Volume 3, Issue 5

McHenry High School | McHenry, Illinois | Volume Three | Issue Five | May 2022

The Senior Issue

IN THIS ISSUE Seniors will graduate at McCracken in a combined ceremony for the first time PAGE 3 The seniors on the Messenger staff reflect on their time serving the school community PAGE 5 The ultimate list of movies made to be watched at the end of a school year PAGE 13

What’s Next?

The end of the school year provokes a mix of emotions for seniors — usually excitement and anticipation. But many students feel anxiety, uncertain about their future and the big, adult decisions that lie ahead of them after they leave MCHS. How do seniors manage these complex emotions?

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Table of Contents

The First Look

Students celebrate the end of the year by dancing together at a “Roaring ‘20s”-themed prom, which took place on April 29 at the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center.

Photo By: Nikki Sisson

In This Issue

ON THE COVER Closing in on the 2022 school year, graduates are realizing how quickly their school year is ending. Though they all have different thoughts about the future, they all feel like one: one team, one school, one journey. I tried to capture that in my photo.

Allie Everhart This month’s cover photographer

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NEWS MCHS to host outdoor graduation ceremony with all seniors

OPINIONS Strict graduation attire should retire

FEATURES The final edit Fear of the unknown

SPORTS Committed

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Elon Must buying Twitter could do more harm than good Influence is a privilege Senior cinema

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The McHenry Messenger Mission Statement Student journalists have the right to exercise freedom of speech and the press in school-sponsored media. The McHenry Messenger is a byproduct of these rights. We hope to use this platform to inform and engage the students and staff of McHenry High School as well as its broader community.

As a student-driven publication, it is important to us that we represent every group within both campuses, provide a platform for them to speak their truth, and ensure access to objective, relevant information that they need to know.

Celebrating seniors and the end of an exhausting school year

As we strive to fulfill our journalistic mission, we recognize that learning and growing through our experiences as reporters, writers, and editors is a core aspect of what makes this a student publication. When we make mistakes, our organization is prepared to take responsibility for the stories we publish and hold ourselves accountable.

Finally, despite the difficulties presented by these unprecedented times — which includes a global pandemic — our student newspaper intends to meet the same high standard of journalism as any other school year.

Published by Editorial Staff

Staff Writers

Illustrators Special Thanks to Advisor

McHenry High School in McHenry, IL Kennedy Tetour, Managing Editor Allie Everhart, Artistic Director Vanessa Moreno, News Editor Kyla Henige, Features Editor Alayna Majkrzak, Opinions Editor Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor Brooke Danz, Copy Editor Grace Hunt, Freshman Campus Bureau Chief Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director Campbell Bitterman, Paulina Borowski, Beth Brackmann, Ali Carey, Eli Frommes, Blake Hunter, Lydia Lawrence, Bee Myers, Bri Quast, Freedom Tomasello, Logan Vincent and Leah Wickenkamp Mia Wiginton Matt Connor, Betsy Goy, Amy Maciaszek, Gina Nomikoudis, Jeff Prickett, Mitch Stengel, and VIP Dane Erbach

Both the McHenry Messenger’s print and digital editions have been established as designated forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues related to their audience. Though the student media advisor is responsible for teaching students sound journalism skills and judgment, this paper does not engage in prior review and, thus, all content published by both editions of the McHenry Messenger reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself (unless attributed accordingly).

As the school year comes to an end, and everyone scrambles to make sure everything is perfect to leave for the summer, the McHenry Messenger has worked to put together their final print paper of the year. The last edition has been a traditional ode to the seniors, as a way of remembering them and their accomplishments.

With the end of the school year comes lots of preparation. Seniors are getting their caps and gowns ready, and slowly inching their way towards graduation. As for the other classes, juniors are getting ready to go into their last year of high school, freshmen are coming to the Upper Campus, and sophomores — well, they’re just vibing. In this edition, we worked to balance our senior stories with other current topics, so we have incorporated some fun and thought-provoking Arts and Entertainment As mentioned quite a few times already, this is the senior edition, which hits close to home for some of us on the staff. So, the cover is a representation of just that. The front cover illustrates the fear that seniors have to graduate, even though they may be masking it behind joy. This is symbolic to many seniors, and is a simple reminder that it’s okay to be anxious for a new beginning.

This issue is arguably, one of the hardest issues to put together for the staff both emotionally and mentally. We have worked to make sure that there is a balance of senior related topics and other timely topics to keep the community up to date, and recap some big events that have just passed. After all, part of our goal with the McHenry Messenger is to be timely with our news, while providing a source of entertainment for the community.

Now that the rambling is done, it is our pleasure to introduce to you, the reader, the McHenry Messengers fifth print edition: the senior edition!

Kyla Henige Features Editor

If you would like to get in contact with the McHenry Messenger, please email the advisor at erbachdane@dist156.org or call (815) 385-7077 and leave a message on his voicemail.

Visit TheMcHenryMessenger.com for more news, features, and opinions Our issues are printed by the McHenry High School Graphics Program: Warriors INK www.mchswarriorsink.com

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News

MCHS to host outdoor graduation ceremony with all seniors Vanessa Moreno News Editor On May 21, Upper Campus will hold its first fully in-person graduation since the combining of East and West as well as the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The ceremony will take place at McCracken Field at 11:00 a.m. In case of inclement weather, two ceremonies will be held at the Upper Campus Main Gym. “I like that [the ceremony] is being held outside,” senior Carissa Hudson said. “I think it’s fitting for our graduating class to be different from years past given what we’ve gone through during our high school career. Now that the campuses are combined, I was worried we would have to split up the ceremonies and I wouldn’t get to graduate with all of my friends, but graduating at McCracken still allows us to do that.”

Holding the graduation ceremony is a major change as previously each campus held its graduation and during the coronavirus pandemic, several small graduations were held.

“It will definitely be a new experience,” math instructor and Key Club advisor Emma Theel said. “I am not a huge fan of the outdoors … but I will put up with it to be able to see my students walk across the stage.”

According to a letter by MCHS Principal Dr. Jeff Prickett, all students must wear their graduation cap and gown at the ceremony. The only accessories allowed will be honor cords distributed by school organizations and military stoles for those who completed boot camp. In addition, students are allowed to decorate their caps with appropriate designs.

“I am very excited about getting to decorate our caps this year,” Hudson said. “I thought it was a little unfair that West kids weren’t allowed to in the past, Seniors from the class of 2021 toss their caps during a low-capacity graduation ceremony in the West Campus main gym on May 20, 2021. This year’s graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place at McCracken Field with no COVID restrictions.

Photo By: VIP

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The Class of 2022 will graduate in an ceremony combining students from East and West for the first time at McCracken but East kids could … I will be decorating mine, but you’ll have to wait and see what I do.”

To graduate, students must have completed all graduation requirements mandated by the District 156 Board of Education. Student fees must also be paid before May 16 to receive tickets for the ceremony.

“Seniors who are at risk of not graduating should do everything possible to complete graduation requirements in the few weeks that remain prior to the end of the school year,” Prickett said in the letter.

Before and during the ceremony, appropriate behavior is expected.

Certain behaviors could cause students to lose graduation privileges. According to Prickett’s letter, students committing senior pranks that damage school property or violate handbook rules could be removed from the ceremony.

Throughout Upper Campus,

seniors have expressed their excitement about graduation and the next chapter of their lives.

“It hasn’t quite hit me fully that we’re graduating yet,” Hudson said. “I am incredibly excited to start my next chapter at Saint Louis University in the fall, but at the same time I’m sad to be leaving my friends and family … Even though I’m moving away in just a few short months, McHenry will always be my home.”

Additionally, both teachers and students are relieved to have some sense of normalcy after the last few years and look forward to celebrating the Class of 2022.

“I am very excited for this year’s graduation ceremony,” Theel said. “It is the culmination of a student’s four years of work and I love celebrating all of my students and their accomplishments and honors. I am also really glad to go to one ceremony this year and not the 14 ceremonies that I went to last year.”

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Opinions

Opinion

Strict graduation attire should retire Graduating seniors should be allowed to express themselves during their final walk across the stage as a Warrior

Paulina Borowski Staff Writer

It’s the final day as a senior, a high schooler. The entire front entrance is decorated with orange and black streamers, balloons and graduation decorations. Through the main gym doors and the view from up above, rows and rows of students in black graduation gowns and caps. All of them look the same, some with special tassels, pins or special stoles, but other than those accessories, it is hard to show their personal pride when dressed in a monochrome cap and gown.

There’s no way for seniors to really show people who they are for their last stride as a high schooler across that graduation stage. The graduation dress code has been the same for decades, so why are students still restricted to specifically wearing only their cap and gown?

The official MCHS student handbook states that the graduation ceremony in late May is a formal event.

The student dress code is strictly enforced for the ceremony, so, “No personal articles, decorations or additions to the cap and gown are allowed.” This includes cultural flags, tribal regalia, or other items of religious or cultural significance.

However, administration has allowed seniors to decorate their caps this year as long as accessories and decoration are school appropriate/ approved. This is a welcomed decision, but students should not be restricted to express themselves on the small surface area of their caps. They should be allowed to wear articles that really show their pride as not only a graduate but now as a matured person.

Seniors still got the thumbs up to decorate their caps, unlike some of the classes before them, and they are eager to even be able to represent themselves and decorate their caps with

heritage and achievements.

Many Indigenous students believe that graduation from high school cannot be properly or fully celebrated, from a spiritual and cultural perspective, without certain ceremonial regalia from parents and trial elders. Some schools prohibit Indigenous students from wearing these items at graduation as it would violate the school’s dress code and would disrupt the graduation ceremony. Christian Titman, a Native American graduate at Clovis High School in California and member of the Pit River Tribe, was denied his request to wear an eagle feather at his high school graduation ceremony. “You don’t turn your back on that. When you walk across that stage, you’re not only proudly representing yourself, but your family, extended family and your tribe,” says the president of NEA American Indian/Alaska Native Caucus that promotes equal opportunity and access for indigenous peoples of North America. These unique accessories and articles of clothing are not just for show but also have much significance as Indigenous students should be able to celebrate their graduation while remaining true to their cultural and religious heritage.

Seniors would love to express themselves for their last event as a high school student, but many believe it isn’t just about them on the day of graduation. It is about the community, but as well as the school’s reputation. “It’s about philosophy and the philosophy behind it. The attire that we give has to be school and district approved because it’s not all about the seniors; it’s all about the school and the community,” says the Dean of Students, Gregory Eiserman. So it is the matter of the fact that these seniors are representing their school for one final time for their walk across that graduation stage.

If students were to really show off their proud heritage and accomplishments for the final chapter of high school, it would look much different.

It’s the final day as a senior, a high schooler. The entire front entrance is decorated with orange and black streamers, balloons and graduation decorations. Through the main gym doors and the view from up above, rows and rows of students in black graduation gowns with tribal beadwork, and cultural and colorful flags speckled across the rows and rows of graduates. The view from the top, many brightly decorated caps, some with funny or meaningful quotes and some that really show the creativity, personality, or dreams of each graduate.

This is how graduation should really look, with colors and significance to the graduates who are going onto the next chapter in their lives. Seniors aren’t going to be high schoolers for much longer.

So, if they have to go, they should do it with style.

fun quotes with significance or just create their caps to make it special or custom.

Many seniors are decorating their caps, but since it’s one of the first few years that cap decorating is allowed, many students aren’t entirely sure how they want to decorate it. “Yes, I’m planning on decorating my cap for graduation. I don’t know how to decorate it yet, but I think it will be so fun!” says senior Chris Schoder. Having the freedom to express yourself for the rough years of high school in the midst of a pandemic is very rewarding to show of what seniors have accomplished. “It’s a great opportunity for seniors to express themselves or show off their college/future plans depending on what they put on their cap,” adds senior Alison Anthony. For an event that marks the end of a chapter, graduation is so sentimental; expression should not just be for the caps, but also for the gowns walking across that graduation stage.

The rule here at MCHS like mentioned before — no personal articles, decorations or additions to the cap and gown — is established in most high schools, and if students were to wear any accessories like flags or other articles with other significance, students can be denied a diploma for the violation of graduation dress code. A graduate from North Carolina, Ever Lopez, wore a Mexican flag around his shoulders, and the school district said it was a violation of the dress code. “It’s not just Ever’s diploma. It’s all part of our diploma. It’s our community’s diploma,” says Ever’s mother. Especially for those who are first generation graduates, being the first to walk across that stage is a huge achievement. Schools need to realize that those kinds of students want to honor their family and community not only for themselves but to represent their family’s

For years, MCHS graduates were asked not to decorate their caps for graduation. This year, the rule has changed, allowing students to express themselves during the formal ceremony.

Illustration By: Mia Wiginton

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Features

Some of the seniors on the Messenger staff have been involved in the paper since its first year; others just joined this semester. Each one has impacted the publication in an impactful way.

Photo By: Kennedy Tetour

Two seniors sit next to each other in their first period class on the first day of school. One sits quietly, worried about the expectations that come with being a senior and the other stressors of the final year of high school. The other sits chatting with friends nearby, excited to finally be back in person after a year and a half absence and ready to enjoy their final year of high school.

The Class of 2022 has had many ups and downs throughout their high school careers. With their sophomore and junior years being partly online due to the pandemic, and having to miss many key events, it hasn’t been the typical high school years everyone expected. These seniors from the Messenger share their personal take on their high school experiences.

Kyla Henige

Kyla Henige joined Newspaper her freshman year, but not just because it was an “easy elective.”

“I also loved writing,” says Henige. “It’s been a passion of mine, and it’s just something that I’ve enjoyed for the past 4 years with the community and overall style of the class.”

She has a passion for journalism, and is going to MCC for 2 years for her general education, before going to Daytona State to pursue broadcast journalism. But she will always remember her time here at MCHS. “I think this year has been my favorite because I’ve had a lot of freedom and this was the year i truly

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The final edit The seniors of that make up Messenger’s staff share their thoughts, experiences and wisdom on their final days as high school students discovered who I am, what I want to do, and who my true friends are,” says Henige.

Based on her experience, Henige describes high school as a family.

“Because even though you’ll fight with people, they’ll be people you don’t like, in the end you’re graduating together and these are the people you’ll spend the next four years of your life with.”

Kylie Chisamore

Kylie Chisamore has been on the Messenger staff for one and a half years, and grew to really appreciate not only the class, but the effect journalism has on everyone.

“No matter the popularity, where you come from, or who you are, everyone is welcome to share their voice and stand up for what is right when they join the newspaper,” Chisamore says, “So student journalism has the power to make a change but to me it was always a family even if we never all got along.”

She graduated early and is working full-time and going to school to become a forensic scientist. Despite leaving MCHS early, she will always remember her high school experience.

“My favorite year of high school would probably be my junior year which I find strange because it is supposed to be our ‘hardest’ year in high school but the classes I took and the teachers and friends I had made it the most memorable year for me.”

Chisamore believes high school is a lesson in more than just an academic sense.

“I never truly understood why it was always referred to as “ the best years of our lives” because so many bad things happen during high school, we lose friends that we thought we would have forever and we are still trying to figure out who we are and who we want to be,” says Chisamore.

“It shows us who we want to surround ourselves with and who we want to be.”

Bee Myers

For Bee Myers, high school has been lots of ups and downs, with sophomore and junior year being different and adjusting to all the change.

“Like they always say, these are the best years of your life — though, is it? I don’t know!” says Myers. “I mean I will definitely remember these years fondly and not so fondly at the same time,” Myers believes their senior year was the best year because of the people they met and their experiences.

“I found my real friends and I found myself. I’m more myself,” says Myers. “There’s a lot of different people you meet here outside of middle school and they can help shape who you are.”

They are going to MCC for culinary arts, with a focus on baking and pastries. They also have a passion for writing, as they joined Newspaper this semester.

Myers says, “It’s kind of like a

Nikki Sisson Marketing Manager creative outlet and also like if you want to go into journalism it’s good practice I guess and it’s also just informative and helps you to decide what style you like writing in.”

Bri Quast

Bri Quast joined Newspaper this semester, as she wanted some experience with journalism.

“I also just find it very interesting,” says Quast. “I love choosing politic related topics, and I like to know more about that stuff. So when I pick an article I get to investigate into it kind of for my own fun too.”

She is going to DePaul University for four years and is majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. She believes student journalism is important, and young people should be encouraged to share their thoughts.

“I think teenagers have different perspectives on situations than grown-ups like with opinion articles. I think it’s good to hear a young person’s perspective on things,” Quast says.

Quast has had her share of ups and downs in high school, but has grown over the years, and found herself.

“High school, I kind of see it as a test to find out who you really are,” Quast says, “There’s so many challenges that you go through and they’ll make you doubt so many aspects of your life, like who you are, who your friends with, what you value.

Overall I think you end up finding your way.”

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Features Many seniors have been waiting their whole childhood for graduation day. Other seniors, though, don’t feel as confident or certain about their path after high school and may even be scared to leave high school.

Photo By: Allie Everhart

Fear of the unknown For many seniors, graduation is a form of liberty, but for others it is a scary step toward uncertainty and adulthood Kyla Henige Features Editor

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college is meeting new people. I am a part of Facebook groups and I have a roommate, but putting myself out there and talking to new people will be weird.

No one there knows me, so it’s all new.”

Even though the idea of being new to everything is a major fear for many people, some fear of losing their most important friendships and relationships.

“The scariest thing about graduating,” senior Evelyn Corona says, “is leaving and not seeing the people I have Good anxiety grown up with since elementary or grade According to Segue to Colschool, because of the great relationlege, many graduating seniors have ships and memories I have created over many fears about their future and the my entire academic career.” uncertainty of success. Some of these And although she does have fears include losing relationships, high expectations (maturing) and the choices these fears, there are still things that Corona is excited and looks forward to. that come with adulting.

“The thing I am excited for is Though these all play a major factor in anxiety with seniors, some anx- walking across the stage to get my diploma,” she adds, “and then turning iety is also good to have. College and Career Counselor Curtis Menke explains towards where my family is seated, and thanking them with a smile for everywhat lies behind these senior fears. thing they have done for me, leading up “It’s not the fear of graduatto that moment. Because, if it was not ing,” he says. “I think it’s the fear of the for their constant encouragement and unknown. For the last, including before guidance, I would not be where I am kindergarten, 13 years of an 18-year today.” olds life, all they’ve known is the school Fear, as scary as it is, is natural, system. So that’s what’s known, but next and many seniors have or will face it. is clearly defined plans, college workforce, military, certain majors, and other But what matters is realizing that graduation is a huge success, and the end of careers.” chapter, but the beginning of a life-long And even though these spurts journey. of anxiety can be a roadblock for many, Menke explains that it isn’t a bad thing.

Free and open “This might sound cold,” he Although teachers and staff adds, “but I hope seniors feel anxious. have been preparing students for gradI get more worried about seniors who uation for four years now, their advice don’t feel anxious about the unknown that those that do. It’s normal to feel un- isn’t always the most effective. Recents certain. It’s normal to feel anxious about graduates have the perspective and distance to know what it’s really like on something you’ve never experienced the other side.. before.”

Former graduate from the class of 2021, Katie Parrish, was scared of Fear is natural Almost every student is excited graduating too. “My fear with graduating to enter their senior year because of the was college,” she says. “What college freedoms that come with it. But, with the was going to be like, and how I was goend near, that excitement turns into fear ing to like my major. And, just my future overall.” for some.

While she did struggle with the Senior Kilea McCants explains, anxious feeling of college, just one year “The thing I am most fearful of for Walking into school freshman year, students are told “these next four years will fly by.” Rolling their eyes and chuckling, the freshman pay no attention.

Flash forward to their senior year, and many seniors struggle to come to terms with the fact that high school is ending, and many more are fearful of the future and what it has in store for them.

later, Parrish’s mindset has changed completely.

“I feel so amazing after graduating,” explains Parrish. “Life is just overall better, and being free and on an open based schedule rather than the high school schedule is way better. Just remember to not stress about graduation.”

“It might be scary, or suck in the moment,” she continues, “but you just have to take it one day at a time and learn each day. Graduation is just one better step to a future that you are working towards!”

While Parrish graduated just a year ago, many other graduates, from other classes, have found they have had the same experiences with the anxiety of graduation.

“My high school experience was different,” says Luke Kaspar, who graduated from MCHS in 2018. “I was always more of a physical learner, so sitting around in classes, where I sat around for a long time didn’t help me.

My favorite part of high school was the community with the students because a lot of the time the best part of my days were goofing around in class rather than learning about punnett squares, and now that I’m an adult realizing that I had a free pass to see my friends everyday was a blessing.”

With a little distance, Kaspar says that leaving high school isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but rather a way to freedom and a new lifestyle.

“Leaving high school felt liberating,” he says, “because for the first 16 years of my life, I’ve been woken up every morning, being told to go to school, and it’s a burden of quizzes, homework, and tests, which I was never really fond of so I didn’t have to do it anymore.”

The perspectives of others — both those who have graduated recently and those who work with graduating students on a daily basis — can alleviate or at the very least relax some of the fear. As students graduate and move on with their lives, they may feel fear and anxiety, but it’s only a matter of time before they realize that graduation is just the beginning.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Sports CAPTION All Photos By: Kyla Henige

Committed

A number of student athletes from MCHS have already committed to a college or university, where they hope to continue playing Mackenzie Sroka Sports Editor

It doesn’t matter what sport an MCHS student plays. There’s a good chance that, if they excel, they will be noticed by a scout and recruited to play in college. Some might even be offered scholarships.

Photo By: Mackenzie Sroka

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The paper is placed on the table in front of the newly committed athlete. When they look up, a crowd of supporters are celebrating their accomplishments. As they sign the paper, their hand shakes with anticipation and excitement for this new chapter of their life. But, for now, they get to celebrate with their classmates, coaches, teammates, family, and administration their accomplishment.

No matter what college, sport, major or location, the athletes that work hard enough have earned their opportunity to play in college. MCHS does this by hosting an NCAA signing at Upper Campus, which they have done since Athletic Director Barry Burmeister has been in office. Burmeister believes that it is important to celebrate all the committed student athletes no matter what division they are now in.

“When I first started celebrating NCAA National Letters of Intent signings, we only included Division I and Division II signees that were receiving scholarships,” described Burmeister, “After a few years, I decided to include as many athletes that were signing no matter what level of college or university that they were committing to.”

Not only does the signing celebrate warrior committed athletes, but it also shows and celebrates the hard work of the people that helped them get to where they are. For example, some coaches play a large role in helping student athletes commit to where they are believed to belong.

“The Athletic Department plays a big role in athletes committing to schools,” explained Burmeister. “The various schools reach out to us year round to see what athletes have the potential to play at their schools. We make sure that the student athletes are taking the right classes and have passed the NCAA clearinghouse if so required, working with the Guidance Department.”

“Coaches are in constant communication with college coaches year

round,” he adds, “and once a student/ athlete shows interest in a school, the athletic department and coaches work with the schools to answer any questions or concerns about academics, athletics or character of the athlete.”

For many of the athletes, the commitment process is very different.

Some of the athletes are scouted by college scouts at their game. For example, Isabel Bersie, a varsity lacrosse player, has committed to Lake Forest College with an, athletic scholarship and will be majoring in kinesiology or physical therapy.

“Last year, I was scouted at my third game,” Bersie says. “Just from there on talking was going on for a while.”

Some of the players earn scholarships to schools through past relationships that they have created, such as those with past or present coaches.

“I know the coach because he used to be my travel coach,” explains Kaden Shatzer, who committed to play basketball at College of Lake County and plans to major in secondary education. “Then he rose through the ranks and became a coach in college and Lake County. He gave me an offer and told me that it would be on scholarship.”

However, for athletes that do not have either of these, they apply to colleges and universities through videos in order to obtain scholarships or offers.

“We use the site called Field Level,” says Alyssa Franklin, who is committing to Milwaukee Area Technical College for basketball and plans to get associates in science. “We made a highlight video for me, and then coaches can go in and view it. The college coaches will search, for example, forwards in Illinois, and then my profile came up they viewed it. Then they call me and have a conversation with me, and tell me about the scholarships and what majors their college offers. From there, you kind of make a decision on if you should [consider] the college or if

you should put it on your waitlist.”

Some athletes reach out to coaches reaching, and some have coaches reaching out to them.

“If they’ve seen you play games before, [they may start] texting back and forth,” explains Gavin Micklinghoff, who is committing to Carroll University for baseball and planning to major in business. “Then eventually if you are interested and they’re interested in you then you just decide.”

Just like the commitment process is different for many athletes, the time frame of athletes committing is also different as well due to many conditions which can make the process difficult for students to manage.

“It was long,” says Katrina Calabrese, who is committing to play volleyball at Roosevelt University and planning to major in cybersecurity. “It was frustrating. And when I was trying, basically all schools were not looking for anybody. So I was just kind of stranded.”

Many of students took location into play when deciding which college they wanted to go to.

“I really fell in love with how the campus looked,” says Bersie, “and like the atmosphere provided along with just the city in the town being close to it.”

For other students, it was important to them to have the right location and to know the people who will also be going there.

“I like the campus,” explained Micklinghoff. “It was like the perfect distance from home — like not too close but like, it’s not like an eight hour drive or anything. I got along with the coach very well, and I got a couple friends going there as well.”

For every athlete, the commitment process and journey means something a little different, but no matter what every athlete has a chance to be celebrated by our school. These athletes are always celebrated by MCHS for their hard work and dedication.

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Arts and Entertainment

On April 25, Telsa CEO Elon Musk struck a deal to buy Twitter for around $44, causing many to wonder how the platform would change — and whether such a deal is ethical.

Photo By: Patrick Pleul / Pool / AFP / Getty Images / TNS

Opinion

Elon Musk buying Twitter could do more harm than good Bri Quast Staff Writer “Free speech is the bedrock of functioning democracy,” billionaire Elon Musk tweeted on Monday, April 25, the day Twitter announced his ownership of it, “and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.”

But freedom of speech on a platform where politicians mainly express their ideas, and not only politicians but people filled with hate and discrimination could go downhill very fast.

On April 25, Twitter announced its decision to let Musk take ownership over its platform in exchange for roughly 44 billion dollars. The richest and most influential man on Earth can now say he owns one of the biggest social media platforms in the world, on top of being the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Elon Musk is an avid Twitter user — and a controversial one at that. He has more than 83 million followers on the platform, and he has used it for a variety of purposes ranging from spreading misleading information to making offensive comments about politicians and transgender people. If Musk uses Twitter for harmful purposes, it is hard to doubt he won’t open the platform up for people to use it for similar purposes too.

In 2018 Musk came under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for tweeting that he had secured funding at $420 per share to make Tesla private, in which the SEC charged him with Volume Three | Issue Five | May 2022

Musk says he is buying Twitter to protect democracy, but how will this effect the already conflicted platform? securities fraud for spreading false information. In a TED conference earlier this month Musk claimed that he did in fact have the funding secured at the time of the tweet, but a court filing from a class-action lawsuit by shareholders against Musk said otherwise.

The court filing revealed that the judge on the case concluded that Musk knowingly made false statements about the funding at the time of the tweet, which is just one of the many reasons why Musk is notorious for trolling people on the internet.

People were unsure of what Twitter’s ultimate decision was going to be because of reasons like these, and because of their pre-decision implemented poison pill plan, yet the deal is expected to close this year. But what does this mean for Twitter?

What can people expect to change?

Musk has repeatedly expressed that he wishes to open up Twitter’s platform to freedom of speech. With this prospect many industries have expressed concern that this could mean changing the community guidelines to be more lenient on hate speeches, misinformation, harassment, and other negative content. We shouldn’t expect less of a case from a man who uses the platform to do exactly that.

Twitter’s influence outsizes other social media platforms in the way of politics.

It is used as a platform by many politicians, public figures, and journalists to freely

express their ideas in a non harmful way.

Some republican figures have expressed excitement about Musk’s new approach to managing Twitter because of their complaints that there has been a censorship of conservative voices by social media platforms.

Musk also noted that he would prefer “timeouts” over permanent bans when community guidelines are stepped over, which raises the possibility of Musk restoring Donald Trump’s Twitter account. A move like this could bring ramifications to the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, as it is observed that Trump’s tweets the day of the capital riots could have played a part in inciting them.

In response to the announcement of Musk’s ownership over Twitter, Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP says, “Do not allow Twitter to become a petri dish for hate speech, or falsehoods that subvert our democracy.”

If the deal officially closes off between Twitter and Musk, people should brace themselves for changes that may not be in the best benefit of its community seeing as a lot of fault could arise if Musk decides to free up Twitter’s guidelines. Twitter could very well become a toxic place where people are verbally attacked for what they put out there.

The deal is currently pending approval from shareholders, and regulators, so it could be a while before we are all informed of Musk’s official plans for Twitter.

12 Influencers on social media found their platform because of their privilege. Because of their wide reach, they have a responsibility to spread good — not bad — using their influence.

Photo by: Ella Don / Unsplash

Opinion

Influence is a privilege Many influencers have fame — and some even have wealth — but not enough use this privilege responsibly Back in 2020, celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres compared quarantine to “being in jail,” even though she lives in a $21 million home with pools and a big yard. Multiple social media influencers and celebs had parties or traveled, even without masks.

This is just one of the many examples of influencer privilege where influencers showed their true colors.

There are many examples society sees of privilege shown by influencers, from complaining about being quarantined in their multi-million dollar mansions to blowing off money on materialistic items instead of giving back to the community that gives them the opportunity to make as much money as they do. These influencers have a responsibility to do something important with their influence.

Elon Musk was able to buy Twitter, and is still able to have housing, food, and be able to stay afloat financially, and then some, even after spending $44 billion to purchase Twitter. He, along with all the billionaires in the world, never seem to invest into the people that need

money most or help them out in any way. They could end world hunger, poverty, homelessness, and more, with not even half the amount of money they make, and yet they still don’t make that decision.

The money and status influencers have is not only a privilege, but a responsibility. A recent trend on social media that some call “cancel culture” has shown just how responsible influencers have to be when it comes to, well, influencing. While a lot of influencers use their platform for good, from organizing charity streams and raising a lot of money, to raising awareness for serious topics like mental health. One YouTuber named “Mr. Beast,” for example, gives away cars, houses, money, etc. to people in need. However, things like cancel culture can have a generally negative effect on an influencer’s career — especially if the accusations turn out to be true.

A pattern some may notice, though, is that, after all the drama dies down and all the apology videos are

Bee Myers Staff Writer made, the said “canceled” influencers come back in full swing after a certain amount of time and are back to being rich and creating content again like nothing happened. This was seen with an influencer named James Charles. He was involved with a lot of drama, including feuds with other influencers, but the real accusations include inappropriately talking to under-aged boys — and many revealed the proof behind these accusations. Though he should be in jail, he’s still making YouTube videos like he has done nothing wrong.

So where do we draw the line between “canceling” someone and them taking actual responsibility for their actions? It can be hard to say because with great power comes great responsibility, so if any minor mistakes are made, they should be addressed and talked about but still give the creator the chance to grow from their mistakes.

Though, being an influencer is rough, as they are alway in the public eye, they have a privilege that should be recognized and taken seriously.

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Arts and Entertainment

Though the movie was released in the 1980s, the movie “Say Anything” has become a cult classic that captures the trials of teenage love and the complexities of high school.

Photo By: 20th Century Fox

Senior cinema

Review

Kennedy Tetour Managing Editor

“Say Anything” (1989)

“Say Anything” is a teen romance film that came out in 1989 and shows the relationship between Diane Court and Lloyd Dobler. The film is a perfect end of school year romance for seniors about to graduate, and covers themes that may feel reminiscent of real life.

Though “Say Anything” takes place in the summer after high school graduation, the relationships shown in the film still feel very relatable and it reflects how some teenagers may be feeling as their high school career begins to end. Lloyd wants to spend as

Volume Three | Issue Five | May 2022

Over the years, pop culture has captured the stress, drama and anxiety of the end of the high school. Here are five films that seniors will relate to before they toss their caps. much time with Diane as he possibly can before she leaves for college in the UK. He works hard to make sure that Mr. Court can trust him with his daughter, and he does anything and everything to make sure that Diane is happy. He is essentially the perfect guy.

Diane is struggling with figuring out exactly what she wants to do with her life after high school. She was invited to study in England, but she has to make a decision on if it’s worth it to go or not. This big decision is an incredibly relatable moment for seniors in high school who have to decide what the next right step is.

Overall, “Say Anything” is a wonderful film for seniors grappling with the decisions they need to make before moving onto the next chapter of their lives. The film has ups and downs and twists and turns that all feel incredibly similar to how senior

year might feel for many people.

“Say Anything” is available for streaming on HBO Max.

“High School Musical 3” (2006)

“High School Musical 3” is the final installment in the High School Musical series and follows the East High seniors through their final year of high school. The movie goes through the second semester of the school year and covers prom, graduation, and the final spring musical for East High.

There is a surprising amount of high school aged kids who haven’t seen the High School Musical movies,

14 and honestly it’s a little disappointing.

My parents can confirm, these movies were my absolute favorite as a little kid and they would constantly be on loop in my house.

“High School Musical 3” was always my favorite as a budding film snob. The film has an obviously higher budget and production quality in comparison to its predecessors, and the musical numbers tend to be more reminiscent of music videos than random dance numbers, which I always thought was a really fun way to put a twist on the musical aspect of the movie.

There’s romance, as with many Disney movies, but this one feels a little more realistic. Troy and Gabriella are having problems in their relationship as they grow nearer and nearer to graduation, and their inevitable departure to college. Gabriella’s best friend, Taylor, says that Gabriella should just drop Troy and focus on her future, but as any other teenage girl would, she ignores her best friend and chooses Troy instead.

This movie is a surprisingly relatable addition to the High School Musical franchise, and can make for a fun, yet understanding, movie to watch as this school year comes to a close. Seniors can enjoy a story filled with songs that feel reminiscent of how it actually feels to be graduating high school and moving onto the next chapter of their lives.

“High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is available to stream on Disney+.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a film that covers Charlie’s high school career. While Charlie is a freshman, he meets seniors Sam and Patrick, who pull him out of his comfort zone and get him to have fun and explore while he’s still young.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” was my first ever review for Groovy Movies, so it will always hold

a special place in my heart, but looking back at the film at the end of my junior year makes me sympathize a lot more with the Seniors in the film.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is the perfect movie to watch as high school comes to a close. It shines a light on what it’s like to be the odd one out, and how it feels to be alone. Charlie is such a quiet awkward kid, he only starts to act out once Sam and Patrick come into the spotlight, but I think that it’s a perfect representation of how close high school friendships work.

The music, cinematography, and acting all culminates to create the perfect coming of age story that ties up loose ends and reflects on the golden days of high school. It creates a feeling of reminiscing on the past, while looking forward to the future with nothing but hope in your eyes.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is the perfect movie for seniors to enjoy with their friends as they look back fondly on their favorite high school memories. It is available to stream on Hulu.

“Booksmart” (2019)

“Booksmart” is a 2019 coming of age comedy that follows Amy and Molly in their final attempt to attend a high school party. Directed by Olivia Wilde, this movie screams girlboss and highlights what the end of high school feels like for those kids who have done nothing but study hard their whole lives.

“Booksmart” is a wonderfully upbeat movie that will make anyone laugh with its lighthearted comedy.

Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever both do an amazing job at portraying the nerdy high school students Amy and Molly at their first ever high school party.

The movie feels incredibly personal, and creates an overall sense of relatability to any normal kid who hasn’t been to the ideal Friday night rager. It takes very

common topics and dives deeper into them, while also adding in the aspect of life after high school and panicking about adulthood.

“Booksmart” is a wonderful film that anyone can enjoy with their friends. It’s bright and colorful, the costuming is a blast, and the film itself hardly ever has a dull moment.

If you’re looking for something more fun to watch as you reminisce on the good times, “Booksmart” is just the film for you.

“Booksmart” is available for streaming on Hulu.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” (1986)

Everyone and their mother has seen “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. The movie was filmed and takes place in Chicago, so it’s an especially popular film in this section of the midwest, but that

isn’t for no reason.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a classic film that features Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck. The movie covers Ferris Bueller and his big senior year finale. Ferris skips school with his friends Cameron and Sloane as they go on adventures across the great city of Chicago, all while trying not to get caught.

Ferris Bueller embodies what it means to let go and live in the moment, which is something I think current high school seniors need to do more of. Two years of a pandemic barred high schoolers from doing anything fun, so a film such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” that encourages you to just let go and have fun is exactly what this year’s seniors need.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is the perfect film for this year’s graduating class, it embodies everything this class needs in their lives, and adds a little bit of childhood nostalgia for kids raised in the Chicago area.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is available for to buy on YouTube, Amazon Prime, or Google Play.

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