Issuu

UNCAGED.

freedom high school newsmagazine | volume 2 | issue 3

the

STAFF Adviser Kathryn Steele

Editor-in-Chief Micah Natarajan Design Editor Emily Malacane Photo Editor Justin Sheehan Managing Editors Serena Thapa Mahlet Wondwosen Copy Editor Simar Kohli Joe Skinner Staff Manager Kieran O’Brien Business Editor Ashley Jain News Editor Mallory Stokker Features Editor Amanda Pena Culture Editor Jessica Scott Opinions Editors Lauryn Forbes Hunter McCluer Sports Editor Campbell Niehaus Staff Writers Meghan Adams Maryam Azeem Marissa Bell Cara Curtin Erin Janiga Arnav Kumar Samaleh Omar Shravani Reddy Natalie Ring Helina Wondwossen Photographers Holly Chun Cayley Kilduff Joytsana Sangroula Uncaged is the newsmagazine of Freedom High School. The attitudes, opinions, views, and ideas expressed in Uncaged do not necessarily reflect those of this staff, the faculty adviser, Freedom High School, or the Loudoun County Public School system. Uncaged follows the county and state guidelines established for student high school publications, and disclaims any liability with respect thereto the use or reliance on any such information contained in this publication. The Uncaged staff welcomes contributions and encourages the expression of students, faculty, staff, and members of the Freedom High School community. Cover photo by Justin Sheehan

table of contents

“

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. //excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou

” 12

[news] [culture] [features] [sports] [opinions] [back cover]

4 10 14 24 28 32

20 26

CONTENTS

from the editors How are ya, free birds? Hey free birds! We’re back with our penultimate newsday of the 2016-2017 school year, and this year has flown by in the blink of an eye. The winter musical has already wrapped, spring sports are in full swing, and before you know it you’ll be returning to school for the home stretch after Spring Break. We’ve been working hard to put out another fantastic magazine for you all, and we thank all of you for the support you’ve been giving us along the way. We know that you guys expect big things from us, so we hope to never disappoint our loyal readers! We may be only three months away from summer break, but there still is a lot of important work to be doing in the second semester (we’re looking at you, seniors). We know the stress that comes with SATs, ACTs, AP Exams, and SOLs, but still try to enjoy the last few months of another school year. As much as you don’t want to hear it, high school can be one of the best times of your life. It may be hard to look past that weekly chemistry quiz or that paper you have to write for English class, but you’ll never have it back. Even after high school, you’ll come to appreciate the little things. Your study group that meets every week at the library, the people at your lunch table who sit in the same spot every day, your lab partner you worked with all year. So as we come to a close on another awesome year at FHS, make time to stop and appreciate everything around you. So with that in mind, take a break from whatever you’re doing, turn the page, and enjoy! n

[Photo by Aishwarya Ramesh, 11]

letter from the editors

NEWS

COMMITTING

TO THE COUNTRY W

hat do you want to do with your life? What is your plan after high school? Those are daunting questions for most students near the end of their high school career. But for some students at FHS, these types of questions do not faze them. They have chosen a different route, military service. Following graduation, senior Hunter Upson will be entering into the Marine Corps. Upson, being raised in a military family, definitely has big shoes to fill. His father served in the Army, and his mother served in the Air Force. Because of his upbringing, military service was always a serious possibility in Upson’s future. “I wanted to have a life experience before I went to college, so I could appreciate college more for what it is and be a little bit more level-headed throughout college,” Upson said. Having an elevated sense of maturity before attending college was a key factor in Upson’s decision to serve as a Marine. With more life experience, he will gain clarity in what he wants to achieve in college. Upson hopes that military service will shape him and continue to guide him in the right direction years after his service. After Upson’s service in the Marine Corps, he plans on attending college to complete his education. Due to his performance on the Armed Forces Qualification Test, Upson has the potential to attend college after his service at a lowered cost. “I have the potential with my ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] scores, which is like the military SAT, for them to pay for my college. So, if I do really well over the course of my service, from my understanding, I can get my college paid for mostly, which is also very helpful,” Upson said. It goes without saying that military service will be a challenge. However, Upson is sure that this is his calling. To Upson, making this commitment to his country is not something that he takes lightly, but is fully prepared to strive and become a full fledged Marine. n [Story by Samaleh Omar and Ashley Jain]

fter high school, there are countless possibilities that seniors can pursue. Some seniors continue their education to college, some obtain a job and some go into the military service. This route of military service is something that intrigued senior Bobby Doherty. In the fall, Doherty will be attending the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. He had always considered considered joining the U.S. Army or looking to become a combat engineer, someone that performs many construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions. However, he approached his decision in a different way. “I came to the realization that I never want to be in a position that I would have to kill somebody as a job...so I knew I wanted to keep myself to civil service but I wanted to do it in a way that would help people,” Doherty said. Morality was the most important factor in Doherty’s decision to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Doherty aspired to be like the Cadets that train at the academy, and being accepted into this prestigious academy was a goal Doherty had in mind for a long time. At the academy, Doherty is looking forward to many exciting traditions that he gets to participate in. These traditions start this summer so he can get well-assimilated into the academy’s atmosphere. “Over the summer when we are being indoctrinated into the academy, we get to sail on this old sailboat called ‘The Eagle’ up and down the Atlantic. It was a captured German war boat, ” Doherty said. After Doherty’s journey at the academy, he has big aspirations in the field of science. He plans on graduating with a declared major in marine and environmental science. With this degree, he hopes to conduct many rescue and research missions. “I am hoping that afterwards I can work on search and rescue missions for downed pilots or go to the Antarctic and do research down there,” Doherty said. Although the intense disciplinary demands of the military can be discouraging to some, Doherty has prepared to give his complete effort and rise to the occasion. This path may be different than a typical educational route, however, this is something that Doherty felt is very important to him. n [Story by Samaleh Omar and Ashley Jain]

NEWS

R SA

hen p o l i tical and social protests appear on in the news, they can seem inaccessible to the average person, like something left to activists, or at least adults. But here at FHS, senior Sara Koshhal is striving to make a difference. If you see a student walking in the halls with a sign around their neck, it’s probably thanks to Koshhal. She has created her own signs and messages, and her activism has spread to other students. People have been taking note of these signs, which is exactly what Koshhal hoped to accomplish. “I just want to start up a conversation, and maybe make other people think differently than they may have before,” Koshhal said. “Expose people to different perspectives, and basically just create a community where people with the same beliefs or values can come together, really feel like they’re in a community when they may feel like their country isn’t representing them, or what they stand for.” While Koshhal wants to make those who may feel ostracized by recent events feel welcome, she also wants to promote acceptance within school. However, FHS is not necessarily representative of the rest of the world. Koshhal’s motivation for starting the protests was also a result of what she has seen happen to minorities as a result of the ban on Muslim immigrants, which affects Syrian refugees. The effect that the ban has had not only on potential immigrants but also families within the United States, including families being torn apart because of new restrictions, has motivated Sara to speak up and use her rights to fight for others. “Us labeling groups of people that may be different from us is subhuman. It really broke my heart,” Koshhal said. “Seeing them detained for no legitimate reason and seeing them sitting there, it really opened my eyes because I just looked at them and thought “How am I different from them? These are my people. I know exactly what they value, what they think.” So it kind of… it broke my heart in that sense, and that’s what really motivated me to speak up and say something.” Koshhal has shown that even in the face of intimidating political events, it is possible for a young person to take a stand and make a difference. n [Stories by Mallory Stokker and Shravani Reddy]

n January 27, thousands took to the streets for the 44th annual March for Life in Washington D.C. Exercising their first amendment rights, protesters made a strong statement about their opposition to abortion, and among these pro-life activists was FHS senior Sarah Wojciech. Before the march, Wojciech never protested for her political views, but in light of the divisive political climate, she realized the importance of standing up for her beliefs. At first, Wojciech was afraid of what others might think of her, but realized that if nobody fought for what they believed in, the world would be a very different place. “With all the political things that are happening in today’s world, I think it’s so important to fight for what you believe in… because that is what our country is based off of, standing up for what you believe in,” Wojciech said. Preparing for the march, Wojciech felt nervous and didn’t want to have any expectations. She expected to see pro-choice protesters, and was unsure whether it would be a peaceful encounter. However, she was pleasantly surprised by her experience. “It was peaceful which I thought was really important, just the way that people held themselves. I thought it was really respectful.We saw some counter protesters, but the respect that they showed us, and the respect that we showed them was pretty awesome,” Wojciech said. “I just thought that was really cool, even though we had different beliefs and opinions, we… just showed love to each other.” At the march, not only did Wojciech feel a great sense of unity, but she also gained deeper insights into the issue as she listened to other’s people experiences. Wojciech met a group of girls whose mothers chose adoption over abortion, and they spoke about how they would not be here if it weren’t for that decision. She also met women who had abortions, and Wojciech was amazed by the compassion and empathy others showed them. “I was really overwhelmed by the amount of love that I felt, …. even for the counter protesters. They were like, ‘We might not agree with you, but we are still going to love you and show compassion.’ I thought that was just such an awesome thing to see because in today’s world, you just don’t see a lot of love and I think that’s what stood out to me [from this experience],” Wojciech said. n

JC O

[Photos by Natalie Ring]

CULTURE

[Photos by Samaleh Omar, Shravani Reddy, and Meghan Adams]

[Photo Illustration by Joytsana Sangroula]

IMAGE IS

EVERYTHING “I look great...”

hen people compliment themselves, people think it is odd. They find it selfish or egotistical that we talk so highly of ourselves. However, affirming one’s worth throughout the day makes one a more confident and self-secure person, not a narcissist. This starts with the foundation of having positive self-esteem. Self-esteem is defined as how we value ourselves. The level of self-esteem in teenagers has been directly correlated with mental health, and social interactions. Sharing connections with other people boosts self-esteem, and leads to an all around better community. As young adults, many students are uncomfortable with their growing bodies and minds. This is because the gradual progression of finding out who we are seems so confusing. While this growth helps us find who we are, it is important to instill a strong basis of confidence at this age. “At a young age, people overestimate their confidence because your intellectual ability is weak. When you’re younger, you haven’t built all your cognitive skills yet so you think that you are superman and a lot of kids think that they can conquer anything,” school psychologist Anna Shangraw said. While having extreme confidence can

overpower being realistic, this confidence is imperative to healthy growth. “Having that positive self-esteem translates into all aspects of your life. If you have that positive self-esteem and positive self concept you are able to be a good friend, be a good parent, be a good sister, all those parts in your life which makes you an all around good person. It helps you be successful in your work and being successful in your everyday hats that you may wear,” Shangraw said. However, there are two different terms when describing how someone views themselves: self-esteem and self concept. “The definition of self-esteem is the overall evaluation of yourself. Including your feelings of happiness. Self concept is your perception of your competence and your adequacies and your academics and your non academic life,” Shangraw said. While self concept is something everyone will have, self-esteem takes all aspects of perception, including self concept, and forms the feelings each individual will experience growing up. It is important to set goals and aspire to achieve things in order to build a certain level of self concept, to allow a strong foundations for self-esteem. n

[Story by Serena Thapa and Natalie Ring]

CULTURE

ome people choose to play sports or read in order to avoid every day responsibilities, but freshman Ethan Van Slyke uses acting as his means of escape instead. “[Acting] allows me to get away from life, because I get to play different characters and I get to experience what it’s like to do different things,” Van Slyke said. His experiences in theatre began when he first started acting in elementary school. He was introduced to plays and musicals by his mother, a choir teacher, who allowed him to witness the world of music. “I’d sit in the audience during her rehearsals … and I’d be so intrigued by the music, and the singing, and the dancing and all the acting and work that went into it,” Van Slyke said. After he discovered his interest in theatre, Van Slyke began participating in the plays held by the high school where his mother worked. His career took off, allowing him to soon begin working for community and even professional theatre. “The first professional theatre I performed at was called Next Stop Theatre in Herndon [and] I did about two shows there,” Van Slyke said. “After that I did a show at Arena Stage in D.C.”. Van Slyke has had the opportunity to participate in numerous other plays and musicals aside from the roles he has played in Next Stop Theater and the production of Oliver at Arena Stage. At Herndon High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast, Van Slyke played Chip and was also a part of Reston Community Players production of Les Miserables, in which he played Gavroche. While the achievements Van Slyke has accomplished at his age can definitely be called impressive, his acting career

is only just starting. Van Slyke has many acting dreams he hopes to fulfill in the future. He aspires to one day successfully play a special role, and even act in some of his favorite plays and musicals. “I’d definitely want to be in Westside Story,” Van Slyke said. “I’d like to be Tony or Riff, or just one of the dancers.” While Van Slyke enjoys acting in musicals, he also enjoys taking on comedic roles as well, and is interested in going on to play characters with drastically different personalities and struggles than his own. However, the process in which one prepares to take on a certain role can be rigorous. Often, Van Slyke will get ready for specific parts by learning his character’s lines and by blocking, or learning how to portray dramatic effect while acting. “You get to develop a character, and eventually the character will be there for you to play with, and to make new every night you go on stage,” Van Slyke said. The most difficult part of his preparation process, and acting in general, for Van Slyke would be finding effective ways to remain relaxed and calm. “There are a lot of people who are just self conscious about things, but when it comes to theatre you just have to give it your all and be the best you can be,” Van Slyke said. In the future, Van Slyke hopes to pursue a career in acting, and plans to major in musical theatre during college. “I want to move to New York, audition [at different] places, and hopefully make a living out of it,” Van Slyke said. n

[Story by Helina Wondwossen, Holly Chun, and Cayley Kilduff]

[Photos by Joytsana Sangroula]

FEATURES

We are all results of our own personal experiences. This is a widely accepted idea, as it should be. It is impossible to know what someone else has endured based off what they have shown externally. With this in mind, the fact that many of us are so insensitive to those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts is indefensible. As a society, we need to replace phrases like “Tough it up” and “It can’t be that bad” with actual empathetic efforts. At FHS, several different initiatives have been placed into effect to prevent suicide and aid those suffering from depression. Nevertheless, there is still work to be done to create an environment where we take mental health seriously.

T U N B OT G O KE N BR

HEA L

FEATURES

“I

t got to the point where you start feeling helpless, and start feeling like nobody can fix this. You feel like you’re alone, and you’re the only one dealing with it. You just feel this urge that you need to stop this now, you need to stop living, I don’t want to do this anymore.” For FHS junior Megan Thomas, this was her reality. A reality she endured for several years, which began as a result of feeling bullied by her peers. As she grew older, she continued feeling as though she was the only one who was depressed. “It’s a snowball effect, and it’s different for everybody,” Thomas said. “What pushed me down the mountain is different from what pushed anyone else down the same mountain.” Isolating herself seemed to be the only plausible option. Losing contact with the people she cared about were the unfortunate side effects of her depression. Growing up this way eventually led to suicidal thoughts, which then resulted in a suicide attempt during the summer of 2016. Like other cases of depression, Thomas felt rejected by her peers, which caused her to withdraw from her circle of friends entirely. “It just became a part of my personality and I hated it,” Thomas said. I hated never wanting to talk to people. I hated thinking that no one wanted to talk to me. Having that part of me become a part of my personality for that time period was so detrimental, because it was so opposite of how I was supposed to develop.” No matter the circumstances, depression was present throughout Thomas’ childhood. Unable to shake it, depression followed her until adolescence. “Originally, I didn’t tell my parents because I

thought they would just get angry, obviously that’s not true because your parents just want to help you,” Thomas said. Thomas now stresses the importance of seeking help when struggling with depression. She had been reluctant to tell her parents because she was afraid they would be upset with her. Prior to her suicide attempt, her parents were unaware of her struggle. However, after the attempt, Thomas realized that her parents were very understanding and were willing to help her in her recovery. While it can be difficult to share your emotions and open up, it is necessary in order to maintain a healthy psychological state. “It is definitely a coping mechanism that you have to learn. When you’re feeling [depressed] you have to teach yourself to go to somebody,” Thomas said. The most valuable thing a friend can do to help someone struggling with depression is to give their time and listen. A strong support system can make a world of difference. “It’s just patience, you have to build [your friends] up until they are ready and strong enough to go get help,” Thomas said. Many people who suffer from depression often feel a sense of hopelessness and a lack self-worth. When others approach them, they often don’t understand what the victim is going through. Although medication treatment and therapy are helpful, sometimes they just need to know that someone cares. “You can’t just give them medicine and talk to them about therapy and coping mechanisms. You have to give them love, and you have to show them that there is a reason to stay, because someone wants you there. It’s more powerful than you can imagine.” n [Story by Shravani Reddy and Samaleh Omar]

FEATURES

lthough depression affects everyone differently, there are common warning signs. “Most people think that individuals with depression become more withdrawn and stop participating in activities that they always enjoyed. While this is entirely true, it is also possible that an individual maintains their participation, but may become more sensitive or aggressive toward others,” Visna said. n

“D

epression has a genetic component as severe bouts can be traced throughout family histories. Part of this genetic component is related to a chemical imbalance with the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine” McCord said. As a genetic disorder, those who suffer from depression often have no control over the cause. However, in some cases, depression can be caused by a traumatic event like the loss of a loved one. n

ontrary to popular belief, depression has very real and harmful effects on one’s physical health. “The physical impacts of this can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, weakened immune system, listlessness and general exhaustion” McCord said. Depression can drastically change one’s ability to carry on with everyday life. “An individual could be in a situation where they are severely depressed and cannot carry out daily functions or routines-while someone else could” McCord said. n

[Story by Samaleh Omar and Shravani Reddy]

ith its progression, depression can often occur with other mental disorders. â€œWhile many people think of depression as going hand in hand with suicidal ideation, there are many other mental illnesses that are often correlated as well. Obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, and eating disorders just to name a few. Depression is by no means the only mental illness that could cause suicidal ideation or action,â€? Visna said. n

FEATURES

here are many initiatives at FHS that are meant to help recognize students with mental health problems. Programs such as Koala Kares and PEER’s Hero in the Hallway (HITH) are geared toward acceptance and awareness of mental health issues that many students struggle with. FHS introduced a new mental health initiative this year called Koala Kares. English teacher Veronica Short and many other staff members at FHS indicate their participation in the program by hanging a sign outside of their classroom showing their schedule throughout the day so students can find them. “We went through a training, like a full eight hour training, to help us figure out ways to talk to kids...to figure out when a kid’s having a tough time: [to find out] how they’re doing, how severe their need is, if they’re thinking of hurting themselves, or hurting others,” Short said. Because teachers interact with students more often than certified counselors, it is important that they are able to recognize and help students with signs of mental health problems or distress. The training that teachers received taught them not to be afraid to approach students if they notice that something seems wrong. “For example...I just noticed [one student’s] behavior was off, so I pulled him aside...[the training] gave me some language that I could use with him,” Short said. “It gave me...an idea of how to talk to him to figure out what was going on.” Although it may be difficult, the teachers are taught that approaching a student is important because it gives students a space to discuss any possible problems they might not otherwise feel comfortable bringing up. Another initiative with similar values is HITH. This will be the third consecutive year FHS celebrates HITH, a program that advocates for anti-bullying sentiments and widespread acceptance. It consists of an assembly and video, among other smaller events put together by PEER. “The point of HITH is to kind of build empathy and to build understanding and tolerance within the school building,” advisor of PEER Kent Nagy said. “[The idea] really kind of began as an anti bullying campaign; everyone needs a hero to step in and help them out.” Last year, the message served to remind the student body that everyone has a role, or ‘superpower’, that can be used to help others. HITH not only focuses on eliminating bullying, but also on reminding students that everyone is different and special. “Really what we want to do is be more proactive and the way to be proactive is to help kids understand that there are going to be people out there who are going to be different from [them], who are going to be unique, and try to help them learn and understand that that’s a

good thing,” Nagy said. PEER does little initiatives intended to spread these positive messages to students and staff at FHS. Some small acts of kindness they have done recently include writing messages in chalk on the sidewalk that teachers pass as they come in in the morning and writing nice messages on the bathroom mirrors. “I hope what [students] take away is just the positive message of being comfortable, being safe in their school, being safe in their environment, knowing that there are people that care about them in the school...we [PEER] are here and we’re trying to reach out and so we are available to them if they need,” junior Meghan Jones said. In addition to Koala Cares and HITH, there is a plethora of initiatives that students and counselors can take. Thanks to the efforts of compassionate students and counselors, the FHS community as a whole has also become much more aware of potential warning signs and ways to handle suicidal ideations and depression when spotted. However, it is still important to continue to appeal to the minority who have not been touched by these efforts. For the past several years, the FHS counseling office has promoted the Acknowledge, Care, Tell (ACT) initiative, which lays out the steps students should take if their friend is having suicidal thoughts. The basis of ACT is to show compassion, tell a trusted adult and take threats seriously. “There are teachers in the building, in addition to the counseling staff, that are Koala Cares trained to know how to ask some of those questions to gauge the seriousness of those suicidal thoughts,” school counselor Colleen Hurley said. “Certainly tell staff member[s] [so that they can] give [a detailed report to] the counseling department at the school.” Students can sometimes find themselves in situations where they feel like a ‘snitch’ if they tell a counselor that their friend is struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, students who are open with counselors are doing a great service to their friends, even if it may seem like an act of betrayal at first. “There is a difference between snitching and getting someone help,” Hurley said. “If a friend tells you that they are thinking about hurting themselves or thinking about suicide, they are telling you because they care about you as a friend. It’s never snitching if you are helping a friend out.” Koala Kares, HITH and ACT advocate for a better understanding of mental health in order to create a more accepting and caring environment. n

[Story by Meghan Adams, Erin Janiga and Arnav Kumar]

[Photo by Justin Sheehan]

SPORTS

passion for running while she was playing soccer. I saw that I was fast in soccer and I sort of enjoyed being faster than other people,” Bolton said. A large part of Bolton’s life is dedicated to track and field, but she is also a dedicated student. To balance her time between track and school work, Bolton makes sure she stays on top of her assignments by completing them before practice or during study hall. Her academic performance was also a factor in allowing her to qualify for the Down Under International Games. In the future, Bolton hopes to continue putting in the hard work and effort she currently does for track and field. “I’m not sure yet, if I get a track scholarship then yes [I will run in college]... but if I don’t then I might still try to join the college team,” Bolton said. n

[Photos by Kena Anderson and Serena Thapa] [Story by Holly Chun and Cayley Kilduff]

A K AN NI

unners know that it takes hard work and dedication to stay in shape for the track season. Sophomore runner Annika Bolton is not only preparing for the upcoming FHS track and field season, but for something much bigger. Bolton is one of the six teenagers from Virginia who has qualified for the 2017 Down Under International Games in Australia this summer. The Down Under International Games are a series of competitive events where teen athletes from all over the world are invited to compete in their sport of choice. The scouts from the competition found Bolton’s times from last year on a website called Milestat, and invited her to compete in this year’s event. At the games, there will be runners competing from Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Bolton will be competing for the U.S. team in the 400 meter, 800 meter, the triple jump and two other events of her choice. “I have a goal I know that I have to meet before July, so I’m training harder than usual,” Bolton said. Since learning that she qualified for the Down Under International Games, Bolton has been preparing constantly. During FHS track’s offseason, Bolton has been keeping up with her training by running with the Dulles South Youth Sports (DSYS) track team. When the FHS track and field finishes in the spring, Bolton will continue working hard to stay in shape for this summer’s games. “I was very surprised and excited [after hearing I qualified for the games] … I don’t really know the people I’m going against, so I guess that makes me nervous, but I’m also excited to meet everyone,” Bolton said. Aside from making new friends at this competition, Bolton is also setting goals for herself in terms of what she hopes to achieve at this competition. “I hope to do the best that I can, and have a great time doing it,” Bolton said. Bolton has been running since she was in the fourth grade, and developed her

GOING DOWN UNDER

O B

GOING THE DISTANCE

KARE

nglish teacher and track coach Karen Richardson looks down at her running watch and adjusts to a comfortable pace. Sweat trickles down her face as her sneakers pound against the pavement. Suddenly, she sees the finish line and uses up her last bit of energy to sprint towards the end. After failing to qualify for the Boston Marathon for the past two years, she has finally accomplished her goal. In order for Richardson to qualify, she had to run a marathon under 3 hours and 35 minutes in an official race. The official time that she ended up racing was 3:32:22. She then had to register for the Boston Marathon with her qualifying time, in hopes of gaining a spot and securing an official bid number to participate in the race. “The qualifying time for Boston seemed really daunting at first,” Richardson said. “And slowly, I worked towards it.” According to Competitor, a fitness based website, only about 12 percent of American runners who are able to complete a marathon actually qualify for the Boston Marathon. Some individuals attempt to qualify so they have something competitive to aim for other than the Olympics, while others do it for the experience. For Richardson, the motivation was simple; she wanted an exhilarating challenge. “[I waited] eight to nine months before learning that [my] qualifying time was good enough,” Richardson said. “I registered and had to wait about a week before the final result came out… [I] checked my email at

H ARDSON

school and as soon as I got it, I immediately started crying.” Richardson’s training consisted of running an average of 50 to 70 miles a week, often while ignoring the aches and pain. She immediately had to slow down her training when she found out she qualified in November 2015 to avoid any further injuries, and so that she could prepare for the Boston Marathon. She’s finally back up to running 50 miles a week again to get ready for the race in April. Despite the challenge of making sure she keeps her stamina and race times up, Richardson is motivated by a variety of factors. “I do really enjoy it, not necessarily the long runs, but when I’m running with people whether it’s our girls, or my friends, or even just running with music,” Richardson said. “It’s a really positive outlet and it helps me get some fulfillment and a sense of achievement that I would be missing otherwise.” Her passion for racing does not just stop at marathons- she also coaches FHS’s cross country and track team. Due to her experience with running on a team and having a close relationship with her former coach, she is able to bring wisdom and positivity with her when she goes to coach everyday. Her dedication associated with training for the marathon is a contributing factor to the way she coaches, and is reflected within the teams. “Hopefully we get faster along the way and maybe we win a few meets and create a better program every year. But, really, I want the team to love themselves,” Richardson said. Whether she is pushing her athletes during difficult workouts, giving motivational speeches, or showing her love for the sport, Richardson is able to help her runners love each other, the sport, and also themselves. n

[Story by Maryam Azeem and Cara Curtin]

SPORTS

EXPLOSIVITY E

xplosivity. This is the word that best reflects senior Ian Pilgreen’s primary focus during athletics. Pilgreen is the most accomplished “thrower” at FHS, and outside of school he is a regular at South Riding CrossFit. Although the two sports are largely independent of each other, explosivity is key in both. “Almost every single day of CrossFit, there is some kind of explosivity whether it’s box jumps or olympic lifting,” Pil-

green said. “One of the biggest parts of throwing is explosivity because you have a big weight, and you push it as far as you can, and you can’t do that if you’re slow.” Pilgreen trains year round for both sports, keeping his body in peak condition, and his determined work ethic pays off when he consistently achieves new personal records in both fields. n

P I L G R E E N P

ilgreen is part of a throwing legacy. His dad was a state runner-up for shot put at his high school and threw for Oklahoma State University during most of his college years. Pilgreen’s own career started with shot put. “[My dad] started to get me into it in about sixth grade,” Pilgreen said. When Pilgreen entered high school and joined the track team for throwing, he found that the track team didn’t have a specific throws coach. At the time Jarrell Warthen was primarily a sprints coach, but also took on the role of throws coach. With Warthen’s guidance Pilgreen learned how to throw discus which is now his primary event.

“[Warthen] was just really awesome,” the only mark that affects the thrower’s Pilgreen said. ranking at the meet. If the thrower makes A thrower has to be careful when they it to the finals, which consists of the top throw as there are many qualifications a eight throwers at the meet, they get three throw has to meet in order to count. more throws to attempt to win the meet. “The rules [of discus and shot put] are Pilgreen’s attention to detail in his pretty much the same. You walk into the throws brought him to the 2016 regional throwing circle, and you throw the imple- meet, but the future of his career is still ment, the shot put or the discus, into the uncertain. sector,” Pilgreen said. “I’m going to Liberty [university] and If the thrower steps out of the circle their throws program is really really comon their throw, exits from the front half, petitive,” Pilgreen said. “I’ll probably walkor the implement hits outside the sector, on and see what I can do, but I don’t plan defined by two diagonal lines extending on really being a good thrower there. It’s from the center of the circle, the throw a toss-up as of now.” is disqualified. Each thrower gets three While uncertain of his future, in the throws in the preliminary round and the present, Pilgreen continues to excel at his farthest throw that is not disqualified is sport. n [Photos by Arnav Kumar and Justin Sheehan] [Story by Marissa Bell and Campbell Niehaus]

uring the off-season for throwing, Pilgreen focuses on CrossFit and tailors his schedule to fit his workouts. Since he takes the advanced P.E. class at FHS and focuses on lifting, Pilgreen schedules his CrossFit workouts on non-lifting days to ensure that he gets five days of exercise per week. His training at South Riding CrossFit has greatly improved his work ethic inspiring him to complete every exercise to the best of his abilities. “There’s a community [at South Riding CrossFit], and they always encourage you,” Pilgreen said. “[They] never [have] a judgmental way of looking at things, and I’ve never felt more at home to try my hardest.” CrossFit combines heavy lifting, running, and multiple other styles of exercise which allow Pilgreen to get a full-body workout. His training has allowed him to bench press 315 pounds and strict press 180 pounds, both of which he intends to increase as soon as he can. Without his CrossFit experience, Pilgreen would not have developed into the proficient thrower that he is today. “I’ve never had any other way of fitness that is as effective as CrossFit,” Pilgreen said. “Nothing else has worked for me like CrossFit does.” While many individuals struggle to find workouts that tie into their sports, Pilgreen has efficiently combined his passions for CrossFit and throwing to increase his success in both fields.n

ED-OP

FEMINISM: CONTINUING THE FIGHT L

et’s rewind to August 18, 1920--a day that marks the beginning of a new revolution. The 19th amendment was certainly unprecedented as men and women were now equal in the eyes of the government. However, the need for feminism did not vanish in the wind when the amendment was ratified. Because until women can live in a culture and society that does not degrade them, humans will never fully thrive. Here’s the problem: feminism in the United States is often times not recognized as being legitimate. People question its goals because under the law it seems as though equality has been achieved. Many individuals who are against feminism view it as a privilege that only women in America can partake in; however, feminism is a worldwide effort. The US has made great strides in gender equality. However, this is not an excuse to invalidate the fight. Despite circumstances in other countries, injustice here cannot and will not be erased because of other injustices somewhere else. But feminism in the US will fight against the injustices here, as well as the many other internationally. Until there is a realistic form of paid maternity leave, justice for sexual assault survivors, safe and legal abortion services, and women in every workplace, America will continue to be a place that inherently favors men. These are all things that the government has a say in. These are all things that can be changed with the proper level of advocacy. According to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN), an American gets sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. But to make matters worse, justice is hardly ever achieved in court, despite the very low percentage of falsely reported rapes. Feminism is fighting for those survivors, male or female. Contrary to popular belief, feminism does not seek to rip men apart. The presence of men in feminism actually makes it stronger; the goal is for all humans to support each other, regardless of their identities. Just because you have never personally experienced oppression, does not mean you should discredit the movement. Feminism exists at the intersection of so many other minority groups. If you have never endured a challenge because you are a woman, be grateful, but do not let that stop you from fighting for the countless number of women who have. Their experiences are valid. The majority of America’s population is female. Despite this fact, only 19 percent of Congressional seats are held by women, and almost half of the states in the US have never had a female governor. Less than a quarter of all the countries in the world have had a female as the head of their government. Only 4.2 percent of CEOs for America’s 500 largest companies are female. Feminism is fighting for equal representation; not superior, equal. Feminism exists because inequality exists. Equal opportunity should not include making only a fraction of what a male makes for the same work. Freedom is not the government telling a woman what she can or cannot do with her own body. Liberty is not the degradation of someone based solely on their gender. There is room for change and growth in a culture that so often objectifies women and their abilities. Let’s empower each other and overcome the stigmas that surround feminism. n [Story by Emily Malacane] 28

the importance of quitting I

n society, there is an emphasis placed on the importance of sticking with a specific occupation, sport, club or even a group of friends in order to get the most out of what you involve yourself in. You work every day, tirelessly, trying to uphold these commitments that may not be as important to you as they once were. You applied for a job, optimistic that you would earn lots of money and be able to buy unimportant miscellaneous items just because you could. By sitting in a rolly chair, typing aimlessly on a desktop, while surrounded by gray cubicles all day, you are sticking with a job that you may not enjoy, and, therefore sacrificing your happiness in order to earn money. In a similar way, you get involved in a sport at a young age, enjoying the warm weathe outside while playing the game because you genuinely enjoy the competitive nature and your amiable teammates. Although, as you grow older, your outlook on the game changed and going to practice was more of a stressor than the piles of AP homework you got assigned. Your hovering parents want you to stick with it, in hopes of earning an athletic scholarship but that is not what you want anymore. So, if you do not enjoy what you are doing, my question is: why do you continue to do it? Why do you sacrifice one of the most important things, happiness, just to see how much you can achieve? Ultimately, if you want to work hard at something and are motivated to see your potential success, I believe you should stick with it and see how the hard work pays off. But, if you are truly not happy, then what is so bad about quitting? This unhappiness can manifest itself different ways such as anxiety, stress, and anger. As a result, these factors translate into different parts of your life. In a highly intense and competitive area such as Northern Virginia, it can be hard to stop what you are doing even if you are not satisfied with it. However, sticking with something that you do not enjoy leads to unattainable goals, which can eventually take a toll on, not only your mental health, but also your physical health as well. According to a study conducted in 2007 by livinginthegrey. com, researchers found that, â€œthose who were unable to step away from hard-to-reach or unsatisfying goals produced proteins that have been linked to real maladies, like diabetesâ€?. You can actually learn a lot from quitting. Quitting can often open new doors and show you things that perhaps you were blinded to see before.. We need to realize that we should not give quitting a negative connotation but recognize the fact that quitting can lead us to something that will make us happy. Next time you are faced with a choice, one pointing to something that makes you unhappy and the other pointing to something new, do not be afraid to go down the road you are unfamiliar with. Sometimes quitting what you know is important to becoming who you are. n

[Story by Serena Thapa]

ED-OP

LINGUISTIC DISCRIMINATION I

n the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, American English is just one of the 168 distinct languages spoken. However, as we embrace cultural differences, we rarely acknowledge the beauty in our different voices. In Loudoun County, close to 23 percent of the population is foreign born and 31 percent of residents are bilingual, according to the US Census Bureau. This lack of discussion is highly problematic. Our lack of awareness allows for the development of linguistic discrimination, or the unfair treatment of someone based solely on their use of language, an issue that quietly oppresses millions of immigrants. In an experiment conducted by the University of Chicago, trivia statements written by researchers were recited by native and non-native English speakers. The results showed that the same statements recited with Asian or Middle Eastern accents were questioned more so than those recited with American accents. Even when the subjects were told the purpose of the experiment, this trend continued. This shows the difficulty of reducing our bias, even when we are aware of it. While some accents are undeniably funny to native English speakers, the comedic twist on this issue has serious consequences for many people. First, this causes those with unusual accents to be constantly denied equal access. Imagine having to do an entire word problem completely in Mandarin after only taking beginner classes. This is what itâ€™s like when even subjects beside English are often focused on deciphering the words, rather than ability to perform the skill. More common than these instances, most of us have seen immigrant substitute teachers be ridiculed. Many students get irritated when their name is said incorrectly, but seldom understand that the substitute may be just as embarrassed for saying it wrong. Especially when there are a seemingly infinite number of ways to spell certain names. Someone whose first language is not English may not have been exposed to every possible variation. I mean seriously, is it Carly? Karly? Carli? Karleigh? How about Carlee? To minimize the damaging impact of this issue, society as a whole needs to be more sensitive towards people who speak differently. Many native speakers need to realize that their English proficiency comes by birth, and that others donâ€™t have the same privilege. Through kindness, sensitivity and empathy, we can raise greater awareness and start making some real changes. n [Story by Shravani Reddy]

THE BUBBLE

STEREOTYPES

outh Riding is what you call a bubble; I choose to define it as a location with a rather high median household income, white collar occupants, and favorable luxuries. The most prominent issue concerning this is that the majority of society becomes oblivious to the fact that there are individuals that may not live the lifestyles they do, whether it be in South Riding or outside communities. The bubble is ultimately a closed environment because there is a lack of variation, especially for the younger generations growing up here. People either watch CNN or Fox News because it is what they are accustomed to, but what about BBC and Al Jazeera? There needs to be a way to push people out of their comfort zones so they see the entire world and not just Northern Virginia. That is how a human learns to live in the real world. After all, as students, the majority of us all end up at colleges with environments that may be completely different from the ones we are used to. How many individuals acknowledge the bubble? Quite a few actually, but very few decide to speak up about it. The more enlightened that people are about the problems with the inability to confront controversy, the better. Ways to become more informed about the world outside of South Riding is by taking small steps to travel outside of your comfort zone. There is a fear distilled within us that once we do leave the bubble, we will not be able to survive. That is why actions should be taken now to diminish this fear and live with an open mind. South Riding is a diverse and enriched community, therefore, everyone deserves acknowledgment of the bubble; that is the only way change can be accomplished. Whether it be by using a social platform or just simply speaking up about it, people should take initiative to develop a well-aware society. Just one thing for all you fellow enlightened individuals, do not be afraid to burst the bubble. n [Story by Joytsana Sangroula]

ith its roots firmly planted in imperialism and social hierarchies, generalizations of entire groups of people were planted and have grown into what are known today as stereotypes. Stereotypes are so ingrained into American culture that many kids grow up believing that what these stereotypes enforce apply to themselves, even though they may not be true. Many people are unaware how harmful these concepts can be, especially to such malleable minds. Too often, kids may even find themselves agreeing with or portraying their negative stereotypes in order to gain the approval of their peers. This is detrimental to the development of their racial, religious, and/or sexual identity because by acting out in a way that dignifies stereotypes, they are giving the other children confirmation that all people of that race, religion, gender etc. behave this way. Not only is this harmful because they are in pursuit of unnecessary approval from others, but also because teenagers acting in this manner do it so often that it changes the perception identities as a whole. With a warped perception of their identity, the adolescents who now personify the of these stereotypes now look at other people of their race who don’t share the same views as outsiders. In many cases, teenagers who don’t conform to the stereotypes of a given group are considered not (insert race/religion/gender) enough by their peers, who may not even be a part of the same group. These generalizations can invoke self-disdain within minority groups, along with a desire to be someone that they’re not. Believe it or not, asking someone Asian to do your homework because “all of them are supposed to be smart” is racist. Telling a black person they’re not black enough because they can’t dance is racist. Inferring that you know something about someone solely based upon their stereotypes is racistWhat I now ask of the FHS community is, rather than assuming something about somebody based on how they look, introduce yourself and get to know them. You might learn something. n [Story by Lauryn Forbes]

[Photo by Aishwarya Ramesh, 11]