Social Media and Online Department: Olivia Agnew (Editor), Gabbie Williams
News Department: Mia Prince (Editor), Krish Gupta, Sami Haddadin, Janav Ramprakash, Victoria Suarez
Opinions Department: Karl Loiseau (Editor), Gabbie Williams
Focus Department: Lila Choudry (Editor), Taylor Gri th, Skyler Campbell
Lifestyles Department: Mila Taylor (Editor), Julia Wu, Jena Mhamdi
Sports Department: Ben Kleiman (Editor), Thomas Bonos, Neve Judelson
STEM Department: Ashwin Anand (Editor), Sarah Zobel, Omi Tikalal
Graphics Department: Maxi de la Fuente (Editor), Natalie Baron, Aylin Garibay
Photo Department: Julia Hoskins (Editor), Eden Kiger, James Ellzey, Lola Brown, Ally Williams
Business Manager: Krish Gupta
Advisers: Erin Miller & Brian Kells
Editorial Policy
e Trinity Voice is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.
e Trinity Voice is produced by the newspaper/journalism class at Trinity Preparatory School of Florida. Editorials represent the opinion of e Trinity Voice writer and are not necessarily the views of the administration, faculty or Board of Trustees of Trinity. e Voice welcomes letters to the editor and free-lance articles or photography. All submissions become the property of e Voice. Please send all correspondence to 5700 Trinity Prep Lane, FL 32792. e Voice may also be contacted via phone at 407-671-4140 and via e-mail at voice@ trinityprep.org. For information regarding the purchase of advertising within e Voice, contact us by one of the methods mentioned above. e Voice is a monthly publication during the school year (with the exceptions of November and January).
Broadcast & Social Media
Watch Brayden K. ’29, Emily L. ’27 and Britt V. ’27 recap homecoming week, athletics, fine arts and more! Check out The Trinity Voice on YouTube to keep up to date on campus events and updates!
Brayden K. ’29 covers the drum line, highlighting their teamwork and dedication to bringing a spirited atmosphere to every football game. Watch the feature now on YouTube!
Podcasts
After o cially opening for classes on Oct. 6, the Sankar Science Center has brought a wave of evolution to the campus. Listen in to Gustavo Membreno ’26 and Jack Aaron ’26 as they share their opinions on the good, the bad and the future of Sankar.
TESTING BEYOND THE BELL
Mia Prince
Photo by Eden Kiger
Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente
After disappearing during the pandemic, the after-school testing program returned this year for upper school. e program is a way to streamline the process for make-up tests and for those who receive extended time.
e program was originally removed due to COVID-19 protocols, but it was a program many teachers enjoyed and were hoping would come back.
“Ultimately, the stu we were doing before COVID worked ne,” social science teacher Brandon Burmeister said. “We just had to remember to put it back in.”
e program was put in place with the idea of limiting the number of students who were skipping class simply because they did not want to take tests. Additionally, it was complicated for teachers to schedule a time for a make-up test that worked for both teachers and students.
“Lots of teachers use it,” Assistant Head of School Sebastiaan Blickman said. “I think it’s been e ective. I think it’s been nice for the teachers to sort of take that o their plate.”
ers and everybody hold themselves to a standard, and I think we have to hold ourselves to a (high) standard.”
Not only does it take a burden o teachers, but it also helps with the inconvenience for students who previously had to use their free time to meet at breaks, at lunches or before and after school. is system gives students one place to meet at a known date and time.
Since the program is new for many students, there has been a lot of stress and worry over how the program would work out and how accommodating administrators and teachers would be about returning after illnesses.
One of the major issues caused by the new program is the confusion surrounding when students are meant to make up tests if absent for multiple days. Students and families are being told that they need to take their tests the next time they are on campus, but Blickman has clari ed that if you are gone for six days, the school policy allows six days to make up any assessment.
Students report to the study hall room after school to make up missed assessments.
e program also brings back the high standards of accountability that come with being a student at Trinity Prep.
“Holding students a little bit more accountable for (testing) I think is in line with who we are, right?” Burmeister said. “Trinity Prep is Trinity Prep, right? So students, teach-
While the new program cuts out the confusion of where and when to make up tests, it still creates anxiety about how soon to take tests after being out.
“I think for families, it’s actually been tough and not as e ective because I think that there has been either misunderstanding ... or I haven’t been clear enough in the fact that we don’t want sick kids on campus,” Blickman said.
While some teachers who were here in past years are familiar with the program, there are a lot of new teachers who are navigating it as much as the students are.
“I think it’s just a (matter) of getting used to and institutionalizing the program again so that we don’t have to remind everybody,” Burmeister said. “(If) you missed this test, then you go to after-school testing, and you take it. Once we just institutionalize these changes and rules, it (will) just become commonplace. I think it’ll be ne.”
In the future, there are hopes to extend the after-school testing program to middle school so that it can equally bene t both high school and middle school students.
PA NT THE TOWN
National Art Honor Society focuses on new community projects
Article by Victoria Suarez
Photos by Eden Kiger
Toward the beginning of the school year, Fine Arts Department Chair Jolie Spellman connected the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) with an opportunity to decorate flowerpots for Barktoberfest, a local fundraising event. All the proceeds from the event will go to an animal rescue organization. They have already made tremendous progress and are very grateful for the opportunities presented to them and the assistance they have received along the way.
Students designed dog-themed pots for Barktoberfest.
Trinity Prep’s chapter of NAHS is a student organization focused on using the artistic talents of its members for the benefit of the community. The society is co-sponsored by fine arts teachers Irina Ashcraft and Vadim Malkin and is open to any upper school students who are interested in applying their artistic prowess to community service projects.
“We just want to use art as inspiration,” Ashcraft said. “Something that brightens somebody’s day, but also for the better good.”
The society is a low-commitment way for students to get involved and earn some volunteer hours doing either 2D or 3D art, depending on their preference. The only requirement is the completion of eight initial volunteer hours to be inducted into the society at the end of March.
“We will put them on our roster, on the email list, and start sending the opportunities their way,” Ashcraft said. “And it’s going to be up to them to uphold their end of the bargain and actually earn those hours.”
Since the beginning of the school year, NAHS has been hard at work on multiple new and exciting projects. The society has been working with the Boys and Girls Club of Orlando, as well as Barktoberfest. In addition to these new projects, they are still dedicated to working on their typical yearly activities.
“I think the service projects we do right now are really meaningful,” NAHS President Mavis Li said.
Their first major service project for the school year was inspired by fine arts teacher Caberbe Joseph. It started with him requesting help from the artists with thank-you notes for the Boys and Girls Club, and soon after, the society launched into action. Volunteer artists created unique and ornate designs for the cards before returning them to be filled out and delivered.
“We jumped on it, and then in a week, we got over 100 cards done,” Ashcraft said.
Once the cards were completed, they moved on to decorating the pots for Barktoberfest with Spellman’s connections. The highly talented artists created beautiful designs of animals and other symbols to elevate the terracotta bases. The pots were then allowed to dry before being packed up and donated.
“We’re always open, and we welcome people coming into us and saying, ‘Hey, we have this’ or ‘How can we collaborate with you?’ or ‘Can we get your help?’” Ashcraft said.
The National Art Honor Society presents small teracotta pots with colorful designs.
Ashcraft said. “They see that somebody cares about you across the globe and knows about you and saw your picture and took time to create a portrait for you. That’s amazing.”
They also donate $15 per portrait. However, instead of asking NAHS members to donate the money, they undertake several projects throughout the year to fundraise and use the money for both their donations and supplies. Primarily, this is through selling at the Teen Art Show at the Winter Park Library.
“For all the projects we did this year, my favorite is the teen art show, where we’re doing painting and 3D clay jewelry to sell,” Li said. “I think that’s pretty fun, (as well as) the chalk art for the orchestra, since I’m also in the orchestra.”
“We just want to use art as inspiration. Something that brightens somebody’s day.”
- Irina Ashcraft, NAHS co-sponsor
Additionally, they are gearing up to do an annual project called the Memory Project. The organization connects NAHS with an orphanage around the world, and they receive pictures back of the kids and create personalized portraits. When the portraits are sent, they receive back videos of the kids receiving them, and they get to witness their reactions.
“Some of them don’t own a photo of themselves, and then they get that excitement,”
These new projects would not have been possible without the dedication of all NAHS members. This year, with more help in the 2D and especially in 3D sections, the society was able to take on more activities than they could previously handle. Moving forward, they hope to work with more local organizations and look forward to keeping their art to help people in whatever way they can.
“A lot of people think that you have to give up your weekend and go out and find these organizations to work with,” 3D Vice President Kinsley Wood said. “But it can be as simple as doing something that you love, like making pottery or making bowls, and that can greatly impact someone’s life in a very positive way.”
$ TOCKS BEYOND SIMULATION
Article by Sami Haddadin
Photo by Julia Hoskins, Graphics by Natalie Baron
In an era where understanding nancial literacy is more crucial than ever, the Trinity Prep Investment Fund, founded by seniors Nikhil Daniel and Owen Ra a, adopts a technical and pragmatic approach to teaching students valuable investing skills. e fund comprises 25 students across 10th through 12th grade, who invest in stocks through a pool of money raised through donations, fundraisers and student tuition funds.
“It’s important to emphasize that nancial literacy in the tumultuous nancial times we’re in is of critical importance,” said Assistant Head of Upper School Sebastiaan Blickman, who played a key role in getting the fund o the ground. “If our students can learn that through this real-life learning experience, then we’re all for the better for it.”
Before the fund became a reality, the fund’s leadership faced various hurdles that tested their resilience and adaptability.
Daniel serves as the fund manager and oversees everything about the fund while also planning fund meetings and guest lectures.
e chief education o cer, Ra a, speaks with local students and spreads nancial literacy to the community. Senior Sarah Cantwell holds the position of chief technology o cer, where she is responsible for creating and running the fund’s website. And omas Bonos, the chief investment o cer, has the responsibility of overseeing pitch meetings and handling investment logistics.
“As an analyst, I’m responsible for working on one-pagers,” said junior Campbell Alch, an analyst for the healthcare sector in the fund.
“In my group, there are four or ve people, and we chose two stocks, CVS and P zer. We are split and working on one-pagers to give the details of it, like the price, how it could ( uctuate, etc.).”
e fund’s structure parallels that of other college and high school investment funds, incorporating aspects from a diverse array of institutions, which enables it to prepare students for what to expect beyond high school.
“In our meetings with (Director of Alumni Relations Liz) McIntosh, the CFO (Michael Drake) and Mr. Blickman, there were a lot of times where Nikhil and I had to make compromises with them,” Ra a said. “For example, we originally wanted full freedom on everything we wanted to invest in, but we found out from them pretty quickly that was not going to be possible. … (So the) back-and-forth with admin to get all the details ironed out … (was) probably the hardest thing.”
e investment fund’s executive board, composed of Sarah Cantwell ’26, omas Bonos ’26, Nikhil Daniel ’26 and Owen Ra a ’26, poses for a photo in light of the fund’s creation.
e four investment sectors comprise Information Technology, Healthcare, Energy/ Mining and Consumer, with each sector having three analysts and one associate who serves as the sector leader. Having four sectors diversi es the fund’s investments and provides a wider range of opportunities for students to specialize in and learn speci c skills for a speci c industry.
e fund structure is divided between the executive board and four investment sectors. Each member of the four-person executive board oversees a speci c area of the investment fund, ensuring all bases are covered.
With the fund planning to start investing by the end of November, each of the four branches is currently preparing to pitch two stocks to other associates, the executive board and Trinity’s Board of Finance.
“We already had connections with other high school and college investment funds … at (UC) Berkeley and UF,” Ra a said. “Because of those connections that we had, it was super easy to gure out things like fund structure, what your average meeting looks like, and that also allowed us to look more professional when pitching it to admin because we formatted our fund based on college funds.”
A key distinction between the fund and other student initiatives at Trinity is that it provides students with real money to invest. is, paired with the money’s ties to the school, creates realistic conditions for what it is like to be an investor.
“Nothing simulates real money more than real money,” Blickman said. “I can do a fake (simulator) online, but … when you add in that (the money is) tied to the school … you see a sense of responsibility … to make sure that I’m not just throwing letters against the board and hoping that I pick the right stock. So that’s a really cool opportunity to teach leadership, ownership, responsibility and the hard skills of nance.”
New investment fund marks shift towards practical teachings in finance
e fund highlights Trinity’s commitment to the learning process and to preparing its students for the real world, even if that means failing at rst.
“( e fund) says that Trinity Prep is a place where we believe in the real-world preparation for students, where they can learn by doing rather than by lecture,” Blickman said. “It’s a place where even if you fail … there’s just as much learning to be had as to why that happened, what we missed, what we could have done di erently, and that learning will stick with people just as much as the success will.” is is accomplished by teaching navigational skills and creating an atmosphere that is not part of the standard classroom experience.
“ e … analysts are not picked together with friend groups; they’re picked together by interests,” Blickman said. “It might not be your friends. It might not be people in your grade. It might not be people of the same gender. And so you need to navigate how to work in that team … and that’s a skill that you don’t get to practice as much in classes. … Whereas in this team, you’re all in very di erent places of understanding, di erent ages, di erent genders and di erent levels of comfort.”
nancial backgrounds to speak to fund members, o ering unique insights into the world of nance and the work they do.
“(With the fund) bringing back speakers, it takes (learning) beyond theory and something you’d study in a classroom to the real world,” said Todd Hartung, assistant head of school for external affairs. “ ese are people who make their living doing this type of work, and they’re from all di erent elds. And so one, you get exposed to di erent positions or jobs that you may
“In ve to 10 years, my hope is that this fund … (has) grown to a point where we can start to spin o 4% or 5% for student initiatives that better the student experience,” Blickman said. “At one of my previous schools … they were able to (use) that money they had earned through the investment fund’s performance and their analysis to buy new jerseys for all sports teams.”
However, there is a deeper lesson to be learned than just seeing the money from successful student investments being allocated to the student body; it teaches students that the learning and growth experienced at Trinity as a whole can make a real impact on another person’s life.
“My hope is that over time, you get comfortable having conversations with people you might see as investors or people that you want to learn from,” Blickman said. “When you see a speaker come in, you’re able to go and speak to them, ask them individual questions and carry yourself in a professional manner.”
e fund enhances this experience by inviting Trinity alumni and parents with diverse -
But the bene ts of having an investment fund extend far beyond simply advancing the knowledge, experience and professional skills of the analysts, associates and leaders who manage it. Over time, the fund also gives them the unique capacity to make a lasting and direct impact on students’ day-to-day lives across the entire school community.
“ at’s a tangible impact that this group of students’ learning had on the school,” Blickman said. “You learned how to invest in a sustainable, strategic manner that paid dividends over the course of ve to 10 years. … Your learning had a direct impact on students.”
Beyond this, the fund symbolizes more than just an environment for learning and applying practical nancial knowledge. It puts on full display the determination and intuitiveness of Trinity’s student body, which will hopefully spark new initiatives that may have seemed unlikely in the past.
“Even if an idea you have seems like a long shot, it seems like it would never get approved, it seems like it could never happen, if you sit down, work through it and work your hardest, it can and will be done,” Ra a said. “It was a super important realization that just because we’re kids doesn’t mean we can’t accomplish something great.”
COURSES THAT COUNT
New AP courses bring career prep to the classroom
Article by Krish Gupta
Graphic by Natalie Baron
Trinity is known for o ering one of the most diverse ranges of Advanced Placement courses, from AP World History to AP Latin to AP Environmental Science. Yet, students often feel that they miss out on real-world applications of their education. With the College Board’s recently announced courses, AP Cybersecurity and AP Business with Personal Finance, however, that could change.
College Board’s new o erings are designed to bring a more practical, career-oriented approach to high school education. e business course introduces students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, marketing, nance, accounting and management. e cybersecurity course dives into topics such as risk assessment, threat detection and security mitigation.
“We don’t want people to go (into AP Cybersecurity) cold,” Podchaski said. “AP is really meant to be your second step. … Just like you don’t take AP Biology without taking biology … (the AP course) is going to build on the foundation.”
Regardless of the courses, Podchaski believes that understanding the fundamentals of cybersecurity, data privacy and information protection is more important than ever for students today.
AP Cybersecurity is already under consideration as part of Trinity’s growing computer science program, with the course currently being reviewed on how it ts into the school’s overall curriculum plan.
“(AP Cybersecurity) is going to be a combination of policy overview, how to set up programs and what things you should be looking for, as well as an introduction to the technical aspect of it,” Chief Technology O cer Alex Podchaski said. “It’s going to be (looking at) the entire landscape versus just being a legal or application class.”
Podchaski hopes to create a path in which students begin with foundational courses that introduce physical computing and basic programming before choosing more specialized tracks such as advanced programming, cybersecurity or robotics. For instance, AP Cybersecurity is speci cally designed to build directly on an introductory course, Cybersecurity Principles, that o ers broad exposure and some hands-on experience.
said. “One day we’re all going to be managing ourselves, our income, (our) taxes and things like that. … We have to know how to use money, how to spend it, but most importantly, how to budget and make sure we have enough to provide for ourselves.”
Mathematics teacher Sage Butler, who is also directing the interim course “Cha-Ching 101: A Guide to Finances,” sees AP Business with Personal Finance as a shift toward real-world readiness. She also emphasized the long-term advantages of nancial literacy, especially when introduced earlier to students, as this course aims to do.
“Given the rate of digital adoption for your generation, you need to be aware of where your information is, who’s using it, and who you’ve given permission to use it,” Podchaski said. “Because of the developments with AI (and) identity theft, you need to … protect and represent yourself properly.”
Meanwhile, discussions around AP Busines with Personal Finance are in earlier stages. According to Mathematics Department Chair Donald Worcester, the course has not yet been discussed within the department. Still, some students see a clear demand, believing the course could not only o er practical preparation by helping them better represent themselves in the real world, but also equip them with tools to manage nancial decisions and everyday transactions.
“In this world, we rely on money,” junior and investment fund member Luke Kang
“If (students) start now, they’re going to start years ahead of a lot of other people,” Butler said. “Kids don’t realize that you can end up with a million extra dollars if you start a retirement fund now.”
For students like Kang, this kind of forward-thinking education lls a noticeable gap in Trinity’s current course o erings.
“For students who want to fully indulge themselves in nance, marketing, business and whatnot, I think there is (currently) a little bit of a gap in the curriculum,” Kang said. “ ere are de nitely quite a few students (in Trinity) who want to take the business route, whether it be a marketing director or a business manager.”
Both AP Cybersecurity and AP Business with Personal Finance o er valuable skills that transcend academics, equipping students with the necessary experience to navigate a world where digital literacy and entrepreneurship are key. is shift could better support students who want to see more practical application in their education.
RE PR GRAMMED
Students take on new redesign of TPS Time
Article by Aarav Gupta
Photo by Allison Williams
Students sit in silence, their eyes gazing at the window as they anxiously await the sound of the bell. With no one sure about the exact schedule, they reach for their laptops to check the infamous online scheduling application — TPS Time.
Originally developed by alumnus James Hawley, TPS Time was an instant sensation, reaching the devices of most students and teachers overnight. Designing the nished website took a total of around two years of work.
“When I rst entered sixth grade, there was a simple yet popular app created by a former student, Ricky Woodru ,” Hawley said. “In eighth grade, for my 20-Time project, I had the opportunity to work on anything I wanted, so my friend Zach Kleiman and I decided to take on the challenge of reviving the idea. … e positive response motivated me to keep improving it and turn it into something even better.”
e launch of the application received immense praise.
“ e initial student response was incredible,” Hawley said. “People immediately bookmarked the site and began using it daily.”
However, when Hawley graduated, the future of the app remained uncertain until juniors Joe Borgman and Asad Sadikov decided to take over the app.
Hawley’s ultimate goal was to leave the new developers full access to the website. e new pair of developers created an entirely new website with the same features, functionality and code.
application, piggybacking o of the program’s old code.
e pair initially had trouble interpreting all of Hawley’s old code and applying it to the new application.
“When he made the new version for us, he tried to make it easy to read,” Borgman said. “ ere were still some parts that we were not able to understand, so it took us a couple of days to just understand where everything was and get it gured out from there.”
Access TPS Time today!
create similar applications to prevent confusion among students and uphold strict security standards.
“Because the word of TPS Time isn’t really out too much, some of the people have tried making similar apps,” Borgman said. “As (Chief Technology O cer Alex) Podchaski was talking to us, he wanted the app to be secure to make sure the schedule didn’t get out, so it’s been kind of di cult to try to put out some of the copy cat apps.”
Broc Williams works on his laptop as his teacher displays TPS Time on the board.
“When I was creating the website, it was exciting to experiment with new ideas,” Hawley said. “I believe any oversight would only limit the students’ creative freedom. at said, I’ll always be available to help if the current developers need it.”
Designing the new application was no easy feat. Using TypeScript, it took the pair a total of four weeks to complete the redesign of the
Teamwork and collaboration with Sadikov made the redesign process signi cantly easier. For instance, Borgman was responsible for the login interface while Sadikov primarily worked on integrating the house systems into the new application.
e pair maintains primary ownership of the application. Others are not permitted to
e redesign has been met with positive feedback and engagement.
“I think it’s way better,” freshman Neel Bhonde said. “You can also access it through an extension browser, which I think is really cool as well.”
Since Hawley’s departure, students and faculty alike have still used the old application due to limited awareness of the new website. Furthermore, accessing this new application requires connection to the school WiFi. However, the team is working to incorporate the tpstime.com domain, which would allow users to access the app in any environment, eliminating the need for a WiFi connection. In the meantime, the application can be accessed at tpstime.trinityprep.org.
After the pair graduates in the coming years, they hope to continue the legacy of TPS Time for future grades.
“We’ll probably try to nd somebody next year who can continue the project, keep it maintained and add features that need to be added,” Borgman said.
e redesign of TPS Time has overall been a success, enhancing the experience for the student body as a whole.
“I think TPS Time is a great resource because you get to see what time your classes end and the whole schedule of the day,” Bhonde said. “Especially when we have events like pep rallies and homecoming week, the timings are a bit skewed, so I think it’s a great resource.”
Junior
M.D.,
Victor B. Thomas, M.D
Andrew J. Schneier, M.D.
Justin D. Marsh, M.D.
Lynda Z. Kleiman, M.D.
Jerry N. Shuster, M.D
Kris-Ann S. Humphrey, M.D.
Isabella L. Herrera, M.D.
Bradley L. Shoss, M.D. Vikisha Hazariwala, D.O.
SCIENCE OF STRESS
Article by Omi Tikalal
Graphic by Natalie Baron
All students know that feeling of dread in the days leading up to tests. Notes lay scattered across the library tables, highlighters run dry and ca eine becomes a lifeline. But that feeling is not just emotional; it is a biological signal developed over millions of years ago to help us survive.
Stress is one of the body’s oldest defense mechanisms. It helped early humans escape predators and endure harsh environments. Today, that same system that once saved lives now powers all-nighters and testday jitters.
When someone feels stressed, their nervous and endocrine systems trigger a ght-or- ight response. is causes an increased heart rate, boosted immune response, uneven breathing and slower digestion.
According to Harvard Health, the brain’s amygdala is responsible for emotional processing and sends a message to the hypothalamus after perceiving a threat. e hypothalamus then activates the sympathetic nervous system, which prompts the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal glands in the endocrine system.
Good stress, known as eustress, gives you that energy before a presentation or boosted focus during a sports game. It is a way to keep you alert, motivated and challenged without feeling overwhelmed.
e problem is when stress starts to turn against you. Most know stress as feeling panicked, scattered or forgetful.
“You’re in the middle of something and you’re frazzled … then (you) say … ‘Oh God, I forgot A, B and C as well,’” Honors Anatomy teacher Brandon McDermed said.
People’s varying response to stress is rst and foremost determined by genetics.
“We underestimate the power genetics has on us,” Brown said. “Our genetic code dictates so much more than we’ve been giving it credit for. … You will more likely handle stress similar to how your parents handled it from a genetic perspective.”
Environment plays a role, too. How you were taught and how you have witnessed people close to you react to stress can in uence whether you respond in a more intense or more laid-back way.
e American Psychology Association explains how adrenaline quickens your heartbeat, sharpens your senses and oods your muscles with energy. Cortisol keeps you alert and ready to act. Together, they prepare your body to react, whether to being face-to-face with a lion or walking into AP Biology for your rst test.
Not all stress is bad. In small doses, it can sharpen focus and boost performance.
“I think we see stress as an exclusively negative thing,” Brown said. “Stress causes us to act. It causes me to get my grading done and you to get your studying done. It’s interworked with fear to keep us from not walking in the middle of Aloma during rush hour.”
Chronic stress can cause memory lapses, fatigue and muscle tension as cortisol overwhelms the brain’s learning centers. Longterm stress keeps cortisol levels high for long periods of time, a ecting things like sleep, immune function and concentration. It is why students still feel drained after sleeping or eating well: e body is stuck in alert mode.
Physically, it can manifest in small yet telling ways. McDermed has noticed students picking the skin on their cuticles, face, eyebrows or lashes. If this stress goes on for too long, it can result in long-term health concerns like lack of appetite leading to massive weight loss.
“You’re going to become more like the people you surround yourself with, (and) they’ll become more like you,” Brown said. “Just like pack mentality, we’re built to want to be like those that we are around.”
In other words, stress is not only chemical; it is contagious. On our campus, teachers often see stressors — causes of emotional or physical tension — in the form of cultural pressure to achieve good grades and prepare for the college admissions process. is stress exists at all institutions, but not much is done to turn it into something positive.
“We talk about (stress) a lot, but I think we talk about it in a very passive sense, not super xated on ‘Let’s x the problem,’” Brown said. “Students have so many tests right now, but then not much is done about it. So, although we do acknowledge it, I don’t think we’re doing a lot about it.”
e goal is not to erase stress, even with its negative connotation, but to understand it, turn a survival mechanism into a study partner. Stress does not necessarily mean that you are failing. It is better to di erentiate between good stress and bad stress, in turn learning healthy coping mechanisms.
“Go live your life,” Brown said. “Be stressed out. Stress can be crippling, but it isn’t always bad. And if we’re always comfortable, we are often making it so that we can’t grow. But if we can access some discomfort, we can grow.”
Article by Sarah Zobel
by Eden Kiger, Graphics by Maxi de la Fuente and Natalie Baron
26 grams of protein. 170 calories. Natural avors. At rst glance, this may seem like the perfect snack to hit your protein goals, until you realize the missing descriptor — the one that food engineers hide from marketing, in uencers ignore and your friends do not understand: “ultra-processed.” Unbeknownst to many, the majority of these high-protein health snacks are simply ultra-processed treats marketed to seem like miracle foods.
Everyone consumes some form of processed food in their everyday lives, as “processed food” is de ned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as “anything that changes the fundamental nature of an agricultural product,” such as freezing or juicing an apple. Ultra-processed foods are an entirely di erent story.
nies know this, so they add enzymes to make it easier to digest these products.
“ ere’s cellulose gel, there’s cellulose gum and there’s carrageenan … those (are) thickener agents,” Wasyliw said, referring to the contents of the Fairlife Core Power Protein Shake.
“Ultra-processed
DON’T TRUST THE PROCESS
very successful due to its discrete nature. While scrolling, teenagers see hundreds of hidden ads from their fa-
foods are good for no one. … There’s truly no nutritional benefit to putting them in your body.”
vorite in uencers
ucts with no scienti c reasoning behind them.
- Jayne Wasyliw, Nutritionist
“ ose three
“Ultra-processed foods are good for no one,” nutritionist Jayne Wasyliw said. “ ere’s truly no nutritional bene t to putting them in your body.”
ese foods are manufactured in factories to make them taste good enough to ignore the risks on the back of the package. According to Yale Medicine, the long ingredient list primarily includes “substances … extracted from food or derived from hydrogenated fats or modied starches.” Many of these additives are harmful to the body, leading to gut issues or other in ammation, but compa-
can actually … degrade your gut. ey know that gel, gum and carrageenan can hurt your stomach, (so) they put a lactase enzyme in there (to make you) want to drink
more of it.
Companies do not want their consumers, you, to nd out about these modi cations. Luckily for them, they are extremely good at concealing this information through tactful marketing, aimed pointedly at teens.
of the product packaging are no mistake either. Packages often advertise popular avors, like mint-chocolate chip or cookie-dough, and are lled with bright, fun colors to obscure the truth of the product inside.
“(Teenagers) de nitely follow the marketing and like the taste,” junior omas Hoskins said. “None of my friends care about the actual nutrition.”
“When you see someone that you follow … promoting a product … you think they look healthy, they look happy and you like them, so you want to try whatever they’re doing,” Wasyliw said. “It’s a huge business. What people don’t realize, because it’s not talked about, is that these in uencers are getting paid to push these products. I can tell you from the inside world, there are some in uencers who push products who don’t actually eat them.”
Marketing for ultra-processed foods is endless and
Companies also use buzzwords like “high protein,” “natural avors” and “no sugar” to conceal the real meaning behind their words, knowing their consumers will not think to check the ingredient list.
e bright colors and carefully chosen wording no de use list.
“(I have) two (Core Power Protein Shakes) a day, in the morning and after school … it’s a good way to get protein in, and it tastes good,” eighth grader Eiden O’Farril said. “No, (I do not look at the ingredient label), I just look at its protein. at’s it.”
it’s Eiden just
Photo
Statistics courtesy of John Muir Health, Balance is Better and Kids Eat Right
Popular protein-forward products pose hidden health risks
Many young people are not aware of the risks associated with many of these products and do not know where to nd information to make better decisions for themselves.
“ at’s why being a really good label reader is really important,”
Wasyliw said. “You can look at the front of a package, and it could tell you it’s all natural, it’s healthy, it’s full of great stu … but when you turn it around and look at the ingredients, the calories, the dietaryber, the sugar, all of that, you’re like, ‘Oh no, this does not look so good.’”
Decoding an ingredient or nutrition label can be tricky, since vagueness is what these companies rely on. erefore, it is the consumer’s responsibility not to let these corporations get the best of them.
ere are three main numbers to nd: e rst to look for is the dietary ber. Fiber is a very important carbohydrate that the body does not digest, and it instead maintains the body’s blood sugar level and assists with digestion.
“Fiber is so incredibly important in a teenager’s life, in everyone’s life, but teens, for sure, do not get enough ber,”
facts. e ideal amount of protein in each product depends on the type of food, but in general, a teenager’s diet should consist of 1030% protein, or 0.5 to 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Social media has also created a large emphasis on consuming protein, but it actually makes up for the smallest amount of a person’s diet.
“(My friends) want to get protein in,” Hoskins said. “But they don’t really care about all the specifics of sugar and other added ingredients.”
Wasyliw said. e second thing to nd is the total protein, which is directly listed on the nutrition
e nal component is sugar. Oftentimes, people do not realize how much sugar they are consuming. According to Yale Health, the average American teen consumes around 136 grams of added sugar in one day, over ve times the recommended 25 grams. Ultra-processed foods hide large amounts of added sugars to improve taste, making it easy to unknowingly exceed this limit.
“If it’s a laundry list of ingredients on the bar, then you don’t want to eat it,” Wasyliw said. “Especially if you can’t even pronounce some of the ingredients on the label, you certainly don’t want to eat it.” is method can be applied to a popular Grille item: the aforementioned Core Power Fairlife Protein Shakes. Its net ber is 4 grams, it has 5 grams of sugar and it contains 26 grams of protein. At rst, it does not seem terrible. However, looking at the long ingredient list, there are multiple gums, gels and additives that are harmful to digestive health.
“I think there’s better options out there that could be o ered,” Wasyliw said. “ ere’s de nitely options out there that are better for you with better ingredients than any of these.”
“That’s why being a really good label reader is really important. You can look at the front of a package, and it could tell you it’s all natural, it’s healthy, it’s full of great stu … but when you turn it around and look at the ingredients … you’re like, ‘Oh no, this does not look so good.’”
- Jayne Wasyliw, Nutritionist
After considering the nutrition facts, it is important to look at the ingredients.
By looking beyond the catchy advertisements and into the details of the nutrition label, you can discover the truth about what you are consuming. Be wary of colorful marketing and in uencers, and check every nutrition and ingredient list before purchasing a new product. Ultimately, the carefully crafted advertisements have no power over a conscious consumer. multiple
BYPASS THE FIREWALL
All-girls cybersecurity team breaks down barriers
Article by Janav Ramprakash
Photo by Lola Brown, Graphic by Natalie Baron
At the CyberPatriot competition this year, Trinity Prep’s all-girls cybersecurity team was tasked with handling three to four critical operations. These included checking for system updates, ensuring firewalls were active, configuring network links and setting up a new router. After a grueling four-hour session, where the team earned points for completing various tasks, they entered the nation’s top 30 in rankings. Their performance at CyberPatriot did not just showcase their technical skills, but it also significantly highlighted their role in confronting a much larger issue.
According to the Global Cybersecurity Forum, as of 2024, women made up only 24% of the cybersecurity workforce. These competitions often reflect this statistic, where most of the competing teams are overwhelmingly male. However, Trinity Prep’s all-girls cybersecurity team is challenging expectations and bypassing the firewall. Surrounded by male-dominated groups, they know what they are up against.
stereotypes that have often subtly downplayed her achievements.
“I got an internship with Lockheed Martin this summer,” Cantwell said. “It was said that I only got the internship because I’m a woman in STEM. It has been said that I’m a DEI hire or I was only there because they needed a girl face.”
However, Cantwell and the team have consistently broken down stereotypes through participating in the highest levels of national competitions. Their success is largely a result of the team’s continuous skill development
dows machines or somebody who specialized in networking.”
Consistent mentorship has also been essential to helping the team.
“I was making myself as available as possible in my room and in a location,” Frederick said. “We would meet at lunch and sometimes before school. I was also there after school if they needed me to be.”
However, Frederick could not always be there to assist the team, which made it important for them to learn how to succeed when working independently.
“We come knowing that we’re going to be seen as the underdogs because we are girls and we won’t be considered as smart or as talented as some of the guy-teams that we’re facing,” said senior Sarah Cantwell, captain of the all-girls cybersecurity team.
Members of the all-girls cybersecuity team practice coding on their laptops. Pictured from left to right is Sophie Yamada ‘27, Sarah Cantwell ‘26 and Grace Lohr ‘29.
and growth mindset.
This feeling of underrepresentation is not new. Former computer science teacher and team mentor Susan Frederick faced similar challenges during her own college years.
“I remember when I was in college, I was the only female in coding classes,” Frederick said. “I was the only female in the engineering classes I took.”
Years later, these same challenges persist. Cantwell herself has personally encountered
“We are able to ask more questions within our group,” Cantwell said. “Documenting what we’re doing so that we can go back and look up better ways to do it after has helped us succeed in these competitions.”
Additionally, the team’s strategic use of task specialization has allowed them to achieve this level of success.
“We usually try to each specialize in something,” Class of 2024 alumna Lauren Neese said. “I specialized in Linux machines. We’d also have someone who specialized in Win-
“I was mainly teaching them how to manage themselves,” Frederick said. “I would just get them started with what went right in the last competition, what went wrong, and then start them on their own research. The more I could hand it over to the students, the better I felt it was.” By allowing students to take ownership of their progress, Frederick fostered a sense of drive that continued to motivate the team even beyond her guidance.
“I think you just have to have a passion for it and be willing to do the work to try and get better,” Cantwell said.
Alongside competing in CyberPatriot, the all-girls cybersecurity team has also participated in CyberFlorida, where the team placed in the top 25% of the state. These successes highlight the contributions that girls can bring to cybersecurity, challenging outdated assumptions about who can belong in the field.
“I hope people think that we’re not just diversity hires,” Cantwell said. “It’s actually something that these women can do and be great at and even compete against. I hope that it’s not like, ‘Oh, she’s a woman. That’s why she won.’ It should be, ‘Oh, she won because she’s awesome and she can do it.’”
#THROWBACK
Old school is the new cool
Article by Julia Wu
Graphics by Maxima de la Fuente
Digital Cameras:
In an era de ned by rapid innovation, teenagers are turning back time and rediscovering the past. From the grainy e ect of an old camera to the comeback of 2000s low-waisted jeans (except much baggier), teenagers are reviving the trends that their parents left behind.
Scrolling through Instagram, it’s likely to come across a “photo dump” here and there, many of them appearing grainy or look like they have a lter on. ese photos aren’t taken by the average iPhone but by something older, a digital camera.
“I think the appeal is that (a digital camera) takes so many di erent types of photos,” freshman Maggie Zissman said. “Not necessarily better, but I think di erently. It appears warmer and captures your emotions better.”
Zissman feels more in touch with reality when taking photos with a digital camera compared to a phone.
“(When) I take (photos) on my camera, I feel like I’m more in tune with what I’m doing,” Zissman said. “If I’m just taking a picture on my phone, then I’m not really focusing on taking it. I’m just doing it because I have my phone in my hand.”
Vintage cameras naturally give their photos an “older” look that is di cult to replicate even with purchased lters. It is the “vintage” feel of a digital camera that makes it so special.
Vinyls:
Movies:
Today, access to music is instantaneous. With the touch of a button, people can listen to their favorite songs, but pressing “play” is out of style. A vinyl and a record player appeals more to the teenage brain. Freshman Addison Atkinson spends her Sunday afternoons chilling out and listening to records by the Beatles and Sublime.
“At rst, I only thought that music came out of the radio of the car, until I discovered vinyls,” Atkinson said. “A vinyl de nitely o ers more of an interactive feel, and it holds more sentimental value than just playing it on your phone.”
Rather than an endless list of songs, vinyls are physical collectibles. ere is a certain satisfaction of collecting them. Some of Atkinson’s favorite vinyls she has collected are “Songs for a Nervous Planet” by Tears for Fears.
It is an experience to use a vinyl; placing it on a turntable, watching it spin and hearing the soft crackle of analog sound is somewhat comforting to teenagers.
In the rising popularity of nostalgic lms, movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s such as “Dead Poets Society” and “Forrest Gump” are back in the watchlists.
“Being able to touch a vinyl and put it on the record player,” English teacher Steven Garnett said. “I feel like it is a more meaningful experience rather than just pushing a button. So, if it makes kids happy, it’s fun for me too.”
“I got interested in old movies because my older brother is a major in lm,” sophomore Sophie Matusiak said. “He taught me all about old lms, and I thought it was cool.”
In a fast-paced world with constant noise of the buzzing of technologies and devices, older lms become a timeless space where students can nd some space away from distractions.
“It’s very common among people our age to watch old movies,” Matusiak said. “I think it’s just because it helps you escape from the modern day world.”
Some things simply last and transcend generations.
“It’s kind of nice to know that some things don’t have to change just because we’re told they do,” Garnett said.
PUSH FOR PRESTIGE
Article by Fay Zhao
Graphic by Maxi de La Fuente
As November comes around, juniors begin standardized testing while seniors prepare to click submit on the Common Application, waiting for the in ux of acceptances and rejections. While the pursuit of excellence begins well before high school, it culminates in a breeding ground for comparison and competition in junior and senior years.
“Right now, I would say (Trinity’s) culture has a lot of high expectations for all students,” said senior Luke Parker, who asked for a pseudonym because he felt his perspective would cause scrutiny. “ ere is a certain amount of competition, and that creates a very subtly cut-throat environment.”
In part, the competitive campus culture derives from the student body’s de nition of success at any private college preparatory school: pursue higher education at a prestigious school, whether that be a D1, top 20 or Ivy League institution. Many parents pay tuition for their children not only to get into a college, but THE college.
While prep schools have bene ts like college counseling and various leadership opportunities, the amalgamation of students all vying for the
same goal pushes the line of healthy competition to a more aggressive one. is environment is not exclusive to our current juniors and seniors; it has been ingrained in generations of Trinity students to varying degrees. e Class of 2022 documented a spreadsheet of every student with the colleges and specialized programs they got into, along with their acceptance rates, all to rank each student based on how competitive they were.
“ e couple classes before me had incredible college streaks,” 2022 alum Lilly Nguyen said. “Collectively, all of us had a feeling that we had to keep it going from very early on in high school. ere was always this feeling of being watched by everyone around you.”
According to a study published in the National Library, since 1986, high schools have been increasing their academic intensity with students scoring higher on the SAT, enrolling in more AP courses and applying to more selective private institutions. In face of this, students may perceive themselves to be stuck in an academic-based ranking.
“ ere’s de nitely a hierarchy at Trinity based on how people perceive intelligence,” said senior Megan Scott, who asked for a pseudonym for the same reasons as Parker.
“A lot of people are used to being at the top and the smartest in the room. ey assert themselves and judge other people. I think that they think of me as a di erent league, like I am playing Little League and they’re in the MLB.”
is hierarchy often becomes more intense in smaller, closer-knit communities like Trinity, where students compete across the same academics, extracurriculars and
leadership. In a larger student body, there is a greater diversity in the goals and values of students. For example, in Winter Park High School’s student body of 3,264, competition exists but is concentrated in niches.
“Because it’s a public school, the vast majority of people want to go to big SEC schools and Public Ivies,” said Ramsay Davis, 2025 graduate of Winter Park High School. “It’s only very speci c and small sects of kids who are even shooting for those Ivies in the rst place. at title is not really present.”
While students at other schools see getting into college itself as a success, prep school students aim for a higher standard, striving for schools with less than 20% acceptance rates.
“When you put pressure on yourself to succeed, you’re bound to have self-doubt,” Parker said. “When you compound that with teachers, college counselors and other students, stress builds even more. e more anxiety you have over it, the more eyes you feel are watching you. at’s where the insecurity sets in.”
Because college acceptances have varying institutional priorities that attributes to the subjectivity of holistic reviews, no one can con dently predict their outcome. According to a survey conducted by Education Advisory Board, 48% of students indicated that stress and anixety overshadow their college search and planning. e arbitrary nature of acceptances and rejections leads some students to seek control in the form of comparison, using the perceived accomplishments of fellow students to gauge their own odds.
“My parents always have to tell me that I’m smart because every time I do good on something, I tell them about someone who did better,” Scott said. “I don’t consider myself the most competent person at Trinity.”
According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, humans are strongly motivated
Competitive campus environment impacts social dynamics
by their perceived social rank. Without a clear standard, the neural reward system within the brain creates a need for comparison to see where that ranking lies. e space for vulnerability and empathy is replaced with wariness as students see themselves competing with their peers. It’s hard to share conversations when someone else’s success becomes the cause of one’s own struggle.
“In high school, there was a sense of distrust,” Nguyen said. “ ere was a distrust in your peers that you can’t rely on someone with what you were up to academically, (in) extracurriculars. You can’t rely on them for help. If you were struggling, that was something you kept for yourself.”
Because of the distrust, students often gatekeep, withholding information, resources and opportunities from others. Especially in a place where opportunities are accessible to everyone, keeping information about internships or extracurricular activities may give students a comparative advantage in their college applications.
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sity of Florida hoodie to school and people told her to take it o because she was not getting in.
Sometimes, students choose to gatekeep to stay out of the competitive environment; without disclosing any information, they do not add fuel to the drama that comes out of comparison. Gatekeeping information, such as the colleges or scholarships they are applying to, also becomes a way of protecting themselves against the judgement of others come decision day.
e fear even seeps into personal friendships, making it harder to be authentic in moments of both success and failure.
“(My friends) don’t tell me much about their school-related life,” Scott said. “ I don’t know if this person has someone to talk to about it. I think that they’re so afraid of not being the best or failing at something that they would rather no one know about this rejection. It bums me out because I wish that they knew that they could talk to me, and I would never judge them.”
“My parents always have to tell me that I’m smart because every time I do good on something, I tell them about someone who did better. I don’t consider myself the most competent person at Trinity.”
In other cases, the internalized pressure can lead to people putting down others as a projection of their own stress and insecurities. When only a select few get into these top colleges, people are quick to point out who deserves the spot and who doesn’t.
Megan Scott, senior who requested anonymity and spoke under a pseudonym
However, the competitive environment modeled in high school may not be an accurate representation of what college is like.
was to trust the people around me.”
Competition within school is inevitable, especially in a prep school, but a high school ex- perience does not need to be dictated by it. Individuals can nd people and places that give them support.
“Up until (junior) year, I was mostly surrounding myself with those (toxic) people,” Scott said. “ en I branched out with my sports team. at’s why junior year was my best academic year of my life because I was in a more supportive environment and I was in a group of people (where) there wasn’t a need to make themselves better than me.”
High school is an exciting time for fun experiences, strong friendships and new communities. While it is easy to be dragged down by competition, uncertainty over the future and all kinds of pressures, ultimately, it is the choice of the individual to decide what kind of experience they want. Nguyen, who has lived through these years and come out the other side, o ers simple advice:
“In high school, it’s a lot more contentious because (of) college admissions, and then even among my friends we would pit people against each other,” Nguyen said.
Scott recalls many instances where she was immediately shut down by peers after indicating interest in applying to a competitive school. One day, she wore a Univer-
“I learned to create much more authentic relationships (in college),” Nguyen said. “I learned to open up about myself in ways that I wasn’t able to in high school. I learned that it is okay to tell friends about all of the internship achievements, that you’re excited to publish, that you got rejected. I would say the biggest thing I learned in college was what I had to unlearn from high school, which
“I’d say keep the blinders on and just focus on what’s in front of you,” Nguyen said. “It’s important to be observant of what others are doing, what they’re saying and how they’re approaching things. But at the end of the day, it’s just you and this (process). And so I think it’s important to focus on what your personal motivations are, what your personal priorities are.”
SWEAT BEFORE SUNRISE
Wake up at 4:30 a.m. Go to practice from 6 to 7:30 a.m. Go to classes at 8 a.m. Leave school at 3:30 p.m. is is a common schedule for many student-athletes who have morning practices. While some appreciate more free time in the afternoon, others point to the sleep deprivation it can cause.
Pros
Waking up every day before 5 a.m. is denitely challenging, and while many students would rather skip practice and sleep in, waking up very early builds discipline. According to Swimming World, “To succeed in life, you have to be willing to push yourself and do things that you sometimes don’t want to do.” Waking up at 4:30 a.m. is an obstacle many athletes have to overcome. is type of discipline is particularly bene cial for preparing students for college, where routine is essential to success. In addition to the routine, the morning provides cooler weather.
“In (cross country), we race in the morning, so we’re training at the same time that we try to compete,” varsity cross country coach Amanda Dean said. “It’s also signi cantly cooler in the morning, so we can expect our athletes to be able to work harder.”
Across all sports, heat is a signi cant factor in deciding when to hold practices. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), athletes who exercise in the heat are more likely to become dehydrated and get heat-related illness, which is why it is
better to schedule practices earlier or later in the day when the temperature is cooler. Many sports that have afternoon practices have to cancel them due to the heat index, if temperatures hit at least 92 degrees Fahrenheit. In previous seasons, football practice has been canceled when the weather was deemed too dangerous to practice in.
“During (the beginning of the) season, the heat that comes in the afternoon makes a huge di erence in what athletes are capable of doing, because when it’s 90-plus degrees outside, they just can’t shed body heat,” Dean said. “When you’re trying to (perform) at maximal standards, it’s just much more productive to run in the morning.”
Aside from temperature, morning practices also set up the rest of the day for students. According to Hinge Health, an online platform for physical therapy, exercising in the morning boosts energy levels due to an increase in oxygen, nutrients and dopamine. Exercise also improves productivity by increasing brain chemicals like norepinephrine and acetylcholine, which are associated with improved cognitive performance.
Cons
Without a healthy sleeping schedule, sometimes waking up early every day for practice and going to bed late to do homework for many days on end leads to exhaustion and an inability to pay attention in class. According to the CDC, 80% of high school students in Florida do not get enough sleep. Not only do most high schoolers go to bed late, but they
e boys varsity cross country team runs on the track during morning practice, which is every Monday through Friday from 6 to 7:30 a.m.
are now being forced to wake up even earlier to attend morning practices. Canadian swim coach Rick Madge discussed the disadvantages of morning practices in his article “Teens, Sleep Deprivation and Morning Practices.”
“We are doing our swimmers a grave disservice by having too many morning practices and by having those practices start too early,” Madge wrote. “ e impact of our enforced sleep deprivation may be extending into their school performance and their general health.”
From vigorous practice schedules to balancing academics, while also getting less than eight hours of sleep, it can be challenging for some to balance their time e ectively.
“ at’s probably the biggest drawback, that we’re trying to get (all our workouts) in in a smaller amount of time and dealing with, potentially, fatigue if kids aren’t managing their sleep well,” Dean said.
Varsity cheerleader and sophomore Moraia Clemente, who has morning practice once a week and afternoon practice twice a week, also believes that afternoon practices are better than morning practices.
“(During afternoon practices), I get more time to practice, and they’re usually more relaxed because I’m not rushing to get things done,” Clemente said.
Although there are various pros and cons of morning practices, each sport has its own preferences about when to hold practice.
“ e general feedback is once you get your sleep schedule adjusted, which usually occurs in that rst week or two of practice, the benets far outweigh the cons,” Dean said.
Article by Jena Mhamdi
Photo by Julia Hoskins, Graphic by Aylin Garibay
MIND THE GAP
One word sparks global backlash
Article by Gabrielle Williams
Graphic by Maxima de la Fuente
Singer and songwriter Tyla catapulted to fame in early 2024 after releasing multiple hit songs in her album “TYLA,” like “Water” and “Jump.” Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, she incorporated much of her culture into her music, blending amapiano — South African house music — with pop and R&B from Western music.
In an interview for “The Breakfast Club,” a podcast hosted by Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious, she was asked to explain what she meant when saying that she identifies as a coloured person in a TikTok made by her in 2020. She avoided the question, but that non-answer made fans believe she was “denying her Blackness.” What people fail to realize is that the term “coloured” carries significantly different connotations in South Africa.
“(I) never denied my blackness, I don’t know where that came from,” Tyla said in a post on X (previously Twitter). “In South Africa I would be classified as a coloured woman and in other places I would be classified as a
views, I feel like I’m built now to feel fear and want to combat that either by running away or attacking something,” psychology teacher Michael Brown said.
This phenomenon can be described as “selective empathy,” the tendency to feel less compassion or understanding with people whose beliefs seem to conflict with our own. People tend to feel more discomfort or anger when faced with these opposing views. When someone challenges our beliefs, our brain can interpret that as a threat. As a result, we become less empathetic and more critical.
“For example, in politics, people become more critical and take it personally when others don’t fully agree with them,” Sophomore Class President Nylah Davis said. “When someone doesn’t agree with me, I’m not critical of it. I just see them in a different light. Your core beliefs and values make you who you are as a person, so having different ones would change my perception of that person.”
This bias also extends into how we judge others. When someone else makes a mistake, we are quick to assume bad intentions. But when we mess up, we justify our actions, blaming the situation on circumstance rather than character.
Tyla gained a massive number of her fans from social media, as well as a lot of her backlash. Since many of her American fans do not understand her heritage, their disinterest for the situation came primarily from their lack of understanding, showing how a lack of cultural awareness can make it harder to relate, or even care, about someone else’s experience.
“Your culture and background shapes your values, but it (doesn’t have to change) the people you want to surround yourself with,” Davis said. “I have friends of different religions and different cultures, and we all are understanding of each other.”
Assumptions are natural when presented with little information. When only hearing one perspective on a topic, people tend to believe the person it comes from. Since Tyla had not yet addressed the issue with the public before angry fans did, the perspective people began to have on Tyla was negative.
When expressing anger on social media, it is easy to believe that one negative comment won’t do too much harm. These comments are often said without regard for the mental well-being of the person they are afflicting.
“(People assume that because) we have done the research and we have the knowledge, if (others) don’t agree with me, it’s probably just because they are dumb, or they have not done the research,” Brown said.
Anger is an emotion easier to achieve than empathy. People tend to act out of anger in the moment rather than to pause and think about the reasoning behind why a decision was made.
With the emergence of social media, it is easy for people to connect with others with similar views — and to spread hate to those with differing ones.
“Social media, if anything, functions like an amplifier,” Brown said. “If you’re already going to disagree, now it’s easier to find the people you disagree with. I don’t think it’s going to change who you are; it’s just so easy to hide behind a screen.”
“I think social media has widened the empathy gap, but I also think that it has lessened it at the same time,” Davis said. “Someone will post something really sad, and (people) will show up and say, ‘We’re here for you,’ but (when) someone (else) posts a picture, people will ... say something negative. ... It just depends on the people that come across it.”
In order for people to confront these empathy gaps, society would first have to recognize that there are empathy gaps.
“You can’t really address anything if you don’t know the problems that exist,” Brown said. “I would say awareness is super important. That could only help people communicate better when they are too scared to.”
Throughout the Tyla scandal, as well as many other “controversial” subjects, we have to learn to think before we speak, or rather, learn before we speak. In a world where one post can make or break a reputation, we must begin to empathize with others — especially if they do not share the same perspectives.
DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE REVIEW
Article by Sammy Lou
Graphic by Jack Aaron
Summary: 5 stars - “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” is the perfect continuation of the renowned “Demon Slayer” series. Boasting top-tier animation and some of the most emotional subplots you will ever watch, it’s no wonder this movie broke box office records. Disclaimer: Since this movie is a continuation of the series, I recommend watching the TV series on Crunchyroll or Netflix before watching this movie.
I’ll admit it: I cried twice during this movie. This movie disproved Demon Slayer’s reputa tion as a show whose success “relies too heav ily on animation.” Of course, the animation was top-tier. However, the characters’ back stories are what made the movie a success.
This movie had big shoes to fill. Just five years prior, “Demon Slayer: Mu gen Train” broke box office records in 2020 by becoming the high est-grossing anime film to date, with a total of $486 million, accord ing to IMDb, despite its release during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following its release after three and a half years of production, the Infinity Castle mov ie shattered expectations. Since its release in August 2025, the Infinity Castle movie has grossed $648 million worldwide, according to IMDb. Considering that its budget was $20 million, the movie is a huge success. The Infinity Castle movie is already the high est-grossing anime film of all time while rank ing fifth in the 2025 worldwide box office. Demon Slayer’s main plot is fairly sim ple and typical of an anime story. Tanjiro, a young boy, lives a happy life until a demon kills his family and turns his sister into a de-
movie, the latter’s frames are noticeably more detailed and vibrant.
Also, the backdrop was gorgeous. The setting, which is the actual “infinity castle” within the Demon Slayer universe, is such a unique concept that was perfectly executed down to the detail by the animation studio, Ufotable. As someone who watched the movie three times, there are so many small details in the fight scenes that you can catch upon rewatching the movie. For example, one character names many of his attacks after different types of Japanese fireworks that his attacks
in the Infinity Castle movie was top-notch. Comparing the scenes from the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie and the Infinity Castle
The movie’s little subplots add a layer of depth to the fight scenes that makes it much more than just good versus evil. Previously in the series, Demon Slayer’s backstories had the audience grinning at the wholesome past of a good-hearted character or clenching their teeth at the cruelty of one of the villains. However, the Infinity Castle movie breaks away from that pattern and surprises the audience by using character backstories to flip the audience’s perception of a character. This twist makes this movie so much more emotional and truly unforgettable.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s animation and backstories make it more than your typical fight-filled anime. Watching this movie will have you dreading the fact that the next part of the trilogy likely won’t be released until 2027. Don’t miss out! Rush to theaters before it leaves. Otherwise, you will have to wait until it starts streaming on Crunchyroll sometime in 2026.
CHARMED, I’M SURE
Each bag charm is threaded with stories and personality
Article by Lila Choudry
Graphic by Aylin Garibay
In the hallways, you can hear it before you see it: the jingle of personalization. Charms swinging from zippers, stuffed toys dangling from keychains and enamel pins glint against canvas. Each backpack becomes a collage of its owner, stitched together with small declarations of self.
Tower from Paris, a sun with a carved face and a tiny amber heart from Spain.
“Charms can be used for style purposes, like matching one to your shoes, but they can also represent something deeper … since there are so many novelty charms available,” Asher said. “An accessory becomes meaningful when you attach a story or memory to it. I found this charm when I traveled to Spain and stumbled upon a hidden shop filled with little trinkets. It’s a little amber heart I still carry on my bag, and every time I look at my bag, it reminds me of such good memories and that little store.”
keychains hold deeper meaning.
“I have this little bunny in my purse,” Fang said. “I got it for doing well on my first-year exams in seventh grade. It kind of reminds me to keep working hard and to be proud of my accomplishments.”
Each charm serves as a tiny reminder of emotions, achievements or affirmations woven into her everyday life.
“I think our accessories express our personalities and styles further in general,” senior and fashion club co-founder Gracie Asher said. “Especially at Trinity, since we have a dress code that restricts us from expressing ourselves in other forms of fashion.”
Each charm tells a story, from a favorite cartoon to a memory tucked inside a keychain loop. For Asher, that story hangs from a gold chain, layered with pendants gathered from different corners of her life: an Eiffel
Among Fang’s favorites is one plush that holds more weight than the rest: Joke Bear, a little white bear with a simple, playful smile.
“I discovered Joke Bear when I was really young, and it reminds me of my childhood,” Fang said. “I used to watch the TV show it’s from with my old childhood friend. I think it reminds me of being a kid and finding comfort in simple or cute things, even then.”
Still, these tokens don’t exist outside of trend cycles. Even individuality, at times, is shaped by what is in style.
“I would definitely say there has been a rise in the need for individuality in the past few years due to social me dia,” Asher said. “The algo rithm constantly pumps out videos where people are wearing the same clothes, hairstyles and bags. Due to fast fashion, the trends change so quickly that people are done with trying to keep up. Accesso ries are now telling stories because we have run out of new clothes.”
these trends, in dividuality finds a way to pass through the cracks, shaped as much by per sonal discovery is popular at the moment. Small details like where a charm is found, how it is paired and the story it carries allow students to carve out a space for themselves even when larger fashion trends feel repetitive or constraining.
“It’s a lot easier to have the same top or skirt as someone, but it’s more difficult to find a similar charm,” Asher said. “Many people find these charms while traveling, thifting or at vintage markets. People can focus on more specialized interests through these charms.”
Each charm carries a little piece of memory, a hint of personality and a thread connecting to something bigger. They remind us that
THREADED THROUGH TIME
Timeless traditions connect the school community
Article by Skyler Campbell
Graphics by Aylin Garibay, Photos courtesy of Jordan Johnson
Celebrated between March and April, Headmaster’s Day is a day filled with activities that celebrate school spirit. It was a tradition founded by Canon A. Rees Hay after the football team won its first game, and continued as a day to celebrate all of Trinity’s headmasters. The suspense of the surprise and the fun assembly announcing the day brings a wonderful atmosphere to the campus.
Headmaster’s Day has always been an exciting experience for the faculty and student body, both in the past and present.
“I remember it was a huge day because the headmaster … would announce that we were having Headmaster’s Day, and everybody freaked out because it was a day off,” said alum Aimee Nocero, a volunteer for the Patrons of the Arts. “Everybody knew it was going to be fun, and every year, it kind of morphed into something different.”
Headmaster’s Day has shifted over time, starting from the rope pull between the juniors and seniors and evolving into the color wars, but the purpose of bringing students together in celebration has stayed consistent throughout the years.
“I think traditions are important because they’re something that you can look forward to, and it’s a time where you can reflect as you get older,” Nocero said. “And that’s the beauty about traditions, is you can repeat them but make them your own.
Dickens Day is one of Trinity’s most festive and beloved traditions, combining a passion for literature with creativity. Each December, the campus is transformed into a winter scene representing Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” where the seventh graders watch movies in the auditorium, dance and step into the spirit of the story. Seventh graders come together and sell handmade goods, where each shop features unique projects from decorated ornaments to peppermint fudge.
Over the span of many years, alum Hannah Schuttler and now English teacher recalls the various changes made to Dickens Day.
“Anytime you have a tradition where it has been going on as long as something like Dickens Day has, … you have an entire generation of adults now who have experienced something similar,” Schuttler said. “And those people, whether they knew each other on this campus or not, they can have conversations about that experience.“
The unofficial Trinity mascot, Nutty the Elephant, has been around since the founding of Trinity. Every year, Nutty the Elephant, who is normally displayed in the library, is painted by one of the senior students and wheeled around at graduation to be shown off.
Art teacher Irina Ashcraft, who has been working here for around two decades, has always loved the suspense of this tradition.
“The tradition of an art student, a senior, being picked at the end of the school year to paint the elephant isn’t known to everyone else but that student and the administration, and then it’s a surprise,” Ashcraft said. “So that student closes the procession at the graduation with the Nutty rolling out, and that’s cute.”
The painting of Nutty unites the community in a unique way, using visual representations, such as bright colors and flashy accessories, to show the school spirit and allow students to reflect on how they see traditions.
“Art is something visual, and sometimes traditions are just actions, but it’s fun to see how they are visually expressed,” Ashcraft said. “It makes the traditions more obvious.”
SWIFT CONNECTIONS
Article by Taylor Gri th
Graphic by Aylin Garibay
Before Taylor Swift’s new album release, fans are going crazy searching for any little clue for her upcoming album “ e Life of a Showgirl.” And as usual, she left a little trail of Easter eggs until the release of her album on Oct. 3. In case you haven’t cracked all the clues, here are some that you might have missed!
Orange Door Lyrics
During Swift’s last song, “Karma,” on “ e Eras Tour,” 10.1 million people saw an orange door on stage. Although inconspicuous at rst, as the shows went on, fans began picking up on this Easter egg.
e rst shows only had a door on the big screen, but at the last show in Canada, a physical orange door appeared at the back of the stage. Instead of exiting the stage, Swift walked through the physical orange door at the last show, symbolizing the transition into a new era.
“I went to the Eras Tour, and I did not know what the orange door meant at the time, but now that I know it’s so cool how she’s entering this new era,” sixth grader Oliva Welsh said.
On Sept. 30, as fans went to listen to one of Swift’s albums, “Reputation,” they noticed a change in the Apple Music lyric page, some of the letters were capitalized. Soon, fans realized this was a hidden message. Once all of the capitalized letters were found and put together, it spelled out: “ ey don’t make loyalty like they used to.” At the time these were found, they did not seem like much, but later, during the album release, these were the exact lyrics found in her new song “Father Figure.”
Later, it was revealed that the color of the door matched the album colors.
Plaid
Eras Tour Stage
Fans also began noticing plaid all over the place: plaid when Swift went to a restaurant, plaid when she was seen walking around. She was caught by fans and the paparazzi wearing plaid countless times; whether it was a skirt or a top, the adornments had the signature orange and green of the new album. People speculated that the reason she was wearing so much plaid had to somehow contribute to the new album.
“ e spread of these Easter eggs usually is on social media, like Instagram and TikTok, and that’s how I nd out,” junior and Taylor Swift fan Presley Sherman said.
All the plaid drew the fan’s attention to National Plaid Day, which happens to be on Oct. 3, the day of the album release.
e Eras Tour stage seemed like a regular stage, with a long walkway and big platforms, but there was actually more to it than that. After the album was released, the stage proved to have more signi cance. e song titles, in her new album, all made the shape of the stage when put together in order. Swift explains that the album was written to give fans a glimpse into her life during the shows. is makes the connection of the stage and the actual performance to the album. e new album goes along with the stage as it re ects the changing eras of Swift’s life.
Part of Trinity Prep’s mission has, for decades, been to help its students “grow spiritually.” is goal gained a new neighbor in 2023: “embrace diversity in thought and perspective.” Today, we are successfully ful lling both.
In line with its Episcopal values, Trinity has proved that promoting Christian doctrine and championing openness are not competing objectives, but complementary ones.
“One of the tenets of Episcopal schools and Trinity is to be a place that is Christian but welcoming to all faiths,” chaplain Russell Wohlever said. “ at’s one of the (reasons) why I felt very comfortable in the Episcopal Church and why I feel comfortable here.”
Trinity has done a lot in recent years to embrace this tenet of inclusivity. e Diversity of Spirituality, ought and Perspective Student Advisory Council was established last year, and it now routinely hosts interfaith events that bring together belief systems ranging from Judaism to Buddhism and secular humanism. e accepting atmosphere transcends these events, though. It is ingrained in how faith manifests on our campus. Our community comprises students of all backgrounds and beliefs, and this reality is at the forefront of weekly chapel.
“Chapel is walking that tightrope,” Wohlever said. “Everyone, I believe, is searching for something or believes in something greater
Majority: 5
GOOD FAITH EFFORT
Welcoming campus reflects Episcopal mission
than them. For some people, it is science. For some people, it’s this sense of justice. For other people, there is a personal God.”
Wohlever appeals to this commonality by focusing on universal ideas and presenting them in a relatable way, often through personal anecdotes. During more solemn religious observances, he remains considerate of his diverse audience, giving each student the option to come forward and receive a blessing or remain seated.
ese e orts combine to make chapel something all students can attend not just harmlessly but happily. Many non-Christian students have told Wohlever that they look forward to chapel and that it has made them think more deeply about their own beliefs.
“ ere’s a good balance between (religion) being there, but more of it’s there for the students who want it,” said senior Ajay Maniar, who comes from a Catholic and Hindu family but does not consider himself very religious. “Chapel does a good job not making it too text-heavy … and more (Wohlever’s) stories and his homilies, because I think that gives better real-world advice.”
Trinity’s unique approach to religion also o ers Christian students an opportunity to see their faith in a new light. Senior Reese Macau, who previously attended Annunciation Catholic Academy, believes Wohlever’s style has increased her comfort and connection with her own Catholic faith.
Dissent: 1
“ e rst chapel I went to, Father Russell came out, and he was tangoing, and I think we were singing Adele,” Macau said. “ at was a big shift, but I think it ... helped me open up more and just (helped) with my relationship with God.”
e welcoming campus we have built is especially valuable when compared with other religious institutions in the area that have a more restrictive approach to faith.
English teacher Rachel Luckenbill recently moved to Trinity from Bishop Moore Catholic High School. In her rst quarter here, several of her students have opened up to her about their religious traditions, such as Yom Kippur and Ramadan — something not all schools facilitate.
“It’s exciting that students feel free to be open about what their faith practice is,” Luckenbill said. “Not to say that it wasn’t that way at Bishop Moore, but I think that students who were not Catholic were less likely to speak openly about that.”
We should be grateful to have an environment that encourages us to explore, learn and grow in our spirituality freely. Together, we have built a Trinity family where every member is loved.
“I do not believe the Christian faith is something to be imposed on others,” Wohlever said. “Everyone’s on their path with God … and where it leads, that’s their narrative. It’s their story.”
Opinion by Emily Lopez
A fundamental pillar of Christianity is evangelism. As followers of Jesus, we are called to share the gospel of Christ and embody the fruit of the spirit. I recognize the challenge of appealing to a student body full of diverse perspectives while simultaneously preaching Christian beliefs. However, the expectation for chapel is that it will fulfill the duty of evangelism. While sharing biblical stories may help the audience take away a moral lesson, it runs the risk of them failing to understand how the lessons tie into Christianity. Simply helping students set moral standards and urging them to ponder their thoughts and actions does not qualify as evangelism; it falls more along the lines of secular humanism. Therefore, sermons should include references to scripture and clear demonstrations of Christian beliefs.
THE
STAY IN YOUR LANE COMMENTAARON:
I will admit it … I do not have the best manners. My shirt is quite often found untucked, I make far too many “6-7” jokes in the middle of normal conversations and I cut teachers off in the parking lot.
It’s not my fault that I’m a 10-mph-speeddemon down Trinity Prep Lane. But for all my flaws, there are some rules of etiquette I take very seriously. So for this month’s chat, allow me to graciously burst your bubble like Mr. Blickman in the middle of class to alert you of your afterschool testing.
I didn’t think it would have to come to this, but we need to learn how to walk better, guys. Specifically, I’m talking about that solid 30 seconds of pure pandemonium after assemblies and chapels where students rush
out of the auditorium and knock down anyone blocking their path to their mid-morning Grille snack.
I can’t say I know for sure how Mufasa felt when he was stampeded by a herd of wildebeest, but I think I have a pretty good idea.
While I can dust off my khakis after a good tumble, what I can’t brush over is the sheer lack of door etiquette plaguing our campus like some kind of anti-politeness epidemic.
I would like to hope that whoever invented the double door intended for it to be used just like any kind of traffic: e goer opens the door on the RIGHT side and lets the exiters walking in the OTHER direction leave through the OTHER side. Unfortunately, Trinity students haven’t gotten that memo.
Picture this: Innocent, dainty and unsuspecting me opens the door on the right side to exit Brokaw. But instead of me walking out to my next class, I find myself holding the door open for the next three minutes as a flock of kids enter in on the wrong side. Sometimes I don’t even make it to the door before a tidal wave of teenagers start entering.
I hope that the next time you find yourself waiting to exit the auditorium, you choose to walk at a non-threatening pace and simply go with the flow of traffic. And — if it’s not too much to ask — could you just do me a solid and use the right side of the door? It is called the “right” side for a reason, after all.
Cartoon by Maxi de la Fuente
COMMEN TAY LO R
To the headache-causing Taylor Swift haters:
Article by Mila Taylor
Photo by Allison Williams
Taylor Swift just dropped an album of the year. For anybody who knows me, they are probably surprised that this isn’t a review. No, my editors would not approve of a whole page in The Voice just for me to gush over her. You probably think that her songs are like a mosquito, constantly buzzing in your ear. When you think you have her voice out of your head, one listen to the radio is all it takes to get another song to reenter and lodge itself. “I’m immortal now,” Swift belts in her new song, “Life of a Showgirl,” and it genuinely feels this way: she’s inescapable.
What is even more inescapable is people’s comments about how much they hate her. It is impossible to talk about the new album without someone talking loudly in my ear about how “there is just something about her” that they just hate. Honestly, it’s concerning how triggered some people get when they just hear her name uttered in conversation. Chill out, dude, she’s just a pop singer, she’s not running our government.
Let me propose a hot take: Sometimes, your opinions are unwanted, and some people feel so entitled to share their opinion that they feel it is okay to put others down for their interests, like saying people have bad music taste for listening to a particular artist or genre. No, unfortunately, I cannot be convinced that country music is actually enjoyable to listen to; I even prefer listening to Taylor Swift’s later albums (I even purposely opt to skip over her country phase when going through my daily binge through every breakup of her life). But at least I am not yelling at one of my peers from across my English class that all of Morgan Wallen’s songs sound the same.
Yes, maybe when Taylor Swift releases a new album, it becomes my whole personality. I’ll admit, I know way too much about the pop singer for her to just be considered my favorite music artist. But honestly, it is draining having to hear a hater share their unwanted opinion about how she “only writes breakup songs” or “has dated hundreds of men.”
Hating on other people does not make you unique, interesting or cool. Honestly, no one cares. This notion goes for all music fans. Just let people be, and although you might think your opinion is interesting, trust me, that fan probably couldn’t care less, so maybe just save your breath. When you encounter your local Taylor Swift fan, consider just letting them live in the glory of 12 new addictive songs that may or may not sound the same.
ONE NATION, DIVISIBLE
Article by Thomas Bonos
Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente
A shot was heard around the world: e assassination of political commentator and activist Charlie Kirk transcended political beliefs, and the video of the shooting spread like wild re, leaving everyone shocked.
Political violence is increasing at an alarming rate. In the last four years alone, our nation has endured the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, the 2022 assault on Paul Pelosi and the 2025 assasinations of Minnesota state legislators Melissa Hortman and John Ho man. Extreme rhetoric, polarized politics and the ampli cation of both by the media create a self-perpuating cycle that makes political violence likely, eroding the values that shape our democracy.
“I’ve personally never seen something like that in my life, with there being an actual video,” said a Trinity student who asked for anonymity because they felt their political beliefs would open them up to scrutiny. “We’ve never seen an assassination like that on such a wide scale.”
Political violence has existed since the birth of America and peaked in times such as Reconstrucution and the 1960s. However, this modern polarization is unique in that access to technology and social media is globalizing political violence.
we blame?’” the anonymous student said. “‘Who is at fault here?’ Because then the next step after that is ‘Wow, can we use this to further our agenda on either side?’”
Increasing polarization is leading to the normalization of hate speech and targeted diction. Hateful rhetoric dehumanizes the other side, painting them more as opponents or something to throw a dart at, rather than as actual humans who
institutions and basic human dignity is the “right step.”
“When you start looking at people attacking the fundamental institutions of a democratic state, trust in the courts as an honest arbitrator of the law and the processes by which elections take place, the state
“Politics has become more con ictual, emotional issues, and as things heat up, it’s been correlated with increases in political violence,” Columbia University political science professor Robert Y. Shapiro said. “Tensions really started to heat up with the presence of social media as well as after Obama was elected, and then Donald Trump took it to a much higher level. As this tension increases, the big question is, does this rhetoric spill over into producing political violence? And it has.”
As political violence occurs, the initial response is not empathy but instead a question of what political party the shooter belonged to or the politicalagenda in reaction.
“If you look at any recent school shooting we’ve had, any recent political violence, the very rst move of the country is ‘Who can
care equally for their country. In this case, violence stops being unthinkable and ends up becoming actually justi able.
“Hateful rhetoric increases the probability of violence,” Shapiro said. “I would argue that these tensions have increased to such a degree, it’s actually surprising that the level of violence isn’t greater than it could be. It’s increased the probability that people will use violence in to deal with certain situations.”
An Oct. 1 NPR poll cites that one in three people believes violence to be the right next step.
Regardless of political orientation, it’s alarming to see that people have become so distrustful of our democratic system that they think directly abandoning the values of free expression, trust in
“Hateful rhetoric increases the proability of violence. ... I would argue that these tensions have increased to such a degree, it’s actually suprising that the level of violence isn’t greater than it could be. ”
loses its legitimacy,” social science teacher Brandon Burmeister said. “In this view, the only way you can deal with a rigged system is (violence), and this type of behavior is destructive towards democratic thought and process.”
L- Robert Y. Shapiro, SIPA Columbia professor
Social media plays a dangerous role in spreading such rhetoric. Algorithms used by Facebook, X, Instagram, etc., directly feed users content of their own political ideology, ltering out opposing views and fueling polarization.
Extreme rhetoric and polarization perpetuate cycles of violence
“Sixty percent of the American population now gets sentiments from social media,” Burmeister said, referencing a study by Pew. “When you have people in these echochambers, (there are) these like-minded people that might be all hate or extreme approaches, and all of a sudden you see people getting radicalized in many di erent ways.”
cial media. And so they’re adopting some of the same tactics that social media uses.” ese online echo chambers and spread of misinformation need to be held accountable for ultimately fueling this cycle of violence.
Directly limiting this is di cult while still allowing free speech, but one step is to remove the digital anonymity and algorithms on social media platforms that lead to this
or even a case of political violence because it’s so desensitized nowadays. At the end of the day, these forms of violence should not be a political matter or motive.”
Distrust in the system is fueled by polarization in the public, but it is also a top-down problem. e extreme rhetoric used by American leaders has led to an increase in tension over the past decade. Presidents, congresspeople and all public servants have the responsibility to reduce the tension occurring in the country, not fuel it.
ACCORDING TO NPR
Mainstream news worsens political violence by amplifying misinformation and appealing to a predetermined target audience, reinforcing information echo chambers.
“We have seen an abject failure of honest reporting from our conventional news sources,” Burmeister said. “I think that’s partially due to the fact that they’re desperately seeking an audience that they are starting losing to so-
“Violence and especially gun violence is very normalized. ... I don’t have the same gut reaction that I do to mass shootings or even a case of political violence because its so desensitized nowadays. At the end of the day, these killings should not be a political matter.”
- Elizabeth Carlin, senior
type of extreme and polarizing rhetoric online. Division and violence have become so commonplace that the American public has grown numb to many cases of violence in general.
ese instances have become so normalized that what once united politics around prevention now divides on the basis of party lines.
“Violence and especially gun violence is very normalized,” senior Elizabeth Carlin said. “I don’t have the same gut reaction that I (used to have) to a mass shooting
“What you’re seeing is that people are reecting their leaders,” the anonymous student said. “ ere (are) always going to be problems in a democracy. e idea and the mentality have shifted from being policy-based to personal-based, creating a very hostile environment because of who we have or have had in o ce.” e uptick in violence and failure in leadership has created an environment where citizens are also afraid to engage in peaceful political protests or any form of dissent. is directly undermines the responsibility of participating in democracy, which entails engaging in civic life and advocating for change. Moreover, it strays away from the First Amendment right to protest, which creates a chilling and lasting e ect on all constitutional processes.
“I went to a few protests this summer, and we actually powered o our phones because we were scared our information could be accessed or leaked and that there could be consequences from that,” Carlin said. “It’s worrying that exercising the right to peaceful protest can feel threatening to our safety and to others across the country.”
e cyclical nature of this violence will compound if we continue along this route. As Americans, we should strive for the progress of the country and the collective growth beyond political borders. Only when we continue to solve these problems through open discussion and thoughtful dissent will we be able to build up institutions rather than look to tear them down.
WHITEWASHED WAYS
Article by Olivia Agnew
Graphic by Maxi De la Fuente
Uncle Sam established the image of an American as someone hardworking, patriotic and successful, until that person isn’t white. If they have darker skin and act or dress like the image Uncle Sam created, they’re often labeled “whitewashed.” Such a term implies defining someone as being influenced by western culture, yet it only applies to people who aren’t white. Their ability to fit in is what makes them stand out.
flag of the United States of America. In the late 1800s, the pledge was created for newly arriving immigrant children to understand the model of American culture.
Although senior Reha Nadga was born and grew up in Winter Park, she still gets stereotyped because of her Indian roots rather than being seen as an American, and has been called “whitewashed.”
No one can define the perfect balance between cultures that makes someone not “whitewashed.” The balance between one’s American identity and any other identity they have is their own business. It should never be necessary to prove to others who you are.
“It’s brown on the outside, but then at the end of the day, all the things I’m involved in and my personality have leaned more into my American side, I think that’s why that term comes up
For those who do come from different cultural backgrounds, they nevertheless strive to do the best they can to fit in. According
“I don’t feel like I need to show my culture,” Suri said. “The things I like that they considered me liking to be ‘whitewashed,’ I’m not going to stop liking those things. So I just learned to embrace both sides.”
It takes time and courage to be able to talk about the various aspects of your own culture and what you, as an individual, celebrate, which is often exacerbated by online hate. According to the United Nations, 70% or more of hate crimes and hate speech on social media are targeted toward national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities.
One step towards embracing all aspects of one’s culture is to find friends who accept and celebrate these unique experiences.
“I had just been exposed equally to the American side of things, especially growing up in Winter Park, where the majority of the people are white,” Nagda said. “It just felt natural for me to fall into cheerleading and country music just because it was what I was around all the time, and it’s what my parents also showed us.”
Regardless of whether you are born here or not, whenever people attempt to celebrate other aspects of their identities, they are faced with other challenges, such
“It’s weird because (Indian) culture is hated on a lot,” senior Diya Suri said. “So when I don’t celebrate it, somehow I get called ‘whitewashed’ for not embracing my own culture, which is made fun of a lot. It’s weird to turn around and make fun of me for not embracing it (and) embracing something else.”
“Now I bring it up a lot more than I did before,” Suri said. “I was more embarrassed. But the color wars that happened are the same thing that we do when we celebrate Holi. And I brought that up, and I was talking about that and my experiences. So I defi - nitely bring it up a lot more now.”
It makes it hard to casually bring culture into a conversation with other people because sometimes it’s hard to explain, or because you get worried that if you bring it up, people will judge you.
Suri has been able to look past the comment and reflect on how she has grown with embracing her own culture.
“Once I realized that no one’s going to stop stereotyping you, and they’re going to say whatever they want about your culture,” Suri said. “What you do with it and what you don’t do with it. I think not caring what other people think about it and just doing what you want (with your culture).”
Regardless of the way people look, no one should think that they have the right to judge others on how they act, dress or talk.
CLUB CONFLICT
Athletes choose between club and high school teams
Article by Neve Judelson
Photo by James Ellzey, Graphic by Jack Aaron
Senior soccer player Gavin O’Brien rushes from his school soccer practice to his next club practice, wondering how he’ll also manage to nish his schoolwork that night. Choosing between club soccer and school soccer is a tough decision that many students have to make. Some leagues in club soccer, one being MLS Next, legally do not allow their players to play school soccer, forcing players to choose where to continue their athletic journeys.
to play against your club teammates, which creates a fun competition,” O’Brien said.
However, for those who have to choose, the decision is dependent on their goals.
Club teams may have better competition and overall can assist in the development of athletes, but highschool soccer teams promote friendships connects on di erent levels, through sport and education.
An exception to this is the soccer league ECNL-R. ECNL-R is a club league throughout the United States that encourages young athletes to play for their high school teams, purposely arranging most season around the school season. Because
“I think clubs are really focused on ... results, tournament wins … or athletes committing to various colleges,” varsity girls soccer coach Sebastiaan Blickman said. “(In comparison), schools are like, ‘I’m not recruiting kids. I’m taking what I’m given and trying to make a really nice group and nice experience out of it.’”
Junior Eren Agsak chooses to play for MLS Next, which legally forbids him to participate in school sports.
e MLS Next website states, “Primary players must agree to forgo participating simultaneously in both (1) MLS NEXT and (2) high school or middle school soccer.” is restriction is due to the concern of commitment, injury and level of play. MLS Next can cause resistance for players, but Agsak believes that his club is best for him.
O’Brien’s league is an exception to this rule, he has the choice to play and experience both.
“Club (soccer) is a lot higher (of a) level, but high school is more just for fun, and you get
“I have trust because I’m con dent in my club as well,” Agsak said. “If I didn’t get as many minutes, I’d probably play somewhere else to get more minutes.”
However, playing in school sports does have bene ts, one of which is increased team chemistry from bonding in school.
“ e relationships that they’re building with one another at the lunch table or, you know, in the library or (when) they’re working on homework or when they’re in class together, that’s going to pay dividends on the eld somehow,” Blickman said.
Although other athletes enjoy the fact that their sport acts as a nice break from their education and school life, the type of friendships that are formed is based on a di erent foundation, so relationships vary.
“(At) Trinity, everyone focuses on academics a lot more than sports,” Agsak said. “So it’s very di erent. … My other friendships are more based on soccer.”
“It’s a di erent type of bond with (school) teammates, and it’s a whole di erent dynamic,” O’Brien said. “In club, you might not be as close with them, but they’re still good players to learn to play with them.”
e decision relies on your goals and how far you want to go with your own soccer career.
Depending on your personal values, factoring in friendship, personal life and over all development, either can be a great decision.
“It depends on what your goal is,” Blickman said. “If your goal is to get recruited and to play at the highest level … club is the better option, but it’s your goal. … I believe that being part of the Trinity Prep team … I don’t think there’s anything better than getting to laugh with your friends, joke with your friends, get better with your friends, su er with your friends and then nd success with your friends.”
REDEFINE THE BRAND
Article by Ben Kleiman
Logos courtesy of Trinity, Photo by James Ellzey and Graphic by Maxi de la Fuente
At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, Trinity Prep Athletics embraced a brand shift with new logos, jerseys and sponsors, signaling a new era. e refreshed design re ects Trinity’s next chapter both in the classroom and on the eld.
As part of the rebrand, Trinity adopted a new style of crests — one for academics and one for athletics — that re ects the school’s updated identity.
As of Oct. 23, the varsity football team has racked up a total of ve wins, which has been the most in the past six years. While jerseys do not necessarily have a direct impact on a team’s record, they contribute to a larger morale boost and a stronger sense of unity and pride as Trinity’s image is refreshed.
“ e new logo gives us a fresh start,” varsity football player Jayden Moore said. “I feel like it’s kind of like a new era of football for
Part of the purpose for the rebrand was to provide a consistent image across all teams because previously each team had di erent jerseys and uniforms, making Trinity’s various athletic programs look severed.
Every detail in the new crest carries meaning. e image in the center of the new crest represents Chi Rho, a religous symbol, and the red in the shield is from the original color of the crest. Trinity’s past logo, the eur de lis, is present in the top left corner of the rebranded logo. Speci cally, in the athletics logo, the iconic bell tower is in the center of the logo, wedged between the “T” and the “P.”
the school. is season we’re doing really well compared to past years.”
“It’s been a really positive thing to see everybody get on board with (it),” Assistant Athletic Director Travis Sanders said. “We are not just one team. is is our whole athletic program and school. We’re all wearing blue and gold. We’re all wearing the same crest. at brings a deeper sense of connection between programs.”
Development associate and varsity diving coach Kristy Nave has had prior experience working on the marketing side of athletics as the Marketing and Premium Services Coordinator for the New England Patriots. Nave explained why Trinity rebranded and what it aimed to promote.
“Trinity wants a more of a modern feel,” Nave said. “We just built a brand new science center, and being consistent not only with our values and mission but also with our competitors too is very important for the marketing of the school.”
Trinity’s rebrand has had a positive e ect on student, and athlete, morale because it symbolizes a new era for the school’s athletic programs. A study published by the International Textile and Apparel Association found that wearing updated and well-designed athletic uniforms helps strengthen a team’s indentity and boost con dence within the teams. Trinity has experienced the same e ect with its rebrand.
Other sports organizations have experienced similar bene ts after updating their visual identity. In 2017, after years of presenting an outdated brand to the public, the Minnesota Timberwolves needed to modernize their image to stay relavant in today’s market. e reasons the Timberwolves made the upgrades are similar to the reasons Trinity chose to rebranded: Trinity’s logos were obsolete and needed to be revitalized.
“You want to adapt to a changing marketplace, which is super important,” Nave said. “ at’s what Trinity did (with the rebrand).”
What started as a visual change has evolved into a unifying force across sports, creating a shared identity that ties the induvidual programs together.
“We’re all wearing the same branding,” Sanders said. “We feel like an athletic program and not just a collection of teams.”
While the teams are now unied, the school and the athletic sides logos still remain di erent. is separation is very common among both collegiate and preparatory institutions.
universities side
“If you look a lot of universities and their logos, the academic side often has a di erent logo from the athletics side,” Sanders said. “ at’s what we’ve done here. It ts a (college preparatory) model (just) as well as a collegiate one.”
While the academic rebrand set the foundation for it, the athletics program has extended it into everyday life. Students watching games or walking around campus see the features of the rebrand on athletic jerseys and school uniforms.
e new slogan, “Lead On,” has been prominently displayed all over campus, becoming a part of Trinity’s renewed identity. According to Sanders, the slogan, much like the overall response to the rebrand has been great. Students, athletes, parents and faculty have all embraced the fresh look.
Rebrand reshapes the identity of athletic programs and athletes
“Every interaction that we’ve had has been positive,” Sanders said. “Clearly, people love new jerseys and new apparels. It’s been fun to have (athletes) wear the new logo.”
e rebranding e ort has extended far past
found on the merchandise at the new Trinity School Store and on all students’ identi cation cards.
“It really starts the minute you set foot on campus,” Sanders said. “It’s hard to miss when you drive into our campus now. We have ve banners hanging on the light posts as you enter, banners on the back of the dugouts and
Old Boys Varsity Soccer Jerseys
on the back of the away bleachers. e branding for us is now bigger than just the uniform or T-shirt athletes are wearing.”
For many players, the rebrand did not just change how they looked — it changed their mindset. Moore has worn both versions of the jerseys, saying the new ones positively a ect his con dence and performance.
“You look good, you feel good, you play good,” Moore said. “ e uniforms look good, and it gives me some con dence.”
Behind the sleek designs and updated logos sits a plan much bigger than athletics. e rebrand opened new marketing opportunities for Trinity, from merchandise sold at the school store to promotional events.
“When (schools) rebrand, (they) stay consistent across the board,” Nave said. “All the letters and envelopes, (the) website, everything is consistent. Following a rebrand, you don’t look disorganized. ey make schools look more professional.”
New
Boys Varsity Soccer Jerseys
e signage is also exibited on the pool deck and along Aloma Avenue displaying the rediscovered pride students have found in being Saints.
“We’re more proud to be Trinity Prep Saints,” Nave said. “Indirectly the signage kind of brings everyone together.”
A rebrand means new ways to make money, too. Student gear and team apparel can bring in funds that go directly back into the sports programs, fueling initiatives like buying new equipment or hiring more coaches.
As Trinity continues to build on its renewed identity, the rebrand stands for more than just a visible change. While the new logos, jerseys, slogans and merchandise are appreciable, the rebrand is made to be a statement of where the school is headed.
“ ere’s an ever-evolving nature to logos,” Sanders said. “Maybe this iteration of the crest is what we carry on for the next 50 years. Maybe it changes over time as styles change and grow. It really would be powerful to keep (this) logo and make this our identity for a long time. It really could happen.”
by Mila Taylor
ACROSS
3. Main protagonist in Demon Slayer (pg. 20)
4. A club soccer league that legally prohibits students from playing school soccer. (pg.31)
7. Competition where TPS’s allgirls cybersecurity team entered the nation’s top 30 rankings. (pg.14)
DOWN
1. New AP course launching in fall 2025. (pg.8)
2. Last song played on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. (pg.24)
5. Policy removed due to COVID-19 protocols, implemented again this year. (pg.4)
6. Type of camera and popular “photo dump” of Gen Z. (pg.15)
Puzzles
Photo Exposition
Homecoming Events
1 & 2 - #24 Junior Diego Lopez kicks o the the second half of the Oct. 11th homecoming game. Sophomore #1 Josh Shaw delivers a big hit that resulted in a tackle against the opposing team.
3 & 4 - e football team bursts through the banner at the pep rally and students race toward the hoop during a musical chairs spirit event, won by Josh Shaw.
