Leaving Freshman Year Behind By Megan Cohen Staff Writer On the first day of school, freshmen’s minds are plagued by countless worries. All they can think about is what the workload will be like, or the stranger-filled hallways. But as the year progresses, freshmen realize that all of these concerns have been for nothing. And the class of 2016, who, just months ago, were in this exact position, can attest to that fact. With the past sev-
eral months behind them, the rising sophomores have slowly found their niche in Tuscarora. Most freshmen were nervous at the beginning of the year, but Ben Fehr was an exception. When asked what had worried him about high school before he started, he claimed to have nothing to share. “I’m really excited about being involved in marching band and Battle of the Books next year,” he said with anticipation. “I look forward to being a sophomore, but I’ll also miss
freshman year—it was pretty fun.” While Fehr enjoyed his first time at Tuscarora, some freshmen, like Erin Hoss, feel it’s been just like any other year. In Hoss’ case, though, she hopes next year will be different. “I’m hoping to get some more respect from the upperclassmen, even if it’s just a little bit,” she explained. “But other than that, I’m not expecting much.” Back in August, Hoss had been worried that people in her classes would still remember the middle school days. “I would
have told myself that no one cares what school you come from, and they can hardly remember middle school anyway. Going into high school is almost like entering another country,” she joked. Izzy Witteveen, another rising sophomore, is amazed at how fast the year has gone by and is enthusiastic about next September. As a devoted member of the swim team, she’s planning for a fun season. “I won’t be one of the little freshmen on the team anymore, » see FRESHMAN, page 11
Top of The Food Chain By Abdullah Elqadri Staff Writer
People’s lives constantly change, a fact which not everyone chooses to celebrate. This is why when some juniors face the impending threat of senior year, it can be frightening or even overwhelming. Senior year is not only the last year of high school; once it’s over, life begins. Different juniors have varying opinions on moving up to 12th grade. “It feels like an accomplishing moment. I also feel old,” said Elyel Martinez, a junior. Some juniors expect many things from senior year, including Martinez, who said, “I expect many accomplishments and also many opportunities.” Senior year and all it holds are as of yet unknown to juniors. For some, next year holds the potential of being stressful, as they wonder what AP tests to take or what college to attend after it’s all over. Others are simply astonished at the thought that they are about to finish high school. “My concerns for next year are whether or not I should get early dismissal,” said Martinez. Overall, Martinez believes senior year will be “a joyous year.” Senioritis has already hit the class of 2013, but even juniors are beginning to feel it. “I felt senioritis ever since I passed to eleventh grade!” exclaimed Martinez, and some juniors have felt the “affliction” even longer. Senior year is a time for memories and a time for change. It is the end of a 12-13 year cycle for most people, and that is a lot to think about. In the end, though, it is also a lot to look forward to.
Photo By Tyler Garling
On April 17th, rising freshmen visited Tuscarora for the 8th Grade Expo. They watched demonstrations from athletic teams like soccer and dance then listened to club presentations.
Generations of the Future By Meghan Kolcum, Daniel Friend, and Tyler Garling Staff Writers As the class of 2017 enters the school, many wonder if these newcomers will ever reminisce about the days when MySpace was the epitome of social media. Did you know that Razors were the iPhone back in upperclassmen’s day? No, you probably don’t as you sit at at your computer chatting on Facebook, tweeting, playing with your iPhone, Instagramming, and not being outside exploring the universe around you because you have access to it in the palm of your hand. As for Tuscarora, the class of 2017 will probably never know who Ms. Hall was (our assistant principal who moved to Briar Woods). You’ll never know the feeling of watching Ben Ogedegbe play soccer for the school. You’ll never experience Tusky Terror with its poster boy Kyle O’Connor or hear of the accomplishments of Renaissance woman Anna Cho.
When the eighth grade expo began on April 17th, groups of middle school students drifted from buses into their future home, Tuscarora High School. As uncertain and nervous students began to sit down in the gymnasium, they waited for sports, clubs, and extracurricu-
lar activities to be introduced. The expo provides kids with the opportunity to see what Tuscarora High School has to offer by describing what an extracurricular activity is and then allowing the kids to do some sort of interactive game. Molly Hackley, an eighth grader attending Smart’s Mill Middle School, said, “I’m really interested in trying out for the dance
team and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the spin-off, but I’m not sure with all the school work.” Sports are important in the lives of these future Huskies. “I want to do wrestling because it’s a fun sport yet difficult mentally and physically,” said future freshman John Hammler. “Personally, I [also] want to take part in basketball. I love playing the sport and have been involved all throughout middle school,” added another future Husky, Ryan Hannah. Tuscarora has an estimated 600 new freshmen coming into the building next year to follow in the footsteps of the legacies who once embodied the spirit of the Huskies. It’s interesting to contemplate who may become the next greatest athlete in the class of 2017, or who may be the next most spirited leader of Tuscarora’s Tusky Terror, or even the next most well-known student who accomplishes all tasks and never ceases to amaze those around him/her. » see GENERATIONS, page 11
A Last Look at Tuscarora’s Sophomores By Danielle Matta Staff Writer Between the awkward and adjusting time of freshman year and the stressful and typically APheavy junior year, 10th grade has become, in the words of sophomore Emmel El-Fiky, “the forgotten middle child” of high school. It is the in-between, not-quite-in, not-quite-out year that has many sophomores looking back with half disgust and half nostalgia. It seems now, as the 2012-2013 school year is coming to a close, the sophomore class is reeling to try and grab back onto their innocent school days of the past and attempt to hold off the looming evil in close proximity - junior year. It is not so uncommon to hear the words “stressful” and “hard work” used to describe this imminent future, and even graduation, which at one point and time seemed an impossible, unattainable milestone, is approaching sooner and sooner. “It’s really scary to think that I’m leaving in two years. That’s weird,” said Elizabeth Getis, a 10th grader both dreading and looking forward to her junior year. “It’ll be fun to be an upperclassman finally, and I’m actually looking forward to AP Economics. But I’ve heard it’s the hardest year.” Getis is not the only one. Fellow classmate Nick DeSimone said, “I’m feeling pressure for what I’m going to do with the rest of my life and college. Because I have no idea what I want to do.” DeSimone liked his sophomore year, enjoying the social aspects and making the Tuscarora JV baseball team, but he knows junior year will be centralized around the future. “I gotta look at some colleges this summer,” he added. But not everything about next year is viewed with doom and gloom. El-Fiky has a positive outlook on taking the step closer to The Rest of Our Lives: “You’re closer to the end than the beginning, so that’s fun and exciting. I’ve been looking forward to graduation since the 6th grade. I want to graduate so badly. I want to move on.” Even facing the reality of vigorous AP courses that many of these future juniors are preparing to endure can seem worth it with » see SOPHOMORES, page 11
OPINION: Looking Back to Move Forward
A Veteran Student’s Perspective on Education Reform By Danny Sedlazek Entertainment Editor
Photos by Meilan Solly
Thank You to Our Seniors As the 2012-2013 school year draws to a close, it is time for us to say goodbye to our graduating newspaper seniors. Megan Ford: As a member of the staff since its inaugural year, Megan has been there for both the newspaper and everyone involved with it since the very beginning. She has served as Editor-in-Chief since her junior year, bringing a dedicated work ethic, keen sense of grammar and journalistic style, and strong sense of leadership. Throughout her tenure, Megan dedicated herself wholly to the paper, contributing greatly behind the scenes. She offered staffers countless pieces of advice, spent innumerable hours brainstorming ways to improve the paper, and always managed to make the paper’s layout fit, because, as she puts it, she is fantastic at putting together puzzles. Danny Sedlazek: Danny, our Entertainment Editor, is also one of the original staff members. Over the years, Danny has written many entertainment pieces, including his current column “I Demand a Column” and his past venture “Swag Scale.” He has also been a key figure in the development and design of “The Pulse” section of our paper, most recently adding a food area to it. Known for his wit and sense of humor, Danny has always been the staff ’s go-to person for any and all information ranging from pop culture to politics. He has a take on everything and can always back his beliefs up with shrewd arguments. Dominic Gavan: Like Danny and Megan, Dominic has been with The Husky Headline since its inception. In previous years, he wrote a
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column called “Diamonds in ‘Da ‘Burg” in which he informed readers about hidden gems in Leesburg. In addition to his column, Dominic covered everything from sports to features. This year, Dominic served as our Advertising Manager, selling ads to various businesses around Loudoun County. In class, he never failed to entertain, consistently making the most random remarks possible and bringing laughs to everyone. Shalom Montero: Shalom joined the staff in her junior year, and this year serves as Entertainment Editor along with Danny. She has shined especially in her interviewing skills, as she is always able to end up with interesting, relevant quotes. Shalom has also showed great talent in entertainment writing, particularly in the areas of books and drama. Throughout her two years on the staff, Shalom always acted kind and helpful, offering advice to staffers and aid whenever needed. She also showed that she was a true team player by actively participating in staff meetings and consistently contributing quality ideas. Tyler Garling, Abdullah Elqadri, Meghan Kolcum, and Daniel Friend joined the staff in 2012. Each had their own strengths, all of which were showcased in their various stories. We will remember Tyler for his love of the cinema and his “Movies You Need to See” series, Abdullah for his willingness to learn and constantly improve, Meghan for her desire to cover as many things as possible and ability to paint an image rather than just explain facts, and Daniel for his short but insightful pieces.
Our children are our future. That is undeniable, and this fact makes our public education system one of our most important and discussed institutions. Everyone, whether they are parents, teachers, or students, has a suggestion to offer, a critique to deliver, or a policy to add. It seems that no one is satisfied with the current system. This is surprising given the nature of education. The thesis of our academia is essentially unchanged from the late 19th century: teach a standardized skill set and focused basic literacy and arithmetic, both of which create a group of standardized workers that can function anywhere across the country and ultimately the world. However, the world has changed dramatically since the Victorian era, yet the only monumental change to the American education system has been the No Child Left Behind act, which added even more layers of standardization to the equation. The act accomplished its goal – raise literacy rates across the nation – but simultaneously opened the floodgates on the education reform discussion. As a student who has hated school since my first day of preschool, I figured there would be clear solutions to this problem. This couldn’t be farther from the case. The prevailing problem with this discussion is no one can agree on anything, even here at Tuscarora. I talked to a teacher from each department, and they all offered different ideas and opinions. The more I snooped, the more befuddled I became. Eventually, after I sorted out the piles of reports, opinions, and research, I settled on a handful of reforms that I believe would vastly improve the current education system. They may not be the most realistic changes, but they are the idealistic ones. 1. Make Teaching a Desirable Profession In America, the average teacher makes roughly $40,000 a year. That’s only $5,000 more than the average garbage man. There is no monetary incentive for any talented or skilled individual to go into the teaching profession. While there are a handful of extremely passionate teachers, most are career switchers who felt unfulfilled at their previous job, or someone with a degree that offers them no other options. If we can find a way to raise pay for teachers, we’ll get better educators, and therefore education, across the board. 2. De-emphasize Rote Memorization and Push Problem Solving Nearly every class I’ve taken in my 14 years of schooling has revolved around memorizing material then regurgitating it on a test.
I didn’t have to fully understand the material as long as I could spout it out. This is a problem. Albert Einstein once famously said, “Never memorize anything you can look up.” We live in an era where the entire world’s information is available in our pockets. Memorizing has become next to useless. The fact that it’s still the cornerstone of our education system is a huge problem. Instead of emphasizing memorization, we need to teach our children how to use the wealth of information readily accessible to improve their reasoning ability. The real world is full of potential problems that need to be resolved, not situations that require rote memorization. If our kids come out of school being elite problem solvers, society will function much smoother. 3. Encourage Creativity, Discourage Convention Going along the same lines as my last point, our school systems currently push the students to follow convention. If you give a kid a rubric, they’ll do the bare minimum to fulfill it. The great leaders of the world have never been conventional thinkers. We should force our kids to get used to thinking outside the box. Education can start grooming great innovators, not just mindless cogs. A renewed focus on the fine arts would be essential to this. 4. Downplay Standardized Testing The No Child Left Behind act’s main initiative was to push standardized testing. It was an easy
and effective way to measure a curriculum. However, education is not quantitative. It’s impossible to condense all the aspects of learning into a number. Standardized tests attempt to make a qualitative system into something it’s not. Some standardized testing just to make sure the bare minimum is reached wouldn’t be too harmful. There has to be some way to ensure teachers are doing their job. However, it should be far from the focus of education. 5. Localize Power Standardized testing has led to a bloated bureaucracy of mandates and regulations. While this will help unskilled educators reach a minimum, it holds back great educators from living up to their potential. Studies show that empowered workers tend to be more productive and efficient. It will also allow educators to feel less trapped by their curriculum, a feeling that will be passed onto their students. Happier students, in turn, will also be more productive and efficient. These are jumping off points. By no means is education reform limited to these ideas, and by no means are these ideas realistic. Implementing change in a system that never stops is near impossible. Small tweaks are not enough but seem to be our only option for now. However, there is no reason we can’t strive to make these changes, and our biggest issue is that we don’t. The status quo is good enough, but weren’t we raised to not settle for just “good enough”?
THE HUSKY HEADLINE 801 North King Street Leesburg,VA 20176 thehuskyheadline@gmail.com Megan Ford Editor-in-Chief Meilan Solly Assistant Editor-in-Chief Jack Minchew Assistant Editor-in-Chief Sean Cassar Layout Editor Danny Sedlazek Entertainment Editor Shalom Montero Entertainment Editor Forest Langhorne Sports Editor Dominic Gavan Advertising Manager Erica Walker Art Director Reporters: Megan Cohen, Abdullah Elqadri, Katie Forcade, Claire Frank, Daniel Friend, Tyler Garling, Meghan Kolcum, Danielle Matta, and Breanna Shiflett The Husky Headline is written, edited, and designed by students from Tuscarora High School. All opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer. The views published in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Tuscarora High School administration, faculty, staff, or the student body. We are committed to delivering relevant, accurate news - which means we want to hear from you! Opinions may be expressed in letters to the editor and can be sent to the staff at TheHuskyHeadline@gmail.com. Please include your name and class standing in all letters to the editor.
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Best of 2013 (So Far) Video Games
By: Tyler Garling BioShock Infinite BioShock Infinite is one of the greatest gaming experiences of all time due to its engaging setting, interesting characters, and thought provoking story. Infinite is, like its predecessor BioShock, in fact art. Once you complete its story, you’ll be thinking about it for days, and you wouldn’t want it any other way.
Television
Music
By: Tyler Garling Comedown Machine Strokes
Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon Cartoons (1996 – Present) Recommended for: People who want to relive their childhood, ‘90s kids nostalgic of the past, and fans of cartoons The Walking Dead (2010 – Present) Recommended for: Fans of zombies, fans of the supernatural, and fans of apocalypse stories Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2001) Recommended for: Fans of sci-fi and the supernatural, fans of Joss Whedon, fans of any of the cast, and feminists Firefly (2002-2003) Recommended for: Joss Whedon fans, western fans, sci-fi fans Supernatural (2005-Present) Recommended for: Horror fans, sci-fi fans, fans of mythical lore Psych (2006-Present) Recommended for: fans of comedies, fans of police procedurals How I Met Your Mother (2005-Present) Recommended for: fans of sitcoms, fans of Neil Patrick Harris Doctor Who (1963 – Present) Recommended for: Fans of BBC, fans of sci-fi, and fans of the actors and writers, such as Steven Moffat and Russell T. Davies For more in-depth reviews and additional shows including LOST, read the rest of this article on thehuskyheadline.com.
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The
The band which has had such an immense impact on the alternative music scene makes a statement in its fifth studio album. Comedown Machine is a downright terrific album, and, being the final album the band will release under RCA, explores some new territory. You’ll hear the classic sounds a Strokes album always provides, but you’ll also hear a wide range of different musicalstyles.
Movies
Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013 revival) Recommended for: fans of smart comedy (like Community, Parks and Recreation, etc), fans of dysfunctional families
by
By Daniel Friend The Place Beyond The Pines Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are, respectively, the thief and the hero (but are they?). Gosling plays Luke, who is a motorcycle daredevil whose claim to fame is that he’s appropriately nicknamed “Heartthrob.” While Gosling is performing at a show, he sees one of his old flames, Romina (Eva Mendes). Luke later finds out that he had a son with Romina. His son is now one year old. Luke immediately casts his “bad boy” ways to the side and truly wants to be a father. However, now he doesn’t have a job. But while Luke is going for a ride through the woods, he meets a man who might have a job option for him - to use his skills to rob every bank in Schenectady. Rarely do I ever get anxious to see a movie; that being said, I was clawing at the calendar in anticipation for The Place Beyond the Pines (TPBTP) to be released. Even rarer is that when I finally see the movie, it fully lives up to any of the hype I conjured for it. This was one of those rare exceptions. TPBTP isn’t a movie, it’s a film. Never have I come out of a theater and been so awestruck by a story; never before have I seen a film that feels so real. Everything that takes place in TPBTP seems as though it could really happen. The characters seem less like actors and more like people. Not only does the movie provide you with a gripping story and characters so real they could very well be your neighbors, the entire picture is set in front of a backdrop of the bright green forest roads of Schenectady, New York. All of this being said, I must warn you that this isn’t what you would call a feel-good movie. By the end, it’s actually quite sad, but if this film hadn’t been sad, it would have been just another action movie. Instead, it broke all clichés and redefined what’s possible for cinema.
By: Breanna Shiflett The Following (FOX) Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) is a serial killer who was convicted of the murders of 14 young women in 2004. Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) is the ex-FBI agent who got close to him and eventually wrote a book about the case that explained both Carroll’s methods and obsession with Edgar Allen Poe. Everything is fine for several years until present day, when Carroll escapes from prison and the killings start happening again on a wider scale. Because of his previous job as a teacher and his incredible skill of reaching out to people, Carroll was able to gain followers and create a cult based on his teachings and his own book even while he was in prison. Hardy must come out of retirement and work with the FBI to find Carroll and shut down his cult, but this proves to be harder than it seems as they soon find out that Carroll’s followers are literally everywhere. The Following is incredibly twisted, but it sucks you in right from the start. The writing is phenomenal and extremely intelligent, and it will keep you constantly guessing because you can’t trust anyone.
Books
By Danielle Matta Just One Day by Gayle Forman What if you had one day to become anyone you wanted to, and in the process escape your real self? What if you had one day to take every risk, even if it meant being left heartbroken and unfulfilled in the end? But can you really wipe the slate clean and start the New Year with “tabula rasa”? Can you run off for one day, explore a foreign city with your eyes closed while accompanied by an absolute stranger, fall in love, change forever, and be expected
to revert back to a life of textbooks, controlling parents, and vintage alarm clocks? Just One Day by Gayle Forman, filled with interesting, diverse characters and a theme that almost every teenager nearing their adult life can relate to, provides an adventurous, indirect love story perfect for anyone who believes there are no accidents in life.
From the beginning of cinema, countless films have been released that thousands consider the greatest ever made. Movies like Casablanca, The Godfather, and Gone With The Wind are constantly mentioned whenever the topic of “greatest movies” comes up. Remember when AFI told you that Citizen Kane was the greatest movie of all time? You’re saying to yourself right now, “that’s right, they did!” But, as The Husky Headline’s film expert has discovered, they lied. People may remember the year 1985 for events like Live Aid, the Unabomber, and crying along to Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is.” However, the biggest event of 1985 is undoubtedly the release of Mark L. Lester’s classic Commando. Maybe he should’ve called it The World’s Greatest Movie. Commando tells the story of retired commando John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is pulled out of retirement to save his daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano) from an ex-member of Matrix’s team, Bennett (Vernon Wells). Tagging along with Matrix is the damsel, Cindy (Rae Dawn Chong), who is definitely not a plot device. The story is engaging and will surely touch your heart. Screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, who would go on to write masterpieces like Judge Dredd, Street Fighter, and Die Hard, formulated a passionate bond between Matrix and his beloved daughter. In the opening credits, we don’t see Matrix and Jenny, but a father enjoying the world with his daughter. Together we watch them eat ice cream in town, have some fun in the pool, and even hand-feed a deer. How many families can you name, fictional or not, that feed deer together? That’s right, none. When Jenny is kidnapped, the viewer becomes John Matrix and wants to rescue Jenny just as much as the fictional hero on screen does. De Souza’s screenwriting perfection doesn’t stop there, though, as Commando contains some of the greatest lines in the history of film. Everyone knows that to create the perfect action movie, you need to write the perfect oneliner. Commando doesn’t contain the single perfect one-liner; it contains all the perfect one-liners. You’re probably wondering why
I can’t use some pullout quotes like you should in your final essay of the year in English, but you need to experience the line delivery. There’s nothing like seeing Schwarzenegger bust some skulls and finish it all off with a line delivery that’s as sweet as honey. In fact, every time Schwarzenegger opens his mouth during this movie, make sure everyone around you is completely silent: the pinnacle of acting will be on display. Back in December, I expressed my inability to understand why Alfred Hitchcock hadn’t won a single Oscar for Best Director. Now, in May 2013, I’m trying to understand how the Academy could deny Arnold Schwarzenegger an Oscar for Best Actor. Schwarzenegger doesn’t just adopt the role of John Matrix, he becomes John Matrix. He shows exactly how far a man would go to save a loved one, and he does it flawlessly. Not only that, but Schwarzenegger proves why he is the best action film actor in existence. You’ll be left speechless as he blasts his way past the hundreds of evil men who stand between him and his daughter. I would also argue that Wells deserved a Best Supporting Actor award for playing such an intimidating role. In fact, Wells was such an amazing actor that he would go on to be the main villain in Power Rangers: Time Force. The clashing Matrix and Bennett make the final battle of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King look like a playground scuffle. The music definitely adds to the intensity of the scene as well as the rest of the film. Legendary film composer James Horner supplies Commando with a fantastic score. The film’s main theme stands amongst the likes of Star Wars, Superman, and Jurassic Park. Horner’s score is as important to the movie as the rest of its parts. Films like Commando only come along once every thousand years. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever be graced with a film of this stature anytime soon. Commando is filled with heart pumping action, incredible writing, and a phenomenal score. My “Movies You Need To See” all started with Pulp Fiction, but Commando is the only logical choice to bring it all to a close. Commando is a fantastic movie. I like it; that’s why you’re going to watch it last.
The class of 2013, made up of 341 seniors, is the last graduating class of Tuscarora to begin their high school career in a different Leesburg school. As such, they have had a rather unique experience, which is showcased here in snapshots of various seniors’ high school memories.
Freshman year at Heritage (20102011) “One time me and my friend snuck out of class, opened a friend’s locker, and sprayed it with silly string.” -Tristan Dunn Freshman year at Heritage (2010-2011) Took a Chorus Department trip to Disney World; attended workshops and sang in a procession -Michael Chismar
Sophomore year at Tuscarora (2011) Went to the Bahamas on a field trip w/ AOS; studied marine biology -Ben Ogedegbe
Post-graduation Attending William & Mary; double majoring in International Relations and Economics -Laura Andrews
SEPTEMBER 7th, 2010 First day of high school “It was very intimidating. I had to show up early wearing my cheer uniform and cheer as everyone came in.” -Nicole Picone
Freshman year at Heritage (20102011) “[My first year of high school] made me act nicer to younger kids because I was a freshman on varsity [soccer], and all the kids were nice to me.” -Adam Kight
September 6th, 2011 First day at Tuscarora “[I remember] music. The band was playing. I thought it was really charismatic.” -Kyle Wisniewski Favorite Memories of Tuscarora “Sporting events and football games”; also involved in track -Takiea Edmonds
While most seniors facin for the first time will b hours away, Katarina across the world. Nex University of St Andr study international rela have had dream schoo tarina only discovered S decided to apply there international relations p to many opportunities “It’s beautiful, and I love t referring to the fact that St classes rather than a broad s preparing for her move, she drews students, some of wh dents themselves, thro
If you are in search of a world traveler c look no further than Will Patt England, and spent a year ab 8th grade, but his travels do adventures will take him to G pate in a foreign exchange pr Will will have the opportuni school in an internation the rich culture Germa not prepared very mu August 8th, so I’ll pro ever, since he is already Will is well on his way t year abroad. “I’m look and just havin
“One of my favorite high school memories was realizing I got a 5 on the AP World exam, which was the first exam I took,” says Nathan Huet. If this fact alone is not ng the prospect of leaving home enough to convince you Nathan is a driven, intelbe moving to a college just a few ligent individual, consider his litany of accomplishRebello will be moving halfway ments. Nathan made the varsity tennis team at xt year, Katarina will attend the Heritage as a freshman, was elected class president rews in Scotland, where she will in his junior year, and was one of the foundations. Unlike some seniors who ing members of Dream Bigger for Kids, ols in mind for many years, Kaa non-profit organization dedicated to St Andrews recently, and finally improving the lives of children. This fall, Nathan will e because of its highly respected be attending the College of William & Mary and program. She is looking forward studying either economics or business. His advice to s the school has to offer, saying, younger students: “You’re going to change a lot. Don’t the way they [structure] classes,” be afraid to take risks. I have grown a lot from differt Andrews has students take three ent experiences.” spectrum. As for how Katarina is has been connecting with St Anhom were Loudoun County stuough social networking sites.
currently attending Tuscarora, ton. Will was born in London, broad in Austria when he was in on’t stop there. Next year, Will’s Germany, where he will particirogram. Through this program, ity to repeat his last year of high nal setting while also exploring any has to offer. So far, Will has uch for the trip, joking, “I leave obably pack August 7th.” Howy fluent in German, it seems like to an engaging and enlightening king forward to meeting people ng fun,” Will concludes.
If you have ever attended a school event, it is likely you have encountered Anna Cho, a senior who is involved in everything from yearbook to Key Club to SCA. Anna’s impressive résumé has earned her a reputation for being able to handle as much extracurricular involvement as humanly possible. While many high school students participate in clubs for the sole purpose of adding to their college applications, Anna says, “I don’t do these things…to make myself look impressive. I do these things because they really are important to me. I have grown an extreme passion for all of them.” As for what Anna’s bright future holds, she will be attending the University of Virginia and majoring in Global Development and Foreign Affairs. After college, Anna “will probably end up doing something with human advocacy. If I am allowed a voice, so should everyone else in this world.”
After graduation on June 9th, the class of 2016 will follow various paths. Some newly inaugurated alumni will join the military; others will pursue careers. The majority of graduating seniors, however, will attend colleges located anywhere from Scotland to their home state of Virginia. ANDERSON
Hannah Unis
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
GERMANNA
Joann Schoonmaker
GREEN MOUNTAIN Brittany McCullock
Liam Marshall-Brown
HAMPTON
Darrius Anderson
INDIANA at BLOOMINGTON
BLUEFIELD
BOSTON CONSERVATORY Lauren Choinski
Justin Aird
Maria Latimer
IUPUI
BRIDGEWATER
Benjamin Ogedegbe
BYU IDAHO
Madeline Bessa Jannen Hermann Ely Kaplan Michael Love Emily Maltman Michael Marquis Rene Marroquin Nicholas Rodney Jacob Singer Ian Spence Jordan Stevens Rosemary Williams
Megan Ford
Christina Barbini Christopher Guerrero Robert McGann Tatiana Peterson Chapman Tagg
BYU UTAH
Shelby Anderson Catherine Johnson
CAMPBELL
Jorden Schreder
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
Kimberly Devilla
CCBC
Marisa Lalputan
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT
Katie Billigmeier Michael Chismar Stephanie Condenzio Andrew Davidson Caroline Linane Dagney Palmer Elizabeth Samios Jordan Stuart
CLEMSON
Gentry Bowen Martha Bowen
CULINARY INSTITUTE OF ART Toriano Davis Ryne Petry
JAMES MADISON
LIBERTY
Sarah Keller Jessica Metello
LONGWOOD
Marisa Aktug Molly Dailey Nick Keithley Martha Fuller Emily Rossie
LSU
Jacqueline McKenna
LYNCHBURG
Melissa Brooks
MARSHALL
Jaqueline Kuzma
MERCERSBURG Max Schaufeld
MEREDITH
Cara Dudley
MTSU
Michael Price
DICKINSON
MILLARVILLE
EASTERN KENTUCKY
MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE
Zacharai Benalayat Ryan Boehret Anna White
ECKERD
Turner Orndoff
Vineetha Thekkel
NASSAU
Kristina Parcelli
Brandon Chirinos
Hayley Nixon
Joshua Alcorn Kaipo Allen Soraya Beltran Daniel Berman Hannah Billigmeier Nakiera Blaylock Jayson Bollinger Justin Boston Benjamin Bowen Isis Calix Rosales Cara Capitan Joey Castillo Erika Castro Jose Castro Abarca Anna Cheplick Kelsey Chesser Adam Chubbuck Brittni Ciburk Grace Cole Henry Crespin Ryan Dennis
EMORY AND HENRY FERRUM
Ryan Abbate
FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE Cathleen Knapp
FRONT RANGE
Cora Champeau
FROSTBURG Nicole Picone
GARDNER-WEBB Caroline Abbott
GEORGE MASON
Abdullahrahman Elqadri Ethan Giarmona Lorien Kostka Joseph Murdock Michelle Sok Shivam Vachhani
NOVA
Judith Echeverria Takiea Edmonds Abdullah Elqadri Kristin Emerson Neville Farooq Lindsey Finkenbinder Izabelle Fleeman Nathaly Flores Austen Fognano Daniel Friend Victor Gaetan Veronica Gonzalez Tyler Garling Armando Garzon Eric Grimm Rachel Gross Rachel Guntner Michael Hall Grant Haney Shane Harrison Laura Herrera Ciara Jenkins Breona Johnson Lauren Kaplan Jordan Kirk Nicholas Lee Ricardo Lozada Jeanna Mazaris Timothy McWilliams Dylan Merhaut Anna Montero Franco Navarro Jhavi Neumann Tyler Nord Emmanual Okeke Mary-ann Okeke Courtney Paige Marcus Paul Kaitlyn Pisciotta Sophia Plekavich Forest Preston Indolfo Quintero LIndsey Reid Matthew Radcliff Ghazi Rizvi Mitchell Russell Hannah Sandru Michelle Shebest Juan Sierra-Garcia Starr Simmons Jagjit Singh Christian Sosa Hasan Tariq Tala Tawil Danielle Thornton Darrian Thornton Jessica Thornton Brianny Tores Emily Vasquez Caitlynn Walker Jaclyn Wilson Louis Wortman Amar Zahed Valeria Zavallos
NYU
Daniel Sedlazek
OKLAHOMA STATE Samuel Rump
PENN STATE
Katherine Clippinger Kristen Lewkovich Ryan Wilson
OLD DOMINION Elizabeth Darley Stanley Ho
PRINCETON
Juliana Jackson
RADFORD
Stephanie Acup Jalynn Best Sean Brazel Olivia Cross Nicholas Dufresne Kyle O’Connor Angela Reed Paige Skinner Courtney Young
RICHARD STOCKTON Allyson Kuhn
SAN DIEGO STATE Cassidy McKenzie
SARAH LAWRENCE Caely McHale
SHEPHERD
Katryna Hauck Myron Hernandez Andre Rorie Aron Swanson Jamie VanWagoner Steven Welti
ST. ANDREWS
Katarina Rebello
ST. FRANCIS
Adrien Stinger
ST. JOHNS
Kulsum Dhirani
ST. LOUIS
Miles Davis
THOMAS NELSON Lauren Lucas
UNC GREENSBORO
Margarent Von Wodtke
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Sun Kim
VCU
Christian Abbate Kabir Anand John Coates Tyler Demoss Dominic Gavan Hunter Harris Madelaine Hernandez Sara Kidane Aneeta Mahfooz Yuna Miyamoto Marcus Momon Diego Orbegoso
VIRGINIA TECH
Ian Anderson Sury Avasarala Jennifer Cartwright Katheryn Caldwell Jackson Dancy Forrest Doss Emma Hale Austin Jones Daniel Kavenaugh Matthew Keyser Adam Kight Jenny Klug Meghan Kolcum Eric Maestri Nicholas McCord Derek McGee William Patton Shirley Payson Casey Pearson Connor Perkins Daniel Rubin Ryan Sasscer Lauren Sherrod Alexa Urgel Alexis Vaughn
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINATTI
Lauren Aktug Annie Hartman
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Idalia Anderson Mary Donovan Victoria Harshman Nicole Jones Darby Smith
Denzel Rivers
Onslo Parker
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA Hanna Lacy
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Mark Dunn
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND Peter Sotos
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND Carolina Anaya
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA
Michael Richardson
UVA
Fayez Atari Bella Blanco Anna Cho Sarah Hilado Nick Irvine Joseph Kreiter Preston Phillips Dylan Saunders
USIU
Katelynn Skaggs
WVU
WILLIAM & MARY Sana Amado Laura Andrews Will Avdellas Devon Carter Andrew Corso Logan Feierbach Nathan Huet Mikhaila Ritz Kristian Welch Louis Wertz III Chanelle Wideman
AIR FORCE
Kevin Nerio Kyle Wisniewski
ARMY
Wyatt Dunseth Matthew Prather Joshua Williams
MARINES
Eric Castro Kyle Eble Brandon Howsare Warren Miles
NAVY
Tyler Deleeuw
275 of 341 seniors are listed here, including those going into the military. This list was compiled by The Husky Headline staff and may not be 100% correct. Thank you to everyone who helped create this list of seniors: Megan Ford, Meghan Kolcum, Meilan Solly, Mr. Barr, Mrs. Benedum, Mr. Blair, Ms. Burnett, Mr. Newkirk, and Ms. Vocke.
Husky Tennis Makes a Racket By Meghan Kolcum Staff Writer
Photo Credit: Lifetouch
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Senior Kristian Welch serves the ball at a varsity girls’ tennis match.
Photo Credit: Meghan Kolcum
As the tennis season comes to a close, both the boys’ and girls’ teams have exceeded expectations. The varsity boys’ tennis team consists of ten boys, one manager, and one head coach, Coach Smith. The boys’ line-up from one to ten is as follows: Neeraj Dalvi, Nathan Huet, Daanish Ahmed, Isaac Eaves, Shivam Vachhani, Athreya Gundamraj, William Patton, Richard Todd, Matthew Protic, and Johnathon Barret. The boys’ manager is senior Devon Carter, who provides support for the team. “Tennis is a fun sport. I help the team by preparing water, yet my favorite is helping coach, which I’d like to potentially do as a future summer job,” stated Carter. The boys’ season was an overall success, as they won 11 games and only lost five. Loudoun County seemed to be the most difficult adversary for Tuscarora, as they lost twice to the school. According to senior Nathan Huet, however, “Briar Woods was our biggest rival; we had a strong disliking for them.” A game of tennis is different for every player who challenges themself, as some are more active as a baseline player, others are more comfortable playing at the net, and others are more comfortable playing doubles tennis than singles. “The most challenging part of tennis for me is the mentality of the game: just staying focused on what I can control, my form, and not getting down on myself when I play a poor match, since everyone has good and bad days,” said Huet. The girls’ team finished the season with a stronger record than the boys’ team and a place in the
district tournament. The number one on the team is Sabrina Kim, followed by Gabby Puller, Sarah Ashley, Anna Schense, Sasha Garsson, Sarah Wyly, Erin Gladdish, Kristian Welch, Chiara Solitario, Lilyanna Keshmiri, Emily Felber, and Lauren Hoffman. The manager for the girls’ tennis team is MS Todd, and head coaches are Beth Elrefai and Michelle Campbell. The girls’ team has crushed their competition this year, with 14 wins and only two losses, one against Briar Woods High School and the other against Dominion High School. For senior Kristian Welch, her personal most difficult game was against Woodgrov.e “We were playing doubles, the winds were gusting by, and it felt like it was below freezing as I was playing with my partner Sarah Ashley. The game was competitive, but we were lucky as we won one of the most rigorous matches this season,” Welch explained. When it comes to playing singles and doubles, the two are rather different in style, as singles tends to be a bit more competitive. Meanwhile, doubles is still competitive, but you have a partner there to help you out in a demeaning match. “I prefer doubles because you get to feed off of your partner’s energy and encourage each other,” said Welch. There is an intensity of play that comes into a game of doubles, but you always have a partner there to cheer you up when the going gets tough. The tennis teams this year have surpassed the expectations by playing in beyond difficult matches and brutally freezing weather; they have stepped up their levels of play and have finished the year with a competitive edge.
Senior Takiea Edmonds competes in the hurdles at the track and field home Quad Meet on April 10th, 2013.
Graduation Memoirs: Seniors Reflect On Sports By Forest Langhorne Sports Editor As the school year winds down and June approaches, many people inside Tuscarora’s walls are starting to anticipate the sweet release of summer vacation. Among the student body, perhaps the group most avidly awaiting this moment is the senior class. For them, the end of the school year signifies both the end of their primary school careers and the start of their adult lives. For many seniors, though, the end of the school year also means the end of the road for high school sports, an ending that means many different things to many different people. Perhaps some of the most reluctant members of this group of aging scholar-athletes, students who have participated in sports through all of high school, especially those who have played one sport for all four years. These people have invested a huge amount of time and energy into developing both their individual performance and their team’s, and have the most to miss after they leave. One of these people is Derek McGee, who has been a member of Tuscarora’s varsity lacrosse team since its inaugural season. “After having played lacrosse for the past 3 years, I know I’m really going to miss it. Helping build the team from the very beginning and [serving as] a captain, the team means a lot to me, and once the season ends, I going to miss it,” said McGee. This sentiment was echoed by another senior who has been a playing a sport at Tuscarora since its inaugural season, Nathan Huet. Huet, who is the captain of the boys’ tennis team this year, said, “I’m really going to miss tennis after I graduate.” Not just four year athletes have regrets about leaving high school sports, however. One senior,
Brandon Chirinos, who on top of playing varsity football since Tuscarora’s inaugural season has participated in varsity track as a thrower for the past two years, has mixed feelings about his departure. “As mainly a football player, I think I’m going to miss football the most. But since I joined track, I liked that too, and I think I’m also going to miss it,” he said. Another senior who has participated in sports at Tuscarora, Jenny Klug, said, “I think I’m going to miss [sports], but I’m also glad I’m moving on to college.” This shows another aspect of graduating seniors’ thoughts on leaving sports: most feel the change is good. While many feel sad about leaving high school sports, they are also glad to be moving on to bigger, better, and different things. However, not all seniors are leaving sports for good. Many are moving on to participate in college sports on some level, and a select few are even receiving college scholarships. For these people, college represents a chance to compete at a higher level while paying for their education. Many are also planning on playing in club or intramural sports, which for many seniors represents a great way to get involved in sports without being too committed and competitive. With the departure of the senior class, many underclassmen are also losing valuable teammates. Junior Alex McKenna, who is a member of Tuscarora’s state qualifying medley relay in swimming, said, “It’s going to be a real shame losing our seniors...we’re going to miss them a lot.” For other underclassmen participating in a sport, this statement rings with a lot of personal relevance. When the school year ends and the class of 2013 leaves, they will leave a big legacy, perhaps most
notably on the field. And while many of them look forward to what life has to offer, and a few even to the excitement of college sports, almost all of them will look back with a little sadness at departing the place where they got their start: high school athletics.
» FRESHMAN from page 1 and I’ll be able to ‘boss’ the new ones around,” she laughed. “But for the most part, I’ll no longer be at the bottom of the pile.” Schoolwork was Witteveen’s primary concern about high school, but it “wasn’t as difficult as I thought [it] would be.” Instead of thinking about being a step up from a freshman, Chaz Buskirk is focused on getting a car. “I’ll be even closer to getting one,” he shared. For him, the end of this year means finally getting some freedom from school. So for
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some members of the freshman class, they really couldn’t care less about the fact that they won’t be the youngest in the school. Around this time last year, the current sophomores were feeling the same way. Of course, their high school experience has changed drastically. “When my sophomore year started, I still felt like a freshman until I started getting piles of work,” said sophomore Mason Cox. And a year from today, the freshmen will probably be singing the same tune. Freshman year can be a difficult transition, but the class of 2016 has finally made it. That’s not to say the rest of high school will be a breeze—multiple obstacles are yet to come. But now their confidence has been restored, and they can move forward as a class and face the rest of their time here at Tuscarora. » SOPHOMORES from page 1 the right attitude. “You are going to have to work a lot harder, but it pays off in the long run. Plus, all the point bumps will probably get me into Princeton,” El-Fiky joked. One thing is for sure: If sophomore year has been the dress rehearsal, Tuscarora’s next batch of 11th graders better get ready for show time. “This year was the Last Year of Fun,” said DeSimone.
In the age of the Internet, privacy is one of the leading issues surrounding teens and adults alike. For teens specifically, privacy rights are largely unknown. Are your e-mails, texts, and tweets protected from government eyes? What are the consequences of piracy? Sources: Center for Copyright Information, National School Board Association, Internet Society.
Students Search for Summer Jobs By Forest Langhorne Sports Editor A summer job, whether it’s mowing lawns, lifeguarding at the local pool, or working as a seasonal employee, can write an entire person’s summer schedule. They can help pay for the summer, pay for college, and help a person find themself. And as the summer nears, the time to acquire these jobs is rapidly approaching, leaving many students scrambling for opportunities for beneficial
employment this summer. For many people, summer jobs mean a chance to earn a little cash for the rest of their summer fun, along with the rest of the school year. Money, or the lack of it, has traditionally been one of the biggest motivating factors in teens finding a source of work, and with the winding down of the school year, students are fighting for work opportunities to ensure a stream of income for the next three months. One of these students, sophomore Collin Chin,
who has in the past worked as a swim coach at his neighborhood team, is reupping this summer because “I really enjoy the work and people I get to work with, and the money is pretty reasonable.” Another student who has already secured a job for the summer, junior Zack Hover, said, “I got a job this year at Palm Beach Tanning, and I’m looking forward to being able to work more hours this summer.” Hover went on to say that in the summer months, his business will probably drop due to the ability to tan outside, but expects he’ll still get to work. Another reason many students are scrambling to find work before the summer is to take up some extra time. Junior Rashid Carter, who worked last summer as a pool lifeguard and is anticipating doing the same this summer, commented, “The money is really nice, but the main reason I like it is I get
to do something when otherwise I would probably just lay around doing nothing.” This sentiment was also echoed by both Chin and Hover, who said that their jobs were also a really great way to take up time. Graduating seniors also comprise a large amount of people who are searching for jobs this summer. For graduating seniors, summer jobs give them a chance to earn a little cash before they head off to college and lose any time they might have to make money. For seniors, securing jobs gives them a chance to gain a steady cash flow when they are back home, which can be a big help while at college. As the end of the school year comes to a draw and students prepare for the summer, attaining work has become one of the main goals for many at Tuscarora. For students, jobs mean the ability to earn money, take up their time, and get ready for college. » GENERATIONS from page 1 Who knows? Only the class of 2017 will be able to figure it out. Facebook will be as old as MySpace, the iPhone will be equivalent to the corded phone on the wall, and cars will probably be floating in the air. Okay, that may be taking it too far, but who knows what the future generations will bring to the table? Only time will tell.
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A Mile Apart: A Hundred Yards for Respect
Xuan Saigon: A Different Type of Asian Food
By Danny Sedlazek Entertainment Editor And Daniel Friend Staff Writer
By Jack Minchew Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Great teams are defined by their rivalries. Whether it be the Yankees and Red Sox or Redskins and Cowboys, or Michigan and Ohio State, it’s impossible to mention one without bringing up the other. In our realm, we have only one true rival– her name is County. If you walk the halls of Tuscarora and ask the students about Loudoun County High School, the response is overwhelming. “We hate County,” simply stated junior Robert Busey, and that’s all he would say on the matter. While not quite as harsh, senior Diego Orbegoso reaffirmed that “on a competitive level, [I do hate them].” This hatred of that cross-town school spurred Tuscarora to become what it is today, and will be tomorrow. “I think [our rivalry with County has] been huge,” said head football coach Michael Burnett. “When I came here, people were like, ‘What is Tuscarora?’…what the rivalry I think has done is really gained us respect as a school.” But the competitiveness didn’t just make others respect us; it made us respect ourselves. It’s no secret that the student body spent most of Tuscarora’s first year fighting against the school, but that all began to change the next school year. A lot of that had to do with our relationship with County, specifically the football game in the fog where we narrowly pulled off an exhilarating 16-9 win. “[The fog game] was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been a part of,” said Burnett, and the students agree. Senior Jake Singer reminisced that “the fog game was by far the best game we’ve ever played.” Senior Andrew Corso was the starting center that game, and said, “That
game was the most fun I ever had playing football.” Since that game, County has viewed us in a different light. Burnett believes that after that, “County saw us as the team the beat.” No longer were we ants under the microscope. Nay, now we were the predators. The respect that County gave us translated not only into respect for ourselves, but respect for the school we now warmly called home. “[The County rivalry] gives us a common enemy to hate,” observed junior Hunter Sobel. But the younger Huskies have a different perspective. They do not remember a time when County was the looming giant. As County senior Sinclair Williams puts it, “For [the upperclassmen], the rivalry came only after we already had friendships. However, besides our class, everyone who remembers that has graduated. As for the underclassmen, they only know that we are rivals. They don't know that the rivalry came after the friendship.” Freshman Gita Fekkak reaffirmed this, saying, “[The rivalry] is really intense among the freshmen,” and adding that she attended both County football games this year. Tuscarora’s intense spite may be short lived, though. Next year, Tuscarora is going to be in Division III; County will remain behind in Division IV. However, Burnett hopes that the rivalry will persist. “I think that’s a game we’ll always try to keep in the schedule,” he said with gleaming eyes. And why shouldn’t we? Our rivalry with Loudoun County has helped define us as a school, a student body, and most importantly a community. Tuscarora was a shadow of what it is today before the rivalry became anything serious. We shouldn’t turn our backs on that. For, as Corso said, “Every high school needs a rival to appreciate where they’re from.”
Anyone who has lived in Leesburg long enough can tell you that most non-chain restaurants tend to come and go rather quickly in this area. Opening up full of hope, struggling along for a few months, and finally sucumbing to the competive food scene, this seems to be the pattern for eateries in Leesburg. So when you stumble upon a 17 year veteran like Xuan Saigon, it sure seems awfully old-fashioned. Xuan Saigon is the dream of head chef and owner Xuan Nguyen and her family, who fled Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and the South Vietnamese government. The restaurant first opened in 1999, and Chef Xuan has been doling out delicious food from her homeland ever since. The location of Xuan Saigon is a bit unassuming, as it is in a strip mall on the northeast side of town surrounded by nail salons and ethnic markets, but the inside is clean and welcoming. I started off with the appetizer sampler, which featured garden rolls, spring rolls, and chicken satays, along with a selection of Vietnamese sauces. The garden rolls were fresh and crisp, and the spring rolls were not greasy, a characteristic rarely found in Americanized Asian cuisine. For the main course, I settled on pho, an iconic Vietnamese noodle soup. I ordered the type with steak and brisket, but there are many different options such as chicken, meatballs, and even tendon and tripe for the more adventurous diner. My companions ordered pancakes and stir fry over crispy noodles. All of the food arrived without much delay, and the service was prompt and professional. The pho came with bean sprouts and Vietnamese basil, and the other dishes were served with various sauces. So many times, soups can be the most underwhelming dish on any menu, obviously crafted with stock broth and plain ingredients. The pho from Xuan Saigon is truly the opposite. The wonderful smell is the first thing that hits you, followed by the savory and slightly sweet taste of the broth. The crunch of the bean sprouts was refreshing, and the thinly sliced steak was delicately and exquisitely flavored. The excellent taste of the pho is complemented
by the generous serving size and the surprisingly low price for such high quality food. As for the other dishes, the stir fry was average, but the pancakes were surprisingly good. Vietnamese cuisine is strongly influenced by French colonization, as seen by the meatfilled, puffy pancake similar to French croissants. When drizzled with sauce, the pancakes were excellent, emphasized by their unique flavor and consistency. While I would love to keep Xuan Saigon a personal secret, it would be a crime to not share the excellent cooking and wonderful cuisine of Chef Xuan and her family. Next time you are considering where to dine when in the mood for Asian food, try shaking it up with Xuan Saigon. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Dom’s Cookies By Dominic Gavan Advertising Manager
2 ¼ cups flour ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 sticks unsalted butter ¾ cups granulated sugar + 1 heaping tablespoon ¾ cup brown sugar 2 eggs room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ cups chocolate chips Sift flour into a large bowl. Add baking soda and salt and stir for thirty seconds. After letting the butter soften for two hours, put it in a separate bowl and combine with granulated and brown sugar until very creamy. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time, being careful to stir fully before adding another egg. Combine the flour mixture slowly in until the mixture is thick and light brown. Make sure the creamy texture is still consistent. Add chocolate chips and cover the dough with plastic wrap so the plastic is resting directly on top of the dough. Let the dough sit for at least five hours in a refrigerated environment. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and ready two non-stick Teflon pans. Bake for 9-11 minutes. If you want to add a personal touch, try the last step of stirring without an electric mixer. I think the dough tends to end up more thick and moist if you do this last step by hand. Also, play around with different variations of toppings such as Hershey Kisses or Rollo’s.
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