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Classroom Overpopulation
NEWS
The Troy School District has had talks about mergering with the Clawson School District despite it’s high-density classrooms By Ping-Yu Hsu // Staff Writer Walking through the main hallway at Troy High, it’s almost impossible to avoid contact with other students. Whether walking to lunch or suffering the sixth hour rush, many students complain about the overpopulation of people at school. During passing time, some say the hallways are congested, thus making some students take longer to walk from one class to another than if there were less people. This also makes lunch lines longer than previous years leaving limited time for some students, like junior Michael Young, to eat their lunch. “When I try to go home at the end of the day or in the beginning of the day getting to class, I always have to push people to get to wherever I am supposed to go,” Young said. “There are too many people in the main staircase and the office entrances blocking my way, making it so much harder to even get to my other classes.
Even at lunch time, it always takes me such a long time to get my food that I barely have any time left to eat.” Right now there are 2,087 students attending Troy High, with a 17-1 student-to-teacher ratio. With this amount of students, some teachers are forced to share classrooms, and some travel between two schools. English teacher Jimmy Morang, a former full-time teacher at Athens, now teaches at both Athens and Troy High. “Traveling to two schools every day has its advantages and its disadvantages,” Morang said. “I enjoy being a part of two similar yet distinct communities and getting to teach students from all corners of the city. Because my time is split, however, I am not able to invest myself fully in either community. Driving from Troy to Athens each day also cuts down on the amount of time I am able to spend preparing lesson plans, which is inconvenient, but by no means an in-
surmountable difficulty.” Science Teacher Sydney Barosko Believes the amount of students makes travelling through the halls during passing time inconvenient. Barosko also believes when science teachers share classrooms, it makes labs inconvenient since they can’t keep the labs up. “When I try to run down the hall to get a drink or do anything during passing time ... it’s practically impossible because my classroom is at the end of the hall,” Barosko said. ”I can’t imagine how hard it would be for students to get to class on time with all the congestion there is.” On Monday, Nov. 11, the Clawson Board of Education trustees requested the Troy School District consider the possible annexation of the Clawson School District and a merger with the TSD. In an email to the TSD community, Kerry Birmingham, director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives addressed
the potential merger. “It means that we will take the next several months to do a comprehensive feasibility study to determine the pros and cons of any proposed annexation,” Birmingham said. “There are numerous aspects of this complex situation that must be investigated before we can determine whether this is an idea worth further consideration.” The school districts will bring this topic back to the community and all citizen input will be required to be voted on. At Clawson High School, the student count for the 20182019 school year was 506 students. If these students were to be added to Troy High, the total student count would
then be 2,593 students. If this decision goes through, many Troy High students are concerned about the lack of lockers and space available. “When I transferred here in sophmore year, I didn’t have a locker number or combination on my schedule. I haven’t ever had one,” senior Alissa Butcher said. “I don’t think that the school should try to have more students if we don’t have room now.”
Graphic by Ping-Yu Hsu
Modern Day Rosie the Riveters Automotive Technology classes are expanding in lab size, amount of students joining and the gender of the students By Allie Zaluski // Staff Writer “One girl has gone onto Auto Tech 2 and usually only one or two join the class a year,” Warner said. Dustin Warner has been
the Automotive Technology teacher since the shop opened five years ago and the class has never had more than two girls join his class until this year.
Currently, there are ten girls in Auto Technology. The auto shop is expanding in lab size and the amount of students joining. “I think that the number of students in Auto Tech increasing is a very good thing, but I would like to see not just guys joining but more girls as well,” Warner said. “They can be underlooked in the business but they can do anything a guy can do.” It’s not only in Auto Tech class that men are more commonly found than women, it also relates to the automotive industry. “A small percent of automotive technicians are made up of women and they are often Photo by Allie Zaluski overlooked,” Warner said. Some Female students enrolled in Auto Technology class.
Sophomore Miranda Howell, an Auto Tech student, gave her input on the gender aspect of automotive class and industry. “I got some odd looks when I first walked in,” Howell said. “Maybe it’s because I am a girl, but I want to know if I’m ever stuck on the side of the road I can change my tire or know if a repair shop is giving me an insane price on fixing something.” The Auto Tech shop had its first revamp in November 2017, and after almost two years later it’s getting another revision to the shop. Auto Tech is almost doubling its size and is adding a lift to their new lab. They are also getting many computers to make their own
computer lab. Auto Tech has all the machinery a standard auto repair shop would have, thanks to their many sponsors and Troy School District’s fundings. Troy High offers Auto Tech 1, 2, 3 and 4. Auto Tech 2 is a two-hour class block, which may discourage some students, but for those who take the class, they take it for fun or because it is the profession they want to go into after high school. Many don’t go onto Auto Tech 3 and 4, in fact, there are only six students in Auto Tech 3 and one in Auto Tech 4. “We are actually considering making an all girls Auto Technology class, a few girls have showed intrest in it already,” Warner said.
NEWS
Troy’s Concrete Jungle
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As concern of the condominium boom in Troy grows, an election may be the saving grace of Troy’s green space issue By AJ Kowalak // Staff Writer
The concern in Troy is growing as multiple companies develop land for building new condos near the intersection of Long Lake and Livernois. This may impact the population of Troy, which in turn impacts the population of Troy High. Jane Jackson, who has preferred to remain anonymous, opposes the construction of the new condos. “I think we have enough condos,” Jackson said, “I wouldn’t vote to have more condos go up.” With a growing population of 85,584, it may seem like new businesses are coming to Troy everyday. It’s no debate Troy has become a target of urban sprawl over the past few years. On Dec. 5, 2017, the Troy City Council directed City Administration to define the difference between open space and green space. Their resulting definition of green space is “public and privately available land with vegetation or areas allowing recreation or aesthetic purposes,” whereas open space is “any parcel of land
that is undeveloped and has no structures,” which include green spaces. According to The Trust for Public Land, a group devoted to protecting land and designing community parks and gardens, only 13 percent of Troy residents live within a 10-minute walk from a park. To some, this may seem insignificant, however it has to be accounted that these are established parks and not undeveloped properties. Compared to nearby Rochester, 57 percent of the population lives within a 10-minute walk from a city park. During this past election, the topic of greenspace and the rapid development of Troy was highly debated between the two candidates. Mayoral Candidate Dave Henderson insists the condos are necessary to keep up with the rapid growth in Troy. “In order to continue to promote Troy’s business sector, Big Beaver needs to continue to develop residential housing for the employees of these
businesses,” Henderson said on his campaign website. On Nov. 5, Henderson’s opponent, Ethan Baker was elected as mayor of Troy. He hopes to keep Troy’s greenspace along with a balance of suburban and urban culture. “Troy is unique in that it has a very strong economy that thrives on development, quiet residential neighborhoods, parks and greenspace,” Baker said on his campaign website. As city council member, Baker also pushed for the preservation of greenspace. “I have proven to balance these often competing interests to keep Troy’s economy booming and tax base healthy while also recognizing the extremely essence of Troy [the people of Troy] have known and loved,” Baker said. Junior Om Shah is concerned about the destruction of greenspace and thinks it’s strictly because of development for money. “Personally, I think that the condos are a symbol of a larger issue of development ver-
sus environmentalism,” Shah said, “I agree with Ethan Baker on this one, there’s so many houses being developed everywhere and we’re losing the precious forests we have.” Senior Shurthi Sunilkumar, the daughter of a former city council candidate, thinks a lack of interest in politics has to do with why this issue isn’t being talked about in Troy High. “I don’t really think kids are really knowledgeable about this unless they have a specific interest in politics,” she said. Sunilkumar believes in the necessity of the use of public parks in a productive manner. “I have a nonprofit that I started that’s called Kids 2 Kids that is held at Boulan Park,” Sunilkumar said. “It’s the perfect location because it’s really nice for kids and at the same time, families can relax.” As development continues on the condo complexes, many are hopeful that Troy city council officials implement environmentally-conscience greenspace policies like Baker supports.
Photos by AJ Kowalak
Troy residents showed their support by putting up signs.
Construction at intersections are underway.
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Reaching Nirvana By Gabby DeRose // Staff Writer Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, enhance self-awareness and promote emotional health. While many people meditate for religious purposes, others meditate for its spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health benefits. Senior Lana Rihawi, Meditation club’s leader and voice of action, hoped that by forming the club, she would draw people together to spread a message of mental health care and awareness.
Photo by Gabby DeRose
“We started meditation club at first as a mental health awareness club,” Rihawi said. “We wanted to focus on mental health awareness through meditation specifically because there’s many different ways you could solve problems that have to do with mental health, but we wanted to do something different.” The club aims to teach, direct and educate its members about meditation and its benefits as well as how its members can healthily and properly handle stress, anxiety and other mental health disorders. “Meditation can help with just calming the body
down… It’s basically shutting every single body part down and focusing the tension just on your core,” Rihawi said. “It makes you feel ‘one with the universe.’ You just feel centered. It’s a difficult feeling to explain until someone tries it. The point of it all is to shut the body down and just focus on your heart.” Meditation can be difficult for beginners to get the hang of, but even just fifteen minutes of meditation can have significant health benefits. The meditation club is dedicated to helping all members learn to meditate within its every-other Tuesday group sessions. Rihawi, as the primary instructor, explains this process. “We first go over some tips on how to meditate and go through asking people, ‘what stresses you out?” Rihawi said. “We usually then have a fifteen minute meditation where we all turn off our cell phones and
Features
The newly formed Meditation club serves to help students with mental health, stress, and anxiety close our eyes and listen to the [instructor].” Senior Shannon Li, a member of the - newly formed club, explains her personal thoughts and feelings on learning how to meditate within the club. “Meditation is hard at first as it takes an immense amount of focus,” she said. “But after you get the hang of it, it’s extremely relaxing and calms you in a way that you don’t normally get to experience in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.” Rihawi also went into detail about how her class is run, hoping to encourage new members to find new interest and join for a welcoming experience. “We start off with the feet by relaxing, and then we move up the body,” Rihawi said. “You relax up your legs, up your body, up your spine, your arms, all the way up to your face. The process is just going step by step by each body part,
relaxing them and focusing on stopping your muscles. Once we’re done, though, we want people to leave without any stress they may have had coming in.” Senior Andy Feng also experienced the sensations of meditation during his attendance at the club activity. “When I was meditating and focusing on parts of my body I could feel the stress begin to fade away,” he said. “Having a clear mind was something that I haven’t experienced in a while so I felt refreshed after meditating.” Meditation Club has been striving for a healthy approach to stress management and mental health awareness for all its members. By attending a meeting after school for a forty-five minute session, one may relieve themselves of their school stresses and anxieties, or reach a new state of relaxation or calmness.
Understanding Safe-Ed Security Safe-Ed security plays an important role in the community and Troy High School enviornment by keeping people safe By Bridgette Scott // Staff Writer
As the bell rings, students walk through the halls. Passing the main office, many can’t help but notice the iconic yellow shirts. These yellow shirts are worn by the Safe-Eds, so that they are always easy to spot wherever they are in the school. Many people believe that the Safe-Eds are important to keeping the school running smoothly, while others think that the jobs of Safe-Eds take away freedoms that the students should have. However, many students, like sophomore Nadia Khan, do not recognize the role that Safe-Eds play in an average school day. “I can’t really talk about what they could improve because I am not familiar with the program itself,” Khan said. According to Safe-Ed Officer Jon Kirken, the Safe-Ed team leader at Troy High, the Safe-Eds have many important jobs around the school —
many of which the students do not consciously notice on a daily basis. “After passing time when the students are back in their classes, we make sure all exterior doors are shut,” Kirken said. “We also ask people for IDs to make sure that everybody in the school is supposed to be here.” In addition to monitoring halls, Safe Ed Officers play a role in responding to emergencies. At Troy High, teachers have shown the ALICE video telling students and teachers what to do and where to go in case of emergency. The video presents five strategies in case of emergency: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. Kirken explains the SafeEds undergo a similar training process when they begin working at Troy High. “If there’s a problem, say that we see someone that has
a weapon, we would call the office and go into a lockdown drill,” Kirken said. “Although we cannot take physical force, our biggest job at that point would be to get the information out of what’s going on in the school.” The Safe-Eds also monitor the parking lot and traffic to make sure students get to school safely. The Safe-Eds’ purpose is to make sure days run as smoothly as possible. “They really add a layer of safety,” Assistant Principal Brian Zawislak said. “Our top priority up here in the office is safety and security of students so that you guys can just focus on learning.” Although there may be a misconception among the students, the jobs of Safe-Eds have a much larger impact on the school than what the students can see. Safe-Ed is one of many privatized companies at the
school; the list also includes bus drivers, food service providers and custodial staff. The Troy School District contracted the company to provide a “safe and secure learning environment” for its students, staff and visitors. According to the Safe-Ed company, “Safe-Ed works intimately with school district administration and staff, developing and implementing security solutions for their campuses.” The Safe-Ed company also provides security to schools in Rochester Community Schools, Lake Orion Community schools, Royal Oak School District and other schools in Michigan. In order to work at Troy, Safe-Eds have to have certain qualifications. Even if the SafeEds are not armed, many are ex-police officers or have some type of security experience. “My boss looks for some-
body that really gets along well with people like students and teachers,” Kirken said. “Someone who is personable rather than someone that is grouchy and mean who doesn’t like kids.” Although many of the students do not know much about the jobs of the Safe-Eds around the school, many students agree that sometimes it is nice to have a familiar face keeping the halls of Troy High safe. “It is important to have SafeEds,” sophomore Humnah Ali said. “Because they influence positive behavior.” The Safe-Eds assist in making the school environment the way it is. Although many students are uninformed regarding the jobs the Safe-Eds conduct, having safety and security within the perimeter is something that is widely valued in the community and in the school. Graphic by Emy Galustyan
Features
5
Learning Outside the Bubble
12 Literature and Composition classes take a look at human rights
By Kaitlyn Piggott // Print Editor-in-Chief Behind the second door to the left in the English hallway, English Teacher Lisa Knudson stands in front of her 12 Literature and Composition class. She pulls out a marker and writes the word “poverty” in black print. Then, she turns and begins a discussion with her class about the effects of poverty. The class proceeds to name issues: crime, disease, hunger, lack of education, discrimination. Knudson begins drawing lines to connect words; everything begins to piece together. Disease and lack of health care lead to death among the homeless. A web begins to form. The diagram comes into focus. Poverty ripples through our own nation. Our own state. Students begin movement sparked more than 80 human rights declarations and treaties. This isn’t to say that all of the human rights are followed, or that all nations agreed with these rules, but the nations believed it was a step in the right direction. To Knudson, human rights are rights that all are guaran-
teed, yet she stresses that this isn’t always the case — not every person has these rights. She believes that learning about human rights is important, especially for her students and anyone who steps foot in her classroom. “We live in a bubble,” Knudson said. “I don’t think that people realize the terrible hardships that people from all over the world are going through. It’s important for me, as a teacher, to make sure that my students are equipped and understand that when they leave my classroom, because that is the only way we make the world better.” Similar to Knudson, junior Ridaa Khan, the communications director of Troy High’s Model United Nations, believes the Troy community lives in a “bubble of privilege” and the United States resides in another. She believes that the community should take action. “[Learning about human rights] can help prevent future cases of human rights infringe-
ment and it also helps raise awareness, which in turn helps create actual change in society and it creates actual action plans,” Khan said. “We don’t just have to witness the issues, we can help solve them too.”
We don’t just have to witness the issues, we have to help solve them too.” Junior Ridaa Khan
Senior Nik Didocha finds human rights important because he said once they are gone, it’s hard to bring them back so protecting them is crucial. In his opinion, the best steps toward change is to contact government officials to make them aware because he noticed what the United States wasn’t doing
this to assist the people in nations with numerous human rights issues. “[I was surprised with] the lack of authority of the major world powers to actually do something to help, even if it is something basic it’s just giving aid,” Didocha said. According to Freedom House, an organization that calculates the level of freedom in countries, in 2019 the United States received an aggregated score of 86 — the scale being 100 as the most free and zero deeming the least free. The United States, the land of the free, was surpassed by 51 other countries. Some on the high end include Finland, Norway and Sweden’s perfect score and the Netherlands’ 99. In the low single digits scores include Syria’s zero, South Sudan’s two, North Korea’s three and Saudi Arabia’s seven. “In 2018, ‘Freedom in the World’ recorded the 13th consecutive year of decline in global freedom,” Freedom House said. “The reversal has
spanned a variety of countries in every region, from long-standing democracies like the United States to consolidated authoritarian regimes like China and Russia. The overall losses are still shallow compared with the gains of the late 20th century, but the pattern is consistent and ominous. Democracy is in retreat.” Knudson sees the issues within the borders, but sees more human rights violations elsewhere and wants her students to become more educated on regions around the world, as well as be thankful for what they have. She said her students are lucky and they should look out for those who don’t have a voice. “I think that because we live in the U.S., we take [human rights] for granted,” Knudson said. “It’s everyday for us. Somebody has to speak up for those that are in need, and becoming more aware and becoming informed is how we make those situations possibly better.”
Graphic by Kaitlyn Piggott
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No Two Are the Same
Features The learning style of students are compared to teachers
By Rory Knauss // Staff Writer
Snowflakes are very similar to students. Each are differently shaped, and no two snowflakes are the same, just like every student has their own way of learning. Education is delivered in distinct categories, may it be visually, hands-on or auditory. Over time, students develop methods in learning that
work best for them to ensure their understanding of classroom materials. What works for one student may not be the same for another, like memorization or even through a catchy song, which may make some classes tougher than others. This depends on how the teacher educates their class,
and just like students, every teacher delivers their information in a different way. According to a study called “The Learning Styles and the Preferred Teaching—Learning Strategies of First Year Medical Students” from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, hands-on learning is the most
common method of learning. “The most common unimodal preference was kinaesthetic, followed by visual, auditory and read and write,” the study said. Kinaesthetic, also known as hands-on, is learning through experiencing the material for yourself, usually following instructions, or using the sense of touch to understand the material. Hands-on learning includes labs in science, using building blocks in math, or putting on a skit for English.
I think a hybrid approach is the best way to teach all learning styles.” Biology Teacher Meghan Sermo
Photo courtesty of Sebastian Wolfgang Chokka
English Teacher Jodie Duda assists students during classtime.
Photo by Rory Knauss
Four students discuss their assigned book in English class.
Sophomore Lucas Leight follows the majority of students when it comes to learning. “I definitely learn using hands-on,” Leight said. “I’ve been using this learning style as often as I can, but teachers don’t usually present an opportunity to. It helps me concentrate on the task at hand, and it makes the experience more fun, but it’s extremely rare for teachers to use it.” Sophomore Ru Bhagwat has both similar and different viewpoints. “I learn using hands-on because I feel like I’m confident with the material,” Bhagwat said. “I think by doing homework and worksheets and solving problems using the handson method, students can be more efficient. My teachers use the hands-on learning style very often.” Leight says his teachers don’t often use his preferred learning style, while Bhagwat said her teachers often did. Ev-
ery student has a personalized schedule, giving them different teachers. Just like students learn differently, teachers also have their own way of instructing. Biology Teacher Meghan Sermo shows she is open to all kinds of learning techniques to help her students. “I use a variety of learning style techniques,” Sermo said. “I have been trying to do more modeling labs in class with the new science standards. I think a hybrid approach is the best way to teach all learning styles.” This isn’t all Sermo does for her students. Sermo also assists her students with memorizing the classroom materials. “I have been trying to integrate more hands-on and modeling in my classroom for 5-7 years,” Sermo said. “I also tend to use dance moves to help students remember specific concepts.” Students and teachers are all very different and unique just like snowflakes; no one is wired exactly the same. Each individual intakes and delivers material in their own way, but sometimes this shows to be a problem for students in understanding materials. No two
I learn using hands-on because I feel like I’m confident with the material.” Sophomore Ru Bhagwat
are the same when it comes to education, which makes communication between students and teachers is something for everyone to consider when trying to strengthen their academic skills, or when improving their education techniques.
Features
Are APs Always the Right Way to Go?
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Many students sign up for Advanced Placements before considering what their GPA might look like at the end of the year By Andy DeGrand // Staff Writer
Advanced Placement is a program created by the College Board that offers college-level curriculum to high school students. AP classes can give college credits to students that do well on the exams in May. With many students’ having a heavy class-load, homework and tests can get overwhelm-
ing rather quickly. “When two tests overlap at the same time and you’re trying to struggle with both and balance extra- curriculars plus clubs, it can get a little overwhelming,” said junior Nancy Xu. Xu is currently taking four AP classes. Many students like
her agree that some students sign up for AP classes before considering what their GPA might look like. “There are some people in high level APs that have really bad grades in class because they heard it’d be a certain way and it’s not,” Xu said. “It’s not good. Colleges look at the majority of your classes, but colleges aren’t gonna be impressed with a D in any AP class.” Many students know that there are a variety of AP classes to choose from. From the AP history classes to the AP math classes, many students also agree that AP classes can take a lot of your time. “It’s a lot of time consuming work and it does get overwhelming all the time,” junior Katie Austin said. Although AP classes can get
mind-boggling for many students, there are many ways to resolve it. “It’s important to have a class load that is good for you,” Austin said. “I think that I have a good course load for me personally because if I feel like my course load isn’t challenging, I’ll feel like I’m wasting my time and I don’t think I made it too challenging to the point where I am too stressed. It all can get very stressful at one point or another, especially since it all leads up to one big test.” There are many different ways to look at AP classes. But for many other students, like junior Arti Phatke, AP classes can be enjoyable. “It’s definitely stressful, but all of the APs I’m taking are something that I am interested in so it’s also really exciting
to learn about all the different topics,” Phatke said. “What I’ve started to notice is that there’s cycles. So there’s always some downtime and then you’re bombarded by a whole bunch of tests because everything falls on the same day.” Phatke also gave some advice and shared some of the things she had to give up. “If you just don’t procrastinate and manage your time, then you won’t feel so stressed out,” Phatke said. “Taking AP classes means staying up late at night, waking up early to study, and then studying during the day. I had to give up a lot of stuff like my extracurriculars but it’s all about the balance, you just have to know how to manage your time.” This could be helpful advice for students taking multiple AP classes.
Graphic by Emy Galustyan
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8
In-Depth
“You’re One of Us” The Chariot takes a step inside Troy College and Career High School to see what the school is really about and their goal By Olivia Perron // Website Editor-in-Chief
A one hallway high school with a population of 127 students and seven full-time teachers, Troy College and Career High School was formerly known as Niles Community High School. TCCHS evolved from NCHS five years ago, the latter started in 1995. TCCHS is in a joint building with other academic support centers in the Niles Center building. TCCHS offers an accelerated academic program that allows students who have fallen behind in credits to have the ability to complete them by their original graduation date. TCCHS is more than just a school for the student that has fallen behind. It has created an individually-tailored, understandable and low-stress high school environment. It gives students the chance to alter their past troubles and misconceptions of school and be in an environment that is suitable for themselves. Bill Turner, principal of TCCHS, is new to the school for the 2019-2020 school year. He left Athens to become the director of College and Career Readiness and happily took on the role of TCCHS principal as part of that responsibility. “I believe this is a great opportunity for me, because it
helps challenge my thinking and leadership in ways that will hopefully benefit our entire TSD community,” Turner said. At the traditional
high school, you’re one in 2,000, at TCCHS you’re one of us.” TCCHS Principal Bill Turner
TCCHS is known to many as “Niles,” and students who don’t know much about the school don’t know it as TCCHS. “This building was something different when it was created, and it’s evolved,” Turner said. “We want to help students, but we need students who want that help as well.” The school has had its fair share of rumors and stigma. Students who enrolled at TCCHS have a variety of reasons for why they came. Some students don’t enjoy the high school life of bustling hallways
and jam-packed stairwells. Some students have never been to a public school. Some decide that a smaller population is a better environment for them. “Many people think TCCHS is a place for kids who do bad things or those who get dumped from their original high school,” senior Chloe Teodoridis-Clark said. “I’ve known many kids that both went to and graduated from TCCHS and I know that each of those kids are as hardworking and as talented as any other kids.” Whatever the reason for one’s enrollment at TCCHS, the school has adapted into an accommodating place for everyone. “They get opportunities to be successful and believe in themselves and do it in a way that is different than what the current high schools offer them,” Turner said. Kayla Sage, a junior at TCCHS, started there as a sophomore. She had been homeschooled since elementary school. Sage came to the school in need of catching up on credits. Coming to TCCHS after being homeschooled gave her an opportunity to socialize with peers and create a more
Troy College and Career High School Building Layout
encouraging school life. “It clicked to me that I could actually do things here because of the teachers motivating me,” Sage said. Being in high school may have its fair share of cliques and drama. Many students like junior Costa Papadelis at TCCHS don’t see the cliques and drama that other high schools may have. The school prides iteslf on having less to no cliques, a very-well managed anti-bullying policy and an environment that has little judgement from peers. “Our school has this no bullying policy,” Papadelis said. “Here it is a lot easier to enforce and it doesn’t really need to be enforced because everyone gets it.” Graduates of TCCHS have moved on to different futures. When one graduates from TCCHS they are given a diploma with the name of either Troy High School or Athens High School. If a student did not formally come from either high school they graduate with the name Athens High School on their diploma. Jacob Botardo, an alumni of TCCHS, who previously went to Athens, knew all throughout high school he wanted to become a Marine. On Dec. 19,
2018, he officially signed up for the 12-week Marine Corps Recruit Training. After graduating TCCHS, he was shipped to Parris Island, South Carolina in September of 2019. In a letter sent from recruit training, he provides his opinion of TCCHS. “TCCHS was great,” Botardo said. “The teachers cared more about students personal life and education than the teachers at my first school. The way they taught us was different from Athens, it made it a lot easier and less stressful.” Having seven full-time teachers is a challenge for TCCHS when it comes to having enough teachers to teach a plethora of subjects.
In-Depth When TCCHS doesn’t have a teacher to teach a specific subject, they offer it as an online class. The teachers of TCCHS do more than lecture
It clicked to me that I could actually do things here because of the teachers motivating me.” TCCHS junior Kayla Sage
and hand-out homework with the same routine each day. Students have said that the teachers help them with more than just academic problems. “The teachers know every kid’s name, it’s crazy,” Sage said. “They‘re so close with the kids and have a personal conversation. It’s almost like each and every one of them can be a counselor. They are really nice. It’s really nice to be here.” Jeff Rainwater, an English and Social Studies teacher at TCCHS has taken a step beyond working with students in the classroom. Recently, he went with a student to help them purchase their first car. He took them through the process of test-driving and haggling prices to get them the car. Rainwater doesn’t see himself as the only teacher tak-
ing a step out of the classroom. “Any teacher in this building would do that, taking the kids out to lunch who don’t have a lunch, or are hungry,” Rainwater said. “That’s all part of the personal relationship.” From the perspective of most outsiders, TCCHS doesn’t come across as your “average” high school. Students at Troy High school or Athens High school may find it to be a school they want to avoid; what those students don’t know is some choose to go to TCCHS rather then Troy High or Athens. “At TCCHS there is never a dull moment,” Rainwater said. “There is always something going on. We’re always trying to engage students that haven’t always been really engaged. We want to draw them in and make sure that they are engaged and that they find interest and relevance to what we are doing.” TCCHS is considered an alternative school. Alternative schools are educational establishments with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional. They are meant to help a different type of learner succeed when a different environment discouraged them. “It has a bad rep for being an alternative school but alternative doesn’t mean bad, “Lola Lekaj, a junior at TCCHS, said. “It’s just a stereotype and it sucks because it’s such a great school.” Turner takes time to learn each student’s name and get to know a little bit about them. He has found that each student
has a different story of how they have gotten to where they are today. “It’s not about getting hung up on the stigma.” Turner said. “It’s about educating people about what [TCCHS] really is, so that more kids can share that opportunity and we can help more kids. If we’re in the business of supporting our students, then we should be in the business of educating as many kids as possible about what’s out there, so that kids can decide for themselves what they need.” TCCHS is in store for some
We’re always trying to engage students that haven’t always been really engaged.” TCCHS History and English Teacher Jeff Rainwater
big changes. For the 2020-2021 school year, the Niles Center, along with TCCHS, will be moving locations from West Square Lake Road to Big Beaver Road in the ITT Technical Institute building. The school will have the opportunity to have more classrooms and space for students. This change opens the question of what the
future looks like for TCCHS. “What we are figuring out right now is what’s the best way to make this space as perfect for kids as possible,” Turner said. “We’re just trying to make it a learning institute that is nontraditional and meets the needs of learners that need something different from traditional high school.” TCCHS is focused on its students well-being and future. The Troy School District has put in money toward making a new environment for students to learn. Whether it’s online classes, or earning an associates degree while still finishing high school, TCCHS offers opportunities for students that might not be available at a traditional high school. “I think it is good for kids that have been discouraged and distressed over their grades, ”Sage said. “It’s a lot better for anyone who has been struggling in school. If they are not in a school that is going to help them succeed and the teachers aren’t actually closely working with them, then they’re not going to be able to succeed. So, it is really good for kids like that.” Being a school with one hallway, 10 classrooms, 127 students, seven full-time teachers and no cafeteria, TCCHS strives to be outside the box. Students not only get an alternative way of learning, but they get support from each teacher on personal matters. “At the traditional high school, you’re one in 2,000, at TCCHS your one of us,” Turner said.
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The new logo created by Larson Middle School Students in Digital Application Class
Former logo of Troy College and Career High
Photos and Graphics by Olivia Perron
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D1 Destiny By Meriam Meram // Body Copy Editor It is May 20, 2020, the last day of school for seniors. It is spring and the weather is getting warm, the sun is up, the sky is clear and the flowers are blooming. It is early afternoon, most seniors are in the gym, putting on their caps and getting last minute pictures with their friends. They line up and begin walking, commencing the senior clap out. Making their way throughout the entire school, many seniors are greeted and hugged by their teary-eyed teachers and underclassmen friends one last time before they walk out of Troy High possibly for the very last
time. It may be a bittersweet day for a lot of seniors, possibly one of the best days for a lot of them, but it is a day senior Francesca McBride will not get to experience. She will be 834 miles away in Starkville, Mississippi, training with her new teammates on the Women’s Volleyball team at Mississippi State University. McBride will graduate high school in Dec. 2019. Although she still plans on coming back for prom and graduation, McBride will not be here for the second semester. Her decision to graduate early had a lot to do with her
McBride’s teammates cheer her on.
Sports Francesca McBride reflects on her high school volleyball career as she prepares to begin college athletics
volleyball career thus far and her future plans at Mississippi State University. “I just feel like I’ve outgrown playing club volleyball and I feel like it’s time for me to move onto something else,” McBride said. “Getting to be able to have time to adjust to college, and college sports, just gives me that head start. It’s really going to help propel my game forward.” Friend and teammate of McBride, senior Athena Samson, is very emotional about McBride’s early graduation. “I’m kind of sad about it because we’re close friends and she’s going to be so far away, but I’m also really happy for her because she loves the coach and the team,” Samson said. “I know this is a good thing for her because she’s getting to train with her team and she’s getting a feel for her college.” Although McBride plans to move on to play volleyball at a Division 1 school, she still cherishes her memories from Troy High Volleyball and reflects on her four years on the team. “My first time carving pumpkins with some of the girls is one of my favorite memories
with the team,” McBride said. “Winning districts this year was especially memorable because it’s the third time we won districts and it’s very important to me because I’m a senior now, and it’s what all the other seniors have done before me. It just feels so good to carry that on.” McBride has also been able to further improve and evolve her volleyball skills over the past four years, thanks to varsity coach Tom Vigilant. “As [McBride] has matured and gained control of her instrument, she has learned to control some very long moving parts as she continues to get better,” Vigilant said. Vigilant also has some last words for McBride before she graduates. “Never let the game become a job,” Vigilant said.“The work is the road to happiness.” McBride has similar views with Vigilant as to what she has improved upon throughout her high school career. “My confidence and self esteem on the court has definitely improved,” McBride said. “I became more confident in the way I play and with certain
skills like passing and serving and knowing what my job is on the court. I’ve also been able to gain more control with my hitting, I’ve gotten better at getting the ball to do what I want it to do.” Vigilant also reflects on watching McBride grow as a person over the past four years and has high hopes for her future plans in Mississippi. “It’s a joy to watch all the girls grow as people and players,” Vigilant said. “My happiness in [McBride] is her singular joy in life. I believe college will take [McBride] to the next level. I’m sure she’ll be successful and I wish her well!” McBride gives some advice to her future self to look back on. “Stay positive, keep working hard,” McBride said. “Stay on top of the routine.” Samson also has some tips for her friend and teammate as she enters a new chapter in her life. “Be as social and outgoing as you possibly can, make new friendships, bond with your teammates and not be in your own shell,” Samson said. “I know she’s going to kill it.”
Photos by Meriam Meram
McBride jumps up to spike the ball.
Getting low to the ground, McBride prepares to revieve the ball.
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Sports
The Art of Winning
By Vanisa Kumar // Staff Writer The best sports teams are made up of players who work together and are willing to make sacrifices. A team with unselfish players who support each other will generally perform better than a group of individuals that don’t play as a team. This is why, in addition to working on individual skills, it’s also important to learn how to play with others. One player specifically has mastered how to play alongside a team and grow strong individually as well, senior Jagan Nallani. Nallani currently holds the 2019 state title for No. 2 singles in boy’s tennis. When thinking about what got him to his success, Nallani cites determination and commitment to the game. “I feel that hard work, persistence, and determination leads me as an individual to success,” Nallani said. “I never give up and always fight to win.” He also expresses his love toward his team and how they learned the philosophy of
cheering and bonding to win, together and apart. “We all bonded together and always maintained team values to succeed and win as a team,” Nallani said. “We had team dinners and bonding events to bond and get closer as a team. Also, we bonded together through cheering for each other at matches.” But it’s not necessary to be Michigan’s best tennis player to know the true meaning of a powerful team. Sophomore Eric Rymkiewicz has been on the boys’ varsity tennis team for two seasons now and is a clear example of not only strong skill, but compassion toward his team. Nallani and Rymkiewicz both have similar viewpoints for how “team bonding” helps drive a team to be closer. “Team bonding is important to create a good team environment since,” Rymkiewicz said. “If a team is always fighting it would decrease morality and overall teamwork, my team bonds from making jokes
and planning events in which we can hang out and it is very important.” Studies confirm this ideology of bonding for a better team. A blog post titled “The Importance of Team Bonding” from Arbiter Sports, 2018, con-
I feel that hard work, persistance and determination leads me as an individual to success.” Senior Jagan Nallani
cludes, bonding is necessary and needed for the success of a team or even a corporate company. “When you take charge of a team, you need to have specific knowledge of your sport and coaching in general,” Ar-
Finding a way to make teams stay together by working togeth-
biterSports said. “Also important for athletic coaches is improving their teams through teambuilding exercises. Having teammates bond with one another is important to their success on and off the field.” One of the most powerful reasons for team building is to get results. Through a series of planned team building events that are fun and motivational, teams can build skills like communication, planning, problem-solving and conflict resolution. These team-building activity ideas help to facilitate long term team building through fostering genuine connections, deeper discussions and processing. The tennis team has been successful,
winning everything from county to state championships in 2019. A big reason for such achievements could be the breeding of individual players, like Nallani, but it may also be the team’s determination to create a stronger team altogether. With things such as team bonding exercises and team dinners, teams could potentially increase morale and support, increasing the feeling of a happy, successful team. People like Nallani are players with achievements and state recognition. However, one must never forget that no matter how big a player is, they always come from a team.
Photo courtesy of Jagan Nallani
New Coach, New Team
With the introduction of a new swim coach, students react to potential team downsizing
By Manny Al-Nsour // Staff Writer Since the beginning of the boys’ swim team, there has never been a skill-based cut from the team. The boys’ swim team has been one of the most inclusive sports at our school. They have always encouraged
each player, even beginners, to come out and participate. With the introduction of a new coach this season, that’s all going to change. With a few years of coaching experience under his belt,
the new coach and the newest science teacher Kyle Larson, is excited to push the boys’ swim team to work harder and be its very best. “Coaching has always been something I’ve enjoyed doing,” Larson said. “I started coaching as soon as I graduated high school and I’ve been doing it ever since. In terms of my excitement to be back in the pool setting and being able to work with a new fresh set of students to build the program, is something I’m really looking forward to.” Larson’s biggest concern for the team this year is safety. With mulGraphic by Emy Galustyan tiple injuries happening
in the pool each year, he hopes that cutting down the team will also cut down the number of injuries in the pool. “What was happening was that there were 80 kids, plus kids from another team,” Larson said. “It becomes a safety hazard. Yes, we are an athletic team, and yes, we do some things that are challenging, but it has to be safe. That was my number one motivation for why we’re doing this.” Larson explains that because of the amount of people in the pool, many were getting injured, and all were at a higher risk of getting hurt. By cutting the team down to about half of what it was in previous years, Larson hopes to ensure safety in and out of the pool. Although safety comes first,
many swimmers are worried about getting on the team. While some are worried about maintaining their spot on the team, not everyone on the team thinks that starting cuts this year is a bad idea. Junior and one of 4 captains, Colby Dimsdale, thinks that cutting more swimmers this year will not only improve safety, but also improve performance. “I can’t talk poorly of the [previous] coach, but the reason we didn’t have any cuts last year was because we didn’t have proper coaching,” Dimsdale said. “It was pretty much a walk-on team and it wasn’t taken seriously as a varsity sport. Our new coach, Kyle Larson, is taking it seriously and he wants us to win leagues this year.”
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Are You Still Watching? By Murryum Farooqi // Body Copy Editor It’s Friday night. Hot Chee- lished in 2017 titled “The Nettos on deck, tucked under a blanket, junior Julia Marku settles in for a binge. A few miles away, a similar scene unfolds as junior Annie Joseph sets down a basket with piles of laundry and gets to folding. As many people have started making the transition from watching mainstream T.V. to using streaming services, a new culture surrounding entertainment has emerged. Marku enjoys indulging and watching multiple episodes of her favorite shows at a time, especially when a season is newly released. “My favorite show is ‘Orange is the New Black,’ and when that came out I watched it all in one day,” she said. Joseph also tends to bingewatch shows when she finds something she really likes. “I was watching a show, it was during winter break, and I watched pretty much like seven seasons in a week,” she said. A HuffPost article pub-
flix Addiction: Why Our Brains Keep Telling Us to Press Play,” broke down the science behind why many people often find it hard to stop watching and get back to real life. The article mentions a hormone called Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, which is produced when a person is watching a cliffhanger and feels the stress of the uncertainty. “This [CRH] causes the body to remain alert (our fight or flight response), which can
disrupt sleep,” the article said. “So, when you’re faced with that cliffhanger at midnight, you’re suddenly not so tired and you find yourself pushing through the next show.” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings also admitted to the role sleep plays in the business. “We’re competing with sleep, on the margin,” Hastings said. Joseph found Hasting’s admission unsettling. “You can’t really compete against something that’s a human function,” she said.
agree that finishing a series in a short amount of time is something to take pride in. In fact, both of them offered similar statements in relation to how they feel after finishing a series: “I feel accomplished,” Joseph said. Marku, after pointing out that she never feels guilty either, eventually reached the same conclusion. “I don’t feel guilty, usually I’m just sad that I finished a show and now I have to find another one,” Marku said.
Graphic by Murryum Farooqi
By Chloe Collins // Digital Content Editor
Every year, the holiday season seems to appear when Halloween ends and November begins. Local radio stations such as 98.7 and 100.3 start the holiday music on Nov. 1. Seeing as the holiday music played is mainly the old school originals or overplayed pop covers of songs that have been around for years, many people may expect it and get sick of it quickly. When people get absorbed in what they already know, some pass over the other less-publicized songs by less-recognized
Students weigh in on how binge-watching affects sleep
Senior Pallavi Chigurupati, who prefers YouTube to any kind of streaming service believes the responsibility lies somewhere in the middle. “I think it’s equally theirs [Netflix’s] and equally personal responsibility,” she said. Marku, on the other hand, believes it is within Netflix’s rights as a company to operate the way it does. “If they want to make the big bucks they should go for it, and it’s up to the person to get their sleep,” Marku said. Both Marku and Joseph also
Have A Rockin’ Holiday!
Entertainment
artists in different genres. In 2013, Fearless Records released an album titled “Punk Goes Christmas.” This album featured many of the classic holiday songs covered by 12 bands and artists with some original songs as well. Man Overboard’s cover of “Father Christmas” — originally by The Kinks — is regarded as a popular Christmas song. Though this album did not spark the release of holiday songs in the “punk” genre, it did put a twist on a handful of classic holiday songs many people know and love. Although covers are not a bad thing, when a new band who has a completely diffrent style of music than the original
artist, covers a song, its a new perspective on a classic holiday song. This can be seen in “This Christmas” by The Summer Set. Originally performed in 1970 by Donny Hathaway, an American Soul artist, this song has been covered countless times. The Summer Set, an American Rock band from Scottsdale, Arizona, had the ability to bring two very different genres of music together. While still holding all the sentimental value of the original, the cover brings it to the attention of a new generation. “I feel more inclined to listen to music in a genre that I personally enjoy compared to what the radio plays nonstop October to January,” senior Jackie Miller said. Plenty of original holiday songs have been released over the years by artists who don’t fit into the holiday artist category nor the pop punk cat-
There is more to the holidays than the music that plays on the radio
egory. Lineah’s 2019 release “Seasons Greeting”is one such example. Songs with lyrics about the holiday time without actually mentioning a holiday is another sub-category. “December” by Neck Deep is an example in this case. The lyrics from the song —“I’m the last thing you’d remember. It’s been a long, lonely December”— never mentions Christmas in any way, but has a similar impact as “Last Christmas I gave you my heart and the very next day you gave it away,” from Wham!’s 1984 hit “Last Christmas.” People have always had Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey Christmas covers, and always will, but you can also have The Summer Set, Neck Deep and Man Overboard. Although bands like Neck Deep and The Summer Set are challenging the
narrative behind holiday hits, some people are still inclined to listen to the classics. “Its good and all, but I would rather listen to the traditional Christmas music if given the chance,” junior Maria Croci said.
Graphics by Emy Galustyan
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Entertainment
Down with Big Brother! Dystopian novels are an important part of society mostly amongs young adults, yet one has to question the impact made By Kaitlyn Piggott // Print Editor-in-Chief
Photos by Kaitlyn Piggott
Poverty. Death. Weapons. Adults are unavailable and unreliable. Teens are the only people who can save the world. Dystopian novels have become an integral part in young adult literature. Readers are transported into dark, cruel and unruly worlds: the society in “Lord of the Flies” of distress among savage boys, Ember, from “City of Ember,” the ailing city of limited electricity, the nation in “The Giver” where one boy holds the memories of all good and evil, Panem the poverty-stricken, war-driven and children-killing country from “The Hunger Games” and in “Divergent,” separate systems exist in which different is dangerous. Most people view Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” and George Orwell’s “1984,” as the first dystopian novels of all time. Dystopian novels fluctuate in popularity through the years, but since this first introduction, many people are captivated by the genre. During one of these influxes, literary scholar Chad Walsh examined the future of stories. “A decreasing percentage of the imaginary worlds are utopias,” Walsh said. “An in-
creasing percentage are nightmares.” Media Specialist Toni Isaac defines dystopian as “a society where they have tried to create a perfect world in a way that ends up being bad on a whole new level.” She sees that students are intrigued by these types of books, which she accounts to the immense amount of action and thinking involved. “Since today’s youth are the ones most often reading dystopian novels and they are tomorrow’s leaders, I hope [dystopian novels shape] their world view to recognize some of the social issues we are grappling with today and have creative, viable solutions for our future,” Isaac said. “Hopefully, the reader is made aware of issues that they had not really thought about before and spent some time thinking about ways that the world could be made a better place without the dramatic consequences foretold in the novel they are reading.” Unlike Isaac, Jill Lepore, a staff writer for The New Yorker and a history professor at Harvard University, has a more pessimistic view on the genre.
In an opinion article published in The New Yorker called “The Golden Age for Dystopian Fiction,” she examines why people are drawn to books with dystopian societies. “Every dystopia is a history of the future,” Lepore said. “Dystopia used to be a fiction of resistance; it’s become a fiction of submission, the fiction of an untrusting, lonely, and
sullen twenty-first century... It cannot imagine a better future, and it doesn’t ask anyone to bother to make one.” Isaac sees more hope in dystopian novels. She says that authors examine and take inspiration from the world around them. Therefore, she believes the novels are a commentary of the world in which they reside in. Yet, she doesn’t believe the
characters are an accurate representation of people. “I am not sure that most young adults (or people in general) are really as fearless as the heroes/heroines are in the novels,” Isaac said. “It is fun to imagine you that would act so courageously in similar circumstances and that is what makes these books so appealing.” Freshman Avril Yu sees the characters differently. She notices that the plots are normally driven by a “small protagonist,” as she says, who notices the issues with the world around them. “I think that all of the characters in the dystopian novels all reacted very realistically into the situations that they were thrust in,” Yu said. “None rose up with an immediate solution once they saw where the problem lay. [Protagonists have] a trial to bypass, and they do so in a genuine, human way, which is what makes the books what they truly are.” To Yu, characters that readers get attached to and love are what make a book good. As for the plot, like Isaac, she believes it stems from the world the writer sees.
“[Dystopias take] something that is wrong with the world and intensify it to really draw the attention of audiences to it, and to use the story almost as a platform to inform others,” Yu said. So, if these novels are a commentary of the world, one has to question what these novels mean. One has to think about the strength of the teenage Katniss Everdeen as she betters a nation that never helped her, the willingness to learn and curiosity of Jonas, the newly recognized Giver, the intelligence and fearlessness of Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow as they save their beloved city of Ember, the leadership of young Ralph when he clings tightly to civilization, the power of Tris Prior as she embraces being divergent, but most of all Winston Smith’s ability to see past all the bleakness of Oceania and wish for something better as he scribbles “Down with Big Brother!” So, the next time one reads a dystopian novel, as Isaac says, think about the meaning underneath the destruction and then draw a conclusion of what could come and what to do about it.
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The Chariot THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF TROY HIGH SCHOOL WEBSITE troychariot.org TWITTER thechariot_news INSTAGRAM thechariotnews SNAPCHAT theTHE_CHARIOT
Staff PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kaitlyn Piggott WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Perron BODY COPY EDITORS Murryum Farooqi Meriam Meram DIGITIAL CONTENT EDITOR Chloe Collins GRAPHICS EDITOR / CARTOONIST Emy Galustyan
STAFF WRITERS Manny Al-Nsour Andy DeGrand Gabby DeRose Jessica Geisler Ping-Yu Hsu Rory Knauss AJ Kowalak Vanisa Kumar Lola Pinneo Bridgette Scott Allie Zaluski ADVISER Katelyn Carroll
The Chariot Staff Policy The Chariot is a student-produced news publication that publishes information relevant to the times as well as material that is essential to the overall well-being of its readers. It is The Chariot’s responsibility to cover school, city, state, national and international events and issues that affect the concerns of the campus, its students and its readers.
Opinion
It’s Not Niles A look into TCCHS and an investigation into the stigma surrounding it A Staff Editorial As students at Troy High School, most of us know Troy College and Career High School as Niles, due to the fact that it is located inside the Niles Center and we have no further indication of the school’s actual name. The name Niles carries with it a stigma; many believe this school is only for the people suspended from Troy High and Athens, the kids who have fallen through the cracks of our large-numbered school and are sent to this school to be “handled.” Visiting TCCHS and actually talking with students, teachers and alumni has shown all these rumors we hear through the grapevine aren’t true and we know the truth needs to come out. TCCHS is considered an alternative school. Alternative is defined as an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional. Alternative schools are more common than one may know. International Academy is an alterna-
tive school, as is Alternative Center for Education High School, commonly known as ACE, in Rochester School District. These provide a new outlook on the traditional high school methods. Compared to the traditional six-period day with 55 minutes per period, TCCHS has a four-period day with classes that last an hour and 20 minutes. Rather than two semesters spanning months, students at TCCHS can earn credit for their classes in the span of nine-week sessions. Troy High and Athens High School students are able to earn six full credits per year, meanwhile TCCHS students can earn up to 10 credits per year. This opportunity gives students at TCCHS the chance to catch up on missing credits and still graduate by their original date. TCCHS is a one hallway school with 127 students and seven full-time teachers. The teachers at TCCHS work not only to teach these students, but to get to know and help
each student grow as their own person. TCCHS isn’t the school that the rumors make it out to be. TCCHS is a school were students get the opportunity not only to focus on their own academic needs, but to focus more on themselves as a whole. This center-spread story is not written to say Troy High or Athens don’t help their students. The story is meant to lay it out on the table that, for the individual learner who may not learn and be tailored to a wide-spread academic course, TCCHS offers students the chance to gain the confidence to do well and learn in the way that suits them. TCCHS came to be five years ago, generating from its previous name, Niles Community High School, that started in 1995. TCCHS started with a goal to further its students academic achievements and guide students to be the best person they can be as a whole. From the looks of it, the school meets, if not surpasses, their goals.
The Chariot operates as a designated public forum for student expression. The Editorial Board, consisting of student editors is the sole decision-making and policy-setting body of The Chariot and has final say over all content decisions. The adviser and administration have non-review roles and may offer advice on sensitive issues and will offer critisisms as warrant but the Editorial Board reserves all rights to determine what material shall be published. Editorials represent the collective opinion of The Chariot staff. Opinions expressed by individuals and in letters to the editors represent those of the author. Letters to the editors should be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, signature and class or position. Names of individuals may be withheld upon request, pending a vote of the Editorial Board. Letters may be submitted in hard copy to room 104 at Troy High School or via email at troychariot@gmail.com. All letters are subject to review by the Editorial Board. Letters will not be edited except to fix space limitations. Should the Editorial Board deem a letter to be potentially libelous or containing content inappropriate for publication, it will be returned to the author with an opportunity for corrections. The Editorial Board is solely responsible for these decisions. The Chariot’s purpose is to be the voice of the school. Its purpose is to shed light on groups and people that are not often discussed while bringing news that is important to the community.
THE VOICE OF TROY HIGH. WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU. WE GET YOU.
Photo by Olivia Perron
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Opinion
Giving a Like to No More Likes
Removing public likes on Instagram posts will hopefully help to end users’ unhealthy relationship with social media By Jessica Geisler // Staff Writer
Instagram has been an extremely popular social media app since it was first released in 2010. Giving people from around the world the ability to share their lives with the world, users have become engrossed in the app. However, as nice as it can be to share
parts of our lives with others, it can also cause obsessions with the amount of likes and comments on pictures. Living in a world where social media is so prominent definitely comes with its drawbacks. It can be addicting to continually refresh our
Graphic by Olivia Perron
feed and see how many likes we can get on a picture. The problem with this is that we are using likes as a source of reassurance that people value us. This gives people a false sense of exterior self worth, rather than enabling people to appreciate themselves based on who they are in real life. I know I’m guilty of deleting pictures when they don’t get the amount of likes and comments I want them too. This contradicts the reason that people should be using social media. Social media never intended to make people feel poorly about themselves, rather it was supposed to be used for people to broadcast who they are— not who they assume others want them to be. Personally, my Instagram feed doesn’t really feel like mine. Of course it’s me in the pictures, but the problem is that I only choose parts of my life to show. As I would assume most of us do, I share the parts
of my life that appear only positive. I make sure the lighting and scenery make me look like I’m living in a perfect world. I find it hard to post some things because I worry that the world won’t love them the way I do. So I post pictures with my hair and makeup done, posed at the right angle to make sure that everything looks perfect, because those are the posts that get the most likes; they are the posts society has conditioned us to expect. Overall, the reason we post our pictures has changed. The intention behind Instagram was that people would post their lives and express themselves as individuals, but that is not what social media users seem to be doing nowadays. People are instead taking hours to properly edit pictures to make themselves appear to be nothing other than glamorous. Society posts what they think others will like, and that is what really needs to change about social media—and
The Battle of the Cookies
Instagram is taking that first step. Instagram’s theory is that hiding likes will stop people from stressing about what others think of their posts. People will no longer be able to base their self-esteem on likes, because nobody else will be able to see the numbers. This has the potential to be beneficial for people’s mental health, and can change the stigma surrounding social media recently. We, as people, were made to be individuals. We were not meant to compare ourselves to others, and we surely were not meant to demean ourselves to the extent that we value ourselves based on numbers that by the end of the day mean absolutely nothing. So in all honesty, Instagram has the right idea. Somebody needs to take the next step in ending the addiction to phones, and stopping people from seeing likes may be a step in the right direction.
Students debate which is superior: gingerbread versus sugar cookies
By Lola Pinneo // Staff Writer
As snow falls and holidays come around, we begin to think about all the holiday treats that we have learned to love over the years. For years, many Americans have debated whether sugar and gingerbread cookies are superior. There are a lot of similarities when it comes to the two cookies. They both contain some of the same ingredients like flour, sugar and baking soda or powder. They are both rolled out into flat sheets and cut into shapes and baked, then decorated with assortments of frosting and sprinkles. Yet, they still have a few big differences. On the one hand, sugar cookies are soft, sweet and melt in your mouth. Most of the time, they are cut into shapes that represent the holi-
day characters. Gingerbread cookies are crunchy, gingery and crispy. They are most commonly cut into little men shapes, hence the name gingerbread men. Freshman Georges Perakis has his side of the story when it comes to cookies. He likes the flavors and diversity that a sugar cookie has, compared to gingerbread cookies. “Sugar cookies are definitely my favorite cookie because they have this really sweet taste compared to gingerbread cookies, which are more used for decorating gingerbread houses and have that ginger taste that’s not really that normal kind of cookie flavor,” Perakis said. Senior Caleb Watts has a favorite cookie too: gingerbread cookies. Watts likes ginger-
bread cookies because of the home-made effect that they give him. “Sugar cookies are too sugary, they fall apart in your mouth, they get crumbs everywhere, it’s too much,” Watts said. “Where gingerbread cookies taste good and are just solid. You bite into them and you feel kind of warm inside. Compare it to grandma’s home cooking or going to Kroger and
buying a pack of cookies.” Holidays are usually filled with family events. For some families, it’s a tradition to make cookies together. A sentimental factor definitely plays a role in how much some people enjoy certain treats compared to others. Tradition is something that, for many, make a holiday or a baked good special. Holidays come and go, but the memories
that make them special is what counts. Freshman Hoyoung Park has holiday memories of his own. “Me and my grandma used to bake gingerbread cookies, so I like to do that,” Park said. The truth is cookies are not what makes a holiday special, it’s what you do that makes it special for you and the people with whom you celebrate.
Graphic by Emy Galustyan
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