The Highlander - Issue 5 - March 2017

the

highlander

Volume LXI • Issue 5 • March 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander

CONTENTS NEWS 3 New TVs at McLean 4-5 Club updates 6

McLean MUN rises to the top

7

News around the world

8

Melanie Pincus: Virginia Journalist of the Year

IN-DEPTH 22-25

A dying spirit: Students sacrifice high school experience for resumes

OPINIONS 28

Editorial: FCPS should cut the year short

FEATURES

29

Students should consider taking a gap year

9

30

FCPS should change its disciplinary release policies

31

Humor: school dances

Alumni offer college advice Highlander of the Issue: Tommy McCarthy

10-11 13

Rescue diver Maria Liu

14

Water fountains at McLean

15

10 Qs with Mary Ann Barton

16-17 18

Madison Deli

Learning without borders in Israel

A&E

32-33

Crossfire: Should clubs receive a portion of athletic funding?

SPORTS 34

Girls soccer preview

35

Teachers who played sports

37

College recruitment

39

Adam Ardito: Jamaican Jr. National Squash Team

19

Highlanders’ playlists

20

Review: Legion

40-41

21

Review: Logan

42

Athlete of the Issue: Gavin Legg

27

Review: Get Out

43

The Starting Line

44

The Finish Line

10-11

9 19

McLean triathletes

39

4-5

Dear McLean,

highlander

the

Letter from the Editors

Volume LXI • Issue 5 • March 2017 • McLean High School thehighlandernews.com • @MHSHighlander 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101

As we send this to print, an unpredictable snow storm is approaching—our last chance at some surprise days off this winter. Here’s hoping it wasn’t a bust, and you’re reading this a couple of snow days better rested.

Editors-in-Chief

Carlyn Kranking, Ingrid Morse & Melanie Pincus

Design Editor-in-Chief

Bryan Chung

Managing Editors

Sri Medicherla, Sanskriti Neupane, Young In Seo & Aisha Singh

In this issue, check out the News section for coverage of McLean’s nationally ranked Model UN team and information on the five new TVs around the school.

Photography Editor

Shanzeh Umerani

Website Editor-in-Chief

Sophie Mariam

Copy Editor

Imani McCormick

Our Features section includes profiles of a senior who has researched frogs with the Smithsonian and a junior who is a certified rescue diver.

Flip to our Opinions section to find out why FCPS should consider ending school earlier this year and to read a humor piece about school dances at McLean.

As seniors prepare to receive their remaining college decisions, our In-Depth analyzes the effects of academic pressure on McLean’s culture.

Check out the Sports section for our first ever Starting Line—it’s like the Finish Line, but with the McLean Munchkins. You won’t want to miss this.

Until next time, make sure to follow @MHSHighlander on Twitter and check out thehighlandernews.com for updates on all things McLean. Come by room R133 or email us at thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com with any questions, concerns or letters to the editors.

Advertising Manager

Seth Eshraghi

Cartoonists

Courtlan Grinder & Dasha Makarishcheva

Section Editors News Editors

Christine Cheon & Siddarth Shankar

Features Editors

Anjalie Chauhan & Olivia Mooney

A&E Editors

Alex Mandanas & Shanzeh Umerani

Opinions Editors

Rustin Abedi & Helen Bloom

Sports Editors

Colin Edson & Ed Walters

Reporters Jessie Friedman Tyler Grobman Miranda Johnson Jiwon Kim Justin Kim Kyuree Kim Maren Kranking Adviser

Anjali Kumar Amanda Laporte Kon Matheoudakis Julia McElligott Anna Murphy Laura Opsahl-Ong Jackson Payne

Michael Redding John Roth Jack Stenzel Eva Zarpas Conor Zeya Catherine Zysk

Lindsay B. Benedict

Yours truly,

Editorial Policy: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review on this publication or its online counterpart, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions.

Bryan Chung, Melanie Pincus, Ingrid Morse & Carlyn Kranking

Advertising Policy: The Highlander sells ad space on each page of the paper except on the front cover, Opinions section and In-Depth article. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive or otherwise inappropriate.

To Submit a Letter to the Editors: Please e-mail it to thehighlanderstaff@gmail.com or bring it to room R133.

The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

‘15 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15 All-American; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16 First Class; Hall of Fame

Cover photo by Shanzeh Umerani

‘14, ‘16 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place ‘16 Crown Finalist; ‘15 Gold Crown Winner ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 CSPA Gold Medalist

‘14, ‘15, ‘16 VHSL Trophy Class; ‘11, ‘12 First Place Winner; VHSL Savedge Award

Printed by aPrintis

TVs hit the hallways

NEWS

New televisions installed at McLean to broadcast news Young In Seo Managing Editor cLean students were surprised this month when they discovered that five new 4K televisions were installed at key points throughout the school.

“I was just confused. They appeared out of nowhere and seemed to have no real purpose,” senior Maggie Holland said.

While many students are unaware of the intent behind the televisions’ installation, ironically, they were installed in order to better inform students about school news.

“These TVs [will] help communicate with students [about] all the activities and events going on,” technology support specialist Brian Stagliano said.

The idea for the televisions was a collaborative effort by Stagliano and Principal Ellen Reilly.

“We’ve been planning this for...two years now because, you know when you walk in that front door, you see that bulletin board that nobody ever maintains,” Reilly said.

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“And then in some schools they just have TVs when you enter, so it’s more appealing.”

The televisions will display a slideshow of school news, including academic, athletic and club activities. The slideshows will be updated at 7:45 a.m. and at noon every day, and they will also include administrative updates.

“Everyone can contribute. Student services can contribute, [student] activities [and] the main office,” Stagliano said.

“We put them in five major intersections throughout the building just for visibility so kids know what’s going on.”

The televisions also address the issue of TVs funded by replacing obsolete technology in the school.

McLean “This opened up the door to do some upgrades that & are extremely cost-effective,” Stagliano said.IT “[We are] replacing 125 Multimedia televisions for the cost of replacing five Department televisions...to upgradeofthe entire school’s FCPS infrastructure.”

The installation of the televisions includes an upgrade to broadcast the afternoon news

$

Fast Facts 1

Improve availability of information for students

2

Replace obsolete technology

3

Part of a pilot program

show on teachers’ projectors instead of televisions.

“We’re hoping to get everything done by the end of spring break. And when we come back from spring break, we’ll have this whole solution in place,” Stagliano said.

In addition to showing school news, McLean is using the televisions as part of a pilot program by the IT Multimedia Department of FCPS. “[The IT department is] looking at streaming. Let’s just take convocation.

Every year we videotape it. If I have a guest speaker...I could also take that and stream it to another school so that they can watch it on their livecast,” Reilly said.

McLean and the recently renovated Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology are currently the only schools participating in this pilot program.

“We’re having this opportunity to participate in something that a school that’s being newly renovated is participating in,” Stagliano said. “We’re super excited about it.”

5 schoolwide TVs

replacing 125 classroom TVs

instead of

Infographic & page design by Young In Seo

MARCH

3

Checkmate — Juniors Alex Hollis and Alex Anthony

play a round of chess at the club’s March 1 meeting. The chess club meets every Wednesday after school in B175. (Photo by Shanzeh Umerani)

CHESS CLUB

J

p U Club

unior Sean Senft emerged victorious in the McLean chess club’s first ever tournament of 30 competitors, which took place over four weeks. The chess club is now planning to extend their matches to compete with other schools.

“Right now I’d like to schedule a match against other schools like Langley, Marshall or Madison so I plan on contacting them to see about that,” said sophomore Nolan Fitzsimmons, who is president of the chess club.

The club meets every Wednesday in history teacher Tom Casey’s room, B175. Many students come to the club meetings as a way to unwind and do something fun after school.

“It’s a fun way to just kind of relax and socialize and also play a little chess,” Casey said.

Joining the club is easy, and Fitzsimmons hopes its membership will grow.

“It’s once a week every Wednesday. People can just come in—there’s no formal registration,” Fitzsimmons said.

“It’s a nice way to make friends and get a game experience.”

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KEY CLUB

K

ey Club International is the oldest service program for high school students. McLean’s Key Club is committed to giving students opportunities to engage in community service.

“Key Club is a club that’s dedicated to finding opportunities to let [students] help the community,” said junior Joy Kim, who is co-president of Key Club.

Throughout the year, the club organizes various community service opportunities for students. “[We find] service projects like animal adoption, nearby elementary school tutoring and 5K runs that you can participate in,” Kim said.

The club has volunteer opportunities planned for March and April, including at the Chesterbrook Fun Fair.

“In March, we have the Chesterbrook Fun Fair which is basically like a little festival. We [also] have a bunch of animal rescue [events] in D.C. and at Wolf Trap,” Kim said.

Key Club meets twice a month on Thursdays after school in English teacher Courtney Klein’s room, B163.

“We’re a pretty small club, but basically we talk about our upcoming projects and give out food,” Kim said.

NEWS

FEMINIST CLUB

M

arch is Women’s History Month, and the feminist club planned events and activities to recognize women’s achievements.

“During this month, we’re trying to [get] more speakers [to come].

[Nancy] Najarian, she’s the president of the [PTSA], and she’s trying to get youth more politically involved,” said sophomore Kimya Shirazi, co-president of the feminist club. “She came in and spoke about volunteer opportunities.”

The feminist club meets every Tuesday in G284.

“For each meeting we pick a different theme to discuss,” Shirazi said. “[In] February [it] was Black History Month, so we discussed representation and diversity and how that connects with feminism and what we can do to be more inclusive of all groups.”

In addition to regular meetings, feminist club members engage in fundraising projects and attempt to expand their efforts beyond McLean.

“Our primary thing...is raising money for the Patrick Henry [Family] Shelter, so we’ve been doing a lot with them, and they’ve come in a few times and spoken,” Shirazi said.

The feminist club has been attracting more membership since the 2016 presidential election, and they hope to continue with their growth.

“I’d say the main thing I want people to know is even if you’re not a feminist or maybe you’re a conservative, we still…invite [you],” Shirazi said. “We do have people that don’t necessarily agree [with us], and we make sure people know that it’s open to everybody.”

s e t a Upd SCHOLASTIC BOWL

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cLean’s Scholastic Bowl team finished as runners-up at the VHSL State Championships this year, marking the first time McLean has brought back a state award in Scholastic Bowl. The state tournament followed wins at districts and regionals for the team.

“There’s a collection of questions where you buzz in and you’re in a competition against everybody else,” club sponsor and science teacher Jeff Brocketti said. “You buzz and you answer the question.”

The team meets regularly, and its members make an effort to keep the team thriving. “[If you want to join the team], you just come to the meetings,” Brocketti said. “[We meet] Monday mornings usually [at] 7:30. Sometimes we meet other times as well, but anybody who’s interested can just show up. We’re always looking for people who are interested—so as long as you like playing trivia, it’s something that will be up your alley.”

Members of the Scholastic Bowl team must have knowledge in a variety of fields.

Game Faces On — Members of the Scholastic Bowl team compete at the VHSL State Championships on Feb. 25. The team was crowned state runners-up.

(Photo courtesy of Jeff Brocketti)

“Scholastic Bowl is an all-encompassing academic quiz tournament,” sophomore and member of the state team Mara Kessler said. “Questions…range from physics, fine art, literature, history, chemistry, geography, music, current events, biological sciences and much more.”

Page design by Bryan Chung Reporting by Sri Medicherla & Siddarth Shankar

MARCH

5

McLean Model UN rises to the top Student leaders drive growth and success

Melanie Pincus Editor-in-Chief ver the past four years, McLean’s Model United Nations team has grown from a club of only 10 members to one of the largest student groups at McLean.

“I’ve spent as much time as possible toward growing the team,” said senior Fatima Shahbaz, co-secretary-general of McLean Model UN. “Watch[ing] our team grow from a measly room of 10 to a nationally ranked team of over 80 members is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in high school.”

The team’s recent successes include a Best Large Delegation award at Georgetown University’s North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN), which is considered one of the nation’s most competitive conferences.

“We had our name called [at awards] and it was kind of just silence for about a second because we didn’t really take it in. We thought we had lost,” said senior Alex Brunner, cosecretary-general of McLean Model UN. “[Winning] was the best moment of the entire four years. It was what we had really worked toward. It was kind of a moment where we know that McLean is ready for the next level.”

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Best Delegate, an independent Model UN training organization, has ranked McLean as one of the top 150 high school Model UN teams in the country for the past two years. Brunner and Shahbaz expect the team’s achievements this year to earn it a spot in the top 25.

“To have McLean Model UN, a team that’s only five years old...be ranked in the top 25 our senior year [is] something that I can’t even begin to articulate,” Shahbaz said.

Club sponsor Hilary Viets credits the team’s student leadership for its success.

“I’m always really, really...amazed by the kids and how responsible they are and how respectful and how adult-like they are,” Viets said. “The kids are really great mentors and they’re really well-spoken.”

Freshman Sophie Howery earned a gavel, the top individual award in Model UN, at NAIMUN. Howery expressed that she has learned a lot from the team’s older members.

“I’ve definitely learned the ways of [Model UN] in a really short amount of time because they’re just really great mentors,” Howery said.

Shahbaz said seeing people like Howery become leaders through Model UN is more rewarding than winning individual awards.

“Just to watch underclassmen win awards

Victorious — Freshman Sophie Howery accepts her award at NAIMUN’s closing ceremonies Feb. 19. “They said my name and I guess I could explain it as like a euphoric kind of feeling... I cried a little, I’m not gonna lie,” Howery said. (Photo courtesy of Carol Brunner) 6

and watch them grow as individuals, as leaders, as orators and as lobbyists, that’s something that I understand why teachers do what they do,” Shahbaz said. “To see the impact that an activity or a lesson can have on a student is something that you can’t compare...to anything else.”

Shahbaz and Brunner said they trust younger team members to continue the team’s growth in the coming years.

“Honestly, I have complete faith in the juniors and underclassmen,” Shahbaz said.

“I know over the next three years the team is only going to continue to grow, and that’s the only thing you can really hope for as a graduating senior in a club, that your legacy will continue and prosper.”

Student leadership is especially important for McLean Model UN because the team has been sponsored by three different teachers over the past four years.

“From the get-go, I think [McLean] Model UN has always been a really studentdriven activity. Other schools do have really stable and involved sponsors...but unfortunately we just never really had that foundation,” Shahbaz said. “The issue you really see in student-driven clubs is that students [don’t] really have the commitment or passion to grow their clubs, but that hasn’t been an issue at all in Model UN.” Despite their lack of consistent sponsorship, Brunner and Shahbaz credit support from McLean’s teachers and administration for their ability to maintain and grow the team.

“Especially [Principal Ellen Reilly] has been extremely supportive of the club—we had her speak at our first annual conference, actually,” Brunner said. “We’ve worked with her over the past couple of years trying to be able to get funding for the club but [we] also organize with administration, especially for big trips we put on.”

McLean MUN seeks to cultivate a culture of leadership to ensure long-term success.

“I’ve realized that it’s not really about getting the individual wins unless you can carry it on to the rest of the team, because going forward I want to be able to have a team where everyone can be the next [one] to step up,” Brunner said.

Page design by Melanie Pincus

NEWS

Brave new worlds

Famine declared in South Sudan

ASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered another solar system with seven Earth-like exoplanets 40 light years from Earth. The exoplanets orbit the TRAPPIST-1 star inside of the Aquarius constellation.

Using data from the Spitzer telescope, NASA was able to estimate the mass and locations of six of the seven planets. Three of these planets are thought to reside within the habitable zone of the star they orbit, and are most likely to have liquid water.

This discovery is helping spark national interest in space exploration and demonstrates NASA’s continued dedication to gaining understanding of life beyond earth.

“People don’t necessarily understand the benefits that come with space travel, conveniences that we have in our everyday life,” astronomy teacher Jeff Brocketti said.

fter years of a brutal civil war for independence leading to massive levels of inflation, the first famine of the 21st century has been declared in two areas in South Sudan, the counties of Leer and Mayendit in Unity State, with several other counties threatened.

According to the South Sudan Integrated Food Safety Phase Classification technical working group, approximately five million people in South Sudan are currently severely food insecure with humanitarian efforts becoming increasingly insufficient. This number is expected to increase to 5.5 million during the summer when food becomes more scarce, with the most affected being those displaced by continuing conflicts.

Malnutrition amongst children and vulnerable populations is a major concern of humanitarian groups as well as citizens.

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A

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD Olivia Mooney Features Editor

New U.S. immigration policies

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he Mexican government has emphasized its resistance to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies that could result in massive numbers of people, including those who are not Mexican, being deported to Mexico. The Mexican government believes these new policies violate its sovereignty.

Since taking office, Trump has mobilized U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to conduct raids and deport undocumented immigrants to Mexico. This has created fear among immigrant communities.

As a result, many government services that used to provide for undocumented immigrants now refuse to do so.

“Health centers were open to [undocumented] immigrants, but now they [are] closing them or asking for certain paperwork or identification. As we all know, not all people have identification [to receive medical help],” junior Yolanda Chanez said.

Trump withdraws LGBT protections

T

he Trump administration has removed protections for transgender youth given by Title IX. The Obama administration interpreted Title IX’s protections from sex discrimination to include gender identity and advised schools to treat transgender students according to their gender identity.

The Trump administration believes that states can individually decide their policies on transgender students. In the wake of this decision, a transgender rights Supreme Court case, Gloucester County School Board v. GG, was sent back to a lower court. The case involved Gavin Grimm, a transgender student from Virginia.

Transgender students at McLean are unhappy with the Trump administration’s decision, but have hope for the future.

“It’s not a great thing to hear about, but hopefully eventually it will be bumped back up to the Supreme Court,” senior Rowan Wooldridge said.

Page design by Young In Seo & Siddarth Shankar

MARCH

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Editor-in-chief wins state journalism award Melanie Pincus is named Virginia Student Journalist of the Year Anjalie Chauhan Features Editor

S

enior Melanie Pincus was named the Virginia Student Journalist of the Year by the Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers and Advisers on March 1.

Pincus has been an editor-in-chief of The Highlander for the past two years and has been taking journalism for the past four years under Lindsay Benedict, journalism teacher and adviser of The Highlander. Pincus is the first McLean student to win the title.

“This is my sixth year at McLean and it is the first time that we have placed, and I think it is the first time we have entered,” Benedict said.

In order to enter the competition, Pincus submitted a digital portfolio of her journalistic accomplishments in 11 curriculum areas.

“Last summer I was an intern with Connection Newspapers, and I did a lot of fact checking for them so I used that for news literacy,” Pincus said. “For entrepreneurship, I talked about [going] to Longfellow Middle School to give presentations about media literacy to their eighth grade English and journalism students.”

“Melanie was able to stand out among the many fine student journalists in Virginia.”

-Lindsay Benedict, journalism teacher & The Highlander adviser

Pincus submitted the portfolio with no expectations of an award. The result was first place, which includes a $1,000 prize, as well as a nomination to be the National Student Journalist of the Year.

Following the release of the competition’s results, Pincus was interviewed by two local news organizations: ABC 7’s Spotlight on Education and Connection Newspapers.

Pincus’ interview with ABC 7 aired on the evening news on March 8.

Winning Smile — Melanie Pincus has gained local media attention

after being named the Virginia Student Journalist of the Year. Pincus is now a nominee to be the National Student Journalist of the Year.

(Photo by Anjalie Chauhan)

“So far I’ve gotten a decent amount of recognition...that’s probably the most surprising part of it for me,” Pincus said.

Pincus’ first interactions with The Highlander came as a middle school student when her older sister brought the magazine home. Pincus then switched from orchestra to journalism when choosing her freshman year classes.

“I’m glad I did [that switch] because I think that this is a better place for me to explore things I might be interested in following far beyond high school,” Pincus said.

As a freshman, Pincus showed her potential early on.

“I have had Melanie since...Journalism 1, and right away I could tell that she really stood out and that she was a really strong writer and also a great editor,” Benedict said.

In her sophomore year, Pincus became a news editor and continued to develop her editing abilities.

“When she was a sophomore, she really stuck around...when we were putting together the magazine and she was always willing to jump in and help out wherever she could,” Benedict said. “Whatever she could do for the news section, she would do it, which made her an easy choice for editor-in-

chief her junior year.”

Despite being a junior, Pincus proved herself ready to take on the role of editorin-chief. “[It’s] kind of rare to have an editor-inchief who is a junior but Melanie was the right fit,” Benedict said.

Pincus’ contribution has not been limited to writing for the newsmagazine—she has also had an impact on other members of The Highlander staff.

“Not only does she write great pieces and produce great work on her own, she makes sure that an entire publication runs smoothly and that an entire...staff contributes to their full potential,” said senior Sri Medicherla, managing editor of The Highlander.

For now, Pincus is awaiting the results for the National Student Journalist of the Year competition, which will be announced at the spring National High School Journalism Convention in April.

“I’m really lucky to have been in such a strong program these past few years and have gotten to meet so many people, like I know I talked about meeting people through writing articles but also through being on this staff,” Pincus said. “And I know that the underclassmen will continue to just make the program better for the years to come.”

Page design by Anjalie Chauhan

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NEWS

Alumni offer college advice

FEATURES

Five pieces of advice from the Class of 2016 Laura Opsahl-Ong Reporter

Follow your gut

1

“Don’t make your decision solely based on what your

friends and family say. In the end, it’s you who’s going to be at college, so you should make that decision yourself...go with your gut feeling.”

- Iris Gou, Cornell University “When you’ve narrowed it down to just two or three schools, you should just follow your intuition. Deep down, you know which school is right for you.”

- Annabel Edelman, James Madison University

3

Don’t get stressed “Ignore anything anyone tells you on College Confidential—it’s 98 percent useless information and all it’ll do is stress you out.”

- Abraham Haji, College of William & Mary “Don’t get too stressed about the decision. I definitely did, and in the end everything worked out. I’m also a firm believer that you can make the most of any college you go to. You just have to have that attitude and mindset.”

- Hannah Aronson, Davidson College

Don’t forget the money

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“Price matters. I didn’t know I was going to William & Mary until I realized how cheap in-state schools were, and I regret not applying to more in state.”

- Abraham Haji, Collge of William & Mary “To the juniors: I, personally, was unrealistic about being able to afford tuition. I applied to mostly outof-state schools, and when I got my acceptance letters and looked at price tags, [price] became much more important.”

- Annabel Edelman, James Madison University

2

Ask for advice

“The best thing you can do is talk to someone who goes to the

school and ask them what they like most about it and what kind of people go there.”

- Abraham Haji, College of William & Mary “The [scattergram] graph thing that the counselors do [on Family Connection] is pretty accurate...it shows your chances of getting into a school based on other McLean students, and it was basically spot-on for me.”

- Annabel Edelman, James Madison University “I think your gut is a really useful tool to use, but it’s okay to ask other people what they think. In the end, it’s your, and sometimes your family’s, decision, but it’s interesting to hear what other people, for instance teachers, friends, your counselor, think about where they see you.”

- Hannah Aronson, Davidson College

4

Visit schools “Visit the school. If the school has an overnight

prospective students program, do it. It tells so much about the school’s culture, and culture is probably the biggest factor influencing whether or not you’re happy at a school.”

- Iris Gou, Cornell University “I highly recommend visiting all your schools, especially if you haven’t visited yet, because it makes the process of deciding much easier.”

- Annabel Edelman, James Madison University

Page design by Laura Opsahl-Ong

MARCH

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Highlander of the Issue

Leap to the top

Senior Tommy McCarthy studies frogs with the Smithsonian in Panama Siddarth Shankar News Editor

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eep in the sweltering rainforests of Panama, senior Tommy McCarthy scans the area for the endangered Atelopus limosus, also known as the limosa Harlequin frog.

For three weeks last summer, McCarthy worked with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama, to help conduct frog research.

“We went to this nature reserve [and] we went out every night [and] every day looking for this one species of frogs that [could] potentially be extinct,” McCarthy said.

Many frog species are facing extinction due to the spread of a fungus called chytrid.

Scientists are increasingly looking toward research, like that conducted by McCarthy, to help combat the fungus.

“The chytrid fungus seems to affect amphibians all around the world, but we don’t have a clear idea of how many species have experienced declines related to chytrid,” said Dr. Brian Gratwicke in an interview with The Highlander. Gratwicke is a conservation biologist who leads the Smithsonian

his lifelong interest in frogs. “[Tommy] was probably 4 years old when he caught his first frog, and soon he could spot and catch frogs and salamanders much easier than anyone else,” said Kevin McCarthy, Tommy’s father. “It seemed that no matter where we traveled, he would find a frog.”

McCarthy’s frog interest has evolved into an essential part of his personality.

“It just became kind of part of who I am, and it’s been inescapable in a way. Until this year, my email address was tm.frogboy@ gmail.com and my license plate was FROG FAN,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy’s summer research was brought about by a random encounter with Gratwicke a few years ago.

“When I was in third or fourth grade, I was at the Smithsonian festival, and just coincidentally I ran into the director of amphibian conservation at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute,” McCarthy said. “I did two internships just because I met [Gratwicke and] kept in contact with him.”

McCarthy’s encounter with Gratwicke

“This frog is probably one of the last of its species, maybe a thousand left in the wild. Just seeing it is like a flicker before the flame goes out.”

Conservation Biology Institute’s amphibian conservation program and worked with McCarthy. “In Panama about one in three amphibian species seems to be susceptible [to chytrid].”

For McCarthy, this summer research experience in Panama was yet another part of

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Careful Examination — Senior

Tommy McCarthy carefully examines a frog while working at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama.

Amphibian Analysis — A species

-senior Tommy McCarthy

of Espadarana prosoblepon, also known as the emerald glass frog, sits on a leaf in the Panama rainforest.

inspired him at a young age to conduct his own research on combating chytrid. “[Gratwicke] was talking to me about... one potential cure...that could be sourced from the backs of these local salamanders,” McCarthy said. “I went home, and then searched for salamanders in my backyard.

I swabbed their backs, and I cultured the bacteria that I found on them... I was looking for this particular one [which] I found eventually.”

From these backyard experiments, McCarthy transitioned into formal research with the Smithsonian two summers ago.

“At the zoo...I worked on a study [about] climate change effects on salamander

FEATURES

growth over the past 50 years [and] we published a paper,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy’s amphibian research culminated with his recent trip to Panama this past summer, where he maintained a rigorous schedule.

“We’d wake up, have some breakfast and then get ready to go out and just walk around through the bush all day.

Institute... They wanted to establish a colony there, so we wanted to collect females to bring back,” McCarthy said.

“We were also looking for habitats for potential reintroduction for the frogs... in captivity, so we were looking for the presence of the fungus in those areas to see if it would be possible...to reintroduce anything there.”

smart and very interested in the frogs,” Gratwicke said. “What really impressed me though is that he handled some of the boring, repetitive tasks like swabbing frogs and labeling test tubes with a positive attitude and good sense of humor that helped keep our team focused.”

McCarthy plans to study at Harvard

Swabbing for Fungus — A frog

is swabbed to find signs of the chytrid fungus.

University next year, but he is unsure of whether or not he will continue to be involved with frog research.

“I’m not sure... I certainly am very interested in [it and] I’m really interested Wilderness Wanderer — McCarthy spent three weeks in Panama trying to find the Atelopus limosus frog. McCarthy’s work may help in conservation and maybe evolution, but I really don’t know,” McCarthy said. researchers combat the chytrid fungus.

Regardless, McCarthy’s trip to We’d bring lunch, then get back, have McCarthy’s research experiences Panama was an unforgettable experience dinner...and then go out that night have greatly impacted him. for him. once it became dark and look [for frogs] “He views his [research] experiences “It was awesome... We’d find these again,” McCarthy said. “[We] then slept as some of the great highlights of his frogs...after slogging through rainforest for a few hours and then repeated the high school years,” Kevin McCarthy streams for hours, but also it was really process.” said. “He understands what he’ll be bittersweet as well,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy’s Panama trip was meant signing up for if he decides to pursue a “Because you know that this frog is to accomplish two main objectives. career involving such research.” probably one of the last of its species, “[First], finding the species of Gratwicke also praises McCarthy for maybe a thousand left in the wild. Just Harlequin frog, Atelopus limosus, for his hardworking attitude. seeing it is like a flicker before the flame a breeding colony that they have at “I enjoyed working with Tommy goes out.” the Smithsonian Tropical Research in Panama because he’s obviously very Photos courtesy of Tommy McCarthy Page design by Bryan Chung

MARCH

11

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RESCUE DIVER PLUNGES INTO THE DEPTHS Maria Liu learns to save lives Sanskriti Neupane Managing Editor

Off the Coast — Junior Maria Liu swims during her

first dive in the British Virgin Islands. Liu regularly goes on diving trips while on vacation. (Photo

W

hen junior Maria Liu was 5 years old, she jumped into a pool and never looked back. Nine years after joining her first swim team, she discovered the world of open water diving, quickly rising through the levels to become a certified rescue diver.

“I got into diving my freshman year. I was preparing to go to a scuba diving camp over the summer so I had to get the [diving] certification first,” Liu said. “And then, last year during spring break I got the advanced diver and then in the summer I got the rescue [certification].”

Although she began open water diving freshman year, her interest in diving began much earlier.

“I tried out introductory pool dive when I was 12 and that was really fun, even though it was just in the pool,” Liu said.

In order to get her rescue diving certification, Liu had to practice in the pool, complete first-aid training and successfully pass a test in the ocean.

“You would judge the distance from the boat or shore and see if you [could] pull off the equipment to tug the person along or if you can get there within five minutes,” Liu said.

“While you’re diving with the instructor he’s going to mimic being frantic and maybe pretending he’s out of air so you have to use all the skills you learned.”

Completing the certification has allowed Liu to develop new skills.

“She learned how to save others, how to coordinate with other people and how to work hard as rescue diving was harder than her previous certifications,” said Ernest Liu, Maria’s father.

Liu has not only learned how to save lives through the certification, but also how to confront situations that require rapid responses. “[The] certification gives the participant more efficiency, knowledge and experience to handle an unexpected situation,” said Mike Parker, Director of the SCUBA Professional Education Dive School.

Liu’s time in the water has been spent practicing dives and learning to save others as well as enjoying the wildlife around her.

“I love seeing all the different animals while I’m underwater because it’s a completely different environment... I’ve seen cobia [and] bioluminescent squid,” Liu said.

After spending so many years in the water, Liu hopes to one day make it a profession.

“I’ve been a swimmer for most of my life so being in the water is natural for me,” Liu said. “I’ve always been really interested in the ocean and I do plan on becoming a marine scientist, maybe not biologist but policy or conservation.”

Although it has not yet happened, she knows that one day the skills she has learned could help her save a life.

“Learning basic life-saving skills should definitely be something everyone gets to know,” Liu said. “I know we took a class in ninth grade here about CPR...but [everyone] should probably get the cerification in case they run into a real-life emergency.”

courtesy of Maria Liu)

Page design by Bryan Chung

MARCH

13

Ain’t no fountain high enough

Take a sip from the water fountains lining the halls of McLean Dysfunctional

Gold Standard

Pictured here is the iconic water fountain located in the green hallway, directly across from the steps next to the breezeway. While it is a seemingly normal water fountain from a distance, upon further inspection a sign that reads “do not pour coffee in the water fountain” is present above the fountain. This sign has raised countless questions concerning its purpose. Many students have speculated that it could be due to its close proximity to the teacher’s workroom, or deterioration over its long career.

This water fountain, located by the upper gym, is the gold standard against which all fountains should be measured. Despite it being routinely crowded during class changes, the presence of the refilling station for water bottles puts it head and shoulders above the rest. Being one of the newest hydration stations in the school, it is yet to be plagued by the instability seen in other fountains.

The Forgotten One

Located directly next to the breezeway in the blue hallway, this is one of the most underutilized water fountains in the whole school. It features mysterious red cylinders that provide a layer of protection in the crowded hallway. These barriers have perplexed many students about the purpose of the cylinders and their origins. In terms of water pressure, it is as close to perfection as you will be able to find in the school.

McLean’s fountains vs. popular water brands We tested the pH of McLean’s water fountains and compared it to the pH of popular water brands. The pH of water is often used to indicate the quality of the water. Most bottled water has a pH below seven, while the pH of McLean’s fountains fall between 7.8 and 8.2. The fountains jet alkaline water, meaning it has a pH greater than seven. Alkaline water is believed to have health benefits over acidic water. Acidic water often contains elevated levels of toxic metals such as iron, manganese, copper, lead and zinc.

3.4

Glacéau Vitaminwater

6.3

Deer Park

7.0

Evian

7.5

FIJI water

8.0

McLean

Reporting by Jiwon Kim, John Roth & Ed Walters Page design & graphics by Anjalie Chauhan

14

FEATURES

10 Qs with

FEATURES

Mary Ann Barton (Economics Teacher) Reporting by Ingrid Morse Photo courtesy of Mary Ann Barton Page design by Bryan Chung

If you could only wear one color your entire life, which color would you wear?

If you could change one thing in the world today, what would it be?

Most people would say my favorite color was black because I wear so much of it, but it is blue. That’s kind of a softer black, isn’t it? And then there’s red, green, purple, or... forget it! I love them all.

It would be to see our country return to one that is kinder, more respectful and more receptive to thoughts that do not necessarily reflect one’s own opinion. A return to civil discourse—true civil discourse— that is what I would change.

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher?

What is your ideal pastime?

I cannot imagine a life as anything other than a teacher.

What would your pet say about you if we asked for a reference?

Both my dog and my cat would hopefully say that I am always dependable to keep their food bowls full and their ears rubbed. Truly, they are both spoiled within an inch of their lives.

My ideal pastimes are reading (preferably by the water’s edge), Jazzercise and being anywhere my family is.

Which animal would make the best type of president if the animal kingdom ever rises up and takes over?

Surely the lion would be a possible candidate, with a big heart and such courage—or so represented by Disney.

What is your most precious possession?

My most precious possession—what a difficult question. I believe the answer changes with one’s age. Now, my most precious possession is my memory: family and friends, some no longer with me, experiences, opportunities. The fabric of life is still being woven and memories continue to grow.

MARCH

How long have you been teaching?

I have been a teacher since the late 60s...interrupted for periods by multiple moves around the country as a military and then corporate wife and mother of three children.

What led to your return to teaching?

Retiring from FCPS in 2014, I spent two years substitute teaching. [I] particularly loved long-term jobs completely out of my field, most especially in the library at Madison High School. I missed the relationships with students in the classroom though, so when McLean offered me this opportunity to teach parttime, it was too good an offer to refuse. I started my career here, and it is good to be home again.

What would your autobiography be called?

My autobiography: The Future...Touch It If You Can

15

Quiet....For Now — Madison Deli owner

David Yang checks the register after a busy lunch rush. Yang stresses the importance of owners playing working roles in the restaurant. (Photo by Nick Monroy)

Sandwich shop turns into a local hotspot New Madison Deli owner David Yang hopes to build upon success Nick Monroy Reporter

I

t’s 2:52 p.m. on a Friday. Every student watches the clock as the weekend inches closer and closer. When the bells rings, one thing comes to mind: food. While there are many options, nothing fills a stomach or leaves a smile on the face of a Highlander like the little sandwich shop on Old Chain Bridge road—Madison Deli.

Nestled in on the ground floor of a large office building between a cupcake shop and a hair salon, to some, Madison Deli might seem like just another restaurant. To those who know it, however, it’s the definition of a beloved small family business.

Over time, it has become a staple of the McLean High School experience.

“It’s local, it’s family,” Class of 2013 McLean graduate Riley Hayduk said. “The food is great, and when you walk in, the owners, the workers, everyone is so nice… If I’m back home I know I have to go back. The vibe is second to none.”

Current students feel the same way, with some going there almost every single day.

“We love this place,” senior Richard Lu 16

said. “You’ll find some of the best food in McLean here, and you just can’t beat the service.”

“There’s a reason we come here all the time, we bring our friends, we enjoy our visits, because it’s all about the experience of being at Madison Deli,” senior Vinnie Lu said. “Madi Deli is without a doubt the top small business in McLean. I can’t think of another one even close.”

“If I’m back home I know I have to go back. The vibe is second to none.”

-Riley Hayduk, McLean Class of 2013

However, Madison Deli is not just a high school hangout. There are all sorts of people, young and old, sitting at the many tables inside.

The story of Madison Deli dates back

to 1995, when three sisters, all immigrants from South Korea, decided to live out their version of the American Dream and start a restaurant. In 2005, one of the sisters and her husband, the vibrant and spirited Mr. Choe, a man who would become known as the face of the establishment with his great attitude and signature “cup flipping” at customers, took control of the day-to-day operations.

Now, there is a different face at the helm, the young David Yang, who is the Choes’ son-in-law. “[My in-laws] ran this place for more than 20 years, so the first time they said, ‘David, it’s time for you to run this place yourself,’ it was a lot of pressure. So the first time I said no—I didn’t want to mess up their achievements. The customers think of the Choes like their friends, like family, so I was nervous,” Yang said.

Yang is also originally from South Korea, and he has been fascinated with operating a store for as long as he can remember.

“I was interested in the food business, [and] they wanted me to help... At the beginning [it was] just in little ways like cooking burgers or making a sauce,” Yang said. “What a lot of people don’t know is that FEATURES

everything we make is house-made; it’s never frozen or packaged.”

Now that his role has changed, Yang sees parts of the restaurant differently.

“My favorite part is meeting my customers. I know most of my customers’ names, their background, even their life stories,” Yang said. “This is why I run this place, that’s my motivation.”

Choe’s legacy continues to live through his cup flip, as Yang adopted his fatherin-law’s signature move. Every time a customer ordered a soft drink, Choe would flick the bottom of the cup, allowing it to dart through the air and straight into the customer’s waiting hands. Since Yang has kept the tradition going, he has made it an integral part of a Madison Deli meal.

“I’m not sure why [Choe started flipping the cups]. He says since he’s been in the U.S. for more than 30 years, he wanted to make customers happy,” Yang said. “He made a good relationship with them by doing that.”

Wall of Fame — Once a year, Madison Deli hosts an annual ‘Cup Flip Day’ in which the customers have their photos taken when trying to catch their drink cup. The best are then displayed all over the restaurant’s walls. (Photo by Nick Monroy)

“I know how it feels because I

used to be an employee.

I treat [our customers] like my friends, like my family, and I think that’s why they respect me.”

-David Yang, owner

When visiting Madison Deli, the family atmosphere becomes very apparent. Whether it’s Choe or Yang, the owner has always been a visible part of the restaurant.

“Normally people think, ‘Oh, owners, they have good money, that’s why they have the store, but I was trained as an employee, and it took a lot of time. I know how it feels because I used to be an employee. I treat them like my friends, like my family, and I think that’s why they respect me,” Yang said.

Yang believes that his restaurant stands out from the others due to the qualiy of the food and the customer service.

“We make our food, we use good ingredients, we make true food. We never use the bad stuff, even if sometimes the price is crazy in the market, we always try to use the highest quality materials possible,” Yang said.

“We have to satisfy [the customers], when they are happy, when they are sad, when they MARCH

are angry, whenever.”

For a successful restaurant like Madison Deli, the future is long and bright, and Yang feels that to move forward into the next 20 years of service, they need to continue to evolve.

“Our signature sandwich is the steak and cheese, but Madison Deli should follow the trend,” Yang said. “People care more about their health—these days our salads sell like crazy, so we should keep investing in that direction.”

Madison Deli is a place like no other, a true example of hard work and dedication.

The owners and employees who work there understand how much it means to McLean.

“These days many people go to chains like McDonald’s and Chipotle,” Yang said. “We have a website and a Yelp page, but we are still a small business. Maybe this article will help bring more people to the deli, but not just for their money. I want people to eat my food.”

Page design by Nick Monroy, Alex Mandanas & Shanzeh Umerani

17

Learning without borders in Israel

Sophomore goes beyond the textbook Miranda Johnson Reporter tudying abroad is a great opportunity to go to another country and engage in educational experiences. Sophomore Ian Jacknow has taken advantage of this and is studying abroad in Israel for the second semester of this school year.

Last year, junior Havi Carrillo-Klein participated in the same program, which helped influence Jacknow’s decision to study abroad.

“I decided to go to Israel because I have been told many stories about it,” Jacknow said, “but never had a chance to go myself until I heard about...Alexander Muss High School (AMHSI) in Israel from my close friend and neighbor Havi Carrillo-Klein, who spent four months in Israel completing the same program last year.”

Jacknow is enthusiastic to embark on a learning experience outside of the traditional classroom as he lives in a new country for a few months.

S

“I think he’s going to see amazing things, meet lifelong friends and learn a ton about Israeli and Jewish culture.”

-senior Jared Jacknow

“I am excited to live on my own,” Jacknow said. “I will have a lot of freedom, although more freedom comes with more responsibilities to fulfill and so it may be a challenge for me at first.”

His brother, senior Jared Jacknow, believes it will be life-changing as well.

“I think he’s going to see amazing things, meet lifelong friends and learn a ton about Israeli and Jewish culture,” Jared Jacknow said.

Although it took time to understand the new culture, Jacknow is slowly learning about Israel.

“It took [him] a bit of time to get adjusted, because it’s a very different environment,” Jared Jacknow said. “Still, they have basketball, food and Pokémon Go, so I think he’s doing okay now.”

Jacknow’s parents decided that the experience would be worth it, despite their concerns about him living in a new country.

“The concern certainly occurred to us like it does anytime one’s kids are out of our sight,” said Greg Jacknow, Ian Jacknow’s father. “We decided there was no real large cause for concern; it was not [a] significant issue and [we decided] not to let it stand in the way of this experience.”

The program teaches Jewish history through debate and discussions, and students have the opportunity to travel to historical sites.

“I will go on 40 separate trips around the country and spend an additional week in Poland learning about Jewish history,” Jacknow said.

This visit to Poland gives Jacknow the chance to not only learn about the Holocaust, but to stand where it all happened.

“It was life-changing for me,” CarrilloKlein said. “I really connected a lot more with my Jewish roots and my roots in Israel, and I became more religious and appreciative of my culture.”

The experience of learning outside of the classroom gives students a chance to immerse themselves and actually comprehend these historic events. Essentially, each field trip has an educational purpose relating in some way to Israeli history.

“You’re not in a classroom,” Carrillo-Klein said. “You’re out and about the entire time.”

The acceptance process was extensive, taking about two months and requiring many steps. Jacknow had to complete an initial application and information papers, as well as obtain permission and complete an interview with a regional representative.

Since this program is completely separate

Picture Perfect — Sophomore Ian

Jacknow stops for a picture while on a hike in Negev. This is one of 40 trips he is taking through Israel while abroad this semester. (Photo courtesy of Ian Jacknow)

from FCPS, Jacknow had to withdraw from both McLean High School and FCPS. “Since they can’t just mark him absent every day, he withdraws from FCPS and has to re-enroll over the summer,” Greg Jacknow said.

Jacknow will be living on the campus of the Mosenson Youth Village in Hod HaSharon, Israel, and attending school at AMHSI. In addition to continuing general studies, he will be taking Israeli history and modern government classes.

Jacknow is excited to go to a new country not only for the education but also for the life lessons he will learn.

“I have never been to Israel before, and I know none of the language...but I will learn Hebrew [there], ” Jacknow said. “I think living on my own may be one of the most rewarding experiences I will have this trip.”

Page design by Miranda Johnson

18

FEATURES

Highlander

A&E

Harmonies

Students and teachers share their favorite songs for their daily routine To listen to these songs, go to thehighlander15 on Spotify and check out the Highlander Harmonies playlist, or visit The Highlander Online!

Images obtained via Beluga Heights Records, Def Jam Recordings & Astralwerks

Dylan Wedan, history teacher Playing at the end of history class It Girl Jason Derulo Writing his medieval-themed book Homesick Kings of Convenience Mentally preparing for a Settlers of Catan game against his friends I Don’t **** With You Big Sean

Images obtained via Glassnote Records, Arnada Music & Modular Recordings

Libby Ulrich, senior Waking up and getting ready for school Oh Baby Seizo Working on her art A Transparent Night (album) Tame Impala Jams for doing work The Palisades Childish Gambino

Images obtained via GOOD Music, Felly & 21 Savage

Eric Lawhead, senior Waking up Heaven on Lock Felly

In the car Get Right Witcha Migos Hype songs Outlet Desiigner Photos by Eva Zarpas Page design by Bryan Chung Reporting by Sophie Mariam & Jessie Friedman

MARCH

19

FX’s Legion goes outside the box Legion breaks the Marvel mold FX

T

he past few years have brought about a litany of superhero franchises. X-Men, The Flash, Supergirl, Suicide Squad...the list goes on. By the time Legion premiered, I had all but sworn off superheroes altogether.

Legion, however, is not your average superhero show. I hardly noticed it was based on an obscure Marvel character.

From the brilliant mind of Fargo creator Noah Hawley, Legion weaves the intricate tale of David Haller.

David is a young man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his youth and was spending his days in a mental hospital plagued by delusions.

From this strange world where the lines of reality are blurred, a beautiful girl arrives to tell David that his reality is not as mad as it seems. Rather, David is a powerful mutant with the potential to do great things.

Throughout the show, this dance between reality and illusion continues to the point that the viewer and David are equally confused as to what is real and what is not. It is this full immersion into David’s madness that makes this show so incredible.

It is so easy to take the safe route when creating stories for television.

Networks realize that surface level action and drama make for quick bursts of high ratings. But it is not cheap thrills that make a great show—

Catherine Zysk Reporter

it is the lasting impact of relatable characters that make a show great, and Legion is not short of characters with whom the audience can connect.

David’s sister, Amy, who is portrayed by Katie Aselton, is more than a supporting character. With kind eyes and good intentions, Amy represents the part of all of us that struggles to do the right thing in the face of a relative’s illness.

I loved the detailed interactions between Amy and David. Amy’s awkward twitch as she hands David a cupcake that he isn’t allowed to eat, the image of her pigtails and bright smile in a flashback of their youth, are equal parts endearing and tragic.

In these moments, when any pretense of supernatural struggle fall away, we see the heart of David Haller’s story. We see his overwhelming desire to be that carefree child he once was and to love his sister with that same unfettered joy he had lost.

However, Hawley does not disappoint his comic book-loving base with displays of supernatural power and the illusions of madness in which these powers are always encased.

Each episode is filled with bursts of color and sound surrounding David’s mind. A lunch in the psychiatric ward is interrupted by Bali-style dance filled with psychedelic colors. An MRI exam

is stopped by the arrival of a terrifying amalgamation of every child’s worst fears—a boogeyman distorted in light.

These visual interpretations of insanity, however, are also what make me hesitant to commit to the show.

At times, the wormholes into David’s mind become too much to handle.

I found myself lost in the constant switching between reality and fantasy.

By the fourth episode of the show’s eight-episode premiere, I found myself impatient for the reveal of the truth they seem to be searching for throughout the show. And when Legion finally revealed the truths it had been hinting at all along, it wasn’t half as satisfying as I wanted it to be.

Legion, as a whole, is not a perfect show. When Hawley embarked on an ambitious quest to make a show that isn’t just another Marvel spin-off, he created a far riskier type of television, dipping into bouts of overly drawn out analysis of the human psyche.

Sometimes the show goes so far off the edge of reality that the audience is left hanging. And yet, there is something redeemable in the portrayals of these characters that keeps me coming back.

Rating

Page design by Catherine Zysk

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A&E

Logan: old, not obsolete

20th Century Fox

Wolverine’s last outing transcends the comic book Justin Kim Reporter

I

expected many things from this movie, but a Deadpool teaser at the beginning was not one of them.

Directed by James Mangold, Logan marks Hugh Jackman’s final outing as the Wolverine. After several ups and downs in his run, my biggest concern was whether they could finally do the character justice for his last stand.

The trailers looked different than conventional superhero movies, but whether it would work was another question.

Now that I’ve seen the movie, I can say with certainty that this is the best film in the entire X-Men cinematic universe, and is enough to place its name among other comic book film classics like The Dark Knight and The Avengers. It may not have the finesse of Batman or the grand scale of The Avengers, but its worn-out atmosphere and its show of character struck me like no other comic-based film. In fact, it would be inappropriate to call this a comic book movie at all; it’s a gritty drama starring comic book characters.

The performances in Logan embody the best of its actors. Hugh Jackman (Logan) and Patrick Stewart (Charles

Xavier) both portray their characters decrepit states excellently, and seeing them so tired compared to the other X-Men films is jarring and adds to the atmosphere. Then there is Dafne Keen as Laura/X-23, who is the best part of this film. Despite being a girl of few words, she manages to convey both an intimidating aura and a broken childishness at the same time.

With relatively few characters, the story stays simple, focusing more on the interactions between the three and how they develop over time. There aren’t any world-dominating schemes, but seeing the unwieldy trio slowly become a true family is both refreshing and engaging to watch.

The villains aren’t as interesting, and that is where I think the movie falls short. Donald Pierce, though carrying the “chill guy” atmosphere, never manages to go beyond a onedimensional henchman. Zander Rice feels critically underused, especially when his motivation was actually understandable and could have made for a more tragic villain if given time to develop. However, the film introduces another villain halfway that deals both a thrill and an emotional gut-punch, and his faceoff with Wolverine is perfect, in so many ways.

Speaking of faceoffs, when it comes to the action, the film doesn’t hold back. Here, the camera won’t blur out or turn away the moment someone dies; there will be blood and guts flying, and the violence serves as a testament to how the characters are broken inside, and reinforces the hollow atmosphere which the film excels at.

Then there’s the ending. While it doesn’t entail any world-busting mutants or giant robots, the weight and the stakes at hand more than made up for it, making for one of my favorite movie climaxes. Any more would be spoilers, unfortunately, so I’ll leave only this: Wolverine’s line at the end is one of the most genuinely heartbreaking lines in recent cinema.

Goodbye, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. You have finally gotten the film you deserved. Logan isn’t a grand finale, nor does it try to be.

It’s a haunting requiem that leaves an indestructible cut on your heart, while dishing out the physical ones in unrivaled, spectacular doses.

Rating Page design by Bryan Chung

MARCH

21

A dying spirit Students sacrifice high school experience for resumes Colin Edson & Jiwon Kim Sports Editor & Reporter

I

n an increasingly competitive world, being able to stand out on paper is important. At McLean, where 81 percent of last year’s graduating class enrolled in a four-year college in the fall, students place a high value on their academic success.

“The culture says you have to go to a four-year school, you have to go to UVA, the mecca, you have to go to a certain school to be successful,” school social worker Marly Jerome-Featherson said.

Parents pressure their students to succeed, and students pressure themselves.

“There’s a lot of pressure from my family, for one,” sophomore Neha Rana said. “I’m also self-driven and I want to be successful in the future, and that’s why I need good grades, as a foundation.”

To an extent, the actions of McLean students are justified because getting good

22

grades can help set them up for success.

“The ultimate goal is getting a good job so that they can have a good life, provide for a family and retire,” senior class president Olivia McAuliffe said.

However, high school has far more to offer than classes with GPA boosts. Getting into college has become many students’ primary goal, often at the expense of their mental health and more meaningful experiences.

“I think students focus too much on academics. You see people every day skipping classes because they’re not ready for a test, they stayed up all night studying,” McAuliffe said. “Their priorities are solely getting good grades and they try to attain this even at the expense of their mental well-being.”

School Spirit

When students become too focused on college, they treat school as an obligation.

Fewer and fewer students are motivated by their interests—they learn to earn a high grade, not to develop passions.

“We have lots and lots of dedicated people in this building, but we have few inspired people in this building who are doing what they do because they truly love it,” said physics teacher Dean Howarth, who has taught at McLean for 30 years. “People... are [no longer] doing what they do because they truly love it.”

School spirit has taken a big hit from students’ focus on academics. It becomes more difficult for a student body to feel passionate about cheering for their school when they only attend certain events to check off a box on their high school bucket list rather than to support their classmates.

“There’s a competition aspect to [McLean], like it’s everybody...on their own. Everybody fails on their own, everybody wins on their

IN-DEPTH

own, and that tends to break up the notion of a school identity or class spirit,” Howarth said. “Sadly, one of the few things that draws everybody together is cheating on a test so that...everybody gets a good grade.”

Although school spirit is difficult to measure, in a survey of 100 upperclassmen, 97 said that there has been a decrease in school spirit since their arrival at McLean.

Two said that the level of school spirit has not changed, and one said that school spirit never existed in the first place.

“If you go to the games, they’re packed.

You still see the same crowds and things like that, but I would say I probably have seen a decline in student involvement in those kinds of things like planning,” Principal

Ellen Reilly said.

Lack of school spirit impedes the development of a school-wide community.

“A school is weakened as a whole without the student-to-student bond fostered by school spirit and activities,” McAuliffe said.

Dwindling school spirit is not unique to McLean. Senior Giancarlo Valdetaro, vice president of the Student Government Association at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), said resume-building for college applications has increasingly become the focus at TJ, the fifth highest ranking high school in the nation.

“I think that the fact that TJ students are viewing high school more and more as a stepping stone to greater things, where their

biggest task is making themselves look as good as possible for internships and colleges, is indelibly changing the school’s culture and actually degrading [its] quality as an institution,” Valdetaro said.

One of the main reasons students tend not to realize the importance of school spirit is because colleges are not able to measure it or even see it on an application.

With academics being the main focus, and often the only focus, students have come to disregard school spirit in its entirety.

“I don’t think school spirit has anything in relation with getting into college, I don’t think if you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, go McLean!’ it will have anything to do with getting into Georgetown or UPenn,” Rana said.

Photo by Shanzeh Umerani

MARCH

23

Although school spirit may not necessarily directly impact one’s chances of getting into college, involvement in activities like spirit days and pep rallies can have significant effects on students.

According to research conducted by Daniel Wann of Murray State University, school spirit in colleges can reduce social isolation and strengthen social connections.

“If people are excited about their school and about the people that they go to school with, then they’ll be more excited to go to school and to learn and to have a good high school experience,” McAuliffe said.

Mental Health

Overloading on AP courses and other high-level classes puts students at a greater risk for developing mental health issues. In

Anna Sargent said. “Also, my parents do their own research on colleges to ensure that they’re well informed, which can be stressful if they know the standards.”

The addition of student accounts this year has contributed to some students’ stress about their grades.

“At first it was really convenient, but now that I have had it for a year, it is always in the back of my mind, and it stresses me out,” senior Natalie Luu said.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, someone who experiences chronic stress is at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression. Research conducted at Maastricht University found that stress can directly cause certain types of depression.

“Students come to me all the time, every day. Often they are anxious, they are nervous,

help students with stress relief.

“Minds Matter will, as Active Minds has, provide the student body with activities that relieve stress and make people happy,” Jessar said. “During our club meetings we also talk about how to balance the stresses of high school and maintain our mental health.”

School psychologist Beth Werfel said the activities of groups like Minds Matter help promote healthy habits at McLean.

“I think it’s really helpful to get the word out...about mental health and well-being, help educate people on what we can do to help ourselves feel better and practice things like meditation or an attitude of gratitude,” Werfel said. “I think those little activities that we can weave through our day will help with our positive thinking.”

Youth Survey data from McLean

“If people are excited about their school and about the people that they go to school with, then they’ll be more excited to go to school and to learn and to have a good high school experience.”

- Olivia McAuliffe, senior class president

the 2015-16 McLean Pyramid Youth Survey, 47.2 percent of seniors reported high levels of stress.

Junior Ridhika Tripathee takes three AP classes. At the start of the school year, her schedule affected her mental health.

“At the beginning of the school year I was very stressed out and my mental health and my grades suffered. I had a part-time job, I volunteered four hours a week and I had practice for color guard three days a week,” Tripathee said.

Parents can also play a big role in students’ stress. The introduction of the Student Information System (SIS) online gradebook last year has increased some parents’ involvement with their students’ grades. “[My parents] check SIS constantly and bring up my grades almost every day,” junior

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they can’t sleep and they are not getting to bed because they are staying up all night doing homework,” Jerome-Featherson said.

“They come to school tired, exhausted, sad and overwhelmed.”

Such mental problems can cause students to struggle with their grades. School administration and groups like Sources of Strength and Minds Matter (formerly Active Minds) work to help students stay healthy.

“Our biggest focus is on academics, as it should be, and the second one that we have had to focus on more than I thought that we would have [to] was the mental health aspect, making students sure that they are healthy mentally and physically. That to me was a surprise,” Reilly said.

Senior Olivia Jessar is the president of Minds Matter. Jessar said the club’s activities

demonstrates an increase in healthy activities.

“The newest data that came out this year shows that we have had some improvement in terms of the healthy activities and a reduction in some of the risky behaviors,” Werfel said.

Tripathee has found balance in her life by placing more value on her mental health.

“As the year progressed I realized that I couldn’t do it all, so I quit my job. I’m still busy now, but I think that I’m a little less stressed out because I figured out that my mental health is more important than my resume,” Tripathee said.

Making Changes

Despite McLean students’ obsession with the college admissions process, many students have benefitted a great deal from the

IN-DEPTH

29% 52%

of upperclassmen surveyed are taking 3+ AP Classes Survey of 100 students

What is the main reason you take the AP classes you do?

29% Survey of 150 students

Survey of 100 students

of students do not participate in spirit days because they are not informed

Good for College

Survey of 100 students

opportunities offered in high school. Classes, clubs and sports give students chances to learn and develop useful life skills.

Sophomore Kelly Zhang takes two AP classes, including BC Calculus, and is a member of McLean’s Science Olympiad team. In spite of her busy schedule, Zhang manages to not feel stressed about grades, instead focusing on learning new material.

“Grades don’t really matter that much to me. I just care that I understand the topic so that I can use it later,” Zhang said.

WStudents can reduce stress about grades by investing their time in meaningful extracurricular experiences. Such activities enable students to learn more about their own amibitions and develop important life skills.

Senior Isabel Cooper has been in DECA

since her freshman year.

“I’ve had a lot of really good experiences through DECA, not just from an academic perspective or a marketing perspective, but just good personal experiences and getting to do things I wouldn’t normally get to do in the classroom,” Cooper said. “It’s good for general life skills like being able to network with people, presentation skills and public speaking.”

Senior lacrosse captain Miles Collins has had a positive experience playing high school sports.

“Playing high school sports has allowed me to realize things are not just given to you—you need to put in hard work and make sacrifices to be successful,” Collins said.

“My high school sports career has allowed me to prepare myself for my future by giving me

16% Genuinely Interested Survey of 100 students

a new mindset and some of my best friends along the way.”

High school offers many opportunities for students to have meaningful life experiences.

If students spend less time worrying about their college applications, it could help change McLean’s culture for the better.

“There definitely is a lot of motivation to succeed academically, which is not a bad thing, but it does become a bad thing when it takes a toll on your physical health as well as your emotional health,” Werfel said. “I would say too that I don’t know how easy it will be to change the culture, but I think if students know going into high school that they are going to be able to get into a college—that there are colleges out there for everyone—they can kind of just take that stress off their plate.”

Page design by Bryan Chung

MARCH

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Highlander Patrons As a student-run program, The Highlander would like to thank all of our generous supporters who make it possible to print our newsmagazine. Listed below are this year’s contributors. We would also like to thank all of our anonymous supporters.

Gold ($200+)

Silver ($100+)

The Zeya/O’Grady The Abedi Family Family The Mizusawa Bronze ($50+) Family Susie & David Venkat & Sadhna French Shankar Brian Wilkerson If you would like to become a patron, please send a check to: The Highlander McLean High School 1633 Davidson Rd. McLean, VA 22101

Blumhouse Productions

Get Out takes a psychological twist on relationships First-time director Jordan Peele impresses with comedy horror Christine Cheon News Editor

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aking his directorial debut, comedian and actor Jordan Peele addresses the topic of racism in the comedy horror Get Out. The film opens with photographer Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), who goes on a trip with his white girlfriend Rose Armitage (Allison Williams). On the way to meet Rose’s parents, Chris is initially apprehensive about her parents’ impressions of him due to the fact he is black.

Contrary to Chris’s expectations, Rose’s parents, Dean and Missy, welcome him and give him a tour of their home. Missy, a psychiatrist, notices Chris’s smoking habit and offers to hypnotize him in order to ‘cure’ him. During the session, his suppressed feelings reduce him to a vulnerable state in which he enters an endless void known as “the sunken place.”

During the Armitages’ annual gathering, the uncomfortable atmosphere surrounding Chris’s appearance heightens when he is treated as a rarity. Chris attempts to leave with Rose after feeling unwelcome. However, Chris finds himself trapped as the Armitages reveal other plans for him.

Possibly Get Out’s most intriguing aspect is the intricacies of the plot that Peele has skillfully woven in. Beyond the exterior MARCH

of an innocent romantic relationship lies the deceit of the Armitages’ intentions and the surrounding community. The film also perfectly captures the contrast between the quiet, sentimental moments in Chris and Rose’s relationship and the dramatic scenes that elevate Chris’s anxiety as he spends more time with the Armitages.

The nuances involving the characters’ smiling expressions and subtle comments further add to the intense atmosphere of the film. Characters Georgina and Walter are well executed in that their forced expressions and unnatural speech create part of the mystery surrounding the Armitages’ background.

The film’s score, composed by Michael Abels, was cleverly arranged to create suspense at the perfect moments, including the jumpscares. The addition of Swahili voices toward the ending solidified the music selection, particularly for this film.

The incorporation of psychological elements adds more enigma to the film. While feeling like an outsider, Chris’s inferiority is further drawn out through Missy’s hypnotic abilities. Her attempt to draw out Chris’s regression to a childlike state and unresolved emotions adds another layer of complexity to his character and the film.

Despite its frightening moments, Get Out manages to balance its nerve-wracking atmosphere with comedic elements. Lil Rel Howery, who plays Chris’s friend Rod

Williams serves as comedic relief through his dramatic personality and over-the-top conjectures. His friendship with Chris is an integral part of the film.

Get Out has been called a social critique, satirizing interracial relationships and racial tension. This is most apparent in the film’s overall premise in which the Armitages’ overly welcoming exterior instead creates a hostile mood for Chris. Rose and Chris’s relationship is further strained as a result of the stigma perpetuated by the community.

Peele himself has said the topic of the film is very personal, but he emphasized that Get Out is not autobiographical. Rather, he wished to stimulate discussion and commentary through the film, taking his own twist on what he sees as a crucial issue in American society.

While marking a genre shift from his traditional comedy, director Jordan Peele nonetheless makes a deep impression with his first film. The deceiving reality Peele creates for Get Out serves as a journey that is unraveled with each adrenaline-filled moment, exposing its sinister, scheming interior and serving as an eye-opener for the audience.

Rating

Page design by Christine Cheon

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OPINIONS Snowed in at end of school year FCPS should remove excess days

The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

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ccording to Virginia law, schools must be in session for 180 days or 990 hours per year. Currently, FCPS far exceeds the minimum number of hours. However, they have stated there will be no removal of days.

Because FCPS would still meet the 990-hour requirement with fewer days since few of the built-in snow days were used this winter, FCPS should shorten the school year.

In a newsletter emailed on Feb. 24, FCPS said it will not revert to the 990-hour calendar because it values “as much instructional time as possible.” However, students, particularly in high schools, are largely unproductive in the month between AP and SOL testing and final exams. During this time, teachers often have no new material to cover because they were required to finish their curriculum before the AP or SOL test.

“The lack of snow days impacts pacing of material. My classes have had more time to cover the material,” English teacher Michael Enos said. “Cutting the year short would not mean cutting the teaching short.”

Students who take AP and SOL tests face hours of class without substance after exams.

“Cutting the year

short would not mean cutting the teaching short.”

-English teacher Michael Enos “Teachers try to keep us interested by making the activities we do in class more fun and hands-on, but with almost two months left in school after AP exams, we end up watching a lot of movies,” junior Sidnea Strelser said.

One option to facilitate removing the extra days is moving up final exams so

students can finish them and school earlier.

Removing the month-long gap between AP and SOL tests and final exams would also help students perform better.

“We do AP testing here, then SOL testing, then we have this month and then we all take our final exams. I think that we’re all in the mode to end the school year,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “You’re studying for an end-ofthe-year culminating exam and then you have this month left and then now you’re going to do your final exam—it just doesn’t flow.”

Many classes have already moved final exams up so there is no layover period. This makes it even easier to remove days at the end of the year.

“Most of my classes have moved the final exam from the last week of school to the week before AP tests, or there’s no final at all, so we can focus on preparing for the AP tests or other final projects,” Strelser said.

Ending school early would also allow for a longer summer, as school will start earlier in the 2017-18 school year. Breaks are important for both students and faculty—toward the

end of the year, especially with no snow days, staff and students feel overworked.

“Some teachers and students have to work during the summer, and this summer is cut short,” Enos said. “Further, the summer is important for both teachers and students to get a break and rejuvenate. The school year is long and requires a lot of energy from all of us. I think we deserve a break.”

Another way to remove the days would be to make the week before finals a free week for students to prepare for their assessments.

This would also give teachers time to grade and prepare for the end of the school year.

“When I was in college, the week before final exams we had the whole week off to study, to do your reading, to go meet your professor, so maybe that could be a suggestion,” Reilly said.

Regardless of when the school days would be removed, they would benefit both the students and staff in FCPS. Not only would eliminating days give students and teachers well-deserved breaks, but it would also increase productivity at the end of a long school year.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Reporting & page design by Aisha Singh

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OPINIONS

Gap years provide great benefits Alternative path lets students express their individuality Amanda Laporte Reporter

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cross the country, high school students feel pressured to follow the predictable path of attending college right after graduation. However, more students should explore the option of gap years.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in October 2015, 69.2 percent of 2015 high school graduates were enrolled in college or university. Some of those not going directly to college look to gap years as a transition into adult life.

Senior Kim Schwadron has bigger plans than heading straight to college after graduation this June. She will be focusing on her musical interests instead of attending a university this fall.

“I plan on taking one year off then heading to college [and]...finding an internship at a recording studio to gain experience there,” Schwadron said.

Gap years offer a number of academic benefits and help to open young adults up to life-changing experiences. “[Gap years can give] time to rest and think over what you want to do after high school,” Schwadron said.

Although Schwadron’s plan for her year off is not defined, she has ideas of how she can get the most out of her time.

“During my gap year, I plan on [some] traveling,” Schwadron said.

Senior Sam Milani is also considering the benefits of a gap year after graduation.

“I would love to travel the world to try to experience different cultures and meet new people,” Milani said.

Gap years can have their downsides, and for some students it can be an excuse to delay responsibilities. However, this is not the case for the vast majority of students who choose to take gap years. Many focus on volunteering, study programs or other meaningful work. This ensures that their

break propels them into their next move.

McLean’s career specialist Laura Venos affirms this, noting that a gap year can be instrumental in students’ personal and intellectual progression. She described her ideal gap year experience as one that promotes work for the good of others.

“It would be important for me to feel like I was creating an impact somewhere that needed me,” Venos said.

Additionally, delaying college enrollment can actually help students mitigate the financial strain of college.

According to a 2015 study by the U.S. Department of Labor, a significant number of lower income students applied for gap years. Taking a gap year provides students with the opportunity to focus on saving money for college.

“You also have time to work and earn extra cash, which is always beneficial,” Schwadron said.

In addition, some students don’t have the grades to attend colleges right away. For students with lower GPAs, a gap year can be a chance for personal and intellectual growth. By giving students time to mature, gap years can help make sure that young adults are adequately prepared for the stresses and responsibilities of college.

“I think that if a McLean senior has been accepted to college but does not yet feel ready, considering an admissions deferral and exploring a gap year option is a good idea,” Venos said.

The decision to take a gap year itself is one that requires an immense amount of maturity. Ultimately, this is a choice students must make for themselves, not for their peers.

A student’s decision to take a gap year should not be a reflection of their academic record or intellectual capacity. Students of all kinds take gap years, like Malia Obama, Barack Obama’s eldest daughter, who opted to take a gap year before going off to Harvard.

Gap years provide an opportunity to study abroad, advance one’s career early and save money. Highlanders should consider the possibilities of taking a gap year and forge their own path.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Page design by Amanda Laporte

MARCH

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Cheaters require harsher punishments FCPS must change disciplinary records release rule Rustin Abedi Opinions Editor

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urrently, FCPS does not release student disciplinary records to colleges. Outside of the self-reporting that only a few students are willing to do, colleges have no way to find out about applicants’ honor code violations.

“It is a county standard to not share disciplinary records with colleges,” career center specialist Laura Venos said.

This approach makes attempts to discourage cheating less meaningful. To truly prevent cheating, schools must implement stricter preventative policies and enforce harsher consequences for those caught breaking the honor code.

In a survey of 100 McLean students, 48 admitted to cheating on either an exam, quiz or test. Meanwhile, 76 admitted to copying homework. Once students develop a habit of cheating, very little can be done to change their ethical conduct.

According to a study done by the Educational Testing Service and the Advertising Council, between 75 and 98 percent of college students who admitted to

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cheating said that they developed the habit in high school.

After high school, consequences for cheating become more extreme. For example, many colleges expel students and keep their tuition if they are caught cheating. In the professional world, cheating in any form can negatively affect an individual’s career.

“Those people who cheated must [deal with] the consequences,” junior Christine Sun said. “[Otherwise], they will never actually learn from their mistakes.”

A stricter set of punishments will scare students and keep them from cheating.

Instead of being tempted to cheat, students will be forced to focus on studying and will actually grasp academic material.

“As a teacher, it’s frustrating to see the amount of time kids will spend figuring out how to cheat versus if they spent the time studying, they’d be fine in the first place,” math teacher Steven Walker said.

Although students should get a pass for their first minor offense, such as copying homework, school counselors should send major honor code violations to colleges.

“I think there’s different levels to cheating,”

“As a teacher, it’s frustrating to see the amount of time kids will spend figuring out how to cheat versus if they spent the time studying, they’d be fine in the first place.”

-Math teacher Steven Walker

Walker said. “If it’s a lapse of judgment, that’s a forgivable mistake.”

Even if cheating represents a lapse of judgment, it can still harm their relationships with their teachers.

“Most teachers will take it personally even if they know the student is only concerned about a grade and isn’t cheating to cause pain to a teacher,” chemistry teacher Christina Hicks said.

In recent years, experts including Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist at Harvard University, have observed a decline in “the ethical muscles” of our society because of the value we place on success.

Consequently, it is true that many students at McLean are pushed to cheat because they feel pressured to get good grades, not to develop knowledge.

“We do recognize that this a high school setting and students will make mistakes, so a punishment that is too severe would not be appropriate,” Hicks said.

Still, individuals who have a history of cheating throughout their high school careers cannot expect to continue that type of lifestyle into college. It is necessary for FCPS to release major honor code violations to colleges in order to ensure that colleges know of students who are unqualified. The county needs to do more to ensure that the students receiving the college acceptance letters are the ones actually working hard for their grades, not the ones cheating their way through school.

Page design by Rustin Abedi Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva

OPINIONS

HUMOR

Shut up and don’t dance with me

Kids today refuse to get groovy at school dances

H

ere’s a riddle: what do disco, Harambe and our Sadies dance all have in common? They all died abruptly and can’t be mentioned today without a painful groan from remembering they ever existed.

Sadies, in theory, was a wonderful idea, a unique opportunity for girls to ask the young men of their choosing to a winter formal dance that was to be held on Feb. 11.

Students were able to vote on Twitter for which type of dance this year’s winter formal would be, with Sadies ultimately edging the opposition. Electoral College, where you at?

Despite the strong opposition from men’s rights activists, who claimed that the girlsask-guys format infringed upon their rights, Sadies was scheduled to occur as planned until a significant obstacle came in their way—no one bought tickets.

How could no one have bought tickets to such an exciting event? Are the girls at McLean too shy to interact with their male counterparts? Was the gender role reversal too extreme to comprehend? Did the men’s rights activists ACTUALLY accomplish something?

The answer to all of these questions is no, except for possibly the second one, because in two and a half years at McLean, the girls here have avoided me like the plague. Talk about anti-social.

The reason Sadies tanked is because the concept of high school dances as a whole, ranging from Homecoming to Prom and everything in between, is slowly dying here at McLean, and the time to pull the plug is growing nearer.

Back in the day, high school dances were a staple of teenage life, the pinnacle of young romance (especially B.T.—Before Tinder), and the setting for countless awkward memories and 80s movie classics.

In addition to Homecoming and Prom, they had Christmas dances, New Year’s dances, Flag Day dances, third Tuesday of the month dances and every other possible dance they could think of.

So why is shaking it up on the dance floor suddenly so out of style? While there are plenty of possible explanations, here are three of the most likely suspects for the murder of Sadies and high school dances as a whole:

First of all, we may be from McLean, but nobody wants to break the bank for an expensive dance experience. Call me a bah humbug, but paying $60 for a cheap flower (in addition to dinner and tickets) to pin on your suit or wear on your wrist and just throw away after the dance seems like a waste of my hard-earned moolah.

Also, is there ever any actual dancing at these things? Jumping up and down in a group of people is not dancing. Looking like you’re trying to procreate with your partner while horrified chaperones watch from a safe distance is not dancing. Mindlessly doing the “Cupid Shuffle” against your will is not dancing. To get an idea of what dancing really is, watch the end of Napoleon Dynamite. That guy knows how to bust a move.

Finally, in today’s world where teenagers can flirt with each other with the literal push of a button, it seems like we’ve become disenchanted with the idea of real life romance and doing things in person and instead choose to hide our feelings behind a virtual screen. Pretty deep, right? Just remember one thing—robots can’t love.

Page design by Jackson Payne

MARCH

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CROSSFIRE:

Clubs need the funds

Athletic funding should be used to help school clubs Jeremy Siegel Reporter

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lubs at McLean bask in the glory of national recognition, yet still lie in the shadow of multiple lamentable varsity sports teams. Such clubs, which have recently filled up McLean’s trophy cases, don’t receive enough recognition and funding. Therefore, a small portion of the funds garnered by sports teams should be reallocated to the rest of McLean’s extracurriculars.

At McLean, clubs tend to be more successful than the “popular” sports. For example, the Scholastic Bowl team placed second at states. Comparatively, the school’s varsity football team won one game out of 10, and the varsity boys basketball team lost all 22 games.

“Clubs such as Model UN could definitely use more funding to fully enhance the experience for all the students,” said sophomore Ian Ghasemian, who is a member of McLean’s Model United Nations team.

Clubs have also brought national recognition to McLean, including the Model UN team, which is ranked among the top 150 teams in the nation.

“These clubs act as sports for all these kids, so diverting some of these funds gives [them] equal opportunities.”

-sophomore Ian Ghasemian “We have...brought recognition to McLean High School and we’re nationally ranked as one of the top schools in the country,” said sophomore Neha Rana, the

director of logistics for the Model UN team.

With the money they already have, sports and athletic programs should be able to maintain their teams. In addition, the vast majority of athletes in high school do not continue their athletic careers. This is backed up by the NCAA, which states that only six percent of high school students transition into collegiate athletics.

Through clubs, students gain the capabilities and skills needed to succeed in college, and even in the professional world.

Such abilities are seldom acquired through sports.

“The most respected skills that come from sports are probably teamwork or determination, which can all come from [various clubs],” Rana said.

With competitive clubs, such as DECA, students have the opportunity to gain various skills that translate into almost every field of work.

“These clubs act as sports for all of these kids, so diverting some of these funds gives [them] equal opportunities...to have fun and explore [for] educational purposes,” Ghasemian said.

Some may argue that clubs can raise more money through initiation fees and club dues, but such fines deter participants. With more initiation fees and costs for members, even more students, on top of those deterred by high costs, would be discouraged from participation. That is why financial support is so crucial for these organizations.

As McLean’s clubs grow and bring more recognition to the school and provide more outlets of expression for students, they require more funding. Clubs provide excellent skills, experiences and opportunities for all students, regardless of athleticism. With this greater diffusion of capital, students at McLean would not have to feel as though they are left behind.

Comic by Dasha Makarishcheva Page design by Maria McHugo & Jeremy Siegel

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OPINIONS

Should clubs receive a portion of athletic funding?

Money for the makers

Athletic funds should not be applied to the aid of school clubs Maria McHugo Reporter

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ilapidated equipment, rampant mice infestations and battered textbooks— these issues plague McLean students, greatly dampening an otherwise outstanding learning experience. Students cannot be expected to thrive in an atmosphere riddled with inadequacies. However, many believe that funding should be detracted from athletics and applied to the aid of school clubs. Amid an institution with a plethora of financial strains, funds should not be allocated to school clubs.

Recently, FCPS has endured innumerable hurdles in terms of budgetary means. Many schools have been posed with cuts, forcing teachers to be fired and programs to be removed. Consequently, many issues exist which cannot be dealt with due to a rigid budget. Thus, if any funding, not only athletic, were to be distributed elsewhere, school clubs are not the proper cause.

“I do not think that there should be any school where a child or a teacher has to be in a trailer to learn. Also, I think that there should be enough technology at a school... so that kids can get the best education that they can, and currently there is not,” said technology teacher Cara Mosley, who is the girls varsity soccer assistant coach.

Although McLean’s clubs have attained a significant amount of success, they are frequently forgotten in the acknowledgment of alternate entities. However, redirecting athletic funds should not be the source of this acknowledgment.

“We’ve seen athletics prosper through PTSA and general school support,” said senior Fatima Shahbaz, debate team captain and McLean Model United Nations cosecretary general. “I would not like to take money away from athletics, but rather reemphasize the focus on extracurricular activities and develop academic boosters and MARCH

a support system for school clubs.”

Furthermore, other sources of revenue allow students to involve themselves in the community. Many clubs participate in events which stimulate community service while providing monetary support.

“We have fundraisers that involve selling Christmas trees, wreaths and mulch. Also, we have an ‘ergathon’ where we raise money from the community,” sophomore rower Mason Duncan said.

McLean’s countless clubs help students gain experience and knowledge, but they do not produce any monetary profit. Athletic teams foster revenue, which becomes part of McLean’s funds.

“Clubs do not generate any revenue for the school, whereas money [from athletics] is pooled together and then given to each sport,” said AP World History and Leadership

teacher Woody Kidd, who coaches JV boys lacrosse and girls golf.

Additionally, funds allocated toward the aid of athletic teams are imperative for the safety of participating students.

“My general philosophy is that the money we have in activities [is] to keep our kids safe. For example, we buy about 12 football helmets per year—we have to. We are going to provide for the needs of our programs and for the things that will keep kids safe,” director of student activities Greg Miller said.

Given the existence of so many other issues and alternate funding means, athletic funds cannot be redistributed to school clubs. The influx of mice in our classrooms and the many teachers and students situated in trailers of temperature extremes is not worth an extra slice of pizza at Thursday’s club meeting.

Should clubs receive a portion of athletic funding?

2%

UNDECIDED

50%

48%

Survey of 111 students

Infographic by Bryan Chung

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SPORTS

Girls soccer kickstarts their season Varsity team attempts comeback in 2017

Jessie Friedman & Sophie Mariam Reporter & Web Editor-in-Chief

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he girls soccer team has historically been one of McLean’s strongest sports teams.

The team finished the 2015 season with an impressive record of 12-0-2. However, last year the team struggled to maintain this success, finishing the season with a record of 3-7.

This year, the team is determined to overcome the challenges they faced last year and return to their former glory.

The main problem the team had last year was getting their offense properly structured and then getting the ball to the back of the net.

“We’ve had some difficulty finding the right formation for our team to get the best scoring opportunities,” team captain senior Naomi Jaffe said.

Another challenge the team faced last year was the addition of many new, younger players.

“I think now that [the younger players] have a year of varsity under their belts, they’ll

be able to play a lot better,” assistant varsity coach Cara Mosley said.

Practices this year have been especially helpful in overcoming previous challenges.

In addition, competition between members of the team helps drive them to success. “[The underclassmen] are really competitive and driven to succeed,” Jaffe said.

Newcomer sophomore Shannon Stockero has had a positive experience on the team.

“Everyone on the team has a different style of play, which makes the team versatile,” Stockero said.

The team is also preparing for the season by working on their connection on and off the field. This team bonding is important because it allows the players to communicate effectively and rely on each other.

“To prepare for the season we try and work on team chemistry and get to know one another because it really shows on the field,” team captain senior Cam Degraft said.

Jaffe is confident that a few changes to the program will make a big difference.

“We are making sure we have a lot of

depth to our bench, so that we can have girls coming in and out and not have them miss a beat,” Jaffe said.

The hard work may sound daunting, but the girls enjoy the experiences soccer brings.

“I think it’s really cool to play with girls from all ages and going from being an underclassman on a team to the oldest girl.

It’s really awesome to have new teammates every year and really create strong bonds with them every day,” Jaffe said.

Mosley is confident the girls can make a comeback this year.

“I think that we can go pretty far this year. The team has a lot of talent and a lot of strength, and based on what we saw [at the scrimmage] last night, they’re looking pretty good,” Mosley said.

Jaffe agrees that this year’s team has the potential to reach their goal of winning the conference.

“We have the talent to win the conference and to go even further—we just have to come together as a team, trust each other and get it done,” Jaffe said.

Just for Kicks — Junior Hannah

Alexander dribbles around an opponent during a scrimmage against Edison on March 3. The team won their first two scrimmages. (Photo by Imani McCormick) 34

SPORTS

Athletic teachers

McLean teachers share sporting experiences Seth Eshraghi Business Manager

Donald Vivacqua

Shane Warner

Kieran Sweeney

Main Sports: Basketball & Track Courses Teaching: Health & Main Sport: Field Hockey Courses Teaching: AP

Economics, US/VA History

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or most of Kieran Sweeney’s life, up to high school, basketball was her main athletic attraction. Near the end of eighth grade, she started to play indoor field hockey as a goalie.

“It was really exciting, and I ended up being pretty good at it and was a starter for my high school team as a freshman, and kind of kept going on with field hockey from there,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney started out playing for clubs and moved on to play for Mt. Saint Joseph’s Academy, the high school she attended in Maryland. Her team reached the state quarter-finals each year, and her team reached the state finals twice. Two of Sweeney’s teammates ended up on the U.S. Olympic team.

Sweeney moved on to play Division I field hockey for the University of Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, unlike her time playing during high school, Sweeney did not see as much success at UPenn. Regardless, she thoroughly enjoyed her time there on and off the field.

“We weren’t that great of an Ivy League team…but overall it was just a great experience,” Sweeney said.

MARCH MARCH

Main Sport: Lacrosse Course Teaching: World History 1

A

t North Rockland High School, Shane Warner played lacrosse, basketball, baseball and football, but in the end, he only pursued lacrosse at the collegiate level.

“I love lacrosse because it’s got a little bit of everything. It requires speed, strength, skill, athleticism [and] teamwork,” Warner said.

Warner ended up playing for Binghamton University in New York on an athletic scholarship, which he received before senior year. By the end of his senior year, his scholarship had increased.

Binghamton University competed in the America East Conference against colleges such as University of Maryland, Stony Brook University and others. Although they never reached the championship, Warner was team captain, team MVP and made Academic AllConference his senior year.

All his success derived from many years of working hard and gaining experience. As a second grader, he played with the fifth and sixth graders since there wasn’t a league for second grade. When he got to high school, he played varsity lacrosse for all four years of his attendance.

PE 10, Driver’s Ed

D

onald Vivacqua did not begin his venture into athletics on a travel team or in a community center. For him, it all started on the streets of his neighborhood in New York.

The most popular sports played by his peers included football, baseball, basketball and track; anyone who wanted to join would usually just jump in and play these sports, since they were the most affordable options available.

“Those were the sports that we looked forward to, and I guess it was more of a cultural thing. It’s just what you did, and there weren’t a lot of choices,” Vivacqua said.

Vivacqua started playing for a basketball team when he was in third grade. However, when he reached high school, track was his main focus. In fact, one season his high school track team went undefeated in the district and continued on to win the Central Valley Conference Championship.

Although Vivacqua does not believe he was the greatest of athletes, he feels that his participation in athletics marked a turning point full of good memories in his childhood.

“I had a lot of fun,” Vivacqua said. “I learned a lot of good lessons from athletics.”

Page design by Imani McCormick

35

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Searching for success

Student athletes work to get recruited

Maren Kranking & Julia McElligott Reporters

T

his spring, seniors are caught up in the flurry of college acceptance letters.

Along with these upperclassmen, a few younger students are also busy with college decisions, working hard to get noticed by collegiate coaches in hopes of playing at the next level.

More than 7.8 million students in the U.S. participate in high school sports, but few get the opportunity to pursue their sport into college. Athletes must consider the prospect of competing at the college level early due to the competitive nature of the process.

“I think I realized I wanted to play in college in 7th grade, when people I knew were committing,” sophomore varsity lacrosse player Ella Sangree said. “I began watching more college games, and I realized lacrosse is a sport I want to continue playing into college.”

College recruiting can be a tedious process, entailing emailing coaches and sending out highlight footage.

“It was definitely long,” said junior Cassidy Slavik, who committed to East Carolina University for lacrosse. “I started it my freshman year; I was going to different schools, talking with the coaches, touring the buildings, the dorms, and talking to players.”

Denise Wescott, the director of lacrosse and recruiting contact at Capital Lacrosse Club, said student athletes must put in considerable effort to get noticed by colleges.

“It takes a village to get recruited,” Wescott said. “Use your guidance counselor, your high school and club coaches and your parents to create good choices for your list of colleges you are going to look at. Create a relationship with the coaches you may be playing for in the future.”

0le0tes 0 , 0 ath

4s8tudent

MARCH

Sticking to the Game Plan — Junior Cassidy Slavik races down the field, looking for an open pass to a teammate. Slavik is committed to play lacrosse for East Carolina University in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Kent Arnold) On top of the duration of the process, college recruiting can be stressful for an athlete.

“The most stressful part is probably having to perform on the field when you know [college coaches] are watching,” Slavik said.

It is important for athletes to learn about the process early on so they know the best way to reach colleges. Sangree learned along the way and is now a walk-on for Columbia University as a sophomore. “[Starting early] is helpful because I’m very aware of what I need to do to play lacrosse in college,” Sangree said. “I’ve learned a lot about the process and I just feel like I’m a lot more prepared for college in general.”

Once an athlete is committed to a college, the process isn’t quite over. Although they

6%

of high school athletes move on to collegiate level sports

14%

may be committed to a team, they are not automatically accepted into the school itself.

Student athletes must continue to perform well academically as well as on the field.

“A lot of people think that once you commit you don’t have to worry about your grades, but in many people’s cases, especially at high academic schools, you have to work even harder,” Sangree said. “You still have to get into the school once you commit and so it’s a lot of pressure.”

College recruiting is a long, stressful and sometimes frustrating process, but in the end it can be a rewarding experience.

“Have fun, and don’t stress about it too much,” Slavik said. “Everything happens for a reason, so don’t pick a school that you don’t want to go to just because a coach says they want you. Pick where you want to go— where it makes you happy.”

of high school lacrosse players get recruited to play in college

McLean seniors currently committed to play a sport in college

16

Facts obtained via NCAA.org Page design by Maren Kranking & Julia McElligott

37

Squashing the competition Junior plays for Jamaican Jr. National Squash Team Colin Edson Sports Editor

I

n Jamaica the sun shines bright, music is always blasting and tourists flood into the resorts that line the clear-water beaches.

Venture deeper into the depths of the towns and cities and at times it can be a violent and dangerous place, an environment not ideal for any childhood. For junior Adam Ardito this was his home for 15 years.

Ardito is a member of the Jamaican Junior National Squash Team and has played in major squash tournaments around the world, from places in the Caribbean to Spain and universities across the U.S. “I’ve been to Bermuda, Trinidad, Grand Cayman Islands, and I’m actually going to Guyana this year, so basically all around the Caribbean,” Ardito said.

Squash was not a part of Ardito’s life until he was 11, and it was introduced into his life quite suddenly. Both of Ardito’s parents played squash—his mom played for the national team and his dad played occasionally—but he didn’t know that the sport was going to be a part of his life as well.

“Basically it was an accident, really. We went down to the club where [my parents] used to train and then we just met this guy... he ended up being my coach...and his son is like my brother in squash, so I basically learned how to play squash by playing with my friends,” Ardito said.

Ardito’s home city of Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, did not present him with many opportunities. It was only a few years ago that Ardito found his calling.

“We don’t have that level of squash in Jamaica. Coming here to Virginia and the U.S. in general, they have various amounts of opportunities for me,” Ardito said. “There is a lot of experience I can gain from just playing the level of squash up here.”

After his first time playing, Ardito was hooked. He played whenever he could, playing with his friends or even just training by himself. The squash court became his second home, an escape from the violence at

his school in Jamaica, and his racquet soon became an extension of his arm.

“There would just be fights,” Ardito said.

“People would form gangs and bring knives to school.”

It wasn’t until last year that he came to McLean. Although the transition wasn’t easy, it was certainly for the better.

“The environment [in Jamaica] is not the same—it’s like I’m coming from a different universe,” Ardito said. “This is the dream and back home was reality.”

Now that he lives over 1,400 miles from where his team practices, Ardito mostly practices on his own or with his dad. He even took up cross country and track to keep himself in shape.

“I train more than most people on the [national] team. The team as a whole only practices on Saturdays, for about one to two and a half hours. I train every day for about four to six hours a day, so it’s just mostly me,” Ardito said.

When Ardito plays, it may be a one-man show, but behind the scenes it is not only him; his dad Ricardo is always by his side.

“My dad is really my inspiration because he is there 100 percent of the time when I am playing squash,” Ardito said.

His father pushes him to become not only a better player, but also a better person. “[Ardito has] had many squash coaches but I have chosen to be not only a squash coach but his life coach. It has been challenging yet fulfilling,” Ardito’s father Ricardo Ardito said. “We have learned to humbly accept our defeats and when success comes it’s that much more satisfying.”

The next step for Ardito is to play squash in college and at the professional level.

“I am looking at George Washington [University] to see if I can get a scholarship there because they have a really good squash program,” Ardito said. “I’m trying to see if I can possibly go pro in a year and a half to two years, so I’m really trying to push the limits and go the extra mile to try and get somewhere.”

Colin Edson Sports Editor

The Perfect Stroke — Adam Ardito plays against the number one seed in the first round of a Caribbean Area Squash Association tournament, held in the Cayman Islands last year.

(Photo courtesy of SquashSite) Page design by Young In Seo

MARCH

39

Triathletes Claire Wolff

T

he clock strikes 5 a.m., and senior Claire Wolff climbs out of bed before the sun is even up. While most students remain in the comfort of their blankets, Wolff checks that all her equipment is in good shape and prepares for an early race check-in at 6. Ahead of her lies nearly a mile of swimming, a 40-kilometer bike course and a 10-kilometer run.

Wolff is one of the few triathletes at McLean.

Triathlon is a multi-sport race that involves high athleticism and endurance. Athletes swim, bike and run in their race to the finish line.

“Triathlon is an up-and-coming sport.

It’s been traditionally an adult sport—it’s not a young sport—and most of the people I see are mid-to-late 30s, early 40s and you get people who are 90 doing it, which is just so impressive,” Wolff said.

Wolff has been swimming since she was 5 years old and played soccer in the past, but she only took up triathlon recently.

“A couple years ago I got a shoulder injury so I was out of swimming. I wanted to keep up endurance and strength levels as much as I could so I started biking before school...then for my birthday I got an entrylevel racing bike,” Wolff said. “Right after that I joined my team.”

The possibility of pursuing triathlon in college also attracted Wolff to the sport.

“Part of the reason I had been thinking about [joining triathlon] was because I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to swim in college, and triathlon was becoming an NCAA sport at that time,” Wolff said. “Because that was an up-and-coming sport, I

II

had started thinking about it in case I didn’t want to swim so that I had something else that I might be good at that I wanted to try.”

Triathlons are rising in popularity, and many colleges are starting to offer triathlon as an NCAA sport.

“USA Triathlon created a program that makes it an NCAA sport and so they’re offering grants to schools who will make it an NCAA sport. Some schools have club teams, but not that many have NCAA teams so it’s becoming a younger sport,” Wolff said.

Wolff has most often competed in sprints, which are approximately an 800-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike course and a five-kilometer run.

Last year, Wolff signed up to run her first Olympic distance—approximately twice the distance of a sprint—in the Reston Triathlon. The Reston Triathlon was important to her since she had watched her dad compete in it for years.

“My dad has done it 19 times so it was something I’d always wanted to do,” Wolff said. “It had been a fixture in my life—I had attended it so many times just cheering on my dad—it was something I had been wanting to do since I was like 5, honestly.”

Triathlon is a sport that’s all about mentality. When Wolff competed in the Reston Triathlon, she simply wanted to try something new.

“Before I did the race I had never anticipated that I would do well… I thought I’d complete it but not race it,” Wolff said. “I ended up pulling out in front of people on the swim so I was like, ‘Wow, I’ll race it.’”

As Wolff continued her race and neared the finish of the run, others on the course cheered her on as she ran by.

“Triathlon is an individual sport, but you get some of the nicest people doing it. The run especially is when you see it—there’s this camaraderie that everybody’s suffering so cheer them on because you know everybody’s trying their hardest,” Wolff said.

In the end, Wolff finished first among the female competitors and 16th overall.

Wolff will be attending Bowdoin College next year and hopes to continue triathlon there on a local team.

“Triathlon has really taught me that you think you have some wall right there—there’s some wall, some barrier that you don’t think you can push past, well, chances are, you probably can,” Wolff said. “Triathlon has really showed me that there are limits to yourself, obviously, but those limits are much wider than you think they are.”

SPORTS

triumph

II Lauren Benedict

A

lthough young people in triathlon today are a rare occurrence, freshman Lauren Benedict started competing in triathlons when she was 8 years old. Benedict quickly developed a passion for the sport when her friend introduced her to it. Triathlon remained a constant in her life as she moved from Florida to Georgia and then to Virginia.

“Honestly, the people that you meet doing triathlon are just amazing. They’re so nice and I’ve made a lot of lifelong friends from doing triathlon,” Benedict said.

Benedict has always been one of the youngest triathletes on the course.

“In the races where you get to compete with adults they are like, ‘Why is a kid doing this?’” Benedict said. “It’s a good experience, though, because you have older people to watch and look up to.”

In addition to competing in triathlons, Benedict swam for McLean and is a member of the crew team, where she has already been impressing her teammates with her athleticism.

“She has an amazing work ethic,” said senior Alexa Liquori, Benedict’s teammate on the crew team. “I have never seen someone transfer their power from other sports to rowing as fast as she did. She is such a natural athlete...

This allows her to be exceptional in all aspects of the triathlon, which comes as no surprise to me.”

Benedict’s athleticism helped her to qualify for the national triathlon race when she was 13 years old, but unfortunately she was not able to compete in the race due to an injury.

“Two years ago, I got in a really bad bike accident the day before nationals,” Benedict said. “It was during the warm-up—we were actually at nationals warming up...on the course and we were going pretty fast, about 20 miles per hour, and then I don’t really remember—I got a pretty bad concussion... I was put in a wheelchair for two weeks because the injuries were really bad and I couldn’t compete in the national race.”

Despite the unfortunate circumstances of that race, Benedict has found success at nationals. Her favorite memory from all of her competitions was her national race the year before.

“When I was 12 years old, [my dad and I] were waiting for the results from nationals to come out and my dad was like, ‘I don’t know, I think you got top third, but I don’t think you got first.’ And then the results came out, and I

got first. It was a big moment for me,” Benedict said.

Triathlon is an endurance sport, and because of this, an athlete’s mental approach to the race is . Benedict says she tries to keep her mind blank during a race, but she will also try to calculate her position on the course in comparison to others.

For Benedict, the most difficult leg of the race is the run, but she aims to stay positive no matter what happens.

“Especially when you have your off days, you just have to keep telling yourself to keep going and keep trying because things will be better,” Benedict said.

Benedict enjoys competing in triathlon because it combines a team dynamic with a focus on individual achievement.

“Triathlon is a team sport, but it’s also individual as well. I like team sports, but just getting out there by yourself is also a lot of fun,” Benedict said.

She encourages others to try out the sport that she has come to love.

“I really have grown to love [triathlon] over the years,” Benedict said.

“It’s honestly a lot of work to put into it but you don’t even have to do it competitively. You could just go out and have so much fun doing it, so it’s really something to look into.”

Photos by Shanzeh Umerani & Eva Zarpas Reporting & page design by Carlyn Kranking

MARCH

g g e L n i v a e G u s s I e h t f o e t e l Ath

enior Grade: S crosse ort: La Spring Sp Stick Midfield Long Position:

What do you do as a long-stick midfielder?

I come on the field to play defense. A middie will come off when we lose the ball on offense, sub out, and I’ll come in and play defense. Then I stay on to help with the transitioning. I’m very offensive as a defenseman—I take the ball away to score.

What made you pick lacrosse over wrestling for college?

Wrestling in college takes over your life more. [There’s] a lot of weight cutting and stuff, so I decided to play lacrosse because it was what I really wanted to do. I’ve always wanted to play lacrosse.

What are some of the hardest things you’ve been through in your sports career?

I broke my hand freshman year. [I also] tore my UCL this year and wrestled through the season.

s: e d a l o Acc

What was your college recruitment process like?

Long. I’d been getting recruited by Division I schools since sophomore year, all of sophomore year and all of junior year, and then I didn’t end up committing to Jacksonville until early senior year. They didn’t start talking to me until July of junior year, and then I committed in October of this year.

How has playing a sport helped you in other aspects of life?

It’s taught me a lot of things. It’s taught me how to compete, how to work with a team and how to take losses.

What has been your favorite memory from your McLean lacrosse career?

Beating Langley in triple overtime last year.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully as a pilot.

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sta r varsity a e y r u e: Fo Lacross am all-region. te second

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-confe eam all

Page design by Bryan Chung Photo courtesy of Kent Arnold Reporting by Miranda Johnson

SPORTS

Starting Line Featuring the McLean Munchkins

The Munchkins are a group of preschoolers in Linda Gore’s Early Childhood Careers class.

McLean students enrolled in the class get to interact with the Munchkins on Silver Days. They plan and teach lessons to help the preschoolers learn different skills.

Violet Age 3 Who is your favorite athlete?

Oliver Age 5

Sawyer Age 5

What is your favorite TV show?

John Wall

Mickey Mouse

Sleeping Beauty

The Big Crab

Joe Montana

Football

Bryce Harper

Ninja Turtles

Ideal first date?

MARCH

Kallan Age 4

What does Donald Trump look like?

Go to the park

Human

Candy Land

Mushroom

Walk away

You (talking to Jackson Payne*)

Beach

YOU! (talking to Jackson Payne*) *See page 31 Photos by Ed Walters Reporting by Jack Stenzel & Jackson Payne

43

Finish Line Annette Lee Freshman Lacrosse

Flynn Truver Sophomore Track & Field

What decade has the best music?

2010s

Julia Longo Junior Softball

Jimmy Katson Senior Soccer

What is the best food combination?

Anything with mayonnaise

1990s

Peanut butter and honey

1980s

Grilled cheese and tomato soup

2010s (Rebecca Black is a personal favorite)

Tuna fish in green Jell-O covered in hollandaise sauce

What type of dog best describes your personality?

What are you most excited about for spring?

Shih Tzu

Wearing shorts

Labrador

Warm weather

What are your favorite Labrador

Spending time with my teammates

102nd Dalmatian

Rejection letters from colleges Reporting by Anna Murphy Page design by Bryan Chung

44

SPORTS

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