The Harbinger October 2021

Vol. 54, Issue 3 October 2021

HARBINGER Bringing the Beat (pg. 8)

Zionsville Community High School 1000 Mulberry St. Zionsville, Indiana

Note from the editor

Elizabeth Rexing, Print Editor

Staff

Part of the reason I love writing and editing the Harbinger magazine is because I get the opportunity to highlight the many accomplishments of our student body. Whether they be academic, athletic, or artistic, student successes are my favorite thing to cover. In this issue, we dive into the incredible work of our Marching Eagles and the color guard (p. 8) and the unique team dynamic created by the girls XC team (p.

10). Those in JEL are also featured with their ‘professional’ tips for getting the most out of this spooky season (p. 20).

There are so many things to celebrate but only so many pages printed each month.

That being said, I want to acknowledge some student achievements from early September: the Key Club hosted a blood drive and had over 30 donations, 14 ZCHS National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists were announced, and the Aerie yearbook staff was invited to attend a yearbook convention in Denver because of their

Print Editor Elizabeth Rexing Digital Media Editor Logan Seiler Social Media Editor Riya Patel Feature Editor Kailey Wallenius Student Life Editor Lucy Robinson News & Sports Editor Mary Demarco 2

artistic and journalistic excellence. Additionally, in late September and early October, the Medical Club raised $600 for Afghan refugees and the bands, orchestras, choirs, and show choirs performed in their fall concerts.

The road to becoming state champions could continue in the next couple weeks for our sports teams as they get the chance for all the hard work they put into the season to pay off. While fall sports wrap-up, winter season sports, like basketball and wrestling kick off.

The fall musical (p. 19) is yet another reflection of the talent and dedication of our classmates.

Dedication to sports, arts, academics, and community is what helps our student body thrive; we should all be proud of our efforts throughout the first quarter!

Elizabeth Rexing, Print Editor

Opinion Editor Gretchen Drews Photo Editor Sarah Maniscalo Art Director Brooklyn Brown Podcast Director Josh Nieman Staff Daysun Brown Jack Farrar Dax Lara Jake Young

Editorial Knock it Off To all the food-throwers, mess-makers, and trash-leavers, destroying the cafeterias every day during lunch: knock it off.

Our cafeterias are trashed after C lunch; in all honesty, they’re trashed after A lunch. Crushed chips cover the tables, baby carrots litter the floors, and mystery liquids make the chairs unusable.

Leaving a mess isn’t even the biggest problem. This year there’s been an epidemic of food-chucking jerks assaulting others who are trying to enjoy their lunch. Dinner rolls, hot dogs, apples, and even, open yogurt containers have been thrown between warring tables, with innocent bystanders punished in the cross-fire.

These students’ lack of respect for their fellow classmates, and for the people that so graciously pick up after us, is appalling. Yes, the custodians are there to help keep the school clean, but what they AREN’T hired to do, is to pick up everyone’s careless messes.

And of course, it’s not the administration’s primary job to babysit the cafeterias, but it would be nice if they got involved and put a stop to the food wars. It’s very easy to spot and not all that uncommon.

In the end, this is entirely a student problem that can be eradicated easily with a student fix. It’s not that hard to wipe up a spill, pick up a dropped pretzel, or get your trash into the garbage can. We’re not children, so, for the sanity of everyone involved, stop.

Seriously.

The mission of the Harbinger is to provide both the student body of Zionsville Community High School and the local community with the unbiased truth. The staff strives to handle every topic they take on with respect and objectivity, while also providing a source of entertainment and intriguing content for the reader. The Harbinger aims to reflect the true atmosphere of ZCHS by including students of all walks of life in the publication.

Contents News

4 How a Garden Grows 6 You've Got Hate Mail

Sports

7 Fall Sport Recap 8 Bringing the Beat 10 Running as One

10 12

11 Keeping Up with Quarantine 12 Homemade Horror 14 Where in the World?

Opinion

Feature

21 A Taste of Fall 22 Popular at a Price 23 Student Survey: Back in the Building

16 Working 5 to 9 18 Phony Fashion?

19 Into the Musical 20 Fall Starter Pack

Cover photo by Elizabeth Rexing

Student Life

19

24 Harb Highlights 3

How a Garden Grows

By Claire Weesies, Guest Reporter, with additional reporting by Phoebe Sidebottom

Molly Simmons shows off some of her 115 merit badges at Heritage Trail Park, the location of her Eagle Scout project. photo by Elizabeth Rexing

S

ophomore Molly Simmons is working with the Zionsville Parks Department to make inclusive garden beds and education tables at Heritage Trail Park as a part of her BSA Eagle Scout project.

After Boy Scouts of America began welcoming females to their program in February 2019, Simmons, a longtime Girl Scout, joined an all-girl BSA troop and set off on her journey to become an Eagle Scout.

Mindy Murdock, Zionsville Parks Department Director of Recreation Services, gave Simmons an opportunity to work toward this goal.

“I reached out to Ms. Murdock and asked if she needed any help, or if she had anything she would like me to do,” Simmons said.

“And she gave me this project.”

The “Enabling Gardens” project will include a Free Little Seed Library, which will be filled with native seeds and gardening books, disability-accessible gardening beds, along with a hoop house and tables for educational programming.

“I felt like the Zionsville community needed something to bring them all together,” Simmons said.

Heritage Trail Park, located on 875 E on the Zionsville Rail Trail, is currently undergoing a major upgrade, including a dog park, new playgrounds, and extended parking.

There are already existing community gardens at the park, but the new raised garden beds will be easily accessible for people with disabilities.

“It’s one spot that people know that that’s a location for gardening,” Murdock said.

Simmons plans to make six of the raised beds with cut-outs on the side to allow wheelchair users to roll up easily.

The taller garden beds will also make it easier for people who can’t bend down.

Murdock said that she knew from working with Simmons on previous merit badges, “she would do a fantastic job.”

Simmons has received help from her father, her troop, and the Howenstein couple.

Simmons built a Free Little Seed Library to add to the park, similar to ones seen at local

“It did seem impossible at the start, but some things fell into place in my favor.”

- Molly Simmons

elementary schools.

The library will have seeds and gardening books for the community to use and exchange, some of which will be donated by the Hussey Mayfield Public Library. The Howenstein’s have made little free libraries for the town before and shared their plans with Simmons.

Simmons totaled up the cost of her project and needs around $2,500.

She has raised around $1,500 through summer jobs and reaching out to the community through Facebook and the Parks Department newsletter.

Simmons has had a hard time getting wood because of its’ scarcity and high prices during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It did seem impossible at the start, but some things fell into place in my favor,” Simmons said.

The main structure of the community gardens is the hoop house. Murdock said she is most excited to see the hoop house up and completed. The three-season hoop house is a large structure covered in heavy plastic.

According to Murdock, the hoop house will be home to educational programing for schools and summer camps as well as beginning and master gardening classes.

“There’s a potential to bring in Master Gardeners through Boone Country Master Gardeners or through Indiana Native Plant Society to hold workshops,” Murdock said.

Simmons will build the six tables to be used inside the hoop house for the educational

“There’s a joke in my troop that I’m always the overachiever.

I take pride in it.”

- Molly Simmons

programs.

Simmons is completing this project for her Gold Award (Girl Scouts) and her Eagle Scout Badge (BSA).

“There’s a joke in my troop that I’m always the overachiever,” Simmons said. “I take pride in it.”

Simmons’ goal is to earn all 135 BSA merit badges. She needs 21 badges to become an Eagle Scout; she currently has 115.

“Only four people a year [nationally] get all the merit badges,” Simmons said. “So I think it’d be pretty cool if I did.”

Simmons’ BSA troop is based in the central Indianapolis area and her mom is the Scoutmaster. According to Simmons, being surrounded by all females is empowering; however, Simmons and her troop sometimes experience stares and uncomfortable looks.

“Being a female Boy Scout we’re already going above and beyond what most people would have expected of us,” Simmons said, “without trying to have them bend backwards for us and trying to just do it like anyone else would.”

Simmons expects the project to wrap up in March 2022 when they will build the beds and tables on site. Simmons used this project to grow her leadership skills, impact the community, and increase inclusivity in Zionsville.

Simmons said she hopes she can set an example for youth, and particularly girls.

“If I can do it, you can do it too,” Simmons said.

One of Simmons’ completed bird “seed sheds.” photo submitted by Simmons

News 5

You’ve Got Mail School backlash finds its way into teacher inboxes

By Kailey Wallenius, Feature Editor

E

nglish teacher Eric Harrington opened his email during the second week of the school year to find an “explosive” email from a parent about “The Hate U Give,” a novel in the English 9 curriculum.

“They just saw the name of the book and freaked out,” Harrington said.

Parent opinions about curriculum, Covid-19 policies, and more have increasingly made their way into teacher inboxes and school board meetings.

Principal Tim East said parents “expressing what I have to come to the conclusion is a sincere belief about what’s in the best interest of their students” is “a fair thing.”

However, parents may take their frustration out on teachers, even when the teacher is not the one responsible for the grievance.

“I try to remember that when parents are mad, a lot of a lot of times while it comes out that they’re mad at me, there’s usually something else they’re frustrated with, because maybe they don’t know how to help their child,” English teacher Ann Bender said.

Backlash about Covid-19 and masking policies

Graphic by Brooklyn Brown

6 News

^ te Ha

has also been on teachers’ plates.

“I think that we are in a tumultuous political time,” science teacher and Zionsville Education Association co-president, Cindy King said. “And people oftentimes are looking for someone to blame for their unhappiness.”

Students have been less aggressive in their dislike of the Covid-19 policies. “[I’ve had nothing beyond] pushback from individual students when I correct them, but that’s not really anything that I can’t handle,” Harrington said.

Harrington said he looks for creative ways to help students understand why we have the mask mandate.

“One student did have a really interesting discussion with me, because I said the masks protect other people, right,” Harrington said. “So if we think that way, what message are you sending, intentional or not, [when you don’t wear the mask]”?

While all teachers can experience these tensions, English teachers, specifically, deal with feedback on literature in their curriculum.

For example, Harrington said one English teacher got an email from a parent who complained that a poem from their student’s class “glorified” drug and alcohol use.

According to King, unless there is only one teacher of a particular class, the curriculum is decided not by an individual teacher, but by a group of teachers or the academic department. “​Ultimately the curriculum is decided by the state,” King said. “Then as Zionsville teachers, we look at that curriculum and decide how we’re going to teach this, what order we’re going to talk about that. And then we make decisions about assessments.”

Teachers have learned to deal with the criticism and defend the curriculum when necessary.

“If I cannot defend a piece that I’m teaching then I haven’t put enough thought into it,” Harrington said. “There’s a reason why we use everything that we use within the classroom.”

Learning to peacefully coexist is not just for the parents.

“One of the things that we have to be responsible for as adults that are in an educational profession is we are not just here to educate kids,” King said. “We’re here to educate parents, too. And so we have to be listeners.”

According to East, the administration is working towards the same goals as the parents.

“We want to be partners, we want to be able to individualize to the extent that we can, but we want to protect the integrity of the system,” East said. “So that a Zionsville High School diploma, when it is seen on a job application, or seen on a college application, holds the clout that it deserves.”

Parental concern is not unique to Zionsville.

“I’ve been in urban situations, suburban situations, rural situations,” East said. “All they really want is what’s best for their kids.”

King said pushback against school policies and curriculum is “ “definitely all over Indiana and all over the United States.”

In the end, conflict and complaints are an inevitable part of teaching, even about something as simple as the weather.

“It was the Canterbury Tales trip and the kids were mad at me because it rained and we didn’t get to go out,” Bender said.

“I mean, it was pretty stormy, it wasn’t just rain. I thought it was funny.”

Fall Sport Recap

Reporting by Elizabeth Rexing, Print Editor

Isabel Metzger, 12 photo by Lily Robinson

photo by Annie Davidson

photo by Madilynn Taylor

Teddy Greenlee, 12

Kenzie Anderson, 10

Pictured: Boys Tennis: Placing 1st at sectionals,

the team advanced to regionals and competed against Brebeuf on Oct. 7. They placed first and competed at semi-state on Oct. 9.

Girls Volleyball: After receiving a bye in the first round of sectionals, the team played on Oct. 17. photo by Riya Patel

Ainsley Stump, 12

Not Pictured:

Football: The team’s last two pre-sectional games took place on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15. Their first sectional game is on Oct. 22. They will compete in the 5A conference and have a record of 3-4 as of Oct. 7.

Girls Golf: The varsity team placed

second at the sectional on Sept. 17, moving them on to regionals. While the team fell short of qualifying for state, Addison Echeverria, junior, moved on as an individual.

She placed in the top 50 out of 100 at the state competition on Oct. 1 and 2.

Boys Cross Country: At the Hoosier Crossroad Conference

Girls Soccer: The varsity team’s record

Boys Soccer: With a 14-5 record as if Oct. 6, the team continued on in sectionals with a win against North Central. They competed on Oct. 9 against Carmel.

*Girls Cross Country: see pg. 10

meet, the varsity team placed third overall. Junior, Will Nobbe, placed eighth. The team competed in their sectional on Oct. 9.

as of Sept. 28 was 9-5-2. After receiving a first round bye in the sectional, the team played on Oct. 8.

Sports 7

Zinck faces the band as she conducts their performance at the football game on Sept. 3. photo by Sarah Maniscalo

g n i g n i Br Beat the

Senior Evie Renninger plays the clarinet during the band’s halftime performance at the Homecoming game on Sept. 24.

Renninger loves performing because “it’s when all the hard work pays off.” photo by Elizabeth Rexing

8 Sports

A

By Elizabeth Rexing, Print Editor

rriving at the high school at 8 a.m. and returning well after midnight is just a typical Saturday for the members of the marching band and color guard during their mid-September to late-October competition season.

Despite the long and grueling days, senior Annie Zinck, head drum major enjoys competition season.

“There’s a nervous energy and everyone is more excited,” Zinck said. “I think people put in more effort because they know something big is coming.”

The marching band, composed of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and the color guard, has roughly 15 performances during their fall season with about half of them being competitions.

This year’s show, “El Toro Bravo,” depicts “a bull fight with the band representing the bull, and the color guard representing a matador,” freshman bass drum player Bryce Barnett said.

Because of Covid-19, the band is reusing the theme from last year and expanding it by adding more music and choreography.

“We have almost double the amount of music,” senior McLean Carter, a mellophone player, section leader, and horn sergeant, said.

According to Carter, the “awesome” music in the fourth movement is well-known in the marching arts community. The movements are also well-liked among marching band and color guard members.

“It’s very fast-paced,” junior and color guard captain Autumn Peper said. “And faster choreography is always fun to do.”

To prepare for the season, the band practiced for four hours a day, three days a week during their summer “mini-camp.” Then, band camp took place five days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for two weeks.

During the school year, according to marching band director Tom Landrum, the group will practice an average of 12 hours a week and will also perform their show one or two times.

Landrum notes the “physical demand” that marching band takes and how it “should most definitely be considered a serious cardio workout.” Marching, holding up heavy instruments, and having to focus specifically

“If we were categorized as a sport, we wouldn’t be allowed to practice as much as we do.”

- McLean Carter, 12

on breathing are all physical aspects of practicing and performing.

“I’ve played a lot of sports,” Barnett said. “But I have never had two weeks straight of nine hour practices like I’ve had for band camp.”

Carter added that most students don’t realize the rigor of marching band and color guard schedule.

“If we were categorized as a sport, we wouldn’t be allowed to practice as much as we do,” Carter said. “That really puts it into perspective against other fall sports.”

However, when compared to these fall sports, Zinck said the marching band and color guard feel disregarded.

“We get no recognition,” Zinck said. “It hurts because we’re putting in more work than a lot of the student-athletes. We compete with other schools just like they do and then we hear people dissing the marching band.”

In previous years, parts of the student section have shown irreverent behavior towards the marching band and color guard.

“There have been a small number of students that thought it was okay to be very shallow-minded and would cheer and laugh loudly if they noticed an error,” Landrum said. “It was very inappropriate and shockingly disrespectful.”

“My freshman and sophomore years, we got booed a lot,” Zinck said. “If someone dropped something, they would start counting the mistakes. That was upsetting because some of my friends were in the stands, or people in my classes. I was like, ‘wow, this is embarrassing. I’m in marching band and they clearly don’t like it.’”

However, Landrum notes that “thankfully, the student section for the last few games of 2020 and all of the games in 2021 have been very respectful of the incredible efforts

Junior Karinn Johnson catches her flag in the show at the Sept. 24 football game. photo by Elizabeth Rexing

of the marching band students.”

Zinck has adapted to perform well regardless of her surroundings and has “learned to let it roll off [her] back,” she said.

Carter is “incredibly proud of how hard the band has been working this season.” The band and color guard placed first at their Sept. 11 and Sept. 18 competitions. At their Sept. 25 competition, the color guard won first and the marching band placed second overall.

The marching band hopes for the opportunity to perform at the semi-state competition at Ben Davis on Oct. 30 and the state competition at Lucas Oil on Nov. 11.

“My goal for this season is to help everyone be excited and reach their full potential so we can go as far as we can, no matter how far that’ll be,” Zinck said. “I want to have lots of energy and excitement for the season because I know this season will affect the seasons to come.”

“The comradery developed among the marching band students is genuine and long-lasting,” Landrum said. “There is a true feeling of family.”

Sports 9

RUNNING as

1

By Sarah Maniscalo, Photography Editor

“O

ur team atmosphere is unlike any other,” varsity runner Kiersten Hill, senior, said. “No matter the talent, we support everyone. Everyone works hard and puts their best foot forward.”

The girls cross country team strives to treat each other as equals, on and off the trail. They help to create a supportive environment for each other, varsity runner Taylor Osterling, senior, said.

“Instead of competing against one another, everyone builds each other up and is working towards a common goal,” Osterling said.

The team practices five days a week to improve their running times and build their endurance. With the addition of a Saturday meet, the team spends hours together throughout the season. All the time togeth-

10 Sports

er is what helps to build their inner-team amazing personality,” Perez said. “She works relationships, Nyla Hall-Feldhaus, senior, so hard and she never gives up. She is an said. example for everyone.”

“We try to stay positive and encouraging Prioritizing a supportive atmosphere is when we know a hard workout is coming always a goal for the team, said Hill. The up, but we also are there to validate each positivity of all the runners is what makes other’s feelings of frustration,” Hall-Feldthe team “strong in every way.” haus said. “Cross country is a hard sport One challenge the team faced this season both mentally and physically, and to know were injuries. Several players were unable to that your teammates are there for you, feelpractice and compete due to stress fractures ing the same feelings, is so reassuring.” and other injuries. Osterling, who was in a Part of the close-knit environment boot for two weeks due to tendinitis, said comes from the activities that the team that it was really difficult “wanting to race does together. To prepare for their Saturday and not being able to” and “not knowing meets, the team dedicates each Friday night when it will get better.” to a team pasta dinner. They also have Being surrounded by her teammates was bonfires, scavenger hunts, team breakfasts, “so uplifting” and helped to “boost mentaliand movies. Hill’s favorite memories come ty,” Osterling said. from the team’s annual summer camp trip Additionally, the season can be “mento McCormick Creek. tally draining” Hall-Feldhaus said but she “We share many laughs, tears, and stories finds positivity in her teammates who have while we are there,” Hill said. “It’s truly the “pushed” her to be her best. best time making memories that will last a The team finished their pre-conference lifetime.” season with a first place at the Harrison Aside from the whole-group bonding Invite on Sept. 4, fifth place at the Eagle activities, the team also has a buddy system Classic on Sept. 11, seventh at the Riverview of “sisters,” akin to the relationship of bigs Health Invite on Sept. 18 and sixth at the and littles in collegiate sororities. With the HCC Invite on Sept. 25. A team of varsity exception of new upperclassmen additions, runners competed at the sectional on Oct. seniors are placed with freshmen and ju9 and are looking ahead to the postseason niors with sophomores. competitions.

“Having sisters makes the relationships No matter the end results, what sets this on our team stronger by opening up opporteam apart from others, according to Hill, tunities to meet new people that we may not is their focus on teamwork and growth, be close with otherwise,” Kyla Stalbaum, not competition. Instead of competing as junior, said. “It also brings the opportunity individual runners, they compete for their to connect to each other on a deeper level team and teammates. with the aspect of mentoring younger team “Our team motto for this year is ‘run as members and helping them through any one,’” Hill said. “I’d say we definitely live type of problems they may have whether it’s by that.” running related or not.”

The sister Junior Abby Vestal shows off her muscles to her laughing teammates groups spend at their practice on Sept. 30. photo by Elizabeth Rexing time together outside of school and practices.

Stalbaum and her little sister, Sonia Perez, junior, often get brunch together. “[Kyla] has been such a good role model to follow because of her encouragement, strength and an

Keeping Up With

Quarantine

By Lucy Robinson, Student Life Editor

O

n the sixth day of Calendar,” Clark said. “That’s been school, senior Eleanor really helpful. I try to make sure my Frank woke up with a calendar directions are set up so that headache, a cough, and an absent student can follow along a runny nose. As her symptoms from home and understand the activworsened, she got a Covid-19 test ities. I’ve also been available to Zoom and it came back positive. Frank after school with students to provide watched as the assignments piled up instruction that’s new to them.” while quarantining and home sick Some assignments however aren’t over the next 10 days. easily translated online, and can “I’m in a Ceramics class and a mean missing important in-class acPainting class,” Frank said. “ tivities, which was the case for Ruffer Those were hard to catch up on during his quarantine.. because I didn’t have the materials “I really don’t want to get behind for the longest time. I had to cram because it’s a lot of work to catch hours worth of work into one hour. up and I’d rather get the work over And then Calculus, it was hard to with,” Ruffer said. “In a lot of my One of teacher Brenda Jalaie’s Canvas calendar pages. submitted by Jalaie just relearn the basics that everyone classes we were doing in class discusSeptember. already knew.” sions and stuff that I couldn’t participate in “Every day I was fighting the urge to get Gone are the days of Zooming into class anyways, so I just did what I could.” on my laptop and start playing video games while quarantined. Students are expected to For Jalaie’s art classes, where staying up instead of working,” Ruffer said. keep up with school work through Canvas to date on assignments is harder with all the Clark said it’s important to stay connector otherwise working with teachers to get materials needed, she created a “Quaraned and focused, even though it’s easy to slip tined Student” section at the bottom of her class materials.

Art teacher Brenda Jalaie has noticed two into this mindset.

Canvas calendar.

“Don’t allow yourself to use quarantine types of quarantined students, those “who “Most students did not check into the as an excuse to take a day (or more) off are proactive and want to stay connected Calendar,” Jalaie said. “Some students were from work, unless you’re quarantined and and then students who aren’t.” out for whole projects.” legit-sick,” Clark said. “If the latter is the “I’ve had a few return and tell me they Jalaie gives quarantined students instruccase, you should rest up, communicate with tions and materials lists to “MacGyver” were too busy to look at the Calendar and teachers, and try to come to an arrangement projects at home. even see what we were doing in Drawing with them about your pile of missed work class,” Jalaie said.

“They returned to look at me like I was For those students who are symptom-less once you’re feeling better.” an alien when I asked if they even started For those out sick it can be quite stress- working on something at home,” Jalaie said. but still at home, the best way to stay motiful knowing how much content is being vated and up to date, according to Christie Anyone can get contact-traced from missed.

Clark, English teacher, is treating the day at lunch, a band class, or any other unmasked “I fell really behind really fast, because home like a school day. environment along with the possibility I was home so early on in the year,” Frank “When you’re supposed to be in a class, of actually getting sick. Staying ahead on said. “Especially since I was actually sick, I check the Canvas calendar and do the work school work is a way, according to Frank, to wasn’t just contact-traced. Trying to catch the class is doing,” Clark said. “If you feel combat the stress. back up and get all that work done took a genuinely lost about an assignment or new “That’s what I was planning on doing,” lot longer because there was no Zoom or concept being taught, then reach out to Frank said. “But I didn’t plan on getting anything.” your teacher via email immediately!” sick that early. I think just try to stay ahead Clark has set up her Canvas calendar to While at home it’s easy to slip into a while you are well, and then sort of have an accommodate quarantined students. vacation mindset and be distracted by the understanding with your teacher that when “My students have been very mindat-home environment. you’re not well, you’re going to fall behind Sam Ruffer, senior, was quarantined after ful about letting me know they’ve been a little bit.” quarantined and checking on classwork and his sister was showing symptoms in early homework, which are always posted on the

Student Life 11

Homemade HORROR The Reinhart family has been scaring the neighborhood for over a decade

By Gretchen Drews, Opinion Editor

A

group of parents, out with trick-ortreaters on Halloween night, breathed a collective sigh of relief as they made a narrow escape down the hallway of senior Evan Reinhart’s haunted house. It was over, or so they thought. That was when Reinhart, dressed as an escaped asylum patient, jumped out from the exit and scared one mom so badly, she fell backwards into the arms of her husband.

Reinhart has been scaring the pants off visitors to his family’s terrifyingly fun haunted house, based out of their garage, for over a decade.

The Reinhart family started the spooky tradition with Evan, who was 8 years old at the time, his parents, and his older sister. As their project grew, neighbors and even Evan’s grandma began helping in any way they could, whether it be for construction or as extra scare actors.

“It started kind of small with just a graveyard out front decorating for Halloween,” Reinhart said. “Then, three or so years after doing that, we started the haunted house.”

The Royal Run neighborhood attraction also helps a good cause. Last year, the family collected over 200 canned goods for the Zionsville Food Pantry.

“It’s just a thing that’s kind of known now that when you stop by this house, you bring canned goods with you since we don’t charge,” Reinhart said.

In early September, Reinhart’s family plans the layout, a tricky task given the limited space.

“The 3-D software I use helps me show them what I want to do for the theme,” Reinhart said. “There’s different rooms I can put in, there’s an admission area for the asylum, and then we had a hallway that had different

2013

photos submitted by Evan Reinhart

doors to different wards.”

While the asylum theme has been going strong for the past few years, the family decided a new theme for this year, “Between the Walls.”

“Our theme follows the idea of ‘if these walls could talk, what would they say,’” Reinhart said.

The process of making the haunted house not only takes time and dedication to create the foundation, but also a scary atmosphere.

“Usually during fall break is the time when I’m off school, and then I help my dad build all the walls and we start putting stuff up”, Reinhart said. “Then we frame the walls, and we paint everything, start adding props and really just start setting the scene.”

Part of “setting the scene” is also making sure the family looks spooky when they enter the haunted house as scare actors. Over the years, as the haunted house grew, Reinhart’s extended family and neighbors began to volunteer as actors as well.

“We don’t really buy store bought costumes anymore,” Reinhart said. “We make them from Goodwill items, and we distress our clothes with different paints to make it

2015

The family dressed as a asylum patients and workers outside their 2020 haunted house.

more realistic.”

When the haunted house is over, the Reinharts find their own ways to reuse and repurpose supplies.

“We usually get everything down in a week, so it goes a lot quicker than it goes up, and everything gets stored in the back of our garage,” Reinhart said. “We also try to reuse as much as possible so all panels we’ll repaint them, but the layout changes each year.”

Reinhart said that with such a busy schedule, it is nice to have moments to share with his family when they can all come together to create something fun that they and others can enjoy.

“It’s definitely a good bonding experience with both of my parents,” Reinhart said.

“There’s definitely times where we’re at a breaking point because we’ve been working on it all day, but it’s a great way to spend time with my family.”

2017 2019 Student Life 13

Where in

the World?

The Interviewees

Sonia Perez, junior, current exchange student from Spain Bobby Pattanatanang, junior, current exchange student from Thailand Farah Ben Salah, junior, current exchange student from Tunisia Owen Wiesler, senior, moved to Ireland with his family for a year

Meet the students

Why did you choose the US?

Perez: The United States had some magnet that attracted me and I had heard a lot of good things about the experiences that the other students had.

Pattanatanang: In my opinion, the US is a great country. My brothers used to be exchange students and they said that they had a lot of fun and it would be great if I went, too.

What is the best thing about the US?

Perez: I really like how united you are as a Ben Salah (right) and another exchange student stand in front of the Chicago skyline during a boat tour. photo provided by Ben Salah

14 Student Life

Print editor, Elizabeth Rexing, spoke with students and faculty about foreign exchange programs, the differences between the US and other countries, and the benefits of studying or living abroad. *Each inter-

viewee was interviewed separately and quotes may have been condensed or edited for clarity.

country, like the “Pledge of Allegiance.” In Spain, we don’t do that. I like that you are proud of your country.

Pattanatanang: The food, scenery, friends, activities, and volleyball!

What is the worst thing about the US?

Perez: The US has a lot of pre-cooked food.

In Spain, we cook a lot and make homemade dishes.

Ben Salah: I am still not used to the amount of homework, assignments, and tests on a daily basis.

Pattanatanang: Buffalo sauce is the worst and I also don’t like changing classes every period and having A lunch.

What do you hope to experience before you leave?

Ben Salah: I’m really looking forward to Christmas, Halloween, and Prom.

Perez: I would love to see a big city. I also want to experience Thanksgiving because we don’t have that in Spain.

What have you learned so far?

Perez: I have learned a lot of English and I feel like I am better than when I first got here. I also learned that when I go to the grocery to enter through the left door because in Spain we go in through the right door!

Ben Salah: To never give up and keep trying no matter how tough and exhausting it is.

The Experience

Why did you decide to study abroad?

Ben Salah: Sharing my culture really means a lot to me. I’d love to be a great advocate and youth ambassador of my country and show that most stereotypes about Arab and Muslim people aren’t true. One of my other goals is also becoming fluent in English, making friends from all over the world, and learning more about the American culture and education system.

Perez: I felt that it would be a really good experience to have. I like to try new things.

To me, the culture, the people, the lifestyle, is all new.

What is the best discovery?

Ben Salah: Deep dish pizza!

Wiesler: Cliff jumping; I would usually go with my best friend and we would jump off these massive cliffs after hiking through fields for a few miles. Sometimes we had a group of friends too and that was insane.

Pattanatanang: I can’t decide but I think homemade waffles with whipping cream and maple syrup is the best.

Differences in culture

What is the biggest cultural difference you noticed?

Perez: Here, you go by car everywhere. In Spain, we took the car maybe, once a week, on special occasions or to go really far. We usually walk everywhere. Even if it’s 30 minutes away, we walk there.

Ben Salah: I didn’t anticipate the huge food portions here in restaurants and how early you eat dinner. In Tunisia, we would have dinner around 9 p.m.

What is the best tradition that you discovered?

Wiesler: My favorite tradition was a holiday devoted to weird hats. Hundreds of people came into the town and I would be chilling in a pub and all these crazy people would walk in laughing and crying. It was a lot of fun.

Pattanatanang: My favorite tradition here is the meeting outside after school. In my country, we can drive when we are 18 so we don’t usually spend time outside school together.

Here, we do.

Differences in schools

What is the biggest educational difference?

Wiesler: The most surprising thing about the schools was that I had to write everything.

There were no laptops so essays were done by hand Ben Salah: There are a few things that surprised me, such as the friendly relationship between the teachers and students, the strong school spirit, and the insane amount of clubs.

How do school schedules compare?

Ben Salah: Every day is different, but we usually go to school from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Tunisia. We have the afternoon free on Friday and Saturday.

Pattanatanang: We have eight classes a day with 50 minutes per class. The first class starts at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Our first semesters start around May and end by September and the second semesters are from October to March.

Perez: I am taking between 10-11 classes but every day we have six classes and we don’t have every class every day.

Wiesler stands in front of the setting sun in Kinsale, Ireland where he lived from August 2019 to August 2020. photo provided by Wiesler

How do types of classes compare?

Ben Salah: From elementary school to ninth grade, you don’t pick your classes in Tunisia. But in tenth grade, you have to choose what your focus point will be. The different fields available are language arts, economics and management, mathematics, experimental sciences, computer sciences, technical sciences, or athletics.

Perez: In Spain, we have general maths.

We don’t have algebra or geometry, we just have maths in general.

Pattanatanang: In my country, we have three study lines that are sci-math, art-language, and art-math. We have to choose one of these study lines and each of them have different subjects.

Meet a host student Sonia Perez’s host sister, Grace Hendry, junior: “I’ve learned a lot about Spanish culture, and it’s surprising both how different some things are and how similar other things are.

I would definitely recommend hosting to anyone who is able to. You get to learn a lot about other cultures while simultaneously seeing your own culture through someone else’s eyes.”

Perez (left) and Hendry (right) pose together on the first day of school. photo provided by Hendry

How do school lunches compare?

Perez: The meal time is really different. We have lunch around 3 p.m. and dinner around 10 p.m. so we don’t have lunch at the school. We have a snack at 11 a.m. Usually, I bring some fruit or a small sandwich.

Ben Salah: We usually have a one to three hour break for lunch that begin at 12 p.m. In public high schools, we don’t have a cafeteria. You either go back home for lunch, which the majority of the students do, or go out with friends to a restaurant.

Pattanatanang: We have a break time after second period and our lunchtime is one hour. All students have the same lunchtime and we are free to go anywhere and do whatever we want at lunchtime. We can choose our lunch or we can play games or sports.

How do extracurriculars and sports compare?

Ben Salah: We do not have high school sports team or many clubs. If you wanted to participate in an extracurricular activity, you would have to go to an institution that specializes in that.

Pattanatanang: Some of the sports here are more intense than what I have in my country. I don’t have clubs after school. We have club meetings once a week and we have to audition to some clubs and we can only have one club.

Lindsay Alessandrini, Spanish teacher, reflects on her study abroad opportunities in Spain What was your favorite experience?

One time we went to a hole-in-the-wall bar that was rumored to sometimes have professional flamenco dancers and singers. The night we went was a lucky night because we got to see two different famous dancers and many flamenco music groups. It was awesome!

What did you learn?

I learned that I can do difficult things and that those kinds of experiences are often the most life-changing. I took many more calculated risks after my trips because I felt a lot more confident and capable.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of studying abroad?

Studying abroad is one of the best things that a student can do to grow both personally and academically. Travel promotes independence, personal accountability, risk-taking, confidence, organization, and decisiveness. But the most important aspect of travel is the worldview that can really only be gained through living in someone else’s space for a time. Travel promotes respect. When we learn to expand our bubble of respect, we learn to live more freely and lift others up along the way.

Student Life 15

WORKING 5 9 Your first job can be overwhelming and you may not know where to start.

But fear not! We’re here to help.

to

By Daysun Brown, Staff, and Mary Demarco, News and Sports Editor

Make a Good Impression

What They’re Looking for

One of the most important factors to consider when applying for a job is the impression you give off with the applying process and interview. Make sure to fill out an application (usually found online) before going in for the interview. Business teacher Michael Warner recommends to “always dress nicely” to help with that first impression.

After you’ve finished up the interview, send a thank you letter for the interviewer and the time they took out of their day. Warner suggests writing something “as simple as ‘thank you very much for your time, I really appreciate getting to know you and a little bit about the company. I look forward to hearing from you about a possible position.’”

When you are applying for a job you will most likely be interviewed by the manager. They will ask questions to determine how well you will fit in with their team. “Everybody has something that they’re not very good at; everyone has something that they need to work on but if you tell me that you’re willing to work on it, and can accept help then obviously that’s something I can do,” senior Team Leader at Jersey Mike’s, Cole Roebken said. “Someone willing to come in, does their job correctly, and have a good time, is the biggest thing.” Consider the reason you want a job in the first place. Getting out of the house and making new friends are both great reasons employers like to hear.

Your Interview Before the interview, prepare yourself for the questions that might be asked. Often, during an interview, you will be asked how much you would want to be paid. Warner said, contrary to popular belief, almost all jobs pay above minimum wage. If asked how much you want to be paid Warner suggests about $11 as the average amount. It is also important to bring the necessary documents that help you to begin working. “You’ve got tax documents to basically tell them how you want your taxes taken out of your paycheck,” Warner said. “You also have the general application that’s included.”

Your employer will help you with all of this.

16 Feature

Questions to Expect

No interview is the same but they do have similar questions. The questions will be about you and your character. “I’ll ask them about previous jobs and if they have worked in previous places,” Roebken said. “What did you dislike or like about your previous job? What do you want to get out of a job?” Make sure to show up to your interview with a few basic answers in mind. Remember to mention some of the skills that you have that you think will benefit you in that job. Take your time when answering the questions and be yourself!

How to Quit a Job What is the best way to leave a job? According to Warner, giving at least a two weeks’ notice is best. Leaving them high and dry would not look good for future jobs. “If you just stopped going to work and not saying anything, you might not ever work for that company again, because a lot of times they’ll mark the file,” Warner said. “You don’t want to burn bridges.”

Many students choose to work during the summer only, but not all students need to quit their jobs once school starts. It’s all about deciding how much work you can take on and how well you can balance school and work. Warner suggested talking to a manager about your work hours and availability in order to figure out what is best for you. Before getting a job, just be conscious of your time management skills and how difficult your class schedule is for the year.

Final Thoughts

Remember that work should be a safe place and should be fun. High school is a time to experience new jobs and find what you like, so take advantage of it! “Go at it with the right mindset, know why you want the job,” Roebken said. “If you do get the job, have fun with it.”

?

Who is Hiring - Jersey Mike’s - Panera - Domino’s - Fundae’s

Possible Interview Topics - Previous Jobs - “Describe yourself” - Your availability

- Wendy’s - Dunkin’ Donuts - Chick-fil-A - Kroger

Qualities They Want in Workers - Team Player - Willing to learn - Good attitude

- Akard True Value - Zionsville Pizzeria - Rosie’s Place - City Barbeque

Outfit Must Haves - Simple Hairstyle - Neutral shirt - Nice pants - Clean shoes Graphics by Brooklyn Brown

Interview Ready

What they wore for a perfect interview

A nice shirt to show that you take the job seriously

A nice hairstyle to show professionalism yet keeping it casual at the same time

A white collared shirt underneath a nicer crew neck.

Staying casual while showing you put effort into your outfit

Don’t forget your mask!

Jeans to show that this isn’t a totally formal event Stay away from ripped or torn jeans

Keagan Taylor, 11 Photo by Logan Seiler

Connor LaFontaine, 9 Photo by Mary Demarco

Black pants-staying neutral while matching your outfit and style

Clean shoes to give a good first impression

Feature 17

Phony Fashion?

By Gretchen Drews, Opinion Editor

To avoid fast changing fashion trends, teens can choose different and better ways to buy clothing

I

dly scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, you may realize how extremely fast niche styles and aesthetics rise and fall. The fashion industry has noticed this as well. Thus, “fast fashion” was born and has been responsible for plaguing the world ever since.

Fast fashion is a term used to describe the cheap ways in which companies create “cute” or “trendy” clothing to better fit within the fashion community. At first glance, it may seem like the perfect option for teens in a trend obsessed world.

One reason fast fashion exists is because of “micro trends,” or trends that quickly come and go. Senior Victoria Lightwine said these trends have inspired students to buy fast fashion because there are trendy, cheap clothes easily accessible online.

“The idea of micro trends and wanting to ‘fit in’ or even not fit in has become a huge issue,” Lightwine said.

Fast fashion may seem like a small price to pay for cute clothes, but senior Meredith Barger said it negatively impacts our world. Barber said she does her best to minimize her carbon footprint by not buying into fast fashion.

Out of all the types of greenhouse gases, carbon emissions are the ones with the highest levels of emission in our atmosphere, and according to the World Bank Group, a group working against poverty through sustainable solutions, “the fast fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10% of annual global Julia Smith, 11, strikes a pose to show off her thrifted and fashionable pants. photos by Gretchen Drews

18 Feature

emissions” which essentially contributes to global warming.

“Contributing to fast fashion is contributing to the most wasteful industry in the world, and contributes to the battle against global warming,” junior Julia Smith said.

While avoiding fast fashion may seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be with these tips and recommendations.

Smith said by simply checking the tag, you can tell if a piece of clothing is poor quality.

“If the product is made of polyester, I would not buy it since polyester is a faux textile made of micro plastics and is actually very harmful to the environment,” Smith said. “They will not last nearly as long as a cotton shirt.”

Barber said do your research online to see if you can find any hints that a clothing company might be unethical. Barber said some companies are notorious for their damaging means of production, for example Nike or Forever21. She said students should steer clear of any brands that use outsourcing or child labor to make their apparel.

“If you’re buying on a website, you can look for a page about their ethics,” Barber said.

“If they don’t have one you can kind of assume they’re probably unethical.”

Shopping locally is also a good way to ethically source the

products you buy if they are handmade, and it also has the benefit of leading to a more sustainable economy.

“Supporting small business owners is giving back to the economy and helping it,” Lightwine said. “Small businesses are necessary for the longevity of our economy, so it’s always important to support and contribute to their success.”

One major con to local businesses, however, is that the price tag can be pretty hefty. As teenagers, it’s understandable to not want to blow all your money on one tee shirt; however, you don’t need a lot of money to shop sustainably. This problem can be solved by going to resale shops where items are cheaper and can to be bought in bulk.

“I just did a project about how child labor is used in fast fashion, and the poor working conditions, and that’s why it’s so cheap,” Barber said. “However, unlike the fast fashion industry, places like Goodwill and other thrift stores are only cheap because they’re just worn a bit.”

You don’t need lots of money to look or feel good.

“Buy pieces that make you happy,” Lightwine said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re considered ‘fashionable.’ If it makes you happy, then wear it.

Don’t give into microtrends that capitalize off of your insecurities.”

Modeling her eco friendly jacket, Victoria Lightwine, 12, demonstrates how to dress to impress.

INTO THE

MUSICAL

By Mary Demarco, News and Sports Editor people aren’t ready,” according to senior Charlie Steiner.

But what are we not ready for?

“Princesses and princes and wolves and Little Red Riding and Beanstalks,” Steiner adds. “And then, chaos ensues.”

The ZCHS production of the musical “Into the Woods” will take place on Nov. 11-13 in the PAC. Musical director Sam Chenoweth said this production is difficult to do at the high school level.

“I’m excited to see it all come together and to have those present in the pit that are going to take it totally to the next level,” Chenoweth said. “I think that people are going to be impressed.”

“In the first half, you get to see all of the

“Oh

fairy tales that you got to see as a child,” Steiner said, “It’s a very nostalgic story for the first half. And then everything takes a turn in a way that you would never expect in the second half.”

After a scaled-back musical in 2019, the cast is working hard to return to elaborate musical productions.

“I feel like there’s also a little bit of pressure to be back and better than ever,” senior Iris Jordan said. “But I think we can rise to meet that expectation.”

The cast has had extensive rehearsals where they work not only on their acting skills but on their singing, dancing, and stage presence.

“We had vocal rehearsals first, where we were just learning the music,” Jordan said. “The leads over the summer had two sessions where they would come in and privately work on their individual songs sen. We got our scripts at the very beginning of summer, last year.

So we got the cast list on the last day of school. It’s been in the works since May.” This year’s Sophomore, Jilayne Kistner practices the dance number during rehearsal on Oct. 5. leads are seniors photo by Mary Demarco

Charlie Steiner and Haleigh Tussinger, sophomores Jilayne Kistner, Ben Kistner, and Izzy Casciani, and freshMusical flyer provided by Performing Arts man Center Director, Isaac Spillman Claire Kauffman.

To prepare for “Into The Woods,” auditions took place in May. As summer began, the students were already hard at work memorizing songs and looking over their script.

Over the summer, the leads had two private sessions to work on their songs. The cast currently rehearses three times a week, 2 hours per rehearsal.

“Zionsville has a lot of insanely talented people,” Jordan said. “We recognize that in athletics. I think that it’s such an awesome experience. But in other things, I love just sitting in the audience and being able to see the different side of someone that might sit next to me in calc class, and I didn’t know that they could do something like that.”

Need tickets? Scan Here Feature 19

Fall Starter Pack

By Kailey Wallenius, Feature Editor

J. Everett Light career students make recommendations to get the most out of the fall season

able to add a seasonal twist [to cinnamon Fall Recipe: “Being rolls] makes it more enjoyable and adds atypical flavors that complement the dish and the time of Pumpkin Rolls year.” - Erika Poynter, 12, Culinary Arts Ingredients: For Cake: Cooking Spray 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice 3 large eggs 2/3 cup pumpkin puree Powdered sugar, for rolling For Filling: 12 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 1/4 cups of powdered sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 15” x 10” jelly roll pan with parchment and grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, salt, baking soda, pumpkin spice, eggs, and pumpkin puree until just combined.

Spread into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, lay out a large kitchen towel on your counter (try to use one with little to no texture) and dust with powdered sugar. When cake is done baking, flip onto kitchen towel and gently peel off parchment paper.

3. Starting at short end, gently but tightly roll cake into a log. Let cool completely.

4. Mean while make filling: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, melted butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, and salt. Using a hand mixer, whip until smooth.

5. When cake is cooled, gently unroll (it’s okay if it remains slightly curled) and spread with cream cheese filling. Roll back up and dust with more powdered sugar. Slice and serve.

Fall Movie: “Princess Bride”

Fresh pumpkin rolls handcrafted

by Poynter. photo submitted

by Poynter

Fall Look: Smokey Eye Chris Creech, 12, works behind the scenes on a new project for JEL. photo submitted by Creech.

Kendall Clevenger, 12, shows off her favorite fall makeup look. photo submitted by Clevenger

Senior Chris Creech has been in the JEL Animation and Film Production program since the beginning of the year, because he “enjoys making things and being creative and though that the class would help with that.” Creech’s favorite fall movie is “Princess Bride,” as “it is great to cozy up to with hot chocolate and a blanket.”

20 Feature

Senior Kendall Clevenger attends Cosmetology classes in Lebanon. Clevenger has been doing makeup since sixth grade, and enjoys it because “I like the idea that I can use it to hide or enhance my facial features, and you’re never limited in what you can do.” Clevenger’s favorite fall makeup look is “neutrals with smoked out eyeliner,” because “it makes me feel like it’s fall,” she said.

A Taste E of Fall

By Brooklyn Brown, Art Director

ach equinox, autumn gifts us with brightly colored leaves, pumpkin patches, crisp air, a bountiful harvest, and of course, America’s beloved annual pumpkin spice craze. In case you haven’t seen it in every single store you shop at, pumpkin-spice-everything has hit the market. From candles, to cookies, to hummus, and nuts; the ‘smells as good as it tastes’ spice combo is in full throttle. It’s safe to say pumpkin spice hits the spot on that warm, fuzzy, fall feeling. However, maybe not everything should be thrown into a bath of cinnamon and nutmeg. Perhaps the “pumpkin spice” label is just a marketing ploy to entice fall-lovers each year. It’s easy to buy products on impulse when there’s a label saying “Limited Edition: Fall Item;” fear of having to wait an entire year pressures us autumn fanatics into emptying our pockets. Maybe falling into the scheme of fall flavored things is worth it in the end. The pleasure of enjoying the undeniably delicious pumpkin spice treats really outweighs the price tag… besides, it’s only for a few months out of the year.

Graphics and photos by Brooklyn Brown

Opinion 21

Popular @ a Price

By Brookyln Brown, Art Director

A

certain nostalgia comes with the mention of the times when bottle flipping was banned and fidget spinners were obsessively bought. Teens can recall the era of the “hurricane tortilla” and “FRE SHA VA CA DO.” Most Gen Z’ers know exactly what funny thing to say when they see a “roadwork ahead” sign in their path.

Trends like these are universally celebrated among students. However, along with an abundance of trends, this very special era brought forth the emergence of an equally special kind of celebrity- the influencer.

“Influencers aren’t necessarily celebrities,” junior Dana Radentz said. “I feel like they are types of people who are much more connected to their audience than just your average celebrity in Hollywood.”

After the birth of social media, seemingly ordinary people were suddenly thrust into the public eye. Big names like Liza Koshy, Gabbie Hanna, and Jake and Logan Paul were everywhere. However, the internet has a bad habit of thrusting disposable personinflue e s alities l l i t “I s le p o e p into the s a encers s n o c spotlight i n a rather th mkae just to ’t so I don criticize em.” them fun of th n, 10 akli Y n back a t s i - Tr into irrelevancy again.

“2016… that’s when it was at its peak,” sophomore Tristan Yaklin said. “I remember new people that would come and go every week.”

Internet stars themselves have come to represent something of a trend. Yaklin compared their disposability to TikTok dances.

“People do them, it’s trendy, but then the next week it’s onto the next thing so they are forgotten about,” Yaklin said.

The concept of the fleeting influencer

22 Opinion

can only be explained by the constantly changing opinions of their audience. Compared to the average person, influencers are held to a higher moral standard. Although arguably hypocritical at times, criticizing influencers can help keep checks and balances on the power they have over their impressionable fans.

“You can look at it from two sides,” Radentz said.“Yeah no one is perfect and everyone is going to make mistakes...but also, they have a really big platform and that comes with a lot of responsibility.”

From socially incorrect remarks, to controversial brand deals, and sometimes even criminal offenses; influencers have been canceled for it all.

“If they make a mistake it might influence their fans that it’s okay to make that mistake… especially if they have a younger audience,” Radentz said.

However, the majority of internet stars emerge into the spotlight while still in adolescence. It’s a lot to ask a young person to consider how every one of their actions influence their followers.

“They might not know what to do in certain circumstances that they find themselves in with their power that they gain from their followers,” Yaklin said.

Yaklin said it’s easy for students to jump on the trend of hating influencers before completely forming their own opinions.

“Most of my friends do because they might be envious or they just don’t see the purpose in why [the influencers] attract their followers,” Yaklin said.

One can imagine how the trend of being hated is a lot to handle for young influencers. A new show featuring teen internet star, Charlie D’Amelio, and her family, called The D’Amelio Show has sparked some controversy since its recent release on Hulu.

Teenagers all over the internet are labeling it as purely “cringe,” but many, like Radentz, are noticing the way the internet fuels a desire to hate. Several clips have gone viral of the two young sisters having severe panic attacks on camera due to paparazzi and bad publicity.

“It really annoys me,” Radentz said.

“You can’t expect a 17 year old to have the same maturity and know about the same stuff as a 25 year old.”

Like many influencers, D’Amelio still hasn’t even reached adulthood.

“Being at such a young age and randomly “You can getting all ’t e 17 year o xpect a of these l d followers the same to have m aturity because and kno w you’re an the same about influencstuff as a 25 year er can - Dana R old.” change adentz, 11 your perspective on life and change how you think compared to a normal person your age,” Yaklin said.

Many popular online personalities are the same age as ZCHS students, so maybe they shouldn’t be held to higher standards.

“I do feel like sometimes people are definitely much harsher on them just for no reason,” Radentz said. “I feel like it’s kind of a trend to be like ‘oh some people are cringy.’”

Before jumping on the trend of hating an influencer, take a step back and consider them as an individual instead of a trend.

“I still see influencers as people rather than icons so I don’t make fun of them,” Yaklin said.

As drama-fueled teens ourselves, do we really have a right to criticize the very people that bring us our satisfying daily dose of drama? Love them or hate them, teenagers’ lives wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for the internet influencer.

“Just because they’re famous and they have all of this money doesn’t give you the right to be rude to them,” Radentz said.

Graphics by Brooklyn Brown

Based on a Google survey of 71 ZCHS students

Graphic by Brooklyn Brown

Opinion 23

Harb Highlights Left: Marissa Urbanek, senior, runs with the ball in the Unified Flag Football team game at Carmel on Sept. 11. photo by Elizabeth Rexing Bottom: Freshman Caroline Sampson (left) and senior Lindsey Fletcher pose on the carnival ride at Best Buddies VIP night for Fall Fest on Sept.

10. “It was so fun,” Fletcher said. “I rode so many rides.” photo by Sarah Maniscalo

Addison Echeverria, junior, dances at Homecoming on Sept.

25. “The only way to have fun at a dance is to actually dance,” she said. photo by Brooklyn Brown

ISSMA performance and competition When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Ben Davis

07

Daylight Savings

State competition for boys and girls When: 1 p.m.

Where: Indiana State

Ends. Set clocks back and get an extra hour of sleep

Nov.

30

Cross Country

Nov.

30

Marching Band

First game of the season When: 6 p.m.

Where: Varsity Gym

Oct.

28

Girls Basketball

Nov.

Oct.

Oct.

What’s What’s next? next?

Check the schedule below to find dates, times, and locations for upcoming ZCHS events. Subject to change

18

Boys Basketball

23

Wrestling Match

First game of the season When: 6 p.m.

Where: Lawrence North

Varsity and JV teams compete When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Westfield