The Voice - April, 2014

the

VOICE

April 2014 Volume XXX, Issue VIII

CLASS OF 2014

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(Relatively) Unscathed

A Comprehensive Guide to more-than-surviving in High School Asher Abrahms Head Copy Editor The school year has nearly come to a close. Unfortunately (by nature, it seems), APs, finals, and who-knowswhat other stressful events accompany the final stretch.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, this is one of the best times to reflect on the past year and mentally slow down. With only one month left as a student in these halls, I think it only appropriate to reflect on my formative past four years of high school life. With this in mind, I’m going to offer up advice as I consider what I’ve learned (mostly the hard way) in the hopes that it helps as you navigate what may, at this point, very well seem a tumultuous path.

Through experience, I’ve found the following advice helps preserve friendships, handle drama, generally feel you are your best self, and be happy (yes, happiness counts!).

1. First impressions are lasting impressions. The way you initially present yourself (whether that be to your girlfriend’s father, a new coach, or simply your new neighbor) leaves a mark. Regardless of how nonchalant these people may appear, you will be remembered in that first light.

2. New friends are as good as old friends, once made. This is perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind, especially if you’ve recently changed or transferred schools.

I know what it feels like to look around the halls of a new school and think nobody understands you and wish you could go back. But, fortunately, the reality is other people are in the same boat (more than you’d think) and are also seeking new friends.

3. Be honest. So easy, right? Well, when you’re in that decisive moment where you need to decide between truth and lie, not so much. My baseball coach recently told me about research that revealed every lie you tell results, in some way, shape, or form, in thirty more.

4. Turnitin.com is scary. Don’t plagiarize, it will catch you.

5. For you perfectionists out there (myself included): Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Let’s define success in terms of accomplishing all the work you (unfortunately) have to do in a relatively effective manner (getting more than six hours of sleep per night). To be successful, it’s essential to recognize when good enough is good enough. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received comes from my dad, who explains it’s just as important to decide what not to do as it is what to do. In other words, know when to say no. If helping Person X is going to compromise your ability to be effective, energized, and happy, then you’re doing nobody a favor. Chances are, Person X will actually appreciate your honesty and conscientiousness if you turn down their request or favor.

6. First things first. Prioritizing is key.

7. Keep a to-do list. The act of writing down a task solidifies it in your mind. In addition, staying organized in terms of knowing what you need to accomplish decreases stress levels because you feel on top of things.

8. Sit in the front row. Looking to improve your grades without having to think? Then here’s your answer. Studies show students who sit in the front row in class retain 40% more information than those in the back because you are closer to the teacher, less likely to fall asleep, more engaged, and less distracted because you can’t watch your friend one row up play TagPro...shucks. This is a triedand-true trick, so set yourself up for success.

9. Dream big, and use your imagination. This is possibly one of the most undervalued skills in life. And yes, I do say skill because thinking creatively, forging distant worlds in your mind, or thinking about your dream house all translate to real-life motivation.

10. Ask for help. People are happy to help you (whether that be with something as simple as finding research paper interviewees or something as serious as substance abuse) if you ask. No one can read your mind, so reach out.

11. This is the one I learned the hardest: Take responsibility. Although it is difficult to overcome that pit-in-thestomach sensation when you feel bad about something you’ve done, knowing you owned up to your actions can be immensely rewarding.

12. Don’t judge unless you have the facts. Everyone always has their own version of the story.

13. Haterz gon’ hate. They just jelly.

14. True self-confidence exists when you feel no need to compare yourself to others. Whether or not you realize it, the majority of people live under what they perceive to be the control of others. Relinquishing this nonexistent mental burden lightens the load and opens a new path to feeling more confident, calm, and collected. I can’t talk about this advice without also including advice that has helped me overcome immense disappointment. We all know what it’s like to not make the cut. Remember, however, you are never second place in your own self.

15. Take a break. I know, I know...it’s Pembroke. But studies show a 15-minute break to every hour of focused work greatly improves mental clarity and, therefore, efficiency and retention. Heck, even Benjamin Franklin advised that the optimal strategy for high productivity is to split your days into one third work, one third play, and one third rest.

16. Listen to lots of music. It’s a great way to escape without the mental and physical tolls of drugs and alcohol.

17. Talk to your boyfriend/girlfriend when you feel things just aren’t right. Chances are, they feel the same way. Lack of communication is actually one of the biggest reasons relationships fall apart.

18. Teachers and parents have our best interest in mind.

Does it frequently seem like it? No, but more often than not, these people really do care about us as human beings.

19. Every once in a while, tell the people around you how much you appreciate them and why you are thankful for them. Expressing gratitude is a win-win because both people in the exchange (the giver and receiver) feel happier.

20. It’s a cliché, but: Be yourself. Acting a certain way around people to gain attention is not what will, in the long run, gain you respect and understanding.

21. Exercise daily. Getting your blood pumping increases oxygen flow to your brain. You’ll find that daily physical activity of any sort improves brain function and results in that awesome sensation of feeling mentally clear.

22. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. However tempting it may be at times, lashing back at the very people who pay for your education, provide you with a home, and generally care for you is selfish.

23. If it’s easy, it probably isn’t worth doing. The greater the requisite effort, the greater the yield.

24. Follow your gut. I truly believe every person is born with some primal sense of knowing the right path. Instinct exists for a reason, so follow it.

25. Envision success. It sounds farfetched, but the way you think (negatively or positively) influences the way things physically play out. This is the most important piece of advice I have to offer. You control your perspective. Sick of school? Think of it this way: you’re here regardless, so you might as well make the best of the situation. Thinking you will be successful actually works. It’s incredibly empowering. Whether it’s stepping up to the plate and envisioning crushing a line drive to left-center or walking into a classroom and thinking about absolutely dominating that test, perspective is everything.

26. These final two pieces go hand-in-hand: things could always be worse. Just the other day, I was feeling quite overwhelmed, frustrated and on the verge of losing it. At this moment, as if it was meant to be, I was driving across the bridge near school that connects the two sides of Ward Parkway and noticed an elderly homeless man. He held a sign that read, “Just trying to get by.” In his haggard state, I realized how overwhelmingly selfish I was acting and how miniscule my perceived problems are in the spectrum of things. As I walked into school just several minutes later, I remembered a Facebook page created several years ago to slam the school entitled “Pembroke Hell.” Pembroke is not hell. We are all immensely fortunate to even go here. Is it hard? No doubt. But are there millions of people around the world who would give up so much in their lives to even have access to a fraction of the opportunities we have? Undoubtedly.

My hope is that at least one of these points touches home for you. As you go through the next month (and future years, for that matter), try to keep some of this in mind. In fact, it could be really helpful to designate a specific point as a daily or weekly focus in your life. Heck, post it up in your locker, write it down and keep it in your pocket, make it your phone’s lock screen for the day. Stick to this guide, and you won’t go wrong. Trust me, I can attest to it. And remember that, even though things may seem overwhelming at times, in the long run, all is well. n

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Students Are Tired

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(of the essay)

Michael Rubel Head of Web Design Every fall, members of the Pembroke community hear sophomores lamenting taking the PSAT. “It doesn’t even count for anything,” or “it’s a practice test for a practice test.” The latter complaint will almost taunt students, as soon, the “P” in PSAT will fall away, and real SAT prep must begin. For all students, complaints regarding the SAT seem more grounded. Christine Zheng ‘16 calls it a test of “simply memorization,” and Dr. Clothier explicitly calls it “necessary, but flawed.”

The College Board, administrators of the SAT, seem to have recognized these flaws. Its president, David Coleman, called the test “disconnected” last month and announced sweeping reforms to the test’s format, subject material, and accessibility. Starting in the spring of 2016, the SAT will revert to a 1600-point, two-section format, one which it held until 2005. Replacing the current critical reading, writing, and mathematics section will be two streamlined sections: a “reading and writing” section, and a mathematics section.

The new reading and writing section will rid the test of its infamous “SAT words,” instead using words “commonly found in college courses.” Passages in the English section will now include works from various disciplines – everything from science to historical, American documents. Rather than looking for key words or literary terms in short nonfiction excerpts as previously done, test-takers will now have to analyze these texts in context of their provided background. The SAT essay, previously mandatory, is now scored separately from the rest of the exam, moving to a more ACT-esque format. The revised math section will whittle nine topic areas to three simpler ones: linear equations, complex equations/functions, and proportional reasoning. Similar to the new English section, incorrect answers to math problems will no longer be penalized.

Many point to the SAT’s recently-lost dominance as cause for its changes; in 2012, for the first time, more students took the ACT than the SAT. Supposedly addressing

the test’s distance from actual college-preparedness, these changes will likely fix none of the fundamental flaws in the SAT and, on a larger scale, standardized exams. Ultimately, students see the SAT and ACT as tools to be accepted into the college of their choice, a tool which can be mastered through quantification and quick “tips and tricks” offered by review books. Businesses nationwide thrive on the mission of improving test scores, but what do these scores even mean? Since its conception in 1926, lawsuits pointing out the SAT’s irrelevance forced the SAT to change its name – first from the Scholastic Aptitude Test to the Scholastic Assessment Test, then simply to the “SAT.” Yes, colleges do need a standard of “scholasticism” to compare students. So, as you begin or finish the infamous “test-prep” process, feel free to worry about your score. Just remember that, once that acceptance letter arrives, your SAT results mean little to nothing.n

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Oh, What a Beautiful City!

Shaina Desai and Grace McFee Staff Writer and Assistant Editor Although setting seventy-five Pembroke Hill students loose in New York City may seem like an ambitious and somewhat optimistic decision, the Pembroke Hill choirs took New York by storm when they performed at the renowned Carnegie Hall the last weekend of Spring Break. Chorale, Madrigals, and Top of the Hill received this honor due to their many victories at the Heritage Festival of Music in Chicago last year. Students enjoyed the musical Jersey Boys on Broadway and also got the pleasure to perform at the Princeton Alumni Club and to later visit the 9/11 Memorial. Along with these unique adventures, each student worked hard all weekend in long rehearsals (one lasting up to six hours), led and conducted by Dr. Andre Thomas, Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. “Singing in such a famous and intimidating place was a once in a lifetime experience, and the sound was incredible,” says Elizabeth Lacy ‘15. Luckily, for the senior members of the choirs, it was a great way to finish out their time at Pembroke Hill and in our choral department. Claire Miller ‘14 states, “I got to eat a chocolate croissant while watching the sunrise in Central Park then sing in Carnegie Hall. Successful trip.” n

Students arrive in New York City.

Girls on the choir trip enjoy their free time at the NBC station.

Photo Credits to Kiara Lewis, Claire Miller and Brant Challicombe

Kiara Lewis ‘14

Students visit Grand Central Station enroute to the 9/11 Memorial.

FEATURING SENIORS Melissa Annecchini Courtney Bacon Kate Berkley Brooke Blevins Emily Bricker Zach Cobb Lucy Davis John Ellis Kat Gentleman John Graham John Hamilton Daniel Han David Heddens Christine Hein Charlotte Johnston Erin Krahn Kiara Lewis Aden MacMillan Claire Miller Carly Minis Max Montague Wesley Neville Kathleen O'Keefe Sarah Park Morgan Peterson Ian Purdy Shea Radel Jake Stein Tucker Sutton Miriam Swartz Arlet VanHoutan Beth Wang

Breakfast at Tiffany’s!

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Emily Dema Copy Editor

Storm Chaser on the (William) Block

William Block ‘14 spends his time a bit more uniquely than other members of the senior class. Little known to the Pembroke Hill community, he is a “trained storm spotter.” Whenever storms strike the area, Block doesn’t hunker down in the comfort of his home like the rest of us, but he goes out to follow the development of the systems and reports his findings to the local sheriff’s office.

Storm chasing may seem like an unusual hobby, but Block has had a developing interest in storms for a long time. He says, “When I was younger, I was really afraid of storms. When I would see a storm rolling

in outside of the window, I would flee to my basement and hide for a while. Over time I began to learn things about storms and they began to get less scary. As I continued to grow up, I became interested in the most extreme storms - probably to master my own fears.”

A lot of work goes into the preparation for a storm chase.

Before he embarks on a chase, he “checks the ‘models,’ which are basically supercomputers made to predict where storms will strike.” After discovering severe weather is possible, Block finds zones with favorable tornado conditions.

Using his equipment, Block follows the storms, typically

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in the Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri region.

Block’s task is not only interesting for himself, but also important to the community because “it’s important to protect the public [by alerting them of storms] in rural areas where emergency resources are sparse to none.”

By attending college in Texas, Block hopes to have the opportunity to continue storm chasing.

Block’s hobby and ability to chase and spot storms in the field not only set him apart from other Pembroke Hill students, but also perfectly emphasizes our community’s varied capabilities and interests. n

Photo credits to William Block

Vincent Czerwinski

Q:What would you like your epitaph to say?

A:“I died and all I got was this crappy epitaph.”

Q:If you had a superpower, what would it be?

A:The power to turn invisible.

Q:What question do you hate to answer?

A: “So, do you know where you’re going next year?”

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: The Envirothon program.

Donjo Lau

Q:What is the scariest thing you have ever done?

A: Went swimming with stingrays.

Q:What is your best dance move?

A:Has not been discovered.

Q:What is your favorite food?

A:Rice because it tastes good with everything and rhymes with nice.

Q:Which fictional character do you relate to the most?

A:Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town.

Anna Williams

Q: If you had a free pass to commit any crime without going to prison, which crime would you choose?

A: I would steal money: theft of the Federal Reserve.

There’s a billion dollars there!

Q: What 3 things do you think most of every day?

A: My mom and if she’s doing okay, my schedule for the next few days or week of my life, and I think a lot of the special someone in my life!

Q: What is your biggest hidden talent?

My sense of direction.

Q: If you could go to any concert, whose would it be?

A: Avicii! If someone takes me to an Avicii concert, I would literally love them for the rest of my life.

Q& All You Wanted To Know Before They Leave

Maren Johnson Mimi Childress

Q: Who in the world would you take a bullet for?

A: My parents.

Q: If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

A: My height.

Q: What has been the happiest moment of your life in the last year?

A: Getting into college.

Q: If a crystal ball could tell anything what would you want to know?

A: I wouldn’t want to know.

Q: Who is your fantasy celebrity boyfriend?

A: Justin Bieber.

Q: Have you ever had an obsession?

A: Yeah. A lot, mostly with celebrities and food.

Q: Do you have any unique traditions/rituals?

I switch the part in my hair when I’m waiting for something or anxious.

Q: Who has had the greatest impact on your life?

A: My mom and dad.

student life

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A

Victoria Turner

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: I have a good idea of what I would like to do, but life is apt to change. All I can say is I hope to be happy.

Q: When you were younger, what was your favorite Halloween costume?

A: I was Barney a couple years in a row. Highly embarrassing, but I clearly liked that costume a lot!

Q: What possession means the most to you?

A: The music I own, whether it be on my phone or the albums I bought with my sister.

Q: Who is your biggest role model?

A: Beyonce. Her talent alone is inspiring, but the fact that she can be extremely bold and also very vulnerable and humble is incredible.

Charlie Mueller Brittany LaPointe

Q: What is your guilty pleasure?

A: 80’s pop music.

Q: If you could do anything in the world without fear of failure, what would you do?

A: Find the prevention and cure of cancer.

Q: What is the best compliment you have ever received?

A: “You’re perfectly simple. You don’t feed on negativity and arguments like the rest of the girls I’ve ever met. I love that.”

Q: What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

A: Bungee jumping in New Zealand on JanTerm sophomore year.

Jon Chu

Q: What is the worst piece of advice you have ever been given?

A: To only put peanut butter on one piece of bread in a PBJ sandwich.

Q: If you swapped genders for a day, how would you spend it?

A: Eating pie in bed.

Q: If you could eliminate one weakness or limitation in your life, what would it be?

A: I would eliminate the feeling of pain.

Q: What type of music do you like?

A: All kinds of music, including movie soundtracks.

Q: What thing about girls do you just not understand?

A: Why do they have so many shoes?

Q: If you could sit down with your 15 year old self, what would you tell him?

A: Get involved with as many things as you can.

Q: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

A: Spent the night in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport by myself.

Q: What is the most unusual conversation you have ever had?

A: I was talking to my cousin, and out of nowhere he starts talking about his college days, then he went back to our normal conversation like nothing happened.

Scott Barnow Q: What is your favorite joke?

A: How do you make a Kleenex dance? Put a little boogie in it.

Q: If you had an extra $100 to contribute to each week, what would you contribute to?

A: Gas and food.

Q: If you could retire tomorrow, what would you do?

A: Travel the world.

Q: If you had a teleportation machine, where would you go right now?

Barcelona.

student life

Miley Cyrus fans were sad when she had to cancel her Bangerz concert at the Sprint Center due to an allergic reaction.

The Royals season has begun! Hopefully this year they will make KC proud!

A tragic shooting at the Jewish Community Center in KC left three people dead. Our hearts are with the victims’ families.

“All of Me” by John Legend is in the top 10 iTunes songs this month. We are left wanting all of him.

April 20th marks the date of Easter this year.

Break out your pastels and chocolate bunnies!

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Pr es oc iat ed ss

di ts

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ABC’s hit TV show Scandal reveals the dramatic side of politics in America. Tune in on Thursdays at 9.

Ph ot oC

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the awaited sequel to the film version of this Marvel comic.

s

Seniors at PHS are being celebrated this Voice issue. Only a few weeks left of high school, Class of 14’!

TRENDING

The app 2048 should be named 24/7! This addicting game is becoming an obsession.

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Devon Dietrich and Olive Honan

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student life

Class rings: keeping it C14ssy?

Paige Pepitone Managing Editor Graduation: the much-anticipated day of freedom. The day where you trade in years of teenage angst and anxiety for a shiny diploma. You tell your high school it just wasn’t meant to last. You were both at different stages in life. It’s not the school, it’s you.

You chase your dreams into the sunset, and you’re glad to be rid of what you’d believed to be a toxic relationship.

But as time passes, it sheds a warm light on your high school memories. Monday assemblies weren’t so unbearable...it was actually kind of nice to have the school come together once a week. Homework really did prepare you for college. And, yes, Dr. Tostevin was challenging, but think how much you learned.

As the memories flood your stomach with bitter nostalgia, you wish you had something, anything, to serve as a daily reminder of your high school.

Hey, if you like it, then you should have put a ring on it.

Senior Claire Miller ‘14 sums up her opinion on the matter of class rings: “I didn't get one, though I like the design of the rings. They're the classic memorabilia of high school. I thought they were too expensive to be worth it, and the ring insurance was ridiculous. It's a ring, not a car! But I can see why some people would choose to spend their money on them.”

When class ring ordering was announced to the Junior Class, attitudes ranged from “Why would I want to be remember high school, much less pay an

exorbitant amount of money for a ring inscribed with the school’s insignia?” to “I’ve gone to Pembroke my whole life, and this ring would really mean a lot to me.” Pembroke Hill is a school deeply entrenched in tradition, but questions were raised about the legitimacy of the rings, especially when the Jostens sales representative commented that the rings would allow us to promote our high school. He claimed the rings enhanced a sense of community at Pembroke since they incite a relative sense of pride for one’s high school when noticed.

Because the average passer-by on the street definitely recognizes Pembroke’s crest on a small ring.

Dakota Van Deursen '15 is slightly skeptical: “Class rings? I'm a fan. I think that the concept behind them displays the Pembroke Hill motto of 'Freedom with Responsibility' quite well...that is, one has the 'Freedom' to have enough 'Responsibility' with one's money to buy an overly-priced hunk of metal for an outrageous sum."

However, not all juniors are so cynical: “It's good to have one as a reminder for years later of this period of time in your life,” says Alex Anderson ‘15. “I also think it reminds us that no matter how many different cliques there have been, we're all together as a class.”

Class rings are only as significant as you make them. Whether you agree with what they represent or not, “a rite of passage, a symbol of high school camaraderie” certainly has a better ring to it than “hunk of metal.” n

HU

on this...

Jon Chu

Farewell to The Voice and its readers. For two years I’ve enjoyed writing strange little pieces and sharing my odd stories and opinions. It seems I have one last opportunity to do so, and I figure there is no better opportunity to look back and think about my high school career.

Freshman year was interesting since I was new to this school. That combined with the fact that my class was the lowest rung of the ladder caused me to keep a relatively low profile for the first semester. People sometimes tell me they didn’t know I existed until the second half of the year, and I sometimes tell those people it was a period of time which I spent practicing my ninja-like invisibility skills. It’s all “a matter of patience and agility” according to the movie Batman Begins. Anyhow, one thing that really stands out about freshman year was that there was dessert in the cafeteria quite often. Cookies and other items were actually common, but over the last four years they have gradually been replaced by water tainted with fruit (and sometimes vegetables). I suppose we can all try to think about how much healthier we are as a result, but might get caught up thinking about pie, ending any thoughts of health.

As I moved up the ladder, each year I was sad to see friends from the senior class leave. I have to say I was also dismayed at the thought of new freshmen. However, every year through teams, clubs, and of course Chinese class I actually came to enjoy and make friends with many of my younger schoolmates. This interesting phenomenon taught me to give the young folks a chance; they are truly valuable teammates, club members, and friends.

Next year, it will be the younger grade students’ turn to move up and take on new roles. Juniors, you will surely take on many positions of leadership that will set the tone of teams, clubs, and other activities which will in turn determine the environment of the school. Sophomores will become juniors and will work hard through a difficult year, and it will be worth it. Freshman will begin to choose what things they really want to pursue throughout the rest of high school. My advice to you all is to be willing to try new things simply because you find them interesting.

Every year of high school, I have taken part in new and different activities and even though I was often busy, I have few regrets about missing out on things, and I hope you do the same. n

student life

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Robotics

Shannon Fang Staff Writer If you ever stop by the Robotics room in Hall Student Center, you will see large, intimidating, and dangerous machinery inside and outside of the room. The floor is littered with tiny fragments of silver debris, and square steel tubes clutter the floor and tables. Navigating this place is like walking through a maze; the place is truly like a workshop you see in movies. The senior captains, Glenn Lane and Cameron Chartier, as well as faculty sponsor Mr. Laible and the other team members, are on the floor, huddled around what they are building. Occasionally, a phone will sit somewhere playing music, with the robot right in the middle of the room.

Each year’s Robotics competition is different; sometimes it is shooting frisbees, sometimes it’s basketballs. This year’s competition is similar to a mix of soccer and basketball. On a court, the team’s robot is set up and the aim is to get as many exercise balls (4 pounds, 2 feet in diameter) into a goal as possible. Each school is randomly

allied with other teams to work together to score. A team can earn points from catching a ball, shooting a ball in the top or low goal, possessing the ball, passing the ball, and launching the ball over a middle beam.

The low goals are less points, and the high goals are more points.

However, how does one go about building such a complex machine in the limited time of six weeks? The Robotics team “starts by throwing ideas out and then improving upon them,” Varun Chadha ‘16 says. They sketch the robot, get the measurements, and figure out how to make it work using math and physics. Many team members mentioned that the best part of Robotics, and the reason they joined, is coming up with solutions and solving problems that arise when building the robot. It is what makes Robotics difficult but engaging at the same time. Chartier 14’ says: “The thing I like about roboitics the most is that it is very interactrive and making a robot is like [making] a piece of art.” n

Photo credit to Maya Patel

Trial Run

Mock Trial Team Has Strong Performance At State Competition

Photo Credit to Cindy Wang

Cindy Wang Managing Editor The Pembroke Hill Mock Trial team qualified to State over spring break for the second time in a row in its two year existence. This year, the tournament took place in St. Louis, Missouri and saw fifteen Missouri teams pitted against each other in a series of trials. Going into the tournament, Pembroke Hill maintained a 3-1 record, defeating teams such as Blue Springs South, Fort Osage, and Liberty High School in the Regional tournament.

This year’s case involved a prison guard, Elliott Grantham, who was beaten by two prison inmates of Earhart County Jail while performing bed checks and was subsequently hospitalized. Grantham then

sued the County of Earhart, Missouri on the count of negligence, because on the night of the incident, the jail was understaffed and lacked support.

While at State, Pembroke maintained a 1-1 record, placing 9th and barely missing out on an opportunity to participate in quarterfinals. However, Mock Trial and debate coach Mr. Smith remains positive, “I’m very proud of the work our team did this year. It is really impressive to think that two years ago we didn’t even have a team and the last two years we have finished 2nd in our district and 9th in the state. This success will surely motivate our returning students to accomplish even bigger and better things next year.” n

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middle school

e’re Doin’ a Show!

Showcase Preview

Ellie Miller Middle School Staff Writer

Showcase, arguably the biggest production in the middle school, is coming up, and everyone involved has been working diligently to get everything ready for the show.

Mrs. Anderson, the middle school music and chorus teacher, started Showcase twenty-nine years ago when the Pembroke Country Day boys school and the Sunset Hill girls school merged in 1984.

The themes of the songs and performances have changed with the times, but every year Mrs. Anderson and the 7th and 8th grade choir put on a show to remember.

The show is always highly anticipated, and the effort put into making it possible deserves commendation. The students start rehearsing their songs soon after winter break; however, even before then, Mrs. Anderson is hard at work picking out medleys, listening to soundtracks, and pouring through songbooks, always considering what will make this year's show shine. This year, with the help of the chairs Whitney Withers and Julie Kincaid, Mrs. Anderson has chosen to do a Disney-themed girls medley and a Beatles-themed boys medley.

The students start preparing by learning the songs in their chorus class. Because of the new schedule, however, students have had quite a bit of their

in-school practice time taken away. When asked about what the new schedule did to practice time, Mrs. Anderson said: "With 125 students, it's one of the largest groups.

With 125 different schedules, we have to find a way to work around everyone's activities while still getting in enough practice time." And it's true. Students have definitely had to spend more time practicing after school while juggling other after school activities like sports. Some students have had to leave from Showcase practices early or show up late, but the coaches and Mrs. Anderson have all been very cooperative and flexible so students can participate in the production, along with other after-school activities.

Throughout third quarter, choir students keep practicing their medleys and required pieces while having after school practices for extra ensembles. Then, after spring break, the focus changes. The choir students continue with a similar schedule of practices, but focus now on learning choreography and adding it to the singing.

Mrs. Amy Boorsma, the Showcase choreographer, is in her second year of Showcase.

Mrs. Boorsma, an accomplished dancer who was at the Chicago Bull's dance training camp 3 years ago, has worked tirelessly to teach the students choreography fitting each song, ranging from the quaint acting

of the Learner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady medley, to the the groovy dancing of the boys 1960's medley. Rehearsals for a Lion King dance number of "He Lives in You" is also something to look forward to!

Equally, no one should forget Joy Steincross, the choir's wonderful accompanist. She has worked so hard at the after school practices and will be the accompanist during the show. She is very excited to see how all of the components of the production are coming together, saying that her favorite part about helping with Showcase is "watching it come from nothing to something. To see it take shape and form." Mr. Challacombe has also been an instrumental part in the preparation for the production. He is the accompanist every day during plus-period chorus practice.

Both are very important and deserve great thanks for their assistance in the making of this production.

As the choir students get closer to the performance, each have their own favorite aspect of practicing. A seventh grader, Jaden Fire, said: "The best part of showcase for me is getting to sing all the time!

Especially with my friends." The seventh graders are new to the Showcase scene this year. When asked to compare his perception of Showcase and what it is actually like, Noah Skolnick said: "It was more than

I thought in terms of after school rehearsal, but it's still really fun!" The eighth grade veterans of Showcase also have their own opinions. Haley Harvey told how she felt about the production preparation this year vs. last year, saying: "This year our songs are a lot of fun, but we have more of them.

We have costumes this year, too, which I'm pretty sure everyone's excited about!"

There are a huge number of people who assist in the making of this production, without which such a great show could simply not happen. Between the choreography, the costumes, and even the ticket sales are so many people who help behind the scenes, and who should be given great thanks for their help and support. There are three Showcase performances that will be held this May: the first is a matinee on Thursday, May 1st, and there will be two more performances held on Friday and Saturday night. Ticket sales opened on Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 am in the Boocock middle school building, and the sales were vigorous, with the line being a more than hour-long wait! Get tickets soon and come to support our choir students as they put on the 29th annual Showcase! n

middle school

11

G A

h t e f o Issu t s tr i e PEPITONE A Ever N I G

since she was a little girl, Gina Pepitone ‘18 has loved to sing. Her talent has landed her the opportunity to perform her own song in Showcase 2014, “There Ain’t Nobody But Us Chickens.” Having never taken voice lessons due to her busy schedule, Pepitone is a selftaught vocalist who loves to perform. Showcase has given her an opportunity to shine on stage while she does what she loves. Like many others, Pepitone does get nervous before performing, but she has learned to channel her energy into her performance while doing her best. Pepitone has some great advice for singers who aspire to be soloists: “Even if you are unsure, go for it, even if it results in failure. You will never know until you try.” Through the audition process, Pepitone has become much more confident and has gained lots of experience. Family and close friends encourage and support Pepitone, which gives her confidence while performing. She is unsure what the future will hold, but would love to keep singing and start to take voice lessons. Make sure to attend Showcase 2014 and see her perform; you won’t want to miss it! n Grace Green and Jillian Jetmore Middle School Staff Writers

12

sports

Take Me Out to the Ball Game Davis Brooks Assistant Editor

Asher Abrahms at bat. Photo credit to Davis Brooks.

After an offseason of rebuilding and recovery, the Pembroke Hill baseball team is off to a fantastic beginning. With a quick 3-0 start consisting with wins over Cameron (score 5-0), Savannah (score 9-3), and St. Joseph’s Benton (score 10-5), the baseball team now boasts a record of 8-1. This success is especially impressive considering the upheavals the teams has undergone in the past year.

Last year, Coach Jeff Diskin told the the Raiders he would be leaving Pembroke Hill in pursuit of his new career working with the Kansas City Royals organization.

Coach Diskin left big shoes to be filled, and Pembroke Hill was lucky to find Coach Mike Bahun. Bahun previously worked at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, as an assistant coach for its baseball program. John Black ‘17, a catcher and outfielder for the Raiders, noted, “Bahun brings a lot of energy to the team. He sets high goals and works with each player to make them better. He brings a lot of knowledge of the game to the team and knows how to get the best from all of his players. He is also a really great and likeable guy, which makes him easy to play for.” Along with Bahun, Pembroke also brought in assistant coaches PJ Glasscock and Ryan Buckley.

On top of the change in coaching personnel, the Raiders also went through their own set of struggles with injury. Key players spent much of the offseason rehabbing serious injuries to be ready for the start of the baseball season. Dylan Peters ‘15 broke his collarbone playing football this fall, which required surgery, two plates, and nine screws; Ty Spurgeon ‘15 broke his wrist; Brett Bethune ‘15 had hip surgery on both hips; John Black ‘17 suffered a serious concussion; Tyler LaPlante ‘14 has been rehabbing his arm since last May; Jason Cobb ‘17 fractured his back; and in his sophomore year, Sam Frazen ‘14 had a fracture in his back too. With all of these players either completely recovered or nearly recovered and with the new system of coaching settling in with the team, Pembroke Hill looks to have one of its best seasons yet, despite the obstacles of injury and unfamiliarity. Having just won the Clinton Tournament, the Raiders have games coming up in May at Smithville (5/2, 5/3), at St. Pius X (5/6), home against Bishop Le Blond (5/9), and at Rockhurst (5/12) and will be competing in Districts starting on May 16th.

Pembroke Hill is also lucky to have five seniors on the baseball team this year: Asher Abrahms, Sam Frazen, Tyler La Plante, Calahan O’Connor, and Sean Reardon, two of which will continue their baseball careers into college (Sam Frazen at Denison University and Tyler La Plante at Johnson County Community College). n

Athlete of the Issue:

Emily Cohen Staff Writer

How does crouching dangerously close to the batter and bracing yourself for a baseball hurling towards home plate at upwards of 70 miles per hour sound? I’d run away in fear, but Sam Frazen ‘14 faces that baseball everyday for the varsity baseball team. Frazen started playing baseball when he was about four years old and has played as a catcher ever since.

But make no mistake; he’s as much of a threat batting as he is behind home plate.

Throughout his years on the baseball team, the senior has made goals and memories, as well as made the Pembroke community proud. Last year, Frazen was named All-District and First Team All State in Missouri for his skill as a catcher. Among players in both Missouri and Kansas, he received an Honorable Mention.

While getting those awards is great, that’s old news, and Frazen is now focused on goals for this season: “Personally, I just want to have a better season than last year and to keep improving as a player and a leader.” Frazen and his team want to win their district and “hopefully make a good run at state,” he says. “The feeling...when [he] get[s] a hit or make[s] a good play,” Frazen says, is what he most enjoys during a baseball game. Equally important to Frazen is his teammates’ success, such as when “a teammate of [his] comes through with a big hit or great defensive play.” In fact, he says one of his favorite aspects of Pembroke baseball is the team because of the friends he has made as a member of the team.

Frazen’s baseball career is far from over. He plans to continue playing at Denison University next year. Maybe, in several years, we’ll see him in the MLB draft. n

sports

13

14

opinion

Black, White, and Ferris All Over

Photo Credit to Cormac Chester

Cormac Chester Photo Editor “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

These iconic words by Ferris Bueller should never be ignored.

As I have gotten older, life has gotten a lot faster for me, and I think embracing Ferris’s words is the best thing we can do.

A couple of weeks before my freshman year started, I was at the Voice reunion at the Rubels’ house (Jeffrey was one of the coeditors-in-chief), and I remem-

ber talking to Riley Sloan ‘13, asking him what high school is like. One of Riley’s striking comments was that, while high school seems to take a long time when you’re in it, upon reflection one thinks, “Sh*t, that went by pretty fast.”

Given both Ferris’s and Riley’s comments, I propose a solution to life’s warp-drive mentality. Whenever you look at a picture, more often than not, it is going to be in color. Most cam-

eras, nowadays, take pictures with all the shades of the rainbow. iPhones, point-and-shoots,

“I advocate we slow down and take in how beautiful the picture looks, and, in a greater sense, how beautiful life is.” and even the high-end DSLRs take color photos.

I suggest that we remove the

color from these photos. Not all photos, just the ones you want to savor the moment of. Group f/64, comprised of Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and others, embodied this idea. In its manifesto, the group says that “the qualities of clearness and definition of the photographic image” are very important parts of a picture.

Thus, like the group, which shot in black and white, I advocate we slow down and take in how beautiful the picture looks, and,

in a greater sense, how beautiful life is.

When Ferris Bueller decided to skip school, he was making an excellent choice. I, too, suggest that you be Ferris Bueller and make an excellent choice: slow down, enjoy life, and don’t forget to look in black and white for the details. n

opinion

S C H O L A R S H I P

Freedom

I T E G R I T Y

with

C O M P A S S I O N

Responsibility?

15

R E S P E C T

Eric Koch Staff Writer Since long ago, nations, empires, militaries, and, of course, college prep schools have selected certain attributes that they esteem above all others in their members.

In Sparta, the citizenry were expected to maintain a warrior ethos and to value equality and austerity in their policy and lifestyle.

Fast forward a couple thousand years to the First French Republic which defined itself with three simple virtues: Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity. In the national anthem, America is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Now, in 2014, Dr. Bellis announces Pembroke Hill’s own new values: Scholarship, Integrity, Compassion, and Respect. This fresh set of moral imperatives in the Pembroke Hill community begs the question of just what they imply about the school today, and how the school might change in the coming years.

Just like societies of the past, Pembroke Hill reflects its own character within its espoused ideals. Sparta stood firm as a

military powerhouse in the Greek region, France attempted dramatically progressive reforms, and the United States empowered millions to freely pursue their dreams.

As an institution of learning, Pembroke strives towards a comparable goal: facilitating the development of teenagers as they prepare to depart for college. In this respect, Pembroke intends to widen students’ knowledge and improve their academic skills (Scholarship), encourage them to treat others properly (Compassion and Respect), and lead them to act with moral righteousness (Integrity).

While important for functionality in the real world, the advocated values in this new list mark a striking departure from the old Pembroke motto, “Freedom with Responsibility.” In fact, they reveal a general lack of initiative to veer away from a linear path towards graduation.

The diverse principles possess one common characteristic, action for the sake of some external idea. Whether for learning, morality, or simply other people, each of

the values represents an attitude of conducting oneself in conformity with outward motives. While acting for these reasons certainly carries importance, acting solely for these reasons lacks the ever so crucial agency of oneself.

Within the context of Freedom with Responsibility, students have the opportunity to act as they chose, but should they chose wrongly, they must deal with the natural consequences of their actions. Given this autonomy, they are able to make a path tailored for themselves, and thus are better equipped to pursue their own interests.

Achieving one’s potential in this regard means far more than mere scholastic success. Each and every person has a unique personality, which will translate into a unique approach towards self-improvement. At this point in anyone’s life, there is little chance their character can be fundamentally altered, much less by their school.

As a consequence, this new set of values will have little, if any, true effect on our school. What does merit consideration,

however, is what can be changed. We are beyond our formative years, and, as young adults, now is the time to use what we have to begin our individual journeys.

Only through being treated as such can we fully realize our potential. In a free system, one of high risk and high reward, we can not only build on our skills, but also learn to use what we have already learned to make a real difference in some aspect of our lives.

With an ocean of homework crashing upon us, we have little time or strength to do more than barely stay afloat. Even if we did, with stringent regulations and strict oversight, we have little chance to form clubs or organizations. The recent compilation of basic life values only adds meaningless rhetoric to an unsolved problem.

Rather, a reversion to our forgotten motto would have the power to transform our school, from an old beaten path with sparse outlets into a great crossroads of ideas and lifestyles, in which a diverse student body would thrive. n

16

opinion

Prom.

Few words stir such excitement in middle-school girls as this one. And here we are, days away from the big event. Prom is a deep-rooted institution in American culture, a descendant of senior celebrations and debutante balls and, for many high school students, a huge freaking deal.

But it doesn’t seem this way at Pembroke.

Maybe it’s because we have bigger issues to deal with (APs, anyone?) than perfecting the last detail of the night, or maybe it’s because we’ve grown up with a decent amount of the glitz prom offers. However, we Pembroke students have been relatively calm about the whole matter.

That’s not to say we aren’t excited; we are. We expect great things, in fact, since it’s not at school, since we eat

Students enjoy prom. Photo credits to Arianna Lane.

dinner at the dance, since it’s upperclassmen only...there’s a whole slew of reasons to get pumped for prom.

But one admirable tradition seems to get lost in the fuss of primping, prom-posing, and promenading: celebrating the seniors.

We’re a small school. We all know each other. And each graduating class is sorely and distinctly missed each fall. But this spring, we ought to recognize and celebrate the

time we have left with our seniors. As junior Angela Garza says, prom is “a final goodbye celebration for the seniors.”

Amid the typical hyperactivity that comes with spring, it can be hard to kick back for a night and just have fun celebrating, but that, to me, is the real value in prom. n

Curtain Call

Grace McFee Managing Editor

As the red curtain falls on their final act, the senior thespians are allowing their audience to view the backstage lives of Pembroke Hill actors and all the chaotic offstage memories their adoring public never witnesses.

Although fairly readily apparent, the thespian community at Pembroke Hill is a collage of very diverse and obviously dramatic students whose acting inspiration is drawn from varying sources: parents, teachers, directors, and even simply going to see a play. Beth Wang ‘14 admits: “My parents always did theatre when they were in high school, and they'd always take me to plays as a kid, but it was really how nice all the upperclassmen thespians were when I was a freshman that convinced me to get involved in PHS theatre.” Even more praise for the Pembroke Hill drama department comes from Emily Bricker ‘14, who says, “I was inspired to start acting by seeing Pirate of Penzance at Pembroke Hill my eighth grade year and have been acting ever since.”

However, what the audience has really been waiting for are the funny memories.

So, in order from 5 to 1, here are their favorite memories: 5. Asher’s voice cracked so badly in the song "Wells Fargo Wagon" that the whole cast and crew burst out laughing, and had to restart the song because they were all laughing so hard.

4. Riley Sloan never knew his lines but the audience never knew that he never knew them because he was “the best improv-er in the world.”

3. The time Michael Rubel wore a dress, a tiara, and balloon boobs.

2. In “Antigone,” a line, which was supposed to be “you must forget her, Haemon,” came out as “you must forget her hymen.”

1. In Oklahoma! Cole Harbur could never say this one line: "Anybody wanna

arts

17

Senior Thespian Feature

buy a gun?" It always came out as "Anybodywaddabadda gun," and the whole company onstage would start laughing hysterically.

Most importantly, the senior thespians would like to thank the Pembroke Hill drama department. Kate Berkley ‘14 says: “What has kept me interested in acting has been the collaborative theater experience we are fortunate to have as cast and crew members at Pembroke Hill. Our directors, Mrs. Cain and Ms. King, always create such wonderful and meaningful experiences for us during productions in which we as actors are able to fully immerse ourselves in not only our onstage work, but are offstage work as well. I am incredibly grateful for the experience I have had as a thespian at Pembroke Hill.” The seniors are also optimistic for the future crop of thespians and say they are “so excited to see such an enthusiastic group of underclassmen and juniors coming in and getting really involved in thespians” and that “looking at these little ones makes [them] sure that the the

drama department in good hands.” The Pembroke Hill community wants to thank the senior thespians and wish them luck as they bow out. n

Seniors

Year of induction

# of Pembroke productions

Aber

2012

8

Abrahms

2012

7

Annecchini

2014

2

Berkley

2013

9

Blevins

2012

6

Bricker

2011

14

Honeck

2014

7

Kennelly

2011

16

Purdy

2012

11

Wang

2012

11

18

arts

Senior Artist Wrap-Up

Megan She Assistant Editor

Walking through the hallways and Centennial, you always see artwork everywhere, but the artists behind the pieces are rarely acknowledged. Throughout the years, our senior artists Jon Chu, Emily Trenton, Anna Williams, Brittany LaPointe, Kat Gentleman, Corrinne Smith-Winterscheidt, Emma Girson, Betsy Sundeen, Nathan Kent, and Tristan Threatt have not only decorated our school with their aesthetic talent, but also decorated themselves with hard-earned and well-deserved awards. So, shout-out to our unsung right-brainers as we bid them good luck on their future pursuits!

Corrinne Smith-Winterscheidt Beginning with her breakthrough piece “The Girl Who Breathes Fire,” Corrinne Smith-Winterscheidt ‘14 has captured the attention of art enthusiasts with her eye-catching multi-media artwork since freshman year. Accumulating a silver key in silversmithing and two honorable mentions in drawing at the regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, as well as a nomination for the Johnson County Shooting Stars competition during her high school career, Smith-Winterscheidt is undoubtedly on a solid path to success. Her aunt, art teacher and amazing artist herself, is who inspired Smith-Winterscheidt to pick up visual arts, and this hobby has grown into a life-long passion.

Smith-Winterscheidt hopes to minor in art or design in college.

arts

19

Betsy Sundeen Betsy Sundeen ‘14 grew up loving art and has known she wanted to pursue this path since she was little. She says: “When I was a little girl, I never claimed I would grow up to be a princess: I’d always claim I’d grow up to be an artist.” And she, in fact, achieved her dream.

During her years at Pembroke Hill, Sundeen has received an honorable mention for the Scholastic Art and Writing awards for photography her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Sundeen wishes to continue her passion for art in the coming years as she plans on majoring in interior design in college in addition to creating more art for fun on her own time.

Emma Girson Emma Girson ‘14 has had an interest in art since she was very young, following the artistic footprints of both her mother and her grandmother, who were artists themselves. Girson’s artistic range covers almost every media: photography, film, graphic design, painting, silversmithing, etc. She especially liked taking AP Studio, as well as silversmithing and photography. During her years doing art at Pembroke Hill, Girson has accumulated numerous Scholastic Art keys, as well as built close relationships with her fellow artists and teachers. Girson plans on going into film in college, but will continue with painting and photography on her own time.

Tristan Threatt While AP Art Studio is known for being quite the challenge, Tristen Threatt ‘14 sees hating and loving the struggle AP Art Studio as one of his fondest memories of art at Pembroke Hill. Threatt especially enjoys the hands-on aspect of art; he has a particular interest in ceramics and photography. Now, Threatt’s art has drifted towards photography. Since he was young, Threatt has always had an interest in lighting and shapes. He says, “I look back at the pieces I made when I was a child and wish I had the ability of the five-year-old me.”

Threatt will not be going to college specifically for art, but will continue taking classes.

Jon Chu A superb ceramicist, senior Jon Chu’s four years of art at Pembroke Hill were sculpted with creative talent (and the awards to prove it). Earning various gold and silver keys for the Scholastic Art and Writing awards as well as artistic merit awards for ceramics, Chu has wowed our community with both his functional and sculptural ceramics (which also happens to be his favorite form of art). Chu will not be planning on taking art classes in college, but will continue to create art as a hobby.

20

arts

The Great Debaters Senior debate members answer questions about their debate experience at Pembroke Hill.

Mickey Ferguson and Davis Brooks Staff Writer and Assistant Editor

What is your favorite debate memory?

Why did you choose debate?

Patrick Innes: “My novice year, I went to a tournament in Nebraska and Adam Starr and I got to the finals round.”

Patrick Innes: “I started debate because my good friend Douglas Miller convinced me I’d be good.”

Adam Starr: “My junior year, Sid Goel and I read a Dadaism kritik, a Heidegger kritik, a capitalism kritik, a Buddhism kritik, a Lacan kritik, and an argument that the country Belgium does not exist in one round. We won the round on the argument that Belgium does not exist.”

Adam Starr: “I wanted to give announcements to the student body and say Belgium does not exist, and being debate president seemed like the easiest way.”

Jiseop An: “This one time at Neosho, I had to room with Patrick Innes and Michael Rubel. Michael and I had to sleep in the same bed, and as Michael was sleeping, he started talking in his sleep and said most coherently and fluidly, ‘Nah I don’t really care. Do what it takes to take it all the way.’ I asked him about what he said in the morning, and he couldn’t remember.”

Katrina Joseph: “I’ve stuck with it because I’ve gotten to become friends with and closer to a lot of the amazing people on our team, and it was always pretty fun getting to spend time with people I love during tournaments.”

Peter Taggart: “I can’t draw or sing well.”’

Jon Styslinger: “I win more than lose.”

Tommy Webster: “It gives qualities that will help throughout life, such as public speaking ability and the ability to formulate your own arguments.”

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Patrick Innes: “Getting first place at FX districts senior year is my greatest accomplishment.”

Katrina Joseph: “I’m able to say that, throughout my entire debate career, I have achieved something in all of the events I’ve done.”

Peter Taggart: “One of my best accomplishments is making it to finals of districts as a sophomore.”

Jon Styslinger: “I’ve done debate all four years of high school.”

Tommy Webster: “I double broke at every tournament this year.”

What is your favorite event?

Adam Starr: “Policy Debate is my favorite because I can say that Belgium does not exist.”

Jiseop An: “Public forum is the [best].”

Tommy Webster: “I’ve always loved Public Forum the most, especially my partnership with Jon Styslinger.”

arts

Sun Kil Moon - Benji If there’s one thing Mark Kozelek understands, it’s that the Midwest is a depressing place. On his new album, Benji, the folk singer-songwriter, using the moniker Sun Kil Moon, uses the The Lonesome Crowded West as a backdrop for tales of heartbreak, broken innocence, the disillusionment of society, and, most of all, death.

In nearly all of the album’s eleven songs, at least one person dies. In “Carissa,” the album’s stellar open track, Kozelek travels back to Ohio to attend the wake of his second cousin. Ironically, Carissa dies in the same manner as his uncle, by an exploding Aerosol can in her garbage can (“Truck Driver”). Carissa also dies on the same day as notorious serial killer Rich Ramirez, a fact that Kozelek explores much later in the album on the album in the almost frightening “Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes.” On this little ditty, Kozelek describes startling events in history, such as the Jonestown Massacre and the Iranian Hostage Crisis and how these events mark the passage of time in our lives. Perhaps the most poignant song on the album is “Pray for Newtown,” in which he describes how various shootings in the past have affected him and implores the listeners to think of Adam Lanza’s victims.

The album isn’t all doom and gloom, however. In “Dogs,” Kozelek describes practically every significant sexual encounter of his adolescence in overly-candid detail (the first of which occurs while he and a girl are listening to Pink Floyd’s Animals, hence the title) and the difficulties of relationships and the curse of attraction. In “I Can’t Live Without My Mother’s Love” and “I Love My Dad,” he describes his relationship with his parents. On the album’s closer, “Ben’s My Friend,” he describes a night out with his

is an old friend of Kozelek’s.

The album isn’t perfect; it has its fair share of flaws. Kozelek’s free-association lyrics, which come off as near spoken-word, are sometimes overly-detailed and border on rambling. An example of this is in the album’s longest song “I Watched the Film ‘The Song Remains the Same’,” in which he describes his experience watching the titular Led Zeppelin movie and how it influenced him to become a musician. The song, like the film it describes, is a little pretentious and heavy-handed, but it is overall a decent experiment in songwriting conventions (and tedium, I suppose). The lyrics on the album typically overpower the music, which is for the most part standard classical guitar. However, this particular detail is not really as much of a complaint as it is an observation, due to the fact that the lyrics are engaging and clever 95% of the time. Despite these flaws, however, I’d say the pros greatly outway the cons. In fact, I’ll let these flaws slide completely, as this is a rare album where I wasn’t bored once during my first listen . . . or any subsequent listens, for that matter. Benji is undoubtedly the best album of the year. n

Final Grade: A+ Feels Level: Maximum Overfeel Top Tracks: “Carissa,” “Truck Driver,” “Dogs,” “Pray for Newtown,” “Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes,” “Micheline” If You Liked This, Check Out: Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West, The Mountain Goats - All Hail West Texas, Beck - Sea Change

21

Oxymoron - ScHoolboy Q Mac Miller claims that ScHoolboy’s new album, Oxymoron, is even better than Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city.

Just to be clear, he’s wrong . . . and also a god-awful rapper. Don’t get me wrong, Oxymoron is good too though. On his last album, Habits and Contradictions, Q proved himself to be the undisputed second best member of TDE and Black Hippy, particularly on the haunting “Raymond, 1969,” maybe one of my favorite rap songs ever. Unfortunately, on Oxymoron, Q never quite reaches the heights of “Raymond,” although he comes close on “Hoover Street,” a nearly seven minute epic in which he describes his early life of crime, how he obtained his first pistol, and the shady dealings of his sketchy uncle.

However, despite nothing on the album being as good as “Raymond,” Q’s sophomore effort is far more consistent and focused than its predecessor, with far more hits and far fewer misses. For one, there’s the Pharrell produced “Los Awesome,” an awesome banger with killer synths and even better wordplay. There’s also “The Purge,” which has excellent guest spots from Tyler, the Creator and Kurupt and has one hell of a catchy chorus. There’s also “Studio,” where Q describes how being a recording artist has distanced himself from his friends and family to a certain degree, and “Collard Greens,” a song featuring Kendrick that needs no description as you all have surely heard it by now. The last two songs on the standard edition of the album, “Break the Bank,” produced by the Alchemist, and “Man of the Year,” both singles, are rather underwhelming and mediocre to me, and I’d be rather disappointed if the album ended right then and there. Thankfully I have the deluxe edition of the album, which contains the hard-hitting “F**k LA,” as well as the iTunes and

Target bonus tracks, which include the Clams Casino produced “Gravy,” “Yay Yay,” and “Californication,” which features A$AP Rocky. These bonus tracks are all great, but if not for their presence the album would be somewhat disappointing, as the standard album has its share of filler and the lyrics are often sacrificed for killer hooks and gangster bravado that borders on posing in a similar vein to The Chronic.

Overall, Oxymoron is a fine album that’s certainly entertaining, but it has more than its fair share of flaws. n Final Grade: B Top Tracks: “Los Awesome,” “Hoover Street,” “Studio,” “The Purge,” “Gravy,” “Yay Yay,” “Californication” If You Like This, Check Out: Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d. city (because if you haven’t already, good God), ScHoolboy Q - Habits and Contradictions, Dr. Dre - The Chronic and 2001

22

off-campus

Fresh Perspective Kathleen O’Keefe and Arianna Lane

Signing off,

Kath & Ari

Photo Credits to Kathleen O’Keefe

As we made our way through our favorite hideaways in Kansas City, including the eclectic Crossroads area and the picturesque Antique District, we couldn’t help but reflect on our past Crawls. Whether they warmed our hearts or sparked our curiosity, every one of these gems has moved us in some way.

But through it all, the quaint charm and ambiance of Summit Street has stuck with us, and this familiar stomping ground is exactly where we found ourselves to uncover our final KC Crawl.

While strolling around, a little café tucked away into the the shops and boutiques of Summit Street caught our eye.

With the coffee beans on the shelf and the bar stools lined up across from the window, we were under the impression that we had stumbled upon simply another local coffeehouse.

Like true cappuccino connoisseurs, we began inquiring about the place’s coffee selection, forgetting to even glance at the menu. Oscar, the gentle, yet bohemian barista at the counter, laughed and shook his head. We quickly became aware that

this was not just another café.

In 2008, Lindsay Laricks, the owner of Little Freshie, found herself frustrated with her generic, corporate career. On a whim, she decided to join the flourishing organic niche of Kansas City by opening perhaps our most unique crawl yet.

This all-natural sno-cone and float shop began as an outdoor vintage food-truck, but the popularity of the sno-cones inspired her to find a more permanent home for her one-of-a-kind business. Since May 2012, Little Freshie has been located at 17th and Summit; its glass doors are always open to old and new customers alike.

Sno-cone sodas and floats are what Little Freshie does best. They are always experimenting with new flavor combinations such as the Blackberry Lavender or the Fig and Vanilla, which are currently customer favorites. After speaking with Oscar and getting a quick tour of the Little Freshie café space, we were fortunate enough to sample the root-bear float and the apple-pear float for ourselves. n

Editors

e h t m o r f r e t t Le

ed st, learn s d a bla a a r h a e e ’v y . We one ve e Voice the staff and aders: a th h re f r ll o u a f o To e you rs on n-Chie p -i a o rs e ss h y o a it r e p u d e, w as E s we our fo of cours be leaving, a -Chief, our time ships during , d to n a d , n ed rs-in d to the e friend omplish ugh we are sa 2014-15 Edito e marks ade so many r ’ve acc o u e h o T This issu w t m r. t a a a h d ew of wh h, an this ye ed to se ing year. so muc . We’re proud r each month m nd excit o o rs e y c e p e p d a ething b u a p its le in the sh som g the li we are in e p ), v d s m a ie ie o h re n acc row a close ill ac enjoyed rather, b hael Rubel, w et out to of the Voice to ed in s r, e (o w h r, e niz ea the torc itone and Mic e. This y th volum red and recog mber ep e the Voic bring the thirtie tu f m a o fe ry e Paige P e is u v s nd e 2014 ould nior Is f a w e o t S h ck on s a c s e a th b la th e look a ers. rate pril is ething f the c b A to o , m le r n le o e e s b io c , b it a e em ir pe e is nt to Per trad w with this issu single m ages, we wa hope everyon shments of the ry e e v n E . ly p li n mp ; we entire these bratio d class e acco ue cele in this issue. In We wish mplishe g the collectiv o c with a tr y c a a ic staff. w d in m e n e a n a e n o s y d t paper’s ul, d lente upon at leas sure the e look wonderf dibly ta ense of pride n r e re u l c o il t in w u is you las Hill, w witho of th fidence nd Pembroke ossible and fee n p e o e u c s b is ry ld this ily a come. o wou ve eve ice fam ears to y o V at we d though we ha y r h n u w a o f m o e ing e, none xt year, sad to be leav advance in th Of cours est of luck ne d re n a a e w w ro b g ile you the ess. Wh tinue to ed succ the Voice con continu g to seein forward VOICE! O! GO O H O O e: W last tim For the Patel d Maya n a y le rk Kate Be ‘13-’14 n-Chief Editors-i

SENIOR

CROSSWORD

whispers news blurbs about pembroke

asher abrahms ‘14... rapped with hoodie allen after running into him at an airport charlie mueller ‘14... will be playing in the missouri/kansas all-star game in june kate berkley ‘14... was chosen as the ann miller-icb europe summer intern the high school science olympiad team... placed first at state and will be traveling to orlando for nationals paige pepitone ‘15... is this year’s woods scholarship recipiant sam frazen ‘14... will be touring europe this summer as part of the u.s. national baseball team the theater department... will be putting on dr. horrible’s sing-a-long blog as an extra production this fall two new history teachers... have been hired for next year sujung chung ‘17... received a umkc piano scholarship

The 2013-2014 Voice Staff Editors-in-Chief Kate Berkley and Maya Patel Head of Web Design Michael Rubel

Head of Design Cynthia Wang

Head Copy Editor Asher Abrahms

Assistant Web Designer Andrea Lu

Head of Article Content Riya Mehta

Assistant Editors Davis Brooks Devon Dietrich Saurabh Goel Olive Honan Grace McFee Ben Shadid Megan She

Managing Editors Arianna Lane Aden MacMillan Paige Pepitone Kathleen O’Keefe Cindy Wang Lizzie Whitney

Copy Editors Emily Dema Elizabeth Gerson Laura Hibschman

Business Manager Miriam Swartz Assistant Business Manager Devon Dietrich

Columnists Matt Burke Jon Chu Arianna Lane Aden MacMillan Kathleen O’Keefe Lizzie Whitney

Photography Editior Cormac Chester

Staff Writers Emily Cohen Sarah Chamberlain Domenico DiMare Shannon Feng Maren Johnson Eddie Kim Eric Koch Tammy Lee Parker Matthews Vishesh Patel Julianne Waters Isabella Way Christine Zheng

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VOICE

Official Newspaper of the Pembroke Hill School The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year to inform the Pembroke Hill Community about pertaining events and news. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves. All comments, concerns, and complaints should be forwarded directly to the Editors in Chief.

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