WATCH Magazine, Fall 2019

Volume X, Issue I Fall 2019

Burke Thompson

Esther Adelson

Connor

Jack Steyer

Ballard Morton

Mr. Jonathan Chang

Mr. Childs Smith

watch magazine staff Hanah Bergman

Louisa Kuhn

Ellie Wa

Marion

alter

Lindsey Prus

Reilly Morrow

Avery Crymes

Ananya Chag

Pleasant Ballenger

Emmy Keogh

Sophie Levenson

Katherine Geils

The watch would like to give special thanks to those who helped out with this issue: Emily Ibsen, Jared Wilder, Chase Cannon, Ned Hadzijahic, Courtney Dellicker, Holston Slack, Piper Lange, Haley Prescott, Emerson Siegan, Luke Flynn, Turner Long, Tobias Lafayette, Ethan Lehrman, Lily Hambric, Sebastian Pasanella, Will Houlihan, Caroline Dellicker, Wilkes Cramer, Mr. Christopher Greenwell...

And in particular, we want to extend our greatest appreciation to

Andie Mancusi-Ungaro

whose talent, time and energy proved so helpful with our front cover and staff shot.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Down: 1. Nine 2. Bells 3. Duke Tickets 5. Summer 6. Stirring 8. Armadillo 10. Mr Irving 11. Stunk Across: 2. Blue 4. Linus 6. Syrup 7. Adam Sandler 9. Mr Moore 12. The Grinch 13. You 14. Snow

Table Of Contents 6

A Beast Named Narcissus: The Philosophy of Egoism

Sophie Levenson

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Are We Really that Different? A Look at Hinduism and Christianity

12

Fake Happiness? Are You Doing This For You? or for Them?

14

Scared, Startled, and Spooked? The Twists and Turns of Terror

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The Power of the Pen: The Responsibilities of the Oval Office

20

If It Bleeds, It Leads: The Problem With the American News Cycle

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Area 51: We are the Aliens

28

No, the SAT is NOT Required. I’m Living Proof.

30

Due Tomorrow, Okay? On the Dangers of Stress Culture

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Pulled an All-Nighter Last Night? Best Pick-Me-Up

34

A Message to VSCO Girls: You will Never Be Quirky

36

A Consumer’s Christmas: How Modern Markets Have Spoiled the Season

38

Wait, That’s a Cop Behind Me! Kids, Watch Your Speed

40

The New Teacher Feature: Getting to Know New Faculty and Staff

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Winter Word Palooza - Holiday Crossword Fun

Ananya Chag

Hanah Bergman Avery Crymes

Connor Marion

Ballard Morton Emmy Keogh

Reilly Morrow

Burke Thompson Louisa Kuhn

Katherine Geils Lindsey Prus

Ellie Walter

A Beast Named Narcissus the philosophy of egoism

By Sophie Levenson

Artwork by Sebastian Pasanella

For hundreds of years, mankind strongly believed that the sun revolved around the earth. Now, we regard this an outlandish belief—but to some extent, we still believe it. Though we now acknowledge that the earth orbits the sun, we continue to view every aspect of life like we did in the past: as it pertains to humans. We name the stars for our convenience; we chart the moon and ask it to tell us time. We see the sun as our light and heat and as the energy that provides for the plants that we eat. The world is our oyster, and we are the pearls of existence.

In his novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding poses an interesting question: are humans inherently egoistic? Golding, it seems, believes they are. His narrative follows the paths of supposedly innocent schoolboys as they progressively lose sight of morality and become murderous brutes, despite the fact that the oldest of them is barely twelve years old. As authority slips away from the island, the boys realize their freedom to do whatever they want until, of course, they are met with the moral repercussions of their thoughtless crimes. But before the island turns to anarchy and flames (quite literally), the children

remain carefree, unburdened by legal or parental consequences. All of this considered, Golding ultimately implies to his readers that without fear of judgement or punishment, people have no incentive to police themselves.

There are two possible counters to Golding’s idea of the predisposition of humanity. One: that we are all born wholly good (after all, infants never seem to be particularly cruel). Or two: that we come into the world with a blank slate and are warped into either benevolence or maleficence by our parents, circumstances, and society. Though there are certainly arguments for each, the conclusion to the rather existential problem that I have arrived at is that Golding was correct: people do contain the unavoidable tendency to prioritize themselves over any other worldly being or race, whatever the cost may be.

If you’re familiar with Greek mythology, you may know the story of Narcissus, a man infamous for falling in love with his own reflection. While in

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a beautiful wood, surrounded by nature’s most impressive creations, Narcissus comes across a pond, in which he finds his reflection. The moment he discovers his own face, Narcissus is unable to break away from the pond and stays there, enchanted. The natural beauty of the earth surrounds him, and still he stares at himself, ignoring the world and its wonders, until the gods turn him into a flower as salvation from starvation, for he never would have broken away from his reflection.

The word “narcissism” (along with the narcissus flower) comes from this myth, and it seems to represent the human race more than it ever intended to. We are an abundance of Narcissuses, thinking forever of ourselves and forgetting the earth around us. The Anthropocene Era—that of humanity—has indeed become a time in which humans are the critical focus. Even when we recognize our place in the world, when we acknowledge that our existence as a race is basically an ongoing detriment to the rest of the globe, we ignore the problem, and continue to focus on ourselves. When the natural world deteriorates because of us, we waste so much time debating what to do that we forget there is actually something to be done. We try to pin the warming of the earth on nature itself instead of bearing our own responsibility, for we forget that nothing is as self-destructive as the human race.

But while humanity as a whole is certainly narcissistic, self-involvement is taken to an entirely new level in terms of the individual person. Of course, it is easy to recognize the selfless of society: those who dedicate their lives to service, who extend themselves to the underprivileged in as many ways as possible. These good-hearted people certainly exist, but whether their actions are truly “selfless” is questionable. Those who believe in the existence of complete selflessness are known as altruists, and their optimistic outlook on humanity is certainly refreshing. But can you think of a good deed that you have done without pride at its completion? Have you ever been recognized for your philanthropy? Whether internal or external, every act of selflessness inevitably results in gratification, making them all ironically selfish.

This idea appears, funnily enough, in a Friends episode: “The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS.” Joey taunts Phoebe with the notion that she is incapable of doing a truly selfless deed, and yes, it is oddly philosophical for Joey Tribbiani. He manages to prove his point by the end of the episode due to Phoebe’s regard for him as one of her closest friends. When she discovers that the large sum of money she has donated to PBS helps Joey with his TV job for the night, she is thoroughly enthused, and thus undoes the “selflessness” of her deed. The sometimes wild, crazy actions (like donating two hundred dollars to a television company fundraiser) that we commit for those we love are arguably the most selfish things that we do. The exciting feeling of love that bands people together is so profound for one reason alone: it makes us happy. When we base our decisions on love, we 7

inadvertently benefit ourselves. In conclusion, love, charity, and Phoebe Buffay are decidedly selfish.

Unfortunately, as dispiriting as anti-altruism seems, it remains the harsh reality of life for the human race.

At this point, you may be questioning your own morality, along with your personal dedication to service. The fact that you are even worrying about yourself right now proves that you are selfish. Yes, you are, and so am I, but we mustn’t beat ourselves up about it— it’s an inescapable aspect of our existence.

This does not mean we lack a “moral compass,” for most of us do indeed have one, but only because we fear the judgement of both ourselves and those around us. Do we not call it a “compass” because it guides us in a certain direction? If we did not need to be steered one way or the other, our instincts alone would keep us aligned with our standards of morality. And yet, to adhere to these standards, we find ourselves consciously reflecting upon what the Right Thing To Do really is.

If I am claiming that the entire human race is

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Artwork by Sebastian Pasanella

inherently self-centered (which I am), I should probably introduce some means of comparison. The most obvious would involve animals. But what, exactly, separates humans from “animals”? Do we not fall under that same label? From a scientific standpoint, we function on the same level that animals do: we eat when we can and when necessary and we rely on our parents for the first few years of our lives. Aristotle, however, argued that humans are on a higher philosophical level than plants and animals.

The renowned Greek philosopher created the idea of “psuche,” (the root of the word “psychology”) which was his interpretation of all worldly souls. Aristotle’s theory of psuche is essentially based on an ideological hierarchy that separates plants, animals, and humans on a basis of mental capacity. Plants, he argued, exist only in a “nutritive” state, meaning that they can unconsciously ingest their biological essentials but lack the capacity to think. Aristotle believed that animals, on the second tier of the pyramid, are “perceptive,” as they can utilize their senses and comprehend their surroundings in a way that plants cannot. Finally, humans occupied the top of Aristotle’s pyramid, at the level of “mind.” According to the philosopher, human beings are the only creatures able to reason at the level that we do.

This theory, however, is somewhat presumptuous.

Aristotle, frankly, never occupied the soul of a plant or an animal, and therefore had no right to lay claim to the top of the psuche pyramid. It is absolutely impossible for a person to truly achieve the mind of something that is non-human, as unfortunate as that is for the future course of human narcissism. It is even impossible for someone to fully achieve the mindset of another human, for communication only extends as far as language does, and is, as a result, merely an incomplete attempt at expressing our extraordinarily complex thoughts and emotions. If we could truly experience another person’s or thing’s mind, we would not be so fatefully attached to ourselves; but alas, raw humanity only allows for so much.

Furthermore, humans are the only species on planet Earth that actively destroy it, and so often each other.

We endanger ourselves by pitting one person against another in almost every aspect of life. We compete, we demean, we jeer, we kill, we burn. Our world is probably going to implode soon, and we have yet to take action against it. This, to me, classifies us as less intelligent and reasonable than plants and animals.

Franz Kafka, in fact, would agree. In his 1917 “A Report For an Academy,” Kafka writes from the point of view of an ape who has successfully adopted the lifestyle of a human. He details how the ape learns to drink, smoke, and eventually achieve an English education. His only incentive to act like a human, however, is his desire to avoid being sent to a zoo, where he would lose his already minimal freedom.

And so the poor ape polices his every action until he speaks and acts like a greedy and ambitious man, in true human fashion. What Kafka ultimately suggests in his story is that the ape’s character and quality of life both depreciate just so he can adhere to an arbitrary societal standard. Kafka’s aim of the piece was actually to draw a comparison to his own life as a Jewish man in pre-Nazi Germany, as he felt that a miserable facade was his only means of survival; something that reflects prominently in the character of the ape. To successfully become “human,” at least in their respective societies, both ape and man essentially had to worsen themselves.

In Latin, “ego,” which is quite clearly is the root of the English word “egoism,” literally translates to “I.” In some contexts, “egoism” denotes a person’s tendency to view themselves as the center of the universe. But to philosophers, the word instead refers to the theory that people are morally justified in prioritizing their own self-interests. This idea perfectly illustrates the perspective that all people, whether or not they care to admit it, maintain within themselves. We are all natural egoists, experts at finding ways to justify our inherently selfish actions. The skill has become imperative in our lifestyles, for we are confined by the human inability to suit anybody or anything before suiting ourselves.

Like Jack and Ralph, we live on our own islands, wrapped up in our thoughts until someone blows a conch shell in our ear. Then, with a jealous desire for power, we try to prove ourselves as the best—the best at cleverness, athletics, kindness, and the best at being the best. We send away our children so we can start a nuclear war with each other. We kill Piggy, we burn an island, we blame our faults on the beast at the top of the mountain. We get over our fear of hunting and become warriors, unafraid to spear all creatures that come in between ourselves as we are now and the future, faster, stronger versions. It is a terrifying hunger. We are a terrifying people.

But once we begin to accept this, we can move on, provided that we continue to acknowledge the consequences that result from our egoistic existences.

Perhaps it is not all bad to be such selfish beings.

Falling in love, making friends, and caring for oneself are all decidedly selfish things. So is caring for one’s family, along with running a marathon, donating to charity, and reading a book. Laughing. Dancing.

Walking outside on a crisp autumn day. Seeing the world. Do it, regardless of how self-involved it is.

Resign yourself to being a selfish product of humanity, or don’t—try to fight it, if you must. You will never truly achieve a state of selflessness, but that should not stop you from trying to make altruism look like a realistic concept. Live completely, as long as you can accept that you are but a wave in the endless ocean of narcissistic humanity. So, if you consider yourself a person, which all who read this most certainly do, it is my duty, assigned by my similarly narcissistic self, to inform you that you have an enormous ego.

I nonetheless advise you not to let this news damper your day—after all, the world doesn’t revolve around you.

Artwork by Will Houlihan 9

Are We Really that Different?

The Connection between Hinduism and Christianity

By Ananya Chag I’ll be honest: I’ve never been the most faithful when it comes to my religion. I don’t go to the temple often, I don’t really celebrate holidays like I should, I’m not a vegetarian, and I don’t devote my time to the Hindu community.

When I was 10, my parents tried to get me to go to Ghudhrati language classes with my cousins whenever we visited Tanzania, but I wanted to quit after just two of them. I remember asking the nice lady to go to the bathroom and then ended up staying there for an hour until the class was over. Both of my cousins continued with that class and can now understand and speak the language fluently. I’ll eat Indian food if I have to, but I’ve never even liked it. Yes, I know. Drastic.

My mom tried to make me say prayers in the morning, but I thought it was kind of ridiculous to sit there for five minutes doing absolutely nothing, staring at a three-inch figurine, and reciting words that I didn’t understand.

It’s because of this kind of ignorance that I grew up not really knowing a lot about my culture. Some of it has had to do with the fact that I have gone to a Christian school for most of my life. However, I also think it had a lot to

do with me personally. I never really took that much of an interest. I didn’t really know what I believed and where I stood. I liked wearing the jewelry and the colorful dresses; other than that, I just thought of it as something that made me different that I didn’t have to take seriously. I never stopped to see that there was a connection between my two worlds after all.

That is, until Mr. Greenwell’s Honors World History class in the ninth grade. One afternoon in midNovember, I was sitting at my desk, scribbling all over my notebook in probably the most illegible handwriting possible when Mr. Greenwell started to talk about the difference between Eastern and Western religions.

A person of Eastern religion would sit there and say that life is circular--why would you ever need to disrupt that peace?

This is especially true for Hinduism, a religion based on the philosophy that there is no unique pathway to Brahman or God. A person of Western religion would have a very different response to everything. We question; we need an answer for why everything is the way it is. We need something to grasp at, to hold Artwork by Ananya Chag

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onto. It’s why we have a book for Christianity because we revolve heavily around the idea of certainty.

Mr. Greenwell’s lecture that day is probably something that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Even though I didn’t really understand it at the time, these ideas were always in the back of my mind.

I didn’t think about it too much until later, at probably the most unlikely place you’d ever think I’d make a connection back to Mr. Greenwell’s class, and with the most unfathomably improbable person: my driving instructor on my first drive at driving school.

He was a tall, scary-looking guy who had played college basketball and yelled at me for drifting too far to the right in my lane. I don’t know how I managed to get through that without crying, but soon enough, we were laughing about how I had difficulty putting the key in the ignition to start the car. I have no idea how or why, but we started talking about religions and the connection between Christianity and Hinduism.

“Think about it, most people like to categorize the two as having completely different sets of ideas and values,” he said with certainty. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, a little confused. “Most religions stem from the same place, Ananya. You can’t ever say they’re mutually exclusive. We sin; we do things wrong; but both religions preach a divine command of righteousness.

Being a good person and having the right morals are foundational to both religions.”

I probably looked a little taken aback at his little monologue, but he just shook his head at me. “You’ll understand someday. For right now, let’s get back to driving,” he said meaningfully. And that was that.

In hindsight, I see where he was coming from: Christianity and Hinduism can be said to come from the same place. How can two religions end up diverging without having a certain starting point?

Western religions often feel a need to separate two ideas; they see the world in black and white, unlike from the East, where they see in grey. However, it’s being a good person and having the right principles that are the same. These abstracts are true for that of the idea of creation in both religions. In Hinduism, it’s the idea of the Golden Embryo, embedded in the Rigveda. The Embryo gave birth to essential energy, or Brahmin, who formed all life. Similarly, God created the Heavens first, which is how it all started, and afterward, he gives rise to life.

There’s even evidence of the correlation within the concept of the Trimurti/Trinity. The Trimurti, which is the visual of principal deities in Hinduism, consists of the three faces: Brahman, Shiva, and Vishnu. These images each represent an aspect of creation: Brahmin the creator, Shiva the destroyer, and Vishnu the preserver. Similarly, the Trinity is Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps Hinduism and Christianity aren’t as different as we thought.

Religion gives people a sense of ideals, a sense of purpose. Humanity, in essence, has the same goal.

Perhaps Hinduism and Christianity aren’t as different as we thought. Religion gives people a sense of ideals, a sense of purpose. Humanity, in essence, has the same goal. We all try and figure out where we belong in society and where we stand in our beliefs. We strive to find a place most comfortable and where we can thrive.

For me, it’s not about just analyzing the whole debate of Western vs Eastern. Like everyone else, I’m just trying to find my place in the scheme of things. I don’t know what the future holds; however, I do know that the whole debate of religions inspires questions that I probably won’t get the answers to. After all, this is the question has been addressed in various ways over the course of history. For us as high school students in general, we don’t need to have exact answers to those sorts of questions. As for me? I have time. Maybe I’ll take a visit to the temple soon. Those three-foot figurines aren’t going anywhere.

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Fake Happiness?

Are you doing this for you?

Or for them?

By Hanah Bergman

Think about your upcoming weekend; what does it consist of? Football game Friday? A party Saturday night? Sounds like a fun time, right?

Now another question: Do you want to go?

On the surface, your initial response is probably, “Um, what? Of course I wanna go. I wouldn’t go if I didn’t want to.” However, with this in mind, dig a little deeper. Do you really want to go, or do you just think you want to?

This might sound like the same question, but in fact, it’s not. Perhaps you feel like this is what you’re supposed to do since it seems that everyone your age is doing it, but in reality, you don’t actually have any desire to do so. Perhaps you’d rather stay the night in; indulge your desire to challenge yourself with a new hobby or continue improving on a current pastime.

Especially with social media in our world, it’s easy to look at other people’s stories and posts and think that’s what you ought to be doing, whether it’s going to parties, concerts, or on dates. Having grown up in a technology-central society, we seem to have an even greater force applied to pull us into jumping on the bandwagon. Take a moment and look at your life: are you actually the certain type of person you believe yourself to be, or have you transformed into what you long to be portrayed like online?

I’m not talking about peer pressure from classmates and friends, or the stress coming from your parents.

Though these pressures are real, I’m focusing on peer pressure upon yourself. Self pressure; the thoughts you degrade yourself with every time you want to try something new. It may be that you feel undeserving, or that you aren’t talented enough for the task. Whether it is a club or hobby on the weekend, ask yourself who you are doing it for. Perhaps subconsciously you 12

know it’s because it would “round you out” on college applications. Possibly your parents are pressuring you to join certain activities or show interest in specific occupations. Maybe knowing our school is a close-knit community, you long to have something in common with the kids around you.

Our generation especially has been raised in a society that molds us into puppets, forcing us to buy into stereotypes of what we should and should not do in order to be perceived in a certain way. Companies, for example, cater to an audience of mass consumers rather than to specific persons; they simply don’t know what to do with the individual. As the famous transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once stated, “Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.”

It’s difficult to step out of your comfort zone when you feel like your social life, college, or career could be on the line; however, do you really want to live such a predictable life with all your choices already made for you? Your fate laid out? Although stepping out of your bubble can be intimidating, facing situations with a determined and positive mindset about yourself and your abilities to accomplish great things instead of an anxious one could lead you to discover a new passion that you never knew you had.

High school is a time to figure yourself out, make mistakes, and learn from them. As school, your parents, and your social life will inevitably stress you out, you shouldn’t have to add additional discouraging thoughts of yourself to the mix. Do what makes you happy, not what would impress others. What you do in your spare time affects you and only you. In a straightforward sense, the majority of people aren’t paying much attention to you--they’re in the same position you’re in, too involved with their own lives to even notice others’.

It’s an intense concept to grasp; I get that, trust me, but the sooner you realize it, the sooner your life will be significantly lighter and fulfilling. Once you do, you’ll truly be able to live in the moment, become passionate about subjects you actually value, and altogether love your life fully. So skip the party. Join the club. Live your life. After all, it’s yours, isn’t it?

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Scared, Startled, and Spooked?

You’re Not Alone...

Or Is That What You’re Afraid Of? The Twists and Turns of Terror

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Avery Crymes

High off of my first season of summer swim and the stack of shiny blue first place ribbons on my desk, all four feet five inches of Fourth Grade Me was ready to take on the world: the tidal pool between Sullivan’s Island and the Atlantic Ocean. Mindful of the beached jellyfish and sandspurs strewn haphazardly across the sand, I flew into the surf, armed with the precise stroke techniques I had worked so hard to develop and ecstatic to prove that I was, in fact, a mermaid who had been switched at birth.

The first few minutes went swimmingly, of course.

As my feet gradually lost touch with the sand, I paused for a minute, slid down my glittery blue goggles, and faced the waves determinedly.

ever eating the double chocolate chip brownie I had brought for dessert, I began to screech, flail my arms, and wait for rescue.

Soon, my arms began to slow, my head began to pound, and my lungs began the process of losing it. Stopping to tread water for a minute, I slid off my goggles and dramatically gasped for air. It was at this moment that I realized that this was a Very Bad Idea. I was exhausted.

If you think about it, you’re not really afraid of spiders, or alligators, or clowns. You’re afraid of losing control when in the presence of spiders, or alligators, or clowns. I’m not afraid of drowning when I’m jumping into the clear pool; it’s only jumping off of a boat into the murky Charleston harbor that makes me consider just how easy it would be to stop kicking and simply sink.

Thus, my fears of drowning, alligators, and dying with (clearly very serious) regrets were born. Fear. That heart-stopping, bone-chilling, shock of an emotion that’s both a lightning strike and an injection of ice. The kind that simultaneously roots you to the ground and jolts you onto your feet. It’s inescapable, and a fun little add-on we receive when signing up for existence as a well-developed being.

Fear.

That heart-stopping, bone-chilling, shock of an emotion that’s both a lightning strike and an injection of ice.

But I was no quitter. Not yet at least!

I paused for a minute, reset and tightened my goggles, began kicking even harder, and used every ounce of strength I had left to windmill my arms through the choppy surf.

Flash forward 15 seconds... and I had entered Full Panic Mode.

My lungs were exhausted, I could feel the pressure indentions in my eye sockets from my goggles, and as I floated there, my mind creeped its way to what I had overheard that morning about... the occasional alligator found wandering around Charleston’s beaches.

After calmly recognizing my inescapable mortality and lamenting the fact that I would die without

But what really defines fear?

But what makes me afraid of drowning? And, when you think about it, what makes anyone afraid of anything?

Hundreds of different people have categorized fears in hundreds of different ways, so we’re going to “crash course” the three most popular characterizations: inherited fears, those that everyone enters this world fearing; conditioned fears, fears that arise after facing a stressful situation; and environmentally influenced fears, those that are a direct result of your environment and/or the people with whom you grew up.

Let’s start with the things that you’re born fearing.

According to CNN’s article “What is the science behind fear?”, which takes its research from a 1960 study, we are born with two inherited fears: falling 15

and loud sounds. A healthy fear of falling has been an essential ingredient in the recipe for survival since the beginning. Our Neolithic ancestors, construction workers on top of the London Bridge, and anyone who enjoys climbing trees has had to reckon with this deeprooted fear. As for loud noises, says Emory University translational neuroscientist Seth Norrholm, these initiate the ever-present “fight or flight” response, and are more commonly referred to as the “acoustic startle reflex.” While it does sound a little unfair to leave the womb not only significantly less comfortable than before, but also with an onslaught of genetically inescapable fears, do not fret. We have our entire lives to learn to cope with the fears of falling and loud noises. In fact, I bet you didn’t consider either of them before reading this article. See? You’re going to be just fine.

Conditioned fears are a whole different ball game.

Though you grow up and have time to cope with your fears of falling and loud noises, conditioned fears tend to hit you out of left field. You take the same road to school for lacrosse practice every night, until one Tuesday night you see a shadowy figure standing in the middle of the road slightly ahead of you. You blink twice, realize that the road is clear, and continue on your way. However, never again will you be able to go down that road without a slight sense of unease.

Everything changes after seeing that shadowy figure standing on the road. After panicking in the middle of that tidal pool, I haven’t been able to go back without thinking about it. Yeah, I’m on a swim team, so obviously I wasn’t scarred for life or anything, but it’s always in the back of my mind. Conditioned fears are always going to be there in the back of your mind.

Finally, environmentally influenced fears. Though difficult to spot and rarely acknowledged, these fears are deadly. Have you ever thought about how xenophobia (the fear/hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange) arises? Not its origin, but how exactly it became such a widespread epidemic?

Since the only two things we come out of the womb fearing are falling and loud noises, no one can argue that xenophobia is genetically inherited. The only logical option left to blame is your environment.

We are the most impressionable we will ever be as children. Our parents teach us how to eat, to walk, to talk, and, sometimes, to fear those who are different from ourselves. The fear of the so-called “other” isn’t 16

genetically inherited. It’s not a result of some innately unsettling situation. More often than not, it comes directly from the mouths of the people you trust the most. Most of the time, you may not even notice it.

Cutting your eyes, repeating a joke or dismissive comment… it doesn’t take long for the little actions to become big fears. And overcoming environmentally influenced fears isn’t as easily accomplished as just “going to therapy.” You have to recognize them, then proceed to completely reevaluate the values with which you were raised. That is exactly why environmentally influenced fears are so dangerous.

Because they’re powerful, scary, and easily sown.

Need proof? Just open your history textbook. Be it xenophobia or racism, fear of “the other” haunts the doorsteps of world wars and genocides. Now, be careful. I’m not giving you permission to insult the mother and father of every person who’s ever offended you with their opinion. Rather, for the good of our present and future, simply think twice before acting on a fear that involves another being with emotions.

Take a second, assess the situation, and continue from there. If there is a reason for concern, take a breath and see what you can do to put yourself back in control. Whatever you do, do not panic.

So, now that we know how fears are developed, let’s talk for a minute about what exactly we’re afraid of losing control of. Crash course time again! Featuring Dr. Karl Albrecht’s five categories of fears! First is Extinction: the fear of ceasing to exist. Next is

Don’t let your fears impair you. Because for all of the “whatif’s” and the “oh no’s,” there’s a whole lot of laughing so hard you can’t breathe and smiles so wide they could split your face.

exposure therapy: exposing yourself to your fear in small and manageable doses. For example, curing a fear of snakes by watching a video about snakes, then watching snakes at the Aquarium, then standing next to someone holding a snake, all the way to having a snake wrapped around your arm. Though this form of therapy can definitely help remedy nonlife-threatening fears, like claustrophobia, it’s a little more difficult when dealing with fears like drowning or dying. It’s impossible (or at least very dangerous) to really and truly simulate death. The next best option is to avoid panic and consider the rationality of your fear. Yeah, you’re swimming in the exact same spot you were when you had what we are now referring to as “a moment,” like seven years ago. Chill out. You’re on the swim team, you’re at least a foot taller, and you’re going to be just fine. Take a second, assess the situation, and continue from there. If there is a reason for concern, take a breath and see what you can do to put yourself back in control. Whatever you do, do not panic. In the wise words of a certain history teacher who has definitely experienced his share of shaky, scared, and terror-stricken students on test day, panic is inefficient. Every moment you spend panicking is a moment you could be spending figuring out what to do next. Take a breath, count to ten, power pose, do whatever it is you need to do to calm down, and think through it. You’re going to be okay.

It’s hard to be human. Straight out of the womb, you’re sacked with fears of falling and loud noises, and as life goes on and you experience more things, Mutilation: fearing the loss or invasion of part of your fears only increase in number. While it’s okay to your body. This is the fear that acts up when you see have a healthy fear of walking along a dark city street a spider, snake, or anything else that could influence late at night or other rational fears, some worries only the number of limbs you have. Loss of Autonomy: impair. Don’t let your fears define you. Yes, spiders the fear of being paralyzed or trapped. Separation: live outside. Newsflash: there’s definitely a few inside the one that you pretend to have grown out of before too. “Nowhere is safe!” you wail. Yeah, you’re right. your first sleepover. And lastly, Ego-death: the fear But don’t stay inside. Don’t let your fears impair you. of humiliation. In a high school that values public Because for all of the “what-if’s” and the “oh no’s,” speaking as much as Porter-Gaud does, a fear of there’s a whole lot of laughing so hard you can’t humiliation and general embarrassment in front of the breathe and smiles so wide they could split your face. people you know and respect is omnipresent. Welcome So, focus on the good, okay? Because after all, you to the party. Anyway, all of these are “umbrella” only live once. And, you’re going to be just fine. categories of fear, meaning that these are the seeds from which our trees of anxiety grow.

So what do you do when you’re hit with a feeling so strong it makes your hands shake? Most psychologists agree that the best cure for fear is 17

The Power of the Pen

It’s Time to Review Responsibilities of the Oval Office

By Connor Marion The role of the President of the United States is to govern in accordance with the will of the people. The founding fathers of the United States government tasked the executive branch of our government to determine the difference between life and death and dictate the country’s potential for economic and social prosperity. The job represents the highest office of the land and assumes the role as the most powerful avenue for communication for the world’s largest democracy.

This widely respected foreign and domestic leader should embody these qualities in order to ensure foreign tranquility while protecting the long-standing fundamental pillars of democracy.

The office of the President remains largely responsible for significant influence over the US and global economies. The office regulates taxation policies and is tasked with appointing qualified and competent economists that strive to protect the state of the American economy to the Federal Reserve. A primary goal of the President is to decrease unemployment while encouraging responsible spending that creates jobs across the board in all major industries. The President prioritizes and addresses income inequality and strives to offer equal financial opportunity to each and every American.

The President’s role is to encourage foreign trade while still protecting the interests of domestic producers and consumers. The President must address climate change and prioritize the prevention of further human pollution in order to protect our only earth; He must reach a balance between economic profit and preventing the destruction of our earth. The President also maintains the insurmountable task of discouraging large conglomerates from relocating in hopes of cheaper manufacturing in foreign markets.

The President and Congress typically identifies and disbands monopolization in order to preserve the American dream. The Commander-in-Chief should strive to achieve a balance between these required 18

tasks and always prioritize the preservation of a strong economy.

The Oval Office role should serve to encourage unmetered and unregulated expression in society. The President should always govern in accordance with the United States’ constitution and aspire to assure these guaranteed rights to every American citizen.

The President should never censor or discredit public information sources and always provide the unbiased truth to the American people. The President should never take for granted a citizen’s 2nd Amendment rights; however, he/she must command both political parties to prevent the suffering of each and every American citizen. The President should implement new restrictions on welfare and other federal relief programs in order to properly distribute governmental aid. The President should never discriminate against races, ethnicities, and sexualities or attempt to surrender their civil liberties. These important attributes of our leader would allow for the re-creation of a foregone unity that previously once united the American people under the Red, White, and Blue.

The President should maintain a professional and powerful authority over all foreign affairs. The President should never disparage foreign nations and should always channel all communication from a diplomatic platform. The President must strive to maintain his/her characterization as the “Leader of the Free World” and embody an exact and almost idealistic representation of the potential for democracy. The President’s role should seek gradual nuclear disarmament and encourage countries to abstain from enriching uranium to create weapons of mass destruction. The President should embody the values engraved on our Statue of Liberty and accept the world’s suffering, “your tired, your poor, [and] your huddled masses” who are fleeing from terror and fear. However, these refugees and immigrants must be vetted through a strict immigration platform that

conducts extensive background checks in order to protect the safety of current Amercian citizens.

As I delineated these responsibilities of the President of the United States, I realized that virtually no one could ever embody all of these characteristics in every moment. Partisan affiliation and the constant fear of reelection can hijack a leader’s agenda and force his or her term to succumb to stagnation. However, as we are the future generation of America, our decisions and our opinions can help redefine politics. We can either choose to deflate the political and social division that divides the majority of America today by holding our representatives to the responsibilities listed above, or continue onwards on our current path of perpetuated polarization and societal separation.

As many of us make our way to the polls in the foreseeable future, I propose an alternative strategy when casting your ballot. Instead of voting based on political affiliation, account for leadership qualities to determine if the candidate can unite a nation. Prioritize the importance of saving our earth. Choose a president based on his or her accomplishments. Choose a president based on his or her merits and past behavior.

Find a candidate who can cooperate and propose legislation that combats political separation and ushers in a collective sense of unity. If we fail to destroy these divisive barriers that have split America, we will surely succumb to the greatest fear of our founding fathers--the cessation of democracy.

Artwork by Lily Hambric

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By Ballard Morton Few principles are as foundational to the United States of America as the freedom of the press. It is indeed the hallmark of a healthy democracy when journalists and reporters may freely relay the happenings of local, national, and international affairs. Of course, President Trump—whose remarks on the subject are reprehensible— has no doubt muddled the state of journalism and reporting in America. Referring to the press as “the enemy of the people,” is not only profoundly melodramatic (even by the president’s standards), but it echoes the sentiment of history’s most anti-Democratic leaders. I raise this criticism only to clarify a central point: that my scrutiny and skepticism of the American press is not in any way a claim that it should not exist or that its proponents are necessarily malicious. The freedom of the press is, I repeat, a staple of any free society. This does not, however, preclude criticism of its approach to reporting, or render it immune to scrutiny. As I will subsequently explore, the American news cycle is profoundly misleading. I believe that the widely-accepted mantras that journalists are “objective,” that they “impartially seek the truth,” 20

have become merely sanctimonious facades.

Now, when I refer to “the news” and “the press,” I am speaking not only of newspapers such as The New York Times, but also of television coverage and of online outlets such as CNN, NBC, Vox, Vice, and so on. I speak of the news and of journalists as a broad category of individuals—in print, on television, and online—those who are tasked with “reporting the facts.”

For years, the press has purported to be “objective.” What does this mean exactly? Of course, it means that it will attempt to deliver information in a manner that is politically unbiased. That’s one way to look at it. Or—and so I contest— that it accurately portrays the truth in the United States and globally, be it political, economic, or cultural.

Let’s further examine this claim.

With an impeccable reputation and over a million physical copies in circulation daily, The Washington Post is considered among the most trustworthy, professional newspapers available. As part of its official mission statement, The Washington Post lists “The Seven Principles for the Conduct of a Newspaper,” seven pithy tenets

that parameterize its journalistic philosophy. Here are the first two (and thus the most significant): 1) The first mission of a newspaper is to tell the truth as nearly as the truth may be ascertained.

2) The newspaper shall tell ALL the truth so far as it can learn it, concerning the important affairs of America and the world.

The terms are simple enough.

Journalists must tell the objective and whole truth. This is, in fact, the same holier-than-thou persona which the mainstream media and American intelligentsia have unironically ascribed to journalists for decades. It is nevertheless honorable that journalists establish such idealistic bars for their reporting: to “tell the truth as nearly as the truth may be ascertained.” I contend, however, that journalists and those reporting the news in general have failed us. It is not for a lack of trying, or for intellectual or moral weaknesses. It is simply the very framework in which the news is produced, or—more to the point—the idea of news itself. That’s right. The sheer concept of “news” is flawed.

If one is to read the front page of any newspaper or watch any

segment on CNN, he or she is bound for disappointment.

The latest shooting. The latest bombing. The latest plane crash.

The latest natural disaster. Pretty soon, readers start absorbing such content with enough frequency that otherwise rare and tragic occurrences begin to seem normal if not expected. In his brilliant book Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress, cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker writes the following:

“News is about things that happen, not things that don’t happen. We never see a journalist saying to the camera, ‘I’m reporting live from a country where a war has not broken out’—or a city that has not been bombed, or a school that has not been shot up. As long as bad things have not vanished from the face of the earth, there will always be enough incidents to fill the news, especially when billions of smartphones turn most of the world’s population into crime reporters and war correspondents.”

This is the nature of news: reporting unexpected accidents and tragedies.

This is no doubt why people consume news in the first place.

No one would pay for a monthly subscription to The New York

Times if it frequently reported the nonexistence of tragedies to which Pinker refers. We thus expect the news to shock us. School shootings, for instance, are shocking. Most of us in all likelihood are more interested in (and frightened by) a school shooting than, for example, America’s obesity epidemic, albeit the latter kills infinitely more people. Newspapers and media outlets are businesses. They rely on consumers who are far more likely to be interested in singular, shocking tragedies rather than comprehensive and slow-moving global trends and issues, even if the latter is substantially more consequential and aligned with “the truth.” Who would ever want to read the fine print about America’s crumbling infrastructure, or the masses of people abroad dying from starvation and genocide, when they can instead tune into the news cycle and observe the far more sensational domestic incidents of shootings, bombings, and plane crashes, the kind of spectacles that seem fit for a Hollywood blockbuster?

Because consumers of news so often observe such shocking tragedies, it warps their perceptions of society and the world at large.

For instance, nearly every kind of

crime in the U.S.—murder, rape, robbery, and theft to name a few— is declining steadily, and has been for some time. However, Americans often believe the contrary.

According to the Pew Research Center, “In a survey in late 2016, 57% of registered voters said crime in the U.S. had gotten worse since 2008, even though FBI and BJS data show that violent and property crime rates declined by doubledigit percentages during that span.”

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 70% of Americans “perceive more crime in the U.S. than a year ago.”

This is a common trend. Numerous polls suggest that public perception of crime is drastically out of sync with actual rates of crime.

According to Our World in Data— an online scientific publication based at the University of Oxford— about 30.2% of all Americans who died in 2016 died from heart disease. 29.5% died from cancer.

7.6% died from car accidents.

How many, may you ask, died from homicide? 0.9%. From terrorism? Less than 0.01%. Our World in Data also surveyed the degree to which newspapers such as The New York Times and The Guardian reported on different causes of death. What percentage of The New York Times reporting 21

(in addressing causes of death in the U.S.) focused on homicide and terrorism? 22.8% and 35.6% respectively. Let that sink in. 58.4% of The New York Times’ reporting on causes of death in America focused on homicide and terrorism, which are responsible for less than 1% of deaths in the U.S. Is this the “truth?” Does such reporting give the American people an accurate depiction of the world?

Such disparities between people’s perception of issues and the issues themselves have serious political implications. Criminal justice and prison reform—for instance— have been obstructed by a seriously inaccurate view of crime, one based on singular tragedies rather than

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overall statistical trends. As NYU law professor Rachel Elise Barkow states in her book Prisoners of Politics: Breaking the Cycle of Mass Incarceration:

“Rarely does a news story explore the costs and benefits of criminal justice policies, the underlying demographic statistics of offenders or victims, or the individual backgrounds of those who break the law. Instead, the stories tend to focus on the emotional horror of specific violent crimes that may not represent overall trends. The public is left with the misleading impression that there is a constant threat from violent crime without much of an understanding of the full range of what is criminalized.”

There is a reason why the U.S. has one of the most primitive criminal justice and prison systems in the world (and the highest incarceration rate). The news reports the worst kinds of violent offenders. As a result, ordinary American people believe that all offenders are as evil as those in the press, and that the U.S. must therefore pass especially punitive criminal justice and prison policy.

Legislators, consequently, in order to get elected or re-elected, will absentmindedly pass whatever policies satiate the retributive urges of voters. This is one example of how the news vitalizes a toxic political cycle. Criminal justice and prison reform require thoughtful,

statistical solutions, policies rooted in data and long-term trends rather than the baseless, Manichean impulses of average Americans.

Strident opposition to the Second Amendment is a similar example. How many people on average die every day in America from heart disease? About 1700.

Cancer? About 1600. Stroke?

About 400. Alzheimer’s? About 300. Unintentional poisoning?

About 175. Suicide? About 120. Car accidents? About 100.

Unintentional falls? About 100.

The flu? About 70. And how many people are murdered every day by guns? 30. How many murdered per day from a rifle of any kind, including a semi-automatic rifle? About 1 person per day on average. And yet, how often are we frightened by the prospect of another mass shooting with a semi-automatic rifle? How many hours have been spent debating gun legislation when it accounts for a minuscule fraction of overall deaths? Sure—perhaps victims of gun violence die in an especially horrifying fashion, whereby one individual intends to kill another.

Nevertheless, such considerations are in the scheme of things only morally superficial, or so I would argue.

Now, this is not to say that gun violence does not merit resolutions, legislative or otherwise. But should we as moral actors sincerely consider it as pressing an issue as, for instance, healthcare? Or the environment? Certainly not. The fact that presidential candidates will utter the words “gun control” and “climate change” in the same sentence—as if the two were comprable in their severities—is

a testament to their ignorance (or, rather, the ignorance of the electorate). Alas, in a country and in a world with finite time and with finite resources, we as moral actors must “prioritize” the problems we face, one way or another.

In summation, the news purports to be an objective portrayal of the truth when its coverage (oftentimes due to the very nature of “news” itself) is very misleading—whether it’s CNN spending weeks covering a single shooting or Fox News reporting on the one-in-a-million case where an Hispanic immigrant commits a violent crime. The news causes the American people to adopt irrational beliefs and predispositions concerning the nature of crime and of the world more generally, oftentimes precipitating ineffective if not overtly destructive federal and state policy.

So, at the heart of things, why is the news misleading? Or, more specifically, what are the particular, individual factors that incline everyday Americans to view the world in such inaccurate, selective terms? The following are three psychological and cognitive phenomena that help to answer such questions.

The Availability Heuristic The availability heuristic is based on the idea that individuals will judge the frequency of an event by their ability to easily recall past examples of the event. Subconsciously or not, our view of the world is constantly shaped by our own past experiences, by the frequencies of specific moments in our own lives.

The availability heuristic is not only a well-documented psychological phenomenon, but it plays a visible (albeit misleading) role in people’s behavior—everything from finance to gambling to the stock market to—you guessed it—the news. When people constantly read about tragedies— no matter how statistically improbable in the scheme of things—they will seamlessly and subconsciously overestimate their frequencies, leaving them with an illusory, deceptive view of the world—oftentimes precipitating unfavorable political consequences in the form of an “availability cascade.” As esteemed psychologist and economist Daniel Kahneman wrote in Thinking Fast and Slow: “An availability cascade is a selfsustaining chain of events, which may start from media reports of a relatively minor event and lead up to public panic and large-scale government action. On some occasions, a media story about a risk catches the attention of a segment of the public, which becomes aroused and worried. This emotional reaction becomes a story in itself , prompting additional coverage in the media, which in turn produces greater concern and involvement. [...] The danger is increasingly exaggerated as the media compete for attentiongrabbing headlines. [...] The issue becomes politically important because it is on everyone’s mind, and the response of the political system is guided by the intensity of public sentiment. The availability cascade has now reset priorities.

Other risks, and other ways that resources could be applied for the public good, all have faded into the background.”

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Negativity Bias

The Collapse of Compassion

Negativity bias is the idea that human beings are on average more influenced and more affected by negative events than by positive ones—even when such events are equal in duration and intensity. To quote Pinker once again,

*Joseph Stalin once said, “A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths are a statistic.”‌The quotation is as poignant as it is unfortunately true. The collapse of compassion phenomenon occurs when an individual’s capacity for empathy diminishes as more victims are involved. In an article entitled, “To Increase Charitable Donations, Appeal to the Heart—Not the Head,”‌the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania poses a thought experiment. Say you are considering donating to charity.

Which “pitch” is more effective?

“[Negativity bias] can be captured in a set of thought experiments. [...]

How much better can you imagine yourself feeling than you are feeling right now?‌How much worse can you imagine yourself feeling?‌In answering the first hypothetical, most of us can imagine a bit more of a spring in our step or a twinkle in our eye, but the answer to the second one is: it’s bottomless.

This asymmetry in mood can be explained by an asymmetry in life (a corollary of the Law of Entropy).”

Human beings appoint their attention more often to things that go wrong as opposed to things that go right. We are inclined to detect imperfection, no matter how trivial. In day-to-day life, people will often overlook their good fortune and dwell—oftentimes subconsciously—on whatever few problems or nuisances with which they happen to be only temporarily confronted. The same applies to their perception of society at large.

People view the world as pessimists.

They tend to focus almost entirely on tragedy, disregarding the many remarkable areas of progress that humanity has made—be it scientific, technological, political, economic, or social. Although such cognition is mostly subconscious, it no doubt shapes how we actively perceive society.

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A) Any money that you donate will go to Rokia, a seven-year-old girl who lives in Mali in Africa. Rokia is desperately poor and faces a threat of severe hunger, even starvation.

Her life will be changed for the better as a result of your financial gift. With your support, and the support of other caring sponsors, Save the Children will work with Rokia’s family and other members of the community to help feed and educate her, and provide her with basic medical care.

B) Food shortages in Malawi are affecting more than three million children. In Zambia, severe rainfall deficits have resulted in a 42% drop in maize production from 2000.

As a result, an estimated three million Zambians face hunger. Four million Angolans — one-third of the population — have been forced to flee their homes. More than 11 million people in Ethiopia need immediate food assistance.

You most likely found A more

effective—and so do most people.

This is because we are able to better empathize with one person rather than a group of people. This, however, much like the availability heuristic and negativity bias is not for our own good. In fact, if we were rational actors, truly seeking to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people, the opposite would be true. In theory, we should be more likely to donate if more people are involved, or if greater utilitarian sums will be achieved. Nevertheless, our vastly imperfect minds are frequently inclined towards illogical (often subconscious) reasoning. The same “collapse of compassion” which compels someone to choose A‌rather than B is the same cognitive misfire that will cause the American people to spend weeks dwelling on a single “mass” shooting while comfortably ignoring more statistically pressing issues. This is precisely why the attention-grabbing crime stories of the news (which often concern a limited number of both victims and perpetrators) captivate us for far longer than cold statistics in fine print that concern thousands, perhaps millions of people.

In Conclusion The availability heuristic, negativity bias, and the collapse of compassion are all cognitive mechanisms that our species has evolved over time. No doubt, they served us well for most of our biological history—when we lived in significantly smaller groups and were preoccupied with hunting, gathering, and sheer survival rather than infinitely complex questions of politics, justice, and society at large.

As I said earlier, my distrust of the news does not arise from some Trumpian, baseless (pardon the redundancy)‌demagoguery.

Newspapers and media outlets claim to report the facts—not only to report the facts but to report the truth. The news, however, by its very nature, is designed to report extremely rare, statistically improbable, oftentimes singular tragedies—those that attract viewership and therefore sustain their business.

Due in part to the availability heuristic, negativity bias, and the collapse of compassion,

our perception of the news fundamentally shapes our view of the world, and thus the American people’s estimation of crime and tragedy is extremely inflated, despite all kinds of evidence that the world, by and large, is improving, in every conceivable respect from technology and medicine to economics and quality of life. Of course, humanity still faces a plethora of pressing issues, most of which no doubt merit media coverage. However— sparing the occasionally decent and meaningful coverage on consequential matters such as international affairs, geopolitics, and global and environmental

trends—the news should not guide our efforts to improve the world and promote human flourishing.

Cultivate your view of our country and of our world with unsexy, indifferent data and statistics rather than selective, albeit shocking, headlines or anecdotes. Focus on the big-picture trends rather than shocking, eye-catching stories. Your pursuit of truth and the world at large will be better because of it.

Artwork by Ethan Lehrman

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area 51:We ar

By Emmy Keogh In June 2019, Matty Roberts, a 20-year-old college student from Bakersfield, California, went viral with his sarcastic post on Facebook to storm Area 51, a highly classified Air Force base in Nevada that became famous for supposedly holding evidence of aliens. Within a few weeks, almost two million people had liked and shared Roberts’ Facebook meme page “Storm Area 51: They Can’t Stop All of Us.” The Air Force, after hearing about the plan, held a press conference discouraging anyone from actually storming the active military base.

However, the energy around the idea of getting people together continued. The storming of Area 51 began to change from an invasion of a military base into an extraterrestrial-themed festival.

Although the majority of people did not follow through on their

RSVP to show up, around two thousand did trek to Nevada, camped outside of Area 51, and enjoyed the “out-of-this-world” festival held there on September 20th.

The festival-goers said they were looking for aliens, but it seems to me that what they were really looking for was… well, a party… and some basic human interaction.

Think about your last outing and imagine if you could count all the times a cell phone was brought out, whether to take a picture, post a status, or google an answer.

The number would probably be more than one cares to admit. It seems like our generation can’t get together socially without bringing our technology along as a guest.

For all our online connectivity, we aren’t really feeling “connected”: Generation Z —those born 1997 and later—is feeling lonely and isolated.

According to a 2018 study conducted by Cigna Health, half of Americans feel lonely or left out, and 20% say they have no one to talk to. The loneliest generation in the study is Generation Z, whose loneliness average is ten points higher than that of senior citizens. A 2017 study conducted

by Brigham Young University reports that loneliness has the same effects on one’s life span as smoking

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re the Aliens 15 cigarettes a day. AARP’s recent loneliness study reports that more than a quarter of the American population lives alone, more than half are unmarried, and marriage and birth rates are declining.

According to statistics with Economic Times, Gen Z, the first “digital natives” of the new century, are substituting technology for real friendships. 98% of Gen Zers own a smartphone, and half spend at least 10 hours per day on it.

Also, because of the lack of human interaction, Contently showed statistics that 67% of Gen Zers say they prefer seeing “real people” in ads. In a way, your brain is tricking you to believe you have fulfilled the amount of socialization needed that day, yet you are by yourself, in a cold, dark room late at night watching YouTube. Likewise, text messages and Snapchats are replacing going out with friends.

Gen Z feels like they are being social by texting and posting on social media, but, as my dad says, “a phone can’t love you back.”

So, when people booked their tickets to Nevada and grabbed their alien-hunting gear, I thought it was great. They were pushing themselves out of their stereotypical comfort zone. They saw an opportunity for socializing, and the brave ones jumped at the chance. Party-goers said they were looking for aliens, but it kind of occurred to me: at the end of the

day, aren’t we kind of the aliens, and our “mothership” is the iPhone that we mentally live inside of?

When we finally come out of our social media trances, will we really know ourselves? Or each other?

My hope is that Generation Z (including me) will get off our phones and start being a part of a community. It doesn’t matter what we pick—sports, clubs, youth groups, or just being with friends— but we need to actually spend time with people, away from technology.

Of course, technology can help with organizing plans, ordering food, and talking to friends who live farther away, but if you spend real life in a digital world, you can start to feel isolated in the world that matters. We shouldn’t need to go all the way to Area 51 to remember that.

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No, Taking the SAT is NOT Required I’m Living Proof.

By Reilly Morrow Breaking news: Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman have reportedly been caught cheating the college admissions process. Both stars paid for their respective daughters’ SAT scores, thereby paving the way to their acceptance into top-tier institutions. These parents figured out how to “crack the SAT” without studying— by cheating. Doesn’t such news also make us wonder why should we take the test? Why should we, as honorable academics, succumb to the College Board’s corrupt system?

costs. Would opting not to take the SAT be the worst thing I could do for my future?

Now if I may, let me ask you: What if we did not take this exam? Now I know what you are probably thinking: “This article is not applicable to me. I have to take the SAT regardless.”

John Katzman, founder of The Princeton Review,

I spent my junior year and--again, I’m going to be honest--more money than I want to admit, on a class so a kid, only two years older than me, could teach me “Everything I need to know!”

Months went by of hours and hours of tutoring sessions filling my weeknights and Sunday mornings, and I only improved forty points after multiple practice tests (out of 1600). I took the practice tests, made corrections, watched YouTube videos-- really any method you can think of. I was livid; my patience and temperament failed me. I was mad, very mad. I was done.

By this time, I had already dropped the SAT class that my parents so strongly urged me to take because I felt I was learning absolutely nothing. I was just meeting with a tutor, and let me tell you, this guy was ridiculously optimistic, but I was not. After preparing for six hours every Sunday for a month straight, I had taken a plethora of practice tests. And the worst part was this: I had completed them all to my best ability!

And I received the same score every time!

I came to the realization that maybe this just was not for me, that maybe I should avoid taking this test at all 28

The number of test-optional schools is rising-- I could still have many options for college. Ultimately, I decided to completely discard the test. I have not looked back since. Other than serving as a standardized benchmark that can reveal the top 5% of academia, the SAT does not determine one’s true intelligence.

reveals his actual disapproval of College Board’s exam in an article, “I Taught America to Beat the SAT. That’s How I Know It’s Useless.” When I read it, I was dumbfounded but also incredibly angry; have our educators blindly turned their heads while allowing us to toil over this exam the whole time?

Katzman created software based on the SAT questions students frequently missed and partnered with Adam Robinson, a fellow tutor who helped with test-taking methods. Together, they founded The Princeton Review and attempted to help students combat the exam. Although occasionally successful at preparing students and helping them to earn high scores, his efforts were oftentimes useless. Katzman elaborates on how he worked with very gifted students who were most capable of earning a top score; however, despite their best efforts, their intelligence did not translate to their SAT. Katzman comes to the conclusion that

The SAT is simply not a test based on material taught during high school but instead just an exam that requires a certain ‘gamesmanship.’ the SAT is simply not a test based on material taught during high school but instead just an exam that requires a certain “gamesmanship” or complex thought which can only be adopted through College Board products.

The College Board recently released the average score for their 2018 SAT test; the score was 1068 out of 1600. Many colleges, including some state schools, rarely accept test scores in this range, thus putting more pressure on students to perform. Out of the 1.7 million students participate in the SAT each year, only 300 of those students earn a perfect score (1600).

The discontent even pervades the academic community here at Porter-Gaud; a fellow peer recently expressed her disapproval of the College Board, asserting the SAT even “takes away from each student’s self-worth.”

I could not agree more. During the months of my toil over the exam, I felt as if all my years dedicated to learning were for absolutely nothing and ultimately useless. This realization has haunted me for quite some time but eventually, I told myself, “The SAT is a hoax! Just let it go!” I let the SAT go for myself and my future. We decide our futures, not a test, and certainly not a number.

I realize saying the SAT is a hoax is a bit dramatic, but here’s the deal--I am in my senior year of high school and have not even opened an official SAT test booklet.

I wouldn’t lie to you, especially about something as serious as your education and your future, so yeah, I haven’t taken the SAT. And I’m not even worried about it. So why should you?

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Due Tomorrow, okay?

On the Dangers of Stress Culture

By Burke Thompson You’ve done it. After 4 hours of nighttime reading, you’ve finally finished The Grapes of Wrath. Not only that, but you’ve also managed to complete the 34-problem math homework and the lab write-up you’ve put off until the day before it’s due. As you lay down to go to sleep, you think about how you can’t wait to brag to your classmates about how much effort you’ve put into your work. You close your eyes and wait. But sleep doesn’t come. Instead, a wave of thoughts crash into your brain. Deadlines, social mishaps from months ago, the unshakeable feeling that you won’t do well on the math test you have tomorrow. You can’t sleep because you’re completely stressed out. And when you wake up tomorrow, you know you’ll be in a foul mood due to your lack of sleep. So why, then, do you talk about the whole experience the next

day like the completely avoidable late night was a crowning achievement? The consequences of stress pose numerous health risks, and missing sleep because of stress or overwork is not something to be celebrated by high-school students.

The competition to become the most stressed out manifests itself in upper school culture in a number of frequently heard phrases. Students are often heard boasting about their stress-fests, and phrases like “I stayed up until three AM last night writing my English essay,” or “I only got four hours of sleep last night because of that lab report” echo through the upper school hallways. Students who hear the aforementioned phrases often respond with “Wow,” or “Oh my god, same,” instead of wondering why the person was just starting the essay assigned ten days ago.

The willingness to share late-night horror stories and

So please, the next time your friend group decides to play “Who’s the biggest stressball,” consider changing the topic to something else.

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students’ positive responses have created a stigma that stress and overwork are testaments to a student’s work ethic. This is problematic for numerous reasons.

The glorification of stress and overwork undermines the negative effects of stress on the body. Stress causes your muscles to tense up; it essentially puts your body into fight-or-flight mode. While this may have been useful thousands of years ago when humans were hunted by wild animals, its benefits are almost completely negated in the modern world.

Prolonged periods of stress can lead to anxiety, weight gain, sleep problems, headaches, depression, and even heart disease. Many existing respiratory issues like asthma can be exacerbated by stress, and stress can even harm the helpful bacteria in your gut. All of these factors harm academic and athletic performance and also negatively impact moods, which can strain stress-relieving friendships. The dangers posed by prolonged periods of stress are myriad and should be considered the next time you decide to excitedly explain that your eye is twitching because of the biology test you have next period.

Staying up late to finish work does not prove that you are a diligent student. Instead, frequent late nights display poor time management skills. Telling your friends that you skipped breakfast and dinner to study for a test you’ve known about for a week just highlights your inept studying habits. High-school students should be mature enough to recognize that putting off assignments until the last minute is not a sustainable behavior if they want to succeed later as college students or members of the workforce, where deadlines become infinitely more significant.

Students must learn to budget their time wisely and to plan ahead in order to finish assignments on time while still leaving room for activities they enjoy doing. The American Psychological Association links exercise and devoting time to an enjoyable hobby with a decline in stress levels, suggesting that students who efficiently complete assignments and have time to enjoy themselves have even lower stress levels.

Changing the culture surrounding stress would benefit students in numerous ways. Instead of applauding those who spent late night hours working, consider asking them – or at least, yourself- why they didn’t get the essay done earlier in the week. Instead of telling your friends about your stressful nights, consider telling them about how you got to watch seven episodes of The Office last night because you got your homework done yesterday before soccer practice. If the student body can shift from celebrating procrastination to applauding working ahead, students would develop effective time budgeting skills, thus reducing stress and mitigating its effects. In an era where about half of elite private school students report chronic stress levels and 31%* report symptoms of depression, the end of the positive stigma surrounding stress could mean saving future PG high schoolers from headaches or anxiety attacks. So please, the next time your friend group decides to play “Who’s the biggest stressball?” consider changing the topic to something else. If the PG community can shake the notion that stress equals success, future high schoolers may start to see improvements in both their academics and overall well-being. *Sophie Bethune, Teen stress rivals that of adults, (American Psychological Association, 2014).

Tom

orro

w!?

The glorification of stress as a testament to hard work is counterproductive because it discourages the development of crucial time management skills.

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Pulled An All Nighter Last Night?

Best “Pick Me Up” Coffee Shops in Charleston

By Louisa Kuhn Have you ever stayed up all night writing a paper? Ever fallen asleep in class? We Porter-Gaud students can be known for our excessive procrastination. I believe I speak for almost every student when I say we, at times, have to juggle WAY too much work. However, procrastination commonly leads to a perpetual cycle of endless nights. To end this loop, the first solution would be to stop procrastinating altogether and to get a good night’s sleep. However, when that seems impossible, the second solution is coffee.

Here are the top places to recharge after that dreadful night of schoolwork: Porter-Gaud Students’ Most-Favored: Starbucks Even though the one closest to campus closed, Starbucks is still the most popular among Porter-Gaud students, regarded by most to be the fastest and most convenient coffee shop, where students can grab a snack and a tasty vanilla latte on the run. Almost every Porter-Gaud student has arrived to school at least once with a Starbucks cup in hand, ready to face the day. Not only is Starbucks coffee a quick solution after a long night, but it also offers a great place to study ahead and prevent the procrastination cycle from continuing. Many students study at Starbucks and get their work done after school because of the ample seating at each location. There are still two Starbucks close to school: Folly Road and Savannah Highway.

offee C e g a t n i V

Cafe

A Downtown Favorite: The Daily The Daily offers the perfect balance of food and coffee with their delicious assortments provided on the menu. You can’t go wrong with The Daily’s breakfast burrito or delicious avocado toast. They give you a lot of food for a low price, and the service is extremely fast. The coffee shop offers a variety of healthy foods along with some of the best, prettiest looking coffee in Charleston (for all the insta-food lovers). The house-made chai latte, for example, is a fan-favorite for both taste and appearance.

The Daily has a small but cute area for seating, both inside and outside.

Even though the seating is a little on the smaller side, the amazing food and coffee make up for it. The outside patio allows you to escape the bustling excitement inside to a more relaxed atmosphere, especially on a sunny day.

The D a

ily

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Mount Pleasant’s Vintage Coffee Cafe The Vintage Coffee Cafe, located near Coleman Blvd in Mount Pleasant, was once a quaint Mount Pleasant house now converted into a cafe. After a long day or night of studying, this homey cafe offers both breakfast and lunch, along with delicious coffee. There are many small tables scattered throughout the cafe, offering lots of places to study or catch up with a friend.

As a bonus, the menu provides several vegetarian and gluten-free options. The cafe sets a family friendly atmosphere with the giant outdoor area for both kids

and pets to roam around and play. They have the best espressos needed for that upcoming test, and you can’t leave without trying the tasty Cinnamon Bun French Toast.

West Ashley’s Finest: Broom Wagon Coffee Broom Wagon Coffee is a tucked away coffee shop in West Ashley that offers freshly roasted coffee for the day. The coffee shop is also a great place to sit down and have a bite to eat. The gluten-free waffles are by far the most popular, such as the lemon blueberry and peanut butter banana featured. The cafe is located in West Ashley, not too far from school. They offer coffee and food at great prices for the large amount given, so Broom Wagon is a perfect place to go for that “pick me up” needed. The baristas at Broom Wagon can make almost any coffee desired. However, Broom Wagon has a unique menu, as the espresso is served by the amount of milk. The coffee shop has tons of seating, inside and outside, along with a large area for parking.

Broom W agon Co

ffee

Best Coffee in a Crunch: Second State Second State is a great place to go for a quick coffee on the road. There are two locations in Charleston, one on Beaufain Street Downtown and one on Shelmore Blvd in Mount Pleasant. Second State has a variety of coffee, so you can’t go wrong with anything you order. There is tons of seating as well if you would rather stay and cram for the upcoming, daunting exam season. I visited the downtown location before my Physics exam junior year and stayed for hours with extra coffee to keep me alert. Second State was an ideal location for studying because it was not too busy and had a great lighted area to do school work.

Another Popular Downtown Location: Bitty and Beau’s Bitty and Beau’s coffee shop was opened to advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The coffee shop is run by several employees with disabilities to promote the values of inclusion and provide a unique, inspiring experience. Besides the outstanding service, the coffee shop offers breakfast sandwiches and burritos, along with smoothies and sweet treats at great prices. The shop is located by the market downtown and has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere for you to enjoy your cup of coffee. Every worker greets you and engages in conversation to brighten your day.

Second St

ate

With the numerous places to grab a cup of coffee, the procrastination cycle will hopefully come to an end. Or at least allow you to stay alert and ready for every new assessment. Each coffee shop can be a great source to either take a break and burn off some stress or to study for an upcoming test. For juniors and seniors especially, we constantly stress over college apps and standardized tests on top of everyday school work. All the work eventually piles up and can become challenging at times. However, one key solution is to grab a cup of coffee with a friend and put the stress to rest.

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A Message to VSCO Girls You Will Never be Quirky

Katherine Geils

‘VSCO girl’ (Urban Dictionary): Basically the most basic girl you’ll find out there. Common interests include scrunchies, Hydroflasks, seashell chokers, and Birkenstocks.

‘Quirky’(Merriam-Webster): unusual in especially an interesting or appealing way Though the media had assumed the trends might have died at the end of summer, they raged on nevertheless, everywhere, it seemed, except in the hallways of high school. In here, the lack of string lights, vines, and meticulously placed photographs depresses each and every VSCO girl, each of whom long for another world, one in which a “Summer Bucketlist” consumes their entire lives. Their spirit, however, cannot be confined inside the walls of a bland classroom.

Roughly every five years, a new version of the memeready “basic girl” emerges. Though the label has not always been explicitly expressed, it has been omnipresent throughout America’s culture. Think, for example, of the 70’s, when bell bottoms and tie-dye could be seen for miles; or of the 80’s when young girls deemed it socially acceptable or “cute” to go out in leg warmers. During a time before smartphones, these trends emerged via high schools, magazines, and TV; nowadays, though, we don’t have to go anywhere to know that these trends exist, as handheld social media has expanded their popularity to new extents.

The seasonal depression starts to kick into their bloodstream as they graze the dull halls of high school in their Nike Air Force Ones and puka shell necklaces.

Suddenly, you hear a Hydroflask plunge to the ground. Social media users have fabricated this new standard You hear a group scream in response to the tragedy “brand” of social identity thanks to the app “VSCO,” they’ve all just witnessed. Holding back tears, the an applicaton generally used by girls to edit photos and owner of the ‘Hydro’ picks up the fallen soldier. post artsy content, which might include pictures of a

Hydroflask water bottle, a chapstick collection, Vans, Quickly, she inspects it a Fjallraven Kanken backpack, or a sunset, among to see whether or not other aesthetically pleasing objects and sceneries. the damage was fatal.

The popularity of these items on the app segued into Cheerfully, she begins to popular ownership, as the objects appear to be staples say, “And I oop-” as the of the ultimate aesthetic feed. rest of the group erupts in laughter and praises One might think that following these trends would God that He hadn’t taken result in acceptance amongst fellow teenagers and another “Hydro.” in the social media world; however, the opposite has proven true. Those who have followed the “VSCO”

trends have faced heavy ridicule, told that they lack

creativity for simply following the latest fads and that they merely conform to the highest standard of basicness amidst the teenage world.

Some of these girls attempt to refute their declared plain-ness, claiming instead to be “quirky,” as if owning the same items as every other girl in America now permits a person to be labeled unique. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think... I think that purchasing a blue Hydroflask and decorating it with stickers that quote the most popular Vines (see Milk and Vine: Inspirational Quotes From Classic Vines), doesn’t make you unique in regards to material possessions.

It’s time that “VSCO girls” reconcile themselves with this idea and realize that quirkiness may be antithetical to their possessing certain material.

Understandably so, “VSCO girls” might find it difficult to grapple with the fact that their belongings do not qualify them to be unique, and to no surprise, the critics on social media have been quick to poke fun at these girls’ unwillingness to accept their title.

While it may be entertaining for the media to taunt “VSCO girls” for supposedly being utterly devoid of any individuality, the same idea that people lack originality can be applied to the rest of humanity.

People have tried to avoid admitting it, but the truth is that everyone, in small ways or big, is probably a part of some stereotype. Deny it as you please, (and yes, stereotypes are rarely accurate) but there’s some inch of a stereotype within all of us. Beyond first impressions, stereotypes lie within our personalities, and we have human nature to blame. Whether it be a shared similar music taste, humor, or style, having common interests or commonalities is an inevitable phenomenon within humanity.

Though people generally desire acceptance amongst peers and to kindle relationships with others founded on common interests, some, if not most, people long for a sense of individuality. People have become increasingly dissatisfied with the joy that commonalities provide, embracing the mantra of

“Nobody understands me!” in an effort to convey their discontent and lack of compatibility with the world. “VSCO girls” have further cultivated this nobody-understands-me ideology despite their imitative nature, bringing me to wonder whether they truly desire to be distinct from everyone else.

“VSCO girls” have begun to romanticize the “quirky” stereotype, neglecting the fact that oftentimes originality is accompanied by criticism, exclusion, and a desperation for acceptance amongst peers. While unique and quirky individuals may not all experience rejection by being slammed against a locker, some face demoralizing, subtle disapproval through glaring eyes and breathy whispers. Some wonder what they think, wonder what they’re talking about; these thoughts have crept into the minds of the truly unique, enough to make some want to crawl inside a hole and die.

Even so, “VSCO girls” persist in their desire to be unique, but their digital response to rejection shows that they may be unprepared to face ostracization (is anyone really prepared for that, though?). These taunts may not provoke or match the sorrow of truly unique individuals; however, insults of any kind become degrading. The judgment faced by “VSCO girls” and unique individuals remains ubiquitous throughout America’s culture, and neither avant-garde nor trendfollower seems to get it right. The critics cannot be satisfied. So, to the “VSCO girls” and the truly quirky: do whatever you want; you’ll never please them all.

A CONSUMER’S CHRISTMAS How Modern Markets Have Spoiled the Season Lindsey Prus Since as far back as I can remember, Christmas-time has held some of the happiest of memories. As soon as the weather turns, many are in a rush to celebrate the holiday season: Malls sprinkled with faux snow, reindeer awaiting the mall Santa’s arrival, civilians arguing over when it is socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music, town squares prematurely draped with Christmas lights and ornaments. One of the most thrilling activities of the year for me as a child was receiving an abundance of Christmas catalogs. As my little hands held my glitter pen, I frantically circled just about every item in each catalog, which would then help me make my official Christmas list. I signed my name, then sealed the envelope with a sticker before carefully addressing it to Santa Claus, residing at 1100 Candy Cane Lane. This process was repeated every year, and I felt as though this was the epitome of the holidays. From mindlessly looking around in my church pew to speeding through Christmas Eve dinner, all I could think about was the one present I was allowed to open on Christmas Eve. But why exactly do we get so excited for the holiday season? And more importantly, what about the holiday season makes us feel this way?

According to the National Retail Foundation, “holiday sales represent about 20 percent of annual retail sales each year.” Additionally, the NRF also states that total holiday sales are usually expected to range between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion. To say that is simply “a lot of money” would be a gross oversimplification.

However, this also shows where our Christmas-time priorities lie. Yes, I acknowledge that giving gifts to loved ones and those you care for is a lovely way to show your love for them; however, gifts should not be the only thing celebrated during the holiday season.

The season should be about fellowship and love, not picking out the perfect border for your holiday card to match the color-coordinated outfits in the family portrait. People get so wrapped up with the idea of having “the perfect _____”: the perfect holiday cards, the perfect family, the perfect decorations, the perfect 36

gift...the list is never-ending, and in my personal opinion, quite unfulfilling. Must you have the tallest, most symmetrical tree adorned with ornate ornaments of perfect size and color? Must you dress the entire extended family in the same matching Christmas pajamas, all before snapping the perfect picture for your Facebook wall? These superficial elements often distract us from the real reason we celebrate these holidays in the first place.

People get so wrapped up with the idea of having “the perfect _____” You certainly do not need to practice a certain religion to participate or enjoy the holiday season; holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrate traditions in addition to certain defining events.

For Christianity, Christmas recognizes the birth of Jesus Christ, while Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabee’s victory over the Greeks, and Kwanzaa honors African American heritage. Although these key sentiments of the season remain the same, over time, the holidays have evolved to become more inclusive with less emphasis on religion. As University of Maryland student journalist Maris Medina writes, “celebrating Christmas doesn’t solely belong to Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ nor does Halloween only account for Pagans lighting bonfires to ward off evil spirits.” This being said, I invite you to ponder your true meaning of the holidays: is it the family time, religious services, maybe even the joy the season brings? Whatever it may be, I invite you to hold it dear and stay present during this festive time. Sure, getting the newest iPhone or a new car or that new makeup palette is fun, but that is only a temporary joy. Guard against consumerism and its holiday sales seeking to overtake the “true” meaning that this joyous time is centered around. With this, I ask you: what does the holiday season mean to you?

Artwork by Lindsey Prus

Let us not mistake the true reasons for the season 37

,

Wait, that''’ s a cop behind me!

Kids, watch your speed.

By Ellie Walter Traffic court can really be intimidating, from the stares you get shamefully walking into the room itself, to the moment your name is called to answer for your wrongdoing.

My reason for being there: a speeding ticket. Now, when I say it was the “worst one I’ve ever received,” I mean, not being able to speak, move, or even breathe. One midafternoon, I was leaving Daniel Island with a few friends in my car, when I catch blue lights flashing directly behind me. Naturally, I thought, oh, it can’t be me. But then realizations fly into the very front of my brain about how fast I actually was going. Basically, too fast to admit. It was me. I was the car the officer was going for.

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This was when my heart began to race rapidly and my thoughts spiraled. I could not immediately pull over considering the fact that I was driving over a bridge. I finally reached the end and had to pull to the right side of the road with cars zooming past.

As I sat there, pulled over on the side of the interstate, I pondered the fact that I was one car in between thousands going to and from their destinations, most of the drivers not thinking about the what if concepts like, What if the driver cruising next to me glances away for three critical seconds? What if another driver starts texting a friend about this party this weekend? And all this while speeding in metal machines weighing far more than we realize.

Okay, but the speeding ticket. It wasn’t just a speeding ticket, but, again, the worst one I’ve ever received— and hopefully the last. The worst meaning the most humiliating, intimidating and overwhelming. Plus, I wasn’t alone, but surrounded by friends who, truthfully, added to the pressure I already felt at being pulled over.

But it was also because I consider myself responsible in almost all categories, and most importantly regarding driving techniques; and this time I hadn’t been partaking in anything outrageously dangerous but rather just going a bit faster than I realized.

And to be honest, I thought I had hit rock bottom when I had to endure the experience of being pulled over, but it was actually attending traffic court to plead guilty for my actions that made me see how much worse it could get.

I have always been, and will forever be, one to show fear towards police, only because I know they are the law, the real deal. That explains why I could barely breathe during the actual ticketing. It was this same fear that returned when I entered the court building weeks later, which is filled with individuals who all have their own reasonings for being there. My dad and I—yes, my dad—are directed to the courtroom, populated with those innocent or guilty or, like me, maybe a little of both. We sat down in the pews. And waited. Not just waited patiently, but waited with angst, nervous jitters, butterflies. Although my parental guardian, to whom I am very close, maintained his calm, I could tell he was disappointed. It was on his orders that I went to court, to reduce the fine I had to owe, and deduct points that were charged against me. But now that the moment was at hand, I was a roller coaster about to collapse.

“Walter, Ellie” was called. After waiting for a solid 45 minutes to simply hear my name aloud, becoming even more anxious in the process, I walked up with a really red face—I could feel it. Surprisingly, I made it all the way up to the judge’s podium and tried to gather all of my thoughts before I spoke. Oh, forgot to mention: the officer who presented that nice, generous ticket to me?

He was now standing directly beside me.

I pleaded guilty, of course, since I had nothing to argue—I had been speeding—but I do wish I could have had more of a say. And I tried my best to show no emotion, just a straight face, like of someone who was not at all nervous, embarrassed, or nauseous—all of which I most certainly was. Very few questions were asked, and in the end, it was all very short and procedural: Points were not dropped, but lowered,

and the fine was reduced. Nevertheless, my heart rate continued its high patter. I was still shaking. It was butterflies all day long.

I have always been, and will forever be, one to show fear towards police, only because I know they are the law, the real deal. That explains why I could barely breathe during the actual ticketing.

I was soon dismissed by the judge, who happened to be a lot nicer and far less judgmental than I expected, and even the officer gave me a subtle smile as I walked back towards my dad to exit the room. The whole time, though, I wanted to scream, about how scared, yes, but also how happy and relieved I was now. “It’s over,” I kept telling myself, out loud, to my dad. I had survived, frantically, and not so gracefully, but now I saw that things were going to get better.

Now that it is in the past, I think about that time spent in that room, especially if a solid laugh is needed every now and then. Although being handed a speeding ticket and going to court over it was horrible at the time, I do realize things could have been worse. Mostly, however, I recognize the impact it made on me and how much I do not want to be in that position again.

Speaking to you, specifically you young drivers, I know that I am somewhat outing myself, considering the fact that I’m admitting in public my own wrongdoings, but I am here to say this: know your surroundings. And watch your speed.

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Teacher Feature Getting to Know New Members of the Faculty and Staff

Ms. Natalie Price

Administrative Assistant to College Counseling and Registrar

Reading: I do not really read too many books, but I love to read articles that pique my interest and then to travel down that rabbit hole of interest to find as much out about that topic of the moment and see where it leads me. But if I do choose to sit down to read, I am not much on fiction as I like to read about things that have happened or are happening!

Watching: I love a girly drama and I still love watching shows like Grey’s Anatomy or to binge watch something on Netflix, but usually, with my two little ones running around, the TV is stuck on Disney or Nick so there is a good bit of Mickey Mouse Club House or SpongeBob SquarePants thrown into the mix.

Listening to: I love to listen to all kinds of music and also love to go to live shows at least once a month. Right now I have been listening more so to Bluegrass music; the main folks I have been listening to recently would be Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, the Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, The Devil Makes Three, Circles Around the Sun, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong…. The list could go on and I am always open to recommendations!

Following: I also love to read articles and follow different podcasts that talk about different things happening with different artists that I follow. I do not subscribe to any but just kind of find different things that interest me in the moment and check them out. Andy Frasco’s “WorldSaving Podcast” is a great one but also “The Bluegrass Situation: Roots Culture Redefined.”

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Attempting to: I am in the process of trying to figure out new paint colors for the interior of my home and then, once a decision has been made, painting it room by room.

So far I have painted the dining room (Sherwin Williams’ “Refuge” by the way; their color “Meditative” was too light, not bold enough) and have started to repaint all of the wood work in the house! It is hard work, but fun and gratifying to get to see the change or the re-freshening of the room! So if you see paint in my hair, you will know what happened!

Ms. Sarah Romano Upper School English

Reading: The predictable answer is that I am always re-reading the literature I teach in order to discover as much as I am able. Beyond that, I love contemporary fiction about people grappling with life. I just finished Meg Wolitzer’s The Female Persuasion which was a recommendation from a friend. It annoyed me with some of its clichéd character tropes, and there is a ridiculous heavy-handed symbol of a turtle named “Slowy,” but I looked forward to reading it every night: always a good sign. I also have a stack of life-hacking nonfiction that I’m constantly picking through to edify myself with more practical knowledge (parenting books, handyman manuals, gardening, etc).

Watching: Embarrassingly, I’ll admit that I love reality tv: basically anything in the Real Housewives franchise helps me to escape reality. But I don’t get to watch it very often because my husband will leave the room if he even hears those women’s voices. More high brow, I like all the good stuff on HBO (GoT, Westworld, Succession, True Detective), Netflix’s When They See Us turned me inside out, and I’ve been meaning to get to Hulu’s take on The Handmaid’s Tale.

Listening to: I love old school hip hop (Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets), soul (Irma Thomas, Otis Redding), alternative folk (Jim James, War on Drugs), and most things in between. I’m also obsessed with podcasts—they’re the only way I can get through my chores. This American Life, America’s Test Kitchen, NPR’s Embedded, In the Dark, I...could...go...on...

Following: I’m not on social media, so... I guess all I follow is my Waze app? (I have a terrible sense of direction.)

Cooking: I try to make 2 recipes from scratch every week: one new recipe and one repeat. I have a whole routine (Friday: pick out the recipes; Saturday: take my toddler to the grocery to help me shop; Sunday: meal prep - mis en place!). I didn’t start cooking until my mid-30s; it’s gratifying to teach myself more about it every week. Recent favorites have been broiled salmon & baby potatoes with snap peas, cucumbers, and homemade green goddess dressing and orecchiette with sweet corn, jalapenos, feta cheese, & basil.

Ms. Karie Ann Crowther

Upper School Administrative Assistant

Reading: Currently, I am rereading Screwtape Letters

by C.S. Lewis. I read this novel several years ago, and now my Sunday school class is doing a Bible study on the book. I can say that reading for pleasure is very different from reading for a class. I have found that doing the study while rereading the book has made me pay attention to the details in the book a little more.

Comparing scripture to the text in the book has also opened my eyes to specific actions that Lewis wrote about in the book.

Watching: I have recently become a big streaming fan.

Some of my favorites are Netflix, Apple TV, & Prime Video. We are making the switch at my house from cable to YouTube TV. The reason we are doing this is because we can get the ACC Network on YouTube TV. None of the local providers offer the channel. I just completed every season over the summer of Ozark, Big Little Lies, Bosch, and Goliath. I just completed Season 1 of Succession on HBO. I will have probably finished Season 2 by the time you read this because I have found that I am a binge-watcher which is what makes streaming so cool to me.

Listening to: Chances are if you are playing it, I listen to it also. I am all over the place with music; I like it all.

I listen to everything from country to rap. My playlist that I work out to has everything from Willie Nelson to Pit Bull on it. Some of my favorites are Shaggy, George Strait, and U2.

On the weekends? There is always yard work and the house to be cleaned, but that can usually wait. It really depends on the season. I like to go out on the boat if the weather is good. We typically go out in the harbor.

If it is football season, I am usually at home watching a game or at Clemson in the stands. I love college football.

When there is a game on, I am generally watching even if Clemson is not playing. I have recently started playing golf. Playing golf for me at this point means that I go to the range and hit balls. I want to take lessons this year so that I can play a round.

Ms. Allie Swiger Upper School History

Reading: I am currently reading The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille. It is a novel about a Miami lawyer who hires an American Army Veteran to work a covert mission with antiCastro groups. It involves a love story and has been packed with adventure in every chapter! I was drawn to it while strolling through Barnes & Noble because I am Cuban. It has been interesting to see how I have been able to relate to the CubanAmerican in the story whose grandparents also fled Castro’s revolution. I look forward to finishing the story!

Watching: I have dabbled in a few different shows recently. My “go to” is to re-watch The Office or Friends. However, I am also a huge A Million Little Things Fan. The storyline, although sad at times, speaks to how every person has their own story to share.

We often think that we know what is going on in others’ lives; however, we can truly never fully understand their perspective.

This show highlights the importance of empathy. It is a story about friends and exemplifies how there is not one big thing that defines a friendship or a person, but rather “a million little things”. I like it because it tackles the difficult discussions that surround mental health and suicide. It helps society understand that these are things that will impact everyone, at one point or another, and that we are better off having the hard conversations instead of pretending that everything is always ok.

Listening to: I was recently introduced to the local band The Midnight City. I have really enjoyed seeing them perform at various venues around town. Also, they have a few new original tracks out that are dynamic and well-balanced. I have really liked their vibe! I try to find local musicians to support wherever I am and so it was refreshing to find a new favorite so quickly. This band is versatile and fun! I have had their new song “Wasting My Time” on repeat since it was released.

Following: Politics! I enjoy following the Senate and House happenings as well as the 2020 election buzz. Regardless of who you support, it is important to be informed about what our representatives are doing. After all, they are supposed to be representing us!

Interest: I LOVE baking and cooking. It brings me so much joy. I find it cathartic to make something delicious and composed out of simple ingredients. Food is my love language so I like preparing meals and desserts for the people around me. I also watch a lot of cooking and baking shows. Usually I have The Food Network or The Great British Baking Show on in the background at home.

Ask me about a baking show on Netflix, I’ve probably seen it and baked something from it!

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Mr. Joseph Michaels Upper School English

Reading: Never not re-reading either Joseph McElroy or Gilbert Sorrentino or Paulette Jiles or David Gates.

Occasionally try to read the fiction, still, in newer issues of The New Yorker, but there’s only so much one can take of that scene/scene/flashback/scene/scene/flashback/vague ending structure.

Watching: Baseball. Sometimes snooker. Without sound is a must.

Listening to: Not much. It’s taken me a long time—with some pretty painful experiences e.g. posing in self-convinced adulation of British invasion, pop, funk bands, you name it—to realize, at last, that I don’t particularly care for music.

Following: is an exceptionally vulnerable position to take when in long lines at a grocery or the post office.

Ignoring: Heartburn.

Curing: See above.

Collecting: Yellowing issues of Kulchur, Look, and Life magazines.

Remembering: The rubbery, almost purely fibrous quality of the food at political banquets I attended with my father. Italian food in the abstract.

Writing: A dictionary of literary terms meant to provide a less theoretical (i.e., less irresolute and gauzy), altogether more coherent language for creative writing workshops and the creative writing process.

Attempting: Always to think of art as a craft and not—well— art.

Fixing: See below.

Sewing: I snag pants pockets and belt loops—on doorjambs, the arms of chairs, etc. Recently, I found a shoe repair store to mend them cheap as anyone, cheaper. The results are haphazard, the new seams unsubtle, but it feels good to put some money, even a very little bit of money, into a contradiction.

Et cetering: Etc., etc. Et cetera? Etcetera.

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Ms. Jennie Harris

Assistant Director of College Counseling

Reading: I just finished Linda Holmes’s Evvie Drake Starts Over, and I loved it. Holmes is the Pop Culture editor for NPR.org and the host of the first podcast I ever loved, Pop Culture Happy Hour. Finishing the novel and getting it published has been her ongoing New Year’s Resolution for a few years, and it felt like I was reading a book written by a friend. It’s silly to say, because I’ve never met Linda Holmes, but I’m so proud of her! Right now, I’m reading Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue’s Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. It is a collection of essays that examines the roots of friendship as a spiritual bond.

Watching: I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, and I saw Blinded By the Light at the Terrace Theatre. Phrases like “feelgood movie of the year” get thrown around a lot… but I think this might qualify. It’s about the son of Pakistani immigrants growing up in a small town in England in the 1980s. He discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen and it changes his life.

It’s a great story about clashing with your parents’ expectations, standing up for yourself, and finding people who “get” you. The movie perfectly captures what it’s like to hear someone’s music for the first time and feel an immediate connection to what you hear. You don’t have to listen to Springsteen to identify with that (also...you should listen to Springsteen).

Listening: I was born in to a music-loving family that is utterly lacking in any musical ability, but we take our playlist curating very seriously. In addition to Springsteen, my Spotify frequent flyers include The Avett Brothers, anything with a mandolin, beach music, Beyonce, Lizzo, Maggie Rogers, and I’m still not over the Hamilton soundtrack. I also love podcasts that turn current events in to trivia, like Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me and Ask Me Another. For news, I turn to It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders. Every Friday Sanders has fellow journalists on as guests to talk about the stories they are covering that week.

It’s like grabbing a cup of coffee with friends who happen to be investigating interesting topics. He ends every Friday episode with listeners’ voicemails about the best thing that happened to them all week, which is a great way to start the weekend.

Following: As anyone in College Counseling can tell you, I’m an Olympics nerd. Bring on Tokyo 2020!

Attempting: I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who has a thriving collection of houseplants, so I am starting now and in my office. I should mention I do NOT have a green thumb, so it’s been a lot of trial and error. I’m already on plant number two...) I read somewhere that you’re supposed to talk to houseplants, so feel free to stop by the College Counseling office to give the collection a pep talk.

Mr. Jonathan Chang

Upper School English and Science

Reading: This past year has been a bit different for me; my wife and I were separated by 3.5 hours of road while she did her first year of residency. That said, we drove to each other a lot, and most of my “reading” was through audiobooks.

I’m a bit of a sci-fi nerd, so I read/heard Heinlein’s Time Enough for Love (which I just finished), Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake, and some short stories by Philip K. Dick. I also finished Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime; I’m not usually one for auto-biographies, but Noah’s was especially powerful, and I would highly recommend it.

Watching: My wife and I recently binged all of Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu (we paced ourselves for the last few episodes to savor the end of the season). Now that we’ve finished it all, we’ve been attempting to fill the void with B movies on Netflix, but alas, it has been an exercise in futility.

We’re eagerly looking forward to new seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, and Single Parents.

Listening to: I usually listen to the car radio, forever flipping from station to station. It was this radio surfing that led me to two artists I’ve been listening to lately: Billie Eilish and Tool. Eilish’s song “Bury a Friend” made me say, “whoa, creepy… let’s turn that up…” and she’s had me hooked ever since. Tool, on the other hand, is an old band that I was really into in high school, and they haven’t produced anything in thirteen years. When I heard the radio host say they had a new song, I figured I must have misheard. Nope! It was indeed a ten-minute-long Tool song, brand new. So yeah, I’ve been replaying some of their old albums.

Playing: I’ve always been a bit of a gamer, especially anything by Nintendo, Blizzard, or Valve. Lately, I’ve reduced my PC gaming to Heroes of the Storm when friends message me to join in. I recently finished The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (or at least “finished” in the sense of finding all 120 shrines). I’m very tempted to buy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but I’m hesitant because I feel like it’ll end up eating up too much of my life.

Considering: My wife and I are thinking of joining a climbing gym. Bouldering is one of those things where consistency is key: if you only go once a month, your forearms will always be jelly afterwards, but if you go once every week or so, you’ll make some decent progress. We found a gym downtown, but time commitment is the difficult factor at play for us.

Ms. Victoria Kuchler

Upper School Math

Reading: Unfortunately, I struggle to find time for leisure reading during school and volleyball season. When I do get time to read, I love to read drama novels. This summer, I started The Red Queen series. These books fall into the fantasy category, where the world is divided into people who have natural powers versus without powers.

Others books that I hope to read soon include Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing.

Watching: When I have time to watch TV, it is very easy for me to get hooked on TV shows. I really love watching crime shows like Law & Order and Chicago PD. I also have a guilty pleasure of watching reality shows like Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. You can also find me watching cooking competitions like Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, or Nailed It! I really enjoy watching musicals and plays as well. Charleston has great theatres including Wolfe Street Playhouse and Dock Street Theatre. I recently saw Frozen on Broadway in New York City and Footloose at the Dock Street Theatre.

Listening to: What I am listening to honestly depends on my mood. If you look at my playlists, there is a variety of different artists, genres, and songs. I typically like to listen to songs that put me in a good mood. I love going to see live bands whether it is a concert or just local Charleston bands. Some artists that I love listening to are Andy Grammer, Lizzo, Dave Matthews Band, Hozier, Aloe Blacc, Avicii, Zedd, and many more.

Following: I follow a lot of different accounts on Instagram. I obviously love to follow my friends and family to keep up with everything they are doing in different parts of the world. I also love to follow travel and vacation accounts. This helps me set goals for myself of where I want to travel. I also love to follow different types of humor and joke accounts. These are the ones that get me through the day when I need a laugh or a pick me up.

Eating: Food is one of my favorite things about Charleston. There are so many great local restaurants that I love to share with friends and family when they come to visit. Some of my favorites include 167 Raw, Poe’s Tavern, Minero, Basil, Crust, and Indaco. As for type of food, I could easily eat tacos or pizza for the rest of my life.

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Ms. Celeste Webster Upper School Spanish

Reading: This summer, I revisited Isabel Allende’s The House of Spirits, which I have read in both English and Spanish. I am always astounded by Allende’s use of magical realism and how powerful and multifaceted the female characters are. I am also reminded how beautiful and poetic the Spanish language is, and I remain awed by what gets lost in translation from one language to another. Currently, I am reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Marakami, which is so refreshing and inspiring, as I consider my relationship with running as “love-hate” (but ultimately, love).

Watching: I don’t watch a lot of TV, but once in a while, I do go on a Netflix binge. I always enjoy watching reruns of The Office and any cooking show on Food Network.

Listening to: For the past three years I lived in New Orleans, where music is the very pulse and heartbeat of the city.

WWOZ is the local radio station of New Orleans, and you can stream it online or download the app. It includes all kinds of music genres such as Traditional & Contemporary Jazz, Blues and R&B, Cajun & Zydeco, Alternative/Indie Rock, Latin, Brazilian, Country, Bluegrass, Gospel, and World, just to name a few of my favorites. Go to WWOZ.org, hit play, and enjoy!

Following: A few years ago, I did a social experiment to stay away from social media. I purposefully chose to not have a Smartphone for three years, and the results were incredible!

What a change to not constantly check my phone for instant messages, newsfeeds, or tweets. To disconnect, for me, actually meant to re-connect with people in more mindful ways. I thought more about how I felt and what I wanted to say before “liking” something, commenting on something, or making spontaneous posts for instant gratification. I deleted my Facebook account since then, and though I feel like sometimes I miss out on what my friends around the world are up to, I know that they are just a traditional phone call or email away. As such, any type of following I do is reading fitness blogs (Melissa Bender and FitnessBlender), and language teaching blogs, of course (La Maestra Loca).

Dancing to: If I’m not listening and dancing to WWOZ, then I am more than likely dancing and moving to Latino songs.

Top three on my playlist right now are: 1) Con Calma by Daddy Yankee, 2) Bella by Wolfine, and 3) Sunflower (Remix)

by Post Malone, Swae Lee, Nicky Jam, Prince Royce. I teach Zumba (dance fitness Latin cardio), so I always try to keep up with what is currently trending.

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Dr. Sarah Bauer

Upper School Science

Reading: Lately I have been completely nerding out with science books. I’m currently listening to The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines Against Humankind’s Gravest Dangers which is just as amazing as it sounds. This book takes an awesome look at a variety of diseases, what damage they have done historically, and what they could do in the future. I’m also reading Pleased to Meet Me, a book that explores the genes and microbes that shape our looks, personality, and habits.

While science is awesome, I love a good fiction novel….

Time Traveler’s Wife, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy, and, of course, the Harry Potter series are some of my favorites.

Watching: Currently in the awkward point of waiting for more seasons of my favorite shows and taking recommendations... This summer I binged Big Little Lies and Stranger Things, which in my opinion, just had its best season yet—Season 3. My favorite characters are Max and Robin. I loved the strength and confidence they showed throughout the season. Season 1 of Jack Ryan on Amazon was also awesome. RIP Game of Thrones. I loved this show to the bitter end and welcome any series-ending reflections and debates.

Listening to: Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, The Avett Brothers or whatever is on the radio with a great beat. I’ve seen Avett Brothers live five times… hands down they put on the best concert I’ve been too. I’m hoping to catch Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats soon! Their music always seems to get me grooving and puts me in a great mood. I challenge you to listen to “Never Get Old” or “Howling at Nothing” without dancing…

Following: March for Science because scientific evidence is the cure for fearing the unknown. It’s up to us as scientists to share our work and educate our communities (Shout out to my AP Bio kids and their summer reading!).

Also, @rageagainsttheminivan because sometimes all parents of tiny humans need to know they are not alone. This never fails to make me laugh.

Dancing: I love dancing to anything Disney with my daughter, Norah, and son, Otto. We love having impromptu dance parties and recitals in our living room. Don’t be surprised if you see us busting a move in public either…. We love having fun and sharing a good laugh and welcome all who care to join.

Mr. Brian Brennan

Upper School Math

Reading: After finishing the Freakonomics series, I recently read Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. It was an interesting take on Google searches. During Hurricane Dorian, I began reading Of Time and the River by Thomas Wolfe. A few years ago, I read a couple of his other books after reading that Pat Conroy listed him as a big influence on his writing. Speaking of Pat Conroy, I’ve read everything he’s written and got to meet him a few times.

Watching: Currently, my wife and I are trying to finish Season Two of The Handmaid’s Tale, so we can watch season three (which we’ve heard is less ominous than Season Two). Also on Hulu, we like to watch Four Weddings and a Funeral. We always like to see Charleston on screen, so we are watching The Righteous Gemstones on HBO. And we just finished watching another season of Hard Knocks. When it comes to sports, you’ll catch me watching Clemson and Dallas Cowboys football, UConn basketball, and New York Mets Baseball.

Listening To: I really like a variety of music from Rock to Classical and Opera, but when I’m working out, believe it or not, I listen to podcasts. The top three on my list are ESPN: Pardon the Interruption, The Grammar Girl Podcast, and NPR: Ask Me Another. When I’m listening to local radio, I am a loyal listener of The Bridge.

Following: When it comes to Twitter, I follow local news and sports reporters. But to know what’s happening in Charleston, I follow @holycitysinner. Christian, the host, is a friend of mine, and a UConn guy, and he does a great job of highlighting local events and happenings. On Instagram, I follow friends and family, but just started following hashtags of places I want to visit and possibly retire to someday. Right now, that’s #Algarve (in Portugal) and #Panama.

Eating: Because I practice Intermittent Fasting, you’ll rarely see me eating at school, but I love to eat. Specifically, I love pizza of any and all kinds. I could eat pizza every day and be happy. Some of my favorites in Charleston are Crust on James Island, Indaco and D’Al’s downtown, and Benny Palmettos (those slices are huge) in Mount Pleasant. I keep an eye on Eater-Charleston’s website to find other great pizza spots.

Ms. Chrissy Lorenz

Office of Admission and Enrollment

*If my name sounds slightly familiar, it’s because my sisterin-law, Jen Lorenz has worked at PG for 5 years now.

Reading: Working full time and trying to keep up with a 14 and 13 year old (Cameron 9th grade and Van 7th grade) doesn’t leave a lot of “me” time. But, when I do get the time, I like to read. Currently I’m reading Where the Crawdads Sing. The overreaching theme is how our childhood shapes the individuals we are today. I try real hard to keep this in mind as I raise my two kids, Cameron and Van (both Porter-Gaud students).

Watching: When I’m not reading at night, I can be found tucked back in the room binge watching Succession. It’s about a family’s media empire and all of the manipulation, back stabbing, greed and tragedy that goes along with the kids that are vying for the position of CEO. Listening to: During my long trips to and from Isle of Palms to Porter-Gaud, there’s always time for some Doctor Radio on Sirius. The show is based out of NYU Medical Center and is comprised of real doctors. I use this to self-diagnose my ailments now in lieu of googling my symptoms. This way, I know for sure whether or not I’m going to die from the sniffles. But, seriously, I do learn some things along the self-care lines that are practical and easy to incorporate into my daily life.

Following: Speaking of self-care, I follow Laura b Pilates on Facebook and her journey as a wife as she takes care of her Navy Seal husband who suffered a massive brain injury. She documents the small victories her husband makes in his “new normal” that I may take for granted.

By reading her blog, I am reminded to celebrate the small steps in life, every day. This helps me slow down, and enjoy life just that much more.

Eating: To enjoy life is also to eat Tacos! And, fortunately for me, I get to stuff my face with Tacos every single day!

My husband and I are partners in Mex 1 Coastal Cantina.

Tacos are my passion. I love getting in the kitchen and seeing what new taco I can come up with next.

I think tacos are a universal language and everyone needs one in their hand!

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Mr. Chris Weaver Upper School History

Reading: First, I must acknowledge that I am a history nerd.

Since an early age, I tend to gravitate towards books that have a historical foundation. While I tend to lean toward historical works of non-fiction, I do enjoy the occasional fictional works as well. Currently, I am reading Beloved by the late Toni Morrison. For me, the book is both poignant and hopeful in its message, and I think it is one of the essential reads for anybody during their lifetime.

Listening to: I adore classic soul music of the 60s and 70s. I am also a collector of vinyl (plastic discs you play on a record player for those of you under a certain age). Today, there are more than 250 records in my collection. My collection is quite eclectic, but the Motown Sound is an absolute must for this music aficionado. My favorite Motown acts are the Temptations and the Supremes. However, as much as I love Motown, when I am at the gym, I only listen to Latin music. It is the only music that gets me pumped up and ready for a good workout.

Watching: As an aforementioned history nerd, my tastes in television mirror my reading habits. I am obsessed with anything related to history. However, not all shows are created equal in both production, accuracy, and watchability. My current favorites are Harlots on Hulu and Peaky Blinders on Netflix. When there is nothing available on TV, I always lean back on the good ole’ reliable preferences PBS and Masterpiece Theater to entertain me.

Cooking: Cooking is a skill I began to acquire when I was five years old. My love of cooking was so strong that during high school, I completed the Culinary Arts program and frequently participated in statewide competitions. I most enjoy cooking from scratch, but I also have been known to put my own spin on traditional recipes. I most enjoy cooking Spanish, Mexican, and South American dishes. With some familial convincing, I also make homemade cakes, but it takes a lot of convincing.

Following: I tend to shy away from most social media, so I will take this in another direction. I am currently following the UK Brexit crisis. I attended graduate school in London and considered myself a true anglophile, plus I have many friends there. As a historian, I have maintained a neutral position, but it is an extremely complicated measure to withdraw from the European Union. I continue to watch with baited breath to see what the final resolution will be for the UK and the long term effects that will surely follow.

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Ms. Dana Cadden

Upper School Receptionist

Reading: I picked up my pre-ordered copy of The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz the same day it hit the bookstores. Sadly, this is supposed to be the last book in the Millenium series that Stieg Larsson started and Lagercrantz continued after Larssen’s death. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all the other books in this series, the first of which was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Watching: I am awaiting the new seasons of NCIS, Modern Family, and Young Sheldon, and I will miss The Big Bang Theory, even though it had run its course. I also enjoy watching Life in Pieces, and I love it when I can catch past episodes of Criminal Minds earlier in the evening.

Listening to: I enjoy listening to Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Bad Company, The Allman Brothers Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, so many different Motown artists, and Cravin’ Melon. Two of my current favorite songs are “Seven Turns” by The Allman Brothers and “Southern Cross “by Crosby, Stills & Nash. I regret that my husband and I did not pursue getting tickets to the Bob Seger concert when he was in Charleston recently.

Following: Baseball is a huge part of my family’s life, and I am currently following the New York Mets. When football season gets underway, I will always follow the USC Gamecocks and the Wofford Terriers. I do not follow anyone or anything on social media.

Attempting: I am attempting to learn to play a couple songs on the drums, so that I can play along with my husband when he is playing guitar. Our daughter presently lives out of state, but her drum set still lives at our house. It’s been a while since I have dropped the sticks when trying to play, so I am making progress! It is also on my to-do list to re-read the Harry Potter series, so that all things Harry and Hogwarts will be fresh on my mind when my daughter and I finally get to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios.

Winter Word Palooza Test your holiday festive-ness.

Answers found across from the Table of Contents.

What Famous SNL alum sings “The Hanukkah Song?�

9. What former PG Santa will be checking his list twice at Chico Feo this year?

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watch PORTER-GAUD SCHOOL

300 Albemarle Rd. Charleston, SC 29407