The Panther 2020-2021 Issue 7: Class of 2021 in Bloom

PANTHER

the

V 63|N7

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7431 SW 120th St, Pinecrest, FL 33156

Wednesday 2 June 2021

CLASS OF 2021 in bloom

APRILcontents NEWS LIFE

04

COLOMBIA: UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICS BEHIND THE PROTESTS

05 BODY NEUTRALITY

08 FEATURE SPORTS OPINION

BLOOMING INTO NEW STUDENTS

20 THE IMPACT OF SPORTS ON SENIORS

21 DEAR MOM

COVER

ON

STAFF

Editor-In-Chief

THE

Bella Martin

Print Editor-In-Chief Allison Gould

Online Editor-In-Chief Ana Martinez

The cover picture shows the twelve The Panther seniors at Fairchild Gardens as Gianna Hutton photographs them in front of bougenvillea flowers.

Managing Editor Kate Stuzin

Senior Copy Editor Katriona Page

Senior Media Editor Gianna Hutton

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Jack Meyer

National

On Wednesday, May 26, Ryanair Flight 4978 was scheduled to land in Vilnius, Lithuania. However, the plane was diverted to Belarus after it was not able to enter French airspace. Roman Protasevich, a Belarusian opposition journalist on the flight, was detained when the plane arrived. Lithuanian police said that out of the 126 passengers, 5 stayed behind in Minsk, Belarus. Belarus’s president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, had been previously put under E.U. sanctions over rights violations regarding the way he handled protests last year. Some suspect that the plane’s emergency landing was a staged operation by Lukashenko.

j.strasius.thepanther@gmail.com

News Editor

Sports Editor

The first passenger cruise in the United States will depart from Fort Lauderdale in June, according to federal health regulators. Florida’s governor, Ron de Santis, has said he will reject the company’s plans to require passengers to be vaccinated. On May 26, Royal Caribbean was given approval by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to begin cruises to the Caribbean again. The ship departing, known as the Celebrity Edge, is the first ship to receive CDC approval for revenue cruises since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Test cruises plan on being conducted before regular ones, and the Celebrity Cruises spokesperson said that the company will require passengers 16 years and older to be vaccinated.

Design Editor

Priscilla Bermudez

Jane Heise

Broward County Public Schools plans to expand its summer school more than tenfold in order to help those who are struggling in school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School officials will use these summer sessions as an outlet to find out where underlying issues may lie before the fall semester, as students must return to in-person learning. Although teaching these sessions is optional, approximately 4,500 teachers have already signed up. The program is open to K-12 students at 95 different Broward schools. It will run from June 21 to July 29, starting at various times based on the select school. Classes will also take place Monday through Thursday.

Julia Strasius

Nicole Markus

Contents Editor

Life Editor

news briefs

International

Julia Strasius

Feature Editor

Valentina Caceres

www.thepalmettopanther.com

Local

Business Manager

Opinion Editor Jacob Grindstaff

Multimedia Team Camilla Bondy Isabel Lopez Isabella Hewitt Amy-Grace Shapiro Samantha Elkins Valentina Arias

Copy Team

Cristele Moztarzadeh Angelina Astic Kate Markus Priscilla Bermudez

Design Team

Ella Pedroso Michael Angee Sydney Campbell

Staff Writers

Tomas Curcio Luca Rodriguez Sofia Vinueza

Adviser

Laura Aviles

04| NEWS

COLOMBIA:

UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICS BEHIND THE PROTESTS In the last few weeks of April and leading into May, Colombian citizens have taken to the streets to protest neoliberal reforms proposed by President Ivan Duque. On Apr. 15, Duque launched a proposal for a new system of taxation to help alleviate the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.

However, the program has received major backlash and criticism for harming the middle and working classes in Colombia.

The proposed reform would entail new income taxes for Colombians making 2.6m pesos, or $684, a month, along with eliminating tax exemptions while increasing taxes on businesses. This system, created to pay off Colombia’s $6.7 billion debt, would also increase taxes on essential goods and everyday items such as eggs, bread, water, utilities and gas. The sudden change sparked multiple protests with record turnout on Apr. 28, when thousands of Colombians marched together in the streets in a general strike against the new proposal.

As a result of the pandemic, Colombia’s economy has experienced an ongoing period of decline. The gross domestic product, which measures a country’s total output of products and goods, has dropped a total of 6.8%, reflecting more than 5 million jobs affected by COVID-19. Colombia’s poverty rates have also increased to about 42.5% of the population, or around 20 million people.

Despite Duque’s withdrawal of the bill on May 2, protests continue to linger as citizens demand solutions to revitalize economic opportunity and lessen poverty.

Many members of lower socioeconomic classes seek healthcare reforms, guaranteed universal income along with police and education reforms. While protests began with opposition to the tax reforms, they

have now shifted to more general matters regarding economic and social equality.

“This was just the tip of the iceberg of trouble that has been brewing for a number of decades. Many Colombians were frustrated with the corruption, poor health care system and inequality, which has been a part of the area since the Spanish conquest,” AP World History teacher Julianne Farkas said.

Many students at Miami Palmetto Senior High School have close family ties with those affected by the Colombian reforms.

Freshman Sofia Taddeo Goldstein has first handedly experienced loss as a result.

“My family has been locked in and since the roads are blocked now, they have no access to food and are surviving off rationing,’’ Goldstein said. “One of my relatives was leaving his house to get gas and as he was trying to get in the car, he was apprehended by the police then thrown to the floor… and [the police] shot him as he was lying on the ground.”

The New York Times has reported over 800 injured, 89 missing and at least 19 dead since May. 3 as protests have engulfed Colombia’s districts. Although the protests have now become increasingly threatening, the working classes started their efforts back in Nov. 2019 for the same reasons: tax increases, official corruption and economic inequality.

The anger continued to grow as the government continued to ignore these issues at the beginning of the pandemic.

“The poor of Colombia have been ignored for months, years, decades, even centuries at this point and it’s saddening. They have been protesting for the same things for a long time; it has been about corruption, income inequality, police brutality and it is these reforms by Duque,” Goldstein said. “As a president, it is your duty to care

for all of your citizens, not just the rich ones, not just the ones who favor you.”

With unemployment and inequality at historically high levels, Farkas believes the only way to move forward starts with education.

“Perhaps this will begin the democratic reforms that Latin America needs, but I still wonder about the education system, because democracy cannot thrive without an educated population,” Farkas said. “America must tread lightly [so] as not to spark the anti-American feeling that has permeated Latin America in the late 20th century.”

Amy-Grace Shapiro Multimedia Editor

a.shapiro.thepanther@gmail.com DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS PHOTOS BY ISABELLA HEWITT

BODY (+/-) As summer approaches and temperatures rise, many cannot help but worry about wearing tank tops and bathing suits all day. Teenagers often compare themselves to friends or celebrities and it almost seems too overwhelming to even go to the pool without a cover-up on. The recent viral body positivity movement has taken social media by storm and encourages thousands to love their body as it is.

While this movement works wonderfully for some, others who struggle with accepting their body may want to try a new method: body neutrality.

Body neutrality promotes the idea that one can exist without thinking of how they appear, positive or negative. It embraces the idea that one can just receive respect without

thinking about the appearance o f their body.

It differs from the body positivity movement in that there is no focus on one’s physical appearance.

Body neutrality helps people feel more connected to their body and forces them to think about what it can do for them.

“Body neutrality may be a more realistic place for a lot of people to start.

You don’t hate your body, you don’t love your body, but you’re working on accepting it and you’re working on taking reasonable measures to take care of your body. Not just in terms of weight loss and diet, but also in terms of all the ways one takes care of oneself,” PhD Clinical Psychologist Amy Boyers said.

The body positive movement

originally had good intentions but, as with most things, the wrong crowd began to advocate for it. White, skinny models with Eurocentric features began posting pictures of their nonexistent belly rolls, cellulite and stretch marks and telling their followers to embrace them. Meanwhile, these models keep reinforcing the “skinny standard.” Now, many find it difficult to relate to the movement.

“They [influencers] are very photoshopped and they take pictures of example, themselves at angles where they don’t how it allows you to really look like that, so teenagers can really complete a successful hike. be influenced negatively by believing that Filtering your social media feed to everything these influencers put out there only follow influencers who would not is real and true. At the end of the day, trigger any body negativity can also help. these influencers are promoting a lot of Eating food based on how one feels and things because they are getting paid, not not what would best benefit one’s weight because they believe in it,” Boyers said. further encourages body neutrality.

Especially for teenagers, seeing “What Doing a workout one truly enjoys I’m Wearing This Summer” and “Bathing remains another way to incorporate Suit Collection” videos pop up on their body neutrality into daily life. Instead phones constantly adds to the bodyof focusing on how many calories one related stress. Body neutrality accepts burns, focus on how one feels during and imperfections while also allowing people after the workout and rest when needed. to continue working towards their fitness This summer, whether in a bathing goals. The narrative switches the focus suit at the beach or a fancy outfit for from appearance to achievements. dinner, remember that beauty reflects the “I think if you can have a greater soul and how one treats oneself. People appreciation of all the amazing things should not beat themselves up over their the human body can do, and really reflect appearances, and if they find themselves on all the ways your body supports you doing so, try to incorporate some simple on a daily basis, it gives you a much body neutral steps into one’s life. greater appreciation for what you have.

Especially when you’re young, your body works really well and it can do so many amazing things and that’s something that should be celebrated and enjoyed. Sam Elkins Instead of hiding away and avoiding Multimedia Editor s.elkins.thepanther@gmail.com doing fun things, we have to remember that the human body is amazing and that DESIGN BY SYDNEY CAMPBELL our bodies and minds do great things every day,” Boyers said.

Many ways exist to reinforce healthy body neutrality thinking and habits into one’s everyday life. Important steps include shifting the focus of conversations. Instead of talking about calories, weight and body shape, focus on one’s body’s accomplishments — for

JANE HEISE

NICOLE MARKUS

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

Northwestern University

Political science, SUMMA CUM LAuDE

Political science and Journalism, SUMMA CUM LAuDE

Priscilla Bermudez

JACK MEYER

UNIversity of chicago

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

International relations, magna cum laude

Broadcast journalism, magna CUM LAuDE

Valentina Caceres University of michigan

Sydney campbell

marketing, magna cum laude

UNIversity of central florida advertising and public relations

e g e l s l t o n e c OR itm

SENI comm

Luca Boccalato University of California San Diego

SOFIA VINUEZA

psychology and human health

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Business finance

Cristele Moztarzadeh University of california, Davis

camilla bondy

communications

elon University undecided

ISABEL LOPEZ jacob grindstaff

University of California San Diego Cognitive science

syracuse University International relations and policy studies, magna CUM LAuDE

DESIGN BY GIANNA HUTTON

growing up,

together

Miami Palmetto Senior High’s seniors have been through good times and bad throughout their four years of high school. Most notably, they lost a majority of their senior year to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This issue honors the perspective of The Panther’s seniors, who have broken records for our online and print publications while battling a mixed classroom and barriers to typical publishing schedules. See our feature section Growing Up Together to learn more about the seniors that made this year’s publication possible.

DESIGNS AND PHOTOS BY GIANNA HUTTON

08 | FEATURE

nicole markus

As a kid, I knew what I wanted for myself in life: I would work as hard as I could throughout high school and college to become a doctor. I would dedicate myself to my studies, limit the amount of social gatherings I went to and ultimately pursue one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

I began to do the work. I enrolled in difficult science courses and applied to (and eventually attended) a summer medical program at a top university. But as I did all this, I didn’t love it or thrive in it the way I thought I would, the way I needed to in order to actually succeed in the field. At the same time, I pushed away my affinity for writing and politics. I had my sights set elsewhere, and I felt like I could not turn back.

Fast forward four years, and I’m the Editor-in-Chief of The Panther, Miami Palmetto Senior High’s newspaper. I was accepted Early Decision to study journalism at the best journalism college in the country: Northwestern University. And, probably most importantly, I am more in tune with myself than I ever would be had I forced myself to continue pursuing a career path and lifestyle that I simply was not suited for.

Now, everyone tells me “you were made for this,” and “I couldn’t see you do anything else.” Nobody ever really said that when I wanted to become a doctor.

So, what did they see that I did not? It was pretty simple, actually. The second I applied myself to journalism, I opened up.

Instead of dragging my feet to complete chemistry worksheets, I raced around collecting interviews and writing stories for The Panther simply because I wanted to.

I sought out opportunities in writing and politics elsewhere. I just came into myself, operating with a smile and a go-getter attitude rather than the grimace I carried while walking into the science hallway or crying over my inability to balance chemical equations.

High school offers new opportunities to experience the world. Though you may come in with a preconceived notion

EDITOR-IN-Chief of their path in life, I urge you to walk through the doors with a clean slate. Allow yourself to experience the different facets of high school. Though it sounds cliche, operate with your heart and not with your mind, because your mind will almost definitely lead you to what you think you should do instead of what really clicks with you. You will be infinitely more successful if you flow with the current rather than if you fight against it. And if you set out pursuing one thing and realize it is not for you, try not to stress. We always think we are running on limited time, but we have years to figure out what works. You can always change directions.

There was not one moment that really pushed me away from medicine or pulled me towards journalism. Rather, a collection of memories made the choice inevitable. A few stand out: sitting in the backroom with Alle, Jane, Lindsey and Isabel to copy edit stories, listening in awe to Natalie and Ben explaining the print and online cycle, long hours after school with Allison and Joanna finalizing our new staff structure, crying big tears on our last day in 911B, holding my first official issue as Print Editor-in-Chief, breaking online records with Jack, laughs with the freshmen and post-newspaper snacks with Priscilla. It was the joy that The Panther brought me that really opened my eyes. It was the love I had for the good times but also the steadiness I had through the frustrating ones that allowed me to recognize my passion.

Passion is a gift. If you’re lucky enough to have it and smart enough to utilize it, you can make waves. The world needs all types of people, from doctors to journalists and everyone in between.

So, make those waves you were meant to make and do it with your head held high. I feel thrilled that I get to pursue my passion for the next four years, and I am so glad that my time on The Panther gave me that opportunity. And, to my amazing staffers who I have loved since day one, make me proud next year. For the last time: break.

Mother Markus out.

FEATURE | 09

print EDITOR-IN-Chief Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the monstrosity that was my junior year. My third year of high school was the point in which I realized that the expectations we have set for ourselves at the top might truly be killing us. However, the fear of not getting into college and subsequently dying alone as a massive failure was enough to keep me pushing forward, despite the many signs that my mental health had exited the building. The nights spent crying with my Dad on the floor as he tried to get air into my lungs, or memorizing quizlets through tear-filled eyes or showing up to school massively ill because I absolutely could not miss that test in first period basically sum up my junior year until Mar. 2020.

When schools began sending students home due to COVID-19, I sensed my parents’ relief at the situation; I had both mentally and physically fallen apart already and AP exams had not yet begun. In my fifth period AP Spanish, Sñra. Marsee began allowing me to leave the room when I needed to have a nice midday crying session. My eyes remained permanently glazed over with tears and my hair had sat perched on the top of my head in a sad rat’s nest for weeks.

Once my junior year ended, I thought I had achieved all of the requirements necessary to get into my dream school, Vanderbilt University. I had sacrificed absolutely everything I had to give for straight A’s, perfect AP scores, a 99th percentile ACT score, two jobs, summer classes at Miami-Dade and a mountain of other extracurriculars.

I believed that since I had succumbed to the external pressure facilitated by my school environment and prioritized everything other than myself, it would all be worth it during the college admissions process.

Unfortunately, hard work does not always pay off. Despite spending hours upon hours revealing all of my secrets to the Common App website and laying it all down on the line, I received my Early Decision rejection letter on Dec. 15, 2020 at 6:01 p.m.; the shock hit me like a truck and I did not start crying for at least three hours after that. My mom later told me she had bought balloons and a cake and had to rush out of the room to hide everything while still processing the shock of my rejection. Both my parents and brothers had witnessed the absolute trainwreck I had become throughout high school in order to “succeed,” and while they may have felt pity for me, I simply felt angry. Why did I put myself through torture, endure hours of therapy, go on antidepressants, and give up every-

jane heise

thing I actually enjoyed just for a short “sorry, but no” email?

Fast forward a few months, and I had given up all hope that any school I had actually felt genuine excitement about wanted me or recognized the pain I had put myself through for their acceptance letter. After applying to 17 schools, I received rejection letters from nine of them (two of which had ranked as my “safety schools”), waitlisted at two, accepted to two instate and accepted to four out-of-state. I am fully aware that this process is wildly unpredictable and no one can ever really feel secure that they’ll make it anywhere because, according to some people, this is all “random.” However, knowing the things I had put myself through for the last three years, this absolutely gutted me. It was less about getting rejected from a school and more about how my hard-work and determination did not really matter in the end. You can suffer through mono, strep, bronchitis, pneumonia, the flu, raging OCD, developing an eating disorder and passing out at school a million times, and you’ll still face nine rejection letters telling you that you aren’t good enough.

Something has to change because this is only getting worse, and I fear for students who don’t have access to the resources that I did to finally get help when they feel themselves suffocating under the pressure. Firstly, the fact that most of us in the top 5-10% know absolutely everything about each other (test scores, AP classes, accomplishments, failures, mental health issues, eating disorders) exacerbates the growing competitiveness and toxicity that has begun dominating many high school environments. This is simply not normal.

It should not be a decision between enjoying your life and preserving your sanity or getting into your dream school (in my case, it was neither). Secondly, for the underclassmen reading this, you get over it. Truly, I cried for maybe thirty minutes, and then I woke up the next day and was very relieved that I had not ended up having to live in the state of Tennessee for the next four years.

This is all the advice I have to give because until someone decides to change things, we’re going to continue destroying ourselves for these external measures of success that have been drilled into us since middle school. It’s unfair, and we need to completely alter the attitude around secondary and higher education; the stress placed onto a 16-year-old should not dictate the rest of their life’s successes. And with that being said, GO BRUINS.

jack meyer

10 | FEATURE

Online EDITOR-IN-Chief

Entering high school, I faced a multitude of issues that I had not even begun to figure out. Everyone knew me as an outgoing, loud and (at times) overconfident kid, but in reality, that served as a mask for the insecurities that dominated my mind. Thoughts of self-doubt and anxiety endlessly bounced around my head as I aimlessly began what ended up being the most important four years of my life.

If I am being honest, freshman year ended up as the worst year of my life. Old friends from middle school turned on me and took advantage of me, new friends were seemingly nowhere to be found and the zeal I previously had for my academics dwindled. I eventually regained my footing and joined The Panther as a new creative outlet to pursue my passion for sports journalism.

Sophomore year certainly had its fair share of ups and downs. I initially struggled with my classes and social life, but pulled it together towards the end of the year. It served as a building block for my junior year, where I ended up with straight A’s, made countless new friends and connections and continued growing my passion for sports journalism with the Panther. But alas, more roadblocks laid ahead.

During senior year, my struggles with the college application experience combined with troubles in maintaining friendships during the pandemic and keeping up in school led to the worst mental collapse of my life. There were days I could not even bring myself to eat or get out of bed, and I constantly felt like a burden to myself and others. Eventually, I realized that I was not broken, but simply in need of repair.

And I decided to fix myself.

I committed myself to seeing a therapist for three months and began taking medication to control my anxiety. It was a brutal and laborious process at times, but eventually things got better. I got into the University of Florida, I joined the school track team, I led one of the most successful years in the history of the Panther’s website, and I finally began feeling like myself again.

I could not have done this by myself, and there are certainly some people I need to thank.

To my sister, Marisol, you have always provided a shoulder for me to rest on for as long as I can remember, and there is no one in

the world I would rather have as my big (but shorter) sister.

To my parents, I know it got really hard to deal with me at times, but the fact that you never gave up on me is the reason I am standing here today, stronger than ever.

To my fellow Panther staffers, past and present (especially Lil Nicolley Thee Stallion), thank you for teaching me and helping me grow as a journalist while putting up with my endless antics.

To my “buddy” (inside joke), Alexys, despite the fact we ended up taking different paths after Palmetto Middle, I am so glad we have stayed close and continued making countless memories together.

To the most talented person I know, Gaby, all the late night FaceTime calls before, during and after quarantine meant more to me than you could possibly imagine, and I cannot wait to see how far you go at Berklee and beyond.

To my “emergency therapist”, Iris, you have given me so much advice, guidance and clarity while always looking out for me and having my back since the days of me annoying you every class period in eighth grade, and your friendship has meant so much to me all these years.

To my actual therapist, Dr. Betancourt, I came to you at a time in my life where I hit an all-time low, and you set the foundation for me to begin climbing back up again. I am so glad that I made that call to your office, and I will be forever grateful that you picked up the phone.

And to my best friend, Luca, calling you a ride-or-die would be an understatement. Every peak and every valley that I have hit in this journey, you stayed by my side and never gave up on our friendship, even in some of the most difficult situations I have ever faced. I never had a brother by birth, but now I have a brother for life.

Life is unpredictable in many ways, and one thing I have learned this year is that no situation, good or bad, lasts forever. The beauty of life is its impermanence; it teaches us to live every moment to the fullest and embrace all the good and the bad that comes our way. After surviving four years as a Palmetto Panther, I know that whatever obstacle comes my way in the future, I will be ready for it.

FEATURE | 11

senior copy editor From early childhood, my parents told me about their lives in Managua, Nicaragua. They spoke about joyous times with their loved ones, told interesting historical facts about their homeland and painted pictures with their words about the beautiful landscapes that the country of lakes and volcanoes had in store. Every time they talked about Nicaragua, they smiled big and always said how much they missed living there. They reminded me why they left the country they held so dear: my education.

My parents left behind their settled lives and careers to provide me with a better future. This took a big toll on me in my youth. When school began, I became disoriented by the discovery that a language other than Spanish existed, so I had to take English as a Second Language classes. It amazed me that my peers’ parents had ordinary routines and lifestyles while my parents still struggled to learn American customs and traditions. My mind did not process the intensity of the transition my parents made coming from a Central American country to the U.S. As I grew older and endured many lectures from my mom and dad about how I had to put my education above everything else, it finally started to click how deeply my parents meant it when they said they left their lives behind for my education.

My mom always made jokes about how she hoped I would grow up and earn a full-ride scholarship to university, and how I needed to work hard so she could boast about it to my relatives back home.

Her words instilled in me work ethic and great care for my grades.

I always understood the importance of performing well academically, but it was not until high school that I realized how many other factors played a role in receiving a good college education: extracurriculars, community service, APs, GPAs, tuition prices and room and board. All these factors never crossed my mind until my friends in freshman year started discussing them. At that point, my mother’s words of motivation had the opposite effect: they became a source of pressure and stress.

From freshman to sophomore year, I continued to maintain my academics, but did not feel motivated to do more. It felt pointless to involve myself in extracurriculars and community service because I could not compete with my classmates, and my parents could not afford to pay for my college education anyways.

These years felt dull. Though I maintained my status as a good student, there was nothing more

priscilla bermudez

than my grades. Midway through tenth grade, after enduring ,yet again, another motivational lecture from my mom, I realized I somehow gave up on my parents’ dreams. That lecture motivated me to involve myself in more extracurriculars, try harder in my classes, research more about the college application process and vow to give it my all before feeling defeated.

Though my efforts in school increased, doubts about how my family would afford to send me to college still plagued me. Unexpectedly, due to chance alone, I became Miami Palmetto Senior High School’s college counselor’s first and last junior aid. Helping Harry Nerenberg daily during first period turned out to be just what I needed to clear the doubts that plagued my mind. In his office, he informed me of many different scholarship opportunities, making me realize attending college was a plausible option for me.

The pandemic cut junior year short, but it gave me time to reflect on what I envisioned for my future. One of the scholarships that Nerenberg spoke to me about stood out: Questbridge. After many hours researching partner colleges, the benefits of the scholarship and the level of competition that existed in the program, I set out to try my hardest to earn this scholarship, no matter how out of reach it seemed.

On Dec. 1, Match Day, Questbridge would let me know what all those hours of stress, tears and self-doubt resulted in. An email appeared in my inbox saying there was a new update to my portal.

Too anxious and scared to check for myself, I sat across from my mom and made her open it for me.

Known to be a crier, tears appeared in my mother’s eyes, and I did not know what to think. Finally, I built up the courage to look at my computer screen.

The first word I saw was “Congratulations!” On Dec. 1, I found out I got a four-year, full-ride scholarship to the University of Chicago.

I am proud to say that my mom has accomplished her dream of calling her relatives back in Nicaragua to boast about her little girl earning a four-year scholarship. Not only that, but both my parents mention it to anyone they can, whenever they can. In addition to the boasting, they cannot stop making jokes about how unequipped I am for Chicago weather, since I have never left Miami.

To anyone doubting themselves or their ability to attend college, take a breath and keep working hard. Let the chips fall where they may. Life has shown me that everything works out in the end.

12 | FEATURE

sydney campbell senior design editor Relationships can feel... complicated, and high school makes navigating them just that much harder. During this time, you might lose friends and pick up new ones along the way.

You might find yourself in a romantic relationship, or maybe even a few, or none at all. But no matter what happens to the other relationships in your life, always remember to cherish the one that you have with yourself.

It sounds cliche, but friends truly do come and go. As the French say, c’est la vie — that’s life. Platonic relationships do not take as much work as romantic ones because they require less of a foundation. With that said, friendships still act fundamentally to the high school experience and to the development of an individual.

If I could go back in time and fix some of my broken friendships, my advice would be: become the kind of friend who uplifts, supports and fully accepts others. Choose friends that make you feel loved and appreciated and make sure to act as that friend to other people.

While some friendships feel perfect, others feel toxic; let’s face it, the atmosphere of high school fully supports drama and, because of this, friendships can get messy and complicated really fast. Due to this drama-breeding atmosphere of high school, setting boundaries within friendships remains necessary in building healthy relationships, because even friends can cross the line.

Apart from friendships, romantic relationships also heavily impact an individual’s development and the journey of high school.

I never felt boy crazy like my friends, and because of this, having a boyfriend didn’t really matter to me. I spent my first half of high school without one and without a care in the world regarding it. Then, towards the end of sophomore year, I met him. Two and a half years later, as I write this, he is still here, but I would be lying if I said it has been easy.

Romantic relationships in high school can feel weird. Now, when I say this, I’m not referring to the act of partaking in a relationship during high school but, the mindsets of high schoolers regarding romantic relationships as these views remain awfully skewed and judgmental.

Some people feel that they absolutely need a significant other in order to complete them-

selves — so much so that they obsess over it.

Please do not do this. Know that you are more than enough alone and that having a significant other shouldn’t feel like everything in the entire world.

While some teens obsess over finding love, others disregard the idea all together and discredit any form of romantic relationship in high school, deeming them as not “real.” This mindset can grow damaging—why can’t two teens find love? At what age do we truly understand the concept of love?

Of course, I feel extremely grateful and blessed for my long-term, committed relationship, but it does bring difficulties. As a partner in a committed relationship, you wake up and choose to love your partner every day, as well as accept their, and your own, flaws. Acceptance and forgiveness for one’s faults remain key as no partner or person can act perfect.

This relationship taught me a lot about myself. Through it, I realized my own faults, insecurities and even some toxic traits that I possessed. This self-reflection and self-realization led me to make the choice to go to therapy to better myself and, in turn, better my relationships.

Therapy taught me to watch how I talk to myself; after all, the voice in your head is the one you hear most, even after everyone else’s voice fades away. No more self-deprecating talk--talk to yourself the way you would a friend. Additionally, try your best to focus on the positives instead of the negatives. I struggle with this every day but im willing to cut myself some slack, because the road to self-love has no clear path. Some days feel better and easier; some days you feel like giving up. But the act of trying matters most The most important relationship that you ever have in your entire life is the one you have with yourself. At the end of the day, if all the other relationships in your life fail or dissolve, the one you have with yourself always remains.

Acceptance of one’s true self remains a constant battle, but I recommend you start today.

As you go through life, know your strengths.

You are beautiful, handsome, stunning. You possess more power than you know, and I cannot wait to see what you accomplish and where you end up.

FEATURE | 13

senior multimedia I had always been pretty quiet and reserved around anyone that I did not consider a close friend. I felt most comfortable keeping to myself because this way, no one would ever have anything to judge about me. But though I preferred to not draw any attention from anyone, a part of me wished that I could express myself fearlessly and show people that I’m not just the tiny, quiet brunette from math class.

By the time I started high school, I had slowly started to come out of my shell thanks to the friends I had made in the first few months of my freshman year — friends who inspired my fun and carefree sides to emerge. But, just as every other high school underclassman, my journey to self-discovery had barely even begun. I became more comfortable with talking to new people and trying new things, but I still had not become my own person; I only listened to rap songs because everyone listened to them, and wore sweatpants and a plain t-shirt to school almost everyday.

Sitting in my French 4 class freshman year, I slowly realized how each of the classmates I conversed with had their own set of interests, completely different from the next person. So I started to experiment with things that had always caught my eye, like makeup, fashion, photography and music.

The next year consisted of me sometimes listening to new music, or playing around with makeup techniques I had learned from watching artists on Youtube, or spending hours on Pinterest creating fashion and photography boards. It was not until my sophomore year French class that this creative persona came to life and became an integral part of who I am.

In class, I found a classmate who also had an interest in fashion. We bonded over this shared interest: I made him obsessed with crafting aesthetics on Pinterest, and he introduced me to the Vogue Runway app and the art of magazines, gifting me my first ever Vogue magazine — the May 2019 British Vogue edition, with Kate Moss on the cover in a classy, all-white ensemble.

One day, our class began to plan for

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our first-ever Culture Day at school and what the French Honor Society could create for our booth. Though I had only done decoupage once on a soup can with random images, the voice inside my head convinced me to propose creating a French fashion collage. At first, the idea of having creative control over such an important project terrified me, making me want to crawl back into the shell of the shy girl that never tried anything new. The empty space on the black trifold and thousands of pages overwhelmed me, but with my fellow aesthete and fashion confidante at my side, I soon found myself ripping page after page, leaving the spine of the magazines bare.

As we laid out the colorful, glossy pages, we began re-shaping them and moving along the board to create a cohesive work of art that gave new life to French fashion. Though we finished the project in class, I carried the sizable cardboard back home to make sure every minute detail was perfect. I had never known the depths of my creativity and dedication until I gazed at our finished collage on top of the table at our booth.

Now, to this day, I have never held back from expressing myself and taking on new creative challenges. Nothing brings me greater joy than executing a crazy makeup look, crafting a perfect playlist or capturing a moment and creating a story with my camera. I thrive off styling the unique pieces I discover while thrifting, and making outfits that not only show the world my personality, but make me feel confident in myself.

Everyone that knows me knows me as the expressive individual I am today. But I would not be me without those closest to me. Just as my friend in French class sparked an interest in me with his gift to me, each of my friends have inspired me to embrace all of the things that make me truly happy and make me, me. All of these relationships have created an environment in which I am inspired to grow and try new things and learn to be unapologetically myself.

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14 | FEATURE

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Everyone who knows me knows that one of my biggest joys in life is participating in school spirit events: Panther Prowl, class lip sync battles, Homecoming, activity fairs, pep rallies — and do not even get me started on class spirit wars.

When I came to Miami Palmetto Senior High School as a freshman, I jumped into every activity that I could and dreamed of the day when I would become a senior and reach the pinnacle of fun: decorating our parking spots, prom and, of course, graduation.

I say this in order for you to imagine how upset I felt at the end of my junior year when COVID-19 showed up and canceled everything. Quarantine started for me on Mar. 14, 2020, the day after our school shut down and the day I took the SAT at one of the few available testing sites. I remember getting in the car with my mom after a long day of testing and telling her how excited I felt that I could now relax and hang out with my friends. She told me that the world as I knew it had changed, that there would be no more “hanging out” or “parties” until things got better. All the fun end-of-year and becoming-a-senior events got canceled. Even my plans to work full time fell through.

My dad is a doctor and had to continue seeing patients in his office and at the hospital throughout this pandemic so, no matter how many precautions we took, my family could not risk potentially being asymptomatic and passing COVID along to my friends or their families. This meant that I had to completely isolate myself from everyone except my family.

I know everyone says that we are the digital generation and communicate too much on our phones, but I missed interacting with my friends in-person. One of my favorite things about Palmetto involves the feeling of being one big family. There is so much love and kindness. Despite large class sizes, it feels like we all know and care about each other. Each year, I have made new friends. In every class I have, I see new faces and new opportunities for friendships. I know if I attended any other

school, I might not have learned how to appreciate differences or the importance of embracing diversity and being open to new ideas. The feeling of social isolation was the hardest part for me (and I know many others) during this time.

In October, I went back to school in-person and it just did not feel the same.

I felt happy to finally see other students and teachers, but there were still no activities or fun school events. The “new normal” was not anything like I had imagined my senior year. I allowed myself to feel sad for what I lost, but I also saw that so many others had it much worse. I began to feel guilty for complaining when I had a safe home and access to all our basic needs, knowing that so many others were suffering and dying.

Today, as I look back on my senior year, I can honestly say just how amazing it has been for me to put my expectations away and live life one day at a time these past several months. If things had gone to plan, I would not have spent so much time with my family. I would not have taken the time to walk our dogs every day, and cook meals and learn to bake bread together. I would not have worked full time as a child care provider to a family in my neighborhood who needed someone to care for their children while they worked. And I would not have learned that my true friends are still friends without the parties or school spirit events.

Most importantly, I have gotten to pour hours into learning more about myself. I thought spending so much time in my own head would drive me over the edge, but instead, I have truly learned to love myself.

I enjoy reading again. I have realized I love the dinners our family cooks together far more than going out to eat. I can genuinely smile at the memories I have made by spending so much time with my family with no distractions. So although my senior year has gone absolutely nothing like I planned, and has certainly had its downfalls, I have decided to be grateful for the time I have been given.

FEATURE | 15

opinion editor “ACCEPT YOUR SEAT NOW!” A spur-of-the-moment decision completely changed the course of my high school years.

For most of eighth grade, I barely considered attending the high school I ended up spending the next four years of my life in. I applied to it as a joke; it was over 20 miles away, it would never work out — or so I thought.

Initially, I got waitlisted, and it did not bother me one bit. Instead, I set my sights on going to a high school closer to home, where I could transition comfortably with friends.

Then, I received a notification that I got off the waitlist and accepted.

I briefly mentioned the news to a teacher of mine. She saw it as an amazing opportunity and insisted I take the offer. After much discussion with my family, and self-reflection, I decided to accept the seat at a magnet program at Miami Palmetto Senior High School. This decision taught me to seek success outside of my realm of comfort.

I still remember the intense feelings of fear and anxiety that came over me on my first day of high school, a day that many of us dream of.

Despite technically being in the same county, communities 20 miles apart can feel vastly different in terms of culture. Going from a schooling environment where students predominantly hail from immigrant middle class families, like my own, to one with much more affluent students, where access to exclusive SAT tutors and college counselors seem like the norm, felt foreign to me.

From the very instant the first bell rang, I remember the regret that overcame my body. It was Algebra 2 Honors, my first class of the day, and little did I know the long journey I would have to take with it.

Since it was an upper level class, my teacher let us know the cold hard facts on the first day: “If math is not your strong suit, prepare to switch out of my class.”

Despite knowing from the very beginning I struggled with math, I could not fathom switching into a regular class —

jacob grindstaff and so, just like that, my rocky road with Algebra 2 began.

The course itself was almost entirely exam-based, with our extensive homework only accounting for 10% of our overall grade. I recall struggling to catch up with the rapid pace of the course and, despite hours of study sessions that frequently lasted into the early hours of the morning, I would fail every quiz — and I mean fail.

The only time I did not get an F was the time I got a D on a unit exam (a 68%, to be exact). As a result, I grew increasingly frustrated that my hours of work did not reflect in my grade.

However, after failing the first quarter, I still could not resort to switching out of the class. I just could not bring myself to do it. Instead, I tried tutoring with the son of my mom’s friend. I studied before every quiz, aced the concepts at home... and yet, at school, my mind would go blank — and so, once again, the same endless routine of studying, staying up late and failing remained my reality for a whole second quarter, until I was forcefully switched out halfway into the year.

However, by this point, I felt thoroughly disillusioned and as though it was too late to fix the situation. I could not accept the fact that a class was too much for me to handle, which took a toll on my overall final grade.

My freshman year — where I started at a new school 20 miles away, became class treasurer, excelled in Model UN and earned 5s on both my AP tests — somehow acted as the same freshman year where I failed a class for the first time, and I beat myself up for that.

I vowed to do better, to know my limits and to never put myself in such a situation again. And so I did.

I retook the same Algebra 2 class and earned an overall grade of an A. I continued to take advanced coursework and ended my sophomore and junior year with nearly all As — and now I rank in the top 6% of my class, ready and open to continue my own journey of learning and personal growth.

16 | FEATURE

cristele moztarzadeh A lot of kids tend to find school boring, some may even take to dramatics and call it torturous on a bad day. But, for me, school has served as a safe haven for the most part. I grew up with many familial troubles and adopted the idea that doing well in school would lead me to a better future, one different from what I saw at home everyday.

School served as my way out because the adult figures guiding me believed in me and supported my endeavors.

However, my former school almost tarnished my view of education.

Transferring high schools, and moving on from my past, was truly the only way for me to find happiness.

I transferred to Miami Palmetto Senior High School my junior year of high school, a move many viewed as risky and not worth it, due to the significance of junior year and the fact that I had already grown accustomed to my former school. But I thought of continuing in a school just because I had invested my time there like what my current economics teacher calls the sunk cost fallacy. Staying at my old school simply would have not benefited me in the future.

By the end of my sophomore year, I could not imagine myself having the future I always dreamed of. I had heard of students not liking school, which is expected as the traditional course of learning is not for everyone. However, I never knew I could feel this downhearted towards something that could set me on a better path of life. All of the effort I put into my schoolwork was not paying off, my mental state continued to deteriorate and I started to feel utterly hopeless.

Up until high school, I loved learning more about the world and sharpening my mind. Though some thought ‘Perhaps she is just not smart enough,’ I knew myself, and I knew I could do better.

I was right. I took the leap and moved to Palmetto, and my mindset

copy editor

completely changed. Sometimes just finding a new environment is enough to feel capable of beginning again and reaching your goals. It was like I had been living in the dark and Palmetto flipped a switch and the world filled with light again.

I no longer struggled to wake up in the morning. Instead, I got out of bed with ease and often got to school early just to get in a few extra hours of studying. Rather than staying quiet during class, anxious that I would get every question asked wrong and people would judge me as they had at my old school, I grew the courage to answer anything — even if I made a mistake.

While I did have to leave most of my friends behind at my old school, a new community welcomed me with surprisingly open arms. Despite the school’s large population size that could make anyone sometimes feel invisible, with some work, I found the perfect place to thrive.

I think that those struggling academically could use my experience as an example of how nothing is ever all lost. As cheesy as it sounds, you always have to believe in yourself. Even my parents, those closest to me, questioned my choice to make the switch - they still do sometimes. I am often shamed for my past mistakes, but I keep assuring myself that everyone makes them. It is a commonly taught lesson: mistakes are only human, they allow us to grow, and we need to make them ourselves in order to really learn. I initially thought I would know what not to do after watching those around me and they hoped for the same.

Overall, I suppose figuring out how to grow from my mistakes, though unconventionally, has turned into the greatest lesson I learned due to schooling.

FEATURE | 17

multimedia Photo editor Artists always have criticisms thrown at them, whether they get called a person who fears mediocrity, or one who always goes broke. However, these stereotypes are what led me on my own journey.

Starting from my earliest years, my grandpa acted as my biggest role model, considering he did art. Starting around my kindergarten year, Grandpa Zenón would pick me up from school every Friday and take me to the Palmetto Bay Library. As a kid, my love for colors persisted, and I would head to the kids section, picking out the most amusing paintings from children’s books while my grandpa picked out books about learning the basics of English.

This daily routine stopped around the end of first grade when Grandpa Zenón fled back to our homeland, Peru, since his visa expired.

During this timeframe, from drawing on the walls to tracing off of children’s books, my grandpa inspired me enough to audition for the art program in my elementary school.

Luckily, I made it in.

Once admitted into the art program, my passion grew bigger. With the dream of becoming an artist when I grew up, I ignored my real life problems. My favorite teacher of all time, Ms. Morales, impacted me on my journey. I continued as a member of the Magnet Art department for six years, from the third to eighth grade.

The end of middle school brought a new chapter that we all feel unprepared for: high school. Towards the end of eighth grade, I started looking out towards a realistic move that I believed fit best for me, and being an artist became more of a hobby than a job. The pessimistic and stereotypical community that claimed working as an artist would not make you successful and that a low percentage of those who succeed do not live happily influenced me to change my perspective of art. My dreams and fantasies about becoming a successful experimental artist went away, kicking me right in the face of reality. Without giving a try, I ignored my dream and started looking out for hard classes I would have never found myself taking, with the worst part to come: losing interest in art.

isabel lopez

Freshman year was a horrendous experience. The struggles of not having time to stay up all night working on artwork assignments, instead sticking my nose inside an Advanced Placement Human Geography book, brought the end of my passion. This ushered me into the worst mental state, as I felt my heart was stolen from the pressure, and my painting station got replaced with piles of homework.

For most of my life, my best friend consisted of a blank sketchbook and colorful instruments. So when switching into a hard, cold plate of real life, I came down with the case of a struggling student: an antisocial extrovert.

That summer, I spent most of my time preparing for my future classes and researching what colleges look for in students. Yet, towards the end of summer, I went out to the city, and noticed another chance to pursue my dream. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival changed me. I stood for hours and hours admiring all the small artists scattered around the place, and in awe, I fell in love again.

For these past two years, I have focused more on my artwork than ever, realizing that wasting too much time on the negative aspects from one’s passion creates no growth and progress. During my junior year, I studied books within the realm of art and helped my friend out with painting lessons for younger kids. I also joined the Perez Art Miami Museum’s Summer Art Intensive program, introducing me with a plethora of new materials and skills. This led me to the decision of becoming a small artist from the start of college.

Creating more art pieces than ever, from a diversity of mediums, forms and types of artwork, my focus mainly surrounds impressionism, surrealism, maximalist abstract and contemporary art.

As I was accepted to the University of California in San Diego, I plan to major in cognitive science due to my interest in studying hard and admiring the STEM program.

From coming to peace with my true love, my message to those reading is to not give up.

You will start from the bottom and make your way towards the top. Life is too short to not make your dreams come true. It is the value in trusting yourself that makes your dream alive.

18 | FEATURE

camilla bondy

Multimedia video editor

Navigating through the halls of a public high school housing roughly 3,200 students, 106 teachers and seven administrative staff members can feel very overwhelming for someone like me.

Most students who enter Miami Palmetto Senior High School have grown up together. I, however, had been on a different track. I attended Sunset Elementary’s Spanish immersion program and continued that path as a student at G.W. Carver Middle School.

Do not get me wrong, I wanted to attend this high school, but the first day felt scary and intimidating for someone as shy as me.

In a class of roughly 800 freshmen, only four came from my middle school.

Whether in my class or passing them in the halls, it was a long shot that I would see them throughout the day. I no longer had my core group of friends that had been with me for the past eight years, as we had found ourselves at different high schools.

I needed to step out of my comfort zone and make an effort to engage with other students, which I have never found easy.

What I do know about myself is that when I walk into a room, I have to make myself known. As I sat in geometry on my first day of high school, the nicest, most outgoing girl saw something in me and made an effort to be my friend.

She learned my name, asked me what school I came from and of my interests.

I, of course, gave one word answers and never asked anything about her…not even her name.

When she turned around and shouted her name, I knew something had to change or I was not going to survive in this atmosphere.

Finding ways to step out of my comfort zone would take effort, but I knew that joining extracurricular activities would work as a great way to meet people and get involved in a world where I could succeed.

Newspaper, a class and club that I had the opportunity to join, and basketball, a sport I had played throughout my early childhood years, acted as the perfect places to begin my involvement.

In every class, teachers prohibited

talking, except when working in a group setting. Newspaper was different. This class gave me the opportunity to actually talk to people.

It allowed me to work and collaborate with other classmates, some I would later call my closest friends, and it taught me life skills. Initially, I worked as a staff writer, but then I got to use my creative skills as a designer, and finally, a multimedia/video editor.

Each position served as a stepping stone, bringing me out of my shyness and into a working environment where I could engage with fellow teachers and students and voice my ideas.

Basketball truly allows me to shine as well. As a freshman, I joined the JV team, where my skills led us to an undefeated season. For the rest of high school, I was a member of the varsity team. I learned that leadership, dedication, hard work and drive not only make me a better player, but encourages my teammates to do the same.

Becoming district champions both junior and senior year helped me overcome another hurdle and brought me one step closer to feeling confident.

Administration at Palmetto started to recognize me. My parents always taught me the importance of eye contact and how confidence in yourself must come across to others. It was a lesson I listened to but never really applied to my daily life. With these successes, I had the skills necessary to put these qualities into action.

We all know that junior and senior year were not easy due to COVID-19, but I could definitely feel my shyness fading away. I found my voice and my need to become my best self. Not only were my academics improving, but I was engrossed with everything the Palmetto culture represents. This naive freshman was leaving an imprint on the court and in the articles of what Miami Palmetto Senior High stands for.

FEATURE | 19

STAFF WRITER Athletics is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Though Generation Z is often seen as the digital generation due to an upbringing filled with gaming devices, entertainment services and gadgets, as a child, I preferred to spend my time outdoors playing sports. My weekends often consisted of back-to-back soccer tournaments or surfing with my dad. From a young age, I viewed myself as an athlete.

In 8th grade, my mom told me that we would move to Miami at the end of the school year. It was a tough move, as I grew up in Puerto Rico and it was all I had ever known. Even though I technically do not have any Puerto Rican blood, I feel its culture and roots with every beat of my heart.

Nonetheless, I felt excited to move.

I decided that I would play football and nothing could stop me or hold me back. At Palmetto, I joined a real football program, the kind I dreamed of while growing up.

Walking around the locker room, I felt like I was in the presence of giants. Players highly recruited by the teams I grew up watching surrounded me. These guys became the people I looked up to. From the first day of freshman year, I had a goal that stayed with me throughout high school. I wanted nothing more than to have what they had: to follow in their footsteps of success and sign to a D1 school.

But, as always, life happens and this dream did not play out as expected. Things hit the fan pretty quickly. Just like everyone else in high school, formative situations took place, changing me and forcing me to grow up. My first couple of years of high school consisted of me being seen as a popular kid.

Almost every weekend included going out with my friends. My sophomore year and part of junior year consisted of a two year relationship with a person who I consider my first love. I became infatuated and our break up affected me more than I expected.

I was put in a position in which it seemed that only social media and other superficial things mattered. And so what I knew I wanted from life became clouded with what I felt I needed to want. Last summer, when everyone got quarantined, became the

luca boccalato

hardest period of my life. I experienced a very tough episode mentally. Even when it felt that everything around me had collapsed, I received an outlet with football. Nobody judged me, only accepted, no matter what scar I came in that day. I made it my goal not just to aim for a D1 scholarship, but to win a state championship.

That season, with the most talented team this school has ever seen, I started every game and played more than I ever had. We did not win states, but we still made history, going all the way to the state semifinals.

What I have learned every day in football for the past four years has been amazing.

From Eddie Williams and Neil Nunn teaching me how to be a “thug” to Ivan Thomas teaching me how to carve my own path and for acting as the reason I wear 81, thank you.

To Tyler, thank you for all the laughs and times you gave me in the locker room and being my guy throughout high school.

To Coach Manasco, you did not just teach me how to be a better football player, but a better man in life.

And most importantly, to Coach K: when I came in, I was a little kid who looked like he had never touched a football in his life.

Yet, you still saw the potential in me, worked and helped me until I became the player I am now. Thank you for never giving up on me. Most importantly, the way you treated me when I was at my worst is how I aspire to treat people now: with no judgment and accepting of all, building a community of people who just need a chance and time to flourish and shine in a way that they will be proud of themselves.

Now, even more unexpectedly, I have new goals in life, academic goals. Now I plan to attend a school based around my career goals and set to challenge me and help me see them come true. Ironically, it is the time I spent as a part of the football team, not the classes I have taken, that have prepared me for my academic path and my future career as an experimental psychologist.

The people I have met and the experiences I have had make me the man I am today.

our

memories

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throughout the years NICOLE MARKUS JACK MEYER CAMILLA BONDY JANE HEISE Sydney campbell ISABEL LOPEZ JACOB GRINDSTAFF LUCA BOLATTO SOFIA VINUEZA cristele moztarzade valentina caceres priscilla bermudez

FEATURE | 21

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22| SPORTS

THE IMPORTANTCE OF

sports to seniors

Time is arguably one of the most valuable gifts a person can have. As the COVID-19 pandemic limited the seasons Miami Palmetto Senior High School seniors had to play sports, students learned the importance of dedication, hard work and commitment for their last time on the Palmetto field.

The COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in Mar. 2020, halted all sports at Palmetto, limiting the amount of time students had to play sports. However, the following school year, seniors could continue their athletic journey once again as a team.

All sports continued throughout the year with certain added safety restrictions, including wearing a mask during practice.

Despite this, seniors still felt a somewhat sense of normalcy given the other restrictions they had to their school year, as they could not enjoy regular activities such as Homecoming, Prom and Gradbash.

“Track indeed gave me a sense of normalcy during my senior year.

Knowing that we weren’t having any senior activities this year, it felt good to participate in something that would give you a reward at the end,” Palmetto Senior Makayla Gardner said.

PHOTO BY ISABEL LOPEZ

Gardener has done track for over five years, first starting in middle school.

Throughout her career, Gardener has learned the importance of track in shaping her high school career, and earned several recognitions. In her senior year of high school, Gardner placed third in the 400 meter dash in the 2021 districts.

Sports additionally serve as a place for growth for seniors. Throughout their high school careers, seniors have learned the values of teamwork and dedication, shaping their identity.

Palmetto senior and Varsity Track runner David Bellafleur has broken school records during his time on the team, moving on to Regionals from the 4x4 team. Reflecting on his senior year, Bellafleur understands the values learned from his years on the track team.

“Most people know me as David, but for 105, 120 hours, 4,380 days, 625 weeks and 143 months I have been a runner,” Bellafleur said. “Running for me was what everyone needed every once in a while: a break from reality.”

Palmetto senior and varsity Girls Lacrosse Team captain Samantha Berlan, who has played lacrosse since her

freshman year, remembers her senior year as a special time where she could celebrate her last year of high school. As with other sports, the lacrosse team recognized seniors through their senior game day, where players played a game dedicated to the seniors and later gave speeches commemorating these players.

“I looked forward to the senior game because it gave me and my other seniors a chance to ball out and put out everything on the field that we had. Being a captain and a senior, it was a really special moment for me,” Berlan said.

As seniors say goodbye to the Palmetto field for the last time, they do not forget the memories and positive experiences their sports have brought upon them.

“Something I am going to miss most are the girls and the team,” Berlan said.

“My sport has been like a family to me. Scoring goals, taking the draw, the excitement when your teammates score a goal is something that I am going to miss forever.”

Ana Martinez

Online Editor-in-Chief

a.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com

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PERSONAL ESSAY|23

Mother Daughter

The Impact of a on her

I am the youngest of three children in my family. I came 10 years after my sister and eight years after my brother. As a child, my parents had to deal with my brother’s fight with type 1 diabetes as well as maintain their full-time jobs and take care of their children.

Despite the busy and hectic lives they led, my parents devoted all of their time, love, support and attention to their children.

I truly do love my parents equally, and both have shaped the person that I have grown into today in a different way. However, the lessons that my mother taught me and the interests that she introduced me to have contributed to the woman and person that I am.

In college, my mom majored in political science and also studied history. This contributed to her work in historical and political research as well as becoming a history teacher. With her background, she has introduced me to the world of history — a topic that has forever piqued my interest. The teachings that my mother has given me about history are ones that I will be forever grateful for.

Through history, she introduced me to the efforts and activism of women in American history such as Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Clara Burton. Through the work of these women, she taught me the importance of equality and social justice.

Alongside history, my mom also introduced me into the world of literature. At a young age, she read me children’s books from the Magic Tree House series to the Harry Potter series. To this day, we share a strong love for books and literature together.

The interests and topics that my mom has shared with me have influenced my decisions about the future and have shown me what I want to devote my life to.

Despite the influence that these interests have had on me, nothing has had more of an effect than the lessons she has taught me about living as a female in today’s society.

Growing up as a girl is not easy. Women in society face struggles in the form of social and economic inequality, gender discrimination, objectification and the existence of a patriarchy. For generations, society has expected women to conform to specific stereotypes and expectations. Whether in the form of how one should look or act, living as a woman can feel suffocating in a society with

Bella Martin

Editor-In-Chief

b.martin.thepanther@gmail.com

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLA MARTIN

so many rules.

Despite the evident and prominent struggles that women face, my mom taught me that these struggles do not solidify a woman’s place in society. My mom taught me the simple belief that “girls can do anything boys can do.” She taught me lessons that empowered me to become a strong, independent and hardworking person. She taught me to not back down without a fight.

She taught me to stay strong in the face of any discrimination or defeat that I face and to never back down.

The lessons and teachings my mom has given me have already impacted me in enormous ways during my 16 years of living, and I can only imagine how they can continue to help me in the future.

My mom is my best friend. I attribute her lessons and teachings to the person I have grown into. If I become even half the woman that she is, I will have succeeded in life.

THAT’S HOT: self care

YOU’RE NOT: burnout

Merriam-Webster defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical or emotional stress or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” If anyone knows about prolonged stress, it is high school students. Balancing schoolwork with extracurriculars, hobbies and social activities in addition to sleeping, eating and exercise seems like a virtually impossible task.

However, teenagers want to make the most of their high school years, so they take on this feat, resulting in exhaustion and stress. As challenging as this is, high schoolers have had to deal with a global pandemic on top of everything else; adjusting to the new normal meant dealing with the more challenging virtual classes and exams, as well as the cancellation of school events. Burnout seems inevitable due to the stressful year we have endured. But with the end of the school year just around the corner, it is possible to end on a good note and reverse any effects of burnout. To get back on track, try to spend less time working on things that will only stress you out more, and spend more time on enjoyable and self-care activities that will allow your brain and body to rest. Setting goals for what these activities may include — reading, working out, listening to music and sleeping,.— make it easier to start on the journey of self-care and helps to finda healthy balance. Have patience with yourself and take things one step at a time; as teenagers and as humans, we need to become more accepting of our needs and our limits and give ourselves enough room for error and growth.

Only machines are made to work 24/7.

STAFF EDITORIAL A Bittersweet Ending: Graduation As graduation approaches, many in the senior class have begun to look to the future, yet grieve the time that they have lost. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken away so much from all of us, especially the class of 2021: missed birthday parties, field trips, grad bash, prom, limited interaction with your peers alongside all the tumultuous factors that come with transitioning from a teenager to an adult. Oftentimes, adults like to tell adolescents that they possess wisdom beyond their years. For many of you, this pandemic forced you to quite literally grow up overnight. New responsibilities, uncertain times and challenging situations have plagued many families throughout the pandemic. With that, many of your loved ones have turned to you for support, assistance and asked you to step into certain roles you did not expect to take so soon. Yet in all the darkness and disappointments has come so much success and triumph. You all made it. You worked hard, took each and every difficulty in stride and remained as confident and compassionate as ever. The world changed overnight and you adapted to it. Each one of you should feel so proud of yourselves. If this experience has taught us anything, it is the power of resiliency. Despite feeling at times defeated and facing what has seemed like neverending obstacles that you never imagined you would encounter, you have each demonstrated your strength.

The grace, tenacity and willingness to grow and learn that each of you have demonstrated is nothing short of remarkable. With graduation comes the closing of your high school chapter. You all are preparing to embark on separate paths; however, you each share a common gift.

The life lessons, choices and experiences that you have all lived through together during these past four years will stay with you forever. Walking into this next chapter, step forward with that same purpose, intentionality and ability to adapt to everything that life may throw at you.

The capabilities that you each possess when you open your hearts and minds to the possibilities are endless.

Valentina Caceres

Angelina Astic

v.caceres.thepanther@gmail.com

a.astic.thepanther@gmail.com

Senior Multimedia Editor

Copy Editor

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.