The Panther 2022-23 Issue 8: Designing Their Futures

PANTHER

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Miami Palmetto Senior High School

7460 SW 118 St. Miami, FL 33156

Tuesday May 23, 2023

DESIGNING THEIR FUTURES

mAY 2023

the

P www.thepalmettopanther.com

@thepantherpaper

@thepantherpaper

04 SPORTS PACKAGE

FEATURE: seniors

06 LIFE: MPsh GIRL SCOUTs

NEWS: STEM CERTIFIED

03 SENIOR COLLEGE COMMITS 05 OLD PROM V. NEW PROM

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NEWS|03

Full STEM Ahead: Palmetto’s Dedication to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math In recent years, policymakers, educa- department, every possible AP science and Environmental Debate. We have Agents For tors and industry leaders have emphasized math course. And in our [Career Technical Change, cleat, the CLEO Project, then we the importance of science, technology, en- Education] department, we offer pretty also have [the] Science Fair, Science Bowl gineering and math in education, providing much also a wealth of courses; that was a and the Chemistry Olympiad,” You said. students with hands-on teaching experiences qualifier.”

After noticing she was the only girl and allowing them to understand and develMPSH junior and Science National at the Chemistry Olympiad, Duran became op content fully.

Honors Society President-Elect Alexa Fein inspired to increase the number of girls in“I feel that incorporating STEM says the designation could improve the terested in STEM through her organization, activities into school is important because reputation of the school and attract students STEM Gem. as we’re moving forward into what seems to interested in STEM. “STEM Gem is this project I started be like a new era of technological innova“I think it’s just a label that we can use after going to [Chemistry Olympiad]. I got tion, especially with AI such as ChatGPT, on things like advertising or to put a banner there and I sat down and this woman came we’re gonna need more people who are well on the fence. So maybe it would inspire up to me and she said, ‘I’m really happy versed in STEM concepts to help manage more people who are interested in STEM to you’re here.’ And then I looked around, all this new technology that’s going to be come to Palmetto,” Fein said. and I was the only girl there. I got back the developed or even to help develop the techMPSH offers various STEM courses, next Monday to class, and I told Dr. Sharp I nology,” MPSH junior and President-elect including AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, wanted to change that, it’s just not right that of Math Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, AP Statistics, AP Physics 1, AP Environout of 10 of us I was the only girl at ChemSunny You said. mental Science, AP Computer Science istry Olympiad, ” Duran said. “What we’re At Miami Palmetto Senior High, the Principles and more. The Science National doing is… going to elementary schools; abundance of STEM activities and coursHonor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Robot- right now we’re at Coral Reef Elementary, es led to the school applying for a STEM ics Club are a few examples of the STEM and we’re doing lessons every Thursday designation for the 2022-2023 school year clubs that students can join. there where we bring a team of girls from under Miami-Dade County Public Schools’s Within these clubs, students compete the school who love science, and we teach STEM designation program. in many activities such as Envirothon, them to the after school care program where MPSH is currently in the process of Science, Engineering, Communication, there’s between 40 and 80 kids. We teach reaching this certification. After applying in Mathematics and Enrichment (SECME), them a science lesson… we’ve done coding August, and undergoing a year-long process Science Bowl, the American Mathematics in the past. But we’ve also done chemistry focusing on various aspects of the school’s Competition and more. These competitions labs, physics labs…, or you know, anything program, the school waits to see if they have allow students to represent MPSH at the like that. And… the goal is to show them been recognized as a STEM school. local, state and national levels. This year, that science is cool, but also show them that “You have to apply every year and MPSH robotics club came first place in the there’s a potential for them to be successful we have to apply back in August. Having a bridge competition at Miami-Dade County’s in science.”

STEM designation is not going to change SECME event, which focuses on challengAs society becomes more technology any of that. It’s just going to be a label. It’s ing students to use their skills in STEM to driven, STEM classes and clubs at MPSH better to have it than not have it, but it’s not design and build various structures and de- are more significant than ever by providgoing to really change. It may change some vices. In 2022, You and MPSH junior Isabel ing students with the skills and knowledge of the things that people do in their classes Duran represented the school at the National to succeed. A STEM designation would to make sure that they really are bringing Chemistry Olympiad. acknowledge the work that all teachers, stuthings in and coordinating it. It might help “For math [competitions] under dents and organizations involved in STEM with some coordination and cooperation robotics, it’s the SECME competition under at MPSH do. between math and science and that’s a good robotics, then under Mu Alpha Theta. We Ava Stuzin thing,” MPSH AP Environmental Science have the… American Mathematics ComNews Editor teacher and Science Department Chair petitions. And then we have the FAMAT a.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com Pamela Shlachtman said. “[The qualificacompetitions, which are Mu Alpha Theta Daniel Perodin Staff Writer tion] includes three main areas. One area competitions. And then for science comped.perodin.thepanther@gmail.com would be the courses that we offer, and we titions, we have the Envirothon. We do the DESIGN BY PAULA ORTIZ certainly offer within the science and math Fairchild challenges. We have the Fairchild PHOTO BY MADELINE VOLPE

04 | LIFE

Graduating Girl Scouts

Honoring MPSH Senior Girl Scout Gold Awardees

Known as the “highest award in Girl Scouting,” the Girl Scout Gold Award serves as the pinnacle recognition of service and commitment to a Girl Scout’s community; requiring a minimum of 80 community service hours, a thorough application process and more, for 100 years, girls from across Miami-Dade and Monroe County have strived to make the perfect ending to their Girl Scout experience. As the year comes to a close, Miami Palmetto Senior High honors its graduating 2022-2023 Gold Award Girl Scouts.

Jacqueline Banegas - Namaste NICU “[ICU Baby]… supports families with newborns …in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit I partnered with them… [to create] Sibling Month… a lot of these families have other children that don’t really understand what’s going on… so we do a story time as part of Sibling Month, which ICU Baby is going to continue doing every year, and we have a story hour. I was a baby 18 years ago in the NICU myself.

So I kind of came full circle, and I am the one to help families like that because that was my mom and my sister when I was in the hospital,” Banegas said.

Alexis Blackwell - Bee Part Of The Solution “My project targeted the declining bee population… I saw that the issue of climate change…was getting a lot of attention, but smaller things that really feed into [climate change], like the declining bee population were going ignored… I educated the public through brochures… I passed out at a farmers market.

I also placed six mason bee houses at Zoo Miami… and started a petition to ban neonics… a pesticide that [is] very detrimental to the bee population and affects the whole hive…I tried to target something that was less talked about,” Blackwell said.

Gabriela Brayer - MPSH Mental Health Resource Guide “The main topic [of my project] is… tackling depression and anxiety amongst teens, mainly at our school… My best friend has gone through a ton of anxiety… and she actually ended up in the hospital earlier last year, so that hit really hard and inspired this project... I found out there was a whole team of people at our school… that can totally help and I had no idea about it and I know a lot of people also didn’t know about it; so, I made a resource guide… it’s posted on our [social media] account and it was also… handed out… I just really wanted to help anybody who needed it,” Brayer said.

Abigail Lambert - Project DIGIT “My project is called Project DIGIT, which stands for Digital and Internet Growth In Time. It targeted the lack of digital literacy in ninth grade class-

es… a lot of kids were struggling with navigating the world online and I realized that not a lot of students had the necessary skill set to manage [the internet] responsibly… I taught the students basic internet skills; not just how to do research, but how to do research safely [and] efficiently… how to decipher whether a website is credible…, sending proper emails, setting up Google accounts…

They’ll need all these resources to maximize their opportunities,” Lambert said.

Maggie Meltzer - Underwear Care Project “I do a lot with my church. When we used to do drives, we would do Christmas boxes and all that and…I wanted to do something else, and that’s why…I wanted to bring underwear, because these kids [in shelters] are coming from domestic abuse so when they’d come, they wouldn’t even show up at the shelter with any underwear. They would just show up with the clothes on their back and nothing else…Even just a pair of underwear just makes you feel different,” Meltzer said.

Valentina Nicolini- I See Her “Basically [the project] a sustainable menstrual product drive for homeless women in Miami…

I used to volunteer with Choose Love, which is this non-profit organization… who feed the homeless in Downtown Miami every week… the other part of it is this other non-profit organization called I See You. What they donate is clothes, shoes, deodorants, toothpaste, [etc.] but…there was no menstrual supplies… and that’s what inspired me... they would put me in this large van to hand out the products… and every time, homeless women would come up to me and… ask if we had a pad or a tampon… I would always have to say no… so I decided to take it upon myself to fix it,” Nicolini said.

Sofia Taddeo-Goldstein Opinion Editor

s.goldstein.thepanther@gmail.com

Sara Paredes Feature Editor

s.paredes.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN BY MIA SHIELDS PHOTOS BY EMILIA HAUS

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PANTHER’S

COLLEGE COMMITS

sam

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ryan

Barnard college - UN DECI DED

FASH ION I NSTITUTE OF TECH NOLOGY Flori da state Pathways program COM MUN ICATION DESIGN professional sales

michael

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Un iversity of flori da journalism an d creative writi ng

UN IVERSITY OF OREGON - psychology

Most Likely To...

SAMANTHA ELKINS Most likely to...

ELLA PEDROSO Most likely to...

Win a Pulitzer

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Be on the Cover of Vogue

MICHAEL ANGEE

VALENTINA ARIAS

Travel the World

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06| FEATURE

Print Co-Editor-in-Chief

I find it kind of funny that I will soon attend college in the same city I was born. When I moved from New York City to Miami at one-years-old, the plane landed just three weeks before Hurricane Katrina. My mother recalls all of Miami’s greenery being ripped up, and how it felt initially depressing, until it began to grow back. As an infant, I slept through the whole storm and I think, in a way, this experience describes my high school experience — beauty within a storm.

I have learned to love and appreciate Miami more and more each year. From kindergarten to second grade, I went to a school that practiced a Waldorf education: one that combines education with art and ties skills together with a creative teaching style. I had indoor and outdoor shoes, each room had the scent of lavender, chalkboards illuminated a new wall-to-wall illustration each day, I learned about fairies, gnomes and Aesop’s fables, how to knit, knead bread and even compost. This early education encouraged me to feel unafraid of standing out and utilizing my skills.

My brother, sister and I call it a “hippie school” that, looking back, had some odd quirks, but overall, taught me true creativity.

It set a strong foundation for me to go into elementary and then middle school and feel grounded. Now, I did have to repeat second grade because this school did not exactly prioritize the principles of reading and math, but I got my driver’s license before all my friends, so it was not too bad.

Transitioning to middle school, I always felt way behind the other kids. I remember the very first day as I stood outside the Palmetto Middle School gates when suddenly the bell rang and an older student yelled, “F**k, here we go.” Just half-an-hour

earlier, I had dropped off my twin brother at his new middle school and we parted ways for the first time at school. I felt so jarred standing there, and though my thoughts echoed the profane language of the swearing student, I walked in nonetheless and began my “Palmetto” journey.

At school, there were certain things others grasped, such as how to make our uniform “cool” or know certain songs that I did not — and still do not — know. I made some friends along the way, and as we aimlessly walked around The Falls on Friday nights, I began to feel more grown-up.

I entered Miami Palmetto Senior High reuniting with my brother. Though I had him and my friends, the experience threw me into a new, jarring environment. High school felt similar to middle school: I had never grasped all the “cool” things or events.

When COVID-19 hit, it all paused. Similar to Hurricane Katrina, COVID-19 had catastrophic damage worldwide, but like my mom said about the greenery back in 2005, it regrows.

Starting high school, I felt like while I was lost, everyone else was too. Finally! Teachers could not figure out Zoom, shops closed and no one knew what the future held. Though serious implications simultaneously occurred, like a healthcare crisis, illness and death, job losses and devastating impact on industries, as a freshman, I did not digest the long-term effects. All I knew was that as long as I wore my mask, I could bike ride with my friends and sit outside doing homework. I saw regrowth both within my family and myself and felt excited to fully return to MPSH my junior year. I stayed close to my friends, and we went, and still go, everywhere together. As a Miami native’s rite of

passage, I watched as The Falls turned into bike rides, parties, exploring Miami Beach and meeting teenagers from different schools.

During junior year, I joined clubs, volunteered, continued writing on The Panther and took AP classes — which I greatly attribute to my friend group. I strongly believe in the notion that you are the combination of the five people you hang out with most. We all had our own passions and hobbies but made efforts to sign up for similar activities. Things like volunteering at an 8 a.m. event became another opportunity to see each other.

I became more involved, but more importantly, a kinder and more compassionate person as we helped each other through the inevitable rough patches of high school. From 15 hour beach days, road-tripping to Orlando, sleepovers, 24/7 texts and eating every lunch together for five years, I feel eternally lucky to have experienced high school with such amazing friends. Sydney, Jordan, Lexi and Gili, thank you for putting up with me and expect many visits next year.

I learned so much from my classes and experiences, yet almost none can amount to what I have learned from being on The Panther.

At the end of middle school, while all local high schools pawn over you to convince you to attend their school, I remember PTA moms answerings students’ questions about MPSH. They kept missing my hand for many rounds of questions, until I stretched it super high, got picked, and asked: “Does Palmetto have a newspaper?”

I had my heart set from day one. Since being accepted to staff, I have learned to manage myself, work with others and engage with the greater community. From a sophomore with an iPhone, taking shaky videos of the football team, to becoming Co-Editor-in-Chief my senior year, newspaper has molded who I am today in a way no other class has accomplished. I am eternally grateful for finding this community and knowing that when I think back to high school, The Panther will be the first thing that comes to mind. And to Amy-Grace, my amazing Co-Editor-in-Chief, I could not have done it without you and could not be prouder to leave The Panther in your hands.

Like many high school seniors, I am saying goodbye to the life I have had until now. Maybe it is a “see you later,” but I do not know where I will end up. But, I do know a few things. I know that I am bad at math and intend to stick to writing. I also know that building two has the best bathrooms at MPSH and that newspaper is the best elective to take. But more importantly, I know high school held its fair share of storms that feel all-consuming. Though, in the end, the storm will pass, change will occur, the sun will shine again and the greenery will regrow.

FEATURE |07

08| FEATURE

ELLA PEDROSO

Senior Design Editor

If there is one thing I wish I could go back in time to do, it would be to hug the 13-year-old girl who walked into her first day of high school thinking she knew what the next four years of her life would look like. The harsh reality is, that girl would spend those four years shapeshifting into different identities in an attempt to try to heal herself from her adolescence.

Last year, I read the previous senior editorials and before I knew it, tears began streaming down my face — I was at the end of my junior year and still could not relate to a single sentence. I wish this was another editorial about how much I loved high school, the friends I made and all the teachers I loved, but it is the opposite. I spent most of my years behind in my classes, drifting from different friends and overall feeling completely isolated. From this point on, the worst mistake I made was hating myself for not mirroring the “ideal high school experience.” I looked back at eighth grade, when I was probably the most content with my life I had ever been. I still did cheerleading, which I miss so much, was involved in school, was still close with my long-term friends and still had a youthful, optimistic outlook on life.

I wondered what happened to that young, energetic, creative girl I had based my whole identity around.

My security in my identity began to shatter when I somehow lost that girl and became a depressed pessimist who hated my old way of living. Through my attempts to find myself fueled by a naive, teenage angst-fueled outlook, the only consistent part of me was my inconsistency. I changed myself countless times thinking I was growing, when in reality I was just further distancing myself from the self I kept hidden. I lived 10 different lives separate from the life I should have been living.

When the pandemic hit, my depression worsened and I developed anorexia, two illnesses that infected every corner of my life. I quickly learned the easiest part about my mental illness was staying sick: the security felt like a bandage over my anxiety towards the world around me. Even though I was too depressed to feel the motivation to keep any of the good things in my life, and my devotion to my anorexia pushed all my social life away and my grades fell, at least I was familiar with the feeling. I understood it. I have always been very self-aware and take pride in my understanding of the analytical part of my brain which processes my emotions logically before I embrace them. The world around me moved so fast while I spent four years stuck in what I perceived as safety.

I am proud to say that at this point of my life I am at a healthy point in my recovery, but every day is still a challenge. Initially, I felt so much anger that I was irrational. I could not believe I messed up so badly that four years flew by while I repressed myself. The closest I have gotten to being able to hug the 13-year-old girl inside of me was forgiving myself. What you do not realize in high school is that you are young. I realized that none of this was my fault, and just like everyone around me, I was given a unique set of experiences in order to grow, and I had to forgive myself for the mess I made along the way. Running away and shutting myself out from the world around me was never the answer, it was embracing myself. I remembered how much I loved that optimistic outlook I had on life, and how much fun it was being energetic and running through life without a care. I was not embarrassed anymore. I embraced these versions of myself. I still cringe when looking back,

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but in the end all these versions of me were still me, Ella.

Now I look back at high school with a sort of oxymoronic happiness.

I hated high school, and can definitely say most of the years were spent believing that I am truly alone in the world and that was something I had to deal with. And yet I would not change one part of it. I have always been very sentimental, hence my desire to be able to hug myself, but now I feel the inescapable warm feeling I cannot decipher as actual happiness or pity. I look back on my old friendships, even the ones that ended in bad terms, and feel nothing but pure love. These are people who I used to have the best times with and maybe some of the worst times but that made me, me. Through embracing myself, I have come to understand and feel others better and I hold no animosity towards others I used to project my hate towards.

It would be even more naive to say that I have come so far that I actually understand myself, and that I am so grown that I am not hurting anymore. But now it is time for me to leave Miami, leave everything that I have ever known and start my new life. When I was 13-years-old, all I wanted to do was leave Miami. I would complain about it every second, but now I am actually doing it. I am going to New York, and if I was 13 I probably would have made terrible choices and hurt myself even more. Hopefully it is safe to say that I have grown enough to go through this four year journey again and have enough love for myself to guard myself from becoming lost. Although I hated high school and went through a lot, it has given me the protection and growth to enter a new stage in my life.

RYAN MCKEAN Senior Multimedia Editor Leaving my twin sister is something I never thought I would have to do. Moving exactly 8,856 miles away from my sister is gut-wrenching, as she is no longer a couple of footsteps away from me. A shoulder I could lean on when I needed it, the person I could go to for anything.

Starting next fall, I have to contact her through the phone and only see her a couple of times a year. To me, she feels like a part of me; the twin connection that no one can explain but only one that Jordan and I can understand. No one understands what it is like to have a twin. They just get you, understand all of you and sometimes even know you better than you know yourself. Having a twin sister has been nothing shy of a blessing. A special connection that was built before we even were born.

Leaving the person I lived across the hall from will be one of the hardest adjustments I will ever have to make.

Now, I have to adapt to leaving her, and my entire family, because I am becoming my own person — an adult.

Leaving my sister is one among many of the obstacles I will have to endure after I graduate. My friends whom I got to see after every summer, is no longer a routine. “See you next year” is a familiar saying that I have been accustomed to since elementary school. No longer will I be able to say this, because this is it: this is the end of the road. Graduating from high school and starting college is something I never thought I would have to experience as fast as I have. The same routine I have been used to all my life.

Saying goodbye to my friends before summer

and seeing them again during the fall.

Shopping for back-to-school supplies with my mom, getting a new backpack and shoes. 5:30 a.m., the same time I have woken up since the sixth grade.

Getting out of bed, putting on the same clothes and waking up my sister to go to school. For four years, I followed the same routine, and now I have to adjust myself to a completely new lifestyle.

When high school first started, I thought to myself, ‘Four years? That will feel like an eternity.’ That was a lie that I told myself, not realizing how fast high school would fly by. Going from having to worry about what time I needed to stop playing in the backyard to worrying about starting college is a change I expected to come later rather than sooner.

Listen to your peers when they say enjoy high school while it lasts, because it flies by faster than you would expect.

One class that stopped time for me and made highschool feel timeless, was the Panther.

Along with the eye-opening experiences that high school has brought me, my time on The Panther has opened up new bridges I never thought I’d experience. The person that got me interested in even applying for The Panther is our current Print Editor-inChief: Samantha Elkins. A childhood friend who somehow managed to convince a shy kid like me who barely knew anything about writing, to join the school newspaper.

The Panther allowed me to expand my passion for multimedia. Going under the wing of Gianna Hutton expanded my love for photography. I not only was able to expand my love for photography but be able to expand my knowledge on writing; something I never thought I would ever do. I have never been a sucker for writing. It has not been my

FEATURE |11

strong suit. With the right teacher and supportive peers, my writing took me somewhere unexpected.

This year, I wrote about a time in my life I only told a handful of people about. My mental struggle through sophomore year, and sending that story to print was closure for me. The closure was being able to help myself and others in sharing the struggles of mental health as a teenager. The Panther Paper to me felt like more than a safe space. Something I hope can be continued after the class of 2023’s time comes to a close.

The relationships I made while in the Panther also expanded to different parts of Palmetto. A teacher that has felt more like a parental figure over the past two years elevated my high school experience to a whole new level. I ended up dropping AP United States History and enrolling in Honors U.S. History, which landed me with the teacher Mr. Ruiz. Little did I know how much of an impact he and his class would have on me by the time of graduation. At first, he seemed like a generally strict teacher. As my junior year went on, I got to know Mr. Ruiz on a personal level. He claimed I was a quiet student who did not speak much during the beginning of the year, and near the end, I was a completely different person. Walking into that classroom every day, I was excited to learn and connect with my teacher even more. As a senior this year, I got to become one of his teacher aides, which less than five people can become. These past two years have shown me that teachers are also people, and that they truly do care about the success of students after high school.

As I wrap up my time as a high schooler, I realize that while this may be the end of a chapter I have known my whole life, it is an opening to a whole new book. I am beyond grateful for everyone that has helped me get here today. All the teachers who believed in me, my friends, family and especially my parents.

Life Editor Hello to whoever is reading this!

Maybe it is me, or maybe it is you, but I promise every time I encounter whoever you are, you will be a bit more evolved from the last time we interacted. The biggest lie sold to us in high school is that we must save the world from a young age, or else we cannot save our own. If we are not automatically self-sacrificing and willing to give our entire soul to the creation of something bigger than us, we cannot succeed. I would like to adapt that idea to one that prompts us to try to understand the world within us, to wholeheartedly make an effort to create a better world around us. And as I have realized throughout high school, to accept your state and who you may be at a certain moment is allowing for the energy of the universe to flow without extra hindrance from our egos and fears which may propel us to create the environment in which we wish to be our ideal selves.

The essence of the Michael with which I have grown and experienced everything resides in the essence of the unknown. The unknown, though, may be an optimistic place, a place of wonder as well as a place of creation. Residing in the unknown, as I felt for the majority of my high school experience, is a tumultuous experience in itself; although, of course, this is all a part of the overarching story of adolescence and beyond.

The image of the night sky staring back at me as I trudged to conjure a cohesive thought after long nights of circular thoughts regarding the present and future was a common occurrence in the four years of my high school experience. Nature and the beauty it

brings is one of the most important facets of the Earth, of our fortunate coincidence of an existence, an existence marked by uncertainty and also by passion and love.

In this scene of staring at the night sky, I remember the pain that went into the process of going through high school — not to discount all of the good that has occurred as well. As a naturally unsure, shy, reluctant and overall wander-driven kid, I found myself numb to the trials of everyday life: I found myself lost and in the natural cycle of the adolescent experience, which comprises the aforementioned uncertainty and doubt.

March 6, 2020, was a day that shaped my high school experience in one of the best ways possible; it set a precedent for who my friend group would become. On this fateful night, Palmetto was hosting a movie night in the field as a fundraiser for the school where they were slated to play the Fast and Furious buddy action spin-off, “Dobbs and Shaw,” and I had only known of a few people going to the event. Through the night, though, and I did not know this night would transpire in this way, I spent most of my time with a group of people comprised notably of Gabe Salvat, Josh Bechtinger and Hunter Jordan.

All three of these people continue to hold a special place in my heart, all representing parts of the high school experience which would not have been anywhere near the same without them.

Through high school, I noticed something about my interests and about the people I found myself surrounded by. This realization that these activities and the people I did

them with allowed me to explicate the human spirit that boiled within me, the infinite soul that found no finite boundaries. They allowed that soul to soar. They allowed me to feel like myself, or at least the versions of me I was able to show them.

Cross Country and the sport of running, I believe, provided some of the most beautiful moments of all of high school. I even met people who provided the most encouragement to me when entering high school and implemented the battery in my back to succeed through my beloved sport and beyond. The memory of struggling together in practice, making jokes about just about everything, our group Spotify playlist and the muddy runs of the late afternoons of fall 2019 to fall 2022, will always reside in a special place in my heart. Cross country taught us to make light of the rough and difficult practices, because we endured, and as a team, we ran through the roads of Pinecrest, in an effort to only beat yesterday’s version of ourselves.

Philosophy club is the second activity in which homage is needed.

Philosophy club, to me, serves as the embodiment of the thoughts and feelings I feel many students have, and therefore, the place in which we felt comfortable expressing them. A large part of my high school experience was an effort to help the people around me have a safe place to express themselves, whether it was through one-to-one conversation or in the open forum provided in room 1206.

In my junior year, I took AP English Language and Composition with Ms. Pulido during her fifth period. In that class, I did not pass a single Multiple Choice Question practice exam — I actually think I averaged around the mid-40 percent for those tests — yet, my writing was always pretty well received. But the message that Ms. Pulido always taught us was the lesson of “process, process, process,” and while that is one of those phrases that many people are told, for me, it only settled in during that class, and will forever stick with me.

This commitment to process I believe is one of the precursors to a more patient future for myself, a future of knowing that although my favored outcome has not manifested, it is able to come to life through dedication, balance and optimism.

And lastly, but never least, the activity which allowed staffers to have the liberty of the experience of being on an organized publication and being a support system during my most rough and tumultuous moments, The Panther, is one of the— if not the most important — activity I found myself a part of in high school. I found a sort of path with a better understanding of the world around us as well as within us, I now better understand our generation and the opinions, people and events that shape us. The left side of room 1124, or as we know it, “the newspaper room” and also the room shared with The Palm Echo, signified many memories. The physical and metaphorical angle in which I sat, provided my view to witness the staff grow into a harmonious unit, and I can confidently say as we take our last steps out of room 1124: “man, the paper is in good hands.”

Gratefully, I loved high school. I loved the moments with my friends in which random and seemingly coincidental moments occurred, I loved the rush of finding out we had a sub for certain classes, I loved seeing people in the hallways and receiving and providing a simple “hello” and importantly these moments shaped our perspectives and evolved us into better people. It hurts to say goodbye, but every goodbye is near a new, warm welcome. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reading all of these years, the class of 2023 appreciates you, as do I!

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14| FEATURE

VALENTINA ARIAS Multimedia Editor Throughout the last four years at Miami Palmetto Senior High, I have received an enormous amount of love and support from my friends. They have each seen me grow into the person I am today, and having them along the way made my experience in high school the best one possible. Each has played a specific role in my life, and as high school comes to a close, I can say that I have spent these past four years with an amazing group of friends. My amazing friend group is made of individuals each of whom have a color I identify them with.

To my yellow, Carpe Diem.

You have never failed to live life.

As one of my closest friends, you have shown me that there is more to life and that I should enjoy every bit of it. In the years of knowing you, I have become more in touch with the world and the beauty that is nature. I have never met someone more willing to do something after just a text.

You truly remind me that while I must always stay organized and focus on my goals, it is perfectly fine to do random activities at times. Anytime I watch a sunset cover the sky, I will always think about you, and the outgoing, loving person you are. You have shown me that living life to its fullest is okay, and I will always love you for that.

Pink is the best color to describe you; loving and compassionate. I have never met a more selfless person.

With you, letting my guard down has become too easy. You

make everyone around you feel comfortable and loved. I have learned that showing kindness to others will always leave me with positivity in life. I will never forget the sleepovers we’ve had after a fun day or how loud you get when you’re extremely excited about something. These are all core memories from high school for me and I wouldn’t change anything about them.

While I have known you for the least amount of time, you are one of the people who has made one of the largest impacts on me.

Green; you are the epitome of being true to yourself. No matter if someone loves or hates you, you have never changed yourself to fit into what someone else wants. I praise myself for keeping this same mindset whenever I catch myself not truly being myself. Having you by my side at all times has been the most amazing experience.

While I have never had a brother, in my eyes, you truly are one; you are someone I can count on and tell everything to without feeling guilt or judgment. Green is one of the colors associated with luck, and you are someone I am lucky to have in my life.

Blue, this color represents someone loyal and honest. I can always count on you no matter what. Having one loyal friend means more than having 20 average friends. I know that once we have both gone off to college, we will not have the same morning talks, but you will always be someone I can count on. You have always been

FEATURE |15 someone sincere who looks out for me. If I ever need someone to give me the most thought-out advice or just need a good laugh I know you’re the person to go to. As a compassionate and caring person, you have revealed that choosing the right friendships makes all the difference.

I never knew how to explain it, but you have always been the color orange to me. Out of the many people I know, I can confidently say that you are one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. As a person, you were able to always do anything

you. With you, I have learned to not hate my birthday as much and to be better about speaking my mind. You never fail to remind me of how deserving I am of all the good that happens in my life. I have known you for so long and only recently have I taken the time to truly know you. Getting to know you has definitely been one of the better parts of high school.

While I am bidding farewell to a school that holds many of the memories I’ll look back on, I’m excited for what new experiences are to come. So much lies ahead of me, that while my high

you set your mind to, and I admire that greatly. Getting to see your dedication to all the different projects you do has resulted in me knowing that work isn’t meant to be boring; it can be filled with joy. You have shown me that when you truly love what you do, it is not just work, it is the opportunity to see an idea become reality.

Lilac, your color does not begin to explain how important of a person you are in my life. You share the uniqueness and beauty of this color. Our friendship developed so suddenly, yet it made such a difference. I have learned to embrace my creative side around

school life officially comes to a close, I am excited for the next chapter of my life to begin. I will always miss being a somewhat reckless kid, but a part of life is growing up. These strong friendships I have built will always be with me and so will all the lessons I have learned. This is not the end of what I have now, it is just the beginning from here. Leaving MPSH and moving to a university over 3,000 miles away is a big change. While change can be scary, I welcome it with open arms thanks to the lessons my colors taught me.

An

Athletic Year in

REVIEW:

SPORTS |17

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATTHEW LEWIS/IMAGEREFLEX

FACEOFF: Old Prom Vs New Prom 18| OPINION

old:

new:

Old prom generally defines the era of prom dresses from 2000 to As the years go by, fashion trends constantly change and the early 2010s, and often faces criticism for its outward “tackiness” evolve to best fit the interests and tastes of consumers. Many and overall outdated style. However, as modern day prom fashion fashion trends today reference past decades, such as the recently slips into more and more simplicity, the fun of senior prom — which popularized grunge style of the 1990s and the bohemian style of should contain sequins and sparkles and colors — is lost with the rise the 1970s. Despite many trends being samples of the past, certain of new prom. areas of fashion are particularly unique to the present, such as Old prom is special because it embodies the spirit of teenage formal wear. prom, which should be fun, loud and sparkly. Senior prom embodies “Old Prom” is the term used for the types of formal wear dresses a teenager’s last hoorah before they transition from high school into of the 2000s and 2010s, characterized by extravagant details such the real world, so the dress one wears should equally resemble a as bright colors, sequins, ruffles and more. While these dresses quality of playfulness that one does not wear every day. have remained popular for many years, recently formal wear style Often, people argue that these dresses are “tacky,” as they can has altered significantly. What was once considered popular and sometimes be loud with multiple sparkles, colors and patterns. chic is now tacky and outdated.

However, prom dresses are supposed to represent one of the most “New Prom” is the term for the new, more casual style of important nights of a teenager’s life. With prom being such a big formal wear that girls are wearing today, looking somewhat deal, new prom defeats this purpose, by having teenage girls dress in similar to sundresses that one could wear to many different events. dresses they would wear to Sunday brunch or to a wedding, which One of the primary criticisms of prom dresses is that the practice one can wear at any given time. Additionally, wearing the “old prom” of purchasing a dress to only wear once is wasteful. With W style does not need to automatically equate to wearing some of the new prom, these dresses are not as ostentatious and old dress silhouettes back from the 2000s. Wearing can be worn on many other occasions, not just for old prom-style dresses can just mean wearing one night. simple floor-length dresses with fun colors, In terms of style, new prom is far more sparkles and sequins. timeless and wearable than old prom. Where old Those who argue for new prom also prom dresses are so impractical that they can generally argue that old prom is wasteful in only be worn for a few hours, new prom dresses that one wears their prom dress only once and are both re-wearable and more comfortable. never again. However, a similar case can be Though some criticize new prom dresses for being argued for many other special dresses, such as too casual and “boring,” the fact that these dresses a wedding dress. Like wedding dresses, prom are more modest and sophisticated allows dresses symbolize sentimentality and are often them to be reworn and not just kept for the purpose of looking back on packed away in a box after one a memory, or passing down to one’s night. child or loved one. However, Prom is a once in a lifetime even if the dress does not get event that people want to kept, one always has the option remember forever, and for of renting out a prom dress, many this means go big or which remains significantly go home. Yet, rewearing cheaper. the dress not only keeps If one is thinking of what it from going to waste, dress they should go and but allows the wearer to wear to prom, they should revisit those memories Nicole Martin consider an element of while making new Copy Editor playfulness and fun in ones with it too. n.martin.thepanther@gmail.com their dresses. Prom is only Jasmine Judge Business Manager one night of the year, so one j.judge.thepanther@gmail.com should make it count through PHOTOS BY VALENTINA ARIAS the special dress they wear.

DESIGN BY LUNA GARCIA

DEAR SENIORS, Over the course of the past year, you have shown us what it truly means to be passionate and hardworking, how to tell stories with integrity and make an impact on our school and community. You have checked every box for what a role model should embody and have made us beyond proud to send you off with this senior issue.

When we first entered newspaper class in 2020 and 2021, your class was the most welcoming and made room 1124 truly feel like home. Before the school year started, we had heard stories detailing how newspaper is unlike any other class, but you showed us what that truly meant. One thing that undoubtedly made our transition to newspaper even smoother was having all of your work as our example. Every article, design and photograph exemplified The Panther’s excellence and demonstrated what we needed to represent as staffers. We could always count on asking any of you for help with an interview or AP style, as you always encouraged us to ask questions and welcomed them with open arms. You helped us grow our confidence — whether personal or journalistic. You have helped us to find our voice within ourselves, and have empowered us to translate it into our writing.

Upon the reflection that prompted us to write this piece, we realized that all five seniors in newspaper class have broken barriers both inside and outside the classroom. From bake sales to philosophy pages, investigative and photojournalism, newsletters, student clubs, academics, community service, sports teams, book drives, advocacy projects and more, you all have proven what it truly means to be a Panther. You have used your voices to shed light on topics that have impacted our community and beyond: we have no doubt your class will change the world. It has always been said that Miami Palmetto Senior High produces some of the most successful individuals who make extreme contributions to society, and we cannot wait to see your names among these headlines.

Sam, thank you for showing us how far hard work and

FEATURE |19

determination can take you. As your Co-EIC you have become my right-hand man and I could not have done it without you. Ella, thank you for always coming up with creative solutions to difficult problems. Ryan, thank you for showing us the importance of kindness. Vale, thank you for showing us loyalty and being a pillar of support.

Michael, thank you for showing us the importance of sharing and listening to opinions.

Although COVID-19 cut many of our traditions short and altered many of your newspaper experiences, your class was the first to welcome us in. Though we will never understand what it is like to be a class of 2023 graduate, your daily dedication to our publication showed us all we need to know. The tight-knit group of your class that emulates loyalty and support is something we will continue and hope to preserve far into the future.

We promise to keep The Panther alive and continue to prove that journalism, especially student journalism matters. We promise to follow in your legacy and will strive to make you proud. Although we have big goals for next year, with even bigger shoes to fill, do not worry.

You have taught us everything we will need to know and are determined to pass on your legacy.

To the five newspaper graduates, we could not have asked for a better year with all of you. Although we will miss you all dearly, we know you are going to bring so much good to the world and make immeasurable impacts on society. We could not have asked for better mentors and supporters and know that in return we will cheer you on in any endeavor you chose to go after. Thank you for teaching us about perseverance, dedication and commitment; we truly appreciate each one of your contributions to our publication. From every design for print and online, every photograph, every interview, every copy rotation and finally, for every story, we recognize and are forever grateful for the hard work you have poured into The Panther.

Keep making us proud.

Sincerely, Amy-Grace Shapiro,

Isabella Hewitt

Editor-in-Chief

Print Editor-in-Chief

& Sofia Strohmeier Online Editor-in-Chief

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PANTHER STAFF

Editor-In-Chief

Amy-Grace Shapiro

Print Editor-In-Chief Isabella Hewitt

Online Editor-In-Chief Sofia Strohmeier

Managing Editor Ava Garcia

Senior Copy Editor Sara Paredes

Senior Multimedia Editor Emilia Haus

Senior Design Editor Ivy Lagarto

Business Manager Jasmine Judge

Feature Editor

Samantha Elkins

Contents Editor

Isabella Hewitt

News Editor Ava Stuzin

Life Editor

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR DONORS! Lisabeth Alvarez Elsy Handal Helen Garcia Chelsea Wilkerson Marisel Strohmeier Jacquie O’Malley Yanick Perodin Isabella Sanchez-Angée

Leslie Webb

Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 GRADUATING SENIORS OF MIAMI PALMETTO SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL!

Michael Angee

ROZ MARKS

Eitan Greenberg

305.205.2740 ROZREALTOR@GMAIL.COM

Sports Editor

Opinion Editor

Sofia Taddeo-Goldstein

Multimedia Team Valentina Arias Maddie Volpe Ryan McKean

Design Team

Ella Pedroso Luna Garcia Mia Shields Paula Ortiz

Copy Team

Edie Carneiro Gabriella Alvarez Brooke Wilensky Nicole Martin

Staff Writers

Alexis James Jake Hawkins Paulina Handal Daniel Perodin

Adviser

Laura Aviles

REALTOR

MISSON 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 a.shapiro. 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.

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.