Vol. 2 Issue 1

ISSUE 1

Hidden People of Johns Creek

FREE / SEPT 2017

PREFACE

let t er from t he

EDITOR

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elcome to this year’s first issue of the Chariot. After losing 11 invaluable senior staff members last year, the remaining editors had to quickly replenish the Chariot staff and hope to live up to last year’s legacy. Juniors and seniors may recall the black and white print newspaper we transitioned from two years ago and all the major changes and setbacks our publication experienced. This year, however, we wasted no time diving right in to creating a fresh, new magazine while still maintaining traditions from last year.

Several of the editors met over the summer to plan this year and the six exciting issues we expect to publish. After sitting in a Barnes and Noble Starbucks for three hours and spending an additional hour browsing through shelves of magazines, we came up with a vision for the 2017-2018 Chariot.

We want to continue featuring the lives and students of our school, and, as always, we welcome the feedback and opinions of all students at Johns Creek.

So here we are. For our first issue, we decided to spotlight the members of our school staff who rarely receive the recognition they deserve: the custodians, bus drivers and lunch staff. Every day, these men and women serve the students of Johns Creek in ways many students never even realize. We thought it would be important to share the voices of not only the students at our school, but also the staff who drive our buses, clean our halls and serve our lunches.

Adhering to the theme of uncovering hidden sto-

ries in Johns Creek, this issue also features Johns Creek’s own resource officer and his background in professional basketball, as well as a list of fun, affordable activities to do around our city. Staff writer Lauren Greenfield interviewed three Johns Creek students with developing SoundCloud profiles to highlight their success as upcoming artists.

This year, we were also pleased to welcome senior David Kim as our new staff photographer.

From driving through downtown Atlanta traffic and uncovering quirky tea shops to covering every corner of Johns Creek, the photos and articles in this issue have something for everyone.

Like any first issue of a production schedule, we expect to learn as we go along and grow along with our magazine. Niki and I are so proud of the work the staff has put into this issue and the dedication their work shows. I look forward to seeing how the staff develops as a whole and grows from issue one to issue six.

We, the Chariot staff, are extremely pleased with our first magazine of the year. Enjoy reading about the hidden people of our school, new additions to Atlanta and a debate on the advantages and disadvantages of starting a career straight out of high school. Remember, next time you step off the bus, pick up your personal pizza in the cafeteria or see a member of the custodial staff cleaning banana peels off the courtyard floor to thank them for their service to our school. Stay tuned for our next issue on body image and its effects on students at Johns Creek.

RACHAEL JONES

edit or-in-chief

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contents 04. n ews 4. ROUNDUP 6. MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM 8. GEORGIA’S TALENT GAP 9. TEACHER SHORTAGES

News editor Maura Mclynn writes about Atlanta’s newest architectural wonder: the $1.6 billion Mercedez Benz Stadium. Page 6

10. sport s 10. RESOURCE OFFICER ALEXANDER 11. ILLEGAL HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITING 12. FANTASY FOOTBALL

14. fe ature s 14. COVER STORY: HIDDEN PEOPLE OF JCHS 20. SOUNDCLOUD RAPPERS

Staff writer Emily Wyche sits down with Johns Creek High School’s Resource Officer Gary Alexander to discuss his career in the NBA. Page 10

22. CURING JOHNS CREEK BOREDOM 23. TEA SHOP REVIEW 24. MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

26. opinion 26. FACE-OFF: CAREER VS. COLLEGE 28. BATTLE OF THE BEVERAGES 30. NETFLIX CONTROVERSY Editor-in-chief Rachael Jones reviews Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party, a unique tea shop in Atlanta, located only a few minutes away from Emory and Georgia Tech. Page 23

ALL PHOTOS: DAVID KIM

THE CHARIOT |3

NEWS

CANADA

In the last two months, more than 5,700 asylum seekers, predominantly Haitians, from the U.S. illegally crossed the border into Canada. The migration is a result of their growing fears surrounding deportation. The total number of asylum seekers in 2017 reached 13,211, but that statistic is projected to increase in the following months. The vast majority of asylum seekers were not caught crossing the U.S. - Canada border but have found their way into Quebec by a rural New York road.

UNITED STATES

On September 12, 2017, in Cupertino, California, Apple announced the release of three new iPhones: the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, Apple’s most expensive ever new iPhone model priced at $999. The iPhone X will feature wireless charging, edge-to-edge screen display and the elimination of Apple’s signature home screen button.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUSINESS INSIDER

BRAZIL

Mid-September 2016, Brazilian judge Waldemar de Carvalho approved homosexual conversion therapy, igniting worldwide outrage. The ruling overturned a 1999 decision by the Bralizian Council of Psychology banning homosexual conversion therapy. Many groups, such as Brazil’s LGBT Alliance, plan to appeal the ruling in the near future. This ruling affects approximately 20 million members of Brazil’s LGBT community.

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RUSSIA

Following a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency last year on Russian state-sponsored doping, which was particularly an issue during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, agencies worldwide demand the International Olympic Committee to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics. The doping scandal was initially confessed by a Russian official.

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MYANMAR

Violence, such as rape and mass killings, committed against Rohingya Muslims is escalating rapidly. United Nations officials worry that the crisis may soon spiral into uncontrolled genocide.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GUARDIAN

ROUNDUP

NIKITA DANI, editor-in-chief

THE CHARIOT | 5

NEWS

ATLANTA WELCOMES

MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM F MAURA MCLYNN, news editor

ollowing a shocking loss in Super Bowl LI, the Atlanta Falcons should get a chance at a new start this 2017 season with a new stadium containing features comparable to few others. Players, fans and architects alike eagerly await the regular season for a highly anticipated glimpse of the $1.5 billion Mercedes Benz Stadium.

The Falcons built Mercedes Benz Stadium to replace their previous home, the Georgia Dome, which comparatively cost $214 million to build in 1992. The venue also hosts many other enviable features the Georgia Dome lacked, including 400,000 more square feet, three extra stories in height and 4,000 more seats. While there was no immediate need for the evacuation of the Georgia Dome, it is both Mercedes’ and the franchise’s belief that this move will greatly increase revenue, attendance and spirit in the Atlanta area.

“The new stadium has a lot of cool features for fans to enjoy now. We have a virtual reality tour that’s going to allow you to hear through the air ducts what the engine of a Mercedes sounds like. We’ve also got a facial recognition system where you can charge your phone, obviously the amazing falcon statue outside, touch cars and tables that are going to pop up funfacts on Mercedes Benz history, just a lot of fun things that are really going to make these games more of an experience for the fans,” said Jennifer Reynolds, a Mercedes Benz event worker at the new stadium.

Mercedes Benz, the primary sponsor of the new stadium, was willing to match any price necessary to ensure their stadium becomes one of the most expensive and hightech venues in the National Football

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DAVID KIM

League, a task they met in stride, even securing a spot as the host of the 2019 Super Bowl LIII. The stadium has also locked down a handful of other events, including the college football National Championship in January of 2018, the NCAA Men’s Final Four in March of 2020 and an annual contract to host the SEC Championship, which had been previously held in the Georgia Dome each year.

Along with the Falcons, there also comes another home team tied to the turf: Atlanta United. The team’s owner, Arthur Blank, who happens to be the owner of the Falcons as well, originally submitted a bid for an expansion franchise in 2008 but withdrew it a year later due to a lack of revenue.

It was not until t h e

knowledge and possibility of Mercedes Benz Stadium that he once again submitted his bid in 2012 and using the not yet approved stadium as a persuasion tactic, earned a green light from the Major League Soccer association. The inaugural game in March of 2017 rid Atlanta of its pre-existing label as the largest metropolitan area without a Major League Soccer presence.

“I’ve gone to four Atlanta United games at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, and the environment is just crazy. Everyone is standing up the entire

time, and the whole crowd gets really into the games and the chants. I think the move to Mercedes Benz may not be the best in terms of Atlanta United, though. Bobby Dodd has this Bobby Dodd has this open air feel, and even though the new stadium has the retractable roof, I don’t think it’ll be the same. There’s also the fact that Mercedes Benz is so big, and it seems like spreading out the fan base will spread out the enthusiasm as well,” said junior Tessa Paul.

Opinion aside, it is hard to deny the opulence of the stadium. Mercedes Benz comfortably seats 75,000 fans and can expand up to 83,000 for the bigger events it plans to host. It features one of the only retractable roofs in the NFL, an eight-panel, pinwheel-like glass wall that, if able to function properly, should open and close at the fastest speed of any of the similar roofs around. The circular LED board surrounding the stadium reaches over 55,000 square feet, making it by far the

largest in the league. Despite these overwhelming numbers, the stadium has vowed to keep concession prices at among the lowest around, with most menu items coming in at less than $5.

“As a big fan of the Falcons, I personally find the new stadium a lot more appealing than the old one, and I definitely feel more inclined to go and see a game this season than I have in the past. It’s just that when you hear ‘The Georgia Dome,’ you think mainstream, but when you hear ‘Mercedes Benz,’ you think classy, exceptional,” said junior Jack Yarnall.

Mercedes Benz Stadium’s first weeks of opening prove the money and effort put in to guarantee its “exceptional” qualities have been worthwhile. Both the Falcons, Atlanta United and even the stadium’s first concert, Garth Brooks, were able to sell out the arena, a task that the Georgia Dome had

struggled to complete. Atlanta United even broke records in one of its first games in the stadium: attracting the largest MLS attendance in the United States since 1977. Similarly, the Falcons, after years of playing in the Georgia Dome, were able to win their first open-air home game in 26 years. Each of these accomplishments help solidify Atlanta as a leading American city and display the stadium’s role in this. It seems that despite being an economic risk, Mercedes Benz Stadium was a worthwhile investment for its teams and for the city Atlanta as a whole.

THE CHARIOT | 7

NEWS

Bridging Georgia’s Talent Gap Georgia’s workforce faces a scarcity of qualified workers as students are fleeing to other states.

BRIAN SUI, copy editor

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arlier in mid-August at the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education forum, Georgia Chamber of Commerce president, Chris Clark, announced the potential onset of a statewide economic plunge. According to his report, 53 percent of Georgia’s counties are classified as “economically distressed,” ranking Georgia as the fourth most distressed state in the nation. In comparison, only 20 percent of the United States’ counties fall under such status. For an area to legally qualify as “economically distressed,” at least 40 percent of its inhabitants must generate annual incomes below the poverty line. In Georgia, these particularly struggling regions are primarily concentrated in the southern, rural half of the state with a few eminent outliers on the northern outskirts of the metro-Atlanta hub.

Though there are a multitude of factors that influenced the current economic situation, the largest determinant that the Georgia Chamber of Commerce has pinpointed is the exceedingly low college-student retention rates many of the identified counties share. Already, many of these counties fell short in terms of quality education

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and recovery after the 2008 recession, but the diaspora of their most technologically literate workers, young college graduates, only exacerbated the issue at hand. One of the major consequences that incurred from this mass migration was widening an already emergent talent gap among the state’s workforce. As the current working population ages, there will be few young, qualified workers to take over and sustain the economies in these rural counties. Many of their graduates fled to other states, where occupational opportunities were far more lucrative, and in turn, many large businesses that were originally centered in these rural regions followed suit.

“It’s really all about talent now, and many of our communities didn’t keep up. They didn’t make sure they had great schools.

They didn’t make sure their colleges continued to do well. And one thing they did is they let all of their kids move away and never come back home,” said Clark.

Although Johns Creek, Georgia shows no symptoms of financial burdens or economic hardship, many of the area’s students going on to college share similar sentiments with those who fled their rural

hometowns. They are all in search of better and more customized career options.

“I want to go up north, say up to Connecticut or New York, and I want to do a double major in international business and neuroscience. I think that there are not that many great companies in Georgia that handle international business, but in New York and such, you have Wall Street and the like. However, there’s a need for neurosurgeons everywhere. I think there’s more access to research and labs up north,” said junior Neha Subramaniyan.

However, when many students were asked what Georgia should implement if they were to stay in state, they all suggested more directly personalized educational opportunities at the high school level, such as internships and broader course selections.

“Fulton County needs more directed pathways. It would be better if they offered more classes for specific careers, like in the medical field. I know there are tech classes at this school, but they’re not directed toward one type of field. So I think that people should know that they have the option of choosing, but they’re not obligated to commit,” said junior Kriti Kothari.

HELP WANTED

Inside the Nation’s Impending Teacher Crisis ROHAN LALLA, staff writer

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he recipient of a $1 million award esteeming eminence in teaching shocked many last year when she stated that she would not encourage aspiring professionals to take up teaching in public schools.

In the wake of sweeping teacher shortages, the remarks, made by Nancie Atwell, voiced many of the nation’s worries about teaching in public schools. Common Core standards and tests have reduced many teachers to mere “technicians,” and concerns over salaries dissuade many from pursuing the profession.

Now, as students across the country go back to school, behind the scenes hundreds of administrators are struggling to find teachers in key areas such as math and science. While the number of teachers is stagnating, enrollment figures are skyrocketing. Schools are then compelled to increase class sizes, with upwards of 40 students attempting to focus on the voice of one teacher. This environment is not conducive to productivity or scholarship, according to numerous studies and student accounts.

“In my smaller classes, I learn a lot more, because there’s a lot more one-on-one time. In bigger classes, it’s more spread out. There’s a lot more dysfunctionality,

and I’m not able to maintain focus in the classroom,” said junior Vatan Kapadia.

As class sizes continue to expand, it becomes clearer and clearer that the teacher shortage issue is becoming a crisis. Enrollment numbers are steadily declining in teacher preparation programs, nearly half of new teachers will leave the profession after five years, and college students have showed less interest in teaching.

Many overlook jobs in teaching solely due to the inescapable truth of low pay.

While teaching salaries have seen an increase over the past couple years, wages have recently become static, and the perception from students remains the samethat teachers simply do not make enough to be considered a serious career option.

This sentiment is especially prevalent in STEM fields, where students weigh their options and choose higher paying occupations over teaching. The result is a major brain-drain in the teaching profession, as well as teachers who teach subjects that they are uncomfortable with.

“I would like to either major in mathematics or the sciences, but in my opinion teaching is not a very good career because of the low income,” said Kapadia.

Another issue within the realm of education is the lack of recognition teach-

ers receive when compared to other governmental positions. The absence of acknowledgement partially stems from a misconception that teaching is an undemanding and uncomplicated profession. Both parents and students are guilty of neglecting the stressful and onerous task of teaching and blaming the shortcomings of the student on the teacher. This stigma of ease gives way to taking teaching for granted and placing little value on a profession that plays a pivotal role in the futures of numerous prospective students.

“You get these service professions that are state level and national level that get a lot of respect, and for whatever reason, teaching is not one of them… So I think people have picked up on that lack of respect. I think a lot of people have the perception that [teaching] is sort of an easy job, when it’s really not particularly easy,” said English teacher Mr. Ben Schultz.

Combining meager wages with little regard for teachers’ arduous work equates to an uncertain future for teachers. To change that, the central perceptions of teachers need to be altered.

Rather than mundane lecturers, they are vital educators and are instrumental to the success of generations to come.

THE CHARIOT | 9

SPORTS

Badges and Buckets EMILY WYCHE, staff writer

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he life of Johns Creek High School’s very own Resource Officer Gary Alexander is certainly worth knowing about. The six feet seven inches former NBA player discussed his intriguing journey brimming with interesting opportunities and how his childhood dreams eventually became a reality in his life. His remarkable accomplishments reflect his cheerful personality and pleasant presence on the Johns Creek campus as a resource officer.

Officer Alexander stated that his career in basketball was an extremely “personal thing” and that he had always been a fan of the sport. He also described how the majority of youth exhibits interest in pursuing sports on a professional level; however, unlike many, his desires “snowballed into a professional career,” where he participated in the National Basketball Association and other professional leagues.

Not only did Officer Alexander gain skill throughout his time playing basketball, but he also felt as though the sport had taught him discipline. He explained how despite the fact that the entire basketball world revolves around generating income, it is crucial for all players’ characters and morals to be “at the top level” in order for them to perform as true athletes.

In addition to basketball, Officer Alexander thoroughly enjoys traveling, and he emphasized the importance of visiting underdeveloped countries. One particularly poor country that he has spent time in is Venezuela, whose people he believes showcase an exceptional amount of respect.

“Visiting these countries is similar to traveling back in time. People are still walking over to the church and sitting down to eat dinner together,” he said.

He also feels as if citizens of the U.S. “don’t understand what is beyond the borders of America,” and that the privileges offered to us “breed an entitlement.”

Furthermore, he had experience working with MARTA and North Springs Charter High School before arriving at Johns Creek. When it concerns his transition from professional basketball to police work, he studied criminology as an undergraduate student at the University of South Florida.

Lastly, Officer Alexander discussed his decision to join the law enforcement community.

Having come from a law enforcement family, Officer Alexander was no stranger to police work.

“I grew up around a police uniform. Whatever they became, that’s what I became.

If they had been doctors, I would have become a doctor,” he said. “They were athletes and police officers, so here I am.”

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The Untold Story of Johns Creek’s Resident Former NBA Player

THE TRANSFER DILEMMA NATHAN GAUTHREAX, sports editor

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ne of the most controversial topics in high school sports is the transfer of athletes from one school to another because of athletics. Every year hundreds of student athletes move or change addresses to become eligible to play for top-notch high schools.

While private schools are allowed to recruit and offer scholarships to high school athletes, public high schools are prohibited from any type of recruitment. Although it is oftentimes difficult to catch schools recruiting and students illegally transferring, the effects of these actions are tremendous on high school athletics.

The process for changing schools is quite simple. As long as you live at an address within the school district and did not move for a sports-related reason, you are cleared to play.

Even if a student moves to play sports, schools are limited in their ability to expose these situations. Every year the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) debates on whether new laws should be passed to tighten up on the issue. Most recently it has been proposed that no matter your situation, students should be required to sit out a designated amount of time from their sport. Despite the proposed legislation, it is hard for any new rules to be

passed because of existing regulations and strong opposition to the proposed system.

Last year’s Seven A football state champion Grayson High School was circled with controversy following their season. Grayson High School had five blue chip prospects transfer into the region as the football season started.

This helped lead them to a state championship.

Following the season, many of the players left the school leading to an investigation into the eligibility and legality of some of the players’ situations. GHSA ended up ruling that there were no wrongdoings, but the end result left many unanswered questions about Grayson football and the transfer process within the state.

Students who are ruled ineligible by the GHSA are required to sit out of varsity level athletics for one calendar year. After being ruled ineligible by GHSA and in order for a student to regain eligibility in that year, he or she must move into a district where GHSA does not determine eligibility. Schools across the state struggle to keep athletes in their programs while top ranked schools benefit from transferred athletes. In order for this issue to be resolved, new rules must be passed that would deter an athlete from even thinking about transferring schools.

The world of high school athletics is tangled with rules, requirements and regulations.

While the Georgia High School Association prohibits recruiting, the issue of athletes transferring between schools remains.

THE CHARIOT | 11

SPORTS

DAVID KIM

INSIDE THE WORLD OF

JAKE PELJOVICH, staff writer

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ime for cramming. Time for studying. Time for praying. Time for scraping the bottom of the piggy bank for just enough money to enter the league. Time for reading every magazine, newspaper, article, textbook, instruction manual and nutrition fact la-

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bel for any insider tip on who is going to score the most touchdowns this year. It’s time for fantasy football.

Fantasy football is an interactive game that puts ordinary people in charge of their own professional football team.

Fantasy participants draft a team of real life National Football League (NFL) players in hopes of their team taking them to the championship. Points are awarded based on how the NFL players perform in their individual games.

For example, when Julio Jones scores a touchdown in real life, a fantasy player who has Jones on his team would get six points. Whichever fantasy football team accumulates the most points after one week of football will win the week. Each week counts toward a season standing, and the standing decides who makes the playoffs and who goes to watch.

For the students of Johns Creek High School, fantasy football is more than just a game of statistics.

“Some people think it’s a game, but really it’s a lifestyle. Being able to compete against your friends makes it all the more fun,” said senior Aaron Rosenberg.

During the NFL season, fantasy participants spend hours researching which one of their players will perform the best that week. They can study everything from injury reports to who their fantasy player is playing against that week.

“I have to be on top of everything. Players dropped, traded, injuries, everything.

I have to be 100 percent every week in order to give myself the best chance to dominate,” said freshman Ethan Sorkin.

The victors of fantasy football leagues enjoy all of the spoils of winning. Aside from the incredible pride of beating 10 to 12 of your best friends, a champion usually wins cash depending on the league rules. However, coming in last place can be the ultimate humiliation.

Famous punishments include making the ultimate loser take the ACT, wearing strange clothing in public, flashing signs with funny messages on to oncoming traffic and much more.

“It was single handedly the most embarrassing day of my life at school because I was forced to wear a tuxedo T-shirt, black dress pants, a brown belt and Chacos throughout the entire day. I was truly getting roasted left and right,” said senior and fantasy football loser Nisarg Shah.

The NFL season is already off and running, and with the new season comes the chance for redemption for fantasy football players. For new players, good luck! For fantasy football alumni, it is that time of year again, so gear up and get ready to grind.

THE CHARIOT | 13

COVER

HIDDEN PEOPLE 14 | DAVID KIM

NEHA BHATIA, production editor and MAREN STEPHENS, staff writer

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irst period. Second Period. Third peknew how to navigate the harsh conditions. riod. Lunch. Every student at Johns “I was not driving buses at the time, but Creek knows the drill. This is expect- I heard that the other bus drivers were very ed, of course, when a school functions like a valiant; they got in their buses to take kids well-oiled machine. Running a school — ensur- home immediately.As it kept snowing, they ing safe transportation, maintaining a clean were troopers and stayed out there and took environment, feeding upwards of 2,000 hungry as many kids as possible, even though othstudents — is by no means an easy task. Johns er drivers on the road didn’t know what Creek High School’s pristine, “machine-like” they were doing. I think that’s pretty amazenvironment is a calculated and collabora- ing,” said bus driver Mr. Conrad Bishop. tive effort made possible by the hundreds of Nonetheless, the bus drivers are not the only people working tirelessly behind its scenes. ones responsible for the well-being of Johns For many students, the time in this environ- Creek students. Throughout the day, the school ment both begins and ends with the school’s is sustained by a crucial team of people: the transportation — particcustodial staff. Following ularly with the bus drivtheir arrival at the school ers. While most students’ in the early morning, the days begin around 7:15 custodial staff unlocks the a.m., the bus drivers’ day doors, turns on the lights begins at 6:00 a.m., when and scans the school. Once they leave their houses to As it kept snowing, they - the students arrive, the pick up a bus from the were troopers and took as custodians hardly have a North Transportation moment to rest. In addition many kids as possible.

Department. After pickto cleaning the cafeteria ing up their buses, the during and after both lunch remaining hours of their periods, the custodians are mornings are spent drivresponsible for cleaning ing students to school. the floors and classrooms.

After concluding their The lunch staff, the smilmorning routes and droping faces who serve stuping the buses off at the Transportation Depart- dents their lunches every day and all the helpment, drivers depart for their afternoon routes ing hands that work with them to prepare the and pick up students once again. It seems like meals work alongside the janitors in the cafea monotonous routine — elementary, middle, teria. After arriving at school, the lunch staff high, repeat — but it is a routine that proves, immediately begins preparing breakfast for the time and time again, the excellence of the men rush of hungry students in the morning while and women driving the buses. The safe trans- simultaneously planning the lunch meal for the portation of thousands of students every day is day. During the lunch hours, students often by no means an easy task; the divers have to be take notice of the lunch staff’s enthusiastic reprepared at all times to handle any situation. minders to eat a well-rounded meal with a fair Be it unruly kids, bad weather or a medical share of fruits and vegetables; this is not merely emergency, the bus drivers are trained for it. a kind reminder in passing but rather a crucial An unlikely situation arose in January of aspect of their job in ensuring a positive and 2014, when Georgia experienced its notori- healthy lunchtime experience at the school. ous “snowpocalypse.” Following the abrupt Johns Creek is well known for its status as decision to close Fulton County Schools, a school that breeds success; little known, leaving students to return to the comfort however, are the hundreds of people working of their homes, the bus drivers were some hard behind the scenes who make it possiof the few commuters on the road who bl for Johns Creek to live up to its reputation.

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THE CHARIOT | 15

COVER

W H I T E

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“I’m overwhelmed about how great the students are.

16 | ALL PHOTOS: DAVID KIM

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elinda White has been in the Fulton County school system for 19 years. Beginning her career with Fulton County as a member of the lunch staff at Northwestern Middle School, Ms. White is now the Head Night Custodian at Johns Creek High School. Her day at the school begins around 3:30 p.m., and it concludes at midnight when the school has been thoroughly cleaned for the following day. During the nine hours Ms. White spends at school daily, she leads the night custodial staff in crucial tasks such as cleaning and stocking all the bathrooms and classrooms, emptying trash cans and mopping and varnishing the floors. The night custodians must also be aware of all events occurring in the school outside of school hours in order to ensure that the school is unlocked and available.

Following the event, the custodial staff dedicates a few crucial hours to cleaning the facilities.

“The worst is cleaning after the football games.

And then the locker rooms, the boys lockers, oh my goodness. Sometimes it gets hectic, and you can’t do a perfect job but what’s important is that it’s being done,” said Ms. White.

Before she began working in the Fulton County School System, Ms. White worked a variety of jobs ranging from packing and shipping in a warehouse to decorating cakes in a bakery. The transition to working a night shift in a high school was a significant moment in her life, but Ms. White believes that she made the right decision.

“The best part of the job is the great staff and the great students; I think they really respect us custodians. You’ll get a lot who’ll ask if [the custodians] need any help, and I’m overwhelmed about how great the students are,” said Ms. White.

B I S H O P M

r. Conrad Bishop is a man who knows more about buses than he ever planned to.

Mr. Bishop begins his day at 6 a.m. when he travels to the school where the bus he drives is parked; unlike many of the drivers who must drive further to pick up their buses from the North Transportation Department in Alpharetta, Mr. Bishop’s bus earned a coveted spot in the parking lot of a local Johns Creek school, giving him a mere five-minute commute.

After he picks up his bus, Mr. Bishop has quite a busy morning which consists of driving students to school, working with the mechanical aspects of the school buses at the transportation headquarters, picking up students from school and managing to find time for meals.

While Mr. Bishop has embraced the lifestyle head-on, it differs significantly from his prior work. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Mr. Bishop started his own biotechnology company with his brother and worked as a lab researcher in the field of immunohistochemistry.

“It’s very different. I was working in a biology lab all day long with no natural lighting and a very sterile environment, and now I get to talk with lots of fun people all day, and I get to be outside and get fresh air,“ said Mr. Bishop.

When Mr. Bishop and his wife moved to Johns Creek, Georgia to be closer to his mother, his wife maintained the family’s entrepreneurial spirit and started her own private health care practice. Mr. Bishop is involved with the practice, working primarily with the financial aspects of the business, but he decided to become a bus driver and mechanic to occupy his spare time.

In his experience, Mr. Bishop’s favorite aspect of working as a bus driver has been his interactions with students, who he has watched grow and mature.

“The elementary schoolers are very sweet, and they’ll make me handmade cards. It’s been cool to see the kids graduate and go to the next grade, so kids that used to be on one route I’ll see on another route. It’s been really fun to have that connection over the years,” said Mr. Bishop.

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I was working in a biology lab all day, and now I get to be outside and get fresh air.

THE CHARIOT | 17

COVER

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After college, I actually owned my own restaurant. but decided a few years ago to do this.

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r. William Janousek has been the head of nutrition at Johns Creek for two years. His day starts at 6:30 a.m. when he comes to school and starts preparing breakfast, a task which consists of watching over the nutritional staff and students in the cafeteria. In his opinion, a cafeteria is similar to a restaurant in its duties. The major difference is the audience, as he has noticed in his experience that students are a more captive audience than adults. Although he loves his job, he misses the freedom of the restaurant industry.

“Kids complain a lot, and we have a lot of restrictions [from the government] because of the calories and obesity, and we get comments about the food over time, but it is what it is,” said Mr. Janousek.

Because of certain restrictions from the school board, it was difficult for him to adjust to his new job, especially because of his experience.

“After college, I actually owned my own restaurant…[but] decided a few years ago to do this job, just as part-time, but I liked the flexibility [of it], so I stayed,” said Mr. Janousek.

Mr. Janousek’s restaurant, G.W. Janousek’s, was a Norcross-based “white tablecloth restaurant.” Though this establishment closed, his family still owns an event and dining hall. For generations, the Janouseks have been in the restaurant industry. Before they immigrated to America, they owned a restaurant in the Czech Republic. Despite being born there, he’s lived in Atlanta for most of his life. If he could have dinner with anyone, he would choose Ronald Reagan, Norman Schwarzkopf and Abraham Lincoln.

J A N O U S E K 18 | ALL PHOTOS: DAVID KIM

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r. Mike Garmon works at Johns Creek High School you know, I›m doing just fine right now; I don›t have all the as one of its industrious custodians. For nearly things I used to have, but I didn›t really need any of that. a decade, he has served students and teachers by That is just material stuff. You can have all the money in coming to school early in the morning to help ensure they the world, but you can’t buy your class,” said Mr. Garmon. have a clean, positive en In his many years at the vironment throughout the school, Mr. Garmon has been day. On a day-to-day baable to watch thousands of sis, Mr. Garmon’s job constudents mature throughout You can have allsists of cleaning the floors high school, and his favorand desks, painting walls, ite part of the job has been the money in the dealing with security and the relationships he has world, but you power and assisting with formed with the students. landscaping –– a job that “You got a lot of students can’t buy your is particularly close to his who come up to me and class. heart due to his prior work. tell me where they’re going Before coming to JCHS, to college, and sometimes Mr. Garmon owned his they’ll come back and see own landscaping company. me, which is great. I love “I never thought the kids,” said Mr. Garmon.

I’d be working in the school, doing what I’m doing, If there is one thing he wants the school population to and especially not inside,” said Mr. Garmon. know about him, it is how much he loves the school, the stuFollowing an economic downturn, he had to reinvent dents and the city of Johns Creek. Mr. Garmon can only himself and has since become an advocate for a simpler life- sing praises about his experience working here. If Mr. Garstyle. This life change has also adjusted his heart and mind. mon could have dinner with any three people, he would “I wasted a lot of money when I had money to waste. But choose Donald Trump, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams Jr.

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G A R M O N

THE CHARIOT | 19

FEATURES

Curing Johns Creek Boredom I SOPHIE BRANDEIS, features editor

t’s a typical Saturday in Johns Creek. There is a group of friends in a car cruising down State Bridge Road.

The weather is nice, the music is bumping, and everyone is eager to do something fun. When asked where they want to go, everyone in the squad comes up short.

This is a common dilemma many Johns Creek High School students face everyday. In a desperate attempt to solve this pressing dilemma, a couple members of “The Chariot” staff bravely took on the grueling task of uncovering just how to cure that JC boredom.

Their first stop on this quest was Nell’s Farmers Stand. Barely noticeable to the average oblivious JC driver, this farmers stand is tucked away on the corner of the right hand fork on Old Alabama Road. With the company of friends, the farmers market stand can actually be a really fun way to pass the time. When “The Chariot” staff visited, they were pleasantly surprised with all the interesting produce selections Nell’s had to offer. In fact, they even decided to buy a watermelon and eat it right there in the parking lot. Although the sticky watermelon fingers aren’t the most ideal, Nell’s Farmers Stand is a great place for JC kids to bond and hangout.

For “The Chariot” staff, the next item on the “things to do in JC when you’re bored list” was thrift shopping. The gang headed to the Hope Thrift store right next to Nell’s Farmers Stand. Keep in mind that this activity can be done with any local thrift shop such as Uptown Cheapskate, Goodwill and Park Avenue Thrift; the options are limitless. At the thrift store, the group explored all of the 20 | ALL PHOTOS: DAVID KIM

cool items the thrift shop had to offer. With all the great deals and bargains on record players, old DVDs, toys and art, it was almost impossible to not buy something.

Nonetheless, thrift shopping with friends is a great activity to do in Johns Creek because it sparks great conversation over the most absurd and random gizmos.

After living it up on Old Alabama Road, the group of Chariot staffers decided to venture onto Barnwell Road to check out the Chattahoochee River at the local nature center. There they hiked for a little bit before stumbling upon a breathtaking view of the river with trees draping over it.

The Chattahoochee is a great place to come to de-stress and chill with some friends or maybe even with a special someone. It offers a peaceful and scenic venue perfect for long discussions, a nap, photoshoots, snapchat stories and even a water fight.

The last activity the staff decided to take on was baking. The group all went back to a house and whipped out tons of ingredients from the kitchen. The end result was a fun activity and a delicious snack. Although people may be hesitant to cook because of the mess that results, baking is an excellent yet overlooked activity to do in JC because it creates an active atmosphere where many people can invest their skills into creating one outcome that everyone will enjoy. It’s easy to be lazy and just claim that “there is nothing to do in Johns Creek.”

Before jumping to conclusions, try a few of the featured hidden Johns Creek gems. All of the fun activities the Creek has to offer can be pleasantly surprising.

The Perfect Cup of Tea “THE CHARIOT” REVIEWS UNIQUE ATLANTA TEA SHOP RACHAEL JONES, editor-in-chief

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hile Johns Creek offers its own plethora of hidden gems, the city of Atlanta is crawling with many unique restaurants and coffee shops not many people know about. Looking beyond the typical scope of Alpharetta, Duluth and Johns Creek, “The Chariot” staff happened upon a quaint, humble tea shop nestled in the heart of Atlanta.

Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party, a

mere ten minutes from Emory University and within walking distance from Little Five Points, offers a wide variety of teas, pastries and sandwiches in a quirky, creative atmosphere.

Pushing through heavy wooden doors, customers immediately step into a scene drawn right out of a storybook. Several college students, families and small parties gather under a colorful canopy of paper lanterns, sipping tea and exchanging quiet conversation. An assortment of dimly lit lamps cast long shadows over old wooden tables and bookshelves as quiet music plays over the faint buzz of chattering customers and clinking tea cups.

Stepping up to the counter to order, customers face over fifty different choices of teas and several affordable combinations of tea pots, scones, clotted cream and finger sandwiches. With a 24-hour-in-ad-

vance-reservation, customers can purchase a High Tea package, which includes heaping servings of quiches, sandwiches, cupcakes and pastries in addition to one’s choice of tea.

The name Dr. Bombay, adopted from a 1950s television character from the show “Bewitched,” alludes to an Indian warlock, while “underwater tea party” alludes to the game children play at the bottom of a pool.

“It’s just whimsical, but it ties back to India, magic, community and fun childhood [memories],” said a Dr. Bombay’s employee.

Not only does Dr. Bombay’s foster a creative environment centered around community and good food, but the tea shop also partners with a non-profit organization called The Learning Tea, which donates scholarship money to educate young girls in India.

“The lady that owns this, Kantrell Christie, went on a trip to India and went to a Buddhist monastery where they had an orphanage. She met some of the young girls that were aging out of the orphanage there, which meant that since they didn’t have any family or anything to support them, they would be on the street, would be subject to menial labor, to sex trafficking…

So she has The Learning Tea, which gives them access to medical care, clothes, basic needs, computer classes, music lessons and most importantly tuition so that they can go to college and rise above their circumstances. Right now we have about 15 girls in a safe house, which is under a lot of political strife.

A lot of the help we’ve been giving has gone beyond education help and has been actually helping them survive,” said a Dr. Bombay’s employee.

THE CHARIOT | 21

FEATURES

SoundCloud Spotlight LAUREN GREENFIELD, staff writer

22 | DAVID KIM

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ith a hip, new culture of rap music rapidly developing in our generation, SoundCloud, the app that allows artists to independently publish their music is quickly becoming a popular way for rap artists to get attention. Its versatility and wide range of users have created a new realm of music for artists of all ages, genders and ethnicities to enjoy. Often referred to as the “YouTube of Music,” SoundCloud creates a direct relationship between the artists and their listeners by allowing them to comment, like and repost the artist’s tracks and beats. By implementing the social media aspect into music, SoundCloud is transforming the music industry and the way upcoming artists are being discovered.

“It causes me to think more about what the listener wants to hear instead of what I just want to produce,” said junior Will Sullivan.

Prior to SoundCloud, an artist would have to sign with a record label to produce their music and get publically recognized. Not only can they get started on SoundCloud, but they are also able to completely avoid the strict, overbearing contracts that labels force artists into signing.

“Now, a bunch of artists get started on SoundCloud, like NAV,” said senior Ar-

jun Lahoti, another SoundCloud artist from Johns Creek.

Aspiring musicians are utilizing SoundCloud to post and advertise their music, and students in Johns Creek are following this trend. Artists such as Arjun Lahoti, Jonathan Manswell and Will Sullivan are the face of SoundCloud rappers at Johns Creek High School. Each student uses SoundCloud to publically share his work and his message.

Specifically, Lahoti, Manswell and Sullivan represent similar ideas within their work. Most of their ideas pertain to spreading positivity to their audience by encouraging them to be themselves and defying the stereotypes that often surround high school today.

“A lot of high school students I know — at least six at Johns Creek itself — are interested in using SoundCloud to make their own music, which is cool because it fosters creativity in all the young people,” said Lahoti.

The influence SoundCloud has had on hopeful rappers at Johns Creek has encouraged them to spread their ideas and work on projects that engage their audience in a multitude of ways. Sullivan mentioned that Johns Creek artists are taking their audience participation in their works to a new level this year with upcoming projects like “Vini Vidi Vici 4,” a Johns Creek tradition that features solely Johns Creek High School students.

THE CHARIOT | 23

FEATURES

entertainment &

peaches & plums PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOUNDCLOUD AND SPOTIFY

This year, "The Chariot" plans to feature music from a variety of genres. In this issue, staff photographer David Kim was put in charge of creating a groovy playlist to kick off the school year. This playlist features throwbacks from Erykah Badu as well as recent hits by Daniel Ceasar and Tom Misch.

01. SOUTH OF THE RIVER | TOM MISCH 02. JUST FRIENDS (SUNNY) | MUSIQ SOULCHILD 03. UNSTOPPABLE (FKJ REMIX) | LIANNE LA HAVAS 04. ... & ON | ERYKAH BADU 05. LAVENDER | TWO DOOR CIMENA CLUB 06.

SUNNY DUET | NONAME 07.

PUT MY HANDS ON YOU | DEAN 08.

SENIORITA | JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE 09.

COOL AND CALM | DUMBFOUNDEAD 10.i RADAR | NOAH SLEE 11. MICHAEL CERA | MICHAEL CHRISTMAS 12.

DETRIOT PART 1 | SHIGETO 13.

NAVí | KAMAU 14.

PARADISE | MILLIC

15. BAD DREAM / NO LOOKING BACK | SYD

16. AH YEAH | ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT 17.

TRANSFORM | DANIEL CAESAR

Must See

HBO’s New Binge Worthy Series

PHOTO COURTESY OF ITUNES

“I

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nsecure” is a thirty-minute comedy that narrates the friendship of two modern black women, Issa and Molly, and all of their awkward experiences and racial tribulations. Modern-day black women are usually portrayed as confident, strong and flawless, such as Michelle Obama and Serena Wlliams. Issa and Molly, on the other hand, are internally the opposite of this depiction. These best friends must deal with their own imperfections and flaws while simultaneously circumventing vastly different

LUCAS WILLIAMS, guest writer worlds and also subsisting with an endless carousel of uncomfortable, everyday experiences both in the workplace and the leisure world.

This HBO television series covers themes such as institutional racism, sexism, sexual positivity, reverse racism and intersectionality.

Not only does this TV series contain confrontational and critical content, it also provides a timeless sense of humor and a cutting-edge satirical commentary on contemporary existence. The show airs every Sunday at 10:30 p.m. on HBO.

MUSIC Music T Midtown JAMIE MILLER, managing editorager

Atlanta r e c e n t l y h o s t ed Mus ic Mid t o w n , t h e infamo us m u s i c fe s t iva l t h at h a s be e n en di ng s um m e r w i t h a b ang f o r s e v e n t e e n year s and c o u n t i n g.

he w eek end of Sept em ber 16, Piedmont Park w as f illed to maximum capacity . Thousands of music enthusiasts g athered in do wnto wn Atlanta seeking front ro w to the per for manc es of their fav or it e ar tists.

Despit e the classic Atlanta humidity , the air w as buzzing with energy . For the ninet eenth y ear, the tw oday w eek end festiv al of Mu sic Midto wn w as under w ay .

Music Midtown is well known for pro viding an e xt ensiv e list of headliners to please a v ar iety of music tast es.

This y ear’s headliners w ere especially popular, draw ing in o v er 70,000 guests.

The list of ar tists included Br uno Mars, Blink -182, Wi z Khalifa, Big Sean, Mum ford & Sons and F uture.

The festiv al consist ed of the same g eneral concept as

in past y ears, ho w e v er a fe w things stood out as dif fer ent to the audience. For one, concer tgoers could av oid the hassle of car r ying other for ms of payment b y signing up for Music Midto wn Cash less from Bank of Amer ica.

This sy st em allo w ed par ticipants to upload money onto their wr istbands, making it easy to g rab a refreshment betw een sho w s.

Other than the c hang e in payment, some aspects of Music Midto wn stay ed the same. Just as in the pr ior y ears, audiences hopped betw een eac h of the four stag es to enjo y the unique e xper ience that eac h had to of fer.

The vibes that bounced of f the stag es lit up the city . Among those that att ended, most can ag ree that it w as a w eek end they will not soon forg et.

The lineup for this year’s festival included some of the most popular artists from all genres of music. Headliners included Bruno Mars, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Mumford & Sons and Russ.

Russ performing at Music Midtown.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MUSIC MIDTOWN

Headliners

THE CHARIOT | 25

fac e of f Does it make sense to start a career straight out of high school?

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PHOTO: DAVID KIM

OPINION

PHOTO: DAVID KIM

yes

JOHN POSA, staff writer

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ollege and its admission processes have been very controversial over the past years, which has brought up the idea of skipping the whole process and joining the workforce immediately. This plan allows young workers to avoid college fees and to start earlier in a company to move up in their industry.

College tuition and fees have skyrocketed over the past decade. After adjusting the prices due to inflation, a College Board report has shown that a public college’s four-year tuition and fees have almost quadrupled since 1977. Just over the past six years, tuition has increased by 9 percent in a four-year public college and 14 percent in a four-year private college. For much of the American population, these costs are just too

no

high to pay causing them to take student loans. According to The College Fix, the study discovered that around 15 percent of retirees still have student loans, which is a 14 percent increase since 1989.

Instead of building an insurmountable debt for a college degree, a person can start to save and make money for the future and skip college.

This time spent in a job and not in school provides valuable experience for the worker and opportunities to move up in an organization. By the time the four years of college are over, someone who decided to work could have already been promoted and be receiving benefits from their occupation. Many people believe that there are not enough well-paying occupations for solely high school graduates.

While there has been an increase in jobs requiring college degrees, there are a variety of jobs that do not need one. In fact, only one-third of jobs in America require an education higher than high school based on a college -run study. This group of jobs include respiratory therapist, web developer and even a diagnostic medical sonographer. All three of these jobs, including many others, require very different skill sets and are all above the average annual salary in America.

A person who decides not to get a degree can use this time to save and invest his or her money instead of piling up debt from costly schooling. This option gives many people who do not have the financial stability to afford college an opportunity to be successful in life.

twice as much as those with just a high school diploma, according to the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). Also, the unemployment rates of those with college degrees are almost half that of those without college degrees. The USDOL states that college graduates are more likely to be offered higher paying jobs. Even after subtracting tuition and all the years of foregone salary, a degree will still pay for itself.

The social atmosphere offered by college cannot be found anywhere else. Skipping college to go straight into a career is like skipping a piece of your childhood. It is a large developmental factor in figuring out the type of person you are and what you may

want to do with your life. According to Psych Central, psychologists discovered students’ social skills and behavior in social situations during their university studies contribute to their success in the transition to work. The social strategies adopted during university studies also have an impact on work commitment and early career coping with working life, making working for a college degree the logical thing to do. Companies do not want high school students who have learned nothing but their basic math, science, social studies and language arts curriculum. They seek ambitious college students who want to do big things with their lives and further the success of their companies.

NATHAN GOGGANS, staff writer

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he college undergrad diploma has been one of the most valued pieces of paper since the establishment of colleges. Despite the high prices, time and effort required to receive a college degree, the outcome of those four years of schooling proves to be beneficial.

Money drives the average individual to do not-so-average things. Sure, there is nothing stopping someone from becoming a billionaire without going to college. Bill Gates dropped out of college before receiving his degree and is now the richest man in the world, but not everyone is a Bill Gates. Sitting at about $56,000, the average salaries of people with four-year college degrees are almost

THE CHARIOT | 27

OPINION

Battle of the Beverages Three Chariot Staffers anwser the age old question: which brand tastes best?

coffee

MORAYO OBUNGAYO, business editor

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offee – the most over-exposed topic of all time.

However, the opinion that can never be settled is where the best coffee comes from. While Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts hold the unofficial crowns and local joints, such as Land of A Thousand Hills, have been starting to gain traction, one part of the conversation that is seldom covered. The best coffee is, in fact, gas station coffee. It is true that this sounds ridiculous. How could the last place on earth anyone would ever want to go to the bathroo, be the home of the world’s best coffee? Let’s start with the overall warmth. Gas station coffee is always the perfect temperature to heat the insides without scorching the tongue.

Next, one of the best things about getting your coffee at a gas station would have to be the variety. Varieties of flavor and creamers, literally you name it. And one would

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be remiss to overlook the convenience of it all. When ordering a cup of coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin, one receives a lackluster number of flavors, usually one option for creamers and almost no say in how the coffee is prepared. The coffee that is produced is bland in taste, never the right temperature and costs more than coffee should ever cost. That is where gas station coffee becomes the difference.

Plausibly, the best thing about gas station cofee is that it is the same wherever you go becuase you make the coffee. Instead of driving for hours to find a Starbucks or Dunkin’ and hope the service is any good, one can pull over on any road, find a gas station and have consistently perfect coffee any time. So here’s my most important and only advice any person who wants cheap, delicious, easily accessible coffee, gas station coffee is the only way to go.

sports drinks

DANI BLANK, staff writer

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veryone knows that Gatorade and Powerade are basically the same drink, but which one is really better? Both drinks are meant for post-workout, but Gatorade does its job better. It’s more satisfying and refreshing. The majority of students at Johns Creek agree that Gatorade is the better sports drink; in fact, 48 out of 50 students surveyed chose it over Powerade. These students claim that Gatorade simply tastes better, has better flavors and is more fulfilling after a tough workout. When you are tired and run-down from a tough day of hard work, reach for a Gatorade, not a Powerade.

Gatorade is sweeter and has tastier flavors, so even if someone’s not drinking it to recover from a lengthy practice or challenging workout, it still beats Powerade.

While Powerade is sweet, has decent flavors and tastes good after a tiring practice, it’s nothing compared to a Gatorade. When

water

SAM BEAGLE, staff writer

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nless you’ve ever found interest in the liquid that you drink lots of everyday, you most likely never uncovered the extensive world of artesian bottled water. Students occasionally hold small arguments over which water is best, but which one is truly the best? Usual brands, like Fiji and Evian, are just the tip of the artesian water iceberg.

Boxed Water is Better’s claim to fame is its packaging, which is essentially a small milk carton. It intends to cut down on carbon production, yet it doesn’t cut down on tasting like cardboard. This water was extremely rough, and it felt as if its packaging had seeped into the water. Coming from an island in the Atlantic, Icelandic Glacial filters its water through lava rock for five thousand years until it is extracted from an Icelandic spring.

This water was the most refreshing of all and tasted how water should.

Iceland, although known for its Vi-

drinking the two side-by-side, it’s clear that Gatorade beats its rival in terms of flavor, nutrition and how refreshing it is. But when it all comes down to it, Gatorade essentially just tastes better. Gatorade also has an expansive number of flavor options and significant health benefits. It has 65 milligrams of potassium compared to Powerade’s 25 milligrams and has more Vitamins A and C. The most important part of a sports drink is its electrolytes, which replenish the vitamins that athletes sweat out during their workouts, and Gatorade has exceedingly more than Powerade. Although the two drinks may be similar, Gatorade also produces energy chews and power bars, something that Powerade cannot compete with. So when deciding whether to go for Gatorade or Powerade, it doesn’t matter if the choice is based on health benefits or taste, Gatorade is always the way to go.

kings and volcanoes, should also be known for its bottled water.

A short way down the North Sea is France, home to Volvic. Volvic water is filtered through lava rock, minerals and granite before it is bottled. It is the most light of all the waters and felt the most natural. It also provided for an extremely refreshing taste. So far, the water’s color has remained constant, but this next water is like none other.

Blk Water is a water that reflects its name perfectly. It is colored black because of the Canadian Fulvic Trace Minerals that are mixed in with the water. Water often smells like nothing, yet this one smells like dirt, which is essentially what is in it. Overall, this water tastes like one might assume; disgusting.

Overall, Boxed Water is Better is the worst, providing for a cardboard, paper-like taste. Icelandic Glacial is easily the best bottled water. Its combination of a smooth and light feel helps it reign supreme.

THE CHARIOT | 29

OPINION

NETFLIX CONTROVERSY: NOT REALITY TV RACHEL GROSSWALD, opinion editor

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thirteen-year old girl scans through Netflix for the public and producing a profit for Netflix. shows searching for a perfect new show to “13 Reasons Why” is a work of fiction just like any binge. Like most avid Netflix users, she will other TV series. When people watch “Shameless,” easily become engrossed in her new show, spending they don’t go out and become raging alcoholics hours a day intently viewing and obsessing over her imitating the behavior of the main character in the latest pick. This young teenager will absorb every- show, and “13 Reasons Why” is just the same. Peothing she sees on TV like a sponge, learning from it ple watch the show for their own benefit, not for inand trying to imitate the behaviors exemplified on spiration for their future life choices. It is on Netflix the big screen. So, what happens to this girl when solely for the purpose of entertainment, and as long “13 Reasons Why” is her latest pick in her queue as people continue to be entertained by the show, of Netflix series to binge? it should remain on Netflix.

The show “13 Reasons When it comes to shows on Why,” released in March controversial topics, viewers 2017, has been sweeping need to watch at their own the nation, causing controdiscretion. If parents are conversy over whether or not it cerned about the impact this should be available for peo- ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ is a show has on their children, ple to view without censor- work of fiction just like any then they should control the ship or restrictions. Based shows that their kids are alother TV series. on the popular book by Jay lowed to watch on TV. If they Asher, this thirteen-episode do allow their kids to watch series glorifies and overdrashows similar to “13 Reasons matizes teenage suicide. While Why,” it is important that many fear that this show they discuss the fiction of the will inspire viewers to comshow and how it does not exmit actions similar to those emplify what real life is like. detailed in this show, it is important to rememSo, when a thirteen year old girl stumbles upon ber that it is a show and not a documentary. “13 Reasons Why” on Netflix, it is not a cause for This series is dramatic and exciting, aimed at the world to end. While it may be necessary for her gaining the highest viewership. When people parents to talk to her about the true purpose of the open their Netflix accounts searching for a show show, there is no reason it should be removed from to watch, they gravitate towards shows that are en- Netflix. This show was not made to spread awaretertaining, and “13 Reasons Why” is no different. ness about suicide or solve a problem; it was only This show is not on Netflix to make a statement made to provide a source of entertainment for Netflix about teen suicide and depression. It was created viewers. If all contraversial shows are removed from with the sole purpose of providing entertainment Netflix, there will be nothing left to watch on TV.

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masthead

PUBLICATION

DESIGN EDITOR

STAFF WRITERS

“The Chariot” is a student-run publication printed for and distributed to the Johns Creek community. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire staff or those of Johns Creek High School, its students, faculty, staff or administration. Content is edited and controlled by staff editors, in collaboration with the staff adviser and the administration. The staff will publish only legally protected speech, adhering to the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and the invasion of privacy.

Caroline Kwon

Dani Blank Jake Peljovich John Posa Lauren Greenfield Maren Stephens Nathan Goggans Rohan Lalla Sam Beagle

COPY EDITOR Brian Sui

NEWS EDITOR Mauren McLynn

SPORTS EDITOR Nathan Gauthreaux

FEATURES EDITOR Sophie Brandeis

ADVERTISING

OPINION EDITOR

“The Chariot” publishes ads with signed contracts provided that they are deemed appropriate by the staff for the intended audience.

For more information about advertising with “The Chariot,” please contact the staff e-mail.

Rachel Grosswald

CONTACT US 470-254-2138 jchschariotmagazine@gmail.com 5575 State Bridge Road Johns Creek, GA 30022

COVER DESIGN Caroline Kwon

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Nikita Dani Rachael Jones

MANAGING EDITOR Jamie Miller

PRODUCTION EDITOR Neha Bhatia

BUSINESS EDITOR Morayo Ogunbayo

PHOTOGRAPHER David Kim

ADVISER Todd Hedden

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