June 2013 by Rebel Roar

REBEL ROAR

December

In This Issue... Thommy Morgan Produ A Movie Students Pursue Career Performing Looking Back on 2011: Y In Review

In This Issue...

April 30, 2012

March 31, 2012

February 28, 2012

Fairfax High School 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030

3 1 20

e u s s rI

o i n Se

May-June, 2013 Volume LXXIX, Issue 8

Election Preview FCPS Debates Security Cameras How to Use the Career Center Horror Movies: Past and Present

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Septe

Volume LXX

Fairfax H 3501 Fairfax

#YOLO

In This Issue... Boys Varsity Basketball Shoots For Victory Inside Scoop On Principal Goldfarbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Student Advisory Committee Occupy DC Comes To An End

In This Issue... MLK Memorial Quotation Causes Controversy Coach Fitterer Joins The Military SOPA Sparks Debate

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November, 2012 Volume LXXIX, Issue 2 Fairfax High School 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030

In This Issue... Sweeney Todd Production Underway Fashion Show Takes Center Stage Honors Classes SparkJanuary, 2013 Volume LXXIX, Issue 4 Debate

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November, 2012 Volume LXXIX, Issue 2 Fairfax High School 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030

Fairfax High School 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030

#YOLO

In This Issue... Schools Around The World Compared Summer Concerts Preview Obamacare Debated In Supreme Court

REBEL ROAR

February, 2013

Volume LXXIX, Issue 5 Fairfax High School 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030

In This Issue... Fairfax Registers to Vote Seniors Reflect Fairfax Prepares For College Spring Sports Wrap Up

REBEL ROAR

In This Issue: -Fairfax Explores Georgetown -A Look Inside FHS Model UN -Theater Presents Charlie Brown

The x rfa Fai ily Fam

#yolo

March, 2013 Volume LXXIX, Issue 6 Fairfax High School 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030

In this Issu

Fairfax Gets Invol Boundary Study B DIY Homecoming The Gun Debate

REBEL ROAR

Volume LX

Fairfax 35 Fairfa

Contents News

Expanding Bring Your Own Device

Senior Section

Seniors Share Their Stories

Features

Baking With Hannah

Commemtary

Merit Scholarships

Arrested Development

Sports

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Strickland Jessica Miers Managing Editor Rachel Tran Copy Chief George Flynn News Editor Suha Khandker Entertainment Editor Emily Verbiest Commentary Editor Erinn Fecteau Features Editor Rachel Tran Sports Editor Jackson Campbell Art Director George Flynn Business Manager Suha Khandker Aiofe Maher-Ryam Staff Writers Hannah Flynn Erich Greenfield David Schrack Adelaide Powell Web Master Erinn Fecteau Adviser Carl Irvin

Editorial Policy

Entertainment

Rebel Roar Staff 2012-2013

FHS Students Play in College

Rebel Roar is a published forum of student expression. Letters to the Editor and guest articles are encouraged. Only signed letters are considered for publication. The editors reserve the right to edit all material in the interest of clarity and space. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the staff or school administration. The staff writes unsigned editorials on a majority basis. The Rebel Roar accepts all advertisements deemed appropriate for a public forum meant for young adults and are subject to the discretion of the editors. Students are encouraged to take an active voice in the student publication. Questions, comments, and letters can be emailed to FHSRebelRoar@gmail.com.

Letter From the Editors Dear Rebels, Well, here goes— our last issue of the rebel roar this year. *cue the waterworks* We’ll try to avoid the cliché goodbyes and thank you’s, but we would like to give our sincerest congratulations to all of the graduating seniors moving on to bigger and better things, as well as to all of the underclassmen for finishing yet another successful year. Remember to have fun in these last few weeks and try not to take this time for granted; as every good sappy song tells us, we’re going to miss this. This month we dedicated our cover to looking back. From September 2009 to the present, our paper has changed and grown just as we have as students and people. If I may quote Drake, “started from the bottom now we here.” You can find personal stories from all of our seniors starting on page 9. Aside from our senior section, next year’s staff; led by the ferocious George Flynn, has taken on the task of completing the rest of the issue as they will in the upcoming year. Check out our new Co-Features Editor Jessica Salguero’s article about Fairfax soccer on page 31. Being a part of the Rebel Roar staff has been an amazing experience, and we are so glad that we had the opportunity to share our work with all of you, whether you are a student or teacher here at Fairfax, or a subscriber from as far away as Lady Lake or Long Island. We hope that you have enjoyed reading this paper as much as we have enjoyed putting it together each month. Now go out and have an amazing summer! Never forget, the world is your oyster. Live and let live. Follow your dreams. We’ll miss you Rebels.

Nikki Strickland

Jessica Miers

Rebel Roar Staff 2013-2014 George Flynn Editor-in-chief

Hannah Flynn

Managing Editor Co-Features Editor

Jessica Salguero Co-Features Editor

Aoife Maher-Ryan News Editor Business Manager

Gillian Elliot

Entertainment Editor Art Director

George Flynn: Thanks Nikki, I guess I am a little ferocious. And thank you to all of you who have read and contirubted to this paper over the past year. We truly could not do it without you. Seniors, congratulations on everything you’ve accomploshed and everything you will accomplish in the future! Underclassmen, the next year is sure to be one to remember, and all of us at the Rebel Roar are excited to tackle it with you.

Karen Sheng

Copy Chief Commentary Editor

Emily Verbiest Sports Editor

Motorola Introduces Electronic Tattoos and Pills By Emily Verbiest

he need to remember passwords for smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices might soon be unnecessary. Motorola has introduced microchip pills and electronic tattoos that authenticate a person’s identity. These inventions are meant to prevent online hacking and remove the hassle of remembering passwords. With the chip or tattoo, the wearer is able to unlock their electronic devices when they get closer to it. At the D11 conference in California, Regina Dugan who is in charge of research at Motorola said, “I really want this superpower. It means that my arms are like wires, my hands are like alligator clips. When I touch my phone, my computer, my door, my car, I’m authenticated in.” The once-daily pill will not be available anytime soon, but it has been approved by the FDA. When swallowed, stomach acids power the chip and turn a “switch” on. The pill creates a signal in the body and makes the person identifiable by electronic devices. If people don’t feel comfortable with the digestible chip, they can opt for the electronic tattoo that creates a similar signal and serves the same purpose. According to TechHive the tattoo’s “material can stretch up to 200 percent larger than its original size.” The tattoos attach to skin through a rubber stamp.

Photos Courtesy of MC10inc.com

News

News Briefs Seniors Prepare For Graduation

Simond Says. . . This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduation speaker will be Fairfax High School Varsity Football coach and Physical Education teacher Kevin Simonds. Simonds was selected by the Senior class at the Senior assembly.

On June 13, Fairfax High School Seniors will graduate. Over 600 students will be graduating. The Graduation will take place in the FHS field house and, like in years past, will result in an even shorter day for Underclassmen.

Christie Appoints Interim Senator

Honor Graduation Speaker Selected Senior Rachel Tiemann has been selected as the Student Honors Speaker for Graduation. She earned the honor after presenting her speech to a group of other students also vying for the opportunity. Senior Alex Griffith was selected to speak at Graduation rehearsal.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Photo courtesy of photobucket.com

New Jersey senator Frank Lautenberg passed away on Jun. 3. In his place, Governor Chris Christie appointed New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa as the interim senator. Christie also announced that a Special Election will be held in October to select a permanent replacement for Lautenberg.

NSA Realeases Verizon Customers’ Phone Records By Jessica Miers

he recent confiscation of Verizon Wireless phone records by the National Security Council (NSA) has stirred controversy amongst Verizon users and those who protest the United States Patriot Act of 2001. In an attempt to stop and prevent future terrorist attacks, the NSA has gathered and is continuing to gather Verizon customers’ phone records as made lawful by the Patriot Act of 2001. The act was established after the terror attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 and now allow the U.S government to confiscate and use public and private records in the pursuit of preventing terrorism. “Checking our own people just wreaks of insanity and having to spy on our own neighbors seems like a scream for another civil war however if its absolutely necessary and if we had to count on those phone calls for our lives, it makes sense,” said senior, Shannon McLauglin. According to an article published by the Cable News Network (CNN), the information that is confiscated from Verizon Wireless is stored on a secure database and only re-accessed with “reasonable articulable suspicion that the records are relevant and related to terrorist activity,” said California Senator, Dianne Feinstein. “This renewal is carried out by the FISA court under the business records section of the Patriot Act. Therefore it is lawful. It has been briefed to Congress,” said Feinstein. The NSA secret was made public by the United Kingdom-based Guardian Newspaper after an investigative report on the exchanges between Verizon and the NSA was published on their

website for the public. These Verizon Business Network Services were meant to be kept private within the Verizon Wireless Company and were specifically kept off their official website. According to The Guardian, the government order for confiscation affects “milPhoto courtesy of Ackerlions of U.S customers of Verizon.” manwire.com “The document shows for the first time that under the Obama administration the communication records of millions of U.S. citizens are being collected indiscriminately and in bulk -- regardless of whether they are suspected of any wrongdoing,” The Guardian says as published by CNN. “It is a severe invasion of privacy and I feel they have no right to do it. They should not sacrifice the rights of many just to stop a few,” said senior, Anthony Applewhite. The court order that was obtained by the NSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to confiscate the Verizon Wireless phone records are limited to the months between April 25 and July 19. “It’s a bit like an obsessive girlfriend requiring her boyfriend to hand over his email so she can check whether or not he’s cheating,” said Verizon customer, David Schrack.

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Class of 2013 Presents...

Suha Khandker Rachel Tran Erinn Fecteau Nikki Strickland Jessica Miers Jackson Campbell

Baby, You Were Born This Way By Erinn Fecteau

eing the Rebel Roar’s commentary editor, I have a lot of opinions. One thing that I absolutely cannot decide on, however, is my taste of music. I recently put my iTunes library on shuffle whilst working on schoolwork, and was greeted by a repulsive, cacophonous symphony of songs. Individually I think my songs are pretty great, and so are the playlists I specifically put together. The whole library, though? I was sent on an emotional roller coaster through the steep drops of Adele and Taylor Swift’s music, through loops and corkscrews of dubstep and Korean pop, and around the sharp bends of the Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. At the end of it, I was left confused by my own eclectic tastes. I’ve come to appreciate the horrendous journey iTunes sent me on, though. Sure, it was strange to be belting of out to Beyoncé one minute and suddenly be listening to Teen Top and UKiss serenade me in Korean, but it certainly opened my eyes to something about myself. That mess of a concert embodied a lot of who I am as a person. Sure, I was a cheerleader for three years, but I’m about to go to college for computer science where I can pursue a career in video game design. And yes, I will always enjoy a good classic novel, but I still have a collection of Japanese manga worth over a thousand dollars. On top of that, I go to conventions and dress up as these comic book characters. On the flip side, since getting a source of income, I would never pass up some good retail therapy at Forever 21. If I don’t have any expendable money? Sitting at home and playing my guitar is one of my favorite pastimes. And I’ll be one of the first to admit, yes, I still watch “Glee.” In fact, I haven’t missed an episode (I’m far

too invested in the plot)! My whole life has been an eclectic assortment of hobbies and quirks, but it took me until my senior year to finally embrace them all. More than anything, I hope that other students will open up to all their interests. If you want to join a club, go for it! I was one of the few kids in FHS’s first year of guitar club, and it was an awesome experience. Without the support of my peers, I would’ve never had the motivation to teach myself how to play. Are you kind of curious about what Dungeons and Dragons is like? I was— and I had some of the best nights with my friends playing old fashioned, paper-and-pencil D&D. As Lady Gaga sang to me through my iPod that day (after an incredibly sweet, low key piano rendition of “Dango Daikozoku.” It was an unsettling shift): “Baby, you were born this way.” If I could go back in time and tell myself to do one thing differently in high school, it’d be to chase after everything that even vaguely interested me. You won’t always get opportunities so conveniently available later in life. And after all, isn’t high school for having fun, finding who you are, and learning to embrace yourself-- awkwardness and all? If high school taught me anything, it was to ignore the haters and be myself. I’d hate to end my last article with something as distasteful as “YOLO,” so I’m going to throw it back to the old days (I’m talking around 100 B.C.) and say: “Carpe diem.” Why wait to start exploring all the different facets of your personality? As high school moves along, teachers, homework, and sometimes life in general will start to seem lamer and lamer. The only thing that’s going to change in a few years is you. Learn to love yourself, and those four years will fly smoothly by.

By Rachel Tran

rowds of people frantically waving their arms huddled beneath the stage as the light shone directly in my eyes. They chanted my name above the blaring music: “Tang Guo! Tang Guo! Tang Guo!” (It means “Candy” in Chinese.) I stood in the center of the stage in my Lady Gaga-esque costume smiling to myself, while soaking up all of the fame and fortune. I was a Chinese Pop Star and my life was absolutely perfect. No joke, that was my greatest aspiration three years ago. I do not know exactly what influenced me to have such a dream. Maybe it was the Girls’ Generation’s music videos with over 100 million views on YouTube. Or maybe it was the life-changing and eye-opening trip I took to China nearly five years ago. Either way, I convinced myself that high school was not for me and I did not need to pursue a higher education to succeed. When I told my parents about my plan to travel to China to pursue my career, they were furious to say the least. They argued that they came to America to give me a better life and there was no sense in going back to China, especially when it is populated with 1.35 billion people—why would they need one more? Nevertheless, I ignored their remarks and stubbornly held on to my dream. Now don’t get me wrong, I still tried in school. I turned in all of my assignments on time, took notes during every lecture, and studied for all of my exams.

But oftentimes I felt that all of my efforts were pointless—I was going to be a famous superstar one day, so what was the point of spending time on useless worksheets? I should be spending more time practicing my karaoke-singing skills, I thought, because I could rely on that to get me far in life. However, as freshman year turned into sophomore year and junior year into senior year, I realized that my dream had become much more unrealistic and I started to question what my goals truly were. If I didn’t become a pop star, what would I do with my life? What did I really want to do? I didn’t know; and I still don’t know. I went from knowing it all to knowing nothing. But at that very moment, I realized that sometimes not knowing is okay. I once heard someone say, “High school is for figuring out who you aren’t; college is for figuring out who you are.” They say college provides you with a plethora of opportunities, but more importantly, helps you find your identity. By meeting new faces and feeding my mind with more knowledge, I am sure that I will be able to discover my interests in the next four years and succeed in whatever it is I choose to do. Of course, I wouldn’t mind starring in the next hit Asian pop music video if I were given the opportunity, but for the time being, I’m just going with the flow.

How To Find a Roomie

By Suha Khandker

emember that first day of kindergarten, when everyone was the new kid? It was super scary. What if you accidently went to the wrong class room? What if no one liked you? Would you be forced to eat lunch alone? That’s what it feels like trying to find a roommate on your college Facebook page. It can be a bit nerve wracking at first. What if you post in the page but no one likes it? What if no one wants to add you as a friend? What if everyone already has a roommate? Well that’s why I am here; to guide all you seniors through the single most important decision of your college career: finding a roommate. It is truly a difficult task but if you just follow all the guidelines I list out you should find yourself prepared to narrow down the hundreds of freshman until you find your dorm room spirit animal.

Step 1

(read carefully because this is super important!)

Join the class page for your college

Step 2 Don’t post right away. Scope the place out a bit.

Step 4 Try to classify everyone who posts into one of these categories. The Party Animals “Where da parties at????

The Awkward Talkers Derp.

The Overachievers “Omg guys! Do you know which clubs you’re joining?!”

The Crazies “ED SHEERAN I LOVE YOU. PLS TALK TO MEH.”

Step 3 Try not to say something stupid. (I realize that may be hard for some of you)

Step 5 Pick a group and start chatting it up!

It’s as simple as that. However, if you’re like me and none of these categories seem to fit . . . it’s okay. Attempting to find the perfect roommate is a daunting task, but if there’s anything I have learned from my four years in FHS, it’s that your attitude determines your outcome. So if you find that perfect roommate you can’t wait to hang out with that’s great! But if you’re like me who doesn’t want to go through the stress or everyone you talk to seems to be “crazy,” then just leave it up to the higher beings; take what life throws at you and make the best of the situation.

ashington Sports

By Jackson Campbell

reshman year, as we were writing our high school goals in the Career Center to our future Senior selves, I could not seem to come up with anything meaningful that was school related. Of course, I wanted to go to college, and to get good grades, but I knew I was going to work towards that no matter if I wrote it down or not. Instead, I chose something that was completely out of my power to control, something I invest lots of time, money, and emotion (disappointment) in, year after year. My goal was that by the time I graduate, one of the four major sports teams in D.C. would have won a championship, something none of them have done in the last 21 years. Four years later, and all four teams are still searching for that elusive title. In addition to our Fairfax sports teams, DC’s teams over the years have been a staple of the sports section in the Rebel Roar. Love them, hate them, or don’t care about them, they are deeply rooted in the Northern Virginia community. Writing about the Redskins, Nationals, Capitals, and Wizards has given me a new perspective than when I was just a fan, and it has only intensified my desire to see one or eventually all of them crowned as the best in the world. The Wizards have had the least success, and the least attention, of the four. In recent years, they have tried to rebuild around John Wall, but the team has been plagued by injuries and off-court issues and have failed to make the playoffs since All-Star Gilbert Arenas left the team after his gun scandal. The Capitals feature one of the league's most talented offensive lineups every year, but they never put it all together in the playoffs, and they have been the source of many heartbreaking losses the past five years with shocking game seven losses to seemingly inferior teams. The Capitals made their lone Stanley Cup appearance in 1998, where they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. The Redskins have the most recent championship of the bunch, in 1992 over the Buffalo Bills. Since Super Bowl XXVI, the Redskins have only made the playoffs four times, but with Robert Griffin III’s arrival things seem to be looking up. They are still a few players away from being a championship contender though, as teams here always seem to be. For all the excitement about the Capitals and Nationals, the Redskins will always be the hometown favorite and a championship from them would mean more to the DMV than any other.

Almost all of the experts from ESPN and Sports Illustrated picked the Nationals as the preseason favorite to win the World Series this year, and on paper they have the talent to do it. With a pitching staff to rival that of any in all of baseball, defense should not be an issue this year, but so far the offense has been one of the worst in baseball. Unless someone in the lineup besides Bryce Harper picks up the slack, they may have trouble even getting back to the playoffs. However, my experience as a Nationals fan is just starting. When I was a little kid, the Baltimore Orioles were the only baseball team around, so that is who I grew up rooting for. When the Nationals arrived in 2004, I didn’t immediately embrace them. In part, this was because by then basketball had taken over most of my attention, so I did not fully appreciate the fact that DC finally had a baseball team again. This was also in part because I was reluctant to give up the Orioles as my team, since I had so many fond memories of going to Camden Yards with my dad. The decision to switch teams was tough, but Northern Virginia is a Nats town and while I’ll always love the Orioles I finally decided it was time to officially call myself a Nats fan first and foremost this season. As Senior year comes to a close, I accomplished most of what I wanted to by deciding on attending James Madison University and doing well in challenging classes throughout high school. It still feels like something is missing though, after watching friends of mine celebrate as their teams from Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, and others won multiple championships. So while none of the teams that I, and many others around here love most did not help me fulfill my goal of seeing one of them win during my time in high school, I will always continue supporting them through both the good and bad seasons. Maybe at the start of college this fall, I’ll make this same goal again for the next four years of my life. And maybe, just maybe, this time my procrastination of homework and studying to stay up late and watch my favorite teams play will be rewarded with an overdue championship. It’s hard to stay optimistic if you really pay close attention to these teams, but it’s only a matter of time before the talented players in this town will finally win it all. Most of us at graduation will be wrapping up our final year with this one team here at Fairfax, but since day one here I have made it clear that there are four local teams that mean more to me than anything.

Thinking Rebelliously... Jessica Miers

elly donuts. In the second grade I was asked to write my first poem. Mine was about jelly donuts. I guess I could say it was that simple poem about such a mundane topic like jelly donuts that sparked my interest in writing. Growing up, I used writing as an outlet to express myself in ways in which I couldn’t. Writing became my way to imagine and create but most importantly, to think. Teenagers are rebellious. It’s a given. We want to break away from our parents, mouth off to our teachers and stand for our own causes and beliefs. However, it takes a little more than the typical teenage angst to become intellectually rebellious. To be intellectually rebellious, or what I deem as, thinking rebelliously, is to possess the ability to suspect the counter-argument. It is the intrinsic drive to go beyond the text book. To think rebelliously is to form a new opinion that society may not necessarily agree with or pioneered. It is to create an idea or discover a new way to analyze a topic or situation that hasn’t already been explored. In other words, to think rebelliously, is to think outside the box. As a graduate school professor, my mother would always tell her students at the end of each lecture, “I may have given you the accurate notes… or maybe I completely made everything up. It’s up to you to do the research.” The first time I heard this story, it hit me. It was in that moment, where I discovered that I would become one of these rebellious intellectuals and fell in love with the aspect of independent thought. When I started high school and wrote my first serious essay, this rebellious thinking began to surface. With practice and repetition, I found that I really enjoyed being able to analyze beyond the boundaries of words on a page in a book. I enjoyed looking for ways to express a counterargument to the socially created, socially accepted theme in a piece of literature. Going beyond the norm and thinking outside the box became a practiced obsession that I grew to love. This interest in becoming the rebellious intellectual goes farther than writing an analytical A.P literature essay. Though there is great practice and fun in proving that Nelly Dean is actually in love with Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, or sarcastically writing about all the tragedies that DIDN’T happen to you in your college essay, rebellious thought is truly put to the test when used beyond the pen and paper. If doctors, scientists and researchers all limited their thoughts and ideas to what they were taught in their text books or what was discussed in their grad school classrooms, then our medical, scientific and technological world would be at a stalemate. It’s not the medical students who

simply recite their well versed vocabulary and stay within the lecture notes that discover the cure for cancer; nor is it the scientists who sit in their labs all day testing the known and proven while overlooking the undiscovered, that put humans into space. No, instead, it’s the medical students, and scientists that strove to challenge what their societies deemed impossible. It is the students who used their textbooks and notes as mere resources rather than rule manuals that have literally transformed our world. The students who question everything, go beyond the collegiate box of thought and work to find the counter-argument or the undiscovered meaning are the ones that solve and will continue to solve some of our world’s greatest problems. Show the text book intellectuals a black and white picture and they’ll tell you it’s black and white. Show the same photo to a rebellious intellectual and they’ll find a way to prove it’s purple. As I prepare to graduate within the next week, I leave you, Fairfax, with this final article. With this goodbye, I would like to remind you all that we are not the greatest. We are not the best and we are not the brightest. Not yet. We’re about to step into a world full of violence, economic downfalls and problems beyond the scope of what’s hot or not in high school. Your twitter feed pales in comparison to the problems we’re facing in Syria. The amount of likes on your profile pictures are worthless to your future employers; and all the parties that you went to and that “social ladder” that you climbed are erased, forgotten, and unimportant when you’re facing terrorism and the national debt. It is until we’ve separated our minds from these vapid distractions and used the 15 seconds of thought that go into writing a 140 character tweet or Facebook status, to instead discover that cure for cancer or to eradicate foreign dependency, that we can then and only then call ourselves, the greatest, the best and the brightest. And to do this, we must learn to think rebelliously. Or maybe, I’m lying to you…perhaps, that’s for you to determine... “And so we beat on, boats against the current,” F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby.

How to Make Lem By Nikki Strickland o

the school parking (or not parking) lot one dreary morning junior year. No harm no foul, right? Even in that scenario I gained a new acquaintance; it was nice to meet you Marla. When I wiped out in a lacrosse game spring break of junior year and the video of my concussioncausing fall was broadcasted to the world on various social media networks, I realized how supportive teachers can be. Well, I realized that a few weeks later; I was pretty out of it for a while. Now I’m not telling all of you this just for kicks; I really think it’s important. Not the fact that I trip a lot but that any seemingly awkward or unexpected moment can be meaningful. Even in more serious scenarios this applies. This time a year ago, and even a month ago, I was sure I was going to go to the University of Virginia. I applied early action to UVA thinking that if I got in I wouldn’t have to apply to Virginia Tech, for which the application was due two days after UVA released their decisions. When the day came to hear back from UVA I found out that somehow my application was sent in as regular decision. This realization seemed like the end of the world at the time, but after applying to Tech and visiting the campus I fell in love. I will be a part of the Hokie family next year and I couldn’t be more excited, even after I did eventually get accepted to UVA. So next time you stumble over your words when talking to your crush or fall in front of a crowd of people just remember, Notice everything happens for a reason and learn to enjoy it. You the UVA shorts I’m have four years of high school; you’d be a fool not to make the trying to best of it.

That’s me, mid-fall

et me be the one to tell you, awkward things happen. They happen to me, they happen to you; they even happened to the ever fabulous Lizzie McGuire. There’s no avoiding them, so why not just embrace them? Like that time I was running backwards on the first day of field hockey tryouts freshman year and fell in front of everyone; or the time I ran into a door frame in school and had a bump on my nose for the next week— those were embarrassing, but now I know to laugh at them. Well, most of them, I’m still a little bitter about the time I spilled chocolate from the chocolate fountain at prom down the front of my dress. The important thing is to take any situation and make the best of it. When I accidentally locked my keys in my car, and my car running, I took the opportunity to meet our extremely helpful, if not a little mocking as I definitely deserved, security staff. They helped me break into my own car to retrieve my keys and a lesson learned: don’t get out of the car midconversation. But my best car story has to be the time I was hit by a car with no one in it. No, I didn’t mean to say I hit a car with no one in it, but an empty car actually rolled back and hit me in

hide? GO HOKIES!

Rebels, Where To

Academy for Drama and Musical Arts Shakil Azizi Alderson-Broaddus College Shawn Flemming

Anthony Ruelas

Dickinson College Goeun Choi Drexel University Olivia Ballard

Arizona State University Ashley Burson

Eastern Carolina Univeristy Travis Godfrey

Art Institute Jhony Beltran Chuksie Ihezue Kim Schaeffer

Elon University John Baugh Barbie Rajendra

Brigham Young University Megan Cathro Emma Mandal Vladimiro Matos Bakovic Boston University Jula DeCosse Carnegie Mellon Damin Jung Becky Tien Christopher Newport University Kelly Deasy Victoria Kirzl Dominique Sidrak Lindsey Weese Clemson Univeristy Brian Latimer Allison Thompson Community College of Baltimore County Maurice Neal College of William and Mary Isabelle Baucum Michelle Betancourt Colin Wyatt Alex Yashchenko Collin College at Texas Trella Magana Columbia College in Chicago Matthew Starr Colorado Mesa University Alex Parker Cornell University Laureen Andalib Dakota State University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University DaMontre Coleman Emilio Suarez Evergreen State College Riley San Nicolas Ferrum College Donald Knowlan Yancey Peters Florida State University Brandon Margulis George Mason University Anthony Applewhite Mehraneh Adabi Shelby Allen Vincent Caetto Kara Capell Fabio Cardenas Aimee Castillon Luke Cho Jennifer Choi Anfernee Cruz Alex Dale Shukriah Darab Ra Davis Paige Dunleavy Zola Enkhtaivan Silviu Florea Jake Forrest Allison Garris Ousswa Ghannouchi Sharon Guanilo-Cueva Cameron Hair David Hollinger Nguyen Kim Ha Kyeong Yun Jeong Leah Johnson Zain Khan Sydney Kim Dongho Koo Meerim Kydykbek Kyzy Hyo Lee Kathy Luong Amine Mendoun Jessica Miers

Jennifer Nguyen Isabelle Oldfield Erika Pashai Shivani Patel Julia Pfeiffer Ashley Phan Heather Pham Jhalitza Pimentel Martin Ramirez Vasudha Rathore Erika Rivera Christopher Roberts Ledia Samwel Cindy Seo Joseph Sim Marla Surette Ghalib Syed Wafa Taher Collin Tam Frankey Tam Thomas Tonapi Michael Vargas Lyly Vo Waj Wadan Jonathan Weiss Amy Yi Aneesa Zarzis

George Washington University Hannah Baer Sasha Desansky Laura Ji Kinjo Kiema Paulin Kim Hampden-Sydney College Paul Robertson Indianna University of Pennsilvania Cody Voth Ithaca College Alexandra Nicopoulos Deanna Payne James Madison University Megan Bastawrous Maddie Boyles Alyssa Brennan Ximena Calvo Jackson Campbell Alicia Campos Connor Craig Aashna Dhayagude Natalie Dillinger Casey Donnelly Zach Duda Ashley Goodwin Anderson Guernsey Lauren Haynes Jason Lee Michael Lewis Rachael Love Evan McDade Madison McGinty

Jacob Munive Jennifer Nguyen Caroline Park Hannah Patteson Myranda Reconnu Brian Reshore Tim Riley-Ryan Celine Serrano Shiv Shah Brooke Southard Jigme Taring Molly Weaver Sidney Yi Jireh Prep Milton Veney

Johns Hopkins University Shannon Cosgrove Leah Evans Megan Huynh Johnson & Wales University Kyung Lee Kansas State University Steven Robinson Liberty University Theresa Chantha Chloe Kim Raeshia Walker Longwood University Kendra Atkinson Samantha Bryan Shelby Massie Lord Fairfax Community College Matthew Campbell Loyola University of Chicago Drishti Lakhia Lynchburg College Zack Burnett Erinn Fecteau Kendall Malsam McDaniel College Andrew Gordon Methodist University Ben Click John Hollinger Metropolitan University College Nikolai Benabaye-Harild Mira Costa Community College Joshua Oliveira

Norfolk State University Alvinia Briggs

Northern Virginia Community College Sheikh Ahmed Cynthia Aleman Boris Anzoategui Czarina Attipoe Femi Awode Alejandra Bercian Kassandra Blocker Veronica Bonilla Gino-Angelo Bretana Tri Bui Brandon Burke Bianca Butoi Diana Castillo Christian Chalco Hope Chappell Kimberly Chavez Arisa Chavez Rachel Clarke Emily Crawford William Crawford Danielle David-Thompson Ashley Fang Nicholas Fant Maria Flores Darrien Folgar Alejandra Fuentes Rosa Fuentes Daniela Fuenzalida Xavier Garay Christian Giudice Veronica Gonzalez Christen Hagans Crystal Hak Brandon Hernandez Ilham Husain Kevin Ichaso Obi Ihezue Anam Ijaz Vania Irigoyen Mohamed Isse Santos Ivania Kaycee Jacobs Daniel Jin Kong Minsoo Jung Farida Khurishanova John Koch Miriam Lara Jina Lee Melissa Lee Sean Lim Alex Loomis Richard Lopez Monica Manzanares Chris Mastbrook George Maxfield Mikey McGee Nathaly Mejia-Rubio Matthew Mekhail Victor Melgar Emmanuel Meneses Vince Miller

Next?

Muna Mohamed Jamia Montgomery Andy Morales Kevin Mortiere Heleen Najem Phuong Nguyen Melvin Orclonez Kevin Ordonez Carlos Ortega Sungsu Park Ashley Pettem-Erickson Laura Porras Inca Reid Brady Robertson Brayan Rodriguez Christian Rodriguez Francisco Rodriguez Katie Rodriguez Lucas Rodriguez Courtney Royston Estelle Sabarre Adam Sahebian Nadya Said Cecilia Salazar Mohammad Saleh Idalia Salmeran Christian Sanchez Haris Sekahdiri Jalen Sherman Shaina Sindhu DeClippeleir Solene Austin Spurrier Salsa Tekle Marwon Teriaovi Jordan Thomas Sofia Tipton Ali Tirmizi Oguzhan Toker Sherzod Tokhtakhunov Brady Urano Adyan Urkhusov Kimberly Vanegas Carlos Vasquez Valeria Verastegui Gaby Vitola Jason Watler Paul Watler Paris Weissman Sharman Williams Destiny Wood Ashraf Zaid Renato Zamalloa Kelly Zust Old Dominion University Austin Black Anthony DeSantis Elizabeth Gaines Ryan Hess John Holland Dori Prescott Roxanna Machuca Danica Mazique Lidia Mengistu Brownlee Snider

Omega Studio Schools of Applied Recording Arts Bailey Parkhurst

Slippery Rock University William Wagner

Paul Mitchell School of Cosmotology Haley Waldow

Towson University Sam Zelenack

Philadelphia University Taekwon Choi Penn State Adam Cook Chris Slaten Pepperdine University Salim Collins

University of Alabama Hannah Elabassi University of California-Berkeley Sruthi Davuluri University of Florida Stefanie Spitz

Potomac State College Katie Quinnette

University of Hartford Max Hudner Margaret Murphy

Pratt Institute Jihyoung Ye

Univeristy of Illinois Joyeon Kim

Queen Mary University Ayush Bayarsaikhan

University of Maryland Amal Hassen

Radford University Jake Angeline Matthew Blackwell Nicole Carlson Daniel Frank Chris Graff Zac Intermill JT Leckert Tiffany Mai Colin Malo Matthew Misleh Kyle Rohlfing Davis Spurlin Zack Smith Nicole Trapeni Aaron Welles Christy Yee

Univeristy of Mary Washington Yasemin Birkan Hellen Kim William Park John Robic

Randolf-Macon College Connor Cute J.P. Donnelly-Davis Taylor Intermill Meghan-Grace Moran Sarve Rana Richard Brand College Kaelyn C. Johnson Rochester Insititute of Technology Raj Adhikari Savannah College of Art and Design Sarah Dowell Jan Larmann Natalie Luti

University of Richmond Brandon Ginch University of North Carolina-Wilmington Abby Sisson University of South Carolina Carter Guy University of the Arts Perry Melat University of Notre Dame Walker Carlson University of Virginia Angela Amat y Leon Oghuz Anwar Joanne Baik Joseph Baik Sanaa Batsukh Drew Bonner Jenny Brzezynski Rudy Califa Jenna Capell Owen Cheng Annette Chun Robert Doyle Katie Ericksson Megan Green Alex Griffith

Christina Hatfield Thomas Kim Cameron Kuchel Casey Lawrence Benjamin Lee Yaegini Lenoir Ester Masati Jenny Pham Ericka Reid Katie Rossbach Elvera Santos Megan Strait Rachel Tran Jose Pablo Vargas University of Washington Andrew Arnold United States Air Force Ian Cooper Andrew Day Yaeni Lee Nuri Stokes Nauliatyce Thompson Blaine Voth United States Army Mayerling Castillo Cristian Juarez John Lyons-Montgomery Lyane Ramos Haley Reade Jerry Shin United States Marine Corps Jason Pabon Omar Paniaguo Kyle Stears William Vo US Merchant Marine Acadamy Catherine Spain United States Military Bianca Armenta Virginia Commonwealth University Usman Ahmed MinWoo Ahn Jennifer Choi Bita Davoodi Deleon DeJean John George Ava Hassas Chad Helig Noshin Faruque Anshita Jain Sarah Johnson Kayleigh Kopach Hannah Kostoff Gerell Malazarte Emily Mertz-Worster Jonathan Nagler Brian Nashwinter

Rachel Visser Alexa Wilbrandt Jiahui Wu Virginia Military Institute John Kim Yol Ho Sung Virginia Tech Ahmed Abousam Allie Belcher Amanda Blackwell Alissa Boswell Tommy Burford Austin Burks Sai Chindepalli Lauren Coombe Mihika Dhyani Will Dykstra Sarah Ebhardt Matty Ferguson Victoria Hairston Takondwa Kakusa Sungho Kim Yeonjun Kim Aaron Kwok Mimi Lam Chan Lee Allie Lerner Jessica Minionis Joshua Minionis Chris Nguyen Nikka Pelayo Alex Petit Kallie Pugh Justin Rhee Michael Rice Carley Rolincik Lena Salim Nikki Strickland Katherine Taube Carlo Tirso Emma Tourtellotte Carly Voeller Gabby Wilber Philip Yang Virginia Wesleyan Maryam Ahsan West Virginia University Mary Evers

By Rachel Tran and Erinn Fecteau

Backpacks

Vera Bradley One-Shoulder Bags

he era of bulky, flamboyant Vera Bradley shoulder bags ends in college. College is a serious step up from high school, and throwing notebooks and supplies into the endless void that is a Vera Bradley bag is a travesty. How many times do people think they lost their phone or forgot important papers, all because they couldn’t find it in the chaos of their bag? Buying a more conventional, two shoulder bag is an easy solution—they are made for organization, with plenty of pockets and more than enough room. Furthermore, there are so many options: The North Face, Jansport, or Billabong, to name just a few. Not only do traditional backpacks make sense organizational wise, but they aren’t confined to the handful of gaudy patterns Vera Bradley force upon their products.

Crossbody Satchel

eys and key chains are definitely a pain in the neck to carry around. Girls can’t fit them in their pockets, and throwing them loosely into a bag can make fishing them out a hassle. Some students have adopted using a lanyard to keep all their belongings together, and the effort is a well-meaning one. There is a reason, however, that lanyards constantly given away as free gifts from colleges or businesses. They’re normally not well-made, and are a constant source of free marketing from wherever they were snagged from. Investing in a small cross-body satchel is a convenient way to keep important belongings together, while looking cute and stylish. The lanyard can be stowed away inside the bag, so no one asks about why you’re advertising for “Such-and-Such Investment Bankers” or “John Doe’s Law Firm.”

Colored Shorts

Lanyards

Colored Jeans

s a poor college student, many kids quickly learn to live by the time old adage “less is more.” They have to spend less cash on food (sometimes going on the infamous all-ramen diet), on nights out, and learn to cope with their inevitable shorter sleep schedule. Fashion also follows this trend. Instead of wearing totally neon colored jeans (busy patterns like checkers and stripes are included!), small accents of color can really pull together an outfit. T-shirts can be made classier with a pop of melon or mint colored shorts underneath, and the right accessories. With shorts, the color isn’t overwhelming enough to clash with the entire outfit. Long jeans, on the other hand, are overpowering in full, vivid colors. Less is more!

Your College Attire

Attire From A Different School

t’s hard to find a single student (especially upperclassmen) that don’t own some sort of Fairfax High School spirit wear. Various shirts are thrown at the crowd during pep rallies, sold nearly every other week in the cafeteria for a new club or cause, and used for fundraising by each class. Students going away to college may feel heartbroken at the thought of leaving their FHS family, but the high school apparel should be kept for reminiscing purposes only. Help pump up spirit for college teams, and keep wardrobes limited the clothes sold on campus. That means no shirts from other colleges, either! That joke Harvard sweatshirt may be funny in high school, but looks a little sad at college.

Features

Baking With Hannah For the final issue of “Baking With Hannah”, a classic, one bowl chocolate cupcake, with a simple butter crea, frosted were made. This super easy, very delicious recipe always pleases.

Cupcakes Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for pans 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups sugar 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Directions: Preheat oven to 350° Place cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Mix together and sift. Place eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla extract in bowl of beater. Beat the wet ingredients together, slowly adding in the cocoa powder mixture. After completely added in, mix completely together on low in the beater. Using a large spoon, place spoonful in each cupcake tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before frosting.

Icing Ingredients: 2 sticks butter ¼ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla 4 tablespoons milk 4 cups confectioners sugar Directions: Mix all ingredients together. Separate frosting into four bowls. Put three drops of food coloring in each separate bowl. Frost cupcakes using knife or icing tool.

Features

Poppin’ Tags

By Hannah Flynn

Though it seems like Macklemore was the first one to “pop tags” at Goodwill, thrifting has been around for a long time. Thrift Shops offers low prices, great finds, and a sense of unique style. Northern Virginia is full of a variety of thrift shops to make use of the 20 dollars in your pocket.

Goodwill 9960 Main Street Fairfax, Virginia 22031 Goodwill stores are retail and donation centers. There are over 15 shops in the Greater D.C. Area. Goodwill sells everything from gently worn clothing, to books, movies, furniture, and more. By shopping at Goodwill, not only are there great finds, but it is also beneficial to the community. As an organization, Goodwill hires mentally and physically disabled employees, to give training and

Plato’s Closet 45591 Dulles Eastern Plaza Sterling, VA 20166 Plato’s Closet is a resale clothing and accessories store located in Dulles,VA. The store has a large inventory and does not sell clothing greater than 18 months old. Not only does Plato’s Closet sell stylish items, the store also buys gently used clothing from it’s customers. By buying on the spot and in cash, Plato’s Closet offers quick and easy transactions.

INOVA Thrift Shop 9683 Fairfax Boulevard Fairfax, VA 22031 INOVA Thrift Shop has great finds, and is in walking distance of the school. This shop, similar to Goodwill works with the community and donates all profits to the Fairfax INOVA Hospital. As a shop, INOVA Thrift Shop sells “Clothing, household items, shoes, electronics, lamps, computer monitors (flat screen only) and small non-upholstered furniture.” can all be found at the shop.

Unique Thrift Stores 2956 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042 Unique Thrift Store is exactly as advertised...unique. This store located in Falls Church, has huge inventory and unbelievable finds. Unique promises, “shoppers can find necessities or nearly anything on their wish list, from designer and vintage clothing to rare home decor, to that hard-to-find hardcover classic novel.”

Commentary

Adressing the Positive Side of Security Cameras

By Adelaide Powell

ecurity cameras at school increase student safety. That is the primary reason there are now multiple such cameras installed within Fairfax High School. It may seem that having cameras at school is an invasion of privacy or that the costs of their installation trumps the safety of our students, but if a violent crime ever took place at FHS and cameras were in place, then it is almost guaranteed that the perpetrator would be caught. “(The cameras) will not be routinely monitored, but rather, will be reviewed after an incident occurs,” according to a frequently asked questions post by Dave Goldfarb. “Security personnel in the office of safety and security may access video cameras and images when necessary for their official duties,” he said. People have the right to have a reasonable expectation of privacy, but school is a public place and the cameras will not be installed in bathrooms or locker rooms. Students here are able to learn in a relatively safe environment but having cameras would help deter acts of bullying, fights and vandalism. Cameras have already been installed in various Fairfax County high schools like Mount Vernon,

Robert E. Lee, West Springfield and Lake Braddock so it is only logical that Fairfax would be next. “The experience of FCPS with exterior video surveillance strongly suggests that their use resulted in significant reductions in vandalism at schools that used the system,” according to the post by Goldfarb. Recently President Obama, as part of a plan to increase school safety, stated his belief that security cameras should be placed in schools around the country, according to the official blog of the US Department of Education. In London, where many security cameras are installed, officials claim that surveillance cameras reduce crime significantly according to Andrew Kling’s book “Surveillance.” Three-hundred criminals are caught per day by security cameras in the city, which adds up to about 108,000 criminals caught per year. The total cost of the cameras placed around the school is estimated by Goldfarb to be between $25,000 and $30,000, but Fairfax does not have many extreme financial problems. If tax money is not being spent on keeping students safe, what should it be spent on?

The Need For Merit Scholarships

By Jessica Miers

’ll state the obvious. College is expensive. If you’re planning on attending an in-state school, your parents are probably looking at about 80,000 to 100,000 dollars for the entire four years. If you’re planning on going out of state, the tuition doubles, triples and for the really unlucky parents, quadruples. The term, “equal opportunity” when it comes to having access to achieving a college degree is quite honestly, utopian, especially for students who no longer “qualify” for most scholarships and financial aid. Everything is “need based.” Some scholarships and financial aid programs go to the extent of requiring students to prove that they are considered, “need based,” before even being allowed to apply. But what is “need based,” in the governments eyes? From personal experience, need based must mean someone who doesn’t make any income whatsoever. You could live in a box and make a penny a day, and you most likely would not qualify under this umbrella-like standard called “need-based.” In all honesty, the FAFSA and most of the scholarships that come from our career center each week are disturbingly, statistically flawed. Take the FAFSA for instance; a parent could make a substantial income that comfortably supports a family of four. Now, if the students of these students of this family then go to apply for financial aid through the FAFSA program, their application will surely be rejected and will be awarded little to no money at all to help fund their schooling. Why? Because scholarship programs and the FAFSA do not take into account how many other college-bound students there are in the family or perhaps what they

pay yearly for their car insurance, mortgages, taxes and other debts. If a family can prove a substantial amount of income, then they can count on having no extra help with sending their students to an expensive college. Shockingly, there did exist a time when students could earn money in scholarships based on their good character or stellar GPAs or their exceptional writing talents alone. These seemingly mythical scholarships were called, merit scholarships and they have become an unfortunate rarity to the typical college-bound student. As important as it is to give students from lower income families the same opportunity to go to a four year school as their middle to upper-income peers, at the same time, we have become so obsessed with this concept of equal everything that we’ve ironically taken away some of these opportunities from other students that could also benefit from financial aid. Perhaps we could learn to rely on internships that offer co-op programs and pay for our college degrees in exchange for work, but it shouldn’t be the only way to achieve affordable education. In reality, most of us are presented with two options: Go to a cheap school or take out gross amounts of money in the form of college loans and meet with our debt in four years. If this nation is trying to progress by giving every student a chance to go to college, then we need to be presented with more than these two very limiting options. For now, next time I go to apply for a scholarship that asks to prove that I am “need based,” I’ll check the box that says “yes” and send a picture of freshman brother with a caption that says, “he has to go to college too.”

The Problem With Schools: A Satire By Joesphin Kihiu, Guest Writer

cademic administrators assemble students from across the country in attempts to convey the importance of mathematical education. The principal of a Mid-Western school opened the floor discussion by thanking everyone for attending the mandatory assembly and highlighting the importance of math in this day and age as a subject American children should more readily embrace as citizens of a world power, especially since performance globally continues to slide. He conceded the floor to the professor of a local university known for its superior basket weaving programs. “Mathematics is the language of the universe,” the calculus professor claimed. “So to understand the universe and unravel its secrets, we must speak the language.” The universe, however, has been known to be a boring conversationalist. “And a little bit pompous,” Sarah, a 17 year old student in attendance said. “I mean, why do we have to learn its language? Why can’t the universe just learn English to talk to us? It’s a pretty one way relationship if we’re going to be doing all the giving.” The group murmured in agreement and proposed the development of a new language, an intermediary between the two that didn’t involve so many “hard things to do”

and was really “still English, but we would say a bunch of numbers too so the universe isn’t completely lost”. Of course, certain students jump at the discovery that math is no longer an area of peer interest. “I was deriving before it was popular,” notorious Hipster Brad Channing told reporters, leaping at the chance to be in the trendy minority of underground students that excel at mathematics. Polls indicate that while the falling math performances compared to that of many European and Asian nations was a legitimate concern at one point, American students now content themselves to “other stuff, you know?” “I mean, some people are good at math. Like math teachers and science guys and stuff,” Brandon, a twelfth grader reasons. “So we let them and Bill Gates and few others do that and we’ll do something else.” “It’s worthwhile to be at least minimally proficient,” the invited counselor began in a prepared spiel arguing the merits of mathematical fluency. The students began to nod in agreement, a promising sign, until alerts of a new One Direction update diverted their attention for the remainder of the assembly. Understandable. Some things are more important.

Rebel’s Should Look Beyond Sexuality By Gauri Tickle & Leah Johnson, Guest Writers

he fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights does not end with the right to marry. With two prominent Supreme Court cases on the docket for this year regarding the right for people to marry others of the same sex. Many people think that that is the extent of what deserves advocacy and attention. Even within the student-body of Fairfax High School, many people believe that LGBT issues are not as important because people do not see as much physical bullying. However, the issue is prominent in a completely different way, mostly in the use of inappropriate, derogatory slurs that are used without thought every single day. Just by walking in the hallway everyday, you can hear people exchanging words like “gay” to describe anything that upsets them. Misgendering is another common “fad” here at Fairfax High School. It’s really rude to make fun of someone for how they dress or express their gender identity. It’s kind of ridiculous how many of LGBT issues get

swept under the carpet even though they involve all of us as a family. We have so many bullying posters up around the school but people seem to forget that when it involves LGBT individuals because they don’t want to get involved. For the past year or so, Gay-Straight Alliance has been practically invisible but now we are back. Due to misconceptions and lack of information, people may think that going to GSA makes you “gay” or people who go to GSA are gay. But that is completely untrue. In the past, FHS GSA had many straight identifying members, however it is not a requirement of GSA that you disclose your sexual or gender orientation at any moment unless you feel comfortable doing so. Starting next year, we are going to start new projects such as the Safe Space project and possibly some fundraisers. The ultimate goal of this club is to make a safe space for you to just be yourself. It really doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, let’s all work together to make school a better environment for everyone.

Commentary

For Your Flynn-formation By George Flynn

Not

Hot

Prom Pictures

he excitement of Prom itself is nothing compared to the never-ending stream of pictures from the night. And thanks to overzealous parents, the notifications of tagging and comments started coming in before pictures themself were over.

The Yearbook

Prom Throwbacks

’m already preparing myself for a month plus of “#tbt Prom with the besties.” We all know you went to Prom. We all know you took one hundred selfies at dinner. And a hundred more in the car on the way to the dance. But please spare us the weeks of pictures. Let the past be the past. der. Please. onsi se p

Hey gorgeous!

urrently loving the yearbook staff for creating yet another fantastic book. Personally, I’m a big fan of the superlatives and the theme is poppin. My only request is that next year is “Burn Book” themed. How fetch would that be?

Weeks of Movies

Plea

ease

pl lease

rec

o I’m not going to pretend like I am in any way a fan of sitting in class doing work everyday. But I’m way over school weeks filled exclusively with movies. If there’s nothing else to teach, can we please just take finals and be done. I really fail to understand what I’m learning from Forrest Gump and Finding Nemo.

I can see it now...

Cronuts

These actually sound to die for, though. A donut made out of a croissant. Like really? Although they’re only in one NYC bakery right now, I’m already predicting FCPS Food Services’ newest hit.

Great Movies, not lesson plans.

espite many requests for me to bring it up, I’ve stayed neutral on Intervention Time all year. But with the end of the year upon us, I feel compelled to get this one off of the proverbial chest. IT has made a stressful schedule even worse and has completely failed to acheive its purpose and I implore the Administration to reevaluate the policy before the beginning of a new school year.

The young singer/songwriter, Lana Del Rey rose to fame with her second album Born to Die, and her recent whimsy ballad “Young and Beautiful off The Great Gatsby movie soundtrack.

After five years, the French twosome Daft Punk has returned with a new album, Random Access that is gaing a lot of praise in the music industry.

Young and Beautiful Come and Get it Change Lightening Bolt Get Lucky Don’t Look Back Radioactive Stop Stop Rich Girls Intro O.P.P. Move on Up Man On Fire Life in Technicolor Bittersweet Symphony I Would Walk 500 Miles Empire State of Mind Dani California Beverley Hills Jump Dancing On My Own

Curtis Mayfield’s funky music from the seventies is perfect for dancing with friends on a summer night.

The rock duo, The Black Keys, bluesy sound will help set the mood when lounging by the pool or at the beach.

Summer Playlist

School is almost over, and on your time off listen to some hot songs from the past and new ones hitting the charts!

By Aoife Maher-Ryan and Adelaide Powell

Lana Del Rey Selena Gomez Churchill Jake Bugg Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams She and Him Imagine Dragons The Black Keys The Virgins the xx Naughty by Nature Curtis Mayfield Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Coldplay The Verve The Proclaimers Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys Red Hot Chili Peppers Weezer Kriss Kross Robyn “Life in Technicolor,” is a fanciful instrumental song ideal for long road trips with friends or family by alternative rock group Coldplay.

All photos courtesey of photobucket.com

Summer Getaways

By Adelaide Powell and Aoife Maher-Ryan

Shanendoah Valley

o experience nature and escape from the heat think about heading to Shanendoah National Park located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Go for a hike on the trails where you might see some wildlife or visit the wonderous Natural Bridge.

Philidelphia

Rehoboth Beach

ehoboth Beach, Delaware is a local favorite place to visit and for good reason. The trip is only a few hours and the beach and boardwalk offer interesting sites and numerous events. Places like the mini-amusement park Funland and the popular independent book store Browseabout are fun places to visit right off the boardwalk.

All photos courtesey of photobucket.com

“T

weekend voyage to the city of Philidelphia will ensure a fun night and a view to historical landmarks that will spark interest in the country’s upbringing. Check out sites such as the famous Jim’s Steaks for a tasty meal or the Liberty Bell at Liberty Bell Center.

Summer Movie Preview

he Bling Ring” stars Emma Watson, Katie Chang and Israel Broussard as a group of teenagers who break into a number of celebrities’ homes to steal their clothes and valuable items. Sofia Coppola directs the film that is based on the actual burglaries by Californian teenagers in 2009. Release date: June 14

“M

onsters University,” the prequel to Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.,” has Mike Wazowski and Sulley going to college to major in scaring about 10 years before the original film. This time Sulley and Mike are rivals set on being better at scaring than each other and college antics ensue. Release Date: June 21 All photos courtesey of photobucket.com

By Aoife Maher-Ryan and Adelaide Powell

rad Pitt stars in “World War Z” the post-apocalyptic zombie film based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks. Gerry Lane (Pitt), a United Nations worker, tries to prevent the zombie pandemic from spreading across the globe. Release date: June 21

“P

ercy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” is the adaptation of the second book in the Percy Jackson series and the sequel to 2010’s “The Lightning Thief.” Logan Lerman returns to star as Percy and goes on another adventure with his demigod friends to find the Golden Fleece and save Camp Half-Blood. Release Date: August 16

“Arrested Development,” Is Not Developed Enough By Aoife Maher-Ryan

The long awaited comedy “Arrested Development,” has come back with 15 new episodes featuring the original cast that can that can be streamed on Netflix. After the critically acclaimed show was cancelled in 2006 due to low ratings a cult following grew calling for a return to television. The growing audience was appeased with season four which was released May.26. If one has not watched the show before the synopsis is in the intro of every episode, “Now for the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them altogether.” Each episode in the new season brings attention to one character, showing what they have been up to for the past five years. Michael (Jason Bateman) is the son trying to keep the Bluth family together while picking up the pieces of a crumbling mansion building and banana stand business. Michaels son George Michael Bluth is a teenThe Bluth family reunites for a new ager in love with season on Netflix. his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat) and tries to do the right things for himself while making his dad proud. Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) is Michael’s sister and Maeby’s mom who is in a dysfunctional marriage with a former doctor, Tobias Funke (David Cross). Gob (Will Arnett) is Michael’s older brother who is an aspiring magician who wants to please his felon father, George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor.) Lucille Bluth (Jessica The Bluth family in its intierty in a portrait. Walters) Photos courtesy of www.photobucket.com

is the wife of George Sr. who is more deceiving than her husband and can handle just as much alcohol. Then there’s Buster (Tony Hale) who loves his New guest stars Kristen Wiig and Seth Rogen mother a little play Lucille Bluth and George Sr. in flashtoo much and backs. tries to rebel against her often, but always ends up returning to her lavish penthouse. This season Michael is less of a central character which is missed and becomes more selfish than seen in the original series. The actual episodes drag on, that could be caused by the 35 minute episodes which differ from the 22 minutes from the old seasons or because of the slow acceleration in the plot. Some The original cast stands in front of the iconic characters family banana stand at a recent premiere. episodes such as George Sr., Lucille, and Tobias were disappointing due to the tiresome storyline. The episodes revolving around Gob’s newfound love with Tony Wonder (Ben Stiller) and George Michael’s Fake Block technology were some of the funnier parts of the season. The show was hard to enjoy at times because of the intricacy of each episode. Although, hardcore fans will applaud the way old jokes reappear and new ones make them double over laughing. The authentic hilarity is still in the show it just feels too scripted now which is something “developers” of the show yearned for.

Entertainment

Chorus Explores the Magic of Disney

n May 22, Fairfax High School’s Choral department presented their final concert of the school year. The Disney themed performance included a wide range of songs from movies such as Les Miserables, Tarzan, Mulan, Aladdin, and more. “The thing that makes the Spring Spotlight Concert special is that it celebrates the accomplishments of our seniors and passes the torch to the younger members of the chorus program. There are alumni in the audience, the seniors write good-bye’s in the program, and there is even a slideshow at the end of the concert so that we can take a walk down memory lane,” said Director Luke Frels. The students prepared for the concert by practicing repeatedly. “Each class had choreography captains who were in charge of coming up with an original dance for their class’s song. We worked on vocal technique each day and then worked through each song to get it learned and memorized,” said Frels. “The concert was in the atrium because it is a much more intimate setting and the acoustic is more favorable for singing. Everything was simpler and easier to

Photos by Emily Verbiest

By Emily Verbiest put together in the atrium, so we could focus more on the music and on making the concert a positive experience for everyone,” said Frels. The intimate setting was suitable for the solos that were performed. Soloists included Alexandra Nicopoulos, Jula DeCosse, Sarah Hollander, Alvina Briggs, Howard Kim, Deanna Payne, and more. Frels said, “This year’s senior class is special to me. It is my first 4-year class here at Fairfax. They have grown as people and have learned a ton about music. I am struck by how much I have learned from them. The seniors who stuck with chorus and with me for the past four years had to give up a lot. I want to express to them how thankful I am for their commitment.” The students showed their gratitude towards Frels by surprising him with a song. Frels said, “They sang an arrangement of “Thank You For The Music” that I did a few years back. They took the music and learned it on their own. Then, at the end of the concert they took over the stage and sang it to me. It was awesome.”

Entertainment

At The Movies

By Adelaide Powell and Aoife Maher-Ryan

Now You See Me

“N

ow You See Me” is an entertaining caper film starring Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco. A crew of ragtag street magicians are brought together by an anonymous person who promises them a chance to be in an exclusive secret magic society. A year later the group, sponsored by wealthy insurance mogul Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), are performing as The Four Horsemen in Las Vegas. The group performs an illusion which appears to involve the theft of three million euros from a bank in Paris. An investigation by FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and French Interpol agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) follows. The stellar cast brings life to the mediocre script. The action sequences are choreographed well and the magicians’ tricks are compelling. Harrelson has great comedic timing and a facility with one liners although his fellow magicians’ big egos become irritating. Throughout the movie viewers are left wondering about the identity of the “fifth horseman” who is causing all the chaos. Many will be happily surprised with the unexpected reveal at the end. The skilled magicians known as The Four Horse-

The Great Gatsby

men, Jack (Franco) , Daniel (Eisenberg), Henley (Fisher), and Merritt (Harrelson) meet after an unknown person summons them to join a discreet magic organization known as “The Eye.”

az Luhrmann's adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby” stars Leonardo Dicaprio as New York socialite Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy. The romantic-drama is filled with over-the-top imagery and hits the audience over the head with Fitzgerald’s language, symbols and metaphors. The 20s are roaring when Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) befriends his mysterious millionaire neighbor Jay Gatsby on Long Island’s West Egg. Nick soon becomes entangled with New York’s elite. DiCaprio and Mulligan give especially fitting and emotional performances that allows the film to be funny, suspenseful and affecting. Compared to other adaptations of the novel, Luhrmann's take is the most exhilarating and exciting, and with the modern soundtrack and score by Jay-Z, this “Great Gatsby” is an ode to the 20s Daisy (Mulligan) and Gatsby (Dicaprio) dance as well as a film for this generation. at one of his luxurious parties in “The Great Gatsby.” The film marked the first of the summer blockbusters, is the fifth adaptation of the classic novel and the first to be released in 3D.

Iron Man 3

ony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) must defeat The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) the puppet leader of an international terrorist organization before the villain destroys the world in “Iron Man 3.” Following the events of “The Avengers,” Iron Man is struggling to recover from his injuries and stress-related anxiety. His recuperation is postponed when a figure from his past comes back to haunt him. Along with the expected explosions and special effects, there are some funny moments during scenes with Stark’s girlfriend, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Harley (Ty Simpkins), a kid he meets while chasing down The Mandarin. Although this installment of “Iron Man” was slightly tiring, it was an improvement on 2010’s “Iron Man 2.”

Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) sits with his iron robot while pondering his next move. The last installment of Iron Man broke box office records earning over 175 million dollars in its first weekend. Photos courtesy of www.photobucket.com

Sports

Capitals Playoff Struggles Continue By Jackson Campbell

or the sixth consecutive season, the Washington kin, Niklas Backstrom, and Mike Green. Before they can Capitals qualified for the playoffs, but once again did even dream of a Stanley Cup, they need to figure out how not live up to the expectations that come with being to finish off teams of lesser caliber in the early rounds of a top performing regular season team. the playoffs. In a lockout shortened season, the Capitals barely won This offseason, the team will largely remain the same the Southeast Division with only a couple role championship after players entering free agentrailing everyone early cy. Even the most die-hard on with a record of 2-9-1. Caps fans have to start In the playoffs against wondering if the team in a familiar opponent in its current state will ever the first round, they won bring home the franchise’s both home games against first Stanley Cup. the New York Rangers Capitals Center Niklas taking a commanding 2-0 Backström summed up series lead to New York. nicely the bottom line of Of the nine playoff the disappointment these series the Caps have past six years when interplayed in these six years, viewed by a Washington seven have have gone the Post reporter after being full seven games, showeliminated, saying “We ing what many Caps fans need to learn how to play come to regard as an in the playoffs.” inability to win when it The Rangers moved on really matters. to face the Boston BruThey found themins in the second round, selves in another drawn Henrik Lundqvist celebrates after the Rangers eliminated the where they were easily out contest again this dispatched in five games. Caps, 5-0 in game seven. season as they allowed The Bruins were able to do the Rangers to climb back in the series and eventually against New York that which the Capitals could not, which prevail in game seven in Washington in a 5-0 blowout. was score. When the Bruins advanced the Eastern ConBoth goalies were outstanding, largely shutting down ference Finals to face the Pittsburgh Penguins, that also two of the most powerful offenses in the league. Braden meant that the remaining four teams were the teams who Holtby for the Caps showed that he is the long term soluhave won the past four championships. tion at goalie for the organization, but Henrik Lundqvist That kind of postseason success has escaped the Capiwas even better, not allowing a goal during the final two tals since they became a franchise, even though they have games of the series. recently been a better regular season team than Boston, In games three, four, and six at Madison Square Chicago, Los Angeles, and others who have brought home Garden, the Caps seemed to lack the energy they had at the Stanley Cup. home. They could not get out of their defensive zone, and As the season wraps up, the Caps are left wondering Holtby was constantly inundated by shots from the Ranger once again what could have been, and what will be. The forwards. criticism has largely been put upon Alex Ovechkin since However, the Caps seemed to be in control after a 2-1 he only scored in game one, but it is only a complete team overtime victory in game five, then needing just one more effort that can win the Stanley Cup, not an individual win to advance to play Boston in the second round. player. However, just three days later, after a stunning colThe Caps are on their third coach in the past two lapse, and completion domination in a 5-0 win by the years, but Adam Oates will be under a lot of pressure next Rangers in game seven, the Caps once again found themseason. This time though, if the team does not reach their selves searching for answers after another disheartening ultimate goal, the coach might not be the only one to go, early playoff exit. and a complete overhaul of the roster would mean another Winning a championship has long been the expectation long wait before they can even think about winning a title. of fans for this core group of stars including Alex Ovech-

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Sports

Boys Soccer Scores In Playoffs

By Jessica Salguero, Guest Writer

he Fairfax Varsity boys soccer team has made a Pacheco said, that with that hard work shown in the significant improvement since last year with an imgame against McLean, “we can beat any team in the disproved record and by making it to regionals. trict.” Junior Joe Rice said, overall the season “went well One of Beall’s most memorable moments was, “The although we had some ups and downs we pulled through McLean game when we beat them in overtime for penalty in the end to accomplish our goal to getting to regionals so kicks, it was really great seeing everyone supper involved I thought it was successful.” and happy. I think one of my other favorite memories is Coach Erik Beall said, “Besides us having more wins the beginning of the season with our first game against than last year I think we’ve worked really hard becoming Yorktown it really kind of showed us what kind of team we a better team in general” had and what kind of becoming closer throughout season we could have the season. they did very well and Another junior, Julio beat Yorktown, and it Pacheco said, “We started out was a competitive team working together well but too.” lacked finishing the games The coaches were a strong and couldn’t finish in part of the significant the box. We put our heads change this season down when we got scored on leading the boys varand started working harder sity soccer into districts towards the end of the seaand latter regionals. son. We still need to work on Pacheco said, “They switching the ball, finishing communicated more shots and keeping our head are tried different ways up.” of coaching with drills Rice said the reasons for and not all running.” such a significant improveBeall said, “It was ment were, fighting harder amazing actually, and having more talent than it was nice to go to years past. regionals and see our Pacheco said, ”Some of us teams do really well. It have been playing since ninth was great to see that grade and we’re a younger and everybody was team so that helps us grow really happy about that together and improve. It too, so its nice, it gives The Fairfax Varsity Boys Soccer team celebrates their win over also helped that we had more Mclean High School during their playoff run. them a little character friendship and it allowed us Photo Courtesy of Joe Rice to try and work hard to connect during the game.” over the summer even more so.” This allowed the boys to have a oneness that allowed them Looking forward to the 2014 season Pacheco said, to play cohesively. “We’re a young team and I hope that we can keep growing As the team progressed into the 2013 season “We got a and getting better.” lot better, started working harder and it was a fun season Beal said “There are a lot more positive attitudes I overall.” said Pacheco. think, they’re super super young so we only had two seThe game that furthered the boys varsity team into disniors this year and a few juniors but primarily everyone is tricts and latter regionals was Fairfax v. McLean, which a sophomore .” the boys won. Pacheco said that he is looking forward to “Getting Pacheco said the reason for this significant win was more wins and seeing how much more we can improve.” because of “our attitude on the field and practice.” He is most proud of making it to regionals this season. Rice also said, ”It felt great because that’s what we’ve strived for all year and as a goalie saving two goals and making one goal felt even better.”

airfax High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s junior class hosted this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prom at the Fairview Park Marriott on Saturday, June 1. The weather held out and the event proved a success as the Marriott ballroom, decorated according to the Paris theme, filled with excited students. Seniors Michael Rice and Jessica Minionis won prom king and queen respectively.

A Night in Paris