Issuu

UNCAGED.

freedom high school newsmagazine | volume 2 | issue 4

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 Peña 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 illustration by Joytsana Sangroula

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

” 5

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

4 10 14 24 28 32

22 24

CONTENTS

from the editors See ya next year, free birds! Wow. Look at the year it has been. This is our last issue together and our staff cannot be more proud of the work we have accomplished. But of course, we could not have done this without all of you. 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! 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 who you worked with all year. So as we come to a close on another awesome year at FHS, take the time to stop and appreciate everything around you. With that in mind, take a break from whatever you’re doing, turn the page, and enjoy!n

[Photo by Mehir Vashistha, 12]

letter from the editors

NEWS

A STORY OF SACRIFICE: 4

REFUGEE AID IN KURDISTAN

n a few months, Lara Arif is travelling to her birthplace in Kurdistan; however, she is not returning to simply visit family and friends. Arif is heading to the Kurdish region of Iraq to teach English to children displaced by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Despite several setbacks, Arif’s desire to help others created a perfect opportunity. Initially, it was difficult for Arif to find a refugee camp accepting teen volunteers. Arif reached out to many people who worked with refugees in Iraq, however she did not get any responses. At last, she found a camp, run by a family friend, that was eager to have Arif and her sister as English teachers. On top of trying to find a refugee camp accepting volunteers, Arif had to consider the dangers of staying in an area so close to ISIS. However, the desire to give back to her people overpowered any fears she had. “I think you just can’t be afraid,” Arif said. “My mom [is] so afraid. She’s like, ‘Lara, you can’t go. It’s still dangerous over there.’ You have to be fearless, but you also have to be really selfless cause you’re putting your life, perhaps, in danger.” In August of 2014, ISIS began its genocide in Iraq against the Yazidi people, an ethnic minority in Iraq that does not practice Islam. According to the United Nations (UN), over 5,000 Yazidis were killed in the genocide, with many more being captured. According to the UN, after being separated from their families, Yazidi girls as young as nine years old were being sold as slaves by ISIS. Through the inhumane torture of Yazidi families, ISIS has attempted to remove any pagan influence from Iraq. This has led to the mass displacement of young children that is seen today. “I want to hear their stories,” Arif said. “I want to know[what they have been through], especially [from] the girls that are my age. I want to be talking to them about how our lives are different.” Due to the damage that ISIS has done in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Yazidis have struggled to receive the resources and attention that they need to survive. “The[most important] thing[s] they really need [are] money and supplies,” Arif said. “It’s hard for us to carry supplies to them, so they’re asking for money so that we can buy supplies locally. “ While Arif will be exerting a lot of effort into teaching nglish in Kurdistan, she does not plan on being content with just one real-world, humanitarian experience. “When I’m older I want to work in the humanitarian field, especially regarding education,” Arif said. “I want to go into global communications. My main goal is to work with the United Nations.”

“ You have to be fearless, but you also Lara Arif, 10

“

have to be really selfless cause you’re putting your life, perhaps, in danger.

[Story by Arnav Kumar and Shravani Reddy] [Photo provided by Lara Arif]

CUPCAKES N’ CODE T

hrough her passion and dedication for coding, Tanya Ravi created her capstone project, called Cupcakes n’ Code. In her childhood, Ravi did not have much exposure to coding, and because of this, she wanted to give girls more exposure to the field which she feelslt so passionate about. In her capstone project, Ravi hopes to merge the idea of education with an element of excitement. “[Cupcakes n’ Code] teaches girls, who would otherwise not be exposed to coding, how to code. And, the element of cupcakes makes it more fun because we decorate cupcakes during the workshops,” Ravi said. While Ravi wanted to educate young girls on coding, she also wanted to empower them to pursue a career in a male-dominated field. “I think initially girls are kind of afraid of coding...they think that it is a more male-oriented field and not a possible career for them. I wanted [this project] to draw in that demographic and... show them, ‘yes, you can do it just as good as boys can, if not better,’” Ravi said. Through the Capstone project, Ravi found a platform to share her passion with other young girls. She also got the opportunity to share this project in a fellowship with the Girls++, a non-profit organization in Stanford University, during Spring Break. n [Story by Ashley Jain]

[Photo by Tanya Ravi]

CULTURAL EXPLORATION I

6 [Photos by Cayley Kilduff]

n order to increase her cultural awareness, FHS senior Gillian Valli is traveling to Germany for three weeks. Valli, an aspiring doctor, hopes to expand her knowledge of life in foreign countries by comparing the culture in Germany to that of the United States. Moreover, as an AP German student, she wants to increase her usage of German. “I will be attending a German high school, and go into different cities,” Valli said. “Also, I will be doing a survey at the high school and taking pictures seeing the difference in clothing and how people act and how they talk.” At first, Valli was heavily considering completing an internship with a hospital. However, she wanted to have the ability to connect with future patients on a deeper level. “I am studying science to become a doctor,” Valli said. “[By] having an increased cultural awareness,…. I will be able to interact with patients…, and the only real way to get that knowledge is through immersion.” Valli will also be accompanied by, senior Ashley Woods. With her good friend by her side, Valli is very excited about experiencing the culture of Germany. She will be using the skills she acquires from interaction with people in a different country to better prepare her in a future in patient care. n [Story by Ashley Jain]

MOMENT OF W

ZEN

hile some students are traveling around the world for their capstone projects, senior Dennis Atanassov will be staying close to home. To complete his senior capstone project, Atanassov will be renovating FHS’s old and unused courtyard to become a Zen Garden. “I stumbled upon [my capstone] because Dr. Legnini was talking about it with her philosophy class when they were going over Eastern Zen philosophies,” Atanassov said. Atanassov had previously been considering a capstone that related to his future career plans until he heard Dr. Legnini discuss Zen gardens. Atanassov researched how Zen gardens and meditation can positively impact people’s mental health, and decided that creating a Zen garden would be his capstone project. He will create something that future students will be able to enjoy and utilize. Ideally, the space would be similar to the student lounge, where students can go to spend time studying or eating lunch. Atanassov imagines picnic tables placed near sculptures and looping gravel pathways. “I really am excited about just putting everything down and breaking ground in the courtyard and turning it into a more beautiful space for the students to use,“ Atanassov said. Although exciting, the actual construction of the garden will be difficult. Along with finding funding, Atanassov is responsible for the actual construction, which will be physically taxing. “I have to move [21] tons of gravel into a building...with a wheelbarrow,” Atanassov said. Because of the magnitude of his project, it has become a collaborative effort. Atanassov will get help moving the gravel into the courtyard from the track and field team as well as from some of Dr. Legnini’s students. He has also been offered support by our career and technical education (CTE) department. Once the courtyard is constructed, the art department will help decorate the Zen garden with sculptures as well as aid in the construction of a water feature. Much of Atanassov’s funding comes from the senior class, as the Zen garden will be left as the class of 2017’s senior gift to the school. Atanassov was given permission by the senior class officers for his capstone project to be the senior gift, so the savings for the senior gift are going toward the garden. While it is quite an undertaking, Atanassov’s efforts will provide the students with a beautiful and relaxing space for years to come. n [Story by Meghan Adams] [Photo by Justin Sheehan]

THE CLASS OF 2017 Arizona State | AZ

East Carolina University | NC

Rahul Nanda

American University | Washington DC Ameen Yousefi

Taylor Shomaker Brett Dineen

University of South

Wingate University | NC

Serena Thapa

Ryan Byrne Olivia Heinle

Megan Rossano

University of Arizona | AZ

Fordham University | NY

Keely Hudson

University of Alabama, Huntsville | AL Alay Shah

Brigham Young Univ

Emily Malacane

Kena Anderson Sabrina Roney Kara Jones

Hamilton College | NY Sydney Kim

University of Alabama | AL

New York University | NY

Natalie Ring Julia Villagomez

University of California, Irvine | CA Katerina Christhilf

University of Washin

Mahlet Wondwosen Angelica Kurtz

Christian Europa

Rochester Institute of Technology | NY

Jantzen Oâ€™Toole

Syracuse University | NY Miami University in Oxford | OH

Kieran Oâ€™Brien

Mallory Stokker

Vanguard University | CA Melanie Edwards

United States Coast Guard Academy | CT Robert Doherty

William Shand

Gap Year

University of Oklahoma | OK

University of Tampa | FL

Brittany Hutto Joseph Chang

University of Iowa | IA

Campbell Niehaus

Ryan Catello

West Virginia Unive Jelena Veskov Brooke Morgan Madison Wallize

Hunter McCluer

San Diego State University | CA

University of Pittsburgh | PA

Christina Pitz

Penn State University | PA

University of Illinois | IL Susie Lee

Loyola University Chicago | IL

Zachary Estrada Joe Skinner Evan Ricci

Alina Orentas

Principia College | IL

Sahil Tandale

Temple University | PA

Alyssa Hudenburg

Laryssa Banks

University of Notre Dame | IN

Latara Counts

Gillian Valli

Waynesburg University | PA

Purdue University | IN

Jessica Silbaugh

Corin Smith

Mississippi State University | MS

Washington College | MD

Elizabeth Setser

Andrew Hazlett

Stevenson University | MD

OLD DOMINION

Sean Chen

University of North Carolina, Charlotte | NC

Wendy Dang Alyssa Fabrega Lamont Rector

Michael Munley

Catholic University of America | DC Ashley Nguyen

BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE Noah Howell Cheyenne Van Pelt Taylor Novak

Coastal Carolina Uni

Hannah Capestany Mallory Meglio Mitchell Pfaff

WILLIAM & MARY Anna Rossman Kiana Rodriguez

ROANOKE COLLEGE Charles St Laurent

VIRGIN

Ashley Jain Stacy Carranza Trevor Lemaster Mehir Vashistha Jessica Ammon Adam Bell Hunter Capestan Matthew Harper Akash Mainali Rachel Osborne Nabdeep Shresth Tyler Pugh Alison Adams Alex Bailey Rhea Bhatia Makenzie Carlin Jordan Chandler

versity | SC *The names included in this map were all that were received and confirmed at the time of printing, therefore not every member of the senior class is represented.*

Carolina | SC GEORGE MASON

versity | UT

ngton | WA

rsity | WV

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Noah Curtiss Uyen Hoang Simar Kohli Jordan Posey Maeov Saadee Dhruv Sheth Blair Smith Brandon Smith Quincy Stiles Elena Becker Aishwarya Hombal Ashley Nguyen Nishita Ardhapurkar Se Chung

Orkhan Hazrati Joshua Heman-Ackah Sara Khoshhal Han Kim Min Kim Anvesh Mylavarapu Katelyn Park Michelle Song Luke Van Leeuwen Sridhiraj Jayakumar Ariana Pettis

NIA TECH

William Hom Manisha Kusuma Kyra Flynn Jin Park David Rivas-Rios Aditi Shukla Osman Humeida Ryan Scanlon Matthew Yoon Chandler Gavin Anjali Gupta Katherine Hahn Brittany Neff Akshana Somasundar Ossam Awan Haley Krall

Ashley Abernathy Danial Alborzi Rohan Chary Luis De Jesus Selen Elliftawi Rohan Enamandra Matthew Houser Brittany Kehrer Yuying Lai Brooke Maca

Myrna Namman Phoebe Nguyen Laraib Pervez Kevin Phan Jalen Reid Elizabeth Robertson Zachary Shellnutt Paula Ulloa

MARYMOUNT Allyssia Balmaceda-Dela Cruz

JAMES MADISON Delanie Amend Julie Buzzeo Ashley Kinkead Caroline Nelson Meghan Novotny Chloe Scheyder Tiffany Shim Melanie DePiro Ryan Bonner Carolyn Boyle

RADFORD

Brenden Eastman Brandon Wilson Patience Thomas Margaret Nguyen Jacob Smith

LIBERTY Ian Pilgreen Pierina Rossini

NOVA Lala Bouaichi Manpreet Kaur Alex Kazdal Sonya Komara Samuel Lerch Melanie Moy Amina Noor Karissa Walker Nicole Williams

Siddhant Nalawade Thomas Nguyen Christina Roukis Courtney Galpin Dakshini Suresh Jaren Billups Shveta Gupta Sukhdeep Singh Kanisha Sukhadia

RANDOLPH MACON COLLEGE Zachary Hall

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH Aayesha Poudel Arda Athman Maryam Azeem Samantha McGraw Grace Boone Kiara Davis Jack Magarelli Dennis Atanassov Ashley Pearce

Chia Alissa Julian Molina Kevin Vohra Lindsey Ferrufino Gabriela Gonzalez Duaah Hammad Daniel Krakowaik Justin Sheehan

Colby Barnes Lauryn Forbes Chelsea Silvester Daena Alfaro Cara Fragala Brynne Raba Tanya Ravi Hannah Karry Audrey Kim Seth Savine

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT Kylie Smith Micah Natarajan Timothy McLaughlin Nicholas Branch Alexandra Koehler Ashley Woods Vivian Doan Sarah Randall

LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY Cara Curtin

CULTURE

12 12

AASA F

or many of us, making peace with our heritage is an important step to creating a truly unique identity for ourselves. However, in the process, it is terrifyingly easy to lose that crucial part of ourselves to the ever-constant pressure of societal expectations. Junior Joanne Ryu, founder of the Asian-American Student Association (AASA), is very familiar with the struggles we face to gain confidence in ourselves. “I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood. Being Asian wasn’t [seen as] ‘cool,’ but I wanted to be ‘cool’ as well,” Ryu said. “Eventually, I realized that poking fun at myself actually hurt me [more] than it benefitted me.” Even though Ryu struggled with accepting herself throughout her childhood, her assumption had been that this sort of self-deprecation was an isolated, individual occurrence. All her peers seemed comfortable in their own skin, so why didn’t she? “I continued to [belittle myself ] until last year, when I watched a video called ‘#thisis2016’ where a bunch of Asian-Americans came together to show that racism is still prevalent among Asian-American communities,” Ryu said. “To me, living in such a socially progressive society, it was hard to understand because I thought this was sort of an individual thing.” Although Freedom has a diverse and inclusive student body, Ryu recognized that there wasn’t a space designed specifically for Asian-Americans to discuss and reflect on issues relevant to their culture and history. Thus, the AASA came into existence. While Ryu understands that as a new club, its impact will be small, she

aims to guide the club so that it will eventually serve to better the Freedom community. “I hope, if I’m being ambitious, that [AASA] will become as big and active as a club as DECA, or the Hope Club, but I think it’s also important to emphasize that Asian-Americans aren’t the only people welcome,” Ryu said. “I hope that [AASA] will become a place where other ethnicities can be a little bold and create their own societies.” As all are welcome to attend AASA meetings, regardless of race or heritage. An integral part of the club is creating a judgement-free space where members can share stories about living as an Asian-American or find solace in the fact that they are not alone in their struggles for self-identity in today’s society. It’s also important to remember that many ethnicities fall under the umbrella of “Asian.” The AASA keeps this in mind, and discussions often include issues involving intersectional racism and discrimination. However, Freedom’s location in what is nicknamed the “South Riding Bubble” does make some discussion difficult to relate to, especially when comparing daily life in South Riding to daily life in practically any city outside of the suburbs. “My only struggle is that sometimes I feel people don’t take [discussions] seriously because we don’t see that kind of [racism] so much in our community as it’s such a safe and socially progressive place and we’re kind of in a socially liberal setting,” Ryu said. “[Still], I think [student response] has been pretty good. We’ve been trying to be consistent and the responses are consistent too, so

whatever we are putting out, we’re getting the same response back.” Building off the momentum created by the club this year, Ryu has big plans for the future. Next year, she plans to have a more organized schedule that will allow for proper and meaningful discussions to occur. One of her main goals is to eventually host a spirit week specifically geared toward appreciating and learning about minority groups within Freedom’s community. “We’re going to start early, we’re going to start with icebreakers and we’re going to try and make each month a theme,” Ryu said. “For the first month we could talk about inclusivity, second month we can talk about promoting our own heritage, and third we could maybe start school events. So we’re going to build off of little ideas.” If all goes well, the AASA will become more involved in school events and student life. With Asian-Americans making up such a big portion of Freedom’s student body, perhaps the AASA is just what Freedom needs. n [Story by Caroline Chen]

FEATURES

THE IN M

“ME” EDIA

[Photos by Justin Sheehan] [Photo Illustrations by Joytsana Sangroula]

FEATURES

PRINCESSES VS. P F

rom an early age, children are introduced to an abundance of role models that have the power to influence development. As children begin to identify with characters on television, in books, or figures in everyday life, they are able to define a sense of identity. For sophomore Melina Watson, Tiana from the Disney movie Princess and the Frog is a character that has done just that. “We have a lot of similarities… her being raised by a single mom, [she] works hard for everything in life, [we are both] ambitious, driven and have a blonde best friend” Watson said. Being introduced to Tiana at a young age gave Watson someone who she could look up to. Because Tiana went through similar hardships and possessed similar characteristics to Watson in the movie, Watson was able to view her own unique qualities in a more positive light. “I definitely have a better image of myself because of princess Tiana,” Watson said. “I feel like I am represented in a way that is valued, since a mainstream form of media created someone who looks like me.” Representation is not limited to mere appearance, but also extends to personality traits. For Watson, Disney’s choice to create princesses with diverse backgrounds and qualities opened her eyes to the power of representation when regarding people of different ethnicities and how these groups should be portrayed. “... for the first time I could truly relate to a Disney princess,” Watson said. “She improved my perception of Disney as a company that represents people of all races.” Not only identifying with characters in the media improve an individual’s self image, they can also provide motivation. Characters that are role models influence people to improve themselves, through their own inspirational messages. “Tiana inspires me to achieve any goal just as she did in the movie” Watson said. Finding a princess that reflected Watson’s own characteristics boosted her confidence and instilled a sense of self acceptance. Watson believes this sense of acceptance created by positive representation has the potential to be experienced universally as long as there is an equal portrayal of characters in the media for all cultural backgrounds and qualities. “I wish there was more diversity present on the media, and maybe the impression Tiana had on me can be experienced by others and benefit them as well,” Watson said. n

[Story by Cayley Kildruff, Holly Chung, Helina Wondwonssen]

PERFECT PEOPLE W

hile Disney provides some diversity in their princesses, there are still many individuals who are unable to identify with them. The characteristics that princesses commonly have make it hard for people to relate to them. Freshmen Aayusha Khanal is one of those individuals. Princesses are often described as kind and beautiful, and almost always depicted positively only due to appearance. These characters also seem to be conformed to a certain body type that is considered appealing to society. With their pinched waists and sweet personalities, Khanal finds it very hard to identify herself with princesses, and she is not alone. “Most girls that I know don’t line up with the princess ideal, they don’t match up with the physical aspect of it or the personality,” Khanal said. Some may describe the portrayal of princesses in today’s media as unrealistic. These characters seem to reflect society’s standards regarding appearance, such as having thin bodies and delicate features. however there are few figures that are depicted accurately. Regardless of this, Khanal still finds herself unable to relate to certain princesses due to the superficial beauty standards they hold. “Disney and other large companies, they really need to work on making princesses more relatable to young women, men, and everybody else in our generation because honestly we don’t look like them,” Khanal said. Along with unrealistic physical characteristics, princesses tend to have very little ambition when regarding potential achievements in the future. Often the sole goal of a princess is to find and marry their Prince Charming. Recently however, princesses with goals not including marriage and the act of finding a prince have been created, and Khanal believes that an abundance of these figures would allow for more representation. Khanal and individuals like her are unable to associate with certain Disney characters due to the lack of diversity that is present in the movies they are shown in. The creation of princesses with diverse backgrounds would not only benefit Khanal, but also result in a society that appreciates differences and uniqueness. “It would benefit generations to come in ways where they feel like it’s okay to not have a perfect body and be a perfect person, and they can be different because princesses and heroes are people that little kids look up to,” Khanal said. n [Story by Cayley Kildruff, Holly Chung, Helina Wondwonssen]

[Photos by Justin Sheehan] [Photo Illustrations by Joytsana Sangroula]

FEATURES

[Photos by Justin Sheehan] [Photo Illustrations by Joytsana Sangroula]

SUPERMAN VS

hile some people find that they relate to Disney princesses or other animated characters, others find superheros as their source of representation in the media. Junior Case Stallings can identify with the DC comic character Superman. One way that Stallings relates to Superman is their similarities in appearances. Both Stallings and Clark Kent wear glasses and have dark hair. He has even been referred to as Clark Kent by coach Jason Murphy. Aside from physical appearance, Stallings also relates to Superman’s personality as well. “[Superman] has a lot of different abilities that allow him to be better than everyone else… and I want to relate to that and be better than other people in the sports I do,” Stallings said. Superman’s sense of leadership has motivated Stallings to become a role model for younger athletes on the FHS football and wrestling teams, in the same way that Superman became a role model for him. Since Superman is often seen as a strong and confident superhero, Stallings was able to obtain those same characteristics from looking up to the character. Stallings does not only look up to Superman, but many others do as well. Superman is a superhero that people can strive to be like. Superman also acts a source of inspiration to Stallings. He provides a character that is a leader Stallings can look up to. In turn, Stallings learned to provide leadership on his sports teams in hope to inspire those around him like Superman inspired him. “I feel as if the younger athletes on the team look up to me in the same way… they think that I am invincible, so I try to act like that so I can inspire them to be future leaders,” Stallings said. Another aspect of Superman’s character that Stallings can relate to is his moral code. Most people want to do the right thing, so superheros provide a role model that allows them to do just that. “I think it is important for everyone to have a figure to look up to,” Stallings said. Anyone can be seen as an influential figure, regardless of whether or not that individual is a superhero. A role model can be a parent, coach or anyone that has the ability to motivate others to become a better person. Finding a person or character to gain inspiration from can benefit one’s well-being and self image greatly, just as it did for Stallings. n [Story by Cayley Kildruff, Holly Chung, Helina Wondwonssen]

S. SUPER ME F

inding a character that one can relate to and identify with definitely is not an easy task. Many attributes and characteristics must be present in a superhero, princess or any other individual in order for one to feel fully represented. Senior Mehir Vashistha is one of many who is unable to identify with characters in aspects of the media. More than often superheroes seem to be portrayed similarly, and as a result comes certain stereotypes that are attributed to them. “With heroes and princesses, we always fill that [stereotype] in our heads,” Vashistha said. “With heroes that are handsome/charming and strong and for the most part, caucasian.” These superheros are depicted in a way that makes it challenging for Vashistha to relate to them. Due to these depictions of characters in the media, a lack of representation can also become more prominent. However, efforts have been made by those producing movies and shows consisting of these superheroes and princesses in order to increase representation. “Development companies have made an effort to make [their productions] inclusive which is obviously good, but it shouldn’t have been an issue to begin with I feel,” Vashistha said. The goal of these companies is to create characters that break the stereotypes brought upon by said productions. Although, the act of creating superheroes and princesses only to go against the depiction of previous characters may contradict the movement toward inclusion. “Their creation was based on breaking those stereotypes so arguments like this that confine heroes/princesses to stereotypes can’t be made,” Vashistha said. Not only can personality traits and physical appearance cause some to feel unrepresented when regarding superheroes, the powers that make these characters super and the experiences they go through do the same as well. Since many go through life without superhuman strength and the ability to fly, relating to characters that are portrayed with these extraordinary powers can be difficult. Because of this, the abilities and characteristics that make these superheroes so special may be desired by some. However, the differences between these superheroes and Vashistha do not stop him from feeling as if he can make the same impact on the world as Superman or the Hulk. “I don’t really need to have super strength or incredible beauty to feel like I can make a difference,” Vashistha said. “Anyone that wishes they were heroes/princesses should just look in the mirror and realize what difference they could make.” n [Story by Cayley Kildruff, Holly Chung, Helina Wondwonssen]

FEATURES

THE ADVERSITY T

here is a consistent pattern of minority underrepresentation, both on the screen and behind-the-scenes. A Screen Actorâ€™s Guild report showed that African American actors had 14 percent of roles, Latinos 5 percent, and Asian Americans 4.4 percent. This is not proportional to the growing population of these racial groups. For example, as of 2010, Latinos made up 16 percent of the United States population, but were only casted as 5 percent of speaking characters. In addition, minorities are underrepresented in the production of media. According to the University of Southern California, from 2007-2014, only 2.4 percent of Asian directors worked with the top grossing films. Within the few media roles minorities are given, their characters often play into racial stereotypes. In sociology researcher Nancy Yuenâ€™s analysis, she discovered that African Americans were cast as characters living in inner cities, and Asian Americans were overrepresented as martial arts instructors and superhuman characters. This trend continues when it comes to gender representation. In 700 films evaluated from 2007-2014, only 11 percent of films had equal representation of men and women in speaking roles. From a total of 4,610 speaking characters in 2014 films, only 19 were lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and none were transgender. Despite the change still needed, representation has improved in the last few decades. In a study performed at Stanford University, researchers found that while more

Y OF DIVERSITY cultures were being represented in movies and television, progress was still fairly limited. Furthermore, the study details how stereotypes have encouraged type casting in the media, resulting in the same roles for the same ethnicities. Despite the fact that changes have been fairly limited, it is important to recognize that progress has still taken place. Despite the fact that progress has been limited, the actions that ethnic minorities have taken have not gone unnoticed. Entertainers such as Aziz Ansari and Mindy Kaling have become major players in television with Emmy-nominated shows such as “Master of None” and “The Office.” This year, Viola Davis became the first black actor to win the Oscar, Tony, and Emmy award. Also, for “Moonlight,” Mahershala Ali became the first black Muslim actor to win an Oscar. The role of racial and gender minorities in the entertainment industry is still unequal, however, steady progress is being made to improve the lack of representation. n [Story by Shravani Reddy and Arnav Kumar]

[Photo Illustrations by Joytsana Sangroula]

SPORTS

THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED

s seven-year-old Michael Munley sat on his couch alongside his dad watching his first National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) race on television, the same thought kept running through his mind: “I want to do this.” Munley, now a senior at FHS, has been racing competitively for the last 10 years. The last decade has been the beginning of the arduous climb to the top flight of NASCAR racing which he aspires to compete in. Both of his parents have been with him every step of the way, and they serve as some of his primary crew members on his racing team. Throughout the years, as he has graduated to larger, and more powerful race cars, he has successfully captured three different championships as well as three Rookie of the Year awards in different divisions. “I started [racing] when I was eight in go-karts,” Munley said. “When I was ten, I moved up to half-scale stock cars. When I was 13, I went to full-size front wheel drive cars; and then last year, I moved up to full-size basically massive race cars… so really a NASCAR [car].” Although Munley now competes in a race car which internally resembles a top-level vehicle, he is aware that he still has multiple barriers to cross before he gets to the premiere tier of racing. As he continues to work towards his goal, Munley focuses on his racing role model Jeff Gordon who won four championships at NASCAR’s highest level before retiring after the 2015 season.

“Jeff Gordon is probably my favorite driver because he seems to, number one, have a very good grasp on the driving aspect, but [he] also has a very good grasp on the rest of the industry,” Munley said. “That being marketing and also realizing that just like all sports, it’s the entertainment industry so you have to be able to put on a good show.” While Gordon serves as a role model to Munley, Munley’s largest inspiration has come from his first racing instructor Francois Duret. “He has helped me in so many different ways, not only understanding the driving aspect, but also understanding how to control my temperament because sometimes things get a little bit heated behind the wheel,” Munley said. “Learning how to be patiently aggressive is the biggest lesson he taught me.” With high school ending, Munley has done everything he can to ensure that he has set himself up for success in the racing industry. He has tailored his capstone project around his racing passion, and is attempting to explore the behind the scenes side of motorsports: sponsorship and marketing. In the racing industry, money can go a long way, and Munley knows that he needs to hone his commercial skills to gain an advantage over his competition. In addition, he plans on centering his college education around the sport. “I’m going to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for the degree in

[Photos by Samaleh Omar and Joytsana Sangroula] [Story by Campbell Niehaus and Natalie Ring]

Motorsports Engineering,” Munley said. “Going to the Charlotte area will [also] help me in racing because Charlotte is the hub of NASCAR itself so I can get a lot of internships and hopefully be noticed down there for driving.” In fact, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the only university in the country which offers the motorsports engineering degree. Ultimately, while Munley dreams of racing competitively in NASCAR’s top series, he has come up with a solid backup plan that will still allow him to work with racing. “If I can accomplish my short term goal...completing all the laps this season and not wrecking the car...I’ll get there,” Munley said. Throughout this spring and summer, Munley will continue to compete on a majority of Saturdays at Dominion Raceway and Entertainment in Thornburg, VA, and he encourages anybody and everybody to drive out and catch a race. “Everybody is welcome,” Munley said. “Definitely come on out, it’s a lot of fun.” In the end, his goal is to live his dream, and with a decade of hard work in the books, he is certainly on his way. “[Racing is] what makes me happy, so hopefully I can do what I love to do as a career,” Munley said. n

“If I can accomplish my short term goal...”

“Completing all the laps this season and not wrecking the car...”

“I’ll get there.”

SPORTS

FIND YOUR FOOTING ERIN HALL Softball players at FHS wear metal cleats

because these cleats contain the qualities needed for the type of running and sliding movements used in softball. “How [the shoe] grips the dirt [is important]...any other shoes [would make you] slip,” junior Erin Hall said. Unlike many other athletes, softball players typically choose to wear black cleats instead of white or other colors, so that they match their uniforms and each other. According to Hall, the most important qualities in softball cleats are making sure they fit and are comfortable so the athletes can play to the best of their ability and avoid getting injured. n

JOSH HEMAN-ACKAH Track athletes have training shoes and competition shoes called spikes. “[Racing spikes] have sharp [metal] spikes at the end of them...which helps dig into the track more which will give you more force to go as fast as you can,” Senior Josh Heman-Ackah said. He summed up the most important aspects of shoes in what he calls the three C’s. “They [need to] be comfortable, they [need to] look cool,… and they need to be costly,” Heman-Ackah said. However, the most important thing he cited was speed. “I need to know that the shoes will allow me to go faster,” Heman-Ackah said. n

[Photos by Holly Chun] [Story by Marissa Bell and Erin Janiga]

n every sport, athletes need to be able to perform different skills. Track athletes need to run for miles, while softball players need to be able to slide and run on dirt, but all sports need protection provided by shoes that allow them to perform at their best and stay injury free. From metal cleats to running shoes, athletes at FHS spend an extensive

ROBERT MAYO hile the football team doesn’t have W official team shoes, they are expected to

buy shoes that will match the rest of the team. “We have to get a certain color for our team, so I had to get white and black,” junior Robert Mayo said. Like most other sports, football cleats are designed to allow the athletes wearing them to perform their best and stay healthy. “[Cleats] help you move better on the field and protect you from getting hurt,” Mayo said. n

DELANEY REED Soccer players are required to wear cleats. When shopping for her shoes, and money purchasing the best and coolest shoes. Athletes put a lot of stress on their muscles and joints, and without the right pair of shoes, this could easily result in injury. Shoes have a large effect on an athlete’s performance and it is important to pick the right pair for you, in both quality and style, so you feel comfortable and happy while competing. n

sophomore Delaney Reed said that it is important to try to find a pair that offers strong support and is comfortable and unique. Soccer cleats are generally expensive so Reed found a pair that was on sale. “I liked the color and I didn’t know anyone else who had the same ones so they’re unique,” Reed said. Soccer players all wear different colored cleats, based on what suits their style best and are most comfortable to them.n

KIARA DAVIS The main purpose of basketball shoes, called hightops, is injury prevention.

“In basketball the most important thing about [selecting] a pair of shoes is definitely [making] sure it has a lot of support cause it’s very easy to twist your ankle,” senior Kiara Davis said. The girls basketball team’s shoes are picked out by the seniors and worn by the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. “The value [of team shoes] is that you look back at them you remember all the memories you made playing with that team, [and] how it was like a family,” Davis said. n

TECHNOLOGY

ED-OP

PROS

ith the advancement of technology in electronics, I can now keep in touch with family members across the world. Before programs like WhatsApp and Facebook, I could only communicate with my relatives in India through an overpriced international call; however, now I can call and message my family free of charge. Even if it just means wishing my family members on their birthdays or congratulating them on a new accomplishment, this new technology helps me feel a lot closer to my family that is seven thousand miles away. In addition to increasing communication, technology has enhanced my education. With new programs such as Google Drive, Google Classroom and Edmodo, accessing notes and information has never been easier. Now if I ever miss class, I can simply go on one of these platforms to access my teachersâ€™ full lessons, meaning that I do not have to wait to communicate with my instructors. Furthermore, technology has allowed for more efficient collaboration among my classmates, as we can now work on projects together from different locations. Clearly, technology has impacted my efforts in global communication and education in a positive manner; however, people still argue that technology has had a negative impact due to decreased interpersonal communication among individuals. While I agree that technology has definitely played a part in a lack of interpersonal social interaction, technology has opened up many more paths for people to express themselves in different formats. Now, we have focused communities on forum pages such as Reddit that can bring like-minded individuals in for meaningful discussion. We have comment sections on sports news sites that can bring sports junkies together to share their favorite highlight videos. We have YouTube, which has proven to be one of the worldâ€™s premier sources of entertainment while still remaining a free service. Technology has also provided resources to people who may have never been able to afford such luxuries. People no longer have to pay $100 for a Sony Walkman, as streaming services such as Spotify and Soundcloud have made it easy to play a wider selection of music on electronic devices for free. Furthermore, the widespread availability of information on the internet has helped narrow the gap between classes, as people no longer have to pay to receive news in newspapers. While streaming services and the internet are just examples of how technology has decreased the gap between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds, technology has introduced many benefits to society. At the end of the day, technology has made us more efficient individuals. As time passes, new technology will continue to advance the daily lives of people across the world. n

[Story by Arnav Kumar]

illennials will twitch to send a quick text message or tweet a picture of what they ate for lunch, and eyes will glance to their little screens every ten seconds waiting for a text. It’s hard to believe that just years ago satellite phones were dominant, computers would take up an entire room (literally), social networking wasn’t popular, and talking to other individuals in person was the norm. Now when you walk into a room, you’ll see a small device glued to everybody’s hand. Today’s society has become too addicted to technology. Technology certainly has served as a positive development that has made everyday activities easier and enhanced communication. People no longer have to hand-wash their clothes. They also can solve difficult equations on a calculator within seconds, while also having the ability to interact with their friends through the internet with a touch of a button. However, the issue is that this has created an overwhelming level of technological dependence. It is almost impossible to navigate without Google maps. Reading physical books suddenly isn’t as essential anymore because information can easily be looked up. High tech equipment can suddenly replace actual jobs. We isolate ourselves from one another in reality and use technology to serve our social skills [Story by Maryam Azeem] instead. It’s gotten to the point where we are pretty much relying on technology to survive. According to The National Bureau of Economic Research there has been an exponential increase in the usage and development of new technologies since the 1990s. This abrupt rise in the usage of technology is negatively impacting society’s mindset, and can be seen through younger generations. 95 percent of kids between the ages of 12-17 spend a majority of their time looking at a screen. Instead of playing with other kids at the park or just simply interacting with one another, adolescents are prioritizing iPads and video games. Research shows that children that engage in more screen time eat more unhealthy and snack mindlessly which correlates with child obesity, according to Livestrong. Scientists, however, determined that excessive screen time actually physically alters one’s brain and psychological structure. Not only is there an increase in sleep deprivation, obesity, and attention deficiency amongst individuals that overuse technology, but even more importantly, individuals are having far more difficulty comprehending and retaining new information. If anything, people are learning how to become better at finding information and cheating. Isn’t there a certain sense of morality associated with actually understanding how things and certain concepts work? Sure, it’s okay to use technology as an aid, but our overdependence on it is leading us to put our knowledge and daily in the hands of machines. n [Story by Maryam Azeem]

CONS

ED-OP

PC TO THE EXTREME I

n light of recent political developments, the impact of the concept of political correctness has become increasingly prominent. This past November, the nation saw how strong the adversity towards the concept has actually become as everyone witnessed the election of an individual who was quoted in a New York Times article as believing that political correctness is for “the weak.”

So what exactly does it mean to be politically correct? Political correctness is defined as “avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult people.” Although in theory, this appears to be a well-rooted concept without much exception, the heart of the problem exists with the “taken to extremes” aspect of the definition.

It is reasonable to have a desire to not offend other individuals. It is unreasonable, however, to believe that there is a way to avoid offending everyone. Even more unreasonable is attempting to determine whose beliefs should have priority when deciding who not to offend. Take for example the “spring sphere” situation at a Seattle elementary school in 2011. At this school, there was a 16-year-old volunteer who wanted to give a gift to the third grade class she was assisting, so she brought each of them a colorful plastic egg full of candy. Instead of being allowed to refer to them by their typical name, Easter eggs, she was instead told that she had to refer to the gifts as “spring spheres” so as not to offend those who do not celebrate the Christian holiday. This type of incident has become commonplace with the societal precedent that has been set in the United States. It has been determined that it is far easier to slightly alter people’s vernacular if it means avoiding the sheer possibility of conflict. Unfortunately, strong supporters of political correctness may fail to realize that by attempting to avoid offending one distinct group of people, they are in turn offending those who have an opposing viewpoint and were supporters of the original idea. Thus, the problem is not solved, there has just been a reversal of roles. The reality is that as this generation becomes more and more accepting, people will become more and more defensive of their own societal standing. In observing others receiving favorable treatment, suddenly, whether justified or not, people begin to analyze the way in which they are treated. This creates the illusion that everyone is out to get them, leading to an exaggeration of distress even when it may be unwarranted. The need for political correctness is then formed to quell this distress and avoid further conflict. However, if people were to recognize the innate lack of ability to please everybody, political correctness would never have to be taken to extremes. Ultimately, the satisfaction of the majority has to have priority over the complaints of the minority, period. n [Story by Micah Natarajan]

the problem with charity

n March 17, 2017, internet personality Jerome Jarre created the ‘Love Army for Somalia’ campaign raising over $2.4 million through crowdfunding to provide food to those affected by the impending famine. Turkish Airlines even joined the effort by offering to ship the $2.4 million in food directly to Somalia. This was refreshing news in an age where a retweet promoting a social cause is the extent of most individual efforts. However, while this is a monumental gesture, it runs into the problem that many humanitarian efforts fail to overcome, longevity. According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as of February, 6.2 million people in Somalia require relief food assistance. Although the donations show some incredible moments of self-efficacy on the part of humans, they do not actually solve this complex issue; in fact, they completely neglect the root of the problem. Recently, Somalia has experienced its fourth consecutive year of below-average harvests due to lack of rainfall. Somalia is primarily an agricultural economy, and livestock is the main export. So, the drought an extremely detrimental effect on the people and economy. I had the opportunity to speak with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Ahmed Awad regarding this issue.

“

Improving food security is not an overnight process that can be fixed by simply shipping mass amounts of food.

”

“Not only should agencies respond to crisis, which they do, and we are grateful for that, but they could help the country develop resilience against droughts and develop programs… such as fishing and farming to create food security” Awad said. Improving food security is not an overnight process that can be fixed by simply shipping mass amounts of food. It is going to require diligent work to build an agricultural industry that can survive the harsh effects of nature. The crisis in Somalia is a long-term problem that needs a long-term solution. By no means do I believe that we shouldn’t help those in need, nor that individual efforts do not have the capacity to positively affect those in a dire situation. What I am proposing is that instead of pouring money into quick fixes and hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself, we take the time to develop programs that identify the root causes and tackle them directly. n [Story by Samaleh Omar]

â€˜til next year, free birds.