GASPARILLA
By: CARSON COULON, STAFF WRITER & WINTER CARJABAL, NEWS EDITOR
Cheers echoed across the bay as fleets of pirates launched treasures from their vessels to thousands of fellow buccaneers wearing enough beads to sink a ship.
This year’s Gasparilla Children’s Parade ran for nearly three hours riding floats, collecting beads and socializing in the predecessor to the main Gasparilla Parade, held the following weekend.
The Gasparilla Children’s Parade has been a Tampa tradition since 1947, almost as long as the Gasparilla parade itself. It has come a long way from being comprised of schools and children’s organizations pulling homemade
floats through downtown; now, the children’s parade is as elaborate as the main event, sporting dozens of rafts and hours of entertainment among plenty of activities for younger kids. Participants could have taken part in a bicycle and pedestrian safety demonstration, a swarm of young pirates sailing their ships across Bayshore Blvd, a fantastic airshow, the main event--the parade and finishing off the exciting afternoon with a mesmerizing firework display.
Some Robinson students were thrilled to be invited onto floats from various organizations.
Students from our very own Robinson were on a float as well for VooDoo Chef, a culinary program in Tampa. Janeice Mitchner (‘25) and Joseph Dillard (‘25) shared
their experiences.
“[The best part was] chucking beads,” Mitchner said. “This was my first time going to Gasparilla. I definitely had a great time.”
Dillard celebrated his first Gasparilla as well. “It was fun seeing everyone dressed up and throwing beads,” he said. Partaking in the parade from the sideline was also entertaining. More than just collecting pirate treasure, Logan DelleChiaie (‘28) cherished the connections made with other parade-goers.
“It was really cool to meet and interact with people,” DelleChiaie said.
More of those who attended the parade claimed that it was “fun”
and “exciting.” One participant said that it was “nostalgic,” looking back on their previous parade experiences.
Smiles and laughter filled the evening as the parade sailed through nearly three hours. Families new and familiar with the event attended. One family holds a very unique connection to Gasparilla.
When a student in elementary school, the father, pirate Captain Bellamy, in the family participated in the parade in the Cub Scouts float as well as a part of the Robinson Marching Band.
“Since he and I got together we’ve been trying to come every year. And then COVID hit,” the mother, Captainess Bellamy said. But despite the obstacles of the
pandemic, the mother had still attended the parade eight times, and the father 15. “It’s been a part of our lives for so long.”
“This is his first parade,” she said, her son, whom they named after a real pirate, Samuel Bellamy. “We’re excited to share it [the parade experience] with him.”
It is safe to say that this year’s parade was one for the books, or rather, for the treasure maps.
Tampa citizens dressed as invading pirates toss beads to on lookers from their pirate ships on Bayshore Boulevard. Photos by C. Coulon
Speech and Debate’s Road to Harvard
The Robinson Speech and Debate team prepares to compete in a national Harvard competition
By LIAM EICHBERG, WINTER CARBAJAL
In just under a month, the Robinson Speech and Debate team will be attending a competition at Harvard University. This opportunity comes off of the back of their participation in a similar tournament at Yale, as well as other local and regional competitions.
“We hold weekly practices and attend online scrimmages,” Ayan Nallamshetty (‘25), the club’s copresident, said. “Yale taught us that we need to adapt our speaking and debating strategy depending on where we are competing to make the most persuasive argument. We have integrated this into our practice by focusing on different types of argumentation.”
For example, during the competitions team members break off from the group and perform in their own specialization of speech and debate. Nallamshetty, spoke about his own competition type and some examples of what other students compete in,
“For example, I’m competing in extemporaneous speaking [a type of competition in which participants research a topic (often current events-based), then improvise a speech about that topic],” Nallamshetty said.
They have attended various local and regional competitions where they have honed their skills in the varied competition types.
“My most memorable experience was last week [the week of the 6th] at the Sunvite national tournament
hosted by NSU,” Nallamshetty said. “I placed 2nd nationally in extemporaneous speaking along with my other teammates. We all did very well and improved drastically.”
Both Nallamshetty and co-president Devan Patel (‘25) described the various challenges in competing in larger competitions as well as Harvard specifically.
“The biggest challenge has been entering the national circuit,” Patel said. “Our chapter began competing at college tournaments this year, among the likes of Yale, Harvard, and [the University of Florida].
Succeeding at these tournaments is very difficult, even for the best of us. However, the biggest reward was seeing all of the new competitors transform into driven, competitive members.”
In contrast to Patel’s focus on success at the tournaments themselves, Nallamshetty spoke about the logistic troubles the team has faced while organizing transportation to larger national competitions.
“The largest challenge has been getting the resources to compete nationally,” Nallamshetty said.
“Each tournament costs a large sum of money, and we want to reduce the cost for our competitors.”
The team has built a consistent practice schedule and intends to continue approaching competitions in a focused and deliberate
manner. The team’s hard work is consistently displayed through their weekly practices and their dedication outside of school in order to hone their skills for the larger competitions. Those on the team mark their experiences as being rewarding but difficult.
“Being one of the mentors for debate has taught me so much about communicating and leading, when to take charge and when to let others learn lessons for themselves,” said Patel. “I’ve been teaching concepts all year, types of arguments that I barely even understood myself, and as a result, I’ve grown a tremendous amount.”
As the biggest tournament of the year for the speech and debate team,
The Florida State Fair Returns to Tampa
A guide to all things state fair
By ASHLYN MILLER, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The scent of deep-fried Oreos in your nose, the crunch hay below your feet, farm animals and terrified thrill-riders scream in the distance; is this heaven? No, it’s the Florida State Fair.
Arriving back for it’s 101st year, the Fair will return to the fair grounds this year Feb. 6-17. On Friday, Feb. 14, Robinson students will enjoy a non-student day set aside to attend. All students will receive one free ticket from the county.
“There’s a lot of students artwork and different competitions like that,” Principle David Brown said. “It’s always nice for other students to go see that. So it’s a valuable day.”
When planning your visit, it is important to note that there are certain restrictions on teenage fair-goers. All attendees under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian over the age of 21 past 6 p.m. Photo I.D will be required for the chaperones. An 18 year-old-friend will not count, the chaperone must be your parent or guardian.
Ticket pricing for adults (ages 13-54) varies based on the day of planned attendance. A general admission ticket for
the team has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming Harvard tournament. The competition itself will be held on the weekend of Feb. 15.
“The thing that excites me the most about competing at Harvard is that it’s the biggest tournament of the year,” said Nallamshetty. “It’s a great challenge for all of our competitors, and this time, we have adequately prepared for the national scene, on both the speech side and debate side, and I know we’ll see success on both fronts.”
Friday - Sunday will run you $11, but a weekday ticket, Monday - Thursday, will be $6. Presidents Day, a federal holiday and non-student day on Feb. 17, will also be $11.
While these tickets will get you into the fair grounds, if you want a fully-paid experience, unlimited ride wrist bands are also available. For an extra $27 on Monday-Thursday, you will have access to most midway rides and attractions. However, specialty experiences such as bull rides and bungee jumps are separate purchases. This same wrist band is available for Sunday and Presidents Day for $45. Admission is not included with the bands, so in total, an ‘unlimited’ day at the fair will cost $33 on weekdays and $56 on weekends and
Scan the code above to watch the Speech and Debate team’s process and learn more about their journey this season.
The Girl’s Lacrosse Miracle
The girl’s hunt for a coach is a success
By YESENIA ROSARIO, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As spring sports approaches and the pre-season ends, Robinson Girl’s Lacrosse will thankfully begin their 2024-2025 season with a coach.
While it’s unusual for a sports team not to have a coach the girls lacrosse team seems to struggle with the task every year. For the 2023-2024 year they were coached by Nick and Piper Pistorino and their 2022-2023 year by Chef Mitchell Smithey. The posing question is why is it so difficult for the girls to find a coach?
This is because the title nine rule in Hillsborough County. This rule requires there to be both a boy’s and girl’s team so that everybody has an equal opportunity to play.
The coaches for this year’s season on the girls’ team are Robinson Alumni Sophia D’amore as Head Coach and Robinson parent Coach Chris Crook as Assistant Coach along with Nick Zysk.
D’amore decided to come back to help keep the Robinson Lacrosse legacy alive in her free time as she attends the University of South Florida, to study Political Science.
“I came back to coach the girl’s lacrosse team very last second,” D’amore said. “This program has done so much for me and has provided me with such a safe space and loving space that I couldn’t imagine taking that away from the girls.”
While eventually a coach is found it seems to be a
Presidents Day.
The fair opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m on weekends, with all rides open at 10:30 a.m. Weekday hours are 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., however, rides do not open until 1 p.m.
The fair opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m on weekends, with all rides open at 10:30 a.m. Weekday hours are 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., however, rides do not open until 1 p.m.
If you do choose to attend the fair, stay safe and stay
Robinson Culinary Prepares for First-Ever Cupcake Wars
Robinson’s culinary program will be hosting its first-ever cupcake wars this year
By WINTER CARBAJAL, NEWS EDITOR
Scan code for Cupcake Wars registration.
A beloved part of Robinson, the students of the Knights Tavern are hoping to further enrich the school’s community by introducing their own version of Cupcake Wars. Clubs and teachers will be made to compete against culinary students to create the best cupcakes.
“We wanted to do an event that is a competition that brings the student body and teachers together,” Janiece Mitchner (‘25) said.
“I look forward to seeing all the new and unique ideas for cupcake awards that people have.”
Groups, representing teachers, clubs, and the culinary students themselves, will have a cupcake cook-off accumulating in a final tasting ceremony on Feb. 21. “The role of culinary will be as a competitor, while chef will be gathering the judges and giving more info to clubs, teachers, and culinary students,” Michener said.
The first round will be clubs v. clubs, and will be held on Feb. 7; the second round will be teachers v. teachers, and held on Feb. 10; the third round will be a competition between culinary students, held on Feb. 11. The winners of these three rounds will advance to a final round held during the pep rally on Feb. 21.
Premade, store-bought cupcakes will not be allowed and are grounds for disqualification.
common trend every year for the girl’s coach to be a relative of someone on the team or the school.
“I really don’t know why it’s so hard for the girls to keep a consistent head coach. During my time at Robinson, I know the head coaches were very situational. They were either somebody’s dad who graduated [or] somebody who wanted to step in and make sure we had a season or just somebody who got pulled from the weed works like I did,” D’amore said.
Not only does this issue affect the girls’ team in not having a coach but also the boys’ team as well. In Hillsborough County, if the girls’ team does not have a coach, then both teams are unable to participate in the season.
Due to this absence of coaches, four-year player and current Girls Captain Mae Allbritton (‘25) has witnessed this issue every year.
“For the four years that I’ve been on the team, I’ve seen seven different coaches, and I would say that it’s pretty annoying sometimes, especially because as captain it’s my job to try and find a replacement which can be stressful, but I have always ended up loving each coach by the end of the season,” Allbritton said.
While the search for a coach continued, Allbritton continued with their preseason practices and has been recruiting for their tryouts. This consists of weekly practices at Foster Park and even volunteering
for South Tampa Sticks Youth Lacrosse.
“The team knows that lacrosse is a newer sport for Robinson, [so] having a coach ready to go during the off season isn’t the biggest concern,” Allbritton said. “Because of this, we always do captain’s practice for preseason, so I’ve been practicing with the newer girls for a while each week to get them prepared for the season.”
While this maybe stumped the girls, they’re looking forward to their season and has not let them stop from going into the season with a positive mindset.
Arron McCarty: Wreslting MVP
From the Mat to Victory: McCarty’s Road to Wrestling Success
By ALYSHA KLINGMAN-MUTCHLER, STAFF WRITER
“One of my biggest motivations is definitely music—it really helps me focus and get ready. But praying and thinking about God also keeps me grounded and centered,” McCarty said.
Boys Wrestling Captain McCarty has over 100 wins in total, while this season he’s gotten 22 wins. With a full year ahead of him, McCarty plans on continuing his hard work and watching as his performance and career improves.
“In my career I have over 100, but this season so far I currently have 22. [I’m] definitely going to try to get more [during] the rest of the season,” McCarty said. McCarty is always committed to his goals, on-and-off the matt. Because to McCarty, every factor is key to success.
“I think it’ll go really well,” Mitchner said. “I do believe that everyone is very trustworthy, so I don’t think anyone would put [store-bought] cupcakes or anything in it. I think that this is a really new and creative idea, rather than having a bunch of physical strength competitions. It takes a little bit more than just strength to be great at something.”
Registration for competitors closes on Jan. 31.
“I train 5 times a day, I lift 4 times a day and I meal prep and keep a proper diet as well as I can,” McCarty said. Although staying inshape is an important part of McCarty’s routine, he also gets ready for a match by listening to music, as it helps him focus and get in the right mindset.
“The main song I listen to before a match is Dance by Lady Gaga. It helps me warm up while also having a little fun before stepping onto the mat,” McCarty said.
Wrestling isn’t an easy sport—it takes a lot of hard work and determination—but having a team that had his back made all the difference. McCarty teammates and coaches created a positive environment that pushed him to get better while also celebrating his successes, big or small. They gave him the confidence to take on challenges and learn
opponent. I don’t underestimate or overestimate [them]. I’m ready to beat anyone on that mat, it doesn’t matter who it is.” McCarty approaches every match with balance, neither overestimating nor underestimating his opponents. He takes things slow, stays composed, and steps onto the mat fully prepared, focused, and
Third year goalie Ava Booker (‘25) acknowledges the process has been difficult but the team perseveres.
“The process has been a little challenging, yet the team’s overall spirit has been high considering the situation. We have had numerous head coaches throughout my high school career, but the assistant coach, Coach [Chris] Crook, still made every season possible,” Booker said. “Mae [Allbritton] has done an exceptional job at coordinating captains practice and teaching new players, or advancing on former teammates, abilities and overall lacrosse IQ.”
While Booker may have a positive mindset, this issue still brings frustration.
“Yes, the situation does bring frustration, considering no coach equals no season,” Booker said.
“Yet, Sophia Damore has been gracious enough to step in. [The] Robinson season has been saved this year.”
Allbritton also believes this season will be a success with them finally having multiple coaches for this upcoming season.
“I think our coaching situation has been handled very well this season as we have three coaches who are all very experienced so I’m super excited for this season and have full confidence that it will be our best yet,” Allbritton said.
D’amore looks forward to the season ahead and hopes
Basketball’s Breakout Player
As girl’s Basketball heats up, one player stands out
By GARRETT SENZON, STAFF WRITER
Robinson has had a dominant basketball season so far, and Annie Keith (‘27) is one of the key reasons why. Breaking away to an impressive 12-3 record, Robinson is currently second in the district, going undefeated against their fellow teams in 4A district 10. Additionally, they’ve had several crucial victories against other great teams, notably against our rivals Plant High school.
Throughout all of this success, Keith, a sophomore on the Robinson team has constantly risen to any occasion, repeatedly providing crucial performances against tough competitors.
“She’s taken a big step forward in all aspects of the game,” Girls Coach Gerald Bautista said. “She gets it going with her ability to read the other teams passes and gets her hands on a lot of steals.”
Last year as a freshman, Keith averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.4 steals per game. Although nothing to scoff at, she has blown her previous stats out of the water with her performances this year, completely revamping her game, to great success.
“She’s currently leading the team in scoring and rebounding,” Bautista said.
“She’s a bit more confident on the floor”.
This year, Keith has dominated stat-lines, averaging a massive 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.1 steals, leading the Robinson team in all three of those categories and finishing in the top three for assists, field-goal and free-throw percentage, proving her immense contributions to the knight’s
to better the team’s skills.
“We [Crook and D’amore] just want these girls to have fun and love the game of lacrosse as much as we do. I’m hoping to accomplish a great season with these girls. I want everybody to learn something new and have fun while doing it,” D’amore said. “I love the sport of lacrosse so much. It has been a part of my life since I was nine years old so I want to show others how amazing this game is and how passionate you can be about it.”
Both Boy’s and Girl’s will play their first game of the season against Robinson’s rivals the Plant Panthers on Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. at home.
successful season.
“[Keith] is a really key player to the team,” Point-guard Emma Herlihy (‘28) said. “She sets a high bar that encourages the freshmen to want to improve.” Naturally, when having as successful of a season as she is experiencing, it’s no surprise that she is acting as a good role model for the freshman. But more so then just inadvertently inspiring underclassmen, Keith plays a key role in the development of new players and the RHS girls varsity basketball culture as a whole.
Her contributions span far past just setting a high bar, with Keith consistently helping out all over girls basketball.
“She helps out when we are short on people for JV games,” Herlihy said. “[This] shows a lot of the younger players who don’t play varsity how to properly play the game, and how to do it well” Its hard to think of a better role model and tutor then the athlete leading RHS girls’ basketball in Points, Rebounds, and Steals, so it’s incredibly beneficial to the future of girls basketball at Robinson that Keith is helping out and showing younger JV players how exactly to succeed in basketball, hopefully passing on her talents towards newer players joining the team.
All that’s left to do is hear from Keith herself on her performance and the team as a whole.
“Being on the team is fun,” Guard Annie Keith (‘27) said.
“All the teammates are very supportive”.
Clearly not just enjoying her successful season, Keith also seems to enjoy being on and
playing with the Robinson team, making this season’s dominant performance by Robinson mean much more, as its not just about her individual success, but also about what they have achieved as a team. The girls only have two more scheduled regular season games, with districts, and the pursuit of glory rapidly approaching.
“We’re in go shape right now. We are currently leading the district and we look to keep it there and hold off our competitors and rivals,” Bautista said. Due to the efforts of Keith, other dominant players, and the team as a whole, Robinson has found great success this season and is looking to take it a step further as the competition heats up in districts starting on Jan. 28, hoping to find victory over their opponents just as they have all season long.
The Speech and Debate team during their BlueKey Competition. Photo via A. Nallamshetty
The Speech and Debate team at the Riverview High School Regional Tournament. Photo via. A. Nallamshetty
The Speech and Debate team at the Northport Regional Tournament in Oct. Photo via. A. Nallamshetty
Jane Wyrick (‘27) attempting to win the ball from a Freedom player.
Photo by J. De La Cruz
Arron Macarty (‘26) pinning a wreslter from Leto to the mat. Photo by J. De La Cruz
Annie Keith shooting for a basket during one of the first women’s basketball games of the year.
Photo by C. Coulon
Meet the New Face of IB French at Robinson
By:
With the sudden departure of the IB French teacher earlier this school year, students taking the course have been eager to get back on track after months of having little guidance regarding the subject. Fortunately, the hiring of a new IB French and Spanish teacher, Renae Cheshire, has mitigated schoolwide concerns.
“We were very lucky to find somebody that was certified and able to do both French and Spanish. It’s very, very hard to find people who are certified in both, you know, and we really needed somebody French,” Principal David Brown said. Cheshire applied for the position as soon as she stumbled upon it.
“The IB French positions in particular are very few and far between; the availability here seemed too good to be true, so I applied,” Cheshire said. “My experience of not remembering Italian from high school inspired me to be a good French and Spanish teacher so that kids actually remember it after high school.”
Cheshire takes great interest in teaching the language to students as she, herself, feels a deep inclination towards the French language.
“I’ve always been interested in languages--I kind of got into French by accident. I was a student at the University of
South Florida and I wanted to transfer to the University of Florida,” Chesire said. I needed to take care of my language credits, so I took an intensive French course over the summer, and I just loved it! When I went to UF, I continued taking French and before you knew it, I had a minor in it. I could either graduate with my English degree or go abroad to study and take five more classes when I got back to get a French degree instead--so that’s what I did.”
it a bit more fun, hopefully,” Cheshire said.
Cheshire is determined to help her students catch up and find their footing.
Aside from Cheshire’s love for language acquisition, she also adds to the Robinson community by bringing in her years of expertise.
“She was at a charter school, a Montessori school, as a matter of fact. But she’s taught French for a very, very long time, and she was very excited to get back into public school system,” Brown said.
Cheshire understands the challenges students face and works to create an environment that fosters genuine interest and learning. She wishes to encourage projects related to the culture of France to immerse students into the subject with enjoyment.
“I’m trying to balance schoolwork and interest. So, I have some ideas about doing projects that are more culturally focused. It’ll be in-depth—preparing them [the students] for speaking and presenting as well as kind of making
Technology Tips for a Better Semester
Improve what apps, accessories and websites you use
By: ALLISON BARTLETT, STAFF WRITER
As the second semester ramps up, so does the workload, leaving students scrambling for better ways to study. With technology being the fastestgrowing resource in schools, why not make studying smarter instead of harder? Many students end up using studying techniques that are just not sustainable for the amount of workload that we get. Methods such as watching a 20-minute review video and taking an hour to make notes can lead to a quick burn-out. The simple knowledge of a few technology tips to upgrade the efficiency and thoroughness of your studying routine can be a game changer for the tedious spring school season.
Free PDF Textbooks: Drop the Load this Semester
From what I’ve seen, finding a free PDF of a textbook can be extremely helpful, especially if the teacher of the class is requesting a specific type or version of the textbook, and you don’t want to go through the struggle of buying it and hauling it around the rest of the school year.
“I love it [PDFs of textbooks], I think in all my classes we use it because no one wants to carry around a textbook. It’s way easier, I can access it at any time,” student Reid Taggart (‘26) said.
“I think so far, this year has been a little unstable because they have been without a teacher for a while, so I’m just trying to get us back on track.”
Her skills have led to her instantly becoming an invaluable member of the Robinson family.
“I’m excited. I think the kids will be too,” Brown said.
“Hopefully you guys won’t scare her off, and then she’ll stay here and make this French program grow.”
Aside from her own joy in teaching, students are also excited to study while following her lead.
“My first impression of her [Cheshire] was that she is very nice and understands how to explain French to us in a way that makes sense. I think she is going to make French class a lot of fun and help us build confidence in speaking and learning,” Maddie Bowles (‘26) said.
However sometimes if it’s not given directly by the teacher, it can be hard to find PDFs of a textbook. Open Textbook Library is just the tool to help. It has a lot of textbooks that you can access for free, or you could look up how to find free PDFs of textbooks and Google gives about 20 more results.
Portable Chargers: Never Lose Power Again
Once you’ve got your study materials sorted, ensuring your devices stay powered is just as important. Especially for students it makes a big difference between being huddled in the sacred corner of the classroom with the outlet or peacefully sitting at your desk with your phone charging. It’s no mystery that students use their phones all the time, especially when submitting assignments.
“I use it [portable charger] three times a week depending on my phone percentage throughout the day. I can use it for my iPad and AirPods as well,” student Sophia Ngyuyen (‘27) said.
Digital Notes with a Stylus: The Best of Both Worlds
I have always been told that your brain remembers more of what you wrote if you write it by hand and not on a keyboard, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be digitalized without wasting paper. Using a computer stylus could keep all of your notes in one place pretty easily if you kept all the files in a folder but papers are notorious for getting lost and crumpled.
“I like using it [computer stylus] to write on PDFs,” student Alina Diaz (‘27) said. “It’s definitely easier than to print stuff out and keep copies of it with you.”
AI for Studying: Use It to Help, Not Harm
I personally believe that some students misuse AI, using it to find answers rather than to help them study. I’ve used Google’s Gemini before to create mnemonic devices to help memorize information quickly before tests, and what I’ve heard from other students they use AI programs like ChatGPT to help summarize notes that they took. There are so many things’ students can do to study with AI such as creating practice tests, study guides and flashcards other than simply cheating.
“It [ChatGPT] can explain things really in-depth which can help students understand a certain topic,” Nguyen said.
Libby: The Library in Your Pocket
The Libby app is a free library on your phone, and I use it regularly. You can check out any eBook from the entire eBook catalog in Hillsborough County. This could be very helpful and cost-effective, especially for English class if a student forgets to buy a book that is being used, they still can read it without missing anything. However, it could also be used to find books to help in specific subject areas or with specific topics. It can also be used purely for enjoyment, if you couldn’t make a trip to the library, you could still access it using your phone.
“I like that you can really easily put stuff on hold and if you don’t have to put it on hold you can just check it out and open it immediately,” Diaz said. “You don’t have to carry a physical book and it doesn’t use a lot of battery life either which I like. You can get books much quicker than normally using a physical library.”
Better Canvas: Customize Your Study Space
When I open the Canvas app, I feel the bright white background blinding my eyes as I look for my final grades, which does not help put me in a calm mindset. However, with the Google browser extension, the customization options for Canvas feel more comforting than the original. Better Canvas can change how the canvas looks with customization for fonts, class cards, and the background. All of these can be changed individually, or you can pick through many themes to change the look of Canvas altogether. I picked the Over the Garden Wall theme and it makes me want to open Canvas more just to admire my work. That’s not the only thing that students use it for, it can give you important day-to-day and quarterly statistics.
“I like it because it can monitor my progress [in completing schoolwork], and it can also calculate my GPA that I have for the quarter,” Nguyen said.
The most important thing though, is that students are able to do what they need to do to be able to study to achieve good grades, not everything on this list will work for everyone, but that’s okay. There are dozens of student hacks that are out there and can completely revolutionize your studying routine.
College Update: What’s Happening and Why
Robinson seniors begin to receive the results of their college applications
By: ANIKA SANKA, FEATURES EDITOR
College, college, college. It’s all seniors have been hearing this year especially now that it’s college admission season. Typically it’s a mix of nerves, excitement and nervous waiting; with some being elusive about their college admissions while others document their journey on social media. So far for Florida public schools, FSU early action results have come out along with USF and UCF admissions coming out on a rolling schedule and UF’s early action admissions are dropping on Jan. 24.
The lack of acceptances EA [early action] to FSU caused widespread surprise amongst Robinson seniors, as it had been the target school for many applicants causing them to build up their GPA and extracurricular list consequently. As college acceptances get increasingly competitive, sometimes even having an impeccable resume is simply not enough.
“FSU’s acceptance rate sat at 62% in 2005 and 35% in 2020 and has since dropped to 25% following acceptances for the Class of 2028,” according to FSU News. “FSU saw a 49% increase in early action applicants, and the middle 50% of applicants accepted to the Class of 2029 through early action had GPAs ranging from 4.3 to 4.6 with the average SAT score ranging from
1350 to 1450.”
These incredibly high expectations combined with each college seeking specific traits to improve their student population makes the college application process extremely stressful and filled with uncertainty.
“I only know about 10 people that got into FSU and a lot of them are boys because they want more boys in the programs. But it also can be very major based because I know people who had the same scores and everything but different majors, and some
but I’ve spent like four thousand hours doing football. So I think they want to see commitment and that’s what made my applications [FSU included] get accepted,” Moiz Aasim (‘25) said. Additionally, the large drop in acceptance rates and increased selectivity can also be attributed to the substantial influx of outof-state students. The inclusion of the Grandparent Waiver, a waiver that allows out-of-state students to be eligible for in-state tuition at FL public schools if their grandparent is a FL resident,
“They want to see commitment, and that’s what made me get accepted”
- Moiz Aasim
got in and some didn’t,” senior Alayna Hadley said. Colleges are also increasingly focusing on holistic admissions processes, viewing the whole of the application and not just grades and test scores, allowing participants to shine more in their extracurriculars and essays.
“Extracurriculars just starting to gain more weight [in college applications], which I think is a good thing because test scores don’t really reflect who somebody is as a person. So, I think it’s good that they’re moving away from test scores and more towards leadership roles and extracurricular activities. For me, I have really good grades, and I have few extracurriculars,
(‘25)
also increases the number of applicants for FL public schools.
“I mean, they want them to come here even though it makes it more competitive for Florida as well. There’s no doubt about that. But you know, the more the merrier bring them the more opportunity, because think about it, there may be some kids who really are struggling financially and they even their in-state fees are too high,” Principal David Brown said.
Due to Florida’s impressive Bright Future’s scholarship making public school tuition significantly lower than the national average, the competition for spots at public schools is fierce and can rival getting in at a better ranked school but having to fork over a hefty amount of money to retain your spot.
“I got accepted into Howard. which is a historically Black
The ACT and SAT Debate Simplified
college and is located in D.C, so it was my number one choice. I haven’t guaranteed if I’m going to go though, because 50k a year is a lot of money. I’ve already finished my FAFSA, and I’ve been applying for lots of scholarships and probably have applied to like 5-15 for like 2024 alone. You just have to look for them, you have to apply yourself and try to look for local ones instead of national ones because it’s easier to get them,” Hadley said. “I just feel like there’s this sweet spot of people who need money for college but like make enough where they don’t need everything covered. I definitely fall in that sweet spot, my parents make enough but they have to support like two kids going to school and all our other expenses.”
As stakes increase for college acceptances year by year, student’s strategies to stand out vary from spending time on personable essays to maximizing your commitment to your extracurriculars and setting aside your weekends for staying on top of your college applications. Nonetheless, it’s always important to remember that each year is different and opportunities are always out there if you look for them.
“Listen say what you want about Florida, good, bad, ugly, but I will tell you, as far as you know any student that wants to go to school in Florida, they can pretty much get their undergraduate paid for. They should be able to get their bachelors in Florida without paying a dime, be it through bright futures or just other opportunities that they have through FAFSA and things like that,” Brown said.
With testing season rapidly approaching, many students face uncertainty over the ACT versus the SAT
By: GARRETT SENZON, STAFF WRITER
The ACT (American College Testing) and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) are two of the most well-known tests in the United States, with nearly three million students taking the tests each year. However, despite these tests being so widespread, shockingly few students actually know the differences between the two tests, or which one would be better for them, leaving much confusion and uncertainty.
Key Differences Between the ACT and the SAT
Many students don’t know the main differences between the tests, including important information such as the time. The
SAT and ACT are different tests, with vastly different lengths. The SAT measures in at two hours and fourteen minutes, while the ACT spans an entire two hours and fiftyfive minutes, requiring much more testing endurance than the SAT, leading to the tests better fitting different students. With some being crushed by the fatigue of a three-hour test, and some not minding the massive length.
How many questions do each test have?
Corresponding to the tests’ differences in time, both tests boast vastly different amounts of questions. The ACT, the longer of the two tests, has a massive load of 215 questions, whereas the SAT only contains 154 questions.
Additionally, on the ACT you have about 48 seconds to do a question, while the SAT provides 52 seconds for each question. Although a four-second difference may not seem like a large margin, due to the multitude of questions, the time quickly adds up, with the four extra seconds on the SAT providing an advantage in the long run.
College Preferences
Which test do colleges prefer? This question is asked perpetually by college-hopeful high schoolers and is often the driving factor in what a student chooses.
“Colleges do not have a preference on which tests students take,” Dr. Jennifer Martin said, a college admissions consultant and President-Elect of the Higher Education Consultants Association. “Students should take the test that matches best with their abilities and returns the highest scores,” Martin said. In the eyes of colleges, both of the tests are equal, and the only factor that determines what tests you should take should be your personal preference on the format of the tests.
What are the Differences Between the Tets?
The SAT and ACT differ in not just length, but also content. The SAT focuses entirely on English, Writing, and Math, while the ACT contains additional topics. Expanding on the SAT, the ACT contains not just English, Writing and Math, but also has a section on Science, often containing large graphs and lengthy, detailed paragraphs concerning an aspect of science.
When Should You Take the Tests?
One of the biggest points of confusion surrounding the tests is when exactly to take them. Although many believe that they should take it around their junior year, it actually depends on the classes that you take.
“Ideally, students should sit for standardized tests shortly after completing Algebra 2,” Martin said. “The bulk of the math section covers material from Algebra 2, and the longer you wait, the more of that material is forgotten.”
The majority of students take Algebra 2 sophomore year and therefore should take the test over the summer or the beginning of junior year. However, students who are involved in programs similar to IB or partake in double accelerated classes may end up taking Algebra 2 freshman year, and then should begin testing their sophomore year, earlier than most students expect.
“I am taking the SAT this year,” Talon
Schenck (‘27) said. “because I took Algebra
Two freshman year and if I wait until junior year then I’m not going to remember it.”
Why Should You Take the Tests?
Many schools went test-optional in 2020 due to COVID-19, instead viewing the tests as a bonus on a student’s applications instead of a necessity. Since then schools have begun switching back making it imperative to take one of the two tests.
The ACT and SAT can help bolster a person’s chances for acceptance to their desired school by proving their commitment to their education as well as their intellectual abilities.
“I’m taking the SAT and the ACT to prepare for college,” Sophia Wolfson (‘26) said.
“Early decision applications come first semester senior year so I’d like to complete the SAT and ACT before senior year starts.”
Renae Cheshire saves IB French
WAREESHA FAHAD, STAFF WRITER
“The Friday Knights” with Jordan De La Cruz and Ryan Rolle
University of Pennsylvania main campus building.
Photo by A. Miller
The new IB French and Spanish teacher, Renae Cheshire, in her classroom. Photo by W. Fahad
Canvas with the Google browser extension Better Canvas
Photo by A. Bartlett
Sophia Nguyen (‘27) uses her stylus to write down notes in class.
Photo by A. Bartlett Library books on hold using the Libby app. Photo by A. Bartlett
AI Needs To Calm Down
It can write, draw, and now mimic people; AI has gone too far
BY: ANNABELLE BULGER, FUN COORDINATOR
AI has become more and more involved in our lives over 2024. From ChatGPT writing essays to stealing art, AI has crawled into the niches of the internet and simultaneously made our lives easier and infringed on them. A recent development in AI is voice generators, which allows someone to take recordings of someone’s voice and make them say something else through AI. This brings up a lot of moral issues that AI has already exposed, and maybe it’s time we put our foot down.
AI has been in use for longer than we think in some way, shape or form. Math calculators like Desmos use a form of AI to create graphs, run diagnostics and other programs during research to record
data. These versions of AI are simple and can’t produce original work and data of their own, they only take what is given. There’s even AI models that allow you to summary complicated study materials into a format that works for you while keeping the essential materials. While more advanced AIs can create study programs and help us learn more from each other, this new technology can also be used for not-so-helpful functions.
The first effect that was recognized by the general public was AI’s ability to write essays that looked and sounded like they were written by a professional, but this mainly effected education by creating concerns about students AIing assignments. Then came photos and art, and we realized the scope of the issues with AI. Companies had to get pictures from somewhere to feed their algorithms, and this often meant stealing art from actual artists that posted their work online. Now, AI has started replacing actual artists in companies, as seen in the AI Coca Cola ad that ran this year, and people are calling for overdue regulations surrounding how companies harvest data.
Voice generators can be even worse, as they don’t replicate art or ghost-write an essay, they replicate people. Firstly, like writing and art, the way these companies farm voices are unregulated as well as what they do with those recordings. Again, this is so incredibly unethical and crosses personal boundaries by essentially stealing part of a
Rock Climbing - It Rocks!
Rock climbing is a sport everyone should try at least once
BY: SADIE SCHEU, STAFF WRITER
Even though rock climbing is a more obscure sport, it’s been a part of my life for a long time. I started climbing when I was six, and I’ve been on a team with regular practices for most of the years since. I used to think that everyone knew what rock climbing was, but in truth, only around 4% of Americans would identify themselves as rock climbers. From indoor climbing at a local gym to cross country trips to outdoor routes, here are a few reasons why everyone should get into the sport.
Climbing is a unique sport in that it’s not actually that difficult to get into it if there is a gym near your house, and luckily, Central Rock Gym on Gandy is only around five minutes away from Robinson. Rental equipment is almost always available, and gyms will usually offer lessons on the basics and beginner friendly routes. In fact, no matter your skill level, the wide range of types of climbs will help anyone find something that is just challenging enough for them. For example, if your upper body strength isn’t where you want it to be, there will almost always be some routes that focus a lot more on balance. Even people who are shorter can find routes that require more compact moves.
Aside from that, rock climbing is a very good sport for overall health. According to Time Magazine, “ [climbing] requires the same amount of energy as running an 8- to 11- minute mile.” Not only is it good for your cardiovascular health, but climbing is able to exercise almost every part of your body at once, helping with upper body, core, and lower body strength.
The sport can also be beneficial for your mental health. Climbing forces you to look at things from different angles and solve puzzles in order to find a practical way up the wall. According to Time, “climbing for about two hours boosted working memory capacity by 50%.” Not only that, but like many forms of exercise, studies show that climbing regularly can significantly improve mental health issues such as depression. Personally, I find it to be stress reducing and a nice way to relax after a long day.
Perhaps the most important reason why everyone should try rock climbing is that it is simply an extremely fun sport. The rock-climbing community is small, but very kind and supportive. You never have to worry about being judged, and
person. I have heard cases where people have been called by a random number and hear a loved one in distress begging for something, normally money, to get out of a situation; these calls are AI generated. They sound so incredibly realistic that it makes me wonder what else these generators can be used for.
An AI generated voice could be even created for illegal voiceovers in media. AI is already annoying and dangerous to our creativity, but voice generators could be a threat to us. We can’t completely get rid of AI voice generators, but we can do our best to
people will almost always be willing to give you advice while you’re working on something. I know that I have certainly found community and made very close friends at my own climbing gym. Aside from the community, finally finishing a route you’ve been working on for a long time is an amazing feeling that boosts your confidence and can be the highlight of your day.
Some people hesitate to try this sport because it can, admittedly, be dangerous. Outdoor climbers face the possibility of falling from significant heights if their ropes are set up wrong. However, climbing gyms are highly regulated and do everything in their power to protect anyone climbing there, and are a much safer place to start than self-set outdoor routes. As long as you follow the safety procedures set by the gym, there is no need to worry about being severely injured.
For all of these reasons, I believe that everyone should get into rock climbing. It is truly an amazing sport, and it has definitely contributed to the person I am today. So, the next time you feel like trying something new, head over to the nearest gym and find yourself a lifelong hobby.
mitigate their effects. I recommend avoiding using your own voice for any generator at all. In addition, we should start boycotting companies that use AI voices in their media and commercials. AI should be a helping tool to help us study and learn, not a threat to our safety and personal rights.
Is Romance Redefined?
The debate on dating
BY: SOPHIE LE, OPINION EDITOR
They aren’t dating, just talking. This is a response to the common question of “Are they together” that most adults over 30 wouldn’t understand. But we as Generation Z have created this term and redefined the entire concept of dating.
One complaint most teenage girls have is that boys talk to multiple girls at the same time. While this does hurt feelings, they are hit with the stone-cold fact that this is “allowed” because they are only just “talking,” not truly dating.
In Vogue India’s Article “What is the ‘talking stage’? It’s the newest form of dating torture”, journalist Jenny Singer investigates the meaning of “talking”. “The talking stage” is a label apparently coined by Gen Z’ers to describe a maddening, un-defined early stage of many relationships. “The talking stage is kind of like the test run of a situationship,” says Nandini, a 20-yearold college student in Austin. “It’s this period of developing the feelings before you’re even actually dating.” Isn’t that just…dating? No! It’s the talking stage! “It’s basically doing everything that is required of a relationship without the relationship title,” said Tatyana, a 22-year-old in Tampa.
TikToks flood my FYP [for you page] with text stating that teenagers wish they could have an “ old-fashioned type of love.” My friends and I used to watch these TikToks and agree that teenage boys these days lack the chivalry of men back then. But after consideration, Gen Z love could possibly be for the better. Dating has become such a formal term in our modern age. If you are dating, you can not see other people, or it’s deemed cheating. Dating in the past definitely held a different rulebook. While I was binge-watching one of my favorite late ‘90s shows about dating, “Sex and the City,” I realized the term has been completely shifted. Dating
was seen as a much looser term for involvement with someone. This is the stage of getting to know and figuring out if you would like to commit to a relationship with someone. Talking has truly replaced the old term of dating.
So terms have shifted. What else has?
The change in data has caused one of the biggest fears for women, teenage pregnancy, to decline.
According to cdc.gov, “The teen pregnancy rate dropped 50% from 1990 to 2010. Reaching a historic low, the teenage pregnancy rate in 2010 was the lowest reported since 1976,”
With more access to sex education, the destigmatization of the act has allowed teenagers to seek more research than before.
As claimed by The Daily Telegraph, Author Ebony Leigh talks about how the sexual script has been rewritten for the new generation.
Relationship and intimacy coach, Susie Kim, reveals that teens aren’t in as much of a rush to grow up, mature and get
married as millennials are.
The rise in social media has also affected relationships by creating a new way of meeting and communicating with future partners.
“Then there’s obviously the impact of tech and social media which means they [teens] can connect with people online and form friendships, communities and relationships without actually needing physical intimacy. And then I think there is just that discomfort with intimacy and an awkwardness,” said Kim.
The addition of a less intimate option of dating allows Gen Z to value sex less.
“I think that there is just an openness of different forms of connection and intimacy. And that could lead to more considerate choices and potentially less regrets,” said Kim.
One thing that’s clear is Generation Z has changed dating. For the better or worse, that is for you to decide.
Superstitions Are Super Stupid
Not washing your favorite jersey is disgusting, sorry BY: RYAN ROLLE, WEBSITE MANAGER
It’s become a very common practice to incorporate superstitions in every day life - knock on wood, don’t walk under a ladder, beginner’s luck, even seeing black cats. In my opinion, they’re all a big waste of time.
We often try to blame things in life on others instead of putting in hard work. Bad day? Maybe you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or, in reality you probably just had a negative attitude and didn’t bother fixing it. As humans, it’s easy to let things pile up and often when bad things happen, people think it’s a sign that someone is out to get them. In reality good and bad things are constantly happening and we need to accept it. For me though, this concept only applies to negative superstitions. If it brings you a little joy to catch 11:11 every day or wish on a shooting star, no harm because it’s nice to find little things to look forward to and believe in, even if they don’t end up coming true. Again though, everything in moderation. I draw the line at not washing certain clothing to support your favorite team, I can promise you the sweaty memories of your past are not going to change the future. No matter how lucky you may get, even
As the Florida winter breeze creeps up, it’s kept our staff on their toes as we have our second issue of the year. With back-to-back hurricanes and changes in schedules due to them we’ve decided to do a winter issue with updates on sports around the school to advice on how to be stylish during this Floridian winter.
With a wave of new staffers this year our first issue was a test trial to get them used to the water, but on this issue, they’ve dived in and proven their skill. As we conclude this issue our staff prepares to take on FSPA States in April in Orlando at a new location
This
if your team ends up winning the big championship it was probably because they practiced hard and not because you smell like B.O. thanks to your lucky socks.
My general belief on this subject is that if you think bad things are constantly happening around you because of your superstitions, lighten up and know that the universe is not out to get you.
But on the opposite end of the spectrum, don’t go out of your way to
keep up a superstition, especially if it comes with negative effects towards others. Most superstitions come from the Middle Ages, and I don’t think those are people you really want to be taking life advice from, as they lived to the ripe age of 35.
My advice to everyone is to have fun with superstitions, but don’t believe in them like your future depends on them because I can assure you it doesn’t.
Generation Z couple experience newly redefined young love. Illustration by Janiece Mitchner
Photo by R. Rolle
A woman rock climbing with a harness on an indoor rock wall Illustration by M. Pepple
Sadie Schue (‘26) free-climbs on an out door boulder. Picture via. S. Schue
THE Winter Fashion Guide as a Tampanian
It’s time to dress to the occasion
By GRACE SHAFER, A&E EDITOR
During these past couple of frigid weeks, I can’t help but notice the fateful combo of a jacket and jeans on every single person in the halls. Trust me, I get it. For most people, when you can barely feel your toes, the last thing you’re thinking about is how cute your outfit is or isn’t. But for those who are interested, I’m going to help you maximize your winter accessorizing until you look like a huge, chic ball of wool.
Never underestimate the power of a winter coat. The beauty of this is you really only need one, solid, reliable coat that you can apply to any winter fit. Tans and corduroys are always a strong choice for this because you can add it to really any outfit without much thought. Without giving any credit to TikTok fashion boys, Carhartt is the exact style of winter jacket that you’d be going for here. So for those who are already hitting the Bob Dylan shiver walk, now you’ll fit the look too. Another extremely viable option is a good, oversized leather jacket. Add it to the t-shirt, jeans combo and you’ve immediately elevated your fit tremendously. Something many people forget they can do during winter is wear skirts, I swear it’s legal. The beauteous invention of tights has been keeping our legs warm for decades, so let’s not let traditions die.
Tights are the perfect accent piece for a simpler winter ensemble in need of some spice. You can start small with basic color
tights and then go wherever your heart desires. Striped tights, polka dot tights, tights with eyeballs, tights with ladybugs, the possibilities are endless.
Now to address the numb feet, I have the perfect fix. To pair with your single winter coat, you’re going to need one pair of boots at the very least. Boots have this magical power of making any outfit immediately the best I’ve ever seen in my life, and I don’t understand why every person on this earth doesn’t own a pair of good boots. The hunt to find this magical pair can be tiring, but if you peruse thrift stores long enough, you can find anything. A local thrift store I’ve gotten many pairs from, not just of boots, is Red White and Blue. They hold really any shoe you can imagine, including Timbs and Timbs-adjacents’, another winter shoe recommendation of mine.
The key to a winter outfit you’ll be proud of is layering- and you can decide what this looks like to you. Some consider “over-layering” controversial in fashion, but I don’t believe such a thing exists. Layering adds so much texture and proportion to the simplest of outfits. You probably already do this in some way when it’s as cold as it has been, so why not do it fashionably? If you don’t know how to go about this, start by buying some simple waffle long-sleeved tops and cardigans that you can slip under or on top of any shirt. Then once you start to
Bad Bunny’s New Album “DeBÍ TiRAR
get a feel for what you like with layering, you can experiment with the most divisive of fashion combinations, including even....skirts on top of jeans. It sounds frightening now, but you’ll see how fun it can be once you get into it.
To conclude this winter fashion 101, I leave you with the most important piece of advice for achieving THE winter fit, accessorizing. Accessorizing, accessorizing, accessorizing. You can layer as much as you want, and wear as many pairs of boots as your feet can hold, but an epic winter outfit can’t be complete without your accessories. This can be scarves, leg warmers, beanies, ushankas, anything you want. Dressing to the seasons is one of the most fun parts of being into fashion, and it shouldn’t be something to avoid, if anything, play into it.
You might feel ridiculous the first time you step out of the house, and you’re being weighed down by 20 pounds of clothing, but the results are worth it. I hope we get many more weeks of 40-degree weather so we can all continue playing dress up every day and having fun with our outfits. Remember, play into it- don’t pick up the hoodie-jeans combo every day, I believe in you.
MáS FOToS” Is an Album of Advocacy
On Jan. 6, Bad Bunny released his new album and had me in tears
By YESENIA ROSARIO, CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Bad Bunny, otherwise known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has been one of the most popular Puerto Rican artists in the past couple years and has risen to fame since the release of his album “Un Verano Sin Ti” in May 2022. Since then, he’s not only been a figure in Puerto Rico but has taken his fame across the states and cultures all over the world. On Jan. 6, he released his newest album titled “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” and has created an uproar from not only Latinos but everyone as this album has touched so many people, me included.
I grew up listening to Bad Bunny and have heard his transition from reggaeton and trap to more house music and pop. In this most recent album, its more than the music. In this case, he brings the current issues in Puerto Rico to light. While the songs on this album are good on their own, his lyricism advocates and shines light on the issues of gentrification in
Puerto Rico and embraces the culture of the music of the island.
The album opens with “NUEVAYoL” as a homage to all the “Newyoricans.” The song is first on the album and one of the first Ocasio produced as stated in an interview on Popcast as he also emphasized that there’s much Puerto Rican history and culture in New York such as that being the home where the flag was made. There’s a multitude of videos which can be found online of people emotionally reacting to each song on TikTok and Instagram.
“It’s like the reunion of the whole Latino community,” Ocasio said.
The most popular and one of my favorite songs on the album is “DtMF” which happens to also be the album name abbreviated. I enjoy the rhythm of the music just as much as the lyrics. Listening to this for the first time made me emotional as “debí tirar mas fotos”
translates to “I should have taken more photos” which reminds me of past loved ones and really makes me think. The songs message is so beautiful along with the background vocals he has during the chorus which is multiple people singing which makes it more enjoyable to listen to.
As I mentioned before the album is more than the music and the track “LO QUE PASO A HAWAii” is an amazing song to listen to and is on the slower side, but it creates a sense of emotion I can’t explain. The song is an act of resistance and emphasizes the devastating effect of gentrification in
Puerto Rico. I connect to this song deeply as I’m Puerto Rican and have a lot of family who lives on the island whom I visit and have personally seen the issues Ocasio sings about firsthand.
The lyrics “Quieren quitarme el rio Y tambien la playa, Quierren al barrio mio Y que tus hijos se vayan,” translate to “They want to take my river and my beach too, they want my neighborhood and your kids to leave.”
What Ocasio manages to do in this song is to bring to light the issues which have already happened to one island which he wishes not to be repeated and I find it touching.
I will say that there are some songs on the album which I don’t favorite like “EoO,” “BOKeTE” and “CAFe CON RON” ft. Los Pleneros de la Cresta. These songs aren’t bad, but I don’t love their kind of genre. They’re just not for me.
which ends the album off on a high note. He sings about the story of his parents and how they met and how he came to be. He sings about the overall success of his life and how no matter what he will always be from Puerto Rico no matter how famous he gets.
“DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” is an amazing album overall and speaks on issues that need to be brought to the main media and that’s what Ocasio does. He elicits an emotional reaction to his music which I find refreshing as in the musical space today so much could be advocated for and isn’t. Ocasio manages to balance the importance of advocacy with classic Puerto Rican music that people and dance to and look forward to the warmer seasons ahead. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
”Better Man” Is an Underrated Gem
If you don’t know who Robbie Williams is, this movie is your introduction
By ANNABELLE BULGER, FUN COORDINATOR
If someone asked your average American teenager “What’s your favorite Robbie Williams song?”, they’d probably ask who that was. You’ve most likely heard one of his songs such as “Candy” on social media, or maybe your mom loved British boy bands in the 90’s. If you love 90s pop, heartfelt stories, and/or movies that lean more whimsical, you would love British pop star
Robbie Williams’s biopic “Better Man”. Telling the story of Williams’s rise to UK fame with the boy band Take That, his fall from grace, and his individual journey to become a famous solo star, “Better Man” seems like every biopic we’ve seen, until we actually see the actor portraying Williams. Jonno Davies is CGI’ed into a chimpanzee version of Williams throughout the movie because, according to Williams, he always saw himself as “less evolved” than other people.
The album cover of Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” with two plastic chairs sitting abandoned in a yard. Photo via. Genius
Helena Urrea (‘26) posing outside Columbia restaurant in Tampa. Photo via. H. Urrea
Adriano Casamento (‘26) in winter ensemble in Channelside District, Tampa. Photo Via. A. Casamento
Kamley Branch (‘27) in stylish winter coat. Photo via. K. Branch