Issue 5 22-23

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PROSPECTOR

801 WEST KENSINGTON ROAD, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS

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VOLUME 62, ISSUE 5

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2023

Facing forward

Women mobilize against human rights violations in Iran, gain support ELLA MITCHELL Editor-in-Chief

UNITY: Women from all corners of the world speak with one voice against the human rights violations in Iran. (photo illustration by

Emily DePaz, Bella Brouilette and Luca Nicolaie)

D

eep into an internet rabbit hole of research about the current protests in Iran, seniors Helene Avila and Natalie Bouzas discovered the story of Amrita Abbasi: after Abbasi posted criticism of Iran’s regime on her social media, she was arrested and subsequently rushed to the hospital with a shaved head and severe hemorrhaging in her rectum due to repeated rape.

This story, among countless other injustices, served as an example within the persuasive letter the pair wrote for their College Composition course, ultimately meant to persuade the U.S. government to take a more prominent role in spreading awareness of the protests in Iran.

Soon, their ideas flourished beyond the original assignment as World Religions teacher John Camardella used his connections to send the letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Avila and Bouzas met via Zoom conferences to discuss their ideas with Special Advisor to the U.S. Department of Commerce and Prospect alumnus Matthew McPartlin.

Though they never expected the contents of a simple classroom letter to bloom into a sprawling passion project involving the U.S. government and the entirety of the stu-

dent body, Avila and Bouzas show no sign of stopping.

“It hasn’t gotten to the point where it’s like, ‘Oh. We did this,” Avila and Bouzas said. “We’re still keeping updated because it’s not a burden to us; it’s a calling. It’s something that we feel strongly about, which is why we keep doing it.”

Avila and Bouzas’ efforts have not faltered since they first heard about the protests in Iran during Camardella’s World Religions class; neither have the string of abuses against women at the hand of the Iranian government, nor the subsequent protests, according to Iran International.

The outrage of Iranian citizens from different generations, classes and backgrounds began shortly after 22-year-old Mahsa Jina Amini died on Sept. 16 while in custody of the “morality police” — an Islamic religious police force and vice squad in the Law Enforcement Command — for not fully complying with Iran’s veiling laws. While the official report claimed Amini died of a heart attack, the true motives behind her death were clear to the public.

What started as an outpouring of - Natalie Bouzas, senior grief over Amini’s death evolved into a national movement in which people from all corners of Iranian society united under one voice to spark a series of protests, beginning after Amini’s funeral on Sept. 17.

In the last week alone, reports have shown that the movement’s momentum has shown no signs of abating.

“MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS, ‘WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?’ I COULD NEVER EVEN IMAGINE THAT … TO BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THIS, AND HOW OBLIVIOUS I WAS ...WAS KIND OF SCARY,”

SEE “WOMEN” ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MARCH 13, 2023

WOMEN: Advocacy spreads support CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Recent reports include ongoing demonstrations in Zahedan amid heavy crackdowns, the brutal death of a 24-year-old Baluch protester by police and beatings at a girls’ language school to enforce the wearing of hijabs.

While there have been protests in Iran before (SEE “Protests in Iran”), the current scale of the protests and mobilization of women is largely unprecedented. Under the slogan, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” protests continue to rage on, and the words “Jin! Jiyan! Azadi!” ring out in widespread demonstrations.

These protests have not come without a cost; as of January, at least 522 people, including 70 children, have been killed, and more than 20,000 people have been detained, according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Activists News Agency. In addition to violent shutdowns of demonstrations, social media and internet access in Iran WINDS OF CHANGE: Woman utilizes social media to promote awareness has been severely limited.

As Avila and Bouzas continued about the ongoing protests in Iran. “When it comes to something that is the to seek out information, they were abuse of human rights, it’s not just an Iran thing; it’s not just an United States shocked to discover the countless thing. It becomes a world topic,” senior Helene Avila said. “Social media is a injustices used to silence women speaking out. great way to get that message out there.” (cartoon by Bella Brouilette ) “My immediate reaction was, change, especially as the Iranian Camardella is excited to see and it’s something you care about, ‘Why is this happening?’” Bouzas showing up for people can always said. “I could never even imagine government attempts to suppress students like Avila and Bouzas take it; and targeted sanctions must be the teachings of his course and use be really powerful and mean a lot,” that; it was kind of like a bomb … them to create change. He hopes Moezidis said.

Just to be able to learn about this, implemented.

Months after sending the origithat, using the vehicle of current Not only do Avila and Bouzas and how oblivious I was to what nal letter to the Biden Administraevents, students can understand hope to make an impact internawas going on, was kind of scary.” tion, the pair is hoping to organize the diverse contexts and situations tionally, but they also have influA goal of the Iranian governa school-wide assembly to promote of people around the world and, ulenced their personal lives as well. ment is to create a sphere of uncerawareness and write an op-ed protimately, nurture an understanding On her final three college applicatainty by making it difficult for citposal to be published in the Harof alternative perspectives. tions, Avila switched her major, izens to know about human rights vard Gazette and, in what Bouzas “I think that is one of the most going from “doctor mode” to taking abuses being committed by the important things I can do as a on a double major in political scigovernment, according to friend of and Avila believe to be among the most important aspects of their religious studies ence and biology.

Camardella and Iranian-American strategy, using social media to proteacher,” Camardel“On the inside, I’m graduate student Ciara Moezidis. mote awareness. la said.

“Bringing very much a feminist,” While there wasn’t a total interAs their generation is fully students into the Avila said. “But I never net shutdown, internet blackouts immersed in the realm of social real-life intersecreally spoke out about — including difficulties accessing media, Avila and Bouzas feel that tions in real time … it in school because WhatsApp, Instagram and mobile woke them up to the where was I going to networks — were confirmed by members of Gen Z are the perfect candidates to speak up and advoreality that women speak about it? But both Meta and internet watchdog are facing in certain now, going through Netblocks. Furthermore, the lack cate. With the help of Moezidis, this, I think ... it has of international journalists on the Avila and Bouzas are in the midst contexts.” of choosing an organization — they Camardella uses given me more confiRead a column ground has contributed to minimal are currently leaning towards indethe cultural studdence about speaking coverage of the occurrences in Iran. about the bounds pendent, nonprofit “Center for Huies approach in his about topics like [huSo, when Camardella reached of modern feminism man rights in Iran].” man Rights in Iran”— to partner class — focusing on out on the behalf of Avila and Bouwith in order to further social methe recognition that Since starting zas, Moezidis was more than happy dia efforts and boost information the academic study of religion is their project, both Bouzas and Avito speak with them. Utilizing both not singular across all practicing la have realized how much power her academic understanding of the about what students, Congress and tech companies should be doing to groups — and will not tell students their voices can have.

Middle East as a dual master’s canaid Iranians. what to think or what he believes is “As high school students, can didate at Harvard Di“When it right. Instead, discussions, materispeak out about something that our vinity School and the Read moezidis’ full comes to someals or corresponding counter-argugovernors haven’t, our president Fletcher School at thing that is about ments produced through the class hasn’t,” Avila said. “It’s important story here Tufts University and the abuse of rights, can arm students with the skills to that if we [as students] value how her personal heriit’s not just an Iran glean their own opinions on global important it is, then other people tage, Moezidis was thing; it’s not just matters. should, too. It’s not about the culhappy to help build an United States “[I hope they take away] a conture or the race, it’s about human understanding of a thing. It becomes a fidence that they won’t ever know rights being taken advantage of … country and a people world topic,” Avila all the answers, but they have been It’s going to be a lot of work, but in that she believes has said. “Social media equipped to ask the right questions the end this work is going to help so been misunderstood is such a great way and to have the conversations,” Camany people in Iran get the justice for a long time. to get that [mesmardella said.

“I want them to have they deserve.”

“It was one of sage] out there … the confidence … because they’ve those opportunities You can change been trained to have those converwhere … I could of social media … sations.” share what’s hapinto a tool.”

These conversations not only pening in Iran in a way that’s rootLegislation, too, is important. deserve to be brought up in the ed in the context, understanding For example, the MAHSA Act, classroom, but belong there, acthe cultural, historical and religious H.R.9203, 117th Cong. (2022), is cording to Avila and Bouzas. They dynamics,” Moezidis said. think it is even more important to Even though neither Avila nor under Congressional consideration.

The act imposes sanctions on the widen students’ worldviews in the Bouzas are Iranian, Moezidis says leaders of Iran and their respective classroom, especially considering it is important for them to not only continue their project, but to have a offices for human rights abuses and the very white, suburban background that many students at more nuanced perspective on such support of terrorism, which is crucial because the issues will not disProspect have. a complex topic.

“Ever since taking [World “It’s really important for appear by themselves.

In addition to spreading awareReligions], I’ve been so much non-Iranians to know about this ness on social media, Avila and more aware about what’s goand speak up because there are ing on … around the world,” a lot of ramifications in terms of Bouzas are in the process of drafting letters to Illinois RepresentaAvila said. “It’s just an amaz… Iranians in the diaspora do not ing class.” want to put their [own] families in tives in order to voice their support for the bill.

They believe this local Moezidis agrees that beharm’s way,” Moezidis said. “Many action, spurred on by those with ing an active global citizen of my Iranian-American friends privilege, can also yield a notable is important, adding that are scared to talk about it because impact. young people can engage they do not want to risk losing their “It’s really important for women with global issues by conchances of going back to Iran.” to feel as if other women are there ducting research, posting on Equipped with a more human-based understanding of the for them,” Avila said. “I personally social media, writing articles, hosting documentary viewing conflict in Iran, Avila and Bouzas’ don’t have any friends who are Iranian, but that shouldn’t matter; I events, or going to protests to original letter reached five pages bring awareness and uplift marlong and outlined many needs: the don’t have to be friends with someone who is Iranian to feel that these ginalized voices.

United States must use its position Iranian women deserve the rights “Even if it doesn’t affect you, as a global power to speak up; sothat we have.” if you’re educated about the cause cial media is a powerful agent of

PROTESTS IN IRAN 1906 Constitutional revolution

Meant to tackle government corruption, this revolution was the first grassroots movement of its kind in the Middle East during the 20th century, according to TIME.

1979 ISLAMIC REVOLUTION After an Iranian newspaper took aim at political leader Ayatollah Khomeini, protesters were killed by security forces; a cycle of demonstration began, including media control, bans on alcohol and mandatory hijab-wearing for women.

2009 Green Movement

After a disputed election result, the Iranian regime began shutting down the campaign offices of the opposition. The activists who demonstrated — wearing green — were met with tear gas.

2017-2021 economic protests

Over the course of the past five years, protests and strikes concerning poverty and economic mismanagement have persisted and protesters are silenced, detained or killed.

Have you heard about RECENT protests in IRan?

*ACCORDING TO A KNIGHTMEDIA SURVEY OF 224 PHS STUDENTS

35.4%

YES, THROUGH Social media

43.9% NO

20.2% YES, through class discussions or news COVERAGE

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

NEWS

MARCH 13, 2023

VOTE!

D214 SCHOOL BOARD ELLA MITCHELL, JUSTIN PEABODY

Editor-in-Chief & Features Reporter

I

n the upcoming District 214 school board election on April 4, there are five candidates: School Board President Bill Dussling, Vice President Alva Kreutzer, Frank Fiarito, Elizabeth Bauer and Misa Edwardsen.

Dussling, Kreutzer and newcomer Fiarito are running together as a slate, “Friends of D214.” There are three open positions on the board that the Friends, along with candidates Bauer and Edwardsen, are vying for.

Both Dussling and Kreutzer are incumbents and hope to continue serving the community with a “student-first” mentality. Fiarito, who has worked with both Dussling and Kreutzer before on various boards, including the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO), hopes to add a parental perspective to the board.

“We’re friends, and I think we have similar ideals,” Fiarito said. “That’s not to say that I agree with everything that Alva

stands for or everything that Bill stands for, and there’s things that I’m passionate about that they might not agree with. We are aligned as a slate, but we don’t have to agree with everything.”

Combined, the trio has 59 years of school board experience. With this tenure, they feel that they are best equipped to handle difficult questions such as the hiring of a new superintendent, the logistics behind the Bears’ purchasing of Arlington Park, the adding of personnel to support students’ mental health and the handling of changing district demographics.

The “Friends of D214” are running up against Rolling Meadows parent Elizabeth Bauer. Using her background as an actuary makes her sure of one thing: numbers do not lie.

She believes her data analysis skills will be useful on the school board, especially for assessing the effectiveness of new academic or curriculum programs. As an aspiring board member, she is passionate about fostering unity among the board and promoting transparency.

The final candidate is Edwardsen. The Prospector reached out for an interview, but received no response.

ELECTION DAY

APRIL 4

LAST DAY TO SEND BALLOTS BY MAIL OR GO TO THE POLLS

ELIZABETH BAUER

3

Confirm Registration:

VOTE ONLINE

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE IS MARCH 19

VOTE BY MAIL

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE BY MAIL IS MARCH 30

VOTE SAME-DAY SAME-DAY VOTING REGISTRATION REQUIRES TWO FORMS OF ID

GOALS

“STUDENT-FIRST” MENTALITY, CONTINUE RENEWAL PLAN

FRANK FIARITO

INTERESTS BILL DUSSLING

GOALS

EXPERIENCE

RESPONSIVENESS AND UNITY

INTERESTS

SCAN TO READ A FULL PROFILE

COOKING, SEWING, READING ABOUT HISTORY

GOALS

EXPERIENCE CUB SCOUT CHAIR, TREASURER, RMHS MUSIC BOOSTERS

CO-FOUNDED RE-EDUCATION FIRM, 25 YEARS ON D214 BOARD

INTERESTS

BRITISH HISTORY, FAITH

WORKED ON D59 BOARD, MEMBER OF D214 BOARD SINCE 1999

GOALS

FURTHER TRADES EDUCATION, ADD A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

INTERESTS WORKING WITH KIDS, PRETZELS

SHIFT WITH DEMOGRAPHICS, PROMOTE HONORS COURSES

EXPERIENCE SCAN TO READ A FULL PROFILE

FINE ARTS, VOLUNTEERING AT FRONTIER DAYS

EXPERIENCE ALVA KREUTZER

SERVED ON D26 SCHOOL BOARD FOR 12 YEARS, VOLUNTEERS IN PRAIRIE TRAILS KINDERGARTEN CLASSES

SCAN TO READ A FULL PROFILE

SCAN TO READ A FULL PROFILE

4 OPINION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in room 162 or email letters to prospectornow@gmail. com. All letters must be signed. Limit letters to 400 words. The Prospector reserves the right to edit for style and length.

staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Kevin Lynch, Ella Mitchell MANAGING EDITOR Kaylie Pasternak COPY EDITORS Amanda Feinberg, PJ O’Grady, Zach Moreth ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emma Letzig KNIGHT TV EXEC PRODUCER Juliet Aquino KNIGHT TV ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Katherine Lytle KNIGHT TV LIVE EXEC PRODUCER Luis Hernandez PROSPECTOR EDITORS Sienna DeMonte, Mollie Kearns, Brooke Michalczyk, Claire Wynkoop KNIGHT TV DIRECTORS Tito Gavin, Matthew Niemczyk ONLINE EDITORS Dean Carlson SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Abby Damasky REPORTERS Louie Caldrone, Elijah Clesen, Nick Doherty, Dylan Heber, Henry Kauke, Amelia Maslowski, Peter Nicoll, Justin Peabody VISUAL EDITORS Bella Brouilette, Alyssa Degan ADVISER Jason Block

MISSION STATEMENT

The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news and explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, The Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide an unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions. The Prospector is published by students in Multimedia Communications courses. Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

ADVERTISING For ad rates, call (847) 718 5376 (ask for Jason Block), email or write the Prospector, 801 West Kensington Rd., Mount Prospect, IL, 60056, prospectornow@gmail.com.

MARCH 13, 2023

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

Legitimizing local elections Staff Editorial

the 2018 midterm elections. The disparity between turnout in local and national elections is primarily due to lack of coverage of local elections, compounded by the public’s lack of interest.

Sitting in her Criminal and Civil Law class, LWV member Mary Hahn believes that this Julia Neugebauer, along with all senior students lack of interest in local elections is misplaced; who had recently turned 18, was gifted a packet in fact, local elections can have the most influof information that provided a new opportunity: ence on community members. In the case of voting. the school board election, Hahn thinks that the The League of Women’s Voters (LWV) was school is more directly influential to students behind these packages; following seniors’ 18th and their families because of birthdays, the nonpartisan proximity. organization sends inforWe, Knight Media, bemation and materials that a lieve that voting in local freshly minted voter might elections, like the upcoming need: a pencil for filling out D214 school board election, ballots and pamphlets to is crucial. Due to the powbolster election awareness. er local elected officials can Through this action — along have — including overseeing with defending democracy the transition to a new superand increasing voter confiintendent, adjusting taxes in dence — the LWV aims to relation the recent acquisition increase voter turnout and of Arlington Park by the Chihighlight the importance of Voting results of the cago Bears, dictating course local and national elections. availability and monitoring Knight Media staff in In turn, as Neugebauer the learning gap after returnheld her packet, she became regards to this editorial. ing from the COVID-19 panmore empowered to vote as demic — it is more important than ever to have a young adult, having turned 18 in November your voice heard as a community 2022. member.

“I think that having the ability to vote as a citBeyond simply voting, proizen of a country, since a lot of people don’t have spective voters should plan on that ability, and also as a woman, I would want to attending forums, conducting take full advantage of that,” Neugebauer said. “I research with nonpartisan replan to vote in every election I’m able to as long sources and striving to underas I’m alive because I want to use that privilege.” stand the impact of the candiVoters like Neugebauer can exercise this date’s stances, which is integral right in the District 214 (D214) school board to casting a well-informed vote. election on April 4. Incumbents Bill Dussling Using this knowledge to vote in and Alva Kreutzer, who have both been on the the election either in person or board for over 20 years, are running for reelecby mail will ensure that there is tion along with Frank Fiarito as part of a slate open communication between all entitled, “Friends of D214.” Elizabeth Bauer and parties involved and makes sure Misa Edwardsen are also both running for a seat stakeholders are getting a say. on the board. Early voting is open from March 20 Education Association Head to April 3, and election day is April 4, on which Building Representative and English teacher Tim voters can vote either in person or by mail. (See: McDermott agrees with Hahn’s sentiment.

“Vote! District 214 school board election” for full “These are important elections now,” Mccandidate profiles).

Dermott said. “These are as important as elecAccording to the Carnegie Corporation of tions for mayors, governors, Senate and House New York, only about 5-10 percent of eligible candidates because it is all grass roots; it starts voters cast their ballot in school board elections. at the bottom.”

This can be compared to the 66.8% turnout rate McDermott feels that when going into this in the 2020 presidential election and 50.3% in election, voters should first and foremost have

2

Against

20

For

the students in mind. This particular school board election stands out because the search for the new D214 superintendent is still happening, and as the school board hires the new superintendent, the prospective board members could help lead change within the district.

Taxes are another factor that voters should consider when heading to the polls. School board members have a large say in local tax bills, which impacts the financial lives of all residents.

The possibility of the Chicago Bears moving to Arlington Heights could heighten these taxes, which would lead local school boards to get involved in the allocation of school funding.

“School boards affect the hiring of the people that are administering the schools, which has a direct impact on how well their child will be educated. If they are simply a taxpayer … it affects [their] property value,” Hahn said. “If we have lousy schools, [their] property value will go down. If we are not spending our money wisely, we are not going to attract people to come to our schools, and we won’t have a decent place to live.”

The local LWV chapter is making sure voters know about these elections through eight different online voter forums. For example, the League partnered with the Arlington Heights Memorial L i b r a r y to host a forum where voters could ask the D214 school board candidates questions on March 2.

Furthermore, Hahn feels that word of mouth about elections is one of the key ways to express their importance. Especially for young voters, like Neugebauer sharing information through in-person and social media channels can help encourage the next generation to become democratically involved.

“I think I can inspire people by talking about the elections that are happening or using my social media to post about them because that is so influential these days,” Neugebauer said. “When my parents vote, they always get the stickers that say ‘I Voted’, and I would brand myself with those and walk around all day showing people that I voted.”

Following this election, voters should follow Neugebauer’s lead by sporting their “I Voted” stickers proudly. Taking part in these local elections aid local endeavors and ultimately pave the way to the future of our community and school districts.

scan here to find your nearest polling place

Holiday traditions leave lasting impact More than 14,000 fireseason, and I love setting work displays illuminate fireworks off on July Fourth.

America’s sky each IndeEven with my love of these pendence Day; approxitraditions, it is very apparmately 4.6 million pounds ent how little respect we of paper is thrown out show towards nature, espeevery Christmas morncially when, for St. Patrick's ing; a minimum of 46 milDay, we dump 40 pounds lion turkeys fill stomachs of dye into a massive rivthroughout the nation aner which is home to more nually on Thanksgiving day; than 70 species of fish and and ignore over plants.

400,000 people Junior line the Chicago V i v i a n River each St. Schmidt Patrick's Day to loves gowatch a bunch ing to the of green junk St. Patrick’s be dumped into Day parade the river. We are with her slowly killing family each the planet with year.

With our obliviousthe holiday ness! being her BROOKE Holidays favorite, the bring people to- MICHALCZYK tradition of gether in unique dying the Exec. Opinion river green ways (ex: when Editor all my extendhas always ed family marks been special their calendar one day a to her. year to pose for my grand“I never thought ma’s camera and decorate twice about the river besugar cookies or on Haling green… it’s always loween four years ago when just been a fun memory,” my friends slept over … we Schmidt said. couldn’t leave each other’s It all started in 1962 side after watching a few when Stephen Bailey, a too many horror movies) member of the Chicago and there is no doubt that Journeymen Plumbers, noall our special traditions are ticed that the dye used to what make certain days of detect leaks left his overthe year so memorable. But alls bright green. how can we sleep knowing The co-chair of that we brush all the envithe St. Patrick’s ronmental concerns under day parade the rug when it comes to tested our own enjoyment?

Obviously, I am not going to stop wrapping gifts for my family in the holiday

100 pounds of the oil-based fluorescein (the dye for detecting leaks) in the Chicago River, which left it green for the entire week. After a couple years of experience, they found the perfect ratio so that the coloring lasted just one day. Then, in 1966, environmentalists convinced the city to switch the concoction to a vegetable-based powder.

Surprisingly, the dye is actually an orange powder, but when mixed with water it turns a fluorescent green.

The cool thing about this tradition, for many of us, is that it originated in Chicago.

Recently, in attempts to assuade passionate environmentalists, the city switched from 100 pounds of dye to 40. Moreover, the powder is eco-friendly and the river only stays green for about 24 hours. So, you may be wondering what the issue is.

AP Environmental Science teacher Kurt Trenkle says that he was OK with the idea of dying the river green partially be-

cause he is Irish himself.

For years, the Chicago River was so polluted that adding some dye was the least of its concerns, according to Trenkle. The Chicago River has a problematic past; towards the end of the 1900s, it was full of sewage and factory waste (which led to the forced separation of the river and the lake).

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PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MARCH 13, 2023

OPINION

5

Anxiety manifests, manageable B

iting my lips and the flesh of my cheeks had to return to Prospect soon, heightened her in the waiting room of my first therapy anxiety about her academic performance. session and looking at the beige walls “The more focused I am on being perfect, the with paintings of yellow and pink flowers scatmore anxious I get,” Lange said. “I get really in tered all over while feeling the classic ‘butterflies my head about it.” in your stomach,’ I questioned if therapy was reLange is not alone in overanalyzing; the most ally the answer: “How does therapy even work?” common causes of teenage anxiety are how they and “Would this random person be able to unperform in school and sports and how their derstand me?” bodies are perceived by others, according to the Something that was supposed to ease my Child Mind Institute. anxiety was actually contributing to it; after docLast year, counselor Rachel Brill frequently tor’s appointments that ruled out worked with one student in particular any physical illness to filling out who dealt with anxiety. Often shy and a five page packet with questions reserved, the student had a tendency from “How often do you experito catastrophize the worst possible ence anxiety?” to “How are your outcome. eating habits?,” all I wanted was In the dim lighting, with calming answers to why I had been feeling meditation music singing in hushed a sinking feeling in my stomach for lulls in the background of her office, months when nothing was visibly Brill walked the student through the wrong with me. worst possible outcome using a series Although anxiety can often be of questions to help understand the invisible to an unsuspecting eye, root causes: “What’s going through AMANDA your head?,” “Why are you feeling this 5.6 million kids aged 3 to 17 are diagnosed with anxiety, according and “How can we help combat FEINBERG way?” to Georgetown University Health this?”

Policy Institute. The severity of Through working together to anCopy Editor anxiety has also increased followalyze the possibilities, both Brill and ing the COVID-19 pandemic: the the student came to the conclusion average anxiety severity score on a national levthat, maybe just maybe, the original worst-case el, which is measured on a scale of 0 to 63, inassertion was illogical. Brill’s strategy is not solecreased 13 percent from August to December of ly found within the confines of her office; similar 2020, according to the Center for Disease Contechniques of rationalizing thoughts are used by trol and Prevention (CDC). my own therapist in our hour-long sessions.

As anxiety rose with COVID-19 cases, parSoon, Brill’s office became a place to relax ticipating in school online and at home coupled and reset before or during the school day in the with the shut down of public events severely case of this student and many others; multiple took a toll on most people’s mental health, instudents would visit her per day, according to cluding my own.

Brill.

Since having the camera on Zoom wasn’t In a few instances, Brill has dealt with new a requirement in most classes during online students who come in unexpectedly without an school in eighth grade, I would often spend the overarching single cause. entire day under my white comforter in bed with “Everything works my phone in my right hand. I didn’t understand together,” Brill said. “I how schools could expect us to be fully imdon’t think anything mersed in classwork when the standards works in of education were set so low. isolaThis, combined with the outtion. I right neglect of any physical think activity, which was sigif you nificantly different have from my typical 20 somemiles of running t hing per week, constantgo i ng ly made me feel on at sluggish and unprohome ductive. Toss in the and you’re fact that all of my work in not sleeping well or those online middle school years was [not] getting your homeworth one lousy point for completion work done, coming into school (read: no one did it), and that got you lazy, is now anxiety-provoking.” unprepared students who weren’t really ready Brill puts an emphasis on all students havfor the shell-shock of high school. ing a support system for stressful situations, All of these factors accumulated into me whether that be from their parents, friends, a breaking down. At a Starbucks drive-thru. In coach or the school counselors. Additionally, the middle of the day. And, yes, I was holding Brill believes that Prospect is putting more of a my iced coffee in one hand and my birthday cake focus on mental health support with mandatory pop in the other.

Signs of Suicide presentation for freshmen and My dad, sitting in the driver’s seat beside me, the recently approved Renewal Plan to hire an recognized that I was struggling with school-reextra school psychologist and social worker for lated anxiety. Knowing this, he immediately the upcoming school year. became my support system at that moment; he “Students have to get support somewhere beassured me that what I was feeling was OK, and cause everybody needs it,” Brill said. “… In order I could take time away from school if needed. for someone to be a good student, you need to My story, however, is not unique to me in my have your mental health also in the right place.” eighth grade year. Junior Sophia Lange is one of However, anxiety can also go beyond the many teens who felt a personal increase in her classroom; approximately 30 percent of women anxiety during the pandemic, especially during and 25 of men who are student-athletes report her freshman year on Zoom while anticipating having anxiety, according to the American Colthe unavoidable return to in-person school, one lege of Sports Medicine; Lange is one of many in which she didn’t know anyone in her grade. athletes who experiences anxiety on the track.

After coming from Saint James’ middle “I’ll just think, ‘Oh what if I don’t do well school, Lange felt isolated at the start of high enough? What if the girl next to me is going to school as none of her middle school friends were pass me?’” Lange said. “It’s a lot of overthinking attending Prospect. She remembers sitting on of what it could be and what it isn’t.”

Zoom and concentrating on hours of homework Feeling immense pressure as the last leg in without having close friends to talk to. This, the 4x100 at the Mid-Suburban League (MSL) combined with the fact that Lange inevitably East outdoor track conference, Lange positioned

an ncaa study found 30% of surveyed college athletes reported feeling extremely overwhelmed according to trine university.

RUSHING AROUND: Pressure from sports leads to student athletes overthinking and feeling anxious. (cartoon by Bella Brouilette) “Track gave me an outlet to make friends, and herself in the starting blocks, steadied herself it allowed me to put my feelings there instead of on her fingertips and anticipated the “take your marks” signal. Although she felt anxiety from keeping them in,” Lange said.

Healthy friendships play a principal role in the her 6 a.m. wakeup call, to sitting on the 45 minute bus ride, to replaying how to merge lanes wellbeing of others, as they can act as a shoulder over and over in her mind and to the final few to cry on. Friends can also increase a persons’ moments leading up to the relay, which typically sense of belonging, improve their self confidence and help reduce stress and anxiety according to lasts less than a minute, Lange used the adrenathe National Council for Mental Wellbeing. line from the firing of the gun to accelerate forWhile spending time around friends, I’m able ward.

“I took the anxiety and I felt it throughout my to distract myself from any situations I may be body … the overthinking actually played in my fixated on. Sometimes all it takes is the simple redirection of my attention for me to recognize favor,” Lange said. that my problems aren’t as big as my anxiety can Relays are some of the most stressful events make them seem. because you rely on three other people to perSomething more simple that I often look to form at their best, including yourself. Since the clock on the track is continuous, only the leading are quick words of confidence, or affirmations.

Through the “I am” app on my phone, I receive or first leg can truly see their time. Everyone else is running based off of feeling without knowing several notifications throughout my day: “I make if they’re on pace or not. Include having to pass my day wonderful by focusing on the positives” and “I refuse to let bad moments ruin my posioff an 11.5-inch metal baton (which you’re disqualified if you drop) and you’ve added an entire tive life.”

By seeing these words and saying them to new layer of anxiety. The results of your relay are myself in my head, I’m able to manifest the life I not only up to you, and, as we’re constantly rewant for myself: one that is filled with happiness minded, you’re only as fast as your slowest leg.

Although anxiety can greatly affect track and abundance and a world that is not weighed down with the daunting diagnoses of anxiety. runners in their co-dependent relays, there’s also As one in five adults in the United States exnumerous benefits from being in a sport, rangperience mental illness, mental health awareness ing from social benefits to actual mental health has been gaining more attention in recent years, improvement. according to Howard University, and more treatIn moments when I feel completely overwhelmed, such as doing chemistry homework at ment options have come along with it.

Affirmations in conjunction 10 p.m. or studying for a math with talk therapy with a countest on the unit circle, going selor has helped me to vocalize for an easy 30-minute run issues and reframe my mindset helps me refocus my mind and into a more positive outlook, set my priorities. I throw on a especially in regards to schooltank top and shorts, lace up work and sports. my HOKA running shoes and Sometimes affirmations hit my usual route through and therapy are all it takes, and my neighborhood, passing sometimes more serious treatmy friend’s houses until I’m ment options are needed such sweaty enough to feel accomas medication. Either way, it’s plished. important to remember that I’m sure many people anxiety, as well as every mental wouldn’t consider a 30-minGET IN TOUCH WITH A health condition, affects everyute run easy, and they’d even SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST one differently, and the severity laugh at the idea of running as of the condition varies from pera way to calm someone down; OR COUNSELOR son to person. however, the science to prove Some days are definitethis theory doesn’t lie. ly harder than others, and sometimes I can After a run, endocannabinoids are released in go weeks without feeling a pit in my stomach; the bloodstream of the body which triggers feelhowever, regardless of how severe anxiety can ings of reduced stress and calmness, according to WebMD. Not only can running scientifically be, everyone should be aware of coping strategies to implement in their everyday lives so that improve a person’s mood, but participating in a sport with friends can facilitate a fruitful social they too never have to feel a sinking feeling while standing on solid ground. life.

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6 IN-DEPTH

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MARCH 13, 2023

TEEN ECO NOMICS

Work 'leaves' teens with experiences, spending skills for future KEVIN LYNCH Editor-in-Chief

to spending time with the people that you enjoy being around and that you care about,” McGarry said. “It’s definitely more common for my friends and I to … watch a movie or just kind of hang out at someone’s house, but I do think it’s enior Justin Bolles was sitting at a table fun every once in a while to get dressed up and at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Schago to dinner … to switch up what we always do umburg with several of his friends last every weekend.” summer when the server returned to the table Consumer Education teacher Ken Johnson and informed Bolles that his card had been deagrees with this sentiment; while being mindclined. Assuming that it must have been a misful of one’s spending is commendable, he says take, he politely asked the server to try the card that it’s important to remember that these one more time. purchases’ worth for the buyer often exWhen the server came back with no better tends beyond just the physical prodnews, Bolles came to a realization: he did not uct itself. have enough money.

“You’re not just getting Upon checking his bank account informathe cheeseburger,” tion — which he rarely did at that time — and Johnson said. finding that he was only a few dollars short of “ Yo u ’ r e his tab, Bolles was forced to look through his getting wallet and belongings for any other forms of the expecash, ultimately getting bailed out by one of his rience of friends, who he later paid back. being with Even though he worked about 50 hours per friends and each two-week pay period at his job at the local family or whoPotbelly Sandwich Shop, making anywhere from ever, which adds $400-800 each period, Bolles says his frequent to what you’re buytrips to the mall over the summertime left him ing … those are the without enough to afford even his typical sushi things that, as you get order that day. older, you’re going to re“It was a little embarrassing; it just looks member.” like I wasn’t prepared,” Bolles said. “I wouldn’t Budgeting is not a say ‘broke,’ but it looks like you just don’t make small matter for many young people either; enough money to buy simple things.” according to a 2018 survey by Credit Karma, According to the Fall 2022 Piper Sandler roughly 40 percent of millennials say that they Taking Stock With Teens Survey, the average overspend to keep up with their friends’ spendteenager ages 16-19 reported spending $2,331 ing habits through expensive outings or vacaper year (a 3% increase from the previous year), tions, with many going into debt to do so. with the largest categories of spending being Even though Bolles has made an effort to food and clothing. be more responsible with his spending, he still While COVID-19 cut these numbers down witnesses this phenomenon regularly, whether significantly, they have rebounded since: spendit be within his own circle of friends or through ing, particularly among teens, is once again on his job. the rise.

“I feel like there is definitely a stigma toFor Bolles, who only began working towards being out in public and being able to wards the end of his junior year, spending has spend money,” Bolles said. “Especially from belong been a source of concern; before he started hind the counter at a Potbelly … I’ve seen a lot working he would typically only have around of friends that have come in and then some of $50 to spend each them … end up not having enough [to pay] week, something … It’s embarrassing because it’s like, ‘Well, that could slip maybe I shouldn’t have had this money; through his fingers maybe I shouldn’t easily given that have used it on anyhe spends time thing else’ … If you out with friends don’t have money in almost every day. the world, a lot of After the expeople look down on perience of having you.” his card declined, Bolles attributes however, Bolles his current drive for has made a more consaving to some of this scious effort to cut back on social pressure; he the more costly aspects of hopes to live in the his lifestyle. city when he is oldBolles says he typically er, and he is afraid of spent about $500-600 per being victim to the month before reconsiderembarrassment of not ing how his spending hab- Justin Bolles, senior having enough money, its affected his budget. especially in an urban Now, he has lowered that number environment where everyday expenses cost down to roughly $200 and has tried to reduce more. his spending in other areas by avoiding costly While he believes that these issues do have activities on weekdays. solutions — namely, spending time with people Consequently, he has also been able to put and friends who are not afraid to have awkward away $50-100 to pay for college per biweekconversations about money — they can still have ly paycheck, saving practices which he says he fallout, especially when it comes to impacting plans on increasing over the summer. how much Senior Maggie McGarry has similar goals time teenwhen it comes to saving, often striving to put at agers spend least 50 percent of her paycheck into her savings working in account after each pay period. order to afMcGarry, who typically works on weekends ford outings at the local Honey Biscuit restaurant, says that with friends. she has also had to be mindful of her spending McGarry has — especially on expenses like Starbucks and onhad firsthand exline shopping that rack up quickly — and often perience with falltries to apply this same mentality when it comes ing into the trap to outings with friends. of working too “At the end of the day it just comes down

S

$

IF YOU DON’T HAVE MONEY IN THE WORLD, PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON YOU,”

much. While her previous job at bar/restaurant Station 34 — where she worked during her sophomore and junior years — had relatively flexible hours, the number of personnel required to work during busy periods on Friday nights and weekends meant that she was often too busy to spend time with friends during these times, causing her to miss attending all but two or three football games her junior year.

Furthermore, Johnson says, students’ ability and determination to finance these “frivolous” purchases can be a strong indicator of future success, one that comes with its own short-term, tangible benefits as well.

“If they want to evaluate that

% 4 .

19

$

decision and say, ‘I’m glad I picked up the five extra shifts to get this, then [that is valuable],” Johnson said. “ … I don’t think seeking external validation is the key to success, but I also think it’s important to realize that if you saved up $300-400 for a Supreme backpack, you could save about $300-400 for something else.”

Bolles agrees with this mentality: while having to keep tabs on his account and spending may be a potential source of stress, he is grateful that he can learn how to cope with many of these difficult financial decisions now rather than when later.

While it may be a potential source of stress, Bolles believes that experience with money as a young person — whether it be through a parttime job or more unconventional means — will be worth it in the long run.

“It definitely is a mental toll having to [track my money], but the way I see it is that it’s just preparing me for adulthood,” Bolles said. “ … All moments in life are going to be stressful in one way or another, and I feel like it’s easier to work on that than to try to push it off and pretend that it’s not there until it really is.”

illustration by Luca Nicolaie

$44.82 $44.80 Avg. Teen Spending Per Week*

AVG. TEEN INCOME Per Week *according to the Fall 2022 Piper Sandler Taking Stock With Teens survey

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

IN-DEPTH

MARCH 13, 2023

BRANCHING OUT

7

Sophomore's business provides more 'bean for buck' CLAIRE WYNKOOP

everyone wants.”

In the almost eight years since he started his business, Wilkin hasn’t become a fan of coffee.

Exec. Sports Editor In fact, he’s the only member of his family who Starting a business can be a daunting task. doesn’t like the taste. His idea to sell coffee actualFor many, the better financial option is to get ly came from his dad, Brendan Wilkin, who wanta minimum-wage job and punch the hours. ed a way to get cheaper coffee.

Brendan, Ben’s aunt and his grandFor some brave souls, like sophomore Ben ma all drink the same cofWilkin, going out on a limb and fee brand. They each drink starting their own business is the about three pounds’ worth only option. However, while many every month. Brendan had might start a business related to the idea to call the company something they enjoy or find fun, and ask what it would take Wilkin did the opposite as he to be a wholesaler — sometook his shot as an entreone who buys products preneur. in bulk for cheaper costs Wilkin has a big and then sells that to secret: he doesn’t like make a profit — and the coffee. He’s actually never even had coffee, BEN WILKIN answer was the (almost) perfect number: 10 pounds. and yet, he’s made it Sophomore “I said, ‘Ben, you have to go sell his business, fittingjust one pound, and we’ll take care ly called Beans By of the other nine,’” Brendan said. “We would save Ben. “Coffee is a money and he would make money, and he could begin to learn how to manage money.” good product beThis was not the only reason Ben was encourcause everyone aged to start his own business. Brendan believes in uses it,” Wilkin said. “You need teaching the “value of the dollar” and thought that selling coffee was a great way for Ben to learn this. to buy more; it’s not like you This ideology comes from the Wilkins’ family hisbuy this once. tory; Brendan, his father, his grandfather and maybe even higher on the family tree were all small It’s a renewable thing business owners, and Brendan wanted to take this opportunity to teach Ben how to sustain a small business for himself.

“My dad encouraged and supported that entrepreneurial spirit … and taught me many of the things I know,” Brendan said. “I wanted to pass

that on in some way.”

While his father may have encouraged it, Ben took the initiative to expand his business. When he first began in 2015, he only sold to a few single-purchase customers.

Ben didn’t give up hope; now has about 15 monthly customers. Since growing his business, Ben has made enough money to begin donating to organizations such as American Legion, Feeding America and, most recently, the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Ben’s plan is double or triple what he is making right now.

The only reason he feels comfortable making goals and plans for the future is because of how much he loves it; he finds that owning his own business is much more enjoyable and profitable than a minimum-wage job.

“I like being able to choose what I want to do and when I want to do it,” Ben said. “Everything I have, I made, but also everything that goes wrong is my fault.”

While there are many pros and cons to selling coffee, Ben is proud of how far he has come on his own. One of the most important lessons Ben has gleaned from being an entrepreneur is the value of money: it means more to him because he made it himself.

Ben isn’t the only one who is proud; Brendan continues to be impressed by his son and his ability to stick with his business after seven years of following in the footsteps of his family.

“I don’t know if I ever imagined he would take the initiative to go knocking on doors and make himself vulnerable like that, but I definitely am [proud],” Brendan said. “I think he showed a lot of initiative and learned some valuable lessons.”

SCAN HERE TO CHECK OUT WILKIN'S BUSINESS

FIND OUT ABOUT ONE STUDENT'S HAND-MADE JEWELRY BUSINESS

WATCH TO LEARN THE SECRETS BEHIND PROSPECT PERKS' SUCCESS ‘HAND’-LING HENNA:

Senior Maliha Waheed draws henna for a client.

Henna designs are part of Waheed’s traditional Pakistani culture. (photo by Emma Letzig)

Henna artist spreads culture EMMA LETZIG Online Editor-in-Chief

When senior Maliha Waheed was seven years old, her mom placed a henna cone into her hands. She provided her little instruction and allowed Waheed to explore her creativity. However, this wasn’t Waheed’s first encounter with henna; she attended several South Asian weddings as a child, where she was fascinated by the intricate designs and the beauty of the artwork.

“I started practicing on my friends and all of the other little girls,” Waheed said. “[I] was so happy to see them being happy.”

Henna is a dye from the plant Lawsonia inermis, and it is mainly used in Asian cultures for celebrations and special occasions. Waheed gets her henna directly from Pakistan; her family who lives there brings them back whenever they come to visit.

Waheed saw potential for a henna business, and, as a 10-yearold, decided to pursue the idea. Using networking, she connects with potential clients who want henna art done and discusses prices, designs and

scheduling with each individual client. Her clientele consists mostly of brides, so Waheed says business is often booming during the summer wedding season.

She also uses Instagram to showcase her designs and draw in new clients.

Simpler designs only take about five to 10 minutes and are typically drawn on the hand and fingers. The longest bridal henna design, however, takes about an hour and 40 minutes and consists of detailed designs that extend all the way up both arms, including the bride’s fingers, hands and forearms.

“Doing my first ever bridal henna [was my favorite memory] because it’s obviously such a big accomplishment,” Waheed said.

As far as pricing, the standard rule she implements is the more time a design takes her, the more expensive it is. Smaller designs can range anywhere from five to 10 dollars, whereas larger bridal designs can cost upwards of $200 to $300.

Waheed plans to continue her business and continue gaining experience and clients.

“My overall goal is to make the client happy,” Waheed said. “If I’ve made them happy, then I feel like I’ve accomplished my goal; that’s what brings [me] pride.”

WATCH FOR MORE ABOUT WAHEED'S HENNA BUSINESS

8 FEATURES

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MARCH 13, 2023

Student teacher learning the ropes Jessica Stavros pursues her calling for teaching while being in the circus MOLLIE KEARNS Executive News Editor

L

ooking out over the entire gymnasium where the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University (ISU) practices, Jessica Stavros could feel her jitters come alive as the only thing separating her from the ground was a thin tightrope. Ironically, Stavros has a crippling fear of heights, and forced herself to dig deep for the tiniest ounce of bravery to keep walking. Yet, each careful step she took across the rope felt more and more freeing.

“Tightrope will forever and always be my first love,” Stavros said. “When you are walking on a wire, it is the closest thing to flying. You take one step out, you just feel your world expand.”

Stavros is a three-year member of the circus at ISU, where she is also pursuing her teaching degree. Stavros is a student teacher at Prospect, teaching under Jason Block and Karen Kruse in their Written and Oral Communication/World Language and Composition classes. On top of being a performer, Stavros coaches the circus at ISU. As a gymnast at Wheeling High School, Stavros loved the exhilarating feeling of flipping in the air. Her gymnastics career ended when she broke part of her spine in high school, and she was directed towards ISU’s circus troupe her freshman year.

Stavros has managed to take her Gamma Phi circus experience around the country through different contracts to perform at resorts. Though she has been able to visit lots of cool places, a trip to Georgia — in all of its sticky, humid glory — stuck out to Stavros the most.

In a tent set up by the resort the troupe would be performing at, Stavros recalls being pulled up by a set of ropes to the very top of the tent. While she was in the middle of rehearsal, a rainstorm was going on outside and through a little hole in the tent, Stavros could feel the rain trickling down as she was up in the air performing.

“I will never forget it; it was like I was in a movie,” Stavros said.

As a self-proclaimed introvert, Stavros struggled with opening up to her teammates at first. She had to jump outside of her comfort zone given that circus is such a team-based art and not communicating effectively during training could result in a disastrous slip-up in a performance.

“When you are holding up another person 30 feet in the air,

FULL CIRCLE: Jessica Stavros (center) is pictured sitting inside a circus ring during a show.

Stavros attended Wheeling High School, a District 214 (D214) school. Now, she works as a student teacher at Prospect High School, also in D214. (photo courtesy of Jessica Stavros) that’s a relationship [where] you … know that your lives are in each other’s hands,” Stavros said. “You don’t have the space to be quiet or to be shy, you are there and you are helping each other.”

Maritza Atayade, the creative director at Gamma Phi circus, can attest to the rigorous nature of circus that Stavros has experienced.

Atayade first came to see her eldest son perform at Gamma Phi in 2010, and by the time he was about to graduate, she was already hired and integrated into the ISU program. Atayade loves to see the college performers’ enthusiasm and dedication to the art.

“I was watching all of these kids doing their homework and then running to do their act and then running back to do more homework,” Atayade said. “I love these kids because they don’t get paid for anything and they are putting everything into it while taking care of each other.”

Although she enjoys performing for her circus, Stavros is most passionate about teaching. Having a family full of teachers was part of the reason she decided to pursue education.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher; I’ve never had a time in my

life where I strayed from that dream,” Stavros said.

As a graduate from Wheeling, Stavros knew that as soon as she could gain experience in the classroom, she wanted to be back in District 214. Teaching-wise, she thinks that English is the subject she feels most at home in.

Surprisingly, Stavros actually hated English growing up. Her mindset changed during her junior year of high school in her AP English Language class taught by Michael Burke. In Burke’s class, Stavros got to have conversations about the world around them and furthered this interest via the books she read in class.

Stavros strives to be the person for students that Burke was for her, and hopes that students can come into her class and feel like it is a safe space to share ideas while exploring new perspectives on the world around them.

“In English, you get to explore topics that change lives …

English is the place where people walk in one person and walk out with a completely different view on the world … It’s the high school age where you can have richer conversations with students,” Stavros said.

Importance of consistent night-time schedule ‘slept on’ SIENNA DEMONTE Executive Features Editor

To sophomore Erin Coleman, sleep deprivation makes her feel sluggish, like the energy has been sucked out of her body and her brain feels drained of its ability to function. She senses her eyes drop to her cheekbones and her body starts to become frail as the rosiness of her cheeks disappears and her hands start to shake.

Sleep deprevation becomes an endless cycle that is only exasperated by her routine of procrastination. Though she knows sleep is important, it is not something Coleman prioritizes in her life. She puts her family and friends first, and when juggling certain assignments that are necessary, she sacrifices her sleep to complete them.

“As a child, I didn’t have many crucial events that overruled my sleep schedule,” Coleman said. “I always went to sleep at a normal time because there was nothing more pressing than sleep; the reality is much different now.”

According to SleepFoundation.org, sleep deprivation occurs when people get less than seven hours of sleep. Negative effects include loss of concentration, loss of focus and decreased long and short-term health.

According to National Geographic documentary “Sleepless in America,” the amount of sleep needed varies from person to person and is determined by age, activity, genetics and environment. Therefore, there is a wide range for the amount of sleep needed for adolescence, but the target goal is between eight to ten hours.

While these hours sound reasonable enough, there are many reasons that teenagers struggle to meet the recommended threshold of shut-eye. In fact, in a recent survey, 40 percent of Prospect students responded get six hours or less sleep a night.

“I can see the sleep deprivation in my students’ eyes,” AP Psychology teacher Daria Schaffeld said. ”What’s hard is that adolescents, in general, are told to get a lot of sleep, but also you’re told to do a bunch of other things; it’s hard

UNDEAD: The effects of sleep deprevation are not only mental.

Other more obvious physical signs include dark under-eye circles, drowsiness and persistant grogginess. (photo by Bella Brouilette) to choose.”

The biggest disrupter of teen sleep schedules is screen time, according to professor of psychiatry Daniel Buysse from the “Sleepless In America” documentary. All human beings are alerted to certain sleep times — corresponding with light outside — due to the 24-hour biological clock in the brain called the circadian rhythm. When light is introduced, however, it messes up the whole system.

According to Coleman, it is hard to force her body to go to bed after being on an iPad at school, a phone screen all day or watching TV at night. When trying to wake herself up in the morning, Coleman usually refuels with a cup of coffee.

Though caffeine might help people like Coleman, to start their day the effects it has on a person’s body are drastic; the most obvious effect of the stimulant is that it can make it hard for a person to fall asleep directly after consumption.

40%

of students say that they get six hours of sleep or less every night, according to a knightmedia survey of 224 students

In fact, six hours after caffeine is consumed, half of it is still in a person’s body. It can take up to ten hours to completely clear it from a person’s bloodstream. Caffeine, too, affects a person’s circadian rhythm and causes their mind to be awake and active for longer, according to SleepEducation.org.

“Caffeine is related to that vicious cycle as well,” Schaffeld said. “After being sleep deprived on Monday morning, you got the Monday morning blues, so you jack up on caffeine to wake yourself up.”

To combat this, Schaffeld limits her caffeine intake by the end of the school day.

The combination of trying to “catch up” on sleep, screen time and caffeine can have detrimental effects beyond mood. According to “Sleepless In America,” it is during sleep that your brain processes all the memories made throughout the previous day, thanks to a part of the cycle called Rapid Eye Movement (REM).

During this time, brain activity increases, eyes dart around quickly and pulse, blood pressure and breathing speed up, which is a function vital to learning and memory.

The long-term effects of sleep deprivation are very real, and the consequences of not allowing

the body to fuel up on sleep may seem scary to some. According to Joe Bass, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, there is evidence that sleep loss promotes disorders such as Alzheimer’s, cancer growth, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, substance use, obesity, diabetesand death.

“I think our society does not honor sleep the way it should,” Schaffeld said. “You know that expression, ‘I’ll sleep when I am dead?’ That’s scary because chronic sleep deprivation also correlates to dying earlier than you should. I think we need to prioritize [sleep] as we do with our fitness and work; it should just be something that we do because it’s good for us.”

Schaffeld also finds sticking with one specific bedtime and creating a schedule for herself every day helpful to catching extra Z’s. This is the same for her family as well; she makes sure her son, Logan, puts away his video games and turns off his phone at least 30-45 minutes before bedtime to ensure he doesn’t have a tough time falling asleep at night.

“We can’t just get rid of technology; that’s ridiculous,” Schaffeld said. “But [it’s important] to have the realization of what technology can do and to limit yourself accordingly … You have to personalize your sleep schedule and find out what works for you; it’s called sleep hygiene. You have to know what your cocktail is; what allows you to get the best sleep?”

When trying to balance sleep schedules, everyone has different strategies. Coleman attempts to have a consistent amount of sleep every night. That being said, she finds herself trying to catch up on sleep during the weekend.

Schaffeld says she sees students attempt to catch up on sleep and fall into this common “sleep myth.” Schaffeld explains how this “catchup” method starts a vicious cycle of sleep deprivation.

“Once the damage is done, the damage is done,” Schaffeld said. “You can’t go back and fix it, so by trying to “catch up” on the weekend, you just end up screwing up your sleep cycle even more.”

Schaffeld structures her sleep schedule to follow what she calls a behavior modification plan.

She sets a goal and takes breaks between activities instead of task-switching and toggling back and forth between things. She finds that it helps her prevent making mistakes, decreases efficiency and distraction and, ultimately, minimizes stress during the day.

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MARCH 13, 2023

VOGUE MARCH 2017

Let’s take a look at the fresh faces of fashion in March 2017, the iconic group cover. This image features, from left to right, models Liu Wen, Ashley Graham, Imaan Hammam and Adwoa Aboah among the seven celebrating the magazine’s 125th anniversary. “Vogue” usually limits the coveted cover spot to one person but chose to include all of these models as a way to express how the beauty industry is changing to be more inclusive of race and body type.

And yes, I agree that when it comes to race, this cover is diverse on account of featuring Asian, Black and biracial models, but I wouldn’t say that including one plus-size model — Graham — fully captures body inclusivity.

I don’t think that any reader who hasn’t seen Graham before would even realize that there is a plus-size model on the cover of this issue because the way that the models are posed does not celebrate their individuality at all; instead, this cover looks like just another group of famous, conventionally attractive people on the cover of a magazine.

And what is going on with the outfits?

“Vogue” is generally associated with the idea of innovative fashion and, call me crazy, but I don’t think that a group of people wearing black turtlenecks with different colored shorts and belts is the pinnacle of couture.

But art is subjective, so maybe by putting

these models in a lineup where they all wear practically the same outfit is a way to say, “Everyone is beautiful, and our differences don’t matter!” Or, maybe this was just a swing and a miss towards inclusivity and democratization; I think it’s the latter. V

ENTERTAINMENT

THE most interesting and controversial covers of the last decade, As listed by pop culture fiend and ktv executive producer Juliet aquino

SEPT. 2020

“Vogue” has long strayed away from their illustrated covers, but in September of 2020, they released their first illustrated cover since the late ’50s.

For the first time ever, all 26 global branches of “Vogue” centralized their September issue around the message of “hope,” and “Vogue U.S.” actually released two versions of this issue.

According to an article by “The Cut,” “Vogue” commissioned artists Kerry James Marshall and Jordan Casteel with almost complete creative freedom.

Casteel painted Black designer Aurora James wearing a gorgeous blue gown while sitting on a rooftop in Brooklyn, NY. Marshall opted to illustrate a fictional woman with very dark skin to spread the message that, “Black is beautiful.”

September sets the tone for the next year and these covers show the publication moving on from its tawdry past. V

FEB. 2023 Florence Pugh graces “Vogue’s” cover for the second time in this issue, and all of her photos feature food. As a fan of Pugh, I assume this culinary combination is in reference to Pugh’s series of Instagram Live broadcasts that she calls “Cooking with Flo.”

DEc. 2020 Oh. My. God. A man in a dress?! When the December 2020 issue dropped featuring singer and actor Harry Styles wearing a dress, everyone lost their minds.

Candace Owens, a conservative author, talk show host and political commentator, infamously re-tweeted photos of Styles from “Vogue’s” cover, including photos of him wearing this Gucci dress and another photo of Styles in a skirt, with the caption, “Bring back manly men.”

Thankfully, many more supporters of Styles and this photoshoot came to “Vogue’s” defense, and this cover sparked up conversations all over the internet about gender roles and toxic masculinity.

Of course, as a fan of Styles, I immediately bought this issue and took it home to show my support for “Vogue” in this couture controversy.

One day, I came home to my 79–year-old Filipino grandmother reading the magazine without even batting an eye at the cover. Granted, she didn’t have her glasses on, so maybe she didn’t really see it, but if my elderly, immigrant grandmother doesn’t have a heart attack over someone wearing a piece of clothing, neither should you. V

Dec. 1892

9

June 1909

July 1932

In these segments, Pugh shares her love of food and allows her fans to laugh along at her kitchen mishaps. I love that Pugh’s photos include her personality, but I wish that the concept was a little more artistic.

From images of the actress holding a giant fish throughout her feature story to her snacking on what appears to be a Hot Cheeto, these photos illustrate Pugh’s culinary love, which is more inspired than the magazine’s previous celebrity covers.

Ever since “Vogue U.S.” defaulted to capturing celebrities on their covers rather than models, I feel that their covers have been diluted to a simple photo of a celebrity in a beautiful garment as opposed to a model donning interesting clothing in a boundary-pushing pose.

These covers are less eye-catching to me because I see photos of celebrities every day and they’ve just become dull at this point. On the other hand, a cover model in some incredible clothing with a pose would stop me in my tracks; I’d rather purchase that magazine than one with another basic, smiling picture of a celebrity. Although Pugh’s cover could be interpreted as another boring, celebrity cover, I believe that the incorporation of fruit as a tie to her personal life makes this cover live up to “Vogue” standards. V

Oct. 1939

According to Nancy Ludwin, Throughout the late ‘30s, In 1909, Condè Montrose The company released its first the first issue of “Vogue” “Vogue” strayed away from its Nast converted “Vogue” to a colorful cover in July of 1932. was distributed as a weekly women’s magazine, leading This issue also highlights how illustrated-only covers and opted newspaper in New York City that to a rapid expansion through for photographed images of the magazine used to vary its catered to the upper class by different branches: “Vogue headline fonts before landing on models.“Vogue” also started to featuring stories about fashion, Italia,” “British Vogue” and the iconic “Vogue” as we know elevate its writing, focusing on sports and social events in 1982. fashion, literature and art.

“French Vogue.” it today.

July 1988

Anna Wintour has been the editor-in-chief of “Vogue” since 1988 and revitalized it by featuring celebrities on the covers as opposed to models in order to appease younger consumers.

10 SPORTS

MARCH 13, 2023

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

Recovery nation procrastination “

“I wish I could go back and tell my However, at other schools she has met Hurt or Injured: Don’t Be younger self to let the stress fracture coaches like that, which is the reason Weak, Know the Difference.” heallet your body heal,” Splinter said. why that is an expectation in athlete’s That was the first article Getting help and letting minds. that appeared when I your body recover is not According to Malahy, what many googled the difference the only thing necessary high school athletes don’t realize is between being hurt and to prevent overuse inju- that not treating overuse injuries as injured. No wonder the ries. Sometimes, admitting soon as possible can cause even bigger most common injuries to yourself that you are in problems down the road. If tendinitis in high school sports pain and need help is the (the most common overuse injury) is are caused by overuse hardest part of the journey. not treated when someone is younger, — places like the inter“With my stress frac- it can easily come back when they are net are literally telling ture, it was some of the older and make their tendons stiffer students to play through most pain I have ever felt in and more likely to rupture. pain. my athletic career, but say“High schoolers are generally not “Instead of just taking I have a stress fracture thinking long term. It’s the ‘I want to ing a few weeks off, now made me want to degrade play now, this is it’ mentality,” Malahy you have a broken leg,” ZOE how serious my injury said.

Prospect Athletic Trainwas rather than be honest There have been instances Malahy BROWN er Shannon Malahy said. about how much pain I was recalls when coaches have shattered Telling a high school Splinter said. their ankles while coaching because Staff Reporter in,”Splinter athlete to take a break is is not the only they injured them so many times in the same as telling Tom athlete who is hesitant to highschool and never let them fully Brady to retire; they simply can’t stay take a break and be honest with herself heal, and now the effects of that will away from the game. Which is great about how she feels. be with them forever. until that pain they have been feel“(Players mentally pressuring “You (high schoolers) don’t think ing for a few weeks turns into a sea- themselves to perform) is the biggest about the future….you’re not thinking son-ending injury. problem I’ve had here since I started. ‘Am I going to be able to play intramuUnfortunately for junior Skylar Telling people to stop, because it’s a go ral sports when I want to? Am I going Splinter, that situation turned into go go mentalto be able to her reality midway through her soph- ity, and coach pick up my omore basketball season when she is going to kids later in started to experience pain in her right hold me out life?’” Malahy ankle. Even though her coaches would because I’m said. have never held her back, the mental not working Everypressures Splinter put on herself made hard enough, one is guilty her continue to play on her injury. well you are, of pushing “Even if I’m in pain, if I don’t prac- you just need themselves tice today then I am not going to play,” to back off at past their Splinter said. this point,” limits. I myThat was her thought process Spliner said. self continduring the situation, and unfortuE v e n ued to play nately, that is how many high school though being on an injury *according to drdavidgeier.com athletes think when it comes to being held back is the during my basketball hurt. Pressures that athletes put on number one reason Malahy sees ath- season this year. I started to experithemselves to perform and to receive letes delay getting treatment, she says ence shin splints, and I should have scholarships make it difficult for play- that this is completely unrealistic at taken a week off to let them heal, but ers to sit out to heal their bodies, and Prospect and that none of the coach- instead I decided to show up to practhat is when you start to see stress es are like that. She has never met a tice everyday and put myself through fractures, tendinitis, muscle strains single coach at Prospect who has told two hours of excruciating pain. I just and other overuse injuries occur. an athlete not to go to the trainer. expected it to get better, but it didn’t;

over 45% of sports injuries rESULT from overuse

SNAP’D: Overuse injuries, such as weightlifting, are a big issue for high school athletes (photo by Bella Brouilette). the pain only got worse, and soon it affected me both mentally and physically while I played.

However, I continued to tell myself that the season wasn’t long enough for me to sit out and miss a few practices.

It wasn’t until I interviewed Malahy for this story that I realized I needed a break. And guess what, I took a week

off after the season ended and now my body is healed.

But if someone had told me and the millions of other student athletes that suffered from overuse injuries this year (according to Stanford Medicine) that taking a break is ok, then maybe we wouldn’t be experiencing this issue in the first place.

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

SPORTS

MARCH 13, 2023

11

Baseball: a sport of strikeouts, sadness Although hated on, baseball proves to be tough mentally

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s I stood in the batter’s box, a wave of thoughts flooded my mind: keep your hands back; remember to extend your arms; eye on the ball; just need a ground ball, nice and easy, slow load; stop thinking; just react. Don’t strike out, don’t tell yourself not to strike out.

I stepped into the box and watched the pitcher wind up.

“Strike one!”

That was faster than I thought.

“Strike two!”

Damn, a curveball; I thought he’d throw a fastball. Now he can throw a fastball, slider, changeup PJ or a curveball. Also, O’GRADY don’t strike out.

“Strike three!”

Copy Editor Why’d I get fooled on that changeup!

With my countless thoughts having been for nothing, I took the walk of shame back to the dugout like a kid who just lost his puppy.

The question I dare to ask is: what are the dumbest things you’ve ever heard that were said in full seriousness? I assume that your list has at least one of these phrases on it: “the Earth is flat;” “the moon landing was faked;” “nothing is impossible,” and so on. For me, when someone says that baseball is “easy,” my mind attempts to process if that was just a lapse in proper thinking or a genuine, yet uninformed, belief. While I may not throw a punch at them, I still proceed to silently judge them for their sheer ignorance afterwards.

Baseball is the most mentally disheartening, struggle-filled sport out there. At least, that’s what Yogi Berra, former professional baseball player, was insisting when he said, “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”

It’s a game built on losses. In fact, if it wasn’t called baseball, I most definitely would’ve called it Failureball.

One factor in baseball’s difficulty is that the sport is unpredictable and constantly changing, according to senior varsity baseball player Jack Friar.

“It’s not [simple],” Friar said. “Every pitch, it’s something new. You never know what’s going to happen; you never know if the pitcher’s going to throw a strike, he might throw five straight balls …

Nothing’s the same every day. No pitch is the same, no hit is the same.”

Baseball’s mechanics are always in need of tweaking. As a player going on my twelfth year of the game, I’ve still been working on my swing every chance I get. From a hitter’s standpoint, your craft is never finished. You can always work on keeping your hands back a split second longer or straightening your lead leg just a bit more; or, if you’re like me, you can spend your fourth year trying to watch the ball the whole way.

It can drive a player crazy knowing they cannot be perfect all the time. I’ve had games where I took great swings, but my timing was a split second off, meaning the only result was a strikeout or a weak pop-up. I’ve had games where I had perfect timing, but I stepped a couple inches too far forward and ended up hitting a soft ground ball to second base.

Those types of results eat away at a player’s soul; they debilitate the mind until the pain becomes numbing.

Not only is hitting mentally challenging, but even the tiniest parts of the game, like baserunning, are taught in-depth to make sure you maximize your speed and efficiency. Details such as how far your lead-off should be — a step and a dive, to be exact — which part of the pitcher you should look at when stealing, how far off the base you should go when a pop up is hit and which foot should touch which base will leave your head spinning to say the least.

Once you’re ready to step into the box as a hitter, the number of different strategic approaches needed in a given situation is also something I urge every soul to admire. If the count is 0-2 with a man on second base, your job is usually to hit a ground ball to the right side of the field. If the

SWING AND A MISS: As Babe Ruth’s once said: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing

the game.” While it sounds inspirational, the reality of striking out is just one reason why baseball is an extremely challenging sport from a mental standpoint. (cartoon by Bella Brouilette) count is 2-0, you have to be ready for a fastball to smash, but don’t be foolish enough to swing at a bad pitch because that will turn the tide of the whole at-bat back to the pitcher. If there’s a man on first base, you should look to either sacrifice bunt or move the runner over with a well-placed ground ball.

With every count and every situation, there is a different approach that is recommended to maximize success; the multitude of different options available creates an abundance of instances that make the sport easy to overthink if the player is not sharp and decisive.

According to Charlie Maher, the president of the Professional Baseball Performance Psychology Group, there are psychologists or mental skills coaches on 26 out of the 30 MLB teams; still, that number is inadequate considering there are four teams without psychologists. These psychologists help players deal with expectations, stress and distraction, and they guide players through visualizations of success during their gameplay.

These are crucial aspects of baseball since the length of the game — the average time between each pitch is 23.8 seconds and the average time between batters is 54 seconds, according to Society for American Baseba ll Research — allows for more time for doubt and negative thoughts to creep in.

A c cording to the Repla ce ment Level Podcast, the combined average of hitters in the Hall of Fame is a whopping .303. Hitting over .300 puts you in the best of company; however, it still means you’re failing 70 percent of the time.

Hitting is the only line of work in which failing more than half the time isn’t just acceptable: it’s inevitable.

You might catch yourself asking, “Gee whiz, that leaves the question on a literal standpoint: why is hitting the ball actually so hard then?” To answer that question, I’ll need to delve into some basic-level physics … which I hope doesn’t bore you to death. The fact of the matter is that when trying to hit a ball with a 24.6-centimeter surface area that is moving at 95 miles per hour with a bat consisting of a 6.6-centimeter diameter, the odds are fairly high that you’ll miss or fail to hit the ball squarely.

Considering the average reaction time to hit a baseball in the MLB is 400 milliseconds from the time it leaves the pitcher’s hand, the hitter only has about 150 milliseconds to decide if they want to swing. Furthermore, if you mix in the chance that the pitch is a curveball or slider, it completely messes with the batter’s timing, especially since a MLB curveball can move as much as 17.5 inches laterally, according to Science of Baseball.

Conversely, when taking the mound, you need to have the utmost focus when pitching.

The average MLB starting pitcher is expected to go five innings, or about 100 pitches, which is relatively similar to how many pitches a high

BASEBALL, AT ITS LOWEST POINTS, IS A SOUL-SUCKING BLACK HOLE THAT CHALLENGES EVERY PLAYER TO THEIR CORE.”

school starter would go. If a pitcher makes one mistake, like throwing a fastball a fraction of an inch higher than they would have liked, the entire tide of the game could shift after a home run or a double in the gap.

The tempo of the season also makes baseball a grueling endeavor. In a sport that moves at a quick pace, yet simultaneously feels long at the same time — from March until June in the high school season or from March until October if you play high school, summer ball and fall ball back-to-back — it’s impossible to maintain elite levels of performance throughout the entire season. The polar opposite of success in baseball — which is already rare — is slumps. I’d say the probability of a player going through a slump in the span of six-and-a-half months is higher than the chances of a fisherman catching a fish.

Friar, who says he went through a slump his junior year even after the team had won the sectional championship the previous year, knows the feeling all too well.

“It’s a long season [for] high school and [in the] pros,” Friar said. “It’s a long time, and you can go through so many slumps and you can hit the ball so well [and not] get the outcome you wanted. [You can] do the right thing every time and still end up 0-for-4 on the day.”

Another contributor to pressure and anxiety alike is that, in baseball, all nine players must have an at-bat. That means there’s no hiding.

Once you’re up to bat, you’re alone; all eyes are on you. At best, you are relaxed and stoic; at worst, you strike yourself out before the first pitch. This isolated feeling, combined with poor hitting performance, can make even the most seasoned of hitters crumble before your eyes.

Ask Baltimore Orioles’ first baseman Chris Davis how he feels about slumps. In 2019, he started off the year with a pitiful 0-for-54 hitting streak, which broke the record for the longest time without a hit for a position player. Davis went 62 plate appearances and 17 full games

without a hit; additionally, it had been 210 days since he got his last hit as well.

When on the defensive end, baseball does not get much easier. The tolerance for error when fielding is minuscule due to the demoralizing effects it can have on the team, making the pressure that much higher in tight game situations.

Personally, I can’t even count on ten hands for the number of times I’ve made a mistake in the field purely because I was overthinking the play instead of instinctively reacting.

If you think it’s easy, take the example of Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner in the ‘86 World Series.

In the tenth inning of the sixth game of the series, Mets speedster Mookie Wilson hit an easy chopper to Buckner and, as he squatted down to field the ball, it rolled right under his legs, allowing the Mets to score the winning run and eventually win the World Series.

“The dreams are that you’re gonna have a great series and win,” Buckner said in an interview after the error. “The nightmares are that you’re gonna let the winning run score on a ground ball through your legs. Those things happen, you know.”

All this goes to show that nearly every aspect of baseball contributes to a player’s mind being filled with overthinking, stress, doubt and a deflated sense of ego. Baseball, at its lowest points, is a soul-sucking black hole that challenges every player to their core.

Ironically enough, though, those are the same reasons why it is also my favorite sport.

The many obstacles make every hit, every win and every success, no matter how small, that much sweeter.

There may be lots of room for low points in baseball, but I know that the potential for highs in the game are much, much greater.

The game may be a roller coaster of emotions, but it’s a roller coaster that drives me harder to continue my search for greatness.

pj’s predictions You know what’s just as hard as hitting a baseball? Predicting baseball. Let’s see how these baseball predictions hold up at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

PROJECTED RECORD: 92-70 AL Central champions, lose in ALCS The White Sox’s blunder of a season from last year leaves room for a revenge season this year. While fans still have their doubts about the Sox, I expect the new coaching staff led by manager Pedro Grifol to add some newfound energy to the team. With the recent acquisition of former Royals’ All-Star left fielder Andrew Benintendi, I can see the Sox putting up a solid season.

PROJECTED RECORD: 85-77 Third in NL Central, miss playoffs After a series of big moves from the Cubs, my projections place them with a respectable record. The Cubs obtained designated hitter Trey Mancini, outfielder Cody Bellinger, shortstop Dansby Swanson and first baseman Eric Hosmer.

Considering the team’s new faces, my expectations for the Cubs are higher.

WORLD SERIES PICKS

Although the Yankees have powerful pitching from Gerrit Cole and sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, I believe Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will bring the Braves a World Series ring.

12

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Check out what senior athletes from Prospect are committed to play their sport in college. The commitment page features all 22 of our athletes from every sport and division.

SPORTS MARCH 13, 2023

Boys' basketball makes dramatic run PJ O'GRADY & ZACH MORETH

The Knights eventually obtained a 31-26 lead with 4:45 left in the third quarter, due to an offensive wave led by sophomore Ben Schneider. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas and lost Copy Editors the lead towards the end after a 10-0 run by the Mustangs. fter a rough 1-5 start to the season “We were really smart, deliberate and pafollowing a loss on Dec. 2, the boys tient on offense,” Rathe said after the game. “I basketball team had to go back to the think we just played with a little bit [of a] difdrawing board. They knew that if they wanted to ferent attitude.” exceed dimming expectations, they would need Whether it was pure luck, a series of lesser to play as a cohesive unit rather than as a bunch opponents, a result of their increased confidence of individuals. or a mix of those factors, the Knights began a “We have to have some other guys step up four-game winning streak. This would mark the offensively [and] score start of the Knights drasa little bit more to be tic improvement for the able to win high levrest of the season, accordel games,” head coach ing to sophomore point Brad Rathe said in an guard Drew Terpins. interview with Knightthink it was just knights' record at the starting to “Icome Media on Dec. 5. “Whatever together as a start of the season that might be — more assists, team more,” Terpins said after the more scoring, more offensive versus the end Feb. 24 Regional Championship rebounds — it’s not necessarwin against Palatine. “After those ily more shooting.” couple games, we kind of got a little anxious and Since their early-season schedule was filled realized it wasn’t going to be all smooth sailing, with tough opponents, it made some sense that so we had to work together more and put more Prospect wasn’t getting the job done offensively. effort into what we were trying to do and acThe team was averaging 49.8 points per game complish.”

(PPG), which was a small step above last year’s Gilmer thinks that the team was average of 48 PPG last January; their field goal originally inexperienced due to the (FG) percentage was a dismal 41 percent and departure of nine class of 2022 their free throw percentage was 66 percent. seniors. This turned around, Furthermore, the team’s lack of a proper however, when the Knights mindset hindered their confidence and mentalifinally figured out the talent ty. They fell short game after game: they lost 68they had in the program.

57 to Libertyville, 48-41 to Saint Viator, 59-46 “It took us a while to to Evanston, 50-45 to Lake Zurich and 52-41 to find our footing,” GilmRolling Meadows. There was only one win spriner said. “Once we found kled in against Antioch (69-4), which meant the that and kind of got into Knights were in a vulnerable position to start off a rhythm and built some the season. chemistry, that's when we reRathe and the team had to adjust if they ally started to take off. Once we wanted to have a season to remember. He startstarted playing well, confidence just ed working on guided meditations with the team kept building and building and we kept and visualization techniques so the team could getting better and better.” feel more comfortable during game time.

Gilmer also acknowledges that the team was Rathe constantly asked the team, “What do less comfortable together at the beginning of you want your legacy to be?” the season. For example, at team pasta parties At the time, however, that question was the on the nights before games, guys often wouldn’t least of their concerns. show up or would leave early. By the end of the According to senior guard Charlie Gilmer, year, players were showing up to the parties at 6 Rathe also played motivational videos before evp.m. and would stay well into the night, someery playoff game relating to overcoming adversitimes leaving at 10:30 p.m. ty and developing confidence.

“We just didn’t want to leave each other,” “[Rathe] has always [been] big into mentalGilmer said. “We all wanted to be around each ity,” Gilmer said. “He just kind of kept us posiother; we [are] all great friends.” tive, kept us believing in ourselves and knowing Luckily for the Knights, their adjustments that we were better than our record.” were a success. Throughout January, the Eventually, the Knights’ hard work started Knights went 9-1; their only loss was Jan. 19 paying off. After their hard-fought 52-41 loss against the eventual Mid-Suburban-League against Rolling Meadows on Dec. 2, Prospect (MSL) East Champions, the Rolling Meadows showed everyone, including Rathe, their true Mustangs. The Knights, out of nowhere, had potential. The game was tied at halftime, which molded into a well-oiled machine. was already impressive considering the MusCome the time for the IHSA playoffs, which tangs’ star player Cam Christie was playing. started on Feb. 22, the sixth-seeded Knights were set to play the 11-seeded Waukegan Bulldogs, who they handled with ease in a 62-35 win. Later, the Knights faced their biggest test yet: the Regional Championship on Feb. 24 against the MSL champion, Palatine Pirates.

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1-5 vs20-12

BRING IT IN: The Knights come to-

gether as they prepare to defeat Stevenson to become one of 16 teams remaining in the state playoff series. (photo by Bella Brouilette)

REJECTED: Senior guard Alex Georgakas blocks a shot in

the Sectional Semifinal game vs. Stevenson. The Knights went on to win, 45-44. “It took us a while to find our footing,” senior forward Charlie Gilmer said. “Once we got into a rhythm, that's when we really started to take off." (photo above by Bella Brouilette, photo at left by Alyssa Degan )

The Knights previously beat third-seeded Palatine on Dec. 6, 49-48. This time, the game was just as close, and yet another three-pointer pushed the Knights ahead. With 24 seconds remaining, Terpins hit the dagger, giving the Knights the lead and winning them the game 47-44.

“I was a little beat up because I had two crucial turnovers, but after that timeout was called Alex [Georgakas], Ben [Schneider], Cole [Chapman] and Charlie [Gilmer] all talked to me,” Terpins said after the game. “They told me to have confidence in myself, so coming out [and] having the wide open shot I just felt it, and it went in.”

The result was the team’s first Regional Championship since 2020, and the Knights would advance on to the Sectional Semifinal against the second-seeded Stevenson Patriots.

Similar to Palatine, the Knights had already taken care of Stevenson earlier in the season on Jan. 21 in a nail-biting 41-40 victory.

The most crucial point of the game was after

BOOM: Senior guard Nolan Murray passes to senior guard Alex Georgakas as

Murray dives for the ball. Senior Charlie Gilmer talked about the Knights and just how confident they were at the end of the season, "We just kept getting better and better," Gilmer said. (photo by Bella Brouilette)

an and-one by Stevenson senior David Sulnius, which gave the Patriots a 44-43 lead with 6.4 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Stevenson, the Knights’ season was not going to end without a fight.

With the season on the line, Schneider hit undoubtedly the biggest shot of the year and maybe one of the biggest in the history of the program. Down one, the sophomore took the ball down the court, pulled up for a three pointer and nailed it. Schneider’s unbelievable shot sent the Knights to their first Sectional Championship game appearance since 1991.

“I was relieved to say the least,” Gilmer said.

“Schneider hit that shot and had my back … It was just relief, joy [and] excitement for the next game. It was just awesome.”

Moving on to the Sectional Final, the Knights were slated up against the number-one seed: the Libertyville Wildcats. After a hard-fought game, the Wildcats reigned victorious in a 60-42 win, putting an end to the Knights’ underdog season.

While their season ended a couple games shy of a trip to state, the Knights gave Prospect a team to rally around. The amount of fans that showed up to support the Knights was a truly special experience to the players.

“It was unlike anything I've ever played in before,” Gilmer said. “Throughout the season, the Viator game, the two games we played against Meadows and the Hersey games were big, fun atmospheres. But they were nothing compared to the Regional Final; hearing the crowd when Terp hit the shot and when everyone rushed to the floor at the end. That was just surreal.”

The Knights’ three-month season could be considered something of a miracle: their PPG increased to 53.4; their FG percentage increased to 47 percent; and their free throw percentage rose to 75 percent.

Not many people thought that they could generate a winning record — especially after the team’s 1-5 start — much less win a regional title and play in the sectional finals. It’s safe to say that the Knights did, in fact, “leave a legacy.”

“It was a whole lot of fun,” Gilmer said. “It wasn’t always perfect, and it got frustrating at times, like every sports season does, [but] … we really accomplished a lot. We were proud of ourselves at the end, so it was all worth it.”