The Andalusian Volume 22 Issue 3

WEIGHING IN

MACLAY GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM MAKES HISTORY

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

As the semester is coming to an end, we want to thank everyone who has supported our publication. As this is a quick turnaround from our last issue on the bullying epidemic, we wanted to provide readers with one more issue filled with our staff’s best work before winter break. For this issue we wanted to highlight the girl’s weightlifting team as they have grown from having the smallest number of members to now having the largest number of members for girl sports in the upper school. These girls have put in an immense amount of hard work, and we wanted to showcase their success and give recognition as their season progresses. To give some insight about our editorial on school safety, we thought that prioritizing students and school safety is an important topic that needed to be written about given the recent events around the world. By reading

the article we hope that it will raise awareness and remind administration, teachers and students that safety precautions should always be taken seriously and respected by every individual. Most of all, we want to thank our amazing staff for all of their hard work and dedication! Keep up the amazing work! As always, we want to thank Ms. Callaway for always pushing us to step out of our comfort zone and achieve new goals. We would also like to give thanks to Mr. Beamer and all the faculty who continue to provide numerous amounts of support and encouragement to the Andalusian. As a publication, we enjoyed creating this issue and we hope that you guys enjoy it too! We can’t wait to see what 2023 holds.

sincerely, RJ Hosay and Merrell Webster

Enough

ON THE COVER

News N

NEWS BRIEF ON ONE SCHOOL, NATIONAL AND WORLD EVENTS

BY RJ HOSAY

ONE SCHOOL

CHRISTMAS JOY

Florida Guardian ad Litem is a statewide organization that helps abandoned, neglected and abused children of all ages. When Christmas rolls around, Guardian ad Litem leads a drive to help provide Christmas wonders to as many children as possible. Maclay participates in this drive throughout the entire school and donates a vast amount of toys for boys and girls. The upper school Maclay Community Service Club, Key Club and the middle school Junior Beta Club all raised money and bought items separately in November to provide as many toys as possible for Guardian ad Litem. Items were gathered in the Langford Hall throughout the last few weeks of November and filled up the stage. Toys like bicycles, stuffed animals and legos could be seen and they were sent off to the organization in early December.

SECOND SEMESTER UPCOMING EVENTS

WED 1/4 - First Day of Second

Semester

SAT 1/7- WED 1/11 -

Junior Ski Trip

MON 1/16TUES 1/17-WED 1/18 -

MLK Holiday

Junior Retreat

NATIONAL WORLD

THE RISING COST OF CHRISTMAS TREES

The cost of goods has increased in recent months. This increase included holiday purchases like gas and turkey for Thanksgiving. With the Christmas holiday coming up, the price of Christmas trees proves to be no different. In 2021, according to the National Christmas Tree Association the average cost for a tree was $69.50, and this year they reported that the average price for a tree could be up to $100. The increase in price on Christmas trees is due to an increase in price for farmers to provide maintenance to the trees like fertilizer. Anyone who is looking to buy a Christmas tree in Tallahassee can go to Tallahassee Nurseries, Esposito Garden Center, Native Nurseries and Home Depot. Prices will depend on the shape, size and overall

STUDENT RESPONSES TO THE WORLD

2022 MENS WORLD CUP IS UNDERWAY

The World Cup has been a tradition since the 1930’s, and it is a highly sought after tournament by national soccer teams all over the world to prove who’s best. This year Qatar hosted the World Cup, so many fans had to travel to witness their country play. The first game kicked off on Nov. 20 with the group stage matches and now the remaining teams are Argentina, Netherlands, Croatia, Brazil, England, France, Portugal and the underdog team Morocco. Morocco is the fourth African team and first ever Arab team to advance to the quarterfinals in World Cup history. Besides the remaining teams, the United States made an appearance and made it to the round of 16 this year after not even qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. The championship game for the 2022 World Cup will be played on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Design By Merrell Webster

CELEBRATING OUR BECOMING

On Tuesday, Dec. 6 during homeroom, Maclay students gathered in the courtyard to celebrate the release of the first issue from the “Notes from the Underground” (NFTU) for the 2022-23 school year. NFTU is a book that first made its debut at Maclay in 2016 and was founded by Dr. N. Suzanne Jamir. The book, which is published twice a year, is a culmination of Maclay’s creative endeavors. It features students’ creative writing, prose, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, artwork, photography and sculptures (printed photographs). Each piece is submitted and vetted through the publication’s editors, and senior Editor-In-Chief Isabel McDaniel organizes the best, most encapsulating submissions that are then published as an official book.

Because the book is free, the formal release party gives every artist, writer, painter or photographer a venue or publication to preserve their work and share it with other students.

SENSE OF

Not only does the book include students from Maclay, but students worldwide have previously submitted to the publication. Faculty Director Craig Beaven believes that the release creates dialogue and openness while raising the publication’s profile immensely.

“People read [Notes from the Underground] and see similarities between themselves and others,” Beaven said. “It celebrates art and creativity.”

Furthermore, McDaniel enjoys sorting through the submissions and being able to share students’ creativity that may otherwise go unnoticed.

“[Notes from the Underground] allows me to bring attention to

the talented artists and writers of the upper school,” McDaniel said. “There are so many people who create amazing things and don’t get celebrated for it, so I love being able to share the artistic talent we have at Maclay.”

Senior Maddy Meeker is the Fiction Editor for NFTU, meaning she is tasked with revising the fiction submissions. She is grateful for her position and enjoys participating in NFTU because she has looked up to the publication’s success throughout her high school career.

Meeker said, “It’s really satisfying to see all of the submissions and edits come together into something that we’re all really proud of.”

Sophomore Diya Patel, the Copy Editor for NFTU, enjoys

being a part of the leadership team because she gets to be surrounded by people who appreciate art, poetry and literature as much as she does.

In addition to the copies of “Notes from the Underground” Fall 2022 Edition, students were offered free bagels and coffee to enjoy while flipping through the pages and being enlightened by their peers’ creativity.

Overall, the innovation and imagination that NFTU entails is Beaven’s favorite part of his job at Maclay. Beaven admires the student’s commitment to its vision and is proud to be the faculty sponsor.

“We all have that shared goal and interest,” Beaven said. “It’s very rewarding to see the kids begin with zero submissions in August and take it all the way through to a book that will be on their shelves for the rest of their lives.”

The publication announced that its next release will be toward the end of the second semester.

BY MEG HOWELL

Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else ever thought.”

People read [Notes from the Underground] and see similarities between themselves and others. It celebrates art and creativity.

NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND FALL ISSUE CELEBRATES STUDENTS’ ARTISTIC TALENTS

Design By Kate Bulloch

Photos By Meg Howell

EXAM-INING A NEW SCHEDULE

MACLAY IMPLEMENTS NEW CHANGES TO THE 2022-2023 MIDTERM EXAM SCHEDULE

It’s12:30 a.m. Your eyes are burning from trying to stay awake as a thousand math formulas and vocab words are racing through your brain. The only thought you can actually memorize is the fact that a break is on the horizon. Unlike years past, the 2022-2023 new midterm exam schedule consists of regular school on Monday and Tuesday, science and history/electives on Wednesday, math and English/ electives on Thursday and world language, Computer Science and doubles/makeups on Friday.

With this new schedule, one of the most notable changes is that some exams are taking place on the Friday before winter break. In past years, Maclay took the entire week to have a full week of exams. However, this year because of the amount of project based exams, Maclay found that they did not need a full week to do exams. Instead, this year they were able to condense the days down and dedicate the first two days of the week to have an extra review day for each A and B day. This change at the beginning of the year allowed exam week to be flexible with any hurricanes or

storms affecting the A and B day schedule.

“I know there are some that are thinking why not Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday versus Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but what we try to do is have an even number of A and B days. That is why we had to do Monday and Tuesday as instructional days rather than starting those out as exam days,” head of upper school Charles Beamer said. “We also kind of look at history and look to see where we normally get hit with hurricanes or we look at the number of holidays we have in the semester and again, we try our best to even out those A and B days. This year it just fell to where Monday and Tuesday were needed to be those instructional days and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are exam days.”

This year, they decided to put electives and more project-based exams on the Friday before break, so students and teachers are not having to come and stay for a long period of time. Some students who are doubled up in math, science or world language classes are also on Friday.

“It’s [the schedule] not too

MIDTERM EXAM SCHEDULE

bad to be honest. It certainly isn’t convenient, but all my other exams will be done at that point so there should still be plenty of time to study and prepare,” senior Oakley Deison said. “I think it is my elective science and if it is similar to the one Mackie gave last year, then it should be interesting. Last year we had to model the infection rate of a disease, so if it ends up being another project then it really shouldn’t impact me that badly at all.”

In past years, Friday was traditionally a day not dedicated to a core exam. Instead, the school kept it as an exam day, but it was for makeup exams because of the students who had to leave early for athletic events or surgery.

“We are not worried about that [this year] because we do have some students that are having surgery and we do have some students that are starting their vacations early,” Beamer said. “For those students we are just going to push it back to January, or they can do it early. That is the beauty of having FLEX. We look at that week before exams and try to use those two days of FLEX for students to take their exams.”

As the years progress, one of the things Beamer and the faculty are looking into is what exams will look like in 2025. Because some of the exams are getting done early, he has thought of having maybe three exams in a day to condense the amount of exam days.

“Together as a faculty we are discussing a concept called (UDL) Universal Design Learning,’’ Beamer said. “Basically, what that is is us telling you how you best learn and me allowing you to learn the concept.”

Instead of giving a typical exam, students would be given a socalled “list” of concepts to learn and they could pick whatever medium they choose to showcase their knowledge. Whether that is a movie, a lab or a paper and pencil exam, those differentiable assessments can better fit students so they can showcase how best they learn.

“I can’t tell you what exams are going to look like next year but we are moving in a direction where in the next five years, we won’t see exams the same way we see them now,” Beamer said.

BY MERRELL WEBSTER

EXAM STUDY TIPS

AWTASTE AROUND THE O R LD

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST CULTURE FAIR FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

ANNUAL CULTURE FAIR. During the Culture Fair, teachers and students walked the courtyard learning about the different cultures and their food. While walking, students asked questions about what food was being served. Next to every table the groups set up signs with fun facts about the region the food was from, along with the cost. After choosing their food, everyone made their way over to Mr.McCann and Dr. Fitzpatrick to pay for their food and support the club.

HOMEMADE AND READY TO SERVE. The Culture Fair had four different countries represented around the courtyard. A popular one was the Indian culture table, full of many traditional and popular Indian dishes. Members in charge of that table were serving homemade mango lassi, samosas, curry and many other dishes. These are all very popular meals in India that Maclay students and teachers got to enjoy for lunch. The table was also decorated with a poster that informed students with many interesting facts about India and the food they were selling.

WELCOME TO SOUTH KOREA. MAC members junior Eva Yi, sophomore Leah Song, senior Rachel Bethke and senior Isabel McDaniel ran the South Korean table. They all worked together to create a beautiful table that showcased many of South Korea’s popular foods. Hotteok, japchae and kimchi fried rice were a few of the variety of dishes they were serving to students and teachers. When walking around the courtyard, all students and teachers could smell was the tasteful food made by these students.

AMAZING FOOD

Another popular table during the Culture Fair featured food from Ghana. Members created an eye-catching poster with the colors of the country’s flag on it and some fast facts. On the table they laid out delicious homemade dishes from Ghana for Maclay’s students and teachers to enjoy for lunch. As word spread, more teachers and students came to their table wanting to learn more about the food.

THE SET-UP. On Dec. 7, MAC began to began to set up for their Maclay Culture Fair during 3A. Members left midway through their third period to meet up with the club leaders and discuss how they would be setting up for the event. As the meeting finished, members headed out to the courtyard and began setting up. Each country got its own table where members of the club decorated and laid out the food. Some of the tables had colorful streamers that represented the country’s flags and others had posters with fun facts.

PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS BY KATELYN ELDRED

OPINION O

STUDENT TAKES

HOT TOPICS

DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO READ SHAKESPEARE IN SCHOOL?

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A NEGATIVE STEREOTYPE AGAINST ONLY CHILDREN?

“ I think they are very offensive to Jewish people and I do not think it’s okay to be discriminatory toward anyone because of something they cannot control. I have never listened to his music and Iv’e never really enjoyed his music, and to hear that he would say something so offensive makes me

“I think it’s disappointing as previously he has stated hatred towards Nazi’s and so the fact that he is bringing [it] up now is very concerning. I have listened to his music before, but I stopped listening just because I grew out of that taste. Now due to his comments, I completely stopped listening.”

“ I think it was wrong on many different levels and I think them saying they are going to look into it is kind of messed up because you don’t just stumble upon those kind of documents. “

“When they did it with kids, I will say that was their biggest mistake. I do not think kids should be associated with that type of stuff, espically at that young of an age at like five or six years old.”

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH : PRIORITIZING SCHOOL SAFTEY

STUDENTS RESPOND TO AND REFLECT ON THE EDITORIAL TOPIC

SHOULD SCHOOLS DO MORE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR STUDENTS AND FACULTY?

“ I think schools should make students and faculty wear their school ID’s around campus to ensure saftey.”

“I think schools should have more security at all entrances, should be more enclosed and students could wear their student ID’s on their backpack.

MYA RUTLEDGE. 9 GABBY DATTOLI. 10

KANYE WEST’S ANTISEMITIC COMMENTS

LAUREN PRICE. 12 ALEJANDRO ORTIZ. 11

BALENCIAGA AD SCANDAL

HUDSON LEGER. 11 ABBI SHERMAN. 11

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Noone should be scared to walk through their own school halls, no parent should be afraid to send their kid to school and wonder if they are going to see them again and no one should wake up wondering if that day is going to be their last.

The issue of school safety has become more and more prevalent as schools continue to receive violent threats each year. Because of these scenarios, it is becoming increasingly harder for students to enjoy their education and feel safe within their school walls. While many events can play a role in this fear, school shootings and cyberbullying specifically have stopped students from feeling safe on school grounds. Because of this, schools need to be doing everything possible to make their environment safer to ensure better protection for their students and to allow students to get a better education without the worry of violence.

Sadly, it has become more natural for students to fear walking into classes or strolling through hallways with the concern that a weapon may make an appearance. School shootings have developed into a major problem over the past decades; but unfortunately, they have become a lot more common in today’s society. According to CBS, a tragic shooting occurred on a bus at the University of Virginia (UVA) on Sunday, Nov. 13. This shooting resulted in three football players being shot

shootings have been going on for years; however, it has become more prevalent for parents to send their children to school with the constant fear that they may never see their children again. With less than one month left in 2022, more than 270 shootings have been recorded on school campuses; including any time a gun has been shot on school property, ranging from a small accident to a mass school shooting. Despite school efforts, violence is still going on and will keep going on until a notable change is made.

Although schools are trying to add further protection to better secure their campuses, schools should also be taking a deeper look at what is going on inside school walls and behind screens. Bullying is not talked about enough and while some don’t take it seriously, in reality, bullying is a lot more severe than society acknowledges. Not only is bullying portrayed in person, but it is also characterized on the internet and is happening to students all across the United States. Cyberbullying takes place over digital devices, such as a phone or a laptop, and occurs mainly through direct messaging or social media platforms. Since this danger is not spread face to face, but through a screen, it makes the situation so much more dangerous. Cyberbullying can have long-term effects on teens, resulting in students skipping school, receiving poorer grades and even having a decline in their

FOR: AGAINST: 0 8

EDITORIAL POLICY

Articles published as an editorial reflect the opinions of the Andalusian staff. Each editorial is approved by the standing editorial board and must receive a majority vote before it can be published as reflecting the views of the publication. The 2022-23 editorial board consists of Editor-In-Chiefs RJ Hosay and Merrell Webster, Managing Editors Kate Bulloch and Meghan Goletz, General Editors Meghan Goletz, Kate Bulloch and Julia Luck, Sports Editor Sawyer Davis, Business Manager Jaclyn Summers and Adviser Cailyn Callaway.

understand the effects these violent instances have on students and on their overall mental health before other threats arise and cause more damage among the students.

While it may not always be possible for schools to prevent critical events, it is doable for schools to be aware of what to do when such accidents break out. Schools should be regularly practicing lockdown drills and fire drills to prepare students if there is ever an emergency on campus. Lockdown drills need to be done more often so that students will be informed about where to go and what to do. Drills need to be endorsed so students can know how and when to take control in those uncontrollable situations. Not all schools are practicing these drills enough, as it is resulting in injuries, and even deaths. A school’s job is to not only educate its students, but to also provide them with a safe, and comfortable learning place. Schools need to be doing more to assure that their students and faculty are staying safe.

With recent violent acts being committed on school campuses, it’s normal for students to feel a little bit of unease when arriving at school. It may be simple for a student’s concern to be shut down by adults when they tell them, “school shootings are rare,” or “it’s only on the news, it won’t happen here.” Although parents want their children to feel safe at school, that doesn’t mean they actually do. Telling a student that,

Since the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, more than 700 people have been shot at U.S. schools on football fields and in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias and parking lots.

“everything will be okay,” is not enough. Students who are being put through countless violent situations are told these exact words, and yet, everything is not always okay. Students are the ones that walk into school each day with the fear that they may not walk out. Schools need to take this into account and do everything they possibly can to ensure safety so that students can feel safe in the place they spend most of their teenage lives.

Schools need to start prioritizing students’ safety more, or else, other deadly incidents are going to occur. Threats can happen anywhere at any time. Whether that be on a school bus, or in an elementary school hallway, students are not always in total safety. However, with extra practice drills and stronger security implements, students will have the upper hand if an emergency occurs and will be more confident in themselves to handle the situation safely. While no one foresees these uncontrollable situations, it is important that schools are preparing their students and faculty to handle the worst situation possible. These ongoing acts of violence need to be taken care of, and it is important for a change to happen because if a change is not made, students and faculty will continue to feel unsafe in their own school hallways. No one should fear if that day is going to be their last.

The members of Maclay Andalusian’s editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by being for, and the members who disagree are represented by being against.

SCHOOLS SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THEIR STUDENTS AND FACULTY FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL.

TO BE AND DEFINITELY NOT TO TEACH

IT SHOULD NOT BE A REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN SHAKESPEARE IN SCHOOL

BY LEAH SONG

of the authors with the biggest impact on the study of literature today in the 21st century is an English playwright from the 16th century, named William Shakespeare. Despite many ancient aspects of Shakespeare’s work, his plays are one of the core topics covered in English classes, especially in English-speaking countries. A majority of middle school students read or at least know the major plot of “Romeo and Juliet.” As they enter high school, they get exposed to more of Shakespeare’s work, such as “Macbeth,” “Hamlet” and “Othello,” just to name a few. Since learning Shakespeare has been an undisputed agreement for most students and even teachers, they rarely ask why they are learning the medieval language, culture and characters. Even though Shakespeare should always be a part of studying English literature, the requirement of reading Shakespeare’s plays in schools needs to be

Students begin learning the Shakespearean language in middle school, which continues until the end of high school. Still, one of the words they most

Onecommonly use to describe his plays is “confusing.” Shakespeare’s plays are written in Early Modern English, and most of his vocabularies imply different meanings than what modern readers think they would mean. Moreover, his plays often include unusual sentence structure, interruption in the middle of sentences and omission of words that English sentences generally demand. Due to this outdated nature of Shakespeare’s language, most students reading it experience difficulty understanding the text. Interestingly enough, even though the school curriculum teaches students how to interpret the plot, settings and characters’ behaviors, it barely puts emphasis on comprehending the Shakespearean language itself. Regardless of students’ overall understanding of the play, when they have problems reading the text, they usually end up losing interest in the play and everything becomes boring.

During classroom discussions over Shakespeare’s plays, students spend much of their time investigating the meaning of certain words and reasons behind his specific word choices. However, Shakespeare’s work was never meant to be analyzed; it was created for performance on stage, not even for reading. A good example for comparison to Shakespeare’s work is “The Great Gatsby,” another literary work that most highschoolers are required to read. In the novel “The Great Gatsby,” almost

every sentence matters and each vocab word is carefully chosen to arouse emotions. In contrast, Shakespeare’s word usage did not matter as much as people believe it did when he wrote his work. “Hamlet,” for example, existed in four different versions during his time, each version with divergent word usage and distinct lines; even Shakespeare himself did not care which text was performed by actors. Even though students are told that they need to learn how to “interpret” things, it seems clear that students are rather just adding nonexistent significance to every single line than interpreting what Shakespeare intended to convey.

In addition to problems with Shakespeare’s language, reading multiple plays from the same writer limits students’ view to the perspective of one white male figure. Even if Shakespeare was a famous figure during his time, his life was short and he lived in a small world. Even though he had some good lessons, there are many other writers with the same lessons that are coming from Africa, Latin America, Asia or any other remaining parts of the world. The general expectation that students learn Shakespeare prevents them from experiencing diversity of the literary world. In fact, many students learning Shakespeare come from different cultures, but they only get to study Western literature. Instead of putting so much focus of the entire high school English curriculum on Shakespeare’s work, including

the literature of mixed groups of people will help expose students to a wider range of language, customs and perspectives.

It is true that reading Shakespearean literature is helpful to get familiar with classic writing and learn about human nature. But his work was designed to be interpreted through plays that present universal themes that are relevant to this day, such as love, ambition, death and fate. In “Macbeth,” for example, Shakespeare depicts how ambition causes a tragic hero, Macbeth, to lose moral consciousness and eventually face his downfall. Even when watching the plays that Shakespeare has created, it still creates confusion and difficulty for students, which is why learning Shakespeare should not be a requirement in schools.

The importance of Shakespeare is overrated, as there are other ways to learn the same things that Shakespeare presents. Perhaps reading one or two of his plays might be a good experience, but students should not be expected to read his plays all throughout high school. They should rather read something that is comprehensible, consists of true complexity and portrays greater diversity.

*all information is found from www.williamshakespeare.net

STAFF WRITERS LEAH SONG AND VINE BUTLER DUKE IT OUT FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STAGE.

Design By Meghan Goletz

and Juliet Hamlet Macbeth

Top Shakespeare plays read in schools from 2014 and 2015

BE NOT AFRAID OF

GREATNESS

LEARNING SHAKESPEARE IN SCHOOL IS A VITAL PART OF LEARNING ENGLISH LITERATURE

BY VINE BUTLER

William Shakespeare may have died in 1616, but his plays have been taught in schools for over 400 years following his death. Most students dread having to read plays like “Julius Caesar,” “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” but even if these works of literature may be difficult to analyze and just generally hard to read, high schools should continue to teach Shakespeare, even if their students aren’t very fond of it.

According to a study by the University of Warwick, 49% of students find Shakespeare to be a bit boring and difficult to read. But, whether you like his plays or not, Shakespeare is the foundation of English literature. Many of the books and poems we read nowadays draw from his work in some shape or form. Shakespeare has had such an immense influence on a vast amount of literature and many writers are unaware of the amount of his elements they use in their own works. Many colleges use Shakespeare’s work to pave the way for their lectures, so if students are ammune to it at a younger age, it will prepare them for what they will see later on in life. Shakespeare has paved the way for many works of literature, inspiring them with his plays and poems.

It is also believed that Shakespeare invented certain

words that he used in his plays by replacing nouns for verbs and combining words. Many modern works of literature use Shakespeare’s techniques, so it is interesting to learn about everything Shakespeare inspired in modern literature. Supposedly, the book “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling and the television series “Game of Thrones,” which was adapted from “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin, both took inspiration from aspects of Shakespeare’s works. Between those popular shows and movies, this shows that Shakespeare’s ideas have carried on into modern-day stories for everyone to enjoy.

Reading Shakespeare is also a great source to use when learning how renaissance English literature compares to modern day. Most people have opened something by Shakespeare and immediately closed it because they had no idea how to read it. Fair enough, but taking the time to learn the language of Shakespeare and other renaissance writers is crucial to learning about the evolution of the English language. Learning Shakespear at an earlier age, like middle school, offers students the ability to learn more complexly and will prepare them for the difficulty of high school. It is important for students to see how the language

FOR AGAINST

LUCY WHITEHEAD. 12

BEN THOMPSON. 9

has evolved and changed over the centuries. Shakespeare is a perfect resource to use when comparing early modern English to the language we use nowadays. For students to get a full grasp on the English language, learning about Shakespeare is the best way to do that.

Most people know that reading Shakespeare is no simple task, but if students learn how to read and analyze Shakespeare, they can easily read other works of literature. It can be difficult and sometimes boring to read because hides many details in his writing, to the point where people have to really break down his stories to fully understand them. Not to mention the difference in language, it can be a challenge. However, this is a blessing in disguise. If students learn how to read Shakespeare in school, they will develop the skills to effortlessly read and analyze other works of literature in the future. Diving deeper into stories is much of the fun for any student learning about literature. In doing so, students are able to formulate their own response to his works and can create valuable skills in analyzing any type of medium that will become an advantage to them in the future.

“I think Shakespeare should be learned about in school because we need to learn about the history of everything to

“I do not think Shakespeare should be learned about in school because it is boring and an old text. The words are weird and hard to understand.” understand the present. To understand literature now, we have to learn about literature of the past.”

Even with all the positive things that come with reading Shakespeare, it is no secret that many students would rather read just about anything else. Though his stories might still hold a bit of relevance in modern times, with themes like love, corruption and revenge, let’s face it, Shakespeare is becoming outdated and losing its relatability to young minds. Reading Shakespeare at such a young age can also be difficult for students to understand due to how complex his writing is. His plays and poems have also been passed down for centuries, and simply due to the curse of time, they are

gradually starting to lose relevance in our world today. But despite this, it is still important to understand Shakespeare because it has and will always be a part of English literature. Instead of complaining about his work, students should take the time to realize the rewarding aspects of Shakespeare. Shakespeare offers students a new way to look at literature by entertaintaing them with interesting word choice and imagery. Shakespeare makes students and teachers understand how the old world functioned, which is why it is so important to read and understand. While his work does not need to be the only focus in an English class, a few sufficient lessons on Shakespeare’s life and his plays are necessary for a good education in English literature. Students should see the good in Shakespeare, not the bad.

Design By Meghan Goletz

MEGHAN’S COMMENTARY

After I was born, life got busier and busier for my parents, and having another child simply did not fit into their schedules. Ever since I was little, I noticed that I was practically the only person in my friend group who didn’t have siblings. Whenever my friends would come over, instead of playing common games like dress up, hide and go seek or four square, I always wanted to play “house.” This was my favorite game, where my friends would act as my family members. Deep down, I knew that I would never be able to relate to the special bond between real siblings that most of my friends had in their homes, but I at least wanted to try and live their lives, even if it was only during our playdate. As I got older, I realized that having siblings was not an ideal life for me. When it came down to my friends acting like my family members, I hated how they treated me with constant sassiness and selfishness. I loved my friends, but not as my siblings. My parents didn’t realize it at the time, but they gave me a pretty sweet life by making me an only child.

One of the biggest advantages of being an only child is not having to share anything. Sharing is challenging for all children— and siblings are no exception.

ME, MYSELF AND I

BEING AN ONLY CHILD IS BETTER THAN THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS

The constant debate over clothes, toys, food and even the remote, is a situation I have never had to face. No matter how many siblings a family has, or what the gender of the children are, there is always something to fight about. Siblings argue over things that are pointless and unreasonable. Parents are then forced to intervene and implement discipline. By having just one child, these constant debates and challenges do not occur.

Another advantage of being an only child is getting one-onone attention from my parents. Having only one child is much easier on parents and allows them to be more attuned to the emotional needs of the single child. Attention can be more directly focused, saving for college is easier and it’s much easier to afford a smaller home. As an only child, I do not have to worry about being outshined or pushed to the side by another sibling. I also get undivided love and attention from my parents which helps boost my confidence and makes me feel special.

“My favorite thing about being an only child is the easy decisions which me and my family can make together,” junior Ava Duke said. “I do not have to worry about constant fighting in my family because the decisions only come

BY MEGHAN GOLETZ

down to me and my parents. It is also great, because my parents give me as much space as I ask for, and they respect me when I ask to be alone. If I had a sibling, none of these scenarios would be possible.”

Personal space is one of the main reasons why I like being an only child. As an only child, I am able to move as freely as I choose without having to worry about the constant nagging or bother of a sibling. Since only children are used to spending a lot of time alone, we find that we don’t have any problem with being in our own company. Often times, only children need to retreat to their own company to recharge or to be back in their own safe space. After long and tiring days at school, I need my own time when I get home to relax, work on homework and watch television. This is something I would have trouble doing if I had siblings, due to the extra ruckus and noise in the house.

Although some may argue that only children are constantly “lonely,” this is not the case. Only children have constant support from not only their parents but

According

also their best friends. My best friends are who I cherish the most. The tight knit-bonds from people that really know or understand me, those are the people I wish to have in my life forever. I rely on my friends and parents to be there for me when I need them, and they always are. Being an only child enhances creativity and feeds independence. The stigma which is attached to only children, lowers the self esteem of an individual and causes them to feel like an outcast. Only children are at an advantage because they do not have to share with another sibling, they get constant attention from their parents and they receive all the personal space necessary.

of

Without constant parental input, only children are good at utilizing the extra time they have. When you worry that your child may be bored or lonely without a sibling, consider there is a significant and useful upside of alone time. It fosters creativity, which also encourages a child’s independence.

I do not have to worry about constant fighting in my family because the desisions only come down to me and my parents.

to the Pew Research Center, the average American family downsized from 3.7 children in 1960 to 1.9 children currently, and about

households with children are one child families.

The single child configuration is growing family unit.

20 percent the fastest

The reasons for the only child family are many and varied: they include finances, infertility, age of parent, medical concerns, and the plain desire to have only one.

GLOBE TROTTING

FOR A SPORT

ATHLETES WITH DEMANDING TRAVEL SCHEDULES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP IN SCHOOL

PAYTON’S COMMENTARY

Struggling to complete assignments and trying to meet deadlines all while being away from home striving to perform to your sport to the best of your ability.

This hectic scenario is the reality for athletes who play travel sports. As someone who participates in a sport that requires a lot of travel, I can say that missing a large amount of school to compete makes keeping up with school seem nearly impossible. Having to miss copious amounts of school as an athlete adds stress because of missing time in the classroom and the difficulty to keep up with the workload that we have.

Missing school as an athlete adds a lot of stress to an already stressful junior year. Athletes consistently deal with a natural realm of stress from performing well at a game or competition, and the added stress of missing class can be too much for some to handle. Approximately 31.9% of highschool athletes suffer from anxiety due to the high stress levels of school. As someone who participates in a sport outside of school, especially one that requires a lot of travel, I feel this stress every time I am absent from school due to one of my horse riding competitions. During the first full week of my junior year, I had a national horse show that I had to attend in Las Vegas, Nevada. This caused me to miss the first full week of school of my junior year. Although a week in Las Vegas doing the sport you love and getting to miss school may sound fun to some, the reality of missing that much school leads to

an immense amount of stress. The levels of stress I felt not being in class to ask my teachers questions and not actually being in class for the first few lectures made it difficult for me to gain my footing going into the new school year. Even though I could email my teachers any questions I had, it was not the same as being able to have face to face interactions.

My sport is not the only one that has a demanding travel schedule. Other travel sports such as travel baseball and travel volleyball have a demanding out of town schedule. This routine adds to an athlete’s stress level due to the fact that they do not get as much face to face time with their teacher. This struggle only gets more difficult as athletes continue moving through school and the curriculum gets more challenging.

“When I was missing class for volleyball it was sometimes difficult to understand certain assignments,” junior Brooke Nohle said. “It was also challenging for me to keep my grades up.”

It is difficult for athletes to keep up with the workload of school, specifically those who miss a lot of school due to their sport. There have been dozens of times that I have been up late on nights of my competitions trying to get all my work done. When I am at weeklong shows, it is difficult to find the precious amounts of time it requires to complete assignments. Seeing the assignments piled up on Schoology with little to no time to do them adds even more of a workload to my already busy week. While some teachers do understand the stress athletes face being away from school, there have been many cases where I have felt my teachers do

not understand that what I am missing school for is something important and serious, not just a vacation. Athletes are busy during these trips, making it difficult to keep up with a heavy workload.

“When I played travel volleyball, sometimes I felt like teachers did not understand why I had to miss so much school,” junior Emma Kate Rodrigue said. “It was difficult when they did not give me any flexibility for assignments.”

It can be argued that since we have so many online resources to keep up with assignments, such as Schoology, it should not be this difficult to keep up with

and understand assignments. However, even online resources have their limitations. If you do not understand something or have a question that google simply cannot answer, the task is nearly impossible. When learning new material, being able to learn face to face gets much more accomplished.

Partaking in travel sports is something that is important to many highschoolers. It is important that teachers are able to understand the stress and workload being placed on these athletes and try to help them in any way possible.

BY PAYTON BUNDY

CONSIDERING THE CHALLENGES

Betweenmy work load and involvement, I just knew that something was bound to overlap. Unfortunately for me, my inkling was right. I was suddenly faced with a tough dilemma of having my FLEX enrichment program at the same time as my club meeting. With my rigorous schedule, this is not the first time that something like this has happened. I find myself always having to miss club meetings or skip getting help from my teachers because I am overbooked. While FLEX is a free period, it should not be used for teachers to schedule class meetings, as students use that time for the designated FLEX courses or time to get help about things they do not understand.

This year, I decided to get my Journalism and Graphic Design Concentration, which takes place on the second FLEX of every week. On that day, I am required to attend the course and cannot go to any other meetings scheduled that day. As I am having to choose my Journalism Course, I am continually missing meetings for the clubs I am a part of. I love attending both of my activities but having to choose between each endeavor is ultimately very challenging. This is unfortunate as I chose to participate in extra curricular’s because of the role I wanted to play in the school’s community.

However, when I am missing all the meetings, I am behind on all of the information that was discussed. Not only am I behind in the work, but I miss the opportunity to work with my peers in

the club. It’s important for me to do my part, and when I am not upholding the responsibilities I intended to participate in, it is unfair to everyone else in the club. When things are constantly being overlapped, it makes it impossible for me to achieve my intended attendance.

While this has been a recurring issue for myself, it is an issue for many other students, as they are involved in numerous clubs and extra classes that overlap during their FLEX schedule.

“Meetings during FLEX can be helpful for student athletes but on the other hand, it takes away time that students could be working

projects, get help from teachers and leave for jobs/internships. When club leaders and sponsors are always scheduling meetings during that period, it takes time away from students who genuinely want to use FLEX for its original purpose.

As a student that takes AP classes, I like to use my FLEX time to go talk to my teachers. However, when clubs are scheduling meetings during that time, it forces students, including myself to choose between them. Having the entire period to get the amount of help on material I don’t fully understand is extremely vital for my education. When

FLEX as best as they can just because a lot of students need that time for other things,” senior Kaileigh Schmidt said. “ FLEX is a time I use to get help from my teachers before a test and if I have a meeting during FLEX, I’m not able to get help before a test. I know a lot of people use FLEX as a time to go home before sports or other things, but they can’t do this if they have a meeting during FLEX.”

While FLEX is a free long period of time and very convenient for scheduling things, it should not be used to schedule club meetings. Instead, those meetings should be scheduled during community time or even lunch. The whole point of FLEX was originally created as a period for students to work with others, get help or leave for their jobs/internships. While taking a FLEX enrichment program was optional, that is still what FLEX was created for. Even without that course, I still run into the issue of constantly having to miss one event or the other. It does not benefit anyone if students are constantly having to miss important information shared

Although it can be challenging, teachers should take into consideration what FLEX enrichment courses students are a part of during FLEX, and utilize community time and lunch to schedule their meetings. There are multiple days of FLEX, and if teachers or club advisors need to schedule a meeting, it is important that they make their best effort to make sure all students can attend.

BY MERRELL WEBSTER

MACLAY SHOULD NOT SCHEDULE CLUB OR CLASS MEETINGS DURING FLEX

Feature F THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS... AP ART SHOW

A VICIOUS CYCLE

CAUSES OF PROCRASTINATION AND WAYS TO COPE WITH IT

SCAN HERE TO READ STAFF WRITER LEAH SONG’S FEATURE ARTICLE ON PROCRASTINATION

IF YOU TEND TO CATCH YOURSELF PROCRASTINATING, WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIES TO AVOID IT?

KATE REICHELDERFER. 10

“I try to get a lot of work done during study hall, FLEX and homeroom if I need to. I try and get things done as fast as I can so that I do not have to do them really last minute.”

ANNA B BRANNEN. 11

“I usually write in a planner to keep track of what I should be studying.”

MASTERMINDS OF THE SHOW. Senior Design Collaboration students, Paloma Rambana and Chari Beamer pose for a picture after students and parents begin to stroll into the AP Art Show Exhibit. The duo teamed up with art teachers Kaitlyn Dressel and Ismael Milligan to put on the exhibit for everyone to see as they walk through Langford Hall.

ART SUPPORTING ART. Notes from the Underground members, seniors Isabel McDaniel and Jenna Adams set up a table at the AP Art Show Exhibit to support their fellow artists. The girls pass out previous booklets that feature pieces such as writing, artwork, stories and more to welcome new submissions and show off those already included.

TAKING

observes both her and her classmates artwork at the AP Art Show Exhibit. She is joined by family, friends and peers to appreciate the work that has been put into Maclay Fine Arts and looks forward to the rest of the year.

WHAT HOLIDAY TRADITIONS DO YOU HAVE?

TRISTAN LUNT. 12

“I bake Christmas cookies with my mother and it is just a really good time of bonding with her”

COLLINS BARTON. 10

“On Christmas Eve, my whole family gets together and we start a bonfire. We all share matching pajamas that we give to each other which is really fun. We just get everyone together and have some dinner but it is really fun and good bonding.”

EMERY REDRUPP. 10

“We have family from all over the world [Paris, Germany and other parts of the country] come in town and just have dinner together. On Christmas Eve we sit around and watch the Polar Express and drink hot chocolate while watching.”

IN THE PASSION. Sophomore Emily Hawken

PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS BY KATE BULLOCH

Photos By Katelyn Eldred

MACLAY GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING GROWS TO BECOME THE LARGEST GIRLS TEAM IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

BY KATE BULLOCH

RAISING MORE THAN JUST

Throughout the history of Maclay sports, boys varsity weightlifting has always been a prevalent and popular team to be a part of within the upper school community. While this team continues to take school records by storm, one recognizable team that has rapidly made a name for itself resides in the same weight room, the girl’s varsity weightlifting team.

Through methods of recruitment and immense amounts of success, the Maclay girl’s weightlifting team has evolved and nearly doubled its members, going from a team of 13 to 28. Each athlete on the team follows a strict weekly schedule, both in and out of season in order to keep their head in the right place when preparing for their lifts. In order to maintain the strength and consistency these athletes possess, they participate in four lifts a week out of season, and three lifts a week while in season.

Upon his arrival at Maclay School to become the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Kenyon Boatfield decided he wanted to have all his athletes under one roof, welcoming both boys and girls into the same weight room. This structured, welcoming environment is what draws so many in, leading the team to become the largest girls’ sports team on campus.

“For me personally, being on the girls weightlifting team has taught me to push myself to work harder through seeing how hard everyone else works on the team,” sophomore Elizabeth Dowdy said. “It has pushed me physically by working hard each and every day to get stronger. It has also pushed me to get mentally stronger by learning to always have the right mindset before competing. Boatfield himself teaches us to always have the right mindset of knowing that we can do it.”

While not only does being on the team bring these girls impeccable strength and put them in their most fit shape, the coaches of this team seek a deeper end goal for the girls. Values such as strength, hard work and confidence are characteristics that are ultimately instilled in each athlete.

“I want the girls to learn the values of hard work paying off,” Boatfield said.

“I want them to see an end goal and know that working hard will pay off from the start of the season to states in February. I love for the girls to feel empowered and know that it is okay for them to be physically and emotionally strong. I am proud to work with all the athletes and see the influx of female athletes in the weight room.”

Despite the girls doing everything in their power to keep the most positive mindset when working towards their hefty goals, just like every other team, they face obstacles that require copious amounts of teamwork and resilience to tackle.

“The most challenging part of being on the weightlifting team has been that we have many new, inexperienced members this year but also, this season is even more of a learning curve for all of us, not just the new members because they have also changed the way the district, regional, and state meet will be run,” senior Peyton Crumpler said. “So we are all learning a lot together as a team, but because we are so close, it makes it much better and easier for all of us to be able to go through this new season with each other.”

While these adaptations may be hard for some sports teams to accommodate, the girl’s varsity weightlifting team has done so with grace and power through their close connections with one another.

[One word I would use to describe the team would be] diverse,” Boatfield said. “We have a lot of different characters on the team. I love having a variety of girls and I like that everyone has different personalities.”

Although the athletes that make up this team are not too far into their 2022-2023 season yet, they look forward to working hard and reaping the physical and emotional benefits that come with being a member of this tight-knit team.

“The most rewarding part of being

on the weightlifting team is seeing my progress and improvement throughout meets,” sophomore Kate Reichelderfer said. “There are some days that my weights aren’t where they need to be and some days I am able to achieve a PR on my lifts, but knowing that the work I’m putting in during practice is paying off

BAR THAN JUST THE

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING WORKS OUT FOUR TIMES A WEEK OFF SEASON AND THREE TIMES A WEEK IN SEASON. EACH ATHLETE MUST GET IN ONE MORNING WORKOUT A WEEK DURING IN SEASON.

MACLAY GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING PARTICIPATES IN NINE MEETS, NOT INCLUDING DISTRICTS REGIONALS AND THEY FINISH THE SEASON WITH A STATE COMPETITION.

THERE ARE 11 WEIGHT CLASSES AT THE GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING MEET AND EACH GIRL IS REQUIRED TO COMPETE IN ONE OUT OF THE 11 WEIGHT CLASSES.

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING DOUBLED IN MEMBERS, GOING FROM 13 IN 2021 TO 28.

A GIRL’S B ST FRIEND

KASSIDY MONINGER SHARES HER EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP WITH A VARIETY OF ANIMALS

BY LEAH SONG

Most pet owners look for pets in search of companionship, motivation to get outside or entertainment in their free time. In addition, having a few animals provides health and mental benefits to the owner. Since dogs and cats have been good companions of humans for a long time by providing love and comfort, most people who want pets debate between dogs and cats. Sophomore, Kassidy Moninger, however, has a quite different experience with her pets than most people due to her foundational love for animals and nature. Unlike most pet owners who are only interested in owning limited kinds of animals, Moninger has a diverse collection of animals including two cats, three dogs, three salamanders, ten koi fish, four

influence of her dad, who also grew up with unique animals and wanted to incorporate a distinct part of his life into his children’s life as well. Surrounded by a wide range of animals, Moninger naturally developed curiosity about different species. Her desire to learn about animals heightens, especially on running trails, where she can find numerous kinds of them. Her endless series of questions about animals always provides an entertaining topic for family discussions.

“I just love animals,” Moninger said. “I think it’s fascinating to learn about. Anytime I see a snake, I try to see what it is. If there is a species that I don’t recognize, I always try to look at it and go back to my dad because he is very good at [identifying] types of species.”

The Moninger family’s unusual pet selection lies beneath not only their interest in animals but also their love for the environment, which has motivated them to help threatened or endangered species grow in population. The family started collecting various kinds of turtles, in particular, as Moninger’s dad wanted to protect box turtles, a turtle species whose numbers are currently decreasing in the environment. In addition to helping animal species, the Moninger family also tries to take

care of individual animals that are in danger. Just like one of Moninger’s turtles that was saved by the family on the side of a road after being hit by a car, all of the family’s animals are rescued animals.

“Our family is very big about trying to help with [the environment],” Moninger said. “He [my dad] likes to be able to implement new species into Florida’s environment. If there is a species that is of more rarity, he is trying to help it be implemented to the environment more and be more well-known.”

When it comes to taking care of the pets, the family usually separates and rotates with their job, giving each person a responsibility. Taking care of pets requires many time-consuming tasks such as training, cleaning and walking. In addition, feeding involves extra care to make sure that all animals are safe and healthy as each animal has different nutritional demands. By being involved in this detailed process since she was just a little kid, Moninger has learned how to remain responsible and manage her time effectively. Despite her busy schedule, she tries to spend as much time as possible with her pets and create many memories with them.

“When I got my first cat Paisley in first grade, it taught me a lot of responsibilities like cleaning the cat

box and feeding,” Moninger said. “It was a lot [of responsibility], but it was a lot of learning. You never know how long you’re going to have your animals for, so you need to spend time with them when you can, take care of them and make sure they’re getting everything they need.”

From growing up with animals to seeing them pass away in the end, Moninger’s dynamic experience with animals has significantly shaped her character. Her intrinsic desire to learn about nature led to a deeper understanding of the world, and her longtime interactions with animals gave her the ability to empathize with all creatures, whether large or tiny.

“Kassidy has always loved animals as long as I have known her,” sophomore Riley Robinton said. “She is very companionate towards them. I feel like it just makes her more aware [of animals] and her caring personality really shows when she is with her animals.”

Animals have always been a special aspect of Moninger’s life. The memories and learning opportunities from her pets have had and will have a lasting influence on who she is as a person.

KASSIDY’S CRITTERS

KASSIDY’S CRITTERS

PAISLEY

STEALING THE SP TLIGHT

Whenthe deep and challenging topic of mental health illnesses and disorders are discussed, Imposter Syndrome typically goes overlooked as a result of the lack of acknowledgement of these high levels of prevalence.

Imposter Syndrome is the persistent feeling of self doubt and unworthiness someone feels when thinking about their accomplishments, education and achievements. When struggling with this, no matter how many times others may recognize one’s achievements, the person with the syndrome will still feel incompetent and unworthy of everything they have done.

“It’s a terrible feeling,” junior Emma Kate Rodrigue said. “Loved ones and friends are showering you with love and telling you how proud they are and all you can hear is your own thoughts telling you ‘they are lying’ or ‘you’re not worthy of this achievement.’”

There are five forms of this syndrome: The perfectionist, the natural genius, the rugged individualist (also known as soloist), the expert and the superhero. The first form, the perfectionist form of the syndrome, is based around one needing to perform every task perfectly, and when they can’t, they become angry with themselves and consider their accomplishments as failures. Since achieving this level of perfection

is impossible, people who struggle with this form are never satisfied with their work. The second form, the natural genius, occurs when certain things may be second nature to someone, but when they cannot learn something immediately and master it, one becomes discouraged and feels like a failure. The inability to perform tasks with perfection and ease is quite common, but cannot be grasped by those with this disorder. The third, the rugged individualist (or the soloist), people who identify themselves as rugged individualists fly solo on all projects they pursue. When offered help or when they can’t do something themselves, they feel weak and inadequate deeming themselves a failure. The fourth, the expert, is when someone mainly focuses on gathering all the information and knowledge they can about a topic, and tend to spend the majority of their time focusing on this aspect of their work rather than the task itself. If they are asked a question about their work and they do not know it, they will often consider themselves a fake and become disappointed in themselves for not knowing every ounce of information. The fifth and final, the superhero, connects their ability to perform a task to their competence and feel as if succeeding in every role possible is the only correct way to succeed. In order to be successful, they will

push themselves as hard as they can and if they cannot fill every role, they see themselves as a failure or incompetent.

“Depending on the student and their own personality and relationship we have would decide my approach,” Middle school guidance counselor Jason Frazier said. “I would talk to this student about their accomplishments with the intent of helping them see their own actions as positive work.”

There is no said cause of imposter syndrome but it tends to come down to insecurities and feelings of worthlessness sometimes acquired as a child. Though the feelings may be persistent and strong, there are ways to combat this. Some of the most common ways are to acknowledge the feelings the syndrome provokes, to build connections, challenge the thoughts of unworthiness and to try to stray from comparing yourself to other people. The feelings people may experience from Imposter Syndrome can be acknowledged by talking to trusted friends, loved ones and even therapists. Forming connections with people can help deal with the syndrome because when creating these bonds and connections with people one does not always have to put pressure on themselves and can receive help from others. Challenging the thoughts one may have can be extremely

helpful and even get rid of those thoughts through providing the brain with evidence against why one’s negative thoughts are wrong. Lasty, refraining from comparing oneself to others can prevent further insecurities because nobody is the same and all experiences are different.

“If a friend ever came to me with this issue I would try and talk to them and help them realize that no matter how they are feeling, their effort will eventually pay off,” junior Hannah Murphy said.

Although it might be easy to fall into the trap that negative thoughts and insecurities create, there is always a way to deal with them. Imposter Syndrome is a serious thing that many people deal with that can come in many different forms such as the perfectionist, the natural genius, the rugged individualist, the expert and the superhero. Each one of these forms are different, but all seem to bring up the same things, the feeling of worthlessness. There are several ways to combat these thoughts such as acknowledging the feelings the syndrome provokes, building connections, challenging thoughts and trying to avoid comparing oneself to other people. While this is a difficult thing to struggle from, there are always people to talk to and ways to deal with this.

BY ELIZABETH BODIFORD

THE PRESSURES AND INSECURITIES THAT COME ALONG WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME

“WILLIEVERBE ENOUGH?”

“I FEEL SO STUPID.”

“IWISH ICOULD.”

WHAT“ICAN’TDOTHEYCAN.”

“ITCOULDHAVEHAPPENED TOANYBODY.”

“WHYISEVERYONESO SMARTBUTME?”

A & E A

NEW AND UPCOMING RELEASES

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER

GENRE: Movie

RELEASE DATE: December 16, 2022

SUMMARY: Jake Sully and Ney’tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

NATIONAL TREASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY

GENRE: TV Show

RELEASE DATE: December 14, 2022

SUMMARY: Jess, a brilliant and resourceful dreamer, searches for answers about her family; she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about the past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.

STAFF SUGGESTIONS

COLLEEN HOOVER READS

Staff Member Anna Grace Proctor ranks her top three Colleen Hoover novels.

GENRE: Movie

RELEASE DATE: December 16, 2022

SUMMARY: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical is an inspirational musical tale of an extraordinary girl who discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny.

MORGAN WALLEN ONE NIGHT AT A TIME TOUR

TOUR INFO: On Dec. 1, Morgan Wallen announced his One Night At A Time World Tour. Special guests Hardy, Parker McCollum, Ernest and Bailey Zimmerman. Wallen is in the middle of working on some new songs and also recently dropped three new songs called, “ One Thing At A Time,” “Tennessee Fan” and “Days That End In Why.” Dates and tickets can be found on morganwalllen.com.

ANDY ASKS: Christmas Edition

What do you think is the most overrated Christmas Movie?

ELF THE GRINCH

“Elf.”

1 2

NOVEMBER 9

I loved this novel from the second I started reading it. The plot is very engaging and you don’t know what’s going to happen next. Many little twists throughout the book add up to a huge secret revealed at the end. It’s a great romance read while also adding little bits of mystery.

REGRETTING YOU

This novel was heartbreaking but in a good way. It showed me new views on life and how easily something can be taken away from you. It’s an emotional rollercoaster with a twist that will make you sick to your stomach. 3

UGLY LOVE

This novel really opened my eyes and taught me so many lessons. The biggest one being you can’t be selfish and you can’t hold onto the past forever. It taught me how to be present. The romance, humor and heartbreak are just outstanding in this novel.

Design By Merrell Webster

I really like the movie, but it’s overrated due to the fact that people are required to like it.”

PEYTON NAYLOR. 12

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas the Jim Carrey Version.” It’s my favorite but it takes away from the classics.’’

LIN NEWTON. 10

ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL

BY LEAH KIROS

Website

crashes, highstress levels and tears.

What is supposed to be a oneway ticket to a fun occasion can quickly turn ugly with the lack of accessibility to concert tickets.

Ticket-selling sites mark-up prices and reduce accessibility in order to produce revenue and remove competition from other companies; a practice that is unfair to everyone on the receiving end of getting tickets. Fans can’t obtain nor afford tickets because of the barriers that ticket-seller sites create. These sites of ticket-selling companies are unlawful and need to be fixed in order to put the fun back in concerts.

Despite some artists’ attempts to make their ticket price range inclusive, most fans can’t participate because of the system set up amongst selling and reselling sites. According to research done by Medium, the average markup on selling sites, also known as their service fee, is 10%, while the average markup on reselling sites is 158%.

The drastic difference between the markups on selling and reselling sites are due to professional brokers. These brokers utilize detailed computer programs, known as bots, that obtain thousands of tickets at a time before people can buy them directly from the official site. Some brokers build fake websites that use similar fonts, pictures and

NISHI BHANDERI. 9

THE GOLDEN TICKETS

information

to trick people into buying upcharged tickets from their website. Other sellers will sell speculative tickets, or tickets that brokers don’t actually have, so buyers are left empty-handed and down huge amounts of money.

A recent scandal involving the company, Ticketmaster, selling tickets for the upcoming Taylor Swift tour has left her fans in a fluster. Tickets for Swift’s Era Tour went on presale on Nov. 15 for people part of the Verified Fan program where prospective buyers must register in advance for an opportunity to purchase tickets. The program is meant to give fans the priority to obtain tickets rather than resellers.

However, Ticketmaster’s system ultimately failed when pre-selected fans were given the link to a pre-sale and a code to access it in an email or text. Preselected fans entered the queue when they clicked on the given link, without needing a code to access it. The lack of required code entry led millions of fans and bots alike to flood the presale that was originally meant for a few hundred thousand people.

According to the American Economic Liberties Project, Ticketmaster has a revenue of around $12.3 billion so far in 2022. Ticketmaster also owns 80% of the venue ticket sales market. With the

“I got a ticket after I waited for about five hours. I got kicked out [of the queue] at one point and I had to log back in, it was a very stressful process. I ended

up paying double the amount for tickets than I had planned. The process of getting the tickets definitely shouldn’t have been so hard.”

revenue that Ticketmaster is generating, they should have spent the money on building a stronger system to prevent a fiasco, such as the selling of tickets for the Era Tour. With the influence Ticketmaster has, they could be setting a positive tone for other ticket-sale companies to follow. Therefore, they would leave an even more positive impact on the mental state of fans when trying to get tickets.

CONCERT TICKETS SHOULD NOT BE SO HARD TO BUY experience possible. Additionally, reselling websites need to lower their upcharge in order to include more fans, rather than just people who can afford their prices. If companies take the steps to do these things then they can avoid situations like the Era Tour and keep their company name in the clear. Once this occurs, such companies will have satisfied fans and gain business in the ticket selling market.

Some may say that the resell market for tickets is beneficial because it allows the fans that are eager for the tickets to buy them. However, this practice only benefits fans that are willing to spend a lot of money and people on the other end of the exchange who want to make a lot of money. People shouldn’t be left out of what could be a life-changing experience because of the greed of others. Buying copious amounts of tickets at one time, only to sell them at an obscene upcharge that’s way out of the performers intended price range isn’t worth the money resellers could make.

Ticket-selling websites need to do better with the resources they have in order to provide their customers the best

MARY CALL MILLER. 10

“I didn’t get a ticket. My mom had tried to get tickets for us since I was in school. She got in the queue after 20 minutes, went to go check out, and then she got an error message, refreshed the page, and

was kicked out. Once she got back in she sat in the queue for four and a half hours. By the time I tried to go in the queue and get tickets they were all gone.”

3.5 BILLION USERS, INCLUDING MOSTLY BOTS, FLOODED WEBSITES IN AN ATTEMPT TO BUY TAYLOR SWIFT’S CONCERT TICKETS.

SWIFT’S TOUR BROKE RECORDS, SELLING 2 MILLION TICKETS IN JUST ONE DAY.

DID YOU WAIT ONLINE TO BUY A TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT TICKET?

Design By Kate Bulloch

A NEAR PERFECT CINEMA EXPERIENCE

BY EFREM ROSENBERG

Whenthe original “Knives Out” was released back in 2019, it shattered box office records with its cohesive cast and a mystery so complex that not even the smartest of fans could predict what would happen next. In fact, the movie was such a hit that entertainment conglomerate Netflix paid over 500 million dollars for the rights to the sequel: “Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery.” The film would face several delays due to the COVID pandemic; however, it was finally released in a one week theatrical window on Nov. 23. Given the extreme success of its predecessor, there were high expectations for the star-studded sequel. Luckily for movie fans, “Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery,” lived up to its exceedingly high expectations because its star-studded cast all put on spectacular and convincing performances, the movie featured a heavily comedic element that wasn’t present in the original and most importantly, because the mystery was, well, outstanding.

Prior to its release, one of the major points of skepticism about “Glass Onion” was its practically entirely new cast from the original. Fans had

grown deeply attached to the almost cohesive nature of the original’s slightly underrated cast, and so when Netflix released the star-studded roster of the second, people didn’t know what to expect. Thankfully, the cast meshed perfectly, each delivering a uniquely memorable performance. As expected, returner Daniel Craig (detective Benoit Blanc) was outstanding, yet Kate Hudson (Birdie Jay), Madelyn Kline (Whiskey), Edward Norton (Miles Bron) and Dave Bautista (Duke Cody) were all just as great. It was evident that every member of the cast put a significant amount of time into learning their roles, and it made “Glass Onion” an extremely enjoyable watch.

Outside of its great casting, “Glass Onion ‘’ also succeeds in its introduction of comedy, an element that was not present in the original film. When the preliminary reviews of the movie came out, it seemed like every one mentioned the heavy incorporation of comedy into the script, which rightfully made fans nervous. Thankfully, come the film’s release, the humor was one of the more pleasant elements of the movie. The corny one-

liners and the gargantuan levels of sarcasm somehow never felt forced and the actors delivered each of the jokes with care and percision. Furthermore, the comedic element somehow made each character more likable, again increasing the quality of the viewing experience. For anyone looking for a few laughs coupled with a great movie, “Glass Onion’’ should be your wintertime go to.

Another aspect where “Glass Onion’’ succeeds is its mystery, and thus the plot that results from it. In the beginning of the film, each core member of the cast receives a mysterious box, sent from billionaire Miles Bron. After uncovering what lies within it, the characters travel to meet Bron on his private island in the Mediterranian, where he plans to throw a murder mystery. What was supposed to be a harmless game, turns into a fully-fledged, blood bathed mystery, creating the plot for the movie. What makes the plot and the mystery of “Glass Onion ‘’succeed is its sheer creativity: viewers can predict certain aspects of the story; however, others are inconcievable. As the movie develops, so do the characters,

and the viewer’s opinions on each of them. There’s no denying that the film’s plot was an ambitious undertaking; however, it paid off brilliantly, and should land “Glass Onion ‘’ a spot at the top of anyone’s watchlist.

It would not be far-fetched to say “Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery” is one of the best movies of 2022. With its star-studded cast, its perfectly executed comedic element and its outstanding mystery, “Glass Onion” hits the note in every important aspect of a great mystery movie. While the film won’t be in theaters for long, cinema fans should make sure their Netflix accounts are up and running for its Dec. 23 streaming release date, because this is not a movie to miss.

EFREM’S STAR RATINGS

“GLASS ONION”: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY IS A MOVIE YOU CAN’T MISS OUT ON

LINDSAY

simple films to life was perfect for this Hallmark type movie. The way Lohan is so easily able to get into character adds to the enjoyment of these usually dull movies. Her ease to conjure up teary eyes is proof of her ability. The character is similar to what Lohan usually plays, allowing her to come back with simplicity and ease. This film was an excellent way to ease back into the spotlight, despite the fact that it does not stand out from her other films. Her social, media obsessed influencer fiance Tad, (George Young,) plays the part perfectly. The stereotypical influencer is exhibited flawlessly. Slightly corny and cheesy but well executed for the film. Young has all the viewers laughing at his over dramatic self obsessed

have the viewers laughing at the stereotypical characters. The two go on a “skiing” excursion, obviously not to actually ski, and Young proposes to Lohan at the top. There is an accident and the two are separated, Sierra hitting her head and losing memory. Sierra is found and taken care of by Overstreet who is the typical Hallmark love interest. Jake helps her find herself and teaches her to do the normal adult activities including making the bed. The movie plays out as anticipated and the two fall in love.

The character development in the movie is surprisingly good. Following the predictable plot, the character development is expected but still well executed.

Although the movie may be cheesy and predictable it is the perfect early Christmas present. The plot does not stand out and may not be the most extravagant and memorable comeback for Lohan, it is a great way to get her back into the industry. The acting may be mediocre but something about the Hallmark aspect of the movie makes it still worth watching. The character development is foreseeable but still comforting. Each aspect of the movie may be average but when put all together creates the perfect cheesy Christmas comfort movie.

BY MARY KATE KISE

Lindsay Lohan starred in her first movie at age 11

Freaky Friday (2003) remains her highestgrossing film

MARY KATE’S STAR RATING

debut on Disney Channel was in The Parent Trap

* information from celebrity fandom

Design By Kate Bulloch

Sports S

SENIOR

MEG HOWELL MICHAEL LAUDADIO SHELBY PAUTSCH MICAH VAN SYCKLE

- Four-time high school state qualifier

- Member of the school record holding 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay

- Team captain

- Main events: 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley

- Two-time high school state qualifier

- Team captain

- Main events: 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle

- Four-time High School State Qualifier

- School record holder in the 100yard backstroke

- Member of the school record holding 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay

- Team captain

- Main events: 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke

- Member of the 200 Freestyle B relay and 200 Medley A relay

- Team captain

- Main events: 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke

COLLEGIATE COMMITS

LEE POPPELL

AVERAGE SCORE ON 18 IS 71 (-1)

AVERAGE SCORE ON 9 IS 37 (+1)

BEST SCORE ON 9 IS 35 (-1)

BEST SCORE ON 18 IS 65 (-6)

BLAISE WALLACE

PERCENT OF 3 POINTS MADE 70%

AVERAGE REBOUNDS PER GAME 12

AVERAGE POINTS PER GAME 19.4

AVERAGE ASSISTS PER GAME 2

Design By Kate Bulloch

Photos By Kaitlyn Dressel

Design By Merrell Webster

Photos By Katelyn Eldred

TheMaclay Girls Soccer Varsity team faced off against Suwannee High School on Dec.7 at 7:00 PM. The team went into their eight game of the season looking to follow up their previous win against Leon with another win. The Marauders pulled through defeating the Bulldogs with a shut out allowing zero goals on the defensive side whilst scoring four goals on offense. The top scorer and Max Preps Player of the Game, sophomore left winger Grey Burleson came away with two goals.

At the opening whistle, kickoff went Maclay’s way with the first half of the game being controlled by Maclay’s offense led by Burleson. In just minutes, Burleson put Mcaly on the board and gave them a 1-0 lead.

“I think the team makes everything possible for me on offense,” Burleson said. “I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them.”

Mid way around the first half, Burleson was able to keep Maclay on the board with a little chip shot into the back of the net from around 20 yards out.

“I think we communicated better on offense and we have improved on our communication,” junior midfielder Sarah Fernandez said. “Our communication allowed us to put up those four goals.”

By the half, Macly was able to put up another goal with the help of junior center midfielder Mary Clayton Soto.

The Marauder’s defense ruled the second half by only allowing two shots on the goal. Senior goalie Julia Martin came through for the team, blocking the shots when it mattered.

“We didn’t give many opportunities to the other team, which was our goal for the night,” head coach Zack Arceneaux said. “Our defense did a really good job and I’m very proud of them tonight.”

In the second half, Maclay kept adding to the offensive side with a goal coming from senior center forward Grace Reichelderfer. With Reichelderfer’s goal, the Lady Marauders led 4-0 til the final buzzer.

“I think our offense capitalized on key plays tonight,” head Coach Arceneaux said. “But on the other hand, I think we could have scored a little bit more.”

Maclay’s offense was able to match their highest-scoring game on Dec. 7 with four goals in total. Their previous high scoring game was against Florida High on Dec.2.

BY ZACH LOWE

SEASON STATS:

EIGHT games so far with

5 Wins 3 Losses

14 total goals and

11 assists

SENIOR LILLY PHIPPS 3 goals

SOPHOMORE

GRAY BURLESON

JUNIOR

3

LAWRE BRADLEY MAY

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS: goals goals

3

GOALIE HIGHLIGHT :

SENIOR

JULIA MARTIN 43 saves

CELEBRATION. Varsity girls soccer gathers to celebrate sophomore left winger Gray Burleson on her second goal of the evening. Max Preps names Burleson Maclay’s player of the game.

GOALS GALORE

MACLAY GIRLS SOCCER DEFEATS SUWANNEE 4-0

TR JANS TREMBLING

After a long drive across town to Gene Cox Stadium, the undefeated Maclay Marauder boys soccer team went on to continue their winning streak on Monday, Dec. 5, in a fiery match against Lincoln. When the final whistle blew, Maclay won with a final score of 6-1.

To kick off the game, sophomore Zac Scovotto within the few minutes an almost impossible angle. Scovotto was able to slot it in from

about 10 yards away from an extremely wide right position. However, with this early goal Maclay’s energy was lower than usual and the team was quiet.

Towards the end of the half after many chances, senior Shane Croston was able to sneak in a goal from a cross that deflected off a Lincoln defender into the back of the net.

Then, Lincoln was able to rspond just before the half ended and they capitalized on a goal from a mistake made by Maclay. The score going into halftime was 2-1 with Maclay in the lead.

“The second half we really stepped it up and played some good soccer,” senior captain James David Milford said. “If we can

continue to play good soccer like we did in the second half we can do really well this year.”

The slow start for Maclay ended once the second half began. To extend Maclay’s lead and start the momentum, Scovotto tapped the ball over the keeper’s head into the back of the net. With this momentum, freshman Luke Daunt scored a powerful header from a cross. These two goals put Maclay ahead 4-1

“We started out a little confident,” freshman Luke Daunt said. “In the first half it was rough all around. At least we came out in the second half and punished them in the end. ”

A few minutes went by of battling between both teams

before Scovotto was able to score his third and final goal of the night. Scovotto was fouled in the box and received a penalty kick where he claimed his first hat trick of the season. The final goal of the night was a free kick from sophomore Henry Fernandez on a set piece. Fernandez curled it into the bottom right corner from about 24 yards out. About five minutes passed by and the final whistle blew to conclude the game with the final score of 6-1

“Our team was pretty great last night,” Scovotto said. “6-1 win, couldn’t really ask for much more.

The Maclay boys soccer team is now undefeated with seven wins in their regular season.

BY EFREM ROSENBERG / RJ HOSAY

31total goals over 7 games

MACLAY BOYS SOCCER DOMINATES LINCOLN 6-1

Photos By John Strickland

SHOCKED THE SEMINOLES

BY JACLYN SUMMERS

The game came down to two seconds as senior guard Michael Grant scored the game winning point for Maclay off a putback layup from senior forward Blaise Wallace’s shot. On Dec. 6, the Florida High Seminoles basketball stands were packed for the rivalry game between the Maclay Marauders and Florida High. The final game score was 6462 with a shocking Marauder win.

The game began after senior Florida High point guard Anthony Robinson, a three star player, was congratulated for hitting 1000 career points. He was presented with a special basketball and a two minute highlight video of his highschool basketball career.

Senior forward Sawyer Stone competed in the tip off for the Marauders and was able to allow his team to gain possession over the ball.

The timer started running and Grant scored the first two

points of the night. Shortly after, Wallace scored a three pointer for the Marauders and they were in the lead. However, the score stayed close throughout the night and when the first quarter came to an end the score was 19-15 with the Seminoles in the lead.

“I feel like we played our best game and our preparation met opportunity and that’s what happened,” senior point guard Colin McAllister said.

Coming into the second quarter, sophomore forward Zeke Podgorski got fouled and was able to score one out of the two free throw points. Both the defense and offense of the teams had high energy and stayed competitive throughout the whole game. McAllister scored a three pointer that gave the Marauders more first half momentum. The ball was then stolen from sophomore Emery Redrupp and Florida High dunked it right after.

Maclay responded and got the ball right back for Wallace to hit a three pointer entering halftime. The second quarter game score was 35-28 and the Marauders were up.

“We tried to calm down,” Grant said. “We always knew we had it and we all just needed to be patient and just calm down and don’t let the pressure get too high.”

The buzzer went off to end halftime and the third quarter began. Wallace once again was able to score the first two points in the third quarter for the Marauders. The score stayed close in the third quarter and it was back and forth between the two teams. The third quarter game score was tied at a score of 50-50 and there was only one quarter left to decide the winner.

“[The game plan was] to just relax and to remind them that we’re up and to just be patient and finish the whole game,” head coach Eugene Granger said.

As the game was coming to an end, Wallace would score, then Robinson would respond right back for Florida High to keep the game close. When there was one minute left in the game, the score was tied at 62. With two seconds left, Wallace had possession of the ball and shot it. Grant was able to rebound the airball and lay it in to the game. The final game score was 64-62 and the Marauders gained their first win at Florida High since 2019. Maclay’s varsity basketball team remains undefeated and has five wins and zero losses.

THE MACLAY MARAUDERS BEAT THE FLORIDA HIGH SEMINOLES IN THE LAST TWO SECONDS OF THE VARSITY BASKETBALL GAME.

Photos By Caleb Land

Photos By Katelyn Eldred

On your mark. Get set. Go. These are the words that freshman Alana Wilson is always eager to hear. Wilson has been running track since the 6th grade and quickly saw great levels of success. However, while her success came fast, the work she put in and the unique access to resources helped accelerate her progression.

Having grown up around the sport’s greatest athletes from their connection to her dad exposed Wilson to the glamor of the sport. She has received lots of beneficial information on sprinting from some of the USA’s greatest track athletes such as Olympian and four-time World Champion Justin Gatlin, Olympian and one-time World Champion Harvey Glance and three-time record holder Renaldo Nehemiah. This unique advantage propels Wilson in front of her competition, causing her to be leaps and bounds ahead of her classmates.

“I have learned to apply the abundance of tips I have received to my daily sprinting regimen to have a perfect textbook sprint form,” Wilson said. “My support system helps me a ton; they help give me tips and pointers to ensure I am the best version of myself.”

Wilson has played other sports, but none gave her as much success and growth as track and field. Her events are the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay, with her favorite and best event being the 200m.

Track season starts in midFebruary and ends in late May, but Wilson is training all year long, excluding her break from June through July. Every month outside of track season is the off-season for athletes, and most don’t train as hard and aren’t as motivated because of it being hard to train without practices scheduled each

day. As successful as Wilson is, she still faces adversity like everyone else. Her lack of motivation that occurs during the off-season can lessen the training she does, causing her to be less fit when the season starts.

“Training alone can get boring,” Wilson said. “But it always pays off when the season comes because I have had time to get to know my body and rhythm more. Once school starts, I weight train to ensure all muscles can recover and build strength for the next coming season.”

Her motivation isn’t an issue, however, during the season. Having her teammates that she can look up to keeps her moving as she’s not only running for herself, but for her team as well.

“A great team helps me so much,” Wilson said. “They push me to be the best version of myself and strive for perfection. I love to see the success of others and myself. When the team can create great memories and have fun together, it creates a positive atmosphere. Seeing my teammates, whom I look up to, give everything their all inspires me to do the same. Encouraging others is so important; when you encourage your peers to strive, it creates good karma.”

All of the motivation Wilson has to push herself for fast times and her team can amount to a lot of stress to deal with; especially with running on varsity and

participating in big meets at a much younger age than the average person. However, Wilson makes sure to take measures to avoid the buildup of too much stress, all of which include: getting plenty of sleep each night, spending lots of time outdoors, such as swimming and tanning as well as spending the weekend with friends and family.

Wilson stays ahead of her competition by becoming familiar with them. She knows her local competition well from being around them so often. In an attempt to become familiar with competition at away meets at schools she doesn’t know well, Wilson looks her competitors up on MileSplit to avoid the unknown component and get rid of extra nerves. Being on varsity so early helped her perfect this technique, cutting out factors that contribute to slower times, such as nerves from the

RITUALS

unknown.

“From the very beginning of my first varsity season, I never faced intimidation because I had trained with upperclassmen and did very well with them,” Wilson said. “I knew I could compete against much older competition. The following season, I was so familiar with my competition that I was never phased because I was constantly exposed to upperclassmen from the next year, so it felt like I was one of them.”

Through her experience thus far in her track career and from the advice she has gained from some of the greatest athletes in track and field, Wilson is on the road to be an even greater athlete. Her willingness to be a great teammate and learn from others transfers to her mentality on and off the track.

“Never compare yourself to others because everyone is different and progresses at different paces in life,” Wilson said. “The biggest competition you’ll ever have is yourself. Everyone should focus on being better than they were yesterday.”

Speedy Success

FRESHMAN ALANA WILSON TAKES ADVANTAGE OF HER RESOURCES TO EXCEL ABOVE HER COMPETITION

BY LEAH KIROS

LISTEN TO MUSIC TO GET FOCUSED AND IN THE RIGHT HEAD SPACE

DO DYNAMIC STRETCHES TO GET MUSCLES FIRED UP

w - inning around america

THROUGH YEARS OF HISTORY AND MEMORIES, BASEBALL HAS PROVEN TO BE AMERICA’S SPORT

he smell of hotdogs cooking, the sound of cracker jacks rattling in the box and the crowd cheering after a home run is the sweet sound of baseball. Otherwise known as shown to be the best sport in our nation, especially over football.

Baseball has been around since 1839 and a season has taken place every year since. Founded in Cooperstown, New York, this sport was once a way to pass the time on lunch break for a little bit

of fun but now this game means a whole lot more.

The game is played on a field that can almost be made anywhere, and baseball has even brought the country new stadiums that have been made iconic sports landmarks. Yes, there are some nice football stadiums, but no football stadium gives a fan mountain like Coors Field in Denver or ocean views like Oracle Park in San Francisco. Also, with almost every stadium, there are fans that are needed to fill those seats.

A group titled “Sports Encyclopedia,” conducted a study where they asked sports fans in general why baseball had so many fans. Their answer was because “of the history that the sport represents.” Baseball is more than just a game as it is something that brings people together. Baseball fans are known to be the most loyal of all sports fans. Unlike

football fans, baseball fans’ loyalty isn’t based on the success of their team but is rather based on their love for the game and their team.

Fans come to see games and in baseball they get to see 162 of them compared to the lousy 16 that football offers. No other sport offers as many chances to see a team play as baseball. Nine innings compared to a fourquarter game may seem like a big difference but they are actually very much alike.

According to Scott Fujita, a sports journalist, the average Major League Baseball (MLB) game is roughly three hours long. Now, that may seem like an eternity and a football game might seem much shorter but in fact the average football game roughly lasts three hours and 12 minutes, which is 12 minutes longer than the average baseball game.

These so-called “long games” don’t only occur in the fall and go

into new years but they actually happen all year long. Professional football along with college football both start around the same time of year while professional baseball and college baseball start at different times during the year and end at different times. While football fans wait all year to watch their team play, baseball fans are enjoying events like spring training and college baseball while waiting to see their professional players take the field.

While the argument about America’s sport is still a toss-up, baseball should not be out of the question. This sport gives fans so many chances to watch games while also giving them memories that will forever be cherished. The loyal fans, great parks and history prove why baseball is America’s true sport.

BY ZACH LOWE

TOUCHDOWN ON OUR HEARTS

INTENSE RIVALRIES AND DEVOTED FANS PROVE THAT FOOTBALL IS THE MOST AMERICAN SPORT

Every year, Americans countdown the days to fall so they can watch the leaves change colors and the football season bloom. It has been said that baseball is America’s National Pastime but this hasn’t been true since 1972. In 2021, 114 million Americans watched football compared to the 68 million who decided to watch baseball. Football has now taken over and claims its trophy as the new favorite sport.

Football is a fast paced game with four 15 minute quarters. Typically, an American football game lasts a little over three hours after breaks and a halftime. On the other hand, baseball has no time limit. The longest game recorded in MLB history was eight hours and six minutes and it spanned over two days. The time clock in football is the reason for its suspense and excitement. Without it, fans would become bored and not want to watch, which is what caused the demise of baseball.

The football game is also more predictable because of the clock. Fans can look up at the scoreboard and see how much time is left in each quarter. This allows them to plan when they will get up and get a snack or just have time to stretch and walk around the stadium. So far in 2022, the average human attention span is only eight seconds. This proves that people cannot sit and watch a sports game for long periods of time because they cannot pay attention for more than eight seconds. Besides game time, there is no experience more exciting than walking into an NFL football game. Fans are bombarded with the smell of popcorn, the sound of cheering and the sight of their favorite team colors. This is why the average amount of tickets sold for an NFL game has reached 95.1% of its available tickets per game in 2021. NFL football teams are famous for their fun performances and entertainment throughout the game such as

half time shows, music and cheerleaders. These all bring extra excitement to the stadium and create an experience for the entire family to enjoy. Fans also spend hours before the tailgating outside of the stadium. They bring food, music and footballs to hype themselves up before the big game. Football provides a much better opportunity than baseball for family and friends to bond and spend time together.

Super Bowl Sunday is the culmination of the thrilling football season. More people watch the Super Bowl than any other television program. The annual Super Bowl has something for everyone: suspenseful football, trendy concerts and viral commercials. Knowing that there is one final game at the end of the season that crowns the year’s top team makes the entire football season more enjoyable to watch. Fans are able to cheer on their favored team and are able to find out who wins the biggest game

of the season in only one game unlike the long World Series which spans over seven games.

Baseball is more commonly known as America’s favorite sport because of the history behind it. Even though the MLB was created in 1876 and has a ton of old traditions attached to it, it has not caught up to the modern and fast paced times of today. From tackling to touchdowns football is more exciting and suspenseful. The football season this year and every other year is full of surprises and intense rivalries that cannot be seen during the long and boring baseball season.

BY JULIA LUCK

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

FROM THE ANDALUSIAN