking to bring many different backgrounds and voices together at the school, knowing it makes us excellent. We also continue to work closely with different organizations and host specific events for prospective families of color.”

Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said she was excited by the record number of applications.

“Admission is among the most important things we do because it allows us to craft a community that reflects our mission,” Slattery said. “Over the past few

years, I’ve watched our student population become more diverse in important ways, which is essential to maintaining our excellence. This diversity is a direct result of the amazing work being done by our [Admission] Office.”

The applicant pool is evenly divided in terms of gender, Salmon said, with slightly more applicants who self-identify as males than females. Additionally, Salmon said some applicants identified as gender nonconforming on their application.

In March, the school will no-

tify applicants about acceptances.

Approximately 215 spaces are available for admission in the seventh grade, and approximately 90 new students are admitted into the ninth grade each year, Salmon said. Depending upon total school enrollment each year, approximately 10 students are admitted into the 10th grade.

“We usually anticipate three to four applicants for each opening in the seventh grade and approximately four to five applicants for every ninth grade opening,” Salmon said.

A4 News

The Chronicle

Council organizes food drive

Feb 16, 2022

By Iona Lee

Community Council organized a food drive for the SOVA Valley chapter of the Jewish Family Service Los Angeles (JFSLA), beginning Jan. 31 . SOVA translates to “to eat and be satisfied” from Hebrew, and the JFSLA addresses issues of hunger, domestic violence, support for the elderly, inequity and mental health.

Students are encouraged to donate items such canned food and low sodium soups to cardboard bins set up under Chalmers for the food drive. JSFLA directs these donations to its two food shelters to deliver meals to elderly and disabled individuals as well as to houses providing dinner to underserved individuals.

Matthew Steiglitz ‘22, who coordinated the event, said the Planning Committee partnered with JSFLA’s SOVA chapter to make donating more accessible for students.

“Not everyone has time to drive up to the food pantry and give them donations,” Steiglitz said. “Hosting this food drive on campus provides the school community with an opportunity to help those in need that they might not otherwise have.”

Steiglitz said hosting food drives on campus helps raise awareness on the importance of food pantries.

“For those in need, purchasing food can often be a financial burden, and even when food is available, it is often lacking in nutritional value,” Steiglitz said.

“Even though many are already aware of this problem, events like these raise awareness about this issue and how we can help those in need. I would also like to emphasize the importance of food pantries as a way to improve life outcomes in the long term as well as the short term, especially for underserved youth.”

• Continued on hwchronicle.com

JACKSON MAYER/CHRONICLE

GAP YEAR GO-GETTERS: Students attending the vitual gap year fair brought by the school and USA Gap Year Fairs listen to Accredited Gap Year Consultant and co-founder of J2Guides Jason Sarouhan, who delivers a spiel diving into potential activites for students to participate in during gap years.

School joins with USA Gap Year Fairs to deliver virtual gap year information session

By Jackson Mayer

The National USA Gap Year Fair was co-hosted by the school and USA Gap Year Fairs on Feb. 12. The three-hour virtual event started with an opening Gap Year 101 webinar discussing gap years at large, followed by a series of meetings about individual programs that attendees could select to join.

In the webinar, Accredited Gap Year Consultant and co-founder of counseling service J2Guides Jason Sarouhan said gap years provide a means through which academically burnt-out students can reset before attending college.

“If you are feeling burnt out now and also by the end of senior year, what does it mean to show up at the start line of the gates of college? This is your

peak experience, this is your peak event, this is what you’ve trained for in high school,” Sarouhan said. “But if your body is totally depleted, if you’re mentally depleted, if you’re emotionally depleted, what does that mean for what’s going to happen when you’re there? How are you going to respond and react to the stress of living on your own?

And unfortunately, what we see is a lot of students go into that college environment feeling that way and then they’ll burn out in the fall, or they’ll burn out in the early winter, and then maybe they’ll have to end up deciding to take a step away from college.”

Sarouhan said the brainstorming process is vital with regards to determining what one’s gap year experience might look like and entail.

“The initial brainstorming

about what you might want to do with your gap year is gold,” Sarouhan said. “This is the chance for you without limitations, without thinking about budget, without thinking about where your parents are comfortable that you can go, without thinking about whether you have the experience or the confidence or the competence to be able to do the thing, we just want you to write it down.”

Director of Kutler Center and Summer School Programs Jim Patterson, who helped to organize the event, said many students perceive gap years solely as a time for rest; however, in reality, gap years can serve as an opportunity to experience real personal growth.

“While some mistakenly think of a gap year as a year off, it really is a year on,” Patterson

said. “It is an opportunity for students to dive deeply into an area of interest, to explore, and to try something new. The best gap years are full of adventure, of development, and of fun. Students who are prepared for this type of experience end up learning so much about themselves and the world.”

Interdisciplinary Studies and Independent Research Teacher Rob Levin, who took a gap year himself, said gap years can be particularly beneficial to private school students.

“Among the highlights of gap years that USA Gap Year Fairs provides is the perspective that their experiences afford of the USA, California, and LA independent school bubble in which one’s lived, the ability to truly observe it for the first time,” Levin said.

Auto Club organizes go-kart event at MB2 Indoor Raceway in Sylmar

By Davis Marks

As part of an on-going event series, members of the Auto and Motorsport Club raced go-karts competitively at the MB2 Indoor Raceway in Sylmar on Feb. 2, a Flex Day. Auto and Motorsport Club Leader Gabe Glassman ’22 said the club hosts go-karting events to foster a fun environment, and Glassman said he believes the outing was successful in engaging various members with the club’s subject matter.

“We hosted this event and have hosted events like this in the past mainly [to have] a good time,” Glassman said. “Go-karting is a great activity for Flex Days in general, especially because the place we go to is usually empty at that time. It was defintely and always is a ton of fun, and this past Wednesday was also particularly PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GABE GLASSMAN very successful.”

Auto and Motorsport Club GO-KARTING SHENANIGANS: Auto Club members Matty Liu ’22, Gabe Glassman ’22 and more pose after a go-karting outing at MB2 raceway. member Justin Sun ’22 said he

attended the event because of his previous desire to go go-karting with friends.

“I wanted to attend the event because I loved racing in general, and I always thought that go-karting with friends would be exceptionally fun,” Sun said.

“Also, the place was virtually empty, so that added to the already awesome experience.”

Club member Mark Cho ’22 said he had fun driving and racing with his friends, as well as improving his go-karting skills.

“I [attended] the event because a lot of my friends are in the club, and I wanted to have some fun go-karting [races] with them on our Flex Day,” Cho said. “I had missed some of [the club’s] previous events, and so i definitely I didn’t want to miss out on this one. [Although] I didn’t do the best, it was still enjoyable to improve my time and see how I compared with the rest of the group.”

Cho said the group’s enjoy-

ment did not stop when their time go-karting at MB2 ended.

“My highlight of the day was driving to a nearby in-and-out for some dinner afterwards,” Cho said. “We got to sit down and bond over good food there, which always makes for a good time,” Cho said.

Club member Matty Liu ’22 attended the event and said he enjoyed having an opportunity to race against his friends.

“I love to [compete] and go-karting is a great opportunity to [do so] with my friends,” Liu said. “It’s really enjoyable to watch all our lap times get faster and faster, [so] every time we go to MB2, it’s a blast.”

Glassman said the Auto and Motorsport Club plans to host future go-karting events, with tentative plans for a group outing every scheduled Flex Day. “We definitely will host more in the future, and we are planning on going every Flex Day,” Glassman said.

Feb. 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/news

News A5

Students organize new clubs

By Chloe Park

WILL SHERWOOD/CHRONICLE

ROBOTIC DUO: Jack Austen ’23 points out an efficient path for driver Oren Hartstein ’24 to take to pick up as many hoops with the robot’s mechanical claws as possibbe. The pair, who compete for team 62Z, practice every day after school to prepare for regional VEX Robotics competitions.

Teams qualify for regionals and worlds at school’s first ever robotics tournament

By Claire Conner

The school hosted the Harvard-Westlake Challenge, its first robotics tournament, with 55 Southern California teams competing in two divisions Feb. 5-6.

Middle school and upper school teams won each division of the tournament, improving the school’s California State Championship qualification numbers to six teams in total.

The tournament was organized by Middle School Robotics Coach Tripp Reed (Dru Reed ’24), who said over 150 in-person spectators and 500 online

spectators watched each day of competition. Tripp Reed said the middle school teams’ successful performance on Saturday resulted in three of the teams qualifying for the state championship. “[The school] had four middle school teams on Saturday in the competition, and one of our middle school teams did end up winning the event,” Tripp Reed said. “Another team made it to the finals, which qualified them for the state championship.

Then, a third team qualified for the state championships through the skills challenge.”

Robotics Coach Andrew The-

iss said this tournament was more difficult than most of the other tournaments they compete in because more teams attended.

“Since so many tournaments got canceled or moved because of COVID-19, there was so much more demand this year, so this tournament became bigger than first tournaments usually are,” Theiss said.

Team 62A, which won the tournament’s high school division, had already qualified for the California State Championship.

This team, run by Dru Reed and Kaito De Anda ’24, also became the first ever upper school team to

Ensembles go to CSUN concert

By Lucas Cohen-d’Arbeloff

Members of instrumental music ensembles traveled to California State University, Northridge (CSUN) to see the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in concert Feb. 5. Upper School Director of Instrumental Music Chris Sullivan invited his students from Jazz Band, Studio Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble and Rhythm Section to join in viewing the event.

Sullivan said the orchestra’s performance, led by professional trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, served as a unique chance for students to view live music from an exceptional and large band. “[Marsalis] is one of the greatest trumpet players, bandleaders and historians of this music,” Sullivan said. “The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is one of the premier big bands in the world.

When I saw that they were play-

ing in Northridge, I jumped at the opportunity to bring a bunch of [school] students. Listening to records and watching YouTube videos is great, but there is nothing quite like being in the room where this music is being performed live.”

Jazz Band member Owen Kim ’23 said he enjoyed the opportunity to attend an in-person concert after years of cancellations and virtual events.

win an excellence award for successfully following engineering practices while designing a robot.

Dru Reed said the team hopes to build on their skills and successes to be ready for the VEX Robotics World Championship that will take place later on this year.

“We really enjoy collaboration,” Dru Reed said. “That is what [helps us succeed as a team] and is what we can actually use in the future. There are lots of ways to qualify for the world championship, and I think that is the goal. Now that we have a new robot, we are looking for more success.”

“

Since second semester club applications opened in January, 22 new clubs have been established, including Character Leadership Club, Financial Technology Club and Competitive Programming Club. Additionally, beginning this semester, Student Interest Groups (SIGs) are permitted to apply for full club status.

Co-founder of Financial Technology Club Sarah Brown ’24 said she is glad she could start a club in the second semester that relates to her field of interest.

“I feel like it will be a great place for students to learn about financial technology which is a very fast-growing sector.”

Founder of Make Your Matcha Club (MYM) Kai Do ’24 said her club works on a magazine titled “Make Your Matcha” to provide a safe space to address stress and academic burnout. She said she is thrilled to share her passion for her magazine by expanding her club.

“MYM was something I started over the summer that I really enjoyed and wanted to share with more of my peers, especially because it’s a magazine centered so much around students and academic life,” Do said.

Founder of Bioengineering and Biotechnology Club Asher Rossen ’23 said he is eager to explore the possibilities in the field his club focuses on.

“I cannot wait to hopefully inspire others to appreciate the intricacies and capabilities of biotechology and bioengineering,” Rossen said.

Listening to records and watching YouTube videos is great, but there is nothing quite like being in the room where this music is being performed live.”

— Chris Sullivan Performing Arts Teacher

“Because of COVID-19 and live music being canceled for a while, the last time I saw a professional big band perform was in

L. Wood

eighth grade,” Kim said. “Listening to what the best of the best sounds like in an amazing venue at CSUN was [enlightening].”

Delegates win awards at USCB Model UN

By Averie Perrin

The Model United Nations (MUN) team attended the Gaucho Model United Nations conference, hosted virtually by the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) on Feb. 5-6.

Jason Morganbesser ’22 won Best Delegate for his participation in the Bastille crisis committee as Jean-Paul Marat, and Ahren Bhatia ’24 earned a Verbal Commendation representing India in the Jammu and Kashmir specialized committee.

Bhatia said he enjoyed participating in the debates on his assigned topic.

“The topic for my commit-

tee was about Kashmir and the [ongoing] fight for control [over the area], so [the topic] was very interesting considering how relevant the topic is and how it is still an issue in today’s day and age.”

MUN member Mia Patel ’24, who is new to the team, represented Iraq in a dual delegation with Noelle Kim ’24. Patel said she enjoyed competing despite the challenging preparation and online format. “[The conference] was my first [MUN] conference, so I wish it would’ve been in person, as there would’ve been more opportunities to collaborate with other people, but it was still a beneficial learning experience,” Patel said.

AVERIE PERRIN/CHRONICLE

WAVE YOUR FLAG: Model United Nations delegates listen on as Grace Coleman ’24 speaks on behalf of her country. Coleman represented the nation of Cuba at the event hosted virtually by the University of Santa Barbara.

A6 News

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

Jummah prayers to begin

By Nathalie Leung

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ISAAC TIU

FUN IN THE SUN: Illi Kreiz ’24, Isaac Tiu ’24, Hannah Carbunaru ’24, Angelina Sinclair ’24, Keira Haley ’24, Charlotte Newman ’24, Freelance Writer Davis Marks ’24 and Elise Fried ’24 pose in front Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Theme Park on their Prefect Council organized trip.

Prefect Council organizes sophomore trip to Disneyland Park on Flex Day

By Will Sherwood and Ella Yadegar

Prefect Council organized a day trip to Disneyland for the Class of 2024 during a Flex Day on Feb. 2. Nearly 200 sophomores roamed Disneyland Park.

Sophomore Prefect Nyla Shelton ’24 said the council’s main goal in planning the trip was to make up for the two annual theme park excursions that the current sophomore class had to forgo as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to COVID-19, both the [eighth grade] Six Flags [Magic Mountain] and [ninth grade] Disneyland trips were canceled for current sophomores,” Shel-

ton said. “In scheduling this Disneyland trip, we hoped to create the opportunity for sophomores to make up for the loss of these trips and have a great time bonding with the grade.

Not only did a large majority of the grade attend, but everyone I’ve spoken to has said they had a great time.”

To protect the school community, Prefect Council requested that students stay home if they experienced COVID-19 symptoms on the morning of the trip.

Savannah Mashian ’24 said the students’ opportunity to explore the park together made the day more enjoyable.

“My favorite part about the

trip was all the rides I got to go on and all the memories I made with my friends,” Mashian said.

“It was definitely a good bonding experience and a great way to spend a Flex Day.” Jacob Lutsky ’24 said the trip was a great bonding experience for the grade because it led his classmates to spend time with one another outside of school.

“I usually hate roller coasters, but I ended up going on some of them with my friends, and they ended up being super fun, [especially] Thunder Mountain and [the] Matterhorn Bobsleds,” Lutsky said. “I got to hang out with a bunch of my friends’ friends, which was nice.”

Lutsky said he considers the

trip a success, and he said he appreciates the effort Prefect Council put into planning it.

“It was a really nice way to just forget about all the stress we have with school and go have free-ranged fun for a little while, especially because often the amount of [schoolwork] we have prevents us from doing activities like that regularly,” Lutsky said.

Isaac Tiu ’24, who entered the school in ninth grade, said the trip provided a meaningful way to bond with his peers. .

“Being a new student to a fully online school was understandably difficult, even more so because of the school trips we missed,” Tiu said.

Students who wish to participate in Jummah prayers, a congregational Islamic prayer, may now attend sessions every Friday in Hamilton Gym, Upper School Chaplain Anne Gardner announced in an email sent to students Feb. 10.

The space will have prayer rugs available, and a restroom is located nearby for those who wish to perform ablutions, the religious practice of washing one’s body or part of it.

Head of Athletics Terry Barnum said Head of Upper School Beth Slattery supported the school initiative. “[Slattery] was pleased to know that this inclusive effort [is] now among the programmatic offerings at [the school],” Gardner said.

Gardner said providing Jummah prayer accommodations play a critical role in promoting diversity and inclusivity.

“This is an important step in providing opportunities for their full expression,” Gardner said. “It is a reminder of the value we place on diversity.”

Upper School Dean Nia Kilgore said the inclusion of greater religious diversity is essential to promoting the school’s values.

“Embracing the word diversity in our mission statement, has to be with a capital ‘D’ and that includes celebrating our community’s many faiths, beliefs and cultures. There is no better way to show someone of a different background that they are valued,” Kilgore said.

Environmental Club partners with FOLAR to host educational clean-up event in Santa Monica

By Davis Marks and Jackson Mayer

The Environmental Club hosted an educational and cleanup event with Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) and Heal the Bay as a part of their monthly event series during a Feb. 2 Flex Day. Environmental Club Leader Maya Mathur ’22 said she believes it is important for students and faculty to work together to raise awareness and aid the environment. She said this event was successful in allowing attendees to do so.

“It’s important to host the events to raise awareness about environmental issues and actually do something that has a positive impact on our surroundings,” Mathur said. “At this event, we got some teachers involved to try and motivate environmental awareness in faculty as well. I think it was a successful event, as we had over 30 attendees.”

Members of the Environmental Club visited Heal the Bay’s aquarium in Santa Monica to interact with marine animals in the aquarium and learn about the tangible impact the cleanup events the Environmental

Club has on the environment and wildlife. After the education portion of the event, attendees participated in a beach clean-up close to a nearby sewer outlet.

Environmental Club Leader Chloe Appel ’23 said though the nature of the event differed from past events, due to the event’s educational aspect, she appreciated the opportunity to better understand the difference the clean-ups make to the environment.

“This event was unlike the [events] we typically host with FoLAR each month, but it was a nice opportunity to learn more about marine life and the impacts of population on sea creatures,” Appel said.

Derek Schneider ’22 said he originally attended the event because his friends asked him to, he ended up gaining a deeper understanding of the effect garbage has on the ocean through Heal the Bay’s facility and the cleanup effort he partook in.

“I went [to the event] because I was asked to,” Schneider said. “[Through the education and beach clean-up], I learned just how bad garbage is for the ocean and how [trash] affects the wildlife living there.”

AVERIE PERRIN/CHRONICLE

UNDERWATER FRIENDS: Max Thompson ’23 and Brandon Damelin ’23 interact with marine animals at the Heal the Bay’s aquarium in Samta Monica on a trip hosted by the Evironmental Club and the Heal the Bay.

Feb. 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/news

News A7

Wormald hired as new plant manager

By Alex Hahn

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ELLA GOLDBERG

CARING CARDS: At the Bring Change To Mind table on the Quad, students write and decorate Valentine’s Day cards for the patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Students received an hour of service for every 15 cards.

School decorates cards for charity

By Chloe Park and Grace Coleman

The Bring Change to Mind club wrote gratitude notes to frontline healthcare workers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Providence Saint John’s Health from Feb. 9-11 on the Quad. Free Valentine’s Day candy was served and students were granted one hour of community service for every 15 cards they wrote and decorated.

Club leader Ella Goldberg ’23 said the event allowed students to destress by making crafts while giving back to the community by

reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

“I think the impact of this event is so great, as its goal is to increase positive student mental health and reduce the negative stigma around mental health while reducing student mental stress by allowing students to spend some free time doing a creative project,” Goldberg said.

“It’s a nice way to relieve stress, as I’ve found students generally don’t have time to relax and take a break from academics. [It allowed] them to [take a breather] while still feeling productive.”

Participant Muskaan Schiev-

ink ’24 said the event demonstrated the student body’s commitment to community service.

“I was surprised by the number of students I saw at any moment writing cards,” Schievink said. “It really shows that the student body cares about helping others.”

Keira Morrell ’24, who wrote and decorated 12 cards, said she enjoyed the chance to participae in community service on campus.

“It was fun to spend a few minutes writing cards, and I was glad I could give back to others,” Morrell said. “The community service hours were a nice added bonus.”

ministration,” Fleischer said. “Not only will [River Park’s facilities] The school hired Ed Wormald improve the athletic experience of as the new upper school Plant other track and field athletes, [but] Manager on Feb. 9, replacing sports like basketball, baseball and Dave Mintz ’87. Mintz is now the soccer will be hugely benefited as Director of Campus Operations, well. Hopefully, by senior year, and Jim De Matté, who pervious- we’ll all be able to see this project ly served as Chief of Construction finish and reap its benefits.”

Wormald said he is eager to and Campus Operations, is now join the school community and Chief of Construction.

According to Wormald, the continue Mintz’s previous work.

“I’m definitely lookschool Plant Manager ing forward to working is responsible for overat this new position seeing campus infraand interacting with all structure to ensure stuthe students, staff and dents and faculty feel faculty,” Wormald said. comfortable on school “Something contributgrounds. Wormald said ing to this is the great these responsibilities groundwork [Mintz] can range from superhas laid out for me. vising basic utilities like L. Wood He’s been here for seven gas and air conditionDirector of Campus ing to setting up spac- Operations Dave Mintz years, and [the department] is running very es for larger events like smoothly, so it is and will be my Faculty Appreciation days.

According to Associate Head intention to continue that.”

Wormald said his prior experiof School Laura Ross, Mintz will be in charge of managing both the ence, as well as Mintz’s guidance, upper and lower school facilities have helped him smoothly transition into his new role in operain his new role.

As Chief of Construction, De tions and plants. “[Mintz] has been investing a Matté will be primarily focusing on running and developing the lot of time in me, and I’m getting a lot of great advice from River Park campus, Ross said.

De Matté declined to com- him,” Wormald said. “Also, the good thing is that I’ve had the ment regarding his promotion.

Varsity track and field sprinter same position at another school, Benson Fleischer ’23 said he ap- so I’m very familiar with what preciates De Matté’s focus on the needs to be done here. Obviously, though, there are more stuconstruction of River Park.

“As an athlete myself, it’s very dents on campus and therefore encouraging to see [that River more need, so it won’t be exactly Park] is of high priority to the ad- the same.”

Students receive awards in visual arts and writing

By Grant Park

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards announced the 20212022 regional competition winners Jan. 28. With 17 honorees in the writing category and 35 honorees in the art category, 52 total students from the school were named as Gold Key, Silver Key or Honorable Mention recipients. Winners of the Regional Gold Key will move on to compete for the National Gold Key Award.

Established in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are the longest-running art and writing recognition program for students in grades 7-12.

Bel Kriger ’23, who won the Gold Key award in the sculpture category, said she faced challenges while working on her project and appreciates the recognition she received for creating a lifesize tiger head.

“I created a very meticulous plan of how to create my sculpture by doing a lot of research and preparation prior to ever receiving my piece of wood in order to get the perfect calculations for proportions of the head without using more or less of the wood given to me,” Kriger said.

“It was challenging to see [if ] the progression was any good until the final product was completely finished. Now that it’s done I am so proud of what I did and all the hours I devoted to working on it. My motivation for making

this tiger head was to portray the strength and power of women, and I ended up titling it ‘Queen of the Jungle.’”

Julia Im ’23, who won the Gold Key in Painting for her work titled “The Leap of Motherhood,” said the process of painting her piece was a meaningful experience.

“These projects were not made only for the competition but something that allowed me to share pieces that I already worked on,” Im said. “The human species has unique interpersonal connections, specifically a deeper attachment between a parent and child. The valuable objects inside an invaluable marble are designed to make the reader question why these human relationships mean as much as they do to us.”

Visual Arts Department Head Joe Medina said he focuses on developing students’ connection to their artwork while preparing them for competitions, and inspiring them to find their passions.

“We strive to introduce fresh project ideas and artists that inspire,” Medina said. “We encourage students to be authentic and dig deep. I tell visual art students [that] comparing or competing against each other is one of the worst things they can do, but if they want to compete, I tell them to make work that has visual impact and intention.

Make something that speaks to who they are.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JULIA IM

AN ARTISTIC NATURE: “The Leap of Motherhood,” an acrylic painting by Julia Im ’23, received a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. Im is one of 35 art award recipients from the school.

Complete list of award winners can be found on hwchronicle.com

A8 News

Misc-Madness

ACROSS: 1. “Wonderwall” band 3. ___ ID 7. I don’t remember anything, last night was a...

11. Prof ’s asst.

12. I sí you 13. Play this game’s reverse card 14. Instant molecular transference 16. Doodle, illustrate, sketch 17. VAE (this one’s on us) 18. “That’s disgusting!”

20. Mamma mia!

Feb. 16, 2022

The Chronicle

21. Grows where it isn’t wanted 22. Everyone’s least favorite Sunday night breakdown 24. Sis’ counterpart 25. Alternative to LMAO or LOL 27. A certain K-pop group’s title, abbr.

28. Russian classical composer 31. Instrument without a “bo” 32. A Ghibli classic and a wonderful neighbor 33. Japanese city: ____awa 34. Second Amendment enthusiast

Assistant Editors Claire Conner, Fallon Dern, Georgia Goldberg and Alex Hahn construct the fourth edition of the Chrons-Word crossword puzzle. Keep an eye out for the “Euphoria” references!

36. Soon to be smart as us 37. The most glamorous way to travel 38. Break the law!!!

39. Not a laptop, that’s for sure 40. @ 41. Fruit core 42. Ana’s rebranding 43. “It’s your fault!”

45. Head attorney, abbr.

47. Song by The National 49. Pink, round, hungry and armed with a sledgehammer

52. Rather constricting 53. Radiohead has none of these 55. Slide in 57. “Easy A” star’s initials + SNL’s Michael 59. All of the Chronicle’s articles must be…

61. Be happy!

65. Periods of time 67. Collection of religious songs 68. He was a ___, she did ballet

DOWN: 1. Preferred type of milk 2. Yes, en Español 3. Get a Valentine’s Day gift ___ ___ 4. Quick verbal poke 5. Penguin from Madagascar 6. Is Spanish 8. Selina loves you like these 9. No promo 10. Everyone’s favorite Sunday night breakdown 15. Bark bark, buy buy 16. Donnie 19. What ever happened to, abbr.

21. I guess 23. Ghosts are thought to take shelter here 24. ___kenstocks 26. Kardashian loungewear 29. It’s pumping blood 30. Electric Enlightenment thinker 35. Small battery 36. Three is our max of this class 40. ___ in this together 41. The most dreaded middle school class 43. Ideal waves 44. One half of a Prada subdivision 46. Complex network of power lines 47. Honest one 48. Amazon’s police procedural television show 49. Army food duty 50. Record’s lesser hit 51. However, still, nonetheless 53. Observed 54. Ooze 56. KN-95s only 58. Tailor 60. Gru’s twin brother 62. College dorm monitor 63. Opposite of lower right 64. One more thing 66. “A” + consonant

Opinion The Chronicle • Feb. 16, 2022

Studio City • Vol. 31 • Issue 6 • Feb 16, 2022 • hwchronicle.com

Editors-in-Chief: Tessa Augsberger, Milla Ben-Ezra Print Managing Editors: Julian Andreone, Caitlin Muñoz, Will Sheehy

editorial

Presentation Managing Editors: Kate Burry, Ava Fattahi, Mimi Landes, Melody Tang Digital Managing Editors: Amelia Scharff, Katharine Steers Executive Editors: Quincey Dern, Sydney Fener, Sophia Musante News Editors: Sandra Koretz, Josh Silbermann Assistant News Editors: Lucas Cohen-d'Arbeloff, Natalie Cosgrove, Alex Hahn, Will Sherwood, Natasha Speiss Opinion Editors: Caroline Jacoby, Sarah Mittleman Assistant Opinion Editors: Claire Conner, Daphne Davies, James Hess Features Editors: Mia Feizbakhsh, Alec Rosenthal Assistant Features Editors: Fallon Dern, Allegra Drago, Lily Lee, Harry Tarses, Emmy Zhang A&E Editor: Keira Jameson Assistant A&E Editors: Becca Berlin, Georgia Goldberg, Jina Jeon, Vasilia Yordanova Sports Editors: Justin Goldstein, Maxine Zuriff Assistant Sports Editors: Danny Johnson, Paul Kurgan, Andrew Park, Leo Saperstein, Charlie Seymour Multimedia Editors: Julian Andreone, Ava Fattahi Photography Editor: Sandra Koretz Broadcast Producers: Chad Bacon, Zach Berg, Jack Coleman, William Moon, Mikey Schwartz Business Managers: Kate Burry, Justin Goldstein Assistant Broadcast Editors: Andre Birotte, Hunter Bridgett, Bill Coleman, Aaron Milburn, Jack Limor, Rayaan Rao, Audrey Yang Engagement Editors: Liam Razmjoo, Ryan Razmjoo Art Director: Alexa Druyanoff Freelance Writer: Davis Marks Freelance Artist: Sophia Evans Layout Assistants and Staff Writers: Kriste An, Jaden Bobb, Grace Coleman, Dylan Graff, Abigail Hailu, Iona Lee, Nathalie Leung, Jackson Mayer, Christopher Mo, Chloe Park, Grant Park, Averie Perrin, Tate Sheehy, Jackson Tanner, Ella Yadegar Advisors: Jim Burns, Max Tash Layout Assistant: Alexis Arinsburg Publication Information: Founded in 1990, The Chronicle is the Harvard-Westlake Upper School’s student-led newspaper.

Now in its 31st year, The Chronicle strives to report stories accurately and to uphold its legacy of journalistic integrity. The newspaper is published eight times per year and distributed to students, parents, faculty and staff. The paper is affiliated with two school magazines, Big Red and Panorama. We are members of the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Private School Journalism Association.

JAMES HESS/CHRONICLE

Streamlining the River Park Project

Despite the inundation of River Park banners on campus and related posts on the school’s social media accounts, much of the school community is disconnected from the new campus project. Many students who see these banners do not think about River park, have neutral opinions about it or do not know how the project will affect them or future classes. This is unsurprising; beyond descriptions of new facilities, the school has not properly communicated plans for how we can use our new space.

River Park's website lists the school's plans to build a six-acre park, new athletic facilities, underground parking, a putting green and a remodeled cafe. River Park’s opponents assert that the school-related project is mutually exclusive with greater community access, which is rightfully refuted on the school's website: All of River Park's amenities will be available for public use between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 6 p.m.until closing, providing an accessible space for the community. Expanding the school's athletic facilities also enables concurrent athletic practices, meaning school sports teams will not have to practice late at night.

However, the consequences of this conflict are greater than delaying River Park's construction. Consulting the community and ensuring that their perspectives are included in River Park decisions is important, but by framing the project as a “yes or no” issue and dedicating so much effort toward swaying River Park neighbors’ opinions, the school is missing out on an opportunity to meaningfully engage with students and faculty.

Steady communication is a vital contributor to the school's interests—ideas about using River Park to ease upper school parking problems and expand programs by reallocating newly unoccupied spaces on campus matter to students, and they make Save Weddington's shallow claims less persuasive to the school community.

Unfortunately, the school has not facilitated this communication. Middle school students and teachers regularly receive updates about River Park's progress, but almost everyone at

the Upper School is left in the dark in comparison to middle school students. While consulting younger classes who will get to enjoy River Park before graduating makes sense, reviewing and discussing plans with upper school students is still crucial. We will likely graduate before the project is completed, but it is still a central part of our legacy and a chance to make an impact in our school community. Upper school students who have experienced both the successes and failures of the community are also the most likely to have suggestions for how River Park can be used by future classes. If given the chance, we can develop new ideas about shuttling schedules, a streamlined parking pass system and utilizing new facilities for non-athletic events like musical performances, art displays or robotics tournaments.

To encourage the development and transparency of these ideas and ultimately bring them to fruition, the school administration should regularly host River Park town hall meetings open to any students, teachers or staff members who want to propose ideas or learn more about how the new facilities could be used. In addition, the school should send surveys to the student body and all faculty and staff members to gauge the popularity of new and existing proposals and ensure that implemented suggestions represent the diverse perspectives of people who did not attend meetings. These surveys would also engage students who were not previously invested in the River Park project.

Including direct feedback while discussing the school's initiatives has already been successful in informing and consulting families during COVID-19 and should be applied to the River Park project to encourage collective innovation and engagement. Considering the school's success with student and faculty outreach on pertinent campus issues like the COVID-19 pandemic and the new block schedule, maintaining rigorous consultation and transparency in communicating updates is an obvious choice. After all, River Park is a community endeavor—it is time for us to treat it that way.

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A10 Opinion

There is no need to cure senioritis

By Caroline Jacoby

I

n classic senioritis fashion, I did not feel like writing this article.

I would rather be watching a movie, overspending at Erewhon or hanging out with friends. I want to soak up every bit of my new free time. My grades feel irrelevant. And there are a hundred places I could be on a Friday night besides Chronicle layout.

Senioritis, the notorious condition spreading through the senior class faster than the omicron variant, is often framed as a disease that only infects those who lack willpower and discipline. Its symptoms include decreased effort put into schoolwork and a break from the workaholic attitude we have subscribed to throughout high school. But senioritis is not a disease or a mark of personal failure. It is an opportunity for us to shift our priorities.

We are burnt out, and it is time for a break.

For all of high school, our grades have been prioritized above all else. We frantically met with teachers and lost sleep worrying about our GPAs. There was nothing more important than the accepted singular path to success: college. Now, after years of obsession, our applications are complete. The stress and fixation on college admissions has consumed us for so long, and everything we have worked for is out of our hands. Our natural inclination is to take a step back from school.

We are burnt out, and it is time for a break.

I am not advocating that we forget all of our responsibilities; of course, we should still be completing assignments and putting effort into our work. We would be doing a disservice to ourselves and our teachers by completely neglecting schoolwork. But now we can work with a new purpose: for pride in ourselves and our knowledge, rather than for prestige or pressure. We can find what we actually like to do and focus our attention toward those subjects.

We have all deliberated about where we want to go to college, but what about what we want to study there? This is the time to prioritize the classes and activities we are most drawn to. Maybe we will find something new that sparks our interest or improves our skills in subjects we already love. We have been taught that the entire purpose of learning is to get good grades, so we memorize and regurgitate information instead of genuinely engaging with the material. Now, we can remember to enjoy learning.

This semester can allot us some much-needed relaxation and time with those we care about.

We will be leaving home soon, and the memories we create with our friends and family in our last months of high school are priceless. We need to recharge before college by building connections that we might not get another chance to make.

Maybe a little bit of senioritis is what we need to experience the most before we graduate from high school.

Feb. 16, 2022

The Chronicle

Ukrainian conflict, Claire-ified

By Claire Conner

A

s over 130,000 Russian troops flanked the Ukrainian border last week, President Joe Biden issued a dire warning to American citizens living in the Eastern European country: leave, immediately.

The troop buildup is roughly 70% of the forces Russia would need to completely invade Ukraine, a military operation that would be the largest on European soil since the end of World War II in 1945; U.S. officials' assessments indicate that an invasion of this scale could produce a civilian death toll of 50,000 and between one and five million refugees, according to the New York Times.

While Russia begins largescale military drills with Ukraine’s northern neighbor Belarus, making invasion seem increasingly likely, it remains locked in a diplomatic stalemate with the U.S. The West has rejected Russian requests that NATO deny membership to exSoviet states such as Ukraine, halt military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe and remove American nuclear weapons from the continent, and neither side seems willing to adjust their stances.

Ukraine is also not currently a NATO member nation, meaning that the U.S. will not pursue military intervention—the only way out of this conflict is successful diplomacy.

Fortunately, we have more time to find a peaceful resolution than what

most media outlets speculate. The Winter Olympics, an event that amounts to hegemonic fashion week for Beijing, is a temporary barrier. If Russia invades Ukraine before the Feb. 20 closing ceremony, it will dent a crucial alliance with China, a country that prioritizes ceremonies and soft power more than most. But in comparison to the looming threat of war in Ukraine, this buffer is ephemeral.

The West cannot ignore Russia’s fomentation of dangerous regional conflicts; however, protecting our European allies from continental destruction and terrifying uncertainty demands shifting our diplomatic strategies.

We must make it clear that while the U.S. is unwilling to acquiesce to Russia’s threat-backed demands and thereby legitimize violent, coercive tactics, Americans will consider reevaluating the status quo to avoid war. A potential agreement should include two vital components: limiting NATO expansion in Ukraine and resolving current local conflicts.

The first component of

successful peace talks needs to explicitly affirm something that most NATO countries are already certain of: Ukraine will not become a NATO member state in the near future. A short-term moratorium on NATO expansion in former Soviet states lasting one to two decades would be the perfect middle ground—short enough to avoid completely reversing NATO’s opendoor policy and long enough to calm Russian nerves about Western encroachment into Eastern Europe.

This policy update should not come without concessions from Russia. A peaceful settlement requires the resolution of conflicts perpetuated in Crimea and the Donbas, two regions of Ukraine where Russia has either seized control or fueled separatist violence.

Russia cannot keep contributing to this chaos and must act as the counterpart of the West’s withdrawal, making Ukraine a neutral and independent buffer state between Russia and America’s allies. Such a change would open up the possibility for peace and equilibrium in Europe and facilitate updates to agreements such as the Helsinki Accords.

The final diplomatic settlement will likely be controversial on both sides, but it will lead to changes that are far more beneficial than the products of war. Whoever loses a potential conflict will suffer immense moral, material and human costs, and we cannot afford to risk it.

Mittleman and Cupid on campus

By Sarah Mittleman

H

appy February, devoted readers! This is a very special issue of my advice column because Valentine’s Day is more than just a 24-hour time frame—it is an experience that lasts a lifetime. Yet every year, this holiday comes around, and every year I watch people fail to take advantage of it. To me, Valentine’s Day is more than an opportunity to excessively devour cheap heart-shaped chocolate. It is also the one day a year where people can’t judge me for prioritizing the search for my true love as my one and only life goal. For lots of students at this school, applying to highly-ranked universities appears to be more worthwhile than chasing after their crush in the halls. Unlike my classmates, I’m not short-sighted enough to focus more on my future career than the man of my dreams. Due to this difference of opinion, I tend to feel like an outcast, doomed to forever walk the Quad without a kindred spirit. But for one day a year, society relinquishes its chokehold on my foolish peers and together, we admire the beauty of romance. That’s why Valentine's Day is the Mittleman’s time to shine.

Revitalizing the spirit of romance among my peers is so important to me that I have decided Valentine’s Day is no longer sufficient; it is now Valentine’s Month, and we are going to milk this event for all it is worth. Stretching this brief holiday into four weeks of bliss will surely knock some sense into my fellow students and force you all to embrace the power of a true love’s kiss.

Valentine's Day is the Mittle-man’s time to shine.

Prioritizing course consistency

By Daphne Davies

W

hen course selections become available each March, eager sophomores and juniors enroll in classes that offer them a chance to broaden their horizons and explore subjects they are passionate about.

As they determine their desired schedule for the upcoming school year, they are faced with critical choices: which electives they want to take, what subjects they value most and whether they will move up or down on an academic track.

Students are divided into different teaching sections as their schedules are formed. The lack of uniformity between teaching styles leads to varying degrees of difficulty, different assignments and inconsistent methods of assessment across the same course.

Some teachers of Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB, for instance, assign online quizzes that can be retaken as many times as necessary until a perfect score is obtained, while others give quizzes only once on paper with no curve or retake to earn points back. The latter policy disadvantages students, as they have fewer opportunities to earn a higher grade after learning the same material. AP U.S. His-

tory's (APUSH) inconsistencies extend beyond quizzes. While one section takes their only exam of the semester, another sits for their fifth written test after weeks of quizzes and consistently more assigned textbook reading.

There is a clear absence of uniformity within courses.

As students attending an extraordinary educational institution, we should not negate the value of our teachers’ unique classroom environments. Teachers are the backbone of our school experience, and thankfully, our school is full of brilliant ones. It is unrealistic to expect that all classes will feel exactly the same when they are taught by different people, and it is up to us to adapt and appreciate the way we learn from the adults in the room.

But there is a clear absence of uniformity within courses; it often feels as though two APUSH students with different teachers are enrolled in two entirely different courses. This problem is a double-edged sword. Students who signed up for advanced classes but

experience an easier version of them are disappointed, while those who receive comparatively harsher grading and more difficult assignments find the discrepancy unfair.

Teachers are free to determine the way they instruct their class, but students have no say in which teaching style would be most effective for them. If students continue not to have this choice, then courses must be similar in grading standards and syllabus.

The effects of this discrepancy will live on permanently in our college transcripts. When we apply to college, students' transcripts will show that they took the same course as others who may have experienced such a modified version of it that the two are hardly comparable—but those students,

having received a higher grade, may appear as more competitive applicants to colleges.

At the same time as we appreciate the distinctive excellence of our teachers, we must also ensure that students are not held to unattainable and inconsistent standards–– that all students truly take the same courses whose impressive titles they selected carefully and enthusiastically from the vast curriculum guide.

So, though Valentine’s Month is entirely fictional, and I have no authority to enforce any rules at this school, I hereby label myself President Valentine, ruler of February. With great power comes great responsibility, so I wrote up some legislation to uphold the sanctity of this holy month. Here are the guidelines: first, all students must embrace the holiday spirit by dressing in red, white and pink, making romance-related comments/jokes and employing heart emojis/hand gestures/clothing items whenever possible; second, ending a romantic relationship in the month of February will be classified as a capital offense, and party members will face severe punishment; third, already-single students will be publicly ostracized, humiliated and shunned for failing to uphold Valentine's Values; fourth, students must write appreciative love letters to President Valentine; fifth, students will no longer be determined by their personalities, life goals and passions. Each person will now fall into one of three categories: those who are single, those who are taken and those who are yearning for love. In typical dystopian government fashion, I will discourage students from liberating themselves from these generalizations.

• Continued on hwchronicle.com ILLUSTRATIONS BY SYDNEY FENER

hwchronicle.com/opinion

Feb. 16, 2022

Opinion A11

Cultivating Creativity

By Fallon Dern

M

y father’s father always told him the biggest room is the room for improvement. I’d argue it’s the Forum, or maybe the Taper Gym, but I understand what my grandpa was getting at. The school, for example, provides remarkably informative, interactive and mentally stimulating curricula, but it could improve on its overall academic creativity.

When students enter the Coldwater campus, their highschool experience undergoes some major shifts: upperclassmen are finally nice, classes are significantly harder, and for the first time in our lives, teachers treat us as mature, respectable individuals, even though we are nothing of the sort. This reminder of growing up is accompanied by serious subjects and an absence of creativity in the classroom environment.

The most jarring example of this exists in language courses, where teachers have replaced artistic presentations with

preparations for May Advanced Placement (AP) exams. These exercises may help students secure high scores, but they provide little to no room for anything else.

Students perform conversations, present topics, watch everyone else’s presentations, take their tests and then do it all over again at the end of the next unit.

If creative projects were introduced into our courses, students could team up with new people and engage with language in a way that is collaborative and fun.

Students could also hold each other accountable and continuously practice their assignments rather than co-write a presentation with Google Translate the night before it is due.

Math and science courses, despite being logic-based, also stand to benefit from more entertaining assignments. Individual students learn differently; there are visual learners, auditory learners and more. I myself learn best through academic video games. Last week, I indulged

in a delightful little gardening simulator for AP Environmental Science and successfully learned all of the unit’s essential topics while tending to pixelated crops.

GreenGlobs, a math classic, is a program in which players program as few lines as possible to hit as many points as possible. Completing a GreenGlobs assignment was the most I tried on any math assignment in my seventh grade Algebra 1 course.

Students find motivation in unique and unlikely places, and if teachers only try the same tricks, they will only get the same amount of minimal effort in return. Creative activities diversify our routines and bring lighthearted competition to our daily lives, which is especially valuable in high school, when the majority of competition comes from high-stakes sports, college admissions and the occasional round of Tap-Out. Especially in courses that rely on logic and paperwork rather than discussion, students and

ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY FENER

teachers often end the year without truly knowing one another.

Both parties can benefit from a wider variety of assignments to complete and assign, rather than continuing the current academic hamster wheel.

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS

By James Hess

I

n the course of its nearly century-long history as the foremost standardized test for American high schoolers, the SAT has undergone major changes: in 1936, administrators split the exam into two sections; in 1994, calculators were first allowed on math, and in 2016, the original 1600 point grading scale replaced the 2400 version after just ten years. Now, for the first time ever, students will take the test fully online by 2024, according to NPR. Additionally, the test will only be two hours long and calculators will be allowed on both math sections.

The decision follows a lengthy debate over the test’s evaluative significance and fairness, one the standardized test seems to be losing: thousands of universities have moved to test-optional admissions processes since the start of the COVID-19 pandem-

Rigid systems make for rigid students and, in an academic institution that prioritizes both joy and excellence rather highly, we have to do just a little bit better dynamically bringing students and classes to life.

ic, according to US News and World Report, and the University of California system no longer accepts the SAT or ACT on applications. Indeed, it seems that the SAT’s online move represents one last-ditch effort to keep it relevant in American high schools and colleges. If this is truly the case, we won’t see the test around for much longer. Because of its lack of concrete changes, the shift is an incomplete solution that attempts to modernize the test without actually solving any of its most pressing problems.

At first glance, the new changes from the College Board seem considerable—especially because of the significant physical difference between a paper and laptop in our minds—but the new SAT isn’t as different as one may think.

The 1600 scale remains in place despite the shorter testing time, and students will still be in proc-

tored schoolrooms while taking the test. It is reasonable to view the new SAT, then, simply as an extension of the old one without any marked changes. It isn’t at all clear how moving most of the old SAT online and shortening its length will solve its largest problems, namely those surrounding the content and studying of the test itself. The same resources that allow more affluent students to typically score higher on the paper test—specialized tutoring and access to in-depth analysis of practice tests most importantly—will still be in place on the online version. In fact, if studying materials like practice tests move online to mimic the SAT, there may be more disadvantages for students without immediate access to computers or the internet.

This makes the test’s online move inadequate at best and harmful at worst, and lets the worst parts

HW VOICES

of standardized testing simply switch from on paper to online.

The SAT’s relationship to the ACT, the alternative standardized test in American colleges, is another important dynamic in its new change. Owned by a completely separate company from the College Board, the ACT represents the SAT’s largest competitor—in 2020 the former tested 1.7 million students while the latter tested 2.2 million, and the number is expected to keep rising—and is still taken mostly on paper. If the ACT doesn’t also go online in the coming years, the choice for students over which test to take becomes more complicated than in previous years, when certain students might have simply opted for the ACT for its science section. How high schools and colleges will now compare the tests remains unknown. Some will maintain

that the ACT’s longer reading passages and geometry-heavy math sections better test the endurance needed for college coursework, and others will argue that modern academics require more technology and adaptiveness to different problems the SAT presents. Such opinions may vary across individual students, school districts and college admissions officers; there is no telling how different individuals will view the two tests under current rules. This dynamic will ensure that the biggest problems in standardized testing will just move from one test to another.

If the College Board wants to keep its decades-long control of the standardized testing world, they will have to do better by revitalizing the SAT’s content in original, important ways—not just putting the same test on a screen instead of paper.

Students share their opinions on the changes to the SAT as outlined in the above article by Assistant Opinion Editor James Hess.

Do you agree with the recent changes made to the SAT?

SANDRA KORETZ / CHRONICLE

Jack Lesinski ’22

I like the new changes that College Board is making to have the SAT more available to those who want to take it.

Since schools are going in the test optional direction, I think that College Board is trying to expand their target audience and get more people to take the test.

DAPHNE DAVIES / CHRONICLE

Neha Tummala ’23

I know sophomores have taken the SAT, so if some of them end up taking a shorter one, that’s not fair. But I think it’s a good idea because I’ve taken the SAT, and it’s not practical in the sense that you’re [not] just studying the test, you’re learning how to take a four hour test.

Community The Chronicle • Feb. 16, 2022

Local organizations unveil Fairway Garden on Ventura

By Natasha Speiss

Studio City residents and council members celebrated the unveiling of Fairway Garden, a garden located on the small hillside on Fairway Avenue and Ventura Boulevard, Feb. 10. The school collaborated with the Studio City Business District (SCBD) and Studio City Beautification Association (SCBA) in creating the garden.

The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and speakers including President Rick Commons, Los Angeles City Council Member Nithya Raman and SCBD Executive Director Vicki Nussbaum. The Los Angeles City Council bestowed a Certificate of Appreciation to the school for funding the project.

Roughly 20 people attended the event, all of whom worked on the project, according to Director of Community and Public Affairs Stacy Marble.

Seven years ago, the SCBD planned to add a sidewalk and stretch of retaining wall to the Ventura Boulevard and Fairway Avenue intersection. The SCBA and SCBD later developed a project to add a garden on the hill above the retaining wall, which the school provided funds for,

according to Nussbaum. Wildflora developed the beautification plans and found the wildlife.

Many of the species in the garden are native plants.

Nussbaum said it was heartwarming to see community members put a large amount of effort into working on developing the Fairway Garden.

“We can do small things with great love and make a big difference,” Nussbaum said. “[Developing this garden] was almost an act of love for all [the people who worked on the project] who shepherded this project [to] plant some plants and irrigate them.”

Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Ari Engelberg ’89 said the school sponsored the garden because it felt it would benefit the community. “[The school] has been in Studio City since 1937, so we’ve had a long relationship with a number of organizations in Studio City, and [SCBA] is one of them,” Engelberg said. “If there are neighborhood groups that are working on projects that are going to enhance the quality of life for the community, including members of [the school] community, it makes sense for us to support them.”

Engelberg said though the SCBA is a sister organization to the Studio City Residents Associ-

ation (SCRA), which advocates for the preservation of Weddington Golf & Tennis over the school’s River Park, the school’s working relationship with both organizations remains largely unaffected.

“There are times when [the SCRA’s] advocacy for residents may lead them in a direction of not supporting that [which] the school is trying to accomplish, and that’s their right,” Engelberg said. “We wouldn’t ever refuse to support a project in the neighborhood just because it’s associated with SCRA. They do a lot of good work, and we’re happy to be associated with the good work that they do.”

Marble said the event helped bring together all the different councils in Studio City. “[The event] was a wonderful opportunity for the school to join together with our community partners to make an improvement to our neighb o r h o o d ,” Marble said.

“Some of the native plants set down are going to take a while to grow, but [the garden] can only look better from here.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF STACY MARBLE

GREEN SPACE AND GRATITUDE: After the garden’s opening, President Rick Commons and Head of Communications Ari Engelberg ’89 receive a certificate from Los Angeles City Council Member Nithya Raman.

ILLUSTRATION BY NATASHA SPEISS

Features The Chronicle • Feb. 16, 2022

PUBLIC AFFAIR

March 4 Our Lives Four years after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, students assess how gun violence is discussed in schools.

Students share how romantic relationships have impacted their experiences at school.

By Natalie Cosgrove

By Harry Tarses It is quiet behind Munger. Juliette Leclerc ’23 sits under trees and a small patch of shade, eyes fixed aimlessly on the windows across from her. By her side is her boyfriend, Holden Rath ’23.

They come here often. Leclerc said she remembers the first time she realized she loved Rath: It was over FaceTime, with thousands of miles separating the two of them. Still, Leclerc said she has felt strongly towards Rath for almost as long as she’s known him.

“We’ve been dating for eight months, but we’ve known each other for almost three years,” Leclerc said. “I think I’ve had a little bit of that love for him since the first moment. We met in September of 9th grade, he was sitting alone eating and listening to music, and I thought he was really attractive. We didn’t talk a lot until 10th grade, but then, we immediately started dating.”

Leclerc said, whether it be in or out of school, she chooses to spend most of her time with Rath.

“I spend my whole days with him and then, we FaceTime as soon as we get home, so we’re just interacting all the time,” Leclerc said. “It’s just nice having someone who’s yours, where you can always be there for each other.”

Despite how much she enjoys spending time with Rath, Leclerc said she noticed herself neglecting her other social obligations.

“I want to be spending time with him but then, I also have to spend time with friends.” Leclerc said. “[We all] talked about it and basically said we should just make more of an effort and try to be with the whole group.”

Teddy Ingold ’24 said he has witnessed the tax of romantic relationships firsthand when his peers have become more distant upon finding a significant other. Ingold said because of this observation, he has refrained from a relationship.

“In some cases, it makes it a little harder to stay as good friends with them,” Ingold said. “It depends on the kid, but some people just spend [too much] time with their person. I think it’s something to avoid in high school.”

Megan Outcalt ’22 said putting in the time and dedication needed to maintain a high school relationship can be irresponsible.

• Continued on B8

Palisades Charter High School (PCHS) senior Maya Deganyar ’22 turned in her seat to see the whiteboard more clearly.

She scribbled down notes and then opened “To Kill a Mockingbird” to the assigned page before the piercing noise of a fire alarm interrupted her train of thought.

She started to look around the room for escape routes, holding her friend’s hand closely. One week prior, a mass shooting in Parkland, Flrodia occured where a fire alarm was also pulled, and 17 students were killed.

“I remember just thinking of [the Parkland shooting] and talking to my friends asking each other if we were in a shooting, what would we do?”

Deganyar said. “And then I realized that that is not a normal thing to discuss. Eighth graders should not be doing that.

Little kids should not be doing that. High school students should not be doing that.

This normalization of gun violence that we all face is not okay.”

In 2018, 17 high school students passed away at the hands of a teen gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Feb. 14, 2022 marks the four-year anniversary of the mass shooting. In remembrance, March for Our Lives (MFOL), an organization with the purpose of preventing gun violence created in the wake of the Parkland shooting, will “go dark” by refraining from communicating with the public both online and offline in remembrance of the shooting. MFOL held a student-led demonstration all around the country in March 2018.

In addition to MFOL “going dark,” “The Fall-

After unlocking her phone and scrolling through unread emails, Shoshie Bernstein ’22 logged onto her Coinbase app to check the status of her Bitcoin holdings.

Bernstein, who used a mixture of birthday and bat mitzvah money to purchase cryptocurrency in March 2018, beamed when she saw the Bitcoin price chart: Her investments had nearly doubled in just a few months.

Cryptocurrency, a digital asset exchanged through peer-topeer net-

individual school communities.

“We are calling out for President Biden to be making more of an effort on gun violence prevention, whether that is creating a position [of ] a director of gun violence prevention, or more locally like divesting money from the police and putting it towards mental health,” Deganyar said.

“We are trying to get politicians to recognize that there is a gun crisis in our country, but even when they recognize that, they immediately start talking about more policing. As organizers in the gun violence prevention movement, we see the best way to prevent school shootings is more mental health support.”

Mental health struggles often lead to violence, but can sometimes be prevented if addressed early on, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Violence Prevention Center (CVP). If not addressed however, the symptoms can lead to violence, according to the CHOP. • Continued on B3

CRYPTO-CASH

By Lucas Cohen-D’Arbeloff and Georgia Goldberg

out,” a movie depicting a high school shooting released in late January, revealed the complexities and impact of traumatic events on adolescents, according to a Slate Magazine review.

There was a 13.4% increase in mass shooting incidents in the United States from 2020 to 2021, according to The Trace, an organization dedicated to investigating gun violence in America. In 2021, there were 22 school shooting-related deaths, more than any year since 2018, despite many schools conducting classes virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior and California MFOL State Director DeGanyar said the organization is tackling the issue of gun violence politically both on a national scale and within

works outside traditional banks or governments, typically uses databases called blockchains to facilitate transactions.

Bitcoin, released in 2009 as the first decentralized currency, has amassed roughly 46 mill i o n A me ri c a n shareholders since its inception, according to Newsweek.

Bernstein said although she was initially concerned at the idea of wasting money by purchas-

Students and faculty discuss the pros and cons of cryptocurrency and the rise of non-fungible tokens. ing bitcoin, her investment has paid off in the long run since its value has increased over time.

“I first invested in crypto a few years ago after hearing about it from a friend,” Bernstein said. “I was a bit apprehensive to invest in something that seemed so intangible and that I didn’t fully understand, but in hindsight, I am glad I did.”

While she said she is excited by short-term increases in Bitcoin price, Bernstein said she is largely unfazed by its frequent changes in value, as she said she is confident that upward trends will hold.

“I don’t get stressed when I see that [Bitcoin value] has fluctuated or has decreased since the last time I checked,” Bernstein said. “I’ve had it for so long and seen it change so many times that I’m numb to it. I know that I’m in it for the long term and that eventually, it will go back up again each time.”

Bernstein’s perception of rapid fluctuations in cryptocurrency

value is corroborated by recent data; CNBC reports Bitcoin plunged 30% in a single day in May 2021 and Fortune reports that Dogecoin, another form of cryptocurrency, skyrocketed 43% in just one day in April 2021.

Blockchain Club leader Ryan Pinsker ’23 said sudden shifts in value are common in all forms of cryptocurrency.

“Crypto [is] volatile,” Pinsker said. “The industry is still new, and there’s still a lot of uncertainty going around, which causes the price to fluctuate frequently. One day investors could be up $1000, and the next day they can be down $500. This becomes really tricky when users try to exchange between different cryptocurrencies, as exchanges sometimes have trouble converting prices.”

Pinsker said the decentralized exchange and public storage of data employed by blockchains have the potential to restore trust in transactions.

• Continued on B6 ILLUSTRATIONS BY FALLON DERN

B2 Features

Feb. 16, 2022

The Chronicle

Members of the school community reflect on Black history and Black activism during Black History Month.

By Fallon Dern and Lily Lee Since 1970, the United States has rec- connotation, representing evil or darkness ognized February as Black History Month. or even despair,” Duruisseau said. “To me, The observance is now recognized in Can- this is untrue. In my opinion, Blackness ada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. is hard to define. It’s everything. It’s powHowever, for Zenmarah Duruisseau ’22, er and beauty, it’s even happiness. I don’t the celebration of Black History Month associate negative things with the word is not limited to the 28 days of February. because it’s also the word for my race. I see “[Black History Month] is every my mom, my aunt, some of my friends month, every week, every day, and mentors when that word is every hour and every second,” spoken. I see history and art reDuruisseau said. “I choose to silience. The stereotypes many celebrate my Blackness and are confined to do not define Black history all the time. I feel what it means to be Black. Blacklike this month just allows more ness is unique to the individual. people outside of our commuThat’s why we are such a diverse nity to view us. Black History and amazing group of people.” l. wood Month is a time where I can In school, Duruisseau said she Chris truly show how proud I am takes classes about Black history Spencer ’23 of my people and culture, but and develops research projects I don’t [restrict] this to a sinand independent studies about gle month. I do this every day, all day.” her culture. As a dancer and choreogDuruisseau said the Black experience rapher, she said she highlights the Black is unique for each Black person. She experience through Black styles, dance said she celebrates her identity by resist- moves and the storytelling in her pieces. ing negative stereotypes that others place “I feel like advocacy and my craft upon Black culture. Ranging from larg- intersect,” Duruisseau said. “As a choer-scale movements to raise awareness reographer, I create pieces about Black for Black issues to how she integrates her history, the Black struggle and Black exculture into her art, Duruisseau said she cellence. I am either trying to educate actively combats anti-Blackness. my audience about a topic, inspire them “Black usually has a negative to create change or encourage happiness in times when it is so hard to be.”

Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club (BLACC) leader, Student Leaders for Diversity and Equity (SLIDE) co-leader, Westflix leader and filmmaker Santiago Kelly ’22 said he advocates for Black issues through the clubs he partic-

ipates in and the projects he creates. For flects on the progress that brought the the most recent Video Art 3 showcase Jan. country to this point of racial equity.

19-28, “The DUALITY of REALITY,” “It’s hard to imagine the future of Kelly portrayed his film “Endangered” Black activism without thinking about by using two monitors to depict tensions the past and thinking about how Black between African American men and law activists have successfully worked for enforcement. The film’s first panel features change in this country,” Jones said. “The BLACC member Tosa Odiase ’22 walk- future is bright, but it is going to coning and eventually running away from tinue to be hard. I don’t want the buran entity unknown to the viewer. The den to fall upon Black people to fight second panel, shown simultaneously, fea- for Blackness to be recognized, just like I tures a faceless form of BLACC member wouldn’t want the burden to fall on any Milo Kiddugavu ’22 in a police uniform, other marginalized community to fight pursuing a figure assumed to be Odiase. for their own humanity to be recognized.”

Kelly said the intent of his art is to open Black Kids Who Care (BKWC) students’ minds about the meaning of art co-founder Ava Robinson ’23 said and to bring attention to important issues. she helps unify and lead young activ“My main objective when creat- ists through the program, which raises ing socially-engaged art is just to bring awareness to Black issues and organizawareness to the issues that continue es community service events to give to plague our society,” Kelly said. “I back to the Black community. The prolike to show new ways of exploring our gram’s Instagram account, @b.k.w.c, has problems through shifting lenses and amassed over 6,000 followers since its perspectives. I just hope to open peo- creation in May 2020 and shares news ple’s minds to what art means and how and information about Black history it can move people and reflect reality.” and quotes from notable Black figures.

When envisioning the future of “Our main purpose is to spread awareBlack activism, Kelly said he predicts ness about the injustices Black people face both art and legislation will take stron- on a daily basis, big and small,” Robinson ger roles in the push for racial equity. said. “We also thought it would be very “I anticipate all art from Black artists important to start an organization strictly and surrounding Black issues to contin- run by Black teenagers to help inspire othue to become even more illuminating er Black teenagers to speak out and create and profound while even more concert- change. We wanted to create a safe space for ed efforts are made towards undoing the everyone to discuss the hard truths of being racial, structural damage of this coun- Black in America but to also celebrate the try from a legal standpoint,” Kelly said. importance of Black culture around us.”

Head of Diversity, Equity and IncluBKWC co-founder Christopher Spension (DEI) Janine Jones (Avery Jones ’23) cer ’23 said he agreed with Robinson, addsaid Black activism and discussion about ing that raising awareness to Black issues Blackness should not be treated as a mono- during Black History Month is particulith and, in order larly important to the for progress to be organization’s leaders. made, individual “Black HistoBlack History Month and systematic efry Month is a time is a time where I can truly forts must recogwhere we get to share show how proud I am of my nize the diversity historical Black figwithin the Black ures who might not people and culture, but I experience. get the recognition don’t [restrict] this to a single “Blackness they deserve,” Spenmonth.” is what an incer said. “I want peodividual who is to understand that —Zenmarah Duruisseau ’22 ple Black defines it just because we have to be for thema month doesn’t mean self,” Jones said. we shouldn’t be cel“As someone who is African Ameri- ebrated throughout the whole year.” can, when I was younger, I used to have BKWC co-founder Judah Marthese ideas of what Blackness was that ley ’23 said she hopes the account can were much more concrete and limited shed light on diverse issues within the in scope, but as I’ve gotten older, and es- Black community and create progressive pecially as I’ve been leading DEI work, I conversations within Black teenagers. can’t answer [what it means to be Black].

“We use our account to educate and It is up to every individual who identi- spread awareness about issues within our fies as Black to define what Blackness is.” community, aiming to reach kids like us When reflecting on Black History who can help educate even younger genMonth specifically, Jones said her feel- erations and create a positive cycle of edings change every year. While she said ucation and enrichment of our history, she appreciates the more organized ef- both the good and the bad,” Marley said. forts to honor Black heritage, she also Marley said her own perception recognizes the national divisions that pre- of being Black is nuanced. She said vent productive conversation about race. while systematic racism creates more “There is a part of me that loves [Black difficulties when it comes to expressHistory Month] because as a Black per- ing and celebrating Blackness, she is son it’s always wonderful when you are proud of her identity and rich culture. in communities where you are not in “I would define Blackness and [being] the racial minority to see your identi- Black as a beautiful struggle,” Marley said. ties celebrated by everyone or by a lot of “Although it can be difficult, it is one of people,” Jones said. “However, given our the most beautiful things in the world. polarized times around issues of race, I Being Black means that I will always have worry about the politicization of Black my people behind me and there to help me History Month, particularly this year. out and back me up. It is a huge part of my I’m going to choose to see the positives identity and affects everything from my and the fact that we are celebrating it.” family to daily interactions. It also means Jones said when she imagines the happiness because being a part of and upnext steps of Black activism, she re- lifting this community makes me happy.”

“

ILLUSTRATIONS BY FALLON DERN

Feb. 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/features

Features B3

Lives on the Line Students and faculty reflect on the progression of gun violence on school campuses since the deadly shooting in Parkland, Florida.

• Continued from B1

Out of 35 mass shootings observed in a study outlining the link between mental illness and acts of violence, 28 of the shooters had mental illness diagnoses, according to U.S. News.

Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said facilitating communication between peers and faculty is the best way to promote a safe school environment.

“One of the biggest things that we have tried to do is to create an environment where there are enough trusted adults where people feel like they could [apply the method of ] ‘you see something, you say something,’” Slattery said. “With that, you can prevent [violent] instances from happening.”

Deganyar said although there are various causes for gun violence, there are few main reasons that are deeply rooted in gun culture or poverty. To combat further violence from occurring, Deganyar said MFOL has been doing mutual aid campaigns to prevent poverty in local areas. They also have started working with various grassroots organizations for preventing any further financial distress.

“The gun culture in the U.S. has to do primarily with the second amendment,” Deganyar said. “[The culture] is [deeply] rooted in the [National Rifle Association (NRA)] and although sometimes [violence] is expressed in movies and video games, causing a numbing effect, I don’t think that’s the only cause for the violence. White supremacist structures such as the police are a major cause of gun violence, as well as a lack of policy surrounding guns. We have done many policing campaigns, worked extensively with Black Lives Matter and we have gotten a lot of funding which goes into getting poverty and mental health support.”

PCHS junior and MFOL Chapter Lead Alexa Dryfus said educating schools across the country on gun violence is the first step to creating an attentive and informed community.

“A large part of [MOFL] is education,” Dryfus said. “We want to recognize the signs early and how to recognize when someone’s mental health is declining. The organization is really just trying to prevent violence, so if we keep educating and expanding [further in America] so that more schools get this education, more people can realize and be educated on how to recognize the signs.”

Dryfus said because she constantly sees a news cycle of shootings in the media , it has become second nature to prepare for one to happen .

“The reason people are now more sensitive is because our generation is permanently scarred from the amount of school shootings that we’ve lived through [even though I have] not personally lived through [a school shooting], “ Dryfus said. “Every time I’m in a classroom, I think about whether I can get out if there was a shooter. That is coming from the fact that there have been so many school shootings and [there have been ] ones close to where we live. People are scared. Even if they have not lived through it, they are still going to feel sensitive to the topic.”

Brandon Aghnatios ’23 said feeling safe at school is not a universal for all U.S. students as they sit in classrooms.

“I personally feel incredibly safe at school,” Aghnatios said. “Our securi-

ty kiosks and training drills create a comfortable environment in a country that feels otherwise. I feel lucky going to school without having to worry, but I realize that feeling is definitely not universal among students across the U.S.” MFOL 2018 protest attendee Eliza Koblentz ‘23 said although she feels the school has created a safe environment for students, the movement as a whole needs to progress.

“Reflecting on the Parkland shooting after four years is difficult for me, especially because of the minimal progress that has been made in our country since then,” Koblentz said. “After attending the protest, I felt empowered to see the work being done in schools around the country to protect students, but I have now realized that a lot of it is a front for poor governmental gun policy. It is reassuring that [the school] is more equipped than most schools when it comes to safety precautions with Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate (ALICE) training [and] security kiosks, but I do know from personal experience that school shootings are a prevalent thought in most students’, parents’ and teachers’ minds.”

Slattery said ALICE training can often have adverse side effects because the simulation of a school shooting feels real to many students and can have a triggering effect. However, she said it is still important to ensure that students are prepared in the situation of a violent school threat.

“It is [difficult] to manage outside threats, although I feel confident in our [security’s ability to limit them] , “ Slattery said. “We used to do more of a simulation in terms of ALICE training, but that can be very traumatic for a lot of people. And so we have tried to find a balance of making sure people feel trained while also [ensuring that] the cure is not worse than the disease.”

Although Slattery said safety will continue to be a concern for the school, the school’s programming helps in protecting students.

“I do not want to be naive about the fact that there can always be a concern about people’s safety, but I do think the mechanism of Peer Support and of our counseling team to [discuss] when we might know of anything that might be a cause for concern, even if it is small, we tackle it in the best way we know how to,” Slattery said. “And then the outside threat is mainly to work through security and make sure that they are well-trainedand that we are well-staffed.”

Head of Security Jim Crawford said the school chooses to do ALICE training to prepare students for real-life shooting situations, but he said the

IILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA MUSANTE

training process of mock shootings may trigger students. He said it is important to ensure that in the case of a lockdown, students and faculty are equipped with the right safety measures. “​​Our students here have reacted differently to [ALICE] training: probably 95 percent of them [reacted] positively, and some have had a negative impact, where it bothered them because it was something they had to think about,” Crawford said. “They had not been in that situation before. But I think the overwhelming opinion is that we would rather [students] have an idea on how to react. We believe it is better to be proactive about [the training]. We are doing [safety drills] as a precaution to give [students] more tools on what to do [in the case of an active school shooter].”

The Chronicle

B4 Features

School community reflects on the past and present of Asian Students in Action (ASiA), the largest affinity group on campus.

By Emmy Zhang Sitting on the floor of Seaver 112 in October 2016 , Lucy Kim ’19 looked around at the 15 students who had taken note of her announcement on the school bulletin, which declared the start of a new affinity group on campus. Before that day, there had never been a formal organization for Asian students on campus.

Kim said while no one had taken the initiative to start one, she had sensed her peers’ desire for a space centered on Asian American heritage at school. She contacted the administration, created a name for her club and, in her sophomore year, founded Asian Students in Action (ASiA).

“Asian American students represented a significant part of the student body, yet we didn’t have an affinity group where we could discuss our Asian American heritage,” Kim said. “I think this was partly because of the ‘model minority myth’ that expects Asians to be obedient and therefore invisible and silent in society. With ASiA, I want-

ed to get Asian students to feel comfortable with engaging in important dialogues concerning our unique experiences.

Kim said the club grew quickly in size and in the variety of discussion topics, which covered issues relevant to life at school and in American society.

“In the following months, the club really took off,” Kim said. “A lot more Asian students began to join our meetings and share their stories. It was exciting when people started coming to me with ideas for things to talk about and explore such as affirmative action and cultural appropriation.”

Three years after that first meeting in Seaver, ASiA now has five leaders and a membership of over 200 students , consisting of both Asian American students and students of other ethnic backgrounds. Moreover, at ASiA’s recent Lunar New Year festival held Feb. 1, ASiA co-leader Annabelle Kang ’22 said over 500 members of the school community came to support the event.

Kang, who manages the club alongside Chronicle Assistant Features Editor Fallon Dern ’23, Joy Ho ’22, Julia Im ’23 and Avery Kim ’23, said she was initially nervous to take on a leadership role in such a large group.

“Although we appreciated the huge turnout, it was a bit overwhelming,” Kang said. “We were mostly concerned about how we were going to get people in such a big group to make personal connections and have the chance to share their experiences and feel like they are heard.”

Sharing Kang’s concerns, Ho said she and her fellow leaders devised a solution to ensure the ac-

cessibility of small group discus- prompts that allow everyone to sions. She said their primary goal participate, even if they’re not in meetings is to create a space super knowledgeable in the topwhere all members have the op- ic, ” Shelton said. “For example, portunity to engage in discussion we talked about how difficult and reflect upon their identity as it might be to bring up mental Asian Americans. health with our families because “During our meetings over psychotherapy is not common the summer, we knew that we in Asian households. I hadn’t wanted to find a balance between thought much about the topic us [leaders] talking to the mem- before, but the questions that the bers and giving the [members] a leaders asked us really helped me chance to open up about them- reflect on my own relationship selves and issues they are passion- with my family and personal conate about,” Ho said. “We decided nection to the issue.” that meetings after school would ASiA Faculty Advisor Melody give people the most Lee said she relates to time to have intimate the challenges of openconversations without ly discussing emotions feeling rushed that with adults and recogthey have to get to nizes the importance of their next class.”

ASiA as a secure setting ASiA member Patto work through indirick Yeh ’23 said he vidual conflicts. appreciates the space “When I was a stufor after-school discusdent, there was no L. Wood sions, which provide organized space with Joy him the opportunity guidance counselors Ho ’22 to share experiences and people you could he would not typically reveal to seek out,” Lee said. “You had other people. to fend for yourself or talk to “ASiA gives me an outlet to your friends about [difficult exexpress feelings of discontent and periences] because it was taboo discrimination,” Yeh said. “It’s a to share personal issues such as comfortable space where I can mental health with your parents. bring up topics that I usually A student-run organization like only discuss with my family at ASiA provides students with a home. It feels good to be heard safe space to talk about their isand understood by my peers sues, as they might feel more and [to] know that they’re going comfortable speaking to their through a lot of the same things peers and having control over the that I am.” direction of the conversation.”

Like Yeh, Nyla Shelton ’24 Lee said she values ASiA for said their reflections and the en- the way it inspires students to gaging topics that leaders raise speak freely and support each have helped her achieve more other. She said, as someone who self-awareness and a stronger un- has experienced microaggressions derstanding of her Asian culture. but withheld her confusion and “The leaders always have great hurt, she appreciates that ASiA

Feb. 1

16, 2022

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encourages self-advocacy and going to exeexpression of one’s truth. cute them. A “When I was around 14, I few weeks later, we attended a track camp at Stan- hosted the virtual ford, and on the first day, when school-wide discusmy roommate’s father saw me, I sion about anti-Asian knew he was upset about some- hate crimes. It was incredible that thing having to do with me,” so many people came together Lee said. “I could tell from the to support our cause. It remindway he stared at me and imme- ed me how groups [like ASiA] diately pulled his daughter out can really make a difference.” of the room that it was because Instead of feeling powerless I was Asian. When I overheard or overwhelmed, Shelton said him say, ‘There’s no way you’re the meeting inspired her to seek living with her,’ I understood solutions to reduce violence tothat there are people who judge wards marginalized groups. and condemn “Seeing others simply people who With ASiA, I wanted looked because they like look different. to get Asian students to feel me and my I was really comfortable with engaging grandparents hurt by his be victims of in important dialogue comment, but these terrible concerning our unique at the time, I hate crimes was too young made me feel experiences. and too scared really unsafe,” —Lucy Kim ’19 to speak up.

Shelton said.

That’s why I’m “But having really proud of that Zoom to the students in ASiA who stand talk about my anxiety and brainup for themselves and their storm ways to handle the hatred, community and share their own as well as our own frustration, stories about being victims of really helped me cope with evmicroaggressions and racism.” erything that was happening Ho said, in addition to the around me.” connections forged through Brandon Aghnatios ’23, an meaningful discussion after active participant in ASiA and school, members are united by who is of Lebanese descent, also their shared passion for anti-dis- attended the anti-Asian hate crimination advocacy. crime discussion and said that “I remember joining an ASiA meeting and the others he has Zoom call after the spa shooting since joined have helped him to in Atlanta last year and feeling understand the racism and bias very distraught,” Ho said. “I was his Asian American classmates on the brink of tears but knew have to face. that we had to do something, “It was heartbreaking to read so we sat on Zoom for an hour about the stories in the news,” discussing the goals we wanted Aghnatios said. “Then, at the to accomplish and how we were meeting, when I heard about the

“

Features B5

discrimination that my classmates have suffered and still experience, I felt even more strongly that I need to support them. Knowing what my friends confront on a daily basis has enabled me to become a better friend. I’m glad that I’m part of such a meaningful organization [like ASiA].”

Shelton said she appreciates ASiA for both its meaningful discussion and its exciting cultural celebrations. Referencing the recent Lunar New Year festival on campus, Shelton said from organizing to creating artwork, she enjoyed every aspect of the gathering.

“I love how ASiA is a great combination of a safe space to talk about serious issues that are prevalent, but it’s also a place where we have a lot of fun,” Shelton said. “I had such a good time when we were planning the Lunar New Year event, painting posters and decorating the Quad. I loved working with my friends on something that is really meaningful to us and our cultural heritage.”

Chinese teacher Bin He, who was born in Qinghai, China, also said he enjoyed watching the school community come together for the celebration. He said the event reminded him of the Lunar New Year celebrations he shared with his relatives in China.

“The festival recalled my youth in China and how I celebrated the new year with my family,” He said. “I was so touched seeing students and teachers working together to

make the event come to life. It [embodied] the spirit of unity and harmony that the Lunar New Year celebrates.”

Ho said she was delighted to hear the positive reaction to the festival but acknowledges that it required weeks of preparation that included designing the various booths, embellishing the quad with handmade posters and lanterns and delegating tasks to students and parents who provided food and decorations.

“Even though everyone all dedicated a lot of time and effort to planning the event, it was worth all the hard work,” Ho said. “It was so gratifying to see the entire school community coming together to enjoy the celebration, learn about Asian culture, and support ASiA. We will definitely organize more gatherings in the future to raise awareness and build unity.”

Ho said the festivity extended beyond entertainment.

She said the event, as well as ASiA itself, is a statement about Asian American empowerment that inspired not only Asian students but also the entire community at school.

“The event was really empowering for us in ASiA, but it was also important for people outside of the affinity group to see our strength and pride in our Asian hertiage,” Ho said. “[ASiA] debunk the ‘model minority myth’ that say we are submissive and reserved. It allows other people to see that we are vibrant, assertive and incredibly proud of who we are.”

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B6 Features

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

Community members discuss the social, economic and environmental impact of the rise of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

• Continued from B1

Pinsker said the decentralized exchange and public storage of data employed by blockchains have the potential to restore trust in transactions.

“I invest [in cryptocurrency] because I’m a believer in the many use cases for blockchain technology for the betterment of our society,” Pinsker said. “I think that cutting out the middleman, in most cases big, centralized banks, is crucial to furthering privacy and economic freedom, and blockchain technology is, in my opinion, the solution to this.”

Pinsker said he envisions a world in which cryptocurrency and blockchain technology replace traditional money as the dominant form of exchange.

“I think crypto will transform the American economy,” Pinsker said. “The technology is here to stay. I think that in the future, the American economy will run on some form of cryptocurrency.”

Financial Technology Club leader Sarah Brown ’24 said cryptocurrency appeals more to those who seek knowledge and experience in related fields.

“Students [who invest in cryptocurrency] are usually more computer science and economics-focused because they have researched the positive and negative aspects of owning these assets,” Brown said. “I think it depends on how much the teenager knows about investing and how much money they are willing to spend. If somebody has the means and the time to invest, it is [worth considering].”

Cryptocurrencies facilitate the exchange of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), unique pieces of digital content typically linked to the Ethereum blockchain . NFTs can be photos, videos, music, drawings or any other form of digital media, and they range in price: Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s first tweet recently sold for over $2.9 million, while NFTs sold on crypto.com sell for as low as $10.

Visual Arts Teacher Whitney Lasker said he was inspired to sell his designs using NFTs after a piece by artist Beeple sold for $69 million at Christie’s auction house in March 2021. After starting out on the NFT marketplace OpenSea with a token titled “Seeing Eye-ball,” he converted his 2013 design “Scream Bear” into an NFT. “I made some T-shirts for the last ‘Grateful Dead’ concert, and I did this design where I took the face from the movie ‘Scream’ and then put it on the ‘dancing bear,’ which is an iconic ‘Grateful Dead’ icon,” Lasker said. “People were really into it. I sold it around LA. [I thought], ‘What if I just take that figure and make that into an NFT?’” Lasker said NFTs will not mainstream, but he said they add complexity to the art that is associated with them.

“I think [NFTs] are just going to become sort of a taste if that’s your style and that’s what you’re into,” Lasker said.

“There might be NFT collectors, but I don’t think the whole art world will just become all NFTs . [But] I think it’s exciting because it adds the conceptual element of the blockchain to whatever you’re doing. Because the blockchain is such a hard thing for humans to grasp, I think [NFTs] help elevate the art that’s

connected to [blockchain technology].” network, consumes a significant amount Robotics Coach Andrew Theiss of electricity. In upstate New York alone, said the transition to cheap and af- small businesses paid an additional $165 fordable NFTs unlocks new poten- million a year in energy costs due to the tial uses for the technology, includ- power demands of local cryptocurrency ing applications in voting systems. mining operations, according to a Berkeley “As soon as the price is able to come Haas study . Appel said trends like these down and as soon as infrastructure are concerning for households everywhere. evolves to the point where NFTs will “The [cryptocurrency] mining systems hopefully be dirt cheap to mint, NFTs take up immense amounts of energy in can be used for things like households, so much voting,” Theiss said. “If so that people’s energy you have a database that bills are skyrocketing The way the social and through the roof,” is completely anonymous, anyone can go on, they maturation of the space is Appel said. “That’s very can prove it themselves for them.” going, [NFTs are] turning expensive without anyone knowCryptocurrency into a status symbol.” mining contributes to ing that you voted, and you can have proof that burning of fossil fu—Andrew Theiss the you voted in the form of els and in turn, carbon Robotics Coach dioxide emissions and an NFT. I feel like politically it can be a really global warming. Bitcoin powerful mechanism.” production is estimated At the same time, Theiss said that to generate between 22 and 22.9 million NFTs’ potential suggests their future im- metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions pact is not entirely predictable. He said a year, according to Reuters. Appel said as long as NFTs are prohibitively expen- the environmental concerns regarding sive for most people, no one will have a cryptocurrency outweigh any economclear idea of the future of this technology. ic advantage it may provide the public.

“The first tiny potential of this tech“If the energy needed to mine for crypnology has just emerged, but this is not tocurrency isn’t coming from a clean reeven the tip of the iceberg,” Theiss said. source or a sustainable resource, then that “The actual weight of all the infrastruc- will be very bad for the environment,” Apture, which is being built now, is still not pel said. “Since the industry is booming approachable to the general public and the right now, a ton of energy is being used. rest of the world. It’s only really approach- This has negative efable to extremely rich people who can buy fects on the environan NFT on this website or really technical ment since it’s emitpeople that understand how to interface ting more greenhouse with this new computer. If a n y o n e gases into the atmopredicts what this fusphere, thereby [furture is going to be, I thering] the effects would say [that is] of global warming.” pretty short-sightMicah Gold ’22 ed because most said cryptocurrenof the things that cy’s environmenhave already tal impact can be been created minimized without surrounding eliminating the [this technology] no one has been able to predict.”

Theiss said that NFTs currently exist largely as a symbol of wealth.

“The way the social maturation of the space is going, [NFTs are] turning into a status symbol,” Theiss said. “Really rich people are buying them just to prove that they have some amount of wealth and status.”

While NFTs and cryptocurrency generate wealth or serve as symbols of wealth for some, Environmental Club leader Chloe Appel ’23 said the current forms of cryptocurrency can also generate environmental and economic issues.

Cryptocurrency mining, the process by which new coins are created and transactions are validated on a blockchain

“

currency altogether. Gold said cryptocurrency is one among many industries that are adjusting their business models to successfully reduce their carbon footprint.

“The imperative [society] has is to ensure that we are investing in the future of blockchain technology so that it is more energy-efficient,” Gold said. “It’s kind of like how cars produce a lot of carbon dioxide. The way that you fix that problem is not necessarily by getting rid of all cars.

A more practical solution for our country is making sure that we make those cars as efficient as possible. So instead of just getting rid of cars, we have electric cars.”

One possible solution to reducing the carbon footprint is the proof-of-stake method, which can use significantly less computing power than large-scale cryptocurrency mining systems. Other computational methods—proof of history, proof of elapsed time, proof of burn and proof of capacity—are being developed to utilize less extensive computing power, according to Investopedia. Gold said environmentally friendly blockchain technologies can eventually replace the existing ones.

“We need that type of transformation to crypto so that it uses less energy, because right now [its energy consumption is] a big problem,” Gold said. “There are already solutions to these energy problems with crypto that are starting to be adopted, and they’re getting better every year.”

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Feb 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/features

Features B7

Students and alumni recount senior traditions they have partaken in at the Upper School such as the graduation pool jump and Tap-Out.

By Allegra Drago As Spencer Sherman ’21 sprinted past the Munger science building, he began unbuttoning his Hawaiin-printed shirt. His smile beamed and cheers of laughter could be heard on the Quad from the Copses Family pool, where 300 students prepared to leap into the water, celebrating their last day of senior year and the end of their high school experience. “[It] felt like a dream,” Sherman said.

“Jumping into that pool with [my classmates] really drove home the idea that my high school journey was coming to an end, so it was a mix of some of the highest highs and lowest lows.”

Sherman said he enjoyed returning to campus as a senior after spending months learning remotely because he was finally able to socialize with his classmates. He said he and his peers spent the last few weeks of their in-person senior year reminiscing on their years growing up together.

“We were all just happy, enjoying each other’s company,” Sherman said. “The best part of those last weeks [was] sitting down with some of my closest friends talking about what we were feeling.”

Sherman said he valued spending time with his classmates at the senior tables, but he also enjoyed mingling with underclassmen on the Quad.

“I never felt the need to sit at a senior table, and [I felt that] it shouldn’t matter where people sit,” Sherman said. “I had many friends outside of my own grade, and the upper school social scene helped connect more people of differing ages.

Breaking [social] barriers with people younger than me felt natural and necessary to actually enjoy being on campus.”

Ava Benavente ’20 said although she spent time in her senior year interacting with underclassmen, the senior tables were special to her and her peers of the same grade, allowing them to create memories on the Quad specific to the school’s senior traditions.

“I planned my homecoming party and fell in love with my [ex-girlfrend] at those tables,” Benavente said. “I even remember my peers opening [their] college acceptance letters there.”

Jack Hartmeier ’22 said compared to many of his peers, the senior tables are unimportant to him. He said instead of spending time on the Quad during the lunch period, he and his friends enjoy going off-campus to local restaurants. Hartmeier said he leaves campus twice a week to avoid the frenzy of the new common lunch period.

“Since the lunch period is shorter, my friends and I go to places that are more local like Yeastie Boys, Erewhon, Le Pain Quotidien and Joan’s on Third,” Hartmei-

er said. “[My friends and I] don’t need to feel between grade levels has faded. worry about finding a lunch table or wait“I think there were certain things that ing in line for the cafeteria.” were expected when you [were] a senior,” Upper school counselor Michelle Bracken said. “Seniors earned their leaderBracken said in ship by being on the past, secthe campus for ond-semester selonger than the niors have been underclassman. creative with free [Now,] I think and lunch periit seems like stuSeniors earned od activities. She dents are much said the Quad more equal.” leadership by being on has traditionally Benavente said campus for longer than been a place for before beginning the underclassman.” seniors to spend online school, time together beshe enjoyed —Michelle Bracken fore going away school traditions Upper School Counselor to college. that united the “There used student body to be kids who without distinwould bring [inguishing between flatable] pools the grade levonto [the Quad.] els, referencing I remember seeTap-Out, a caming [a senior] pus-wide game, someone bring a hibachi [grill] and in which students are each assigned an incooking for their peers,” Bracken dividual target whom they are supposed said. “When it would start to get to “tap out.” To tap another player out warm after spring break and [se- successfully, the student must record niors] were into college, a com- their attempt, post it to the Facemon thing to see on campus were book group designated to the water balloons being thrown game and wait for around the Quad.” a “Game Master” Bracken said she feels to approve it, and that upper school tradi- move onto their tions are usually passed next target. down from year to year, Benavente but that online school said when she has reduced students’ was a student at awareness or interest in the school, stuparticipating in them. dents went to great “A lot of our tra- lengths to tap people ditions [at the Upper out. She said part of School] are based on what made Tap-Out a commuwhat students have done nal game was that people were in the past years,” Bracken eager to “tap out” peers they had said. “I’ve noticed many tradi- never met. tions have been built off of se“Tap Out was a very fun social niors doing what they had seen [activity] at the upper school,” upperclassmen do when they Benavente said. “Everyone [was] were younger, and now there trying to figure out who everyone h a d is a lack of that because of how and doing shady things to find each other’s long we have been off campus [due to schedules. I remember there was this guy the pandemic].” who found a girl’s address in the [Student Bracken said the role seniors Directory] and waited outside her home to play on campus has changed tap her out.” beyond the hierarchy of Benavente said the Tap-Out seating arrangements on tournament and other senior the Quad. She said she traditions were great ways to has noticed a shift meet new people on campus in the dynamic beand make friends in other grade tween grade levels levels. She said all grades communicated with stronger relationwith each other, but sophomores and juships between upper and lowerclassniors looked up to seniors. men, which she said she believes “Activities like Tap-Out and is an outcome of the new Peer Support aided in blurblock schedule and ring the line becommon lunch tween grade levels,” period. Bracken Benavente said. said before the “When I was in pandemic, se10th and 11th niors were seen as grade, I remember leaders, but after a being very aware year of remote learnof who the seniors ing, the hierarchical were and recogniz-

“

ing that I wasn’t one of them. Then when I was a senior, I was very aware that I had earned my respect as a senior.”

Sherman said the Peer Support program, an interpersonal student-led counseling program, was another way for him to connect with students from all grade levels. He said this was important during online school because it allowed him to keep in contact with and meet new peers in other grades.

“Being in Peer Support allowed me to create friendships with many [students] outside of my grade,” Sherman said. “I enjoyed coming back to campus and seeing all of my peers that were in my group.”

Ruby Kemper ‘24 said the absence of socialization between grade levels during the pandemic has affected the relationships on campus.

“Seniors were only at the Upper School for six months before the pandemic began, so they never had a full year on campus to experience Upper School traditions,” Kemper said.

Kemper said her two older siblings, Tess Kemper ‘15 and Julian Kemper ‘20, are often nostalgic about their time at the school and the traditions they participated in. She said both her sibling are still very close with the friends they made at the school.

“My sister still talks about the [Senior] Scavenger Hunt today,” Kemper said. “I [also] remember hearing about the senior tables from my older siblings and how they created many memories around them.”

Hartmeier said being the youngest of four siblings who attended the school has allowed him to look forward to various senior traditions, such as off-campus privileges.

“I would always hear my older siblings talk about going off-campus when they had multiple free periods,” Hartmeier said.

“Later in the year, after [Advanced Placement (AP)] tests, when my siblings would have a two-hour break in the middle of their day, they would go to get lunch with friends. It always seemed like so much fun and an exciting part of becoming a senior.”

Hartmeier said he sees parallels between his siblings’ experiences as a senior and his own. He said experiencing some of the traditions he heard about allowed him to appreciate them more.

“I feel like my senior year has been similar to those of my older siblings,” Hartmeier said. “Being at [Senior Ceremony] felt like another tradition I was supposed to do as a senior, and when I was standing [on the field] with my class, I truly felt like a senior. I remember when [my siblings] told me about jumping into the pool on the last day of high school. I’m looking forward to doing that.”

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B8 Features

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

With Valentine’s Day in sight, students reflect on the advantages and shortcomings of high school relationships and their role on campus.

• Continued from B1

“These relationships are often codependent,” Outcalt said. “Once it ends, they don’t have anything outside of it because they’ve just focused so hard on one person instead of everyone else in their lives.”

Talia Tepper ’22 said she tries to address these concerns in her long-term relationship with Kai Faucher ’23. Tepper said she finds it difficult to tend to social responsibilities that are separate from her time with her boyfriend.

“It’s very difficult actually, a lot more difficult than I expected,” Tepper said.

“He’s really important to me. He makes me feel happy and good about myself and all that, but then I have friends that I have to see.”

Tepper said an additional challenge is her couple’s age gap, as she is a senior and Faucher is a junior, and their daily experiences do not always align. “[The age gap] has effects,” Tepper said.

“He’s taking classes I already took, I just got into college, then I’m going to go to college. So that’s obviously difficult.”

Faucher said being in the grade below Tepper can be difficult to navigate.

“There was definitely a rift at first,” Faucher said. “There’s stuff that she’s experienced that I flat out haven’t. If anything has been our biggest [challenge], it’s just been to kind of traverse and get around how sometimes our differences are great.”

Tepper said while she and Faucher have acknowledged this issue, it has become less prevalent with time. “​​He’s very emotionally mature for the age difference,” Tepper said. “Honestly, we forget about it all the time.”

Faucher said his connection with Tepper often translates into public displays of affection (PDA), which he said is now a

very important part of their relationship.

“We both took a love test [to find] the best form of affection you can give your partner, and I think we scored pretty highly with the physical affection,” Faucher said. “[I apologize] if that makes people feel gross or whatever, but I think that if it’s done in a healthy way, it can be pretty good for couples to be comfortable around each other in a public setting.”

Tepper said she learned over time to prioritize her happiness with Faucher over the slight discomfort of onlookers.

“I’m in my own little world with him and I’m happy, and it makes me happy,” Tepper said. “I don’t really care what other people think and [if] other people think it’s weird, like okay, [being with him is] literally making me happy.”

Izzy Kashper ’24, who is also in a relationship, said PDA is often necessary to keep a couple on healthy terms.

“When you don’t do anything [physically], it creates this kind of distance, and you don’t feel as much warmth or connection,” Kashper said. “It’s unnatural in a relationship to be hooking up on weekends and then coming back to school, and you can’t even hug. It can feel like you have to be fake, and you want your relationship to be as genuine as possible.”

Still, Kashper said it is important to set limits with an intimate action that can be deemed inappropriate.

“I do think that there’s like a certain line of conduct that people should follow at school,” Kashper said. “I don’t want to shove my relationship in people’s faces, and I also think that things are more intimate and more special when they’re done in private.”

Shanti Hinkin ’22, who said she is a point where if people are around us at not currently in a romantic relationship, school it’s gonna make them more uncomsaid she has previously felt uncomfortable fortable to see us trying to separate ouraround PDA and avoids being around it selves because they’re close to us, rather whenever possible. than being close to each other naturally.”

“I feel like I’m invading on something, Cardillo said he and Fogelson plan to an invasion I didn’t consent to,” Hinkin stay together after high school, deciding to said. “It makes me an intruder when I attend nearby colleges in Boston. He said didn’t sign up to be an intrudthe process of applying to coler, and it’s just gross. I’ve taken leges that were close to one anlonger ways to class to avoid arother made his and Fogelson’s eas where I know couples were connection even stronger than hanging out, and I feel like before, and prepared them to I have to avert my eyes from continue their relationship bethem. Even if it means going out yond high school. of my way or pretending to look “Very early on, we [agreed down at my phone.” to] invest a lot of time in givMiles Cardillo ’22 and Willa ing us a shot [as a couple after] l.wood Fogelson ’22 have dated for alhigh school,” Cardillo said.

Willa most three years and said over “We ended up being able to do Fogelson ’22 the course of their relationship, that, and [we’ll be] five minutes they have slowly changed their approach away from each other. There was plenty of to PDA. stress and plenty of fear in that process, “For the first year of our relationship, but I don’t think either of us would have I think we kind of tried to keep PDA to wanted it to go differently. There’s security a minimum, a maybe-we-could-just-be- for me in the fact that we had to struggle good-friends type of a thing,’” Fogelson to achieve it. If it were easier, I don’t think said. “Now it’s been almost three years. we’d know each other as well, and I don’t Everyone who is at the school current- think we would feel as ready to go make ly has seen us together as a couple at the that big of a step of being with someone Upper School. So, I feel like we’re more for the foreseeable future as adults.” [like] a mom and dad now. There’s a little Fogelson said she was happy about how more room for us to be more affectionate far they had come as a couple and said she in public.” can fondly remember the early days of Cardillo said he agrees that he and Fo- their relationship when she first fell in love gelson showing affection publicly is not an with Cardillo. inappropriate display.

“I think I first realized that I loved him “I think we got to a place years ago when I hadn’t watched Star Wars before we where we moved past that point of feel- started going out and so, we would switch ing like we had to prove anything to each off going to each other’s houses, watching other, or anyone in general,” Cardillo said. the movies,” Fogelson said. “I don’t know, “I think now we’re at there was just something about it being with him that felt absolutely right. I was totally over the moon for him.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ADDISON GAMRADT

Arts &Entertainment The Chronicle • Feb. 16, 2022

The cast members of “Spring Awakening” discuss its controversial material in anticipation of its opening night.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

By Georgia Goldberg Gisele Stigi ’22 gasped as a blue notification appeared on her phone screen in late August 2021.

She opened the email announcing her senior year musical, and she said her jaw dropped as she read the title: “Spring Awakening.”

Stigi, who was familiar with the mature content of the show, said she was both excited and alarmed.

Composed by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, the musical is based on German playwright Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play, which was banned from being performed in Germany until 1906. The rock musical follows a group of repressed teenagers discovering their sexuality and journeying through the emotional turbulence of adolescence in the late 19th century.

“As someone who loves musical theater, I had heard some of the songs before, and I knew the subject matter,” Stigi said. “I was pretty shocked. I was so surprised because I really did not know how the school would pull off the show, particularly some of the more explicit scenes.”

Stigi portrays Wendla Bergman, a naive and curious young girl who must navigate her sexuality without any guidance or knowledge from the adults in her life. Stigi said the show explores heavy subject matters, including domestic abuse, incest, suicide, abortion and rape. She said the intensity of the show’s themes has pushed her and her peers to grow as actors. “[In the first rehearsal], we saw all of these storylines for the first time and realized the massive task that we had in front of us, [which was] putting on this ambitious show that dealt with such heavy themes,” Stigi said. “Looking back on it now, I’ve really

grown in a lot of ways. I personally have worked harder on this show than I ever have on a show in the past.”

With a rehearsal schedule of 17 hours per week, Stigi said rehearsals are both physically and mentally exhausting. In addition to the depletion she said she feels from singing, dancing and acting for hours, she said the dark aspects of the show often take a toll on her wellbeing.

“Because the subject matter of the show is so heavy and my character has to go through a massive emotional journey throughout the show, I often walk out of the theater feeling very emotionally exhausted, as well as physically exhausted,” Stigi said. “I wouldn’t say it is an entirely negative feeling, but to me, it just shows that what we’re doing is so effective.

The show is just emotionally and physically exhausting because we’re all working really hard.”

Alongside the rest of the theater department, Performing Arts Teacher and “Spring Awakening” Director Michele Spears established policies intended to ensure the cast felt comfortable during rehearsals and performances. The department aimed to eliminate any apprehension cast members might feel towards speaking directly with an adult about their discomfort

with the subject matter. Students elected cast deputies whom they could approach about any issues regarding their emotional and physical boundaries. Cast members are also able to pause rehearsal if someone in the scene or dance number feels uncomfortable by utilizing a cast-elected code word.

Stigi said her character suffers through both physical abuse and a failed abortion. She said she initially worried about performing her intimate scenes before an audience but ultimately feels comfortable doing so because of the policies put in place.

“My character has to do a lot of very intimate and intense and explicit things,” Stigi said. “[Sports Assistant Editor Leo Saperstein ’23], who plays opposite to me, and I worked together a lot with Spears to make sure that we were on the same page about everything we’re doing. We did a lot of exercises that helped us [become] more comfortable with each other. I’m no longer uncomfortable about any of it really, and that is due to all of this work that Ms. Spears and everyone else has done to make sure that we’re always comfortable.”

Isaac Tiu ’24, who plays Ernst Röbel in the production, said explicit content occurs in the majority of the show’s scenes. He

said cast members are encouraged to discuss boundaries and address the content seriously.

“From the start, we as a cast have agreed that we are all comfortable around [the use of explicit language], and anyone who isn’t is given a space to speak freely and get anything they need in order to be completely comfortable,” Tiu said. “We treat explicit content tenderly and make sure we are understanding of its significance and effect on others [in the cast].”

Tiu said the cast camaraderie has proven the production to be an excellent choice for the school to stage.

“There is no doubt in my mind that ‘Spring Awakening’ was a perfect and relevant choice for [the school] to put on,” Tiu said. “In the modern day, it is more important to talk about hard subjects than ever before.

What makes ‘Spring Awakening’ so unique is that it is so out there, it makes you think. It does not solve all our problems, but rather, it asks a question to the audience.

[The show] prompts [us] to talk about hard subjects and makes us more comprehensive and interested in the conversations [that] we need to be having.”

Ofek Levy ’23, who portrays Herr Neumann, Herr Rilow and Father Kaulbach, said discomfort surrounding the mature material in the show is inevitable, even with the policies in place. Still, he said he believes awkwardness and anxiety on stage is helpful in allowing for actors to develop their performance skills.

“I think my peers [and I] are [sometimes uncomfortable], but that is just part of the acting process,” Levy said. “It is important in acting that you are uncomfortable [because in order] to truly step into another character, you have to step outside of yourself. And that is a scary thing. Acting [is] a lot like learning in that sense: Discomfort is uncomfortable, but it is essential to learning, growing and ultimately understanding ourselves.”

Student ensemble member Katie Hadsock-Longarzo ’23 said the discomfort surrounding the show’s subject matter initially left her shocked that the school allowed for its production. However, she said upon learning more about the show, she now feels it is the perfect fit for this year’s winter musical. Still, she said she is disappointed by the lack of depth the musical attributes to all of its female characters.

“The guys are more developed characters than the girls,” Hadsock-Longarzo said. “They have problems that are a little less severe [than those of the girls]. It is a little frustrating when the girls’ storylines are so much darker, and yet they [are] less developed characters.”

While the majority of themes are rooted in the show’s historical time period, Hadsock-Longarzo said there are some that can be applied to contemporary times as well. For instance, one plot line follows the love story between two boys, Röbel and Hänschen Rilow, played by Features Assistant Editor Harry Tarses ’23.

• Continued on hwchronicle.com

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGIA GOLDBERG

C2 A&E

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

Community members discuss the recent resurgence in popularity of crossword puzzles and similar mentally stimulating games.

By Jina Jeon and Vasilia Yordanova

stronger working memories than their control group— college students with high As Emily Silkina ’23 test scores—according to walked up to her usual Scientific American. This lunch table, eager to tell a is because those who enjoy story from the weekend, she completing crossword puznoticed her friends huddled zles integrate both verbal over a phone, engrossed in and visual perceptions in the crossword puzzle they their short-term memories.

Miles LaTourette-Ghez were solving together. They asked each other questions ’24 said crossword puzzles excitedly while trying to are both a fun learning solve the puzzle’s vague opportunity and a way to clues. Silkina said over the practice skills he needs to next few weeks she noticed excel in school.

“I think of crossword groups of students clustered around the school hallways puzzles as an academand throughout the quad ic activity as well as a fun collaborating on challeng- recreational one,” LaTourette-Ghez said. “They ing crossword puzzles.

Silkina said she enjoys force you to use a wide vadoing brainteasers, espe- riety of background knowlcially those based on school edge to answer the quessubjects she excels at. How- tions [and] retrieve those ever, she said she is easily facts. [Crossword puzzles my frustrated by crosswords if h e l p ] further problem-solving skills.” their clues are too obscure.

Ofek Levy ’23 said he “I hate [crosswords] enjoys the chalfrom newspapers lenges from solvwhere you don’t ing crosswords, know most of the math puzzles and answers, but I enboard games in joy them if they his free time. involve subjects “[Though] I I’m good at, such associate crossas history and word puzzles French,” Silkina with the Sunday said. “I also do l. wood newspaper and Wordle [a virtuEmily my grandparents, al word game], Silkina ’23 I think it is a lot which I find more enjoyable and more satisfy- of fun to solve them with a group of friends,” Levy ing than crosswords.”

People who regularly said. “I also love to do Susolve puzzles have much doku and games like Scrabble. I like how [they] take some thought and keep my brain active but are not always difficult.”

Sawyer Strasberg ’22 said he enjoys crossword puzzles because they relieve his stress and are a low-stakes way to test his knowledge.

“I think crossword puzzles are relaxing without being mindless,” said Strasberg. “It’s fun to see how much trivia you know.

But if a puzzle is too hard, I’ll skip it. I don’t want to get stressed out by a game.”

Strasberg said crosswords can help chal-

lenge students’ memories, but he said they do not necessarily relate to intellectual ability. “ I d o n’t think crosswords a r e much more popular at our school than others, and I would hesitate to say there’s a huge academic factor in crosswords,” Strasberg said. “If anything, I think students might just enjoy showing off their weirdly specific knowledge of various subjects.”

Avery Konwiser ’22 said crossword puzzles help him develop teamwork skills and learn new facts.

“I do crosswords with my mom now and again, and I like to do them in the morning to stimulate my brain,” said Konwiser. “My friends and I often talk to each other about a clue we thought was particularly difficult, and we collaborate if we’re stuck.”

Konwiser said crossword puzzles are becoming increasingly popular among teenagers because the feeling of accomplishment after finishing a puzzle is motivating and fulfilling.

“I think crosswords are having a surge in popularity amongst a younger demographic recently, both at our school and elsewhere,” said Konwiser. “It’s very rewarding to complete a crossword, and students love to be gratified.”

Upper School Librarian Jessica Wahl said crossword puzzles help ease her anxiety throughout the day.

“I have anxiety, and crossword puzzles are very calming,” said Wahl. “Doing a puzzle and relaxing is a good distraction from letting my thoughts spiral, and [crossword puzzles are] a great way to unwind. I can focus all my energy on the puzzle instead of overthinking work.”

Wahl said although

ture of crosscertain word puzzles are aspects of often done online, print culture. This crossword puzzles are a way being said, to unplug from social me- crossword puzzles should dia and the internet. not necessarily stick to “Brainteasers can help strictly American themes me distance myself from and culture. [They] should social media,” said Wahl. have a wide variety of pieces “Especially after getting that surpass just the culture off work all day where I’m of the United States.” looking at my computer Wahl said crossword screen, [I’m able] take a puzzles would benefit from break from staring closely at more international clues my screen.” because L e v y she said said alcrossword I like how though puzzles [crossword puzzles crossword assume puzzles are and games] take some a knowlmentally edge of thought and keep my stimulatAmerican brain active but are not culture. ing, they are not an always difficult .” “ I effective think you —Ofek Levy ’23 can learn way for him to limit his screen time. about other cultures “Crossword puzzles are through crossword puza way of expanding your zles,” Wahl said. “It would brain to understand vague be interesting to branch out clues, and they are a great more and make them more way of testing how fast accessible to more groups you can think,” Levy said. of people.” “[However, I] think a lot of Silkina said she prefers crossword puzzles are done logic puzzles like Sudoku on the internet which does and Wordle over crossnot necessarily help with words because they do not phone use. I tend to mostly require such a wide array read [books] to keep myself of knowledge on popuoff social media.” lar culture. However, she Levy said crossword said she still enjoys solving puzzles should include crossword puzzles with her greater cultural diversity in friends from time to time. their clues.

“In crossword puzzles, “The whole point of many of the hints require crossword puzzles is that more trivial knowledge of [they are] made up of words random facts. On the other that the person who is solv- hand, Sudoku and Wordle ing them should already rely more heavily on logknow, [so they are not] a ic,” Silkina said. “I love great way to learn,” Levy [brainteasers] because it is said. “In addition, cross- satisfying for me to find the word puzzles need short correct answers and see the clues that would not be able puzzle come together as I to give a broad enough pic- solve it.”

“

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Feb. 16, 2022

By Becca Berlin The school’s history of Valentine’s Day traditions date back to before the merger of Harvard School for Boys and Westlake School for Girls. But in recent years, Prefect Council said they have made an effort to organize festivities that focus on romantic love less directly.

In 1997, Prefect Council organized carnation deliveries to celebrate the holiday. According to the 1997 Vox Populi yearbook, the exchange of carnations was a symbol of both love and friendship. Students could pay for the flowers to be delivered via student council members to their friends or valentines.

In the same year, The Chronicle acted as a second vehicle of Valentine’s Day deliveries, allowing students to submit short messages to their valentines and friends to be printed in the paper.

Junior Prefect Yoshimi Kimura ’23 said Valentine’s Day can be a difficult holiday to plan events for, as it presents many possibilities for exclusion.

“Creating Valentine’s Day events is to celebrate love, whether it be romantic or platonic, and [to] find activities that everyone can par-

hwchronicle.com

ticipate in,” Kimura said. “[Prefect Council] wants to bring spirit to campus but we also want to avoid perpetuating the false stereotype that being single on Valentine’s Day is the worst thing ever with our activites.”

Donya Ghassemieh ’23 said Valentine’s Day allows students to show appreciation for one another instead of having exclusively romantic implications.

“I think Valentine’s Day has shifted more towards friendship and expressing your love and thankfulness for your friends,” Ghassemieh said.

Carter Staggs ’23 said the decrease in the school’s more romantic Valentine’s Day festivities helps eliminate the discomfort people without a significant other may face during the holiday celebrations.

“If the school were to put more time and energy into promoting a holiday and thus creating school spirit, Valentine’s Day would not be the holiday I would recommend [that they do so for],” Staggs said. “It doesn’t feel worth the

risk of ostracizing people when those resources could simply be poured into a different holiday that doesn’t come at the expense of people’s feelings.”

Senior Prefect and Prefect Council Valentine’s Day committee member Joy Ho ’22 said Prefect Council will introduce new holiday activities the week of Feb. 14 that center on community-building and celebrat-

Arts & Entertainment C3

ing non-romantic love at the school.

“Prefect Council is planning a Love Market during lunch where we will be giving out mini bundt cakes and selling little bouquets of flowers for friends or romantic partners,” Ho said.

“Along with that, we are planning a Cupid’s Coffeehouse, a Valentine’s Day coffeehouse after school with lots of yummy treats and coffee.”

Ella Goldberg ’23 said she has taken advantage of the holiday to give

back to the community by organizing a Valentine’s Day card-making station on campus Wednesday and Thursday through the Bring Change to Mind club.

“There [are going to] be markers, stickers and all types of decorations to make [Valentine’s Day] cards for the frontline health care workers who are [helping to] fighting the pandemic,” Goldberg said.

Wilson Federman ’24 said he is looking forward to participating in these Valentine’s Day activities, and he said he expects holiday energy on campus to positively impact students “Valentine’s Day treats are a fun tradition for all of the students at the school, and they can help brighten campus life, even if you don’t have a valentine,” Federman said. “I think while Valentine’s Day might be a little overhyped, it’s a nice time to cherish relationships and be with the people you love most, so I definitely enjoy the holiday.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HARVARD-WESTLAKE ARCHIVES

This Valentine’s Day tradition from the ’90s allows students to publish their declarations of love and friendship to fellow students.

Dear Claire, Hi it’s Benji Happy Valentine’s Day

Dear Max Tippie, You are literally the most gorgerous person I have even seen even though you are weird.

From Your Secret Admirer

Dear Jake, Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re the best!

Love, Whitney

Happy Valentine’s Day Li Yam! I knew that you would absolutely love a feature in The Chronicle so here it is. I love you the most <3 Zane

Dear Georgia, Happy Valentine’s Day. Hope you have a good day, you’re the best :) Love, Donya

Billy Johnson, You are the handsomest guy on the upper quad Xs and a lot of Os, Harry

Dear Lily, Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re the best friend I could ask for :) Love, Emma

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

The Chronicle

C4 Arts & Entertainment

Feb. 16, 2022

2022 CAIS High School SATB Honor Choir members reflect on their performance at the program’s festival.

By Averie Perrin and Ella Yadegar Several Chamber Singers members participated in the 2022 California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Honor Choir Ensembles at Viewpoint School on Feb. 5.

The CAIS festival featured

students in grades 8-12 from across the Los Angeles (LA) area who were nominated by their schools’ choral directors.

Participants sang six songs at the festival, including John Donne’s “At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners” and Javier Busto’s “Esta

Tierra.” The group also performed “Kyrie,” an original song composed by Performing Arts Teacher Zanaida Robles.

Robles said she was excited to have students participate for the opportunity to improve their musical abilities in a new setting.

“I think it’s important for our students to participate in CAIS for the opportunity to exercise their musicianship skills outside the classroom while making music with students from peer schools,” Robles said.

“They serve as musical ambassadors, bringing honor and recognition to our school.”

Chamber Singer Bronwyn Vance ’24 said her favorite part of the CAIS festival was

being able to make music and collaborate with people she had never met before.

“I was one of many people selected to be in the choir and learn music over the span of less than two days leading up to a concert on the second day,” Vance said. “Originally, I was nervous to participate because I was scared everyone was going to be better than me, but it turned out to be a fun and rewarding experience.”

Chamber Singer Cayley Tolbert-Schwartz ’24 said she was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the festival.

“It was a great experience even though it was tiring,” Tolbert-Schwartz said. “I would really love to see what it would be like to perform with a choir so amazing in a larger space, with a larger audience and without the impediment of masks.”

Tolbert-Schwartz said the festival showed her the value of teamwork in performances.

“This festival taught me that music has so much to do with community,” Tolbert-Schwartz said. “I felt our sound, our blend and our tone improve as people connected with each other, and began to sing as a single choir rather than 44 individuals.”

Although Chamber Singer Nuzzy Sykes ’24 said he could not attend the festival, he said he was proud of his peer Isaac Tiu ’24 for being chosen as a tenor in the ensemble. “[Tiu] is a great singer and he deserved to participate in the festival to showcase his talent,” Sykes said.

Robles said she is eager for her students to grow as vocalists and learn new techniques through competing.

“In addition to opportunities to learn music and build friendships, I want students to benefit from working with elite choral clinicians that can guide them to achieve musical excellence,” Robles said.

Students and faculty discuss the importance of visiting museums and connecting to culture outside of the classroom.

By Vasilia Yordanova

in person. If you look at something as a [presentation] slide When Visual Arts Teacher in your art history class, you Conor Thompson visits New don’t get the full impact of the York City, he said he enters piece. You can understand art the Metropolitan Museum intellectually, but you haven’t of Art with a specific work of really experienced it unless you art in mind. Once, he focused go to see it in person.”

Harper Fogelson ’24 said on Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer’s “Young she enjoys visiting museums Woman with a Water Pitcher.” especially to see classical and Standing in front of the creamy Renaissance art because it gives oil colors of the painting, he her unique insight into various said his method of looking at historical periods.

“I enjoy going to art museart helps him take in its full imums, especially those pact and feeling. with ancient Greek or “I am a painter, Roman art,” Fogelson and I learn so much said. “I find the sculpby going out and tures to be really inlooking carefully at triguing, [and] I think the work of artists in it’s interesting to see museums,” Thompan image from the son said. “So much past. It’s very different art we look at now is from just [written prionline, and I love the L WOOD mary sources] because experience of seeing Eva you can visualize [an art in person. I try to Salas ’22 image] and step into slow myself down and the artist’s mind.” sit with the painting Fogelson said although she for 15 minutes or more, giving myself time to notice subtleties prefers sculpture, she also appreciates other art mediums of detail, light and form.”

Thompson said he often vis- displayed in museums.

“I love all paintings, but ited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum mostly those that are not of Fine Arts, Boston as a high modern,” Fogelson said. “I school student in New En- think [Leonardo da Vinci’s gland. Thompson said observ- work] is spectacular, and I love ing different works of art in- Claude Monet’s ‘Woman With spired him to become a painter. a Parasol.’ There was an image “I had romantic notions of it in my preschool, so I beabout being an artist, and came fascinated with it.”

Eva Salas spending time in museums fed into my fantasies and in- ’22 said she visspired me to take art seriously,” its museums as Thompson said. “For students, often as possiI think it comes down to having ble, usually with the experience of seeing the art friends, to enrich her study of

art history and socialize.

“Being able to see the works and movements that I study in [Honors Art History] is super helpful and satisfying,” Salas said. “Talking to friends about the pieces in context is a lot of fun and it’s so exciting to see works that you recognize.

Visiting museums is also a great chance for calm and quiet time both alone and with friends, which I treasure.”

Salas said she appreciates the large selection of museums and other cultural sights located in Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles has a particularly fantastic selection of museums which are all definitely worth a visit, but I especially love the Getty Villa Musuem, The Norton Simon Museum and The Broad,” Salas said. “I’m also a big fan of [The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens], but more so for the gardens [than the museum].”

Asher Rossen ’23 said he appreciates the educational opportunities museums provide by directly showing visitors a piece of artwork or a scientific concept.

“When I go to museums, I love the ones with fossils, living

creatures and other represen- my time, so I will go to a musetations of animals, like the La um for a specific purpose, but if Brea Tar Pits,” Rossen said. I am visiting a city I know I will “You learn so much about the never visit again, I will spend subject that the museum is hours in a museum.” teaching about because, oftenHolmes-Chuba said the times, there are visual represen- quality and quantity of LA’s tations that not only help you museums is often underappresee history but also help you ciated by students. The city is become more interested in or home to over one hundred muhelp you feel connected to the seums, according to Discover subject at hand.”

Los Angeles.

History Teacher Katharine “Sometimes, students don’t Holmes-Chuba said for her, realize what a culturally rich visiting museums is a calming city we live in,” Holmes-Chuba and grounding said. We have experience. world class “We are museums and If you just look surrounded galleries. Also, by such bad at [a work of art] as a the museums news that [presentation] slide in have done a when going really good to museums your art history class, you job with tackand galleries don’t get the full impact.” ling diversity I am awed by and inclusivi—Conor Thompson ty, broadening the dedication and vision of Upper School Art Teacher their scope in the artists,” their shows.”

Holmes- ChuHolmesba said. “I find it inspiring and Chuba said visiting a museum uplifting. As I have gotten old- could prompt a student to learn er, I have gotten better at using or experience something new.

“Going to museums and operas are ways to educate yourself outside of school,” Holmes-Chuba said. “Art is a window to the past, so you can look at portraits or still lifes in a different century’s mindset, which is fascinating.”

“

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Sports The Chronicle • Feb. 16, 2022

Basketball plays in CIF

By Leo Saperstein

In the game against Mater Dei High School, the team outscored The boys basketball team de- its opponent every quarter. Dunfeated Mater Dei High School lap said the team’s success this 67-45 in the first game of the season can be attributed to playCIF SS Open Division Playoffs ers’ relationships off of the court. on Feb. 11. In the regular season, “The team is truly a family,” the team won its fourth consec- Dunlap said. “We spend so many utive Mission League champi- hours together that our chemistry onship, with an overall record of is unmatched.”

21-2 and a 5-1 league record.

In the game against Mater Dei After a ten-day hiatus between High School, the team outscored the team’s final regular season its opponent every quarter. Dungame against Chaminade Col- lap said the team’s playoff loss to lege Preparatory Saint John BosHigh School, co High School the squad conlast season moThe team is tinued its eight tivated it to pretruly a family. [The game win streak. pare thoroughly players] spend so Forward Brady for this season.

Dunlap ’23 finNow, Dunlap many hours together ished the game said the team that our chemistry is with 14 points needs to work unmatched.” and ended the together to find third quarter success in —Brady Dunlap ’23 more with a buzzthe playoffs. er-beater mid“[We] had a range shot. heart-breaking loss last year in Dunlap said the win will help the playoffs,” Dunlap said. “The the team in playoff games against team this year felt that loss. We Notre Dame High School and have all just worked so hard to Sierra Canyon High School on redeem ourselves from last year.

Feb. 15 and Feb. 18, respectively. I want a state championship. We “This win just gives us supreme have worked too hard to walk confidence heading into our next away with [no] hardware. I hope two games,” Dunlap said. “At this we just all come together and forpoint in the year, it is all about get the individual accolades in momentum and confidence. This order to get us a ring.” win will give us both.”

Boys basketball Program Head

“

KATE BURRY /CHRONICLE

JUMPMAN: Power-forward Landon Lewis ’22 extends his arm above the rim as he jumps up for a dunk in the match against Mater Dei High School in the first round of CIF open division playoffs. The Wolverines won 67-45.

David Rebibo said while he is excited that the team won its fourth consecutive Mission League championship, he is preparing his team now for playoff competition.

“Winning the Mission League is always our goal,” Rebibo said.

“Right now, we are just trying to improve in as many areas as we can and become the most complete team we can.”

Rebibo said players lost the

ability to play together early in the season, and he hopes players will continue to grow closer.

“We have battled injuries and a lack of practice time as a full team,” Reibibo said. “The COVID-19 pause for two weeks was also something that we struggled with during the break and heading into the first week of league play. We are just trying to get better every day and continue

to come together.”

Guard Brando Fuqua ’23 said his first season on the team taught him about the importance of forming strong relationships with teammates. “[The team is] always there if I need help. Our relationship is deeper than just basketball,” Fuqua said. “No matter win or lose, my teammates will always be there for me.”

First female player joins lacrosse squad

By Charlie Seymour

JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

CHECK THE PATRIARCHY: In a ball control drill, Prentiss Corbin ’22 trains for season opener versus Brentwood High School on Feb. 22.

Rummaging through her backpack in search of her safety pads and helmet, Prentiss Corbin ’22 prepared to leave the empty girls locker room for her first practice with the boys lacrosse team.

Corbin said she felt the pressure building in the Taper Athletic Pavilion hallway as she walked toward the field, equipped with a new stick and mouth guard.

Corbin officially joined the program on Dec. 17, 2021, becoming the first girl to play on the team in school history.

Corbin began playing lacrosse at 11 years old, when she started competing with a club team and continued through her first year of high school, playing for Palisades Charter High School’s girls lacrosse team. Upon transferring to the school as a sophomore, Corbin petitioned for the creation of a girls lacrosse team, as the school only offers a boys program. The athletic department

denied her proposal. She continued to pursue the opportunity to play lacrosse for the school and eventually was granted a spot on the boys team for its 2022 season.

Though she was initially turned away, Corbin said her continued passion for the sport motivated her to bring her case to the athletic department.

“Being on the lacrosse team [at Palisades Charter High School] was such a big part of my high school experience, and it brought me the most joy,” Corbin said. “[When I came to the school], I wanted to try [to play lacrosse] in any capacity that I could, and if that meant playing on the boys team, then so be it.”

Of the 565 schools in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section, only 87 offer girls lacrosse teams, according to MaxPreps. When she enrolled in the school, Corbin said she found the absence of a girls lacrosse team disappointing.

“Coming to [the school] and

D3

SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE

THE COACHING CRAFT: Girls Soccer Program Head Richard Simms leads the girls soccer team at practice on Feb. 9.

WATER WIZARD: Attacker Amber Nowaczek ’24 makes a pass in a CIF Division I win over Santiago High School.

JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

D6

not being able to [play] the sport I love was a huge bummer,” Corbin said. “I just think it’s ridiculous that for so long, there hasn’t been a girls lacrosse team [here].”

Despite playing the sport since childhood, Corbin said she is still adjusting to the major difference in the physical playing style between mens and womens lacrosse. In girls lacrosse, any form of physical checking is penalized, whereas in boys lacrosse, players hitting one another with the stick is an integral part of defensive game play. Due to the more physical nature of mens lacrosse, chest and elbow pads, protective gloves and helmets are necessary in addition to the standard mouth guard.

“There are honestly so many differences [between boys and girls lacrosse],” Corbin said. “Adjusting to the new game and also just getting comfortable with [the differences] has been a huge challenge for me.”

• Continued on D2

D7

JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

PLAYOFF POISE: The boys soccer team practices before defeating Woodbridge High School in the playoffs Feb 11.

D2 Sports

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

“as a lifelong bengals fan, it has been really rewarding seeing them come this far.” l. wood

Bill Coleman ’24

“aaron Donald will feasT against the bengals’ mediocre [offensive line].”

DANNY JOHNSON/CHRONICLE

FRESHMAN STARS: Freshmen Gemma Ozturk ’25 and Victoria Pugh ’25 walk back across the field to rejoin the team after scoring a goal to put the team up 4-0 Jan. 19 against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

l. wood

Anthony Holly ’22

Girls soccer completes league season

“I’m [thrilled] to see the rams playing in the super bowl since it’s in [los angeles].”

By Leo Saperstein

white’s

Claire Paul ’23

“I’m super excited for the big game. I can’t wait to get out there and support the rams.” l. wood

Ceerous LeSage ’23

“AS A FORMER STAR Flag FOOTBALL PLAYER, I HAVE A ‘SPIDEY SENSE’ THAT THE RAMS ARE GOING TO WIN.” l.wood

Eloise Stoddard ’23

“AS a Minnesota vikings FAN, i am predisposed to being against Hopping on the rams bandwagon.” l. wood

Ella Goldberg ’23

The girls soccer team finished its Mission League season with consecutive wins against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Immaculate Heart High School on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, with scores of 4-0 and 5-0, respectively. The squad has an overall record of 11-1-4 and is 8-0 in league play; the team played its first playoff game against Aliso Niguel High School on Feb. 12.

Girls Soccer Program Head Richard Simms said the team benefited from consistent offensive success this season. “[Goalkeeper Amelia Jackson’s ’23] ability to play calmly out of the back allows us to patiently build our attacks,” Simms said. “[Forward Victoria Pugh ’25] has been a revelation up front [by] scoring consistently and [forward Sophia Haynes ’22] and [team co-captain and forward Daniela Quintero ’22] have [also] been consistent goal scorers.”

Quintero said consistent communication between players contributes to the team’s effective attacking style.

“Most of our offensive success comes from communicating with each other in the final third and

being aware of players that are open for passes,” Quintero said.

“When we are patient in switching the ball and have composure in front of the goal, we can create many scoring opportunities.”

Simms said senior players are helping their younger teammates develop technical skills, passing style and consistency over the course of their practices. “[The seniors] are not only stepping up on the field with their talent, but they are also a phenomenal leadership group,” Simms said. “They have created a positive, joyful environment, and I’m proud to be their coach.”

Last season, the team won the 2021 CIF Southern Section Regional Championship. Quintero said the squad needs to maintain a positive culture in order to achieve similar success this year.

“It will be important to stay disciplined in our game plan and manage all the emotions that come with a playoff game,” Quintero said. “Despite losing a large senior class from last season, this year’s seniors continue to foster an incredibly supportive and fun environment. The seniors have worked to improve the communication on the field which has resulted in more orga-

Corbin makes school history by joining boys lacrosse • Continued from D1

In her sophomore year at the school, Corbin joined the school’s girls field hockey program while still practicing lacrosse outside of school. Having only played on girls’ sports teams, Corbin said she is still adapting to playing in an all-male environment.

“On a personal level, I think that joining a new team is always difficult,” Corbin said. “It’s like being a new freshman on the new team. Then joining a team where everyone else is the opposite gender is also a really big adjustment.

I just haven’t quite gotten fully comfortable yet, but I’m certain it will come over time.”

Despite the challenges of entering a new social dynamic,

Corbin said her teammates and coaches have helped her integrate into the team bond and culture.

“It has been a pretty easy process just because the team is so great and the coaches are really nice,” Corbin said. “[The team has] been super supportive and I really am kind of blown away by how kind they’ve been.”

Boys Lacrosse Program Head Erik Krum said the team is doing its best to make Corbin feel included and comfortable, regardless of the gender.

“Honestly, there has not been much of a change in terms of the team’s focus or hard-working attitude [since Corbin joined],” Krum said. “The rest of the team just feels as though we have gained another positive member

to our program.”

Goalie Rohan Mehta ’23 said he feels Corbin integrated into the team seamlessly, despite the gender-based challenges she had to overcome to join the team.

“It’s definitely hard being new to a program as a senior, but I feel as though she has found her spot on the team,” Mehta said. “Everyone has been really impressed with how fast she has [adjusted] to the differences between the games of boys’ and girls’ lacrosse.”

Following two years of petitioning for her spot on the team, Corbin said she hopes to inspire more girls to join the lacrosse team after finally getting to join the program.

“I hope I’ve opened the door for [girls interested in the sport]

to hopefully join the team next year, maybe even this year,” Corbin said. “I also just hope that on a larger scale, maybe I’ve opened the door for more people, for more girls to try lacrosse out and have some impact on growing the lacrosse community at [the school].”

The boys lacrosse team finished last season with a 12-3 overall record and a Mission League record of 10-2, putting the team in second place for league. The team lost 11-4 to Tesoro High School during the second round of CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs on May 28, 2021. The team will start the season off in its first competitive match against the Brentwood High School Eagles on Feb. 22.

nized [offensive] attacks.”

Defender Jade Stanford ’22 said Simms pushed the team to develop through the regular season in preparation for challenging opponents in the playoffs.

“In preseason we had the chance to play a lot of the teams we will play in playoffs, and all of those games were very close,” Stanford wrote in an email. “[Simms] has been saying all season that we need to be at our best at the end of the season, and we definitely have improved and are playing very well right now, so I’m very excited for the team going into the playoffs.”

Although the team will have 13 departing seniors at the end of the season, Stanford said she hopes the younger players will maintain the same compassionate and successful team dynamic in the future.

“I think the bond formed between seniors has definitely spread throughout the team and has led to an overall tight group,” Stanford wrote. “ I have so much faith in the juniors to be great leaders as seniors next year, as well as the amazing sophomores and even freshman. I have no doubt that they will do a great job next season.”

Scan Here

Chronicle Sports Section online

Feb. 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D3

inbrief

AJ Holmes ’22 commits to Cornell University

By Jaden Bobb

SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE

JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

Football player AJ Holmes ’22 committed to the admission process at Cornell University on Feb. 4. He took to Instagram to announce his commitment to play football for the Bears next season. In his senior season, the running back totaled 904 yards on 7.9 yards per carry and nine touchdowns in nine games.

In his last game as a senior, Holmes recorded 242 yards against La Salle in a 42-28 victory for the Wolverines. The football team finished its season with an overall record of 5-6 and a Del Rey League record of 2-2.

Ben Volokh ’22 joins MIT mens volleyball

By Davis Marks

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KYRA GOLSTEIN

WOLVERINE WINNERS: (Clockwise left to right) 1. Boys Water Polo Program Head Brian Flacks gives feedback to his team during halftime. 2. Girls Soccer Program Head Richard Simms watches his players scrimmage in practice. 3. Right forward Bella Ganocy ’22 looks up before passing to a teammate.

Deconstructing championship teams

By Natalie Cosgrove

As outside hitter Ava Lange ’23 tied a bandana around her eyes to begin her pregame ritual, she felt the hands of her volleyball teammates guiding her way.

She listened for a voice to follow before starting her way through the obstacle course composed of volleyballs and workout gear.

Lange said these unique pregame trust exercises are fundamental to building strong chemistry.

“It is very important to a team dynamic to [build] trusting relationships,” Lange said. “Before games, we like to do exercises where we have to depend on our teammates for guidance. Even though it feels so separate from volleyball, it really mimics how we want ourselves to act on the court. We break down barriers and build connections leading us to have a better flow.”

Since 1995, the girls volleyball program has won five state championship games and six CIF championships. Lange said she attributes the team’s continu-

ing success to its collaborative dynamic and close relationships.

“We obviously have a team of amazing athletes who are all capable and hardworking people, but I really do think that our bonds are what take us ultimately to the finish line in every single game,” Lange said. “Without the spirit, unity and coaching of our program, skill would not be able to be maximized.”

The girls soccer team has also experienced prolonged success, winning 22 league championships and four CIF championships. The boys basketball program has won three state championships and the boys water polo program has won six CIF championships.

Girls Soccer Program Head Richard Simms said the school’s athletic achievements are largely because of the program’s focus on improving rather than outcomes of games.

“Early on [with the team], the priority was winning championships and measuring ourselves against other teams,” Simms

said. “I was always talking [to the team] about results and neglecting to pay attention to the environment that I was creating.

It took me a long time to figure it out, but I started to ask the right questions.”

Simms said the positive and supportive atmosphere of the girls soccer program is more important to facilitating a successful team than having a roster of skilled players.

“The culture of the program is significantly more important than what happens at practice,” Simms said. “I stopped being used to just asking [the team] about their [game and practice] experiences, but I started to try to figure out the real cause of the negativity. I was not focused on the poor performance, but on the negativity and the team’s reactions when things did not go our way. Now, we have changed everything about the culture that we try to cultivate. We have stopped worrying so much about results and we have gotten rid of anything that [causes division

between] our players.”

Boys Water Polo Program Head Brian Flacks said he credits the team’s success to the players’ devotion. Flacks said he emphasizes consistency and discipline among his players.

“I attribute our success solely to how hard athletes work,” Flacks said. “Our team has just worked exceptionally hard, I believe harder than any other in the United States, so it has led to just really consistent success.

We have also been blessed with lots of athletic talent and great families and support from our administration. [The school] attracts kids and families that are looking for excellence. We have a strong foundation because that is the type of kid and family we are attracting in the first place.”

Girls soccer left defender Dani Lynch ’23 views players’ relationships with one another as pivotal to the team’s success.

Lynch said the trust the soccer players have in each other allows them to play with more rhythm.

• Continued on hwchronicle.com

Ben Volokh ’22 announced his commitment to play mens volleyball for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Jan. 19.

Volokh has played for the school’s varsity boys volleyball team since his freshman year as outside hitter and opposite hitter, and he currently serves as team co-captain, a position he took on beginning his junior season.

MIT’s mens volleyball team is a member of the United Volleyball Conference, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III mens volleyball conference located in the northeastern United States.

Anthony Holly ’22 joins Bowdoin football team

By Dylan Graff Anthony Holly ’22 announced his commitment to play football for Bowdoin College on Jan. 11.

Holly said Bowdoin was best suited to fulfill his academic and athletic goals.

“I chose Bowdoin because it has the best combination of athletics and academics,” Holly said. “The facilities and coaches in the program were next-level, which also influenced my decision.”

In his announcement, Holly said he wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t alone in this process, as he said he could not have committed without the help of his coaches.

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ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS

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D4 Sports

Feb 1

Springing into the season

BASEBALLL VS. FOOTHILL HS

SOFTBALL VS. ST. MONICA 2/18

2/12

BOYS TENNIS VS. ST. FRANCIS

TRACK & FIELD VS. LOYOLA 2/24

2/22

Girls Soccer

“

I’m so excited to be part of the return of beach volleyball at [the school as an official CIF sport this year. My goals for this season are to train hard and have a sucesssful year representing [the school]. It’s great to be on a team with fun and supportive girls who alll share my love for this sport.”

— Alex Adishian ’23 Beach Volleyball Forward

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“

I need to improve athletically and hit my personal records for this season in the 100-meter meter run and the 200 meter run. I am looking forward to strenghtening the bonds and friendships that I have formed. As a senior, I feel a new level of responsibility to lead and look out for my teammates.”

—Lauryn Milburn ’22 Short Distance Runner

CHARLIE SEYMOUR/CHRONICLE

16, 2022 hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D5

with a fresh set of skills

GIRLS BEACH VOllEYBALL VS. MARYMOUNT 3/1

BOYS GOLF @ BROOKSIDE

BOYS VOLLEYBALL VS. CHATWORTH

3/2

3/4

LACROSSE VS. MIRA COSTA 3/4

“

I am really excited for our volleyball season. Because of COVID-19 disrupting the last two seasons, all the seniors on the team are really motivated. Our goal as a team is to just reach our maximum potential, have strong team chemistry, and have a good season together.”

—Tom Backer ’22 Volleyball Outside Hitter

PAU L

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Wrestling

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“

We had a really sucessful season last year. It is important for us to keep a strong mindet throughout this season and hopefully win CIF [playoffs] again. I really think its possible but we need to put our heads down in practice and refine our technique.”

—Andrew Kurgan ’24 Doubles and Singles Tennis Player

PAUL KURGAN/CHRONICLE

D6 Sports

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

Basketball finishes their season as third in league

By Charlie Seymour

LEO SAPERSTEIN/CHRONICLE

WHO YOU GONNA CALL: Eyeing the basket, Jordyn Call ’23 steps forward to take a shot in a game against Marymount High School Jan. 20. The Wolverines’ 71-20 victory launched a three-game win streak.

The girls basketball team finished third in Mission League with a 17-12 overall record and a 4-5 league record, following behind Marlborough High School and Chaminade High School, respectively. The team finished last season with an undefeated 4-0 league record, placing first in Mission League and losing to Mater Dei High School in the third round of the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

Daily News awarded forward and Digital Managing Editor Amelia Scharff ’22 as Girls Athlete of the Week on Jan. 26. This season, Scharff averaged 7.1 points per game, eight rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game. Of the nine players on the team, Scharff and power forward Vita Saffari ’22 make up all of the senior team members. Saffari said focusing on team chemistry was important for success early on, especially because much of the team was composed of underclassmen.

“We are a young team, so we definitely needed that space to work on learning how to play with each other,” Saffari said. “The team has improved [simply] through time and hard work.”

Point guard Jamie Yue ’24 said the players are hopeful for a successful postseason. She said the team can improve its patience during offensive play and overall defensive efforts.

“We hope to give our very best

no matter the competition ahead,” Yue said. “In order for us to succeed in the playoffs, we need to make the other team work harder on defense and move the ball around instead of taking quick shots with a lot of time on the clock.”

Saffari said the team has the capacity to go far in the playoffs but needs to concentrate on perfecting the basics of their playing to reach its goal of a CIF championship.

“I think we just need to really focus on the little things during practice this next week,” Saffari said. “We have the potential [to succeed], we just need to have the proper mindset to execute [wins] for the playoffs.”

While the team has high aspirations for its postseason, Yue said the team’s struggles with injuries and COVID-19 cases have negatively affected its morale as the starting lineup gets adjusted to accommodate losing players. The team already lost starting point guard Yue to an injury.

“It was difficult to keep on readjusting once players had to sit out because of protocol or because of an injury,” Yue said. “This made it really hard for us to get into a good rhythm throughout the season.”

Point guard Kamari McNeely ’24 said she is optimistic about the team’s future playoff games.

“I think we improved on our defense, especially on our rotations and ball screens,” McNeely said. “If we keep playing great defense and working the ball around, I think we’ll succeed in [the] playoffs.”

Water Polo wins two playoffs rounds

By Claire Conner and Paul Kurgan

The Girls Water Polo team won its first two playoff round sagainst Santiago High School and Santa Barbara High School at the CIF-SS Division 1 Tournament Feb. 9 and 12. They finished their game against Santiago with a score of 22-3 and beat Santa Barbara 10-3 after ending their regular season with an undefeated league record of 6-0 and an overall record of 16-8.

Before their playoff rounds, the team competed at the SoCal Championship tournament Jan. 27-29. The squad had a threegame win streak at the tournament, defeating Coronado High School 12-1, Dos Pueblos High School 18-4 and King High School 13-10.

Team captain and goalie Lena Bagley ’22 said the team’s strong start to their season gave them a confident mindset throughout the tournament.

“At the SoCal tournament, we really focused on keeping up our momentum from the early season,” Bagley said. “As the last tournament before CIF, we knew that we needed to focus on our [team’s development.]”

The team’s win streak at the tournament was broken by Los Alamitos High School, who defeated the Wolverines 14-10 Jan. 29. The team came back from tthis loss, capping off the SoCal tournament with a victory against Long Beach Wilson High School 14-11.

Bagley said if her team wants a shot at winning the CIF tournament, they need to focus on cleaning up their technique.

“Our goal for CIFs is to go all the way and win [the whole tournament],” Bagley said. “We [need] to [make] small adjustments so we can put ourselves in the best position to win.”

The squad played Marlborough School in its last league game before the CIF tournament and led by 10 points after the first half. The Wolverines continued their dominance in the second half by scoring nine additional points and preventing the Mustangs from making any offensive gains, leading to a 21-3 victory.

Attacker Savannah Shaub ‘23 said she thinks her team will go far in the CIF tournament.

“Everybody’s individual contribution to the team is so important,” Shaub said. “Knowing that we have each others backs will push us towards success and more wins.”

In the first round of CIF playoffs, the squad was nine points ahead and left the Santiago High School Sharks scoreless by the end of the first quarter. The Wolverines increased their points in the second quarter to a 16-1 lead.

Center Ayva Magna ‘22 said the team’s offense maintained their consistency during the first half of the game.

“We got up by a lot in just the first quarter, and it was important that we maintained our composure with so much more [of the] game left,” Magna said. “We kept

pushing for the next three quarters and focused on our game and what we needed to improve.”

Although the Sharks gained traction in the second half of the game, Magna said her squad’s defense ultimately led to their victory. She said the team’s work during practice paid off in the playoff game.

“I think that we are in a really good spot for our next game,” Magna. “We just need to make sure to keep [working] in practice and keep [communicating].”

The team’s subsequent playoffs victory against the Santa Barbara High School Dons started similarly to their prior playoffs game.

The squad led 5-2 after the first half, and added 5 points to that score in the second half while preventing the Dons from scoring more than one point.

Attacker Fiona Gillearn said the squad’s success against the Dons should be attributed to their strong teamwork.

“My team was communicating a lot and kept up the momentum the whole time,” Gillearn said. “We are looking to fix the small errors made in games.”

Gillearn said that as the team looks ahead to their next game in the CIF tournament semi-finals, they are proud of their performance throughout the season.

“We have definitely built on the legacy that the past year’s teams have left us by making it this far in the playoff rounds,” Gillearn said.

Shaub said that as she looks back on the team’s successes and

SANDRA KORETZ /CHRONICLE

MAKING A SPLASH: Amber Nowaczek ’22 looks toward the goal as she throws the ball in the Wolverines’ game against Santiago High School.

“

At the SoCal tournament, we really focused on keeping up our momentum from the early season. As the last tournament before CIF, we knew that we had to focus on ourselves.”

— Lena Bagley ’22 Team captain and goalie

their losses, she said she is particularly happy about the team’s efforts during their playoff games, and looks forward to continuing to connect with her teammates.

She said that each team member brings a sense of individuality to the sport.

“I am most proud of all the progress that our team has made,”

l. wood

Shaub said. “Everyone shines in their own way, but with teamwork and constant perseverance, we are most successful.”

The squad will face Corona Del Mar High School in the CIF tournament semi-finals at Woollett Aquatics Center Feb. 16. If they win, they will advance to the finals Feb. 19.

Feb. 16, 2022

hwchronicle.com/sports

Wrestling team concludes regular season matches and begins preparations for competition at CIF tournament

By Paul Kurgan

Seven members of the wrestling team qualified to compete at the 2021-2022 CIF Southern Section Individual Wrestling Championships on Feb 11.

Competing in the 138-pound weight class, Cutter East ’24 won three rounds, winning his last match 11-10 to qualify for the CIF Tournament. East said it is important for the team to have a strong mindset going into the tournament.

“As a team, I think we all just need to go out onto the mat with a do or die mentality,” East said. “It is important that we all go 100% into every match believing we will win. Even if we lose, at least we know that we will have tried our hardest, and we will be able to come back the following season even stronger and better.”

Team Captain Isaac Weiner ’23 qualified for the 182-pound weight class after he won two rounds at the tournament.

Weiner defeated his opponent 12-9 in the finals of his bracket.

He said he is proud of how much experience his team gained over the course of the season.

“Looking back at the season, I’m most happy with how much progress the team has made,” Weiner said. “Seeing the team get better over the course of the year has been great, and the team has exceeded my expectations by sending seven people to the CIF playoffs.”

Weiner said he didn’t perform his best at the event and said refining his technique in practice will help him improve his play at the tournament.

“I think I didn’t wrestle particularly well at the league even though I was able to get third

in order to qualify for the play- riod, and the whole time I was offs,” Weiner said. “From an telling myself that it was my stoindividual standpoint, I need to ry, not hers,” Whitley said. “I do improve my technique and im- feel more confident moving forprove my scoring. I think each ward having won a match, but member of the team has individ- I’m also trying not to put too ual things they need to improve much pressure on myself. Howon, but as a whole, we ever I do next weekend, need to work on our I am extremely proud sparring in practice to of how far I’ve come.” get better prepared for Whitley said as she the playoffs.” trains for the upcomQualifying for the ing CIF tournament, CIF tournament in she needs to focus on her first season as a the small things in wrestler for the school, practice. She said she Skylar Whitley ’23 feels that if she stays L. Wood won all her rounds at focused and trains Isaac the Girls Free Lancer hard this upcoming Wiener ’23 tournament. She said week, she will have she gained confidence in her strong results. first match against a female ath“Individually, I need to work lete from Chaminade College on being faster, but more imPreparatory High School in the portantly, I need to not put first round of the tournament. too much pressure on myself,” “I pinned her in the first pe- Whitley said.

Sports D7

Spring Season Openers Home Boys Varsity Tennis Feb. 23 at 3:30 p.m.

Varsity Track & Field Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m.

Boys Varsity Lacrosse Feb. 25 at 4:00 p.m.

Varsity Swimming Mar. 3 at 3:15 p.m.

Boys Varsity Volleyball Mar. 15 at 5:00 p.m.

School’s recently created beach volleyball team starts practicing ahead of first games

By Danny Johnson

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHARLES A. HERNANDEZ JR.

HANDS UP: Alex Adishian ’23 leaps to block her opponent from spiking the ball at the USA Beach Volleyball High Performance Championship.

The school’s new beach volleyball team hosted its first annual tryouts Jan. 18-20.

Alex Adishian ’23, who recently committed to play beach volleyball at the University of California, Berkeley, said she is glad to finally play the sport she loves at school.

“I’m really excited to be a part of the [first season] of beach volleyball at HW, especially since it’s now an official CIF sport,” Adishian said. “We currently practice at Will Rogers State Beach, and it’s been super fun meeting new girls who also have the same love for beach volleyball. We’ve been scrimmaging a lot during practice and getting reps in with many different partners so that we can best prepare for in-game situations.

Our coaches are amazing, and

they have been supportive of our growth and development. I can not wait to start competition in a few weeks.”

Izzy Hyman ’22, who used to play indoor volleyball for the school, said she now plays beach volleyball because she thinks it is a more relaxed environment.

“After I decided to quit indoor I missed being part of a team, so I was super excited to hear that I could be a part of [the school’s] first beach volleyball team,” said Hyman. “I’m new to beach volleyball, but so far I really like it because it’s so nice to be able to go to the beach after school. It’s also a lot more laid back which is great considering I’m just playing for fun.”

Megan Outcalt ’22 said playing for the school’s beach volleyball team allows her to meet new friends on the team.

“The team is mostly fresh-

man so far, but it’s great to be able to meet people from different grades at practice,” Outcalt said. “In preparation for our first matches, my friends and I have been practicing on our own so we can be more ready for our upcoming competitions.”

Claire Paul ’23 said she decided to join the team because she believes it will be a fun and unique experience.

“I have not played organized volleyball for a few years, but I am super excited to try playing beach volleyball,” Paul said.

“Since this a new experience for me, I am enjoying every moment playing with my teammates and can not wait for our first season to finally start.”

The beach volleyball team will play its first match of its inaugural season against Marymount High School at Will Rogers State Beach on March 1.

Boys soccer team secures first CIF playoff win in years with penalty kicks against Woodbridge

By Andrew Park The boys soccer team won its first playoff game against Woodbridge High School 0-0, winning 8-7 in penalty kicks Feb. 11. The team finished the regular season with a winning record of 9-6-5.

Forward Stephen John Schaeffer ’23 said he attributes the team’s success to their perseverance and hard work.

“In my opinion, the season has gone pretty well because we had good cohesion, allowing us to reach the playoffs,” Schaeffer said. “Even though we had ups and downs throughout the season, mentally I felt that we were all strong and able to push through adversity which definitely was key in having us reach the playoffs.”

Although multiple team members were injured this season, Schaeffer said the injuries taught the team how to push through adversity and adjust to last-minute changes.

“We have struggled with injuries to some big players this year, and I have a concussion right

now,” Schaeffer said. “These injuries did not hurt the team, and we overcame them as we had various goal scorers, and our team chemistry has really improved this year to become very tight-knit.”

Despite the team’s early success, center defender Asher Rossen ’23 said players struggled to remain motivated as the season came to a close.

“I think that we started off the season with a lot of momentum as we were a cohesive, unstoppable unit, and I feel that we could have beaten any opponent.”

Rossen said. “Unfortunately, towards the end of our season, the momentum began to die down and we ended up losing or tying teams that we definitely could have beat.”

Rossen said going into the playoffs, the team has focused on moving forward and learning from its previous losses.

“Our mindset after losing to Notre Dame [High School] was not the best as we would go on to tie one and lose two more following that loss,” Rossen said.

“However, as a team, we have

done much reflection on this loss as we go into our playoff game.”

Rossen said his own mentality has shifted over the season, as he now puts a bigger emphasis and focus on teamwork.

“As the season progressed, my mindset has changed from mainly focusing on myself and my growth as a player to being a part of my team,” Rossen said. “People say there is no ‘I’ in team, and I firmly believe in that as I want to win for my family on the pitch and more specifically, the seniors who have put so much blood, sweat and tears into the program.”

Midfielder Tyler Ulrich ’24 said winning the first playoff game in years validated the hard work the team has put in on and off the field.

“Even when we are not on the field practicing, we are constantly watching [our] film to have a great game plan,” Ulrich said.

“Ultimately, all the hard work allowed the team to win their first playoff game in a couple years, and I am extremely proud to be part of the team.”

JUSTIN GOLDSTEIN/CHRONICLE

SCANNING THE FIELD: During practice, Nathan Cassamassima ’24 looks for an open teammate to pass the ball to after beating a defender.

D8 Sports

The Chronicle

Feb. 16, 2022

WOLVERINES ONLY

BY

JUSTIN LEE

W

hen it comes to sports, people will tell you that sports help you stay healthy, build confidence and oftentimes form lasting bonds with teammates. Of course, most people don’t mention all the internal monologues you have while you’re playing your sport. Do other people just not have them? Is it because talking to yourself is a weird thing to discuss? I wouldn’t know the answer.

If you don’t think about it too hard, tennis is really just a bunch of people swinging sticks at spherical objects for fake points. If you look at it like that, tennis is pretty stupid. So, why do many players like myself feel immense pressure during each point? Why does my mind try to wander every which way as I try to steady myself for a serve? Why is tennis something that humans even participate in?

In the “real world” (whatever that means), every day is a fight. Companies and businesses fight to provide consumers with better goods and services. Workers fight to keep their families fed and housed. My parents came to the U.S. in the '90s, hardly speaking any English, and fought to survive and make a better life for themselves than they ever could in Korea. Because of that fight, I’ve been privileged enough to attend this school for six years and develop the tools that I need to make my own mark on the world. And of course, part of that set of tools comes from my swinging sticks at spherical objects in the name of this wonderful school.

I kid when I say that tennis is played for fake points. Dedicated athletes must play with real purpose to thrive in their sport. But what’s my purpose? I’m not playing because people are paying me or because I believe tennis is an essential life skill. I’ve pushed through grinding rallies and intercepted balls coming straight towards

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JUSTIN LEE

me at 70 or 80 miles per hour for a poach volley. Why? Because I believe that tennis, especially our school's tennis program, shapes the fighting spirit that is necessary to create my own success in everyday life.

All of what I’ve just said sounds nice, but it’s likely you would like me to back my claims up.

Fair enough. Let’s go back to February 2020, just before the pandemic hit. I was a sophomore and a freshly minted varsity player. My team was playing in Irvine and it was getting late. I was in the middle of the last match of the day, and everyone from both teams had their eyes on my court.

That day, it felt as if I had left my groundstrokes at home and with each attempt at a forehand, the tension in my body just kept rising.

Even now, I don’t blame myself. I was trying to prove my worth to this new team of advanced tennis players, and I had to do it with legs that felt 200 pounds heavier than usual and arms as stiff as a wooden board. I was incredibly tempted to give in to my 'shoulder devil' and fret about what would happen if I didn’t hold serve, or if I started to miss forehands. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear someone telling me that I better not lose to this player. I could have folded to the pressure, stopped trying to push my way through this terrifying situation. But when we were tied at four games all, I realized something.

Somehow, when the pressure I was putting on myself reached a peak, I suddenly realized that I had no control over whether I would make or miss the next shot or whether I’d win or lose the entire match.

Whatever voice was in the back of my head suddenly seemed like it was spewing nothing but garbage, and it was. Instead, for the rest of that match, I kept telling myself, over and over again, to just focus on one shot at a time. Af-

ter half an hour of tussling with so many negative thoughts and stress, for 10 minutes I finally found the mental clarity to simply execute on the small things that I could actually control. I won that tennis match 6-4 to the team’s loud cheering and excitement.

That match is certainly one of my favorite memories of my time at the school. Beyond that, though, it was a huge turning point in my life. With that one-shot-at-a-time mentality, my doubles partner and I were able to pull off some incredible wins the following year, regardless of whether we had started the match winning or losing. We hyped each other up and our entire team up like no one could. It should come as no surprise that my junior year season was some of the best months of tennis I’ve ever had in my life. And off the court, I developed the critical ability to think clearly under heavy pressure, whether it be in the final 24 hours before an important research project is due or on the first day of a summer internship at an adult daycare center not knowing anyone or having any experience working with the elderly.

Developing under the school's tennis program has been an experience that 12-year old me would have never even dreamed of. I’ve won plenty of points. I’ve lost plenty, too. I’ve played both roles in David and Goliath matches. I’ve stood there with our team in the somber reflection on the loss of our 200-plus league match win streak. I’ve run around the court, jumping and screaming and losing my voice like a little kid with the team after our team’s comeback win against the no. 1 seed of the CIF tournament. Yes, competing for the school's tennis program has put me through thick and thin, and everything in between. It has made me feel emotions that I’d never felt before.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.