Issuu

PANTHER

the

V 64|N6

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156

Friday April 29 2022

CONTENTS

LOCAL

news briefs

On Apr. 17, a burned body was found on the top floor of The Falls shopping mall parking garage. According to Miami-Dade police, by the time Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s first responders arrived at the scene, the person was already dead. As of Apr. 19, details regarding the person’s identity and the cause of the fire remain unknown.

11 NATIONAL

05 | NEWS

Financial Literacy in Florida

08 | LIFE Tea & Poets

Following a federal judge’s ruling that struck down President Joseph Biden’s mask mandate aboard planes, trains and other public transportation methods on Apr. 18, several major airlines across the United States have made masks optional. These include: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue. Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the mask mandate until May 3, Biden administration officials say the order is no longer in effect while the ruling is under review, according to the Associated Press.

BEHIND THE cover

Valentina Arias (11) takes a photo of Ella Pedroso (11) holding up a sign in front of Palmetto.

11 | Feature

Highlighting Student Advocacy

13 | SPORTS

Thank You PGL

18 | OPINION

Miami: The Most Overhyped City

INSTAGRAM @thepantherpaper TWITTER @thepantherpaper

LETTER TO THE editor Dear Editor,

During your last official issue as leadership, I just want to say how proud I am of you all. As the first to have never experienced a full year of The Panther traditions before becoming leadership, you took the room changes, virtual issues, and disruptions in stride. Your content shows the work and love you’ve put into this paper, and I can’t wait to read your senior editorials. With love,

Nicole Markus

internATIONAL

**Submit letters to b.martin.thepanther@gmail.com. Letters may be edited for length, clarity, or spelling.

In efforts to prevent their expulsion from the International Monetary Fund, Russia has asked Brazil for support in the remaining part of the IMF, the World Bank and G20 —all top global economies. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the call for help comes as a result of various sanctions the West imposed on Russia, including freezing their international reserves and blocking foreign trade transactions.

DOWNLOAD

our app

04| NEWS

Miami Tech Equity Initiative

As Miami has gradually gained more traction within the technology sector, the city has also gained national spotlight as a global technology hub of the future. Witnessing this quick spread of tech, JPMorgan Chase, The Knight Foundation, The Miami Foundation and aīre ventures have come together to launch the Miami Tech Equity Initiative to grant underserved communities greater access to tech and create educational and career opportunities for youth, females and small business owners in underserved communities. Tech equity Miami’s funders consortium plans to deploy $100 million in philanthropic funding over the span of five years. Funds will funnel into initiatives that remove entry barriers into the tech industry and expand economic opportunities in the Greater Miami Community while simultaneously creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. So far, the project has raised over $55 million out of a $100 million goal. The initiative was created under the principle that tech has the potential to become one of the greatest accelerants of socioeconomic mobility and opportunity generation. Believing that collaborative investment allows for the greatest creation of new pathways for social transformation. In funding impactful projects around the Miami area, the initiative functions under four mainframes including the ideas of access, pipeline, talent and digital transformation. Access is defined as access to broadband connectivity and devices for underserved communities while creating defined pathways into tech-based careers. A non-profit organization doing just this is Code/Art, a Miami-based non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the number of girls studying computer science by inspiring them with the creative possibilities of computer programming.

“We have been vetted to submit two projects —one is to fund training art teachers to lead creative coding lessons in order to give girls that first fun and creative introduction to coding, and the other is to fund weekly Code/Art CodeHER Clubs for girls so that the girls who discover they love coding in art class will have a place to go to improve their coding skills,” CEO and Founder of Code/Art Amy Renshaw said. Female representation in computer science has continued to decline over the years. In 1984, 37% of all computer science graduates in the US were female; today the percentage is only 18%. Code/ Art works to reverse this statistic by reaching girls in grades 3-12 and introducing coding programs through art. In measuring community impact, all projects that receive a Tech Equity Miami designation must contribute information and statistics to a public database tracking progress towards the initiative’s outcomes and impact goals. Miami’s evolution into a global tech hub is accelerating, with recent reports showing 45 percent growth in venture capital dollars across the metro area. The Brookings Institution and LinkedIn report equally robust growth in the number of tech professionals choosing to work in Miami, with a 30% increase in the net flow of workers in the software and IT sector who moved to the region since 2020. Over the next five years, Tech Equity Miami plans to support an ecosystem of the impact that yields cradle to career tech inclusion, seeking to bring internet access and digital literacy to 100,000 Miami-Dade County students and their families currently lacking at-home broadband. The project plans to ex-

pose 50,000 students from undeserving communities to STEM and digital literacy, bring 25,000 underrepresented students and workers into tech opportunities and experiences and provide at least 1,000 micro-businesses and companies with digital transformation training and technology solutions. The tech movement has exposed equity challenges and opportunity gaps. More than 65% of Greater Miami residents identify as Black, Hispanic or Latino, yet of all South Florida tech employees, these groups make up only 12% and 27% respectively. What’s more, only 26 % identify as female. The issue of tech equity goes far beyond representation in the workforce, with census data reporting as many as 100,000 households in Miami without any internet access—roughly one in five homes. “It is a great opportunity for Miami to get things right. This initiative is starting early on in the Miami Tech movement. I am optimistic that it will help make Miami’s tech hub more inclusive and welcoming to women, people of color and other underrepresented groups in tech than in more established tech hubs like Silicon Valley,” Renshaw said.

Amy-Grace Shapiro Feature Editor

a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY PAUL YAN

Financial Literacy Financial In Florida It’s official — Florida high school students now have to take a mandatory financial literacy class before graduating. This new requirement goes into place beginning with students entering high school in 2023. The new financial literacy class covers topics like opening and managing a bank account, the basic principles of money management and an explanation of compound interest. Students can expect to learn about how to save money and the types of investments that can help them build wealth. This comes after Florida ranked 38th worst in the nation in terms of financial literacy. “New studies from the National Bureau of Economic Research confirm financial literacy directly correlates to an individual’s capacity to overcome macroeconomic difficulties such as COVID-19 or the 2008 financial crisis,” Erik Sussman of the Miami Herald said. The bill, passed in late March, requires that high school students take and earn one-half credit of a personal financial literacy class. This education provides students with the tools necessary to increase their chances of financial success once they leave school and enter the workforce. Early education in personal finance also gives the next generation a head start on achieving financial independence. The new initiative “teaches kids how to be responsible with their money spending, credit, debt, things that are more applicable to their everyday lives. And it’s important because if you want to buy a house, want to buy a car or want to do so many things that require you to, you know, live your life. You need to understand how to develop good credit, good financial habits,” said Miami Palmetto Senior High AP Macroeconomics teacher Joel Soldinger. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the economy on a scale not seen since the 2008 recession, people began to realize the importance of money management. However, Soldinger believes that this bill was not passed in relation to the pandemic and more because . “It’s myself who teaches all seniors and it’s easy to get into financial trouble if you’re not aware of the benefits and the pitfalls, so I’m very excited to see it happen. I just think the fact that it’s in schools automatically gives it a sense of importance. And then, you know, I see kids in just my macroeconomics class, who appreciate economics and macroeconomics deals with the whole economy. So when they’re dealing with things that are applicable to them as students and just people going out in the world, I think it’s going to resonate immensely and I think it’s really gonna make a difference,” Soldinger said. The younger generation is most at risk of being poor

NEWS |05

money managers, as they are the demographic that spends the most money with friends and in situations where they may not be thinking about saving money for the future. “It’s critical to work with a qualified financial professional and follow proven tenets of personal finance, including: purchasing appreciating assets over depreciating assets; not using high-interest credit cards and sticking to a budget that includes “paying yourself first,” Sussman said. It will take many years for all Floridians to become educated in financial literacy, but important steps are being taken to get there.

Eitan Greenberg Copy Editor

e.greenberg.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY PAUL YAN MULTIMEDIA BY VALENTINA ARIAS

NEWS |06

F A S T

Florida’s New Standardized Testing Starting in May, the Florida Standards Assessment – a test that many students have been taking since third grade – will be administered to all Miami Palmetto Senior High students in 9th and 10th grade. The FSA covers English Language Arts, Mathematics and end-of-course subjects. Students in grades 3 to 10 take the ELA FSA, and students in grades 3 to 8 take the Math FSA at the end of the year. Students also take the EOC in Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History and Civics. However, students will have to familiarize themselves with a new test for the 2022–2023 school year. On Mar. 9, Florida Governor Ron Desantis signed SB1048, otherwise known as the “Florida Assessment of Student Thinking,” into law.” This bill, formally known as the “Students Assessments Bill,” repeals the FSA and replaces it with a new progress monitoring system. By doing so, Florida becomes the first state in the nation to switch from yearend assessments to state standards-aligned progress monitoring. F.A.S.T. testing takes place three times a year and takes hours rather than days. Teachers also receive their students’ scores within a week of students taking the tests, rather than during the summer. “I’m interested to see how they will certainly roll out the three tests for the school year. I know that one of the complaints about the FSA at the end of the school year is that there is a large portion of students’ time that’s taken up with the testing. So I’m certainly intrigued to see how they will have that testing being done through the three periods of the school year,” Palmetto Pre-AP English teacher Elena Ruiz said. The first two progress-monitoring tests of the year will be used as practice tests for students to get comfortable with this new format, while the last one determines if a student can graduate. However, results from the 2022–2023 school year will not be used to calculate school grades. Instead,

it will serve as a baseline for statewide testing going forward. “One benefit of the three tests is the fact that we will have a benchmark set and we will be able to at least monitor students’ progress. So students have a goal to work at and would be able to see, of course, some of the improvements that they’re making throughout the school year. But then the drawback to having the three tests is that students who aren’t doing well and who are not strong test-takers now have these three occasions that would be stress-inducing for them and would constantly have this monitoring that says that you are not good enough,” Ruiz said. Administrators are unsure of this new way of testing and are interested in how it will function. “It’s hard to think of the new testing because it’s supposed to be a much-wanted change. I’m definitely hoping that this is going to give students a better opportunity to show growth and to meet graduation requirements as opposed to just this one big test at the end that applies so much pressure. With the shorter test time students will be given more time in the classroom,” Palmetto Assistant Principal Vivian Del Valle said. The tedious time that testing takes will allow for more time spent in the classroom for students. “Testing takes away from so much of the classroom and it’s been advertised like it’s supposed to be less instructional time missed but it is going to be testing three times a year now. It’s going to be something somewhat of a shorter test, allegedly that will take place there will be testing at the beginning, the middle and the end,” Del Valle said.

For many of Palmetto’s underclassmen, this new change is an exciting one. “It’s going to be a lot less stressful for me because having to stress for one big test at the end of the year, remembering everything you have learned from all throughout the year and cramming for it is just a hassle, but having three shorter tests is just a lot simpler and less stressful,” Palmetto freshman Jasmin Bourne said. F.A.S.T. shifts all current testing done with pencil and paper to an entirely electronic format. However, paper-based testing will be made available to those students who need it.

Ava Stuzin

Multimedia Photo Editor

a.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY PAUL YAN

EARTH Love Fest

On Saturday, Apr. 23, Aguacate Sanctuary of Love hosted the first-ever Earth Love Fest at Mango Grove from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Earth Love Fest celebrated Earth Day and more broadly, promoted environmental sustainability. Intended to raise money for Aguacate — a vegan juice bar and animal rescue — the event featured 37 vendors, including A Happy Sol Yoga, CLEO Institute, Bodywork by Amanda, Buddha Pants, Lavender Whisper Apothecary, Plasticless Planet and Compost For Life. All products sold were eco-friendly and activities included music, yoga, dancing, educational panels and speakers. “The festival has a lot of activities that are oriented towards self-love, like meditation, breathwork, wood temple, energy healing and a lot of things that allow us to let go of our past trauma and negative behaviors. We can never connect with the earth if we don’t connect with ourselves first… and being conscious of what we’re eating and which companies we are supporting,” Aguacate founder Daney Cabrera said. Tickets sold for $30 and included a set of reusable flatware. “We created a festival that would allow the participants to experience what it is like to come here without throwing things to the garbage that will never decompose, meaning that everyone is getting reusable utensils, reusable cups and if they upgrade their ticket, also tote bags,” Cabrera said. “The idea is that nobody walks out of here or in here with plastic.” With an estimated 400 to 500 attendees, the Earth Love Fest brought together people who share a mutual appreciation for the planet as well as concern for environmental issues. “I went to [Aguacate] with my friends and I saw there was a festival and I was like, ‘I love things environmentally friendly,’”

Earth Love Fest attendee and marine biology major Tamara Colon said. “I noticed that they had some people to talk about climate change and deforestation and then also overfishing. There was one [speaker in specific] that was talking about aquaculture and how it’s better to be vegan.” That speaker was Adam Roberti, Executive Director of the Xavier Cortada Foundation, a nonprofit created by artist Xavier Cortada to help create a more “just, loving and

beautiful world” through socially-engaged art projects. “I talked about the importance of our oceans and what’s happening to them, like coral bleaching, ocean acidification, all of the problems that they’re facing and then, importantly, what we can do about these problems,” Roberti said. For Roberti, Earth Love Fest provided the opportunity to connect with likeminded individuals.

LIFE |07

“An event like this inspires other people by having them see that they’re not alone in what can feel like a fight. Dealing with climate change and sea-level rise can often be an overwhelming endeavor, but when you come to an event like this, you start to see that there are a lot of people that are all around you that care about exactly what you care about and love what you love. So it can be very inspiring and uplifting to surround yourself with those kinds of people,” Roberti said. In terms of Earth Love Fest’s future, Cabrera hopes to take it nationwide. “I would like to expand to other cities and states and take the message across the country that we can have fun without waste,” Cabrera said. “[Earth Love Fest] is needed everywhere. We’re at such a high level of consumerism that is really not healthy for the planet.” When it comes to taking action to mitigate the effects of climate change, Cabrera, Colon and Roberti all stressed the importance of making small changes and being aware of personal impact on the environment. “The only thing we have to do is change ourselves. We don’t have to go and tell anybody else what to do,” Cabrera said. “Take pride in using your reusable bags. Take pride in saying, ‘I have a water filtration system’ and using your water bottle. By your actions, you’re inspiring people.”

Katriona Page Senior Copy Editor k.page.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY DENISE VAQUE

08| LIFE

Tea & Poets

Tea and poetry: on the surface, two very disparate things. However, when combined, they form a duo unlike any other. Tea & Poets — an iconic hang-out spot in South Miami — combines a calming atmosphere with live performances to enhance each customer’s experience. Tea & Poets includes a tea bar, coffee shop and indoor marketplace and hosts 25 live music and cultural events each month. The marketplace showcases items from local vendors and supports fellow small businesses. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses as a whole suffered, but small businesses took a particularly big hit. Throughout the pandemic, Tea & Poets remained successful and continued to thrive despite the odds. “I think Tea & Poets is a staple hangout s p o t

because of how well we’ve integrated ourselves into the community. We’ve been around for six years at Sunset Place mall that is absolutely dead,” Tea & Poets co-owner Joaquin Ortiz said. “It’s 15% occupied and we’ve been able to be successful through a pandemic because of how important we’ve made ourselves to the fabric of the South Miami, Coral Gables and the Coconut Grove area.” Along with the regularly scheduled performers, Tea & Poets hosts open mic nights every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Aside from the two-month hiatus due to the pandemic, Tea & Poets has not missed an open mic night in six years. These nights give performers a chance to express themself in a judgment-free environment. Since South Miami has very limited performance venue options, Tea & Poets gives young performers an opportunity to take the stage in front of a live audience. “Tea & Poets allows anyone to express themselves in any way they wish to. That’s the beautiful thing about the open mic. You can go up there and showcase your talent in whatever way you choose, whether it’s a poetry piece or a song. It’s really so important because everyone needs an outlet to express themselves, especially in a supportive and loving setting like Tea & Poets,” Miami Palmetto Senior High sophomore and Tea & Poets customer and performer Victoria Sintes said. Creating a well-balanced team that aligns with the culture of the business remains a top priority for the owners of Tea & Poets. When first entering any store, the welcome that guests receive sets the tone for whether or not the customers return. Tea & Poets ensures that staff fit the roles necessary to accomplish these goals. Tea & Poets also offers free WiFi for students who utilize the space to study. Tea & Poets provides the perfect setting

for customers to sit down, relax and destress and it demonstrates how the unique combination of tea and poetry creates a space where guests can take a break from reality. “You can do just about anything there and feel welcomed,” Sintes said. “That is what makes it such a unique and wonderful place to go: there’s something for everyone.”

Ava Garcia Staff Writer a.garcia.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY DENISE VAQUE PHOTOS BY ISABELLA HEWITT

ADS |09

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS ANTONY PAGE JOSE MARTINEZ AND KATHRYN ABBOTT ANNA HOCKHAMMER APRIL AND DANIEL STUZIN BARRY AND JENNIFER GOULD EARTH REALITY GROUP LLC DIANA CARMONA NEIL HEWITT AND CLAUDIA CARMONA TONY AND ROSCHEN MARTIN JESSICA FIOCCO RJ MARTIN GROUP, INC J.A. MARTIN CONSULTING LLC SOLEDAD JUDGE LAUREN BEILEY NEIL HEWITT FERNAN RODRIGUEZ AND JESSICA FIOCCO ROBERT WILLIAM SPIEGELMAN AND LINDA LEE

• SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE • SPAM ABATEMENT • DISASTER RECOVERY • LAN / WAN / VPN / REMOTE ACCESS DESIGN • 24 / 7 / 365 HELPDESK • IT PLANNING, FORECASTING, AND BUDGETING • IT ASSET MANAGEMENT • EMPLOYEE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING • ITIL CHANGE MANAGEMENT • VIRTUAL CIO • VOIP • IT AUDITING, FORENSICS, AND REMEDIATION

Outsource Your Business IT With Our Managed IT Support Plans Established in 2000, Grove Networks has helped dozens of businesses grow and succeed by acting as their turnkey outsourced IT department. For over 20 years, we have attained certification from and partnered with leading technology manufacturers to help guide, support, and improve local businesses throughout South Florida. Small-businesses and publicly traded entities alike, let Grove Networks help your business achieve success through worry-free technology today!

2103 Coral Way, Suite 700, Miami, FL 33145 sales@GroveNetworks.com 305.448.6126 phone

www.GroveNetworks.com

the

PANTHER april snapshot

OUR FAVORITES

Favorite Prom Activity GETTING READY Favorite AP to Study AP ART HISTORY Favorite Movie EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Favorite Coachella Perfomance

HARRY STYLES

STAFFER OF THE MONTH

Cayetana Jaramillo Opinion Editor

HOW GENZ’s it: AUX ANXIETY

“Hey, can you go on AUX?” When I hear those words, my heart plummets. Suddenly, it is my responsibility to keep all passengers in the car entertained and to match the mood of the situation with my playlist. Suddenly, I must prove my music taste to a critical audience. The pressure to select a perfectly curated list of songs that matches the vibe, setting, people and music taste of others causes universally relatable anxiety. Simultaneously, through one’s choice of music, one reveals their own taste and keenness for non-mainstream music. If I play Taylor Swift, am I too “mainstream”? If I play Still Woozy, am I too “indie”? If I play Pink Floyd, am I trying too hard or trying to be “different”? My playlist offers insight into my favorite artists and thus, a slice of my personality. I fear the silent scrutiny my playlist faces on a long road trip. Members of Generation-Z tend to be harsh critics of others’ music tastes and feel as though their own music taste is superior. This pressure can deter one from experimenting with new music and artists out of fear of peer judgment. I wish our generation would take a step back and let everyone enjoy the music that makes them feel happy. Music will always be an escape for me — a perfectly curated melody that mirrors my every mood. One’s music taste should not be another’s source of judgment, but rather a shared experience for all to love. AUX anxiety should be a dread of the past. Pop, country, rap, R&B, rock among several different music styles allow all to enjoy the beauty and artistry of music as a whole. If one’s song selection does not match the expected vibe, a simple request to “skip” will suffice.

TIME FOR A CHANGE. The issues we face and the way we use our voices determine our way of life and the future of our world. More young minds are learning that they have a say in current social and political debates. At Miami Palmetto Senior High, student advocates, passionate about bettering the community, take this principle to heart. In doing so, they have established countless clubs, student-run organizations and community service projects to raise their voices on important issues and elicit lasting change, serving as catalysts for social reform.

12| FEATURE

Highlighting S T U DEN T A DVOCACY At Palmetto

Within Miami Palmetto Senior High’s student body, students from all grades work to better not only the school environment but the community as a whole. In doing so, students fight against issues such as: climate change, gender inequality, political controversies, LGBTQ+ discrimination and racial prejudice, along with various other relevant issues. When it comes to gender equality, there is a significant disparity in the way women and men are treated. For years, women have suffered as a result of gender stereotyping and sexism. At Palmetto, clubs like the Palmetto Women’s Union shed light on these topics, encouraging further discussion of serious issues to bring about change. “My biggest thing is for everyone to feel like they have a voice, and if there’s any issue [that] a woman has, that we would come together as a union and address it. We have fifty-some people who may arrive, and there’s not just people from honors classes or AP classes,” Palmetto PWU sponsor Nicole Swanson said. “[It] is a really good safe space for everyone to have a voice and to talk about their experiences about how maybe they’ve experienced sexism or how they’ve experienced discrimination in any sort of way. Having that safe space to talk about it I think will empower the members to have more confidence in addressing their experiences.” Organizations like PWU exist because of deeply-rooted, societal issues that remain prevalent not only within Palmetto, but communities globally. Hence, many students and young adults look to express their views by advocating for certain topics or people, thus challenging the way society operates on both a small and wide scale. “[There are] very big problems in the world, and I think specifically Palmetto kids and high schoolers in general are very idealistic…They see the world [and] what’s wrong with the world. Why can’t we just fix it? Why can we address it? And that’s what’s so great for high school is that we’re exposed to all of these cool things. And though [high schoolers] haven’t really experienced too much of life, you still are exposed to it,” Swanson said. “So I think the reason why there’s so many advocacy groups is because people want to not only be informed, but also they want to find a calling.” On the topic of social issues, clubs like the Gay-Straight Alliance emphasize advocating for representation and bringing awareness to discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. “Representation matters, [and] representation doesn’t happen as much as the media says it does. I believe [there are] less than 1,000 examples of media [showing LGBTQ+ representation], and if you think of how much media there is and how long it’s been known for, that is a significantly small number,” Palmetto junior and GSA treasurer Menachem Diez said. “To say it’s divided equally is not true. It’s mostly just gay, bisexual and lesbian women, meaning there’s not a ton of trans people, asexuals, aromantics… Lack of representation [is] going to always be a huge barrier in the way… While everyone else gets thousands upon thousands of characters with different personalities, we only get a select few.” Given recent legislation that has placed focus on LGBTQ+ topics, clubs like No Place for Hate and GSA have joined forces to ensure student voices are heard. Both clubs wrote letters to politicians about their thoughts on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that recently passed in the Florida legislature. “At this point in high school, [some of] our students can’t vote yet, but even though [most] students don’t have a say in who is going to represent them in government doesn’t mean they can’t express their displeasure,” Palmetto GSA sponsor Daniel Hurst said. “For example, the letters written to politicians in terms of the new bill. The point of doing those letters is to tell the politicians who voted in favor of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill that it’s affecting, or could affect students. It’s not necessarily directly affecting us because it’s really related to LGBTQ+ topics from kindergarten to third grade, but it goes to the whole idea that LGBTQ+ people are “other than.” For them to be able to raise their voices and express disagreements, either to school administration, politicians or teachers is important.” Along these lines of proactive advocacy, Palmetto’s Agents of Change, a sect of the greater Science National Honor Society, consists of over a dozen students dedicated to spreading climate awareness. Since their founding in the 2020-2021 school year, they have made Palmetto a Green School, established Meatless Mondays in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, started sustainability projects such as Thrift for Change, hosted the Climate Leadership Information Program, implemented composting at Palmetto and started a podcast where students can discuss environmental issues with others and invite local environmentalists as guest speakers.

n o i n u s n e m o ’ w

gay-straight

alliance

“In school, it’s always a great idea to find other individuals who share the same passion for climate advocacy, because it is so nice to have peers that back you up and get together with you to discuss the issue,” Palmetto senior and Agents of Change President Analysse Humaran said. “I’ve been blessed to find the people I have in Agents of Change because we just drive one another with our ideas, ambitions, special skills and ability to organize.” With climate change becoming an increasingly socio-political issue, newer generations face a much greater threat to their livelihoods as older generations tend to be more hesitant with making changes to their unsustainable behavior. Agents of Change aims to get the youth to recognize environmental issues and take action against them to ensure a better future. “One of the problems with climate change not being acted on before is older generations and previous generations don’t really have a background or thorough understanding of their environmental impact or of climate change in general,” Humaran said. “I think it’s really important that step one is to educate the young people and the individuals of the future about this issue because it’s really hard to care about or do something about a problem that you know nothing of its origin or its effects.” Outside school, various student-run organizations throughout the community allow for advocacy beyond the classroom. For instance, the Pinecrest City Music Project, which funds and constructs public school arts education programs throughout South Miami-Dade in order to bridge the gap between local public schools and the communities in which they are located. Their staff of 31 student arts advocates impacts 502 students, and the organization as a whole has raised over $420,000 since its inception. “We see PCMP as not only an arts education project, but as a community development project, using the arts as a vehicle for bringing people together in our local community and understanding the impact and importance of arts education on local schools,” Palmetto senior and PCMP Founding Director Daniel Solomon said. “We have a motto that we educate students to become holistic arts leaders, in and outside the classroom, and for us our main purpose is to use the arts as an instrument of social change and to teach students core values and principles through artistic discipline, which they can use for anything in the future.” PCMP is the first ever minor-run organization to be granted funds from the federal government, the state of Florida and the only student-operated contractor to the school board of Miami-Dade County. Their achievements demonstrate how students truly have no limits to what they can accomplish through advocacy and community outreach. “We wear these administrative honors with a lot of pride because we are making a difference in our community through working to systematically change how arts education is administered,” Solomon said. “PCMP has developed wonderful relationships with local governments and local community leaders, such as the Miami-Dade County Commission, the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs and other large non-profit organizations. Our staff is interacting with these local government organizations on a routine basis for us to be able to continue our program and continue working with the community.” Similarly, the Pinecrest Youth Advisory Council provides young people in the community a forum for expressing their legislative opinions to the village council, helping adults to engage more with the youth population and understand their perspective on local concerns. YAC ensures this by undertaking several government initiatives throughout the year, advocating on issues such as human trafficking, underage drinking, mental health awareness and more. One of the primary issues with student political advocacy is that many of the advocates are under the legal voting age and cannot voice their opinion via the ballot box as adults can. Oftentimes, this allows their opinions to pass legislators by, unseen and unacknowledged. “Because you can’t vote, you really have to take it upon yourself to voice your concerns, either publicly or privately, like by contacting [a politician’s] office,” Palmetto junior and YAC Chair Lucas Hudson said. “You have to make sure that they know how you feel, whether you love what they’re doing, hate what they’re doing, or have suggestions for what they’re doing, because in an election you otherwise won’t be able to participate.” Ultimately, there are several different avenues students can take to make their voices heard on issues they deem important. Whether this be by setting up organizations, writing to important people or through community service, the way in which we go about speaking out and advocating is necessary for the future of not just our student body here at Palmetto, but on a national level as well. “There’s so many ways to get yourself involved outside of school and even in school, and so many groups of people who want to help you get your voice heard and your feet running,” Humaran said.

Jasmine Judge

Nicole Martin

j.judge.thepanther@gmail.com

n.martin.thepanther@gmail.com

Design Editor

Copy Editor

FEATURE |13

agents of change

PINCREST CITY MUSIC PROJECT

NO PLACE FOR HATE PHOTOS COURTESY OF: PCMP, PWU, NPH, AGENTS OF CHANGE DESIGN BY ELLA PEDROSO

14 | SPORTS

MAKE SOME NOISE

The Panther Cheerleaders are Breaking Down Barriers

At the heart of every sports game and pep rally within Miami Palmetto Senior High, the Panther Cheerleaders work to hype up athletes as their school-spirited “P-A-L-M-E-T-T-O” chant echoes through the crowd. Palmetto Cheer serves as an integral part of the Palmetto community, and their contributions have manifested themselves over the course of the team’s history. The cheer team underwent a change in leadership this past school year, when Behavior Management teacher Steph Blanco took on the role of sponsor, replacing Palmetto English teacher Laken Darst. “One day, Ms. Darst needed somebody to go with her to chaperone a bus with the cheerleaders and I agreed to go,” Blanco said. “I fit in with the team so well and when Ms. Darst told me she couldn’t make the time commitment anymore because she was getting her masters degree, I stepped up and took the job. The transition was rough, but well worth it. I don’t have a fixed schedule, I’m always running around campus to various meetings and working with Emotional Behavioral Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder students is time consuming.” Blanco has a lot on her plate, yet still manages to pull through for the cheer team. She manages all the behind the scenes work for the team: securing practice space, filing insurance paperwork, overseeing

the booster club and running fundraisers. Blanco most recently organized the cheer team’s Snap Raise fundraiser, which raised over $15,000. This money will help pay the coaches’ salaries. Because of her distinctive role on campus, Blanco has seen a special, stereotype-breaking bond form between her students and the cheerleaders. “All of my EBD and ASD kids have all of their classes in two rooms , so they spend most of their time up there,” Blanco said. “It’s like a bubble and I feel like there’s a negative connotation towards them because of that. It was so good for them when the cheerleaders began showing up in my room because they began to interact and their attitudes improved. They talk about their lives, boys and other common interests and I know if it wasn’t for the fact that they were in my room, these two groups would never interact.” The cheer team has enabled a cheerful spirit to spread throughout Palmetto by first focusing on their interactions with each other. They have engaged in numerous team bonding activities that have allowed them to sort out any problems and become closer as a team. “I have seen the team grow a lot as far as drama not fully ruining the team. We’ve gotten a lot better at overlooking drama to perform better and work as a team,” Palmetto senior and Cheer Captain Caleigh Brookshire said. “Seeing as we are not a

competitive team, we haven’t accomplished any tangible rewards, however we have grown as a team and a family. I believe my main reward is calling these girls my friends.” Although the cheer team did not compete this season, Palmetto alumna and Head Cheer coach, Nina Pozo, plans on entering Palmetto Cheer into competitions in the upcoming 2022-2023 season. On May 17, Pozo plans on hosting virtual tryouts for next season’s team. Parents and Guardians can join the informational session via Zoom on May 4 to help their student prepare for tryouts. Videos detailing the cheer and jump sequence will be posted on the cheer team’s Instagram (@panther. cheer) on May 13. “We post the choreography videos only a few days in advance to test how fast the girls can pick up the cheers,” Pozo said. “I don’t want to see “perfect.” I want to see the raw content of what the girls can pick up in the next two or three days because that’s realistically the timing of what we’re going to be teaching during practice. After the tryout is finished, we will end up taking about 10 to 15 junior varsity cheerleaders and about 18 to 24 varsity cheerleaders, but that number can vary.” The cheer team employs various methods to recruit students to try out for the team. This includes flyers, Instagram posts, end-of-day PA announcements and contacting cheer teams in the middle school

SPORTS | 15

feeder pattern. Current cheerleaders, like Palmetto junior Layla Cruz, know how significant of an impact the seniors have left on the team, and care deeply about recruiting new cheerleaders to prepare for the future of the cheer team. “I’ve been a cheerleader at Palmetto since my freshman year so I’ll definitely come back next year,” Cruz said. “I really love our cheer team. I hate thinking about our seniors leaving because for me and many other girls in the team they made a big impact on us. My three best friends are the seniors in the cheer team and they are like sisters to me.” Prior to focusing on recruitment, the cheer team accomplished their goal of increasing their reach at Palmetto in terms of inclusivity and gender equality. “This year, we started implementing that the girls attend one to two of each sport and cheer at it,” Pozo said. “The cheerleaders have cheered for the football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball teams, just to name a few. We’re trying to cheer for every sport to break the typical idea that cheer is only supposed to really support basketball and football. Rather, my belief is that everyone should deserve the hype. Between me and Ms. Blanco, we really

want to push the girls to attend as many games as possible to deliver the school spirit to every sports team. Both boys and girls.” Pozo graduated from Palmetto in 2016 and cheered on the cheer team for four years. She served as captain of the Junior Varsity team in her sophomore year, and captain of the Varsity team her senior year. Pozo coached other cheer teams following her graduation, but found herself back at Palmetto when she replaced her former coach, Shelby Abrams. Pozo has much experience, both being on and coaching a cheer team, and recognizes that times have changed and cheerleaders have become more academically involved than ever before. “I was involved in six clubs at Palmetto, but everybody else kind of just had cheer and that was pretty much it,” Pozo said. “Now we’re facing the fact that a lot of the girls are involved in extracurriculars and sports both inside and outside of school. They’re all enrolled in honors or AP classes, so it does take a lot more pre-planning to make sure that everybody’s on the same schedule, because wrangling 32 girls that all have a million places to be is very, very hard, but we made it work. I’m actually

very, very proud of them for being involved in so many things because not once do I get an excuse that’s like ‘oh I don’t really feel like going,’ rather they have to be at a club or honor society meeting.” Overall, the Palmetto cheer team has evolved both socially and academically in recent years. They have surpassed the common stereotype of what cheerleaders are assumed to be and, instead, made their own unique impact on Palmetto culture. “I started [cheer] in 2018 at Palmetto and I couldn’t have asked to be on a better team,” Brookshire said. “Cheer is important to Palmetto as we are responsible for hyping crowds up at games, pep rallies and events. Not only this, but we are one of the faces of Palmetto, and we represent it well. I love all the experiences I came to have through being on this team.”

Kate Stuzin

Managing Editor

k.stuzin.thepantherpaper@gmail.com

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON PHOTO COURESTY OF PANTHER CHEER

CHEERLEADERS HAVE CHEERED FOR THE FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, LACROSSE, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL TEAMS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. WE’RE TRYING TO CHEER FOR EVERY SPORT TO BREAK THE TYPICAL IDEA THAT CHEER IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO REALLY SUPPORT BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL. RATHER, MY BELIEF IS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD DESERVE THE HYPE.

NINA POZO

A THANK YOU LETTER TO MY SPORT ANA MARTINEZ

I was never a prodigy at playing a sport. In elementary school, I experimented with a few sports, namely soccer and karate. After a few seasons of soccer, I failed to score a goal. After years of karate, I lost most rounds of sumo; consequently, I felt weak. Lost and uncertain about my capabilities, I decided to enroll in a lacrosse camp in the summer before entering sixth grade. At the time, my brother had already begun playing lacrosse, and both my uncles played lacrosse competitively in college.

Therefore, lacrosse athleticism must run in my blood, right? Not quite. I still struggled to play as well as my teammates did. However, the sport sparked something in me: determination. Motivated to play better on my behalf, I did not quit lacrosse. Rather, I practiced whenever I could: in my yard after school, with a few friends on the field or with my coaches from the summer camp. Because of this, I became one of four girls accepted as a freshman on Miami Palmetto Senior High’s varsity lacrosse

team. The work I had begun continued throughout my four years on the team, and I continued to hit new milestones in the sport: scoring my first goal, assisting others in scoring goals and playing as a team. Years later, I am still not a prodigy at playing a sport. However, playing lacrosse has taught me so much about hard work, and joining Palmetto Girls’ Lacrosse will forever be a vital aspect of my journey to self-growth.

Prior to Palmetto Girls’ Lacrosse, I had never felt the passion that some of my teammates felt towards the sport I was currently playing, whether it be soccer, volleyball or basketball. In playing other sports, I always felt out of place and never really knew why. However, as I walked onto the field at Coral Reef park for my first ever preseason practice in 2018, something changed. From the second I picked up a lacrosse stick with the PGL team, I felt that I had finally found my place in the sports realm. Though I was not initially a stellar lacrosse

player, I fell in love with the sport. Now, reflecting on the past four years, I realize that it was the people on the team that made the biggest impact on my perception of lacrosse and my subsequent love for it. PGL has a contagious sense of team spirit and dynamic that each player, regardless of their lacrosse experience, embraces. Through my years as a team member and now captain, I grew to not only accept this team’s comradery, but to share it with others. Personally, a pivotal part of my four years growing up on PGL have been the “bigs and littles” aspect of

the team. Having an upperclassman guide me through my first seasons on the team, and then, as an upperclassman myself, having the opportunity to do the same for an underclassman has shown me how PGL has the ability to shape impactful relationships—both on and off of the field. Now that the season has ended, I can proudly reflect on my time on PGL and really see how the team has helped shape me into the hardworking and determined person I am today — and for that, I will be forever grateful.

have their highs, like winning a district game or scoring a goal together, as well as their lows, like missing a goal and letting your teammates down. Although it is tough to persist through these mistakes, we learned how to get through them together. Lacrosse has taught us about determination, persistence and discipline—values we have applied to so many other aspects of our lives.

Thank you for defining our high school experience. We can say wholeheartedly that joining this sport was one of the best decisions we have made. The team dynamic that we have been a part of for the past four years is irreplaceable. To those students looking to join any sport next year, we highly encourage you to do so. Take risks, work hard and become part of a family just like we did.

ALLISON GOULD

DEAR PGL, Thank you for all of the memories we have made throughout our four years of high school, on and off of the field. The lengthy bus rides to Key West, water balloon fights before district games and daily practices filled with laughter have a special, permanent place in both of our hearts. Thank you for making us better people. As cliché as it may sound, lacrosse games

XOXO, ANA AND ALLIE

Allison Gould

Ana Martinez

a.gould.thepanther@gmail.com

a.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

Print Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO COURTESY OF PGL

Online Editor-in-Chief

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

OPINION |17

FACEOFF:

Is Veganism Good For the Environment?

YES

The argument of whether veganism helps the environment and the well being of humans has remained an ongoing debate since the ideas of the diet free of animal products seeped into mainstream culture. In reality, scientific evidence shows that veganism is important to many factors of helping our ecosystems, and is not simply a fad with little to no benefits. Within the cattle industry, it takes 100-200 times more water to raise a pound of beef compared to a pound of plant foods. The large water footprint that pertains to livestock holds true compared to nutrients as well; it is more water efficient to obtain calories, protein and fat through crop products than meat products. Global animal production requires about 2422 Gm of water per year, therefore harming the global availability of freshwater resources. A study done by the European Commission concludes that people who switch their dietary habits to that of veganism are able to reduce their water consumption from 41% to 27% in European countries. On average, a person who eats meat drinks 600 gallons of water per day more than that of a vegan, due to the amount of water needed to develop animal derived products. These statistics provide the basis that veganism is beneficial for the wellbeing of our planet. Furthermore, the agricultural industry is also a large part of the deforestation and greenhouse emissions around the globe. Although some may argue that the agriculture industry provides solutions to greenhouse gas emissions, the industry is a victim and contributor to the problem. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, agriculture results in about 30% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions due to its chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These numbers are bound to escalate with the increasing world population and greater demand for meat and dairy products. The greenhouse gasses emitted from such chemicals greatly affect global warming, and therefore, have a negative impact on the sustainability of agricultural production systems.

Michael Angee Sports Editor m.angee.thepanther@gmail.com

Veganism has rooted itself as an expanding staple of American diets. According to GlobalData, research shows a jump from 1% in 2014 to 6% in 2017 of the amount of U.S. consumers who claim to have a vegan diet. But, the veganism craze extends far past the abbreviated states. Vegans mistakenly place the exotic wilderness’ survival upon their shoulders. According to Mintel, a market research company, amongst a survey of 1,040 British adults, a little over 30% do so for the “environment.” Veganism, in reality, falters in that aspect. Bill Mollison, founder of permaculture, a field of research that designs sustainable forms of agriculture, argues veganism intensifies soil erosion. Soil erosion refers to the degradation of soil’s top layer, resulting in ineffective turf, ruined crops and runoff. Veganism leads to mass plant removal, eliminating necessary nutrients from soil. Scientists note agriculture’s soil smiting; according to the International Soil Reference and Information Centre, “agricultural practices” caused 28% of soil degradation internationally. A further push towards veganism would worsen this global scarring. The meat industry finds allies in not only soil connoisseurs, but also waste managers. Food processors often act as building blocks for feedstock — the succulent sludge that livestock often slurp up. According to the Journal of Cleaner Production, 70% of feedstock the Netherlands utilizes stems from meat production. The resourceful nature of leftovers and scraps presents itself in multiple types of waste such as straw, but grain wears the stately crown of reused consumable waste — not the prettiest of titles. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, from 2009-2010, livestock consumed an estimated 25.5 million metric tons of residual grain — grain that would slowly rot in compost if not delectably consumed by grazers. The environment, a natural culture consisting of omnivorous tendencies, suffers at the hands of an enchanting extremity. Shifting towards a pole proves magnetic, and under a fad’s hypnotic control, Earth and its moralistic inhabitants teeter on the precipice of an ever-pulsating climate problem.

Tomas Curcio Staff Writer t.curcio.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON

18| OPINION

MIAMI: The Most Overhyped City The 305. Magic City. Miami. Whenever I meet someone from a different state, one of the first questions asked is: “Where are you from?” Once I respond with “Miami,” everyone immediately responds with “That is so cool” or “That is literally my favorite city in the world.” Sometimes, it is “How does it feel to live on Miami Beach?” or “You must absolutely love living there.” Although I am grateful to have grown up in such a diverse and unique city, I think that Miami may be the most overhyped city in the United States. Tourists and visitors coming to Miami will always have a stereotypical perception of what living in the city is like, simply because they do not live here year-round. Entertainment such as movies and television shows have crafted an idealistic view of what Miami is like. They have created a picturesque vision of beautiful weather, crystal blue water and white sand beaches, a lavish lifestyle and constant partying. Well, I am here to say that the Miami lifestyle I (and a majority of Miamians) live could not stray further from the life portrayed in Miami Vice. Miami is essentially an illusion. The city puts up a pretty front but the reality remains starkly different. The city aims to keep up with the latest and greatest trends, so it constantly changes its image. Lately, with an increase in technological innovations and investment, the city has started to portray itself as a new “tech hub.” The new title has led to increased investment in tech companies and a tech capital in the city. There is even a new “bitcoin bull” statue in the center of the city to support this new notion. The truth is though, that before the last couple of years, Miami never embraced tech nor even paid attention to it. In the past, society regarded glamour and luxury highly, so the city adopted that image. This is where the stereotypical vision of Miami with its white suits, mansions, money, notoriety and excessive drugs in the city sparked. The city portrays itself as a beacon of diversity (which it is) and inclusion, yet

as previously stated, is divided along racial lines. This is evident not only in the makeup of neighborhoods, but in the demographics of schools. The city’s roots are shallow and too weak to hold onto a consistent identity, so it makes it hard to feel an attachment toward the city that I have lived in my entire life. This year, according to the RealDeal, Miami became the most expensive city to live in the United States. From 2020 to 2021, housing prices in Miami soared as a result of out-of-state buyers and renters moving in. Recently, the mayor of MiamiDade County, Daniella Levine-Cava, declared a housing affordability crisis in the city. According to RealtyHop’s February affordability index, a resident in Miami would have to contribute 78.7% of its income towards homeownership costs. The median homeowner income for residents in Miami also increased by 17% in 2020 to $580,000. The rise in rent and housing prices across the city and the county contribute to the mass exodus of residents to other parts of Florida or outside neighborhoods such as Coconut Grove, Doral and Kendall. Because Miami has always been known as a harbor for immigrants, the rising house prices make it harder for immigrants to find homes. With recent gentrification efforts in neighborhoods such as Wynwood and Little Haiti, many ethnic groups and immigrants have been forced to relocate from areas they have always called home. Moreover, since Miami is heavily divided geographically along racial lines — another issue I have with the city — the spread into new areas has drastically impacted certain races and ethnicities. These housing issues have been culminating for many years, yet entertainment and outside

perceptions of the city fail to recognize the evident crisis that residents face. The housing crisis forces many residents out of the heart of Miami and into neighborhoods in the periphery. However, a bulk of the jobs and industries in Miami remain located in the downtown central business districts, causing residents to commute long distances. Even with this common urban issue, the severe lack of efficient and organized public transportation in the city creates a separate problem for workers. Miami-Dade County created a metrorail system in 1984, but the transit system has failed to take off in the same way that the New York Subway and Boston metrorail system has. Many of the metrorail stations in Miami are located in odd areas, and remain extremely far from one’s desired location. With a faulty public transit system, many residents opt to drive to work in their own cars. As a result, traffic heading from residential areas to downtown in the morning and downtown to residential areas during rush hour is atrocious. Of course, traffic remains an issue in many metropolitan areas, but it truly detracts from the awe and luxury of living in a city like Miami. Personally, I live in Pinecrest — a suburb of Miami. On a good day, I could arrive in the downtown Miami area in 25 to 30 minutes. On a bad day

OPINION |19

in the united states though, it could take anywhere from one to two hours. Because of the horrible traffic, hanging out in the city (despite not living too far from it) is not ideal and never really happens. So, when an out-of-towner asks me what it is like to always hang out on South Beach or Lincoln Road, I quickly crush their stereotypical attitude by saying that I hardly ever go there, which usually shocks them. Similarly, with so many tourists flocking to Miami on the weekends, the beach often becomes overcrowded and packed, making a seemingly enjoyable beach day rather unenjoyable. Instead of spending hours in the car to be by a beach packed with obnoxious tourists, I prefer to take advantage of beautiful, sunny days, lounging by the pool in my own backyard. Despite my issues and grievances against the city of Miami, I am truly grateful to have lived in such a unique city and I know that it is a place that I could always call home.

Bella Martin Editor-in-Chief b.martin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE

20| OPINION

America Places Undue Emphasis on Undergraduate Institutions A year ago, I sat on my bed surrounded by college pamphlets with my laptop in hand, researching schools and signing up for webinars, dreaming of that top private school that I had worked my entire life for. Growing up alongside my peers, we have all been pushed to our limits and engrained with the dream that we would one day — after years upon years of tears, time and tenacity — attend a top university. This pressure and stereotype not only exists within the walls of my high school, but in schools spanning across the U.S.. America has placed an undue burden, fiscally and emotionally, onto the shoulders of today’s youth, based on the principles of statistics, classist behavior and a desire for status. College applications and the college admissions process is one of the most challenging, heart-breaking and gutwrenching things that a young academic endures. Students often feel like they are not good enough, do not have high enough stats or are lacking the laundry list of distinguished extracurriculars and overall sentiments of selfdoubt and comparison. The work myself and my peers have put into ensuring that we have taken the course load with the highest rigor, a polished set of extracurriculars that perfectly match our interests along with a major set in stone throughout high school has felt — at times — all for naught. Not because it did not result in the betterment of ourselves (which for the record it did), but because we do not have a shiny school to serve as a stamp of our success, something that society deems as the ticket to ultimate validation. On a personal note, my journey through the college application process has been filled with the unexpected. Long story short, I had my sights set on attending Yale University and have recently committed to Florida State University’s Honors College. Attending a Top 20 public university

while also being in an Honors program is something I take the utmost pride in and could not be more excited about. Attending a public, in-state institution is often viewed as the lesser option because of the false notion that the quality of education is inferior, athletics are lacking, the social scene is undesirable, and living is subpar. None of those things are real, said or assumed. Students who attend a state institution and a top ivy league institution can receive the same degree and go to the same graduate schools; it is the prestige factor that builds upon this preconceived notion. There is something to be said about the difference in environment and overall prestige that comes with attending a preeminent university. Yes, the alumni networks are the gold standard. Yes, the internship opportunities are top-notch. Yes, that school’s name may get your foot in the door for a job interview.

Anyone who denies these facts is kidding themselves. But, in the long run, those who keep their competitive spirit, hunger and eagerness to learn are the ones who’s employers are more likely to hire and retain, regardless of educational background. Higher education is obnoxiously expensive — that is the truth. There. I said it. Spending a quarter million dollars on an undergraduate education is a luxury the majority of Americans are unable to afford. The darker side of this truth is the pain, suffering and turmoil that one would put themselves through just to attend a “dream school.”

My question is this: is it really a “dream school” if it means a lifetime of missed experiences, such as seeing the world, buying a house, putting-off marriage and having children, or whatever your dream life may look like, all at the hands of crushing and inescapable debt?

Angelina Astic Contents /Copy Editor a.astic.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY JASMINE JUDGE

ANY EQUESTRIANS IN YOUR FAMILY?

CO-LEASE MURPHY, A 16 HANDS, FULL-BRED, BLUE RIBBON HUNTER FOR TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS. $800 a month includes room and board. Shoes, vet expenses and competition fees, if any, to be divided equally. Lessons not included. Murphy conveniently boards in the Westchester area.

To meet Murphy, call or text 786-303-8333 to schedule an appointment.

ADS |21

STAFF

Editor-In-Chief Bella Martin

Print Editor-In-Chief Allison Gould

Online Editor-In-Chief Ana Martinez

Managing Editor Kate Stuzin

Senior Copy Editor Katriona Page

Senior Media Editor Gianna Hutton

Business Manager Julia Strasius

Feature Editor

Amy-Grace Shapiro

Contents Editor Angelina Astic

News Editor

Samantha Elkins

Life Editor

Kate Markus

staff editorial

Like several high schools, Palmetto has its own various cliques and groups. Each crowd has their designated lunch spot, morning spot, after-school spot — you name it. Each group has their own corner. Throughout Palmetto, I see clusters of students laughing with friends in the same spot every day. It seems as though students have become accustomed to their corners, establishing it as a place where dozens of memories are made. It is the place where one finds out about a good or bad test grade, gets prom-posed to or finds their new best friend. Regardless of the exact experience, for many, this corner becomes a symbol of one’s high school career. The four corners of Palmetto consist of the office area, the Pawvilion, the courtyard and the cafeteria. In these corners, several grades and friend-groups mix, gossip, chat, laugh, cry, scroll through social media or do whatever fits the occasion. Freshmen usually gather by the Pawvilion, sophomores by the office and cafeteria, juniors by the second courtyard, and seniors in the main courtyard. In these locations, Palmetto’s student body is given the chance to thrive and converse outside of their classes, giving them a break amidst the excitement and chaos of high school. Isabella Hewitt Multimedia Editor i.hewitt.thepanther@gmail.com

Sports Editor Michael Angee

Opinion Editor

Cayetana Jaramillo

Multimedia Team Mikayla Ashe Valentina Arias Isabella Hewitt Ryan McKean Ava Stuzin

Copy Team

Angelina Astic Eitan Greenberg Nicole Martin Sara Paredes

Design Team

Ella Pedroso Jasmine Judge Paul Yan Denise Vaque

Staff Writers

Tomas Curcio Ava Garcia

Adviser

Laura Aviles

DOWNLOAD

our app

MISSION STATEMENT The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7431 SW 120th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 1124. The views expressed are solely those of The Panther staff. Students who wish to respond to an article in this publication or discuss another issue may write letters to the editor and submit them to room 1237 or e-mail us at n.markus.thepanther@gmail. com. The Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 1,400 copies per issue for distribution. The Panther is distributed for free to all students in school. Please visit our paper online at thepalmettopanther.com.

BYLINE POLICY:

All creative work (such as illustrations, graphics, photos and writing) excluding staff editorials and staff member pictures will include byline credits.

CORRECTION POLICY:

Any errors in print will be acknowledged in the next print issue in a correction box. Any errors online will be acknowledged immediately. Errors include facts, figures, misquoting and name misspellings.

ADVERTISING POLICY:

Ads will be designed by the advertiser and include all information the advertiser wants included. If the advertiser asks the staff to design the ad, the individual who sold the ad will design the ad or the Ads Manager will. Ads will be approved by EICs, the Advisor and the Ads Manager. If an ad produced is illegible, contains false information, or the advertiser does not like it, they will receive a free ad in the next issue. If you would like to advertise, please contact us.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY The School Board shall comply with all Federal Laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. The Board will enforce its prohibition against discrimination/harassment based on sex, race, color, ethnic, or national origin, religion, marital status, disability, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy and any other basis prohibited by law. The Board shall maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of discrimination/harassment, which includes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct such as unwelcome touching, graphic verbal comments, sexual jokes, slurs, gestures or pictures. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of prohibited discrimination or harassment against students by employees, other students and their parents or guardians, or third parties. This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment at all School District operations, programs, and activities on school property, or at another location if it occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.