Volume 54 Issue 3

LION’STALE

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL 32765 • JANUARY 16, 2014 • VOLUME 56 • ISSUE 3

LINEAGE

// // // features

news

Who are the millennials?

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Page 10

sports

Rise in use of e-cigarettes raises questions.

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Basketball player speaks of passion for the game.

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( news sports )

THE LION’S TALE

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JANUARY 16, 2014

Program highlights history

THE SCOOP

Black History Month will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 15, from 6:30-8:30 in the Gerald Cassanova Performing Arts Center.

Johnson Hill Washington Heights Community Outreach in partnership with OHE will present “Honor, Dignity and Respect: Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders”.

JHWHO is also sponsoring an essay competition. For an application, see assistant principal Drew Morgan.

Campus publications win

The Lion’s Tale Newspaper and the Oviedian Yearbook were named Crown winners by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York City. Judges from across the U.S. sorted through over 1,226 publications before naming the winners. The Lion’s Tale was the only scholastic newspaper in Florida to earn this honor; the Oviedian was one of three Florida yearbooks to be honored.

During the March convention at Columbia University, the publications will learn whether they are a silver or a gold crown.

Teacher’s show opens

Art teacher Robert Lawarre’s exhibit, “Not Just by the Numbers”, will continue at the Casselberry Art House through Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

“The title of the show speaks to the fact that Not By The Numbers what we teach is more -By Robert LaWarre fluid and can’t/shouldn’t be measured the same way as other subject areas,” said LaWarre.

“I feel it can’t be measured numerically.”

The show is sponsored by the Seminole County Art Education Association.

There is no cost.

TOPP sponsors contest

TOPP, Oviedo’s preservation society, is offering a $500 renewable scholarship to the winner of their essay contest. The topic is “How a specfic historically significant place in Oviedo has influenced my passions in life.”

Last year’s winner, OHS alumni Myriam Gutstein, attends Rollins College.

See the guidance department for more information.

Scholars diploma changes The Diploma Pathways requirements for EOC’s have changed and are mostly impacting the senior class. Students wishing to receive a Scholars Pathway diploma or Scholars with Distinction diploma must have a passing score on the biology and U.S. history EOCs. Students who didn’t take the biology exam, scored less than a level three on the U.S. history EOC or didn’t take the U.S. history EOC because they took AP U. S. history or IB history must take and pass retakes in May.

photos/MILES MINER

ACT IT OUT. Award winners, sophomore Harrrison Flanders and senior Hunter Greer, act out their award winning drama skits that were showcased at the district competition. Flanders will be advancing to state competition for his Critics Choice award, that includes the very best of the best in show performances. The state competiton will take place from March 26- 29.

Flanders wins Critic’s Choice at district competition

by Sabrina Omar

meaning in winning that award,” Flanders said.

A dramatic monologue is any t was the first time in his life that he’d speech of a certain duration addressed ever felt any stage fright, walking onto the stage to perform in front of a panel of by one character to a second person.

Even though drama students rehearse as a judges. His legs felt jelly-like and unreliable. troupe, they face off against each other at districts.

The thought of ruining his monologue terrified “We all get together from our district, him. But just a few minutes into the performance the audience’s laughter motivated him to continue. District 3, and compete against each other for Despite the crowd-pleasing performance, he good scores. It’s really exciting for everyone to be able to give a did not stay within the live performance of time limit, leaving him I’m really looking forward to what they’ve been with the possibility of practicing for, for going to states to compete. getting disqualified.

Bailey Pridemore, ‘14 months,” said senior Flanders breathed Bailey Pridemore. a sigh of relief The District when he realized he survived that challenge. Thespian Festival took place Nov. 21“I got Best in Show for my monologue which 23 and includes schools from Flagler, means out of all of the people in the monologue Lake, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.

“The first two days of districts perform one category, I got the best,” said Flanders.

“Towards the end of the night they showed acts, a 45 minute play, and are graded like the all the IE’s which included all the other Best in IE’s [Individual Events] and then on the last day, Show performances from other categories,” said Saturday, all the IE’s compete,” said Pridemore.

After districts, drama teacher Nolan Flanders. “They asked for the best out of those and they said ‘That’s me,’ and so I won Critics Choice. Carey chooses who will be going on So, I pretty much stand out of a thousand people.” to the Florida State Thespian Festival.

“Going to states you take the judges’ notes Flanders’ monologue will represent the district in the upcoming Florida and comments given to you during district State Thespian Festival, March 26-29. and use their advice to fix and adjust certain “This is really important to me since things within your play. You cannot change it’s the first time in a really long time we’ve your scene and can only take twenty-five used monologues and it gave so much more percent of your scene out,” said Pridemore.

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It isn’t only Flanders moving on to states; there are several other groups that will join Flanders at the state competition.

While exactly what they will be bringing is still in its early stages, there will be a large musical and two ensemble scenes that include a soap opera by Pridemore based on the play Hazelwood Junior High.

Seniors attending the state performance compete to receive a scholarship to be used for either a major or minor in theater.

“At states we get to choose five seniors and an unlimited amount of juniors,” senior Hunter Greer said. “For seniors we prepare part of a song and a monologue or just a monologue and you perform that for a panel of judges from different colleges,” “If they’re interested, the colleges can call you back and you could go see them at a college fair and they talk to you about scholarship opportunities and how much money they’ll consider offering you.”

Juniors can audition for college admission rather than receiving a scholarship and junior thespians will receive feedback from colleges on ways they can improve their performances.

“Districts was really exciting,” Pridemore said. “I’m really looking forward to going to states to compete in things we’re going to take a long time practicing for.”

sabrinao@thelionstale.com

JANUARY 16, 2014 | news | THE LION’S TALE 03

Teen smoking rates rise Experts blame electronic cigarettees

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Statistics w76% of current young e-cigarette users also smoked regular cigarettes. wTotal number of e-cigarette smokers 2.5 million. wE-cigarette use more than doubled among us middle and high school students from 2011-2012. infoCOURTESYOF/www.statisticbrain.com infoCOURTESYOF/www.cdc.gov

E-Cigarette

by Kassandra Saliba

C

igarettes. A legal but deadly product that kills 400,000 a year now finds itself in recent competition with a modern and updated younger relative- electronic cigarettes.

According to the New York Times article written by Sabrina Taernise, the use of e-cigarettes by students are rising. In total, 1.8 million middle and high school students said they had tried e-cigarettes in 2012.

“I use electronic cigarettes because the regular cigarettes are bad for you,” said senior

risks, because as of now, there are no federal any drug, narcotic, controlled substance or any regulations imposed on the more than 250 substance that is represented to be, represented e-cigarettes now on the market.” to contain, mimics, or that looks like a narcotic “Until more is known about these products, drug.” limiting their use is just good common sense,” The Student Code of Conduct on page Choucair said. eight prohibits students for possessing or using E-cigarettes were originally marketed as tobacco products in any form. According to Dean a tool to help smokers try and quit traditional William Schult, punishments for these offenses cigarettes. But, only 76% of current young vary according to the offending students records. e-cigarette users have never smoked regular There are three different types of e-cigarettes; cigarettes. cig-alikes, mid-size and APVs. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention

The first generation of the electronic found that the usage of e-cigarettes rose from 1.5 cigarettes is known as cig-alikes (also know as percent to 2.8 percent in 2012. mini-cigs). Most first time users convert to this “I started using electronic cigarettes my one. junior year of high school. I use them instead of Mid-size are the most popular of the three regular cigarettes because I don’t like the smell types of the e-cigs. of tobacco,” said senior *Mathew Spring.

Advanced personal vaporizer or Mods are the The electronic third type. These two device is designed types give the smoker I use it in between smoking to look like a regular full electronic control. cigarette but functions Vaporizer pen, cigarettes as a coping differently.

Regular another popular mechanism. cigarettes need a smoking device rising lighter or match to among teens. These Willow Mason, ‘14 burn the tobacco leaves pens functions are in the paper opposed to similar to the function the e-cig that holds a small battery. of the e-cigarettes. The most common products A smoker inhales the e-cig to activate the that are used in the vaporizer pens are oils, drybattery. This action heats up the nicotine in the herbs, waxes. cartridge. Once the smoker exhales the nicotine, “I have an APV electronic cigarette, I started it’s converted into a vapor. using it because I thought it was cool and wanted As a result, e-cigarettes are commonly called to try it out and because I would get to blow vapor pens or hookah pens. smoke,” said Bolsonya.

“I think they’re better than normal cigarettes One out of ten high school students have because you don’t get as many toxins from tried using e-cigs in 2012. the water vapor than from the smoke from the “I prefer e-cigs over traditional cigarettes for tobacco,” said Spring. the convince and the non-harmful affects,” said The nicotine cartridges within the e-cig come senior *Mitchel Dawn in a variety of flavors and which makes the e-cig According to Tavernise among high school more appealing to teenagers. students, seven percent who had tried e-cigarettes Selling the traditional cigarettes to minors said they have never smoke traditional cigarette. under 18 is illegal. But e-cigs are not illegal; The Center of Disease Control and Prevention therefore minors are able to purchase one without found that the usage of e-cigarettes rose from 1.5 being asked any questions. However a consumer percent to 2.8 percent in 2012. must be 18 or older to buy a nicotine cartridge. kassandras@thelionstale.com The city of Jacksonville passed a bill that *Names withheld upon request would ban e-cigs from being sold to minors.

Experts expect this trend to continue across the United States.

“I prefer traditional cigarettes over an e-cig.

I like the taste of cigarettes more,” said Mason.

Fifty years ago this month However, Mason does use the electronic the first Surgeon General’s cigarette.

Report cited smoking as a “I started three months ago. I have an eGo. I use it in between cause of lung cancer in men smoking cigarettes as a coping mechanism.

I use it on a daily bases because its cheaper than regular cigarettes. I get eight grams of e-cigarette liquid for about $11 and that last me two weeks but I go through a pack of cigarettes every four days for $7.50. I spend twice as much money when I smoke regular cigarettes,” said Mason.

Campus officials confiscate vaporizing pens citing the code of conduct that reads “students are prohibited from distributing by sale or otherwise

*Harry Bolsonya.

According to a new study, nearly 1 out of every 5 high school seniors is a smoker and 1 of 3 young adults under the age of 26 are smokers as well.

Experts are now studying whether electoric cigarettes are a factor.

“I know electronic cigarettes are bad for me but they aren’t as bad as traditional cigarettes,” said senior Willow Mason.

Dr. Bechara Choucair, the commissioner of health for the Chicago Department of Public Health stressed, “It is difficult to evaluate the

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Smoking can cause: uLiver disease vRheumatoid arthritis wStrokes caused by secondhand smoke

xColorectal cancer

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THE LION’S TALE

| news | JANUARY 16, 2014

‘CONSTANT PRESSURE’ Females sound off on ‘superficial expectations’

by Amyliz Rodriguez

girl wears something like that, you’re judged a lot,” Jones said. ore than three-fourths of all 17-year olds hate their body.

Advanced Placement Art History teacher Didi Jackson weighs “I think society expects us to be some kind of robot,” in on the superficial expectations placed on successful, intelligent senior Tamara Bolling said. “Not even a robot, more like women. a dog. They want us to either be a model like Kim Kardashian or a “Historically and even still today [women are overly sexualized]. pageant queen. You can never just be yourself because there is this They better not be beautiful too, otherwise they are threatening! To constant pressure to meet so many high standards.” be taken seriously today, still, women have to become poor facsimiles Some experts say societal views placed on women affect women’s of men. It drives me crazy when listening to any commentators self-image. According to the 2011 documentary Miss Representation, discussing a female political leader, and the conversation often fifty three percent of 13-year old girls are unhappy with their bodies swings to what she is wearing, her hair, etc.,” Jackson said. and by the time they reach the age of 17, the number rises to seventy When deciding what society and men consider to be beautiful, eight percent.

Aryafar claims that it’s purely physical.

“I remember I saw this video once by “I’ll be honest, beautiful has to have all Dove. It was this whole thing on women and the specific attributes. I prefer a woman’s face You can never just personally, but they also have to carry themselves what they think of themselves. This woman in the video, they basically change her whole right way. A girl can have the perfect face, be yourself because the appearance and made her look like a model perfect body; perfect everything. Yet if she isn’t there is this and then they put her on a billboard,” senior confident in herself, I’m no longer attracted,” Kassie Jones said.

Aryafar said. constant pressure “They literally raised things and put in “Society enjoys seeing people like Kim things like more defined cheekbones in order Kardashian or Miley Cyrus because of how to meet so many to make her look sexier and more perfect. She attractive they are or how much of a train wreck high standards. looked fine just the way she was before.” they are. It’s purely physical-based on what they Tamara Bolling, ‘14 Junior Armin Aryafar believes that the have and how big it is.” sexualization and objectification of women According to the Objectification Theory impacts them. proposed by Fredrickson and Roberts in “I think that women have low self-esteem. They try too hard to 1997, being exposed to social media constantly leads to the selfbe something that they’re not when they’re already fine the way that objectification among women. Self-objectification thus leads to they are. It’s because of what they see in the media and what they physiological consequences such as appearance anxiety, diminished grow up with,” Aryafar said. internal awareness, and body shame. Not only that, but it also leads to “Women grow up with Barbie dolls while guys grow up with mental health risks like eating disorders as well as depression. macho action figures and a Barbie doll I feel sets the standards for Visual Technology teacher Alicia Pope agrees that social media how a woman should look or how they should act and it’s ridiculous. affects the way young girls view themselves.

The standards that are set for women are ridiculous.”

“I remember when beauty was defined as a well-endowed Jones is subject to these pressures placed on her by society. woman. Now most people, when they think of women as beautiful, “There are girls who wear sweatpants and whatever they want to they think skinny, very skinny. I show a video [to my class] that was wear. I personally like to look nice. I try looking my best in jeans and made several years ago about Dove: The Real You. It shows how a nice shirt. I feel like I have to dress like that or else I’m not going to they take an ordinary, average-looking girl and make her look model be accepted. When girls wear something, a label is put on them. If a quality. They do this with photography, lighting and Photoshop,”

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Pope said.

“I do that because there have been a lot of studies about how girls images of themselves is heavily influenced by what they see in the media. Their definition of beauty is what they see in ads, but what they see in ads and on T.V. and in magazines is not true. There is a lot of Photoshop use, a lot of work done on them.”

Jackson sees women trying to conform to society’s idea of perfection.

“I feel a woman should be able to dress and act as she is comfortable, and in a manner that supports her self-esteem in a healthy way. I do believe many women, particularly young women, dress provocatively in order to fulfill what they think society demands from them. They think they are defined as being ‘liberated’ by dressing in certain ways...when funny enough, they are playing right into the hands of the sexist machine,” Jackson said.

Aryafar admits that he sometimes looks as women in both ways.

“Of course [I’ve looked at women as on object sometimes]. I can’t lie; I’ve been with girls that were nothing to me. I mean I gave them the perception that I cared about them when in reality, they were just like a PlayStation3 to me,” Aryafar said.

Bolling feels that the objectification of women is absurd.

“I think it’s sad that we live in a day and age where we teach children that make-up is more important than your education. I think the pressures that society puts on women is misconstrued and it turns into the fact that your appearance is making you who you are instead of your intelligence, your courage or your kindness,” Bolling said.

“All around you, you see billboards with Victoria’s Secret models who always look amazing and you think to yourself, ‘Will I ever look that good?’ I feel like women do the same things themselves that men do to us. We’re the same way when it comes to what we think what sexy is because we want to be just like [those models], look like them, etc. We’re just trying to gravitate towards what sexy is.”

amylizr@thelionstale.com Editor’s Note

Part one of a two part series on society’s expectations of gender roles.

Meeting society’s standards

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minutes on average is how long women take to get ready in the morning.

photo/JENNIFERISHALTON.COM

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inches in 1950 was the average waist size of mannequins found in many department stores. Today mannequins measure at 31 inches.

photo/MILEGUIDE.COM

88% of women feel dissatisfied with how they look and their body size. photo/JAEHAKIN.COM

info/COURTESY OF HUFINGTONPOST.COM

(opinion sports )

LION’STALE

OVIEDO HIGH SCHOOL • 601 KING STREET • OVIEDO, FL • JAN. 16, 2014 • VOLUME 54 • ISSUE 3

Co-Editors Stephanie Corrigan Keenan Smith Alexis Diblanda Alex White Bridgette Holland Layout Editor Jaimie Landers Allison Owen Brendan McCoy News Editor Camilla Omar Clara Shine Sabrina Omar Opinion Editor Nicholas Rodriguez Amyliz Rodriguez Colton Weisent Features Editors Brandon White Kassandra Saliba Cloe-Marie Mora Chris Moskal Faculty Adviser Sports Editor Deborah Jepson Lyndsey Taylor Admin Adviser Advertising Editor Drew Morgan Daniel Hernandez Principal Photographers Robert Lundquist Alex Browning Oviedo High School Miles Miner 601 King Street Tierney Salzmann Oviedo, FL 32765 Staff Artists Phone: 407-320-4199 Harry Allen Fax: 407-320-4213 Catherine Griffith Population: Lauren Hight 2096 Students Staff Reporters 26 Staff members Sterling Corum Mission Statement

The Lion’s Tale is the student newspaper of Oviedo High School, located in Oviedo, Florida. Our mission is to provide news, feature stories, editorials and opinions relevant to our readers while upholding the highest professional and ethical standards.

The Lion’s Tale follows copy standards outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook, 42nd Edition, published in 2007 by the Associated Press, and is a member of the CSPA, NSPA, FSPA.

Reader Contributions

Letters to the Editor are accepted and may be sent by post, e-mail, or dropped off in Room 5-020. The Lion’s Tale does not accept guest columns, and reserves the right to edit letters to the Editor. Full policy is available on request.

Advertising Policy

JANUARY16, 2014

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THE LION’S TALE

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Are Millennials

Greedy?

OUR WORD

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Studies show surprising trend toward unselfish behavior

f one were to type into a search engine “Are millennials,” some of the first results would include “Are millenials greedy?” “Are millennials narcissistic?” and “Are millennials lazy?”

The scowls, scoffs, and dirty looks millennials receive from the global community are not completely groundless, seeing that years of research indicate millennials have a keen knack for self-centeredness. We believe however, this research needs reinterpretation.

At a population of roughly 80 million, these young guns stand in photogenic poses armed with their smart phones – The largest generation to march the earth.

In their book “Millennials Rising,” Neil Howe and William Strauss called this substantial group, “the next great generation,” a play off of the term coined by journalist Tom Brokaw “the greatest generation,” which he used to describe the Americans who grew up in the Great Depression and fought in World War II. While you may not find the average teen and twenty something in a foxhole or missile assem-

bly line, these young people are hungry to break boundaries like no generation has done before.

With the ubiquity of the internet and instant communication through social media, millennials have unique opportunities beyond just expressing their individuality with their phone’s front facing cameras. By using these powerful tools millennials have been able to bring social inequities to light and quickly come to the aid of those in need through monetary support and volunteer work.

A recent study cited in the New York Times shows the millennial seeks happiness more than his grandparents did and increasingly desires to make a change in the world.

Seventy-two percent of millennials say they are willing to sacrifice a higher salary for a more fulfilling career, fifty-two percent of millennials volunteered in the last year (more than any other generation) and seventy-five percent donated to charitable causes.

New information in a study published by the research group, Social Psychological and Personality Science, shows that materialism and

lack of concern for others increased for four decades up to 2008 when these trends saw a sharp reverse.

For those millennials who came “of age” during the Great Recession, the study shows an increase in concern for the wellbeing of others and a decrease in cares for material wealth.

The image painted by the mass media leaves out an important aspect of who millennials actually are; they desire to help others, and to find a meaningful existence by being connected to something larger than themselves.

Do we spend a lot of time looking in the mirror? Yes. Are we filling the internet with reams of useless hashtags and selfies? Sure. Are we taking too long to get out of the house after college?

Probably. But more than any generation millennials are acting on some of life’s most powerful questions; “What can I do to be fulfilled and how can I make the world a better place?”

EDITORIAL CARTOON- “One e-cig please.”

The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisements.The full advertising policy of The Lion’s Tale is on file in Room 5-020 and is available upon request.

Distribution

2500 copies of The Lion’s Tale are distributed free to all students and staff at Oviedo High School.

Subscriber information is available upon request.

Submit letters to Deborah Jepson’s room 05-020 or via email to the writers of the stories

illustration/HARRY ALLEN

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THE LION’S TALE

| opinion | JANUARY 16, 2014

Winter season stirs feelings of nostalgia in columnist

I love winter, and not for the obvious reasons of time off of school or the holidays and my birthday. If anything, I don’t really like those aspects. I like coming to school, and presents just make me feel awkward.

No, I love winter for the taste of peppermint (which is frustratingly hard to find the rest of the year). I love all the bluewhite-silver things to buy.

I love how everybody acts just a little bit nicer than normal.

Mostly, however, I love the cold.

As a child, I know I romanticized snow, but having lived in Florida my Clara Shine ‘15 whole life I’ve never really experienced it. I wanted to have snow days, and host snowball fights, and build snowmen. But I never got to, so I cling to the little parts of cold weather that we get here.

I love sitting in front of a bonfire on cold nights, and feeling the contrast of the temperature on my body. I love scarves and jackets and gloves and hats. I love cradling a cup of hot chocolate in my hands, and feeling how the drink warms me from the inside out. I love that tingly feeling in my cheeks after staying out in the cold for too long.

I love seeing my own breath. It’s something I’ve always loved and I always will, because it’s visual evidence that I am, in fact, alive.

Living, in of itself, is an odd concept. What makes me live? Why am I more deserving of life then the child who dies at three days old, or the murder victim who was just at the wrong place at the wrong time? What is the point of suffering through the day-to-day routine that is living in modern society? What’s the point of trying?

As said in the Falling in Reverse song “The Drug In Me Is You”, “If we’re all born to die and we all die to live, then what’s the point of living life if it just contradicts?”

That quote has stuck with me as one of the most profound things I’ve ever heard. The entire song struck with me pretty hard when I first heard it since it said in words what I could never vocalize.

Being somebody who’s conquered years of depression, I’ve learned to value every day as a gift that I don’t think I’ve earned. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve life, but I’ve convinced myself to make the best of this gift for as long as I have it.

At least for me, that doesn’t mean personal gain but helping other people. I’m open about my past sufferings with depression not for me, but to let others know they aren’t alone. My goal in life is to show other teenagers suffering from it that they aren’t alone. I try my best to be there for people if they need help, because I can speak from personal experience.

What I’m saying is that I love the cold, because it makes me feel and reminds me that I’m still here.

claras@thelionstale.com

illustration/LAURENHIGHT

Teen unlatches traumatized heart to embrace joys of young love

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ove. It’s defined as an intense feeling of deep affection. It’s also the thing that mesmerizes me and terrifies me

most.

I’ve grown up seeing love in the movies. I’ve seen the first glance of two characters, igniting the flame of the relationship. The way the love grows into a deep complex bond, where affection seems to be all that matters Amyliz Rodriguez‘14 and then they spend their life living happily ever after.

As a young girl, I somehow convinced myself that the way cinema or television shows love, was the way it was going to play out in real life.

I thought that through fate, I would end up bumping into “him” at the coffee shop, exchange numbers, and have the kind of thing that Noah and Allie had in The Notebook.

I didn’t want to think that it would ever pan out any other way. Actually, I refused to believe that another reality existed.

But then I grew up seeing everyone I knew suffer something so inexplicably frightening that it brought me back into the real worldthey were experiencing heart-ache. I held

them as they wept, as they screamed, as they felt the burning pain until they fell asleep.

This changed my whole outlook on the thing called love. Instead of yearning for it, I no longer wanted anything to do with it ever again. The thought of suffering the pain that my friends and my family endured was unthinkable. I became detached from the concept, closed off my heart.

Then a few years ago I met someone and we became really good friends. We talked constantly, asking about each other’s day and discussing things we had in common. We’d basically become inseparable. Then one day when we sat there joking around, my friend simply turned to face me and told me that he loved me.

I felt like I had just been hit in the heart with a brick. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

He shouldn’t love me and I never wanted to be in this situation. I got scared and started to think of all the possible ways of escaping from what felt like suffocation. He must’ve noticed how I was feeling, because he said he was just kidding. I felt horrible.

Weeks after that happened, I found myself contemplating actually opening my heart. I wanted to start loving without being afraid.

Soon I started watching all these cheesy romance movies. I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice, The Notebook, The Lake House, etc. And somehow it was like I was a little girl again, smiling and crying happy tears, saying

to myself that I wanted that, I wanted love.

I ended up calling my friend back, inviting him out to a movie. I don’t think I could ever forget the way it felt to see him again after everything that had happened. It was this feeling of anxiety mixed with a feeling of happiness, yet by the end of the movie we hugged-agreeing to continue our daily conversations.

It all came together within a few months.

I ended up falling in love with the same boy who told me he loved me not too many weeks before.

He was my best friend, my boyfriend, and my anchor, everything that I saw in those cheesy movies finally turned into my perfect reality.

Even though we broke up, we still remain great friends to this day. It didn’t seem reasonable to throw a year of memories away; they’re something I can never bring myself to regret.

I still find myself afraid but not of opening my heart to someone. I’m afraid of having it broken. Yet I’ve learned that fear should not stop me from loving.

When people close themselves off from something that beautiful, they lose the ability to smile, to feel their heart beat by just looking at someone, they lose the chance to know what true happiness is.

I guess I’ve grown up in a way when it comes to love.

amylizr@thelionstale.com

JANUARY 16, 2014

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opinion

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THE LION’S TALE

07

Too fast for the law but too close for comfort

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illustration/HARRYALLEN

Learning to fail doesn’t come easy

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hen I was younger, I tried way too many sports all resulting in the same thing -failure. I was laughably terrible at all of them. My tremendous lack of balance and hand-eye coordination did not help.

First I tried soccer. I decided to jump on that bandwagon because all my friends were already on a team and I might as well join. At the first practice, my coach got all of the girls in a huddle to decide on a team name.

Alex White ‘16 The Purple Sparkly Flying Dungeon Dragons became the finalized name. I hated it but my mom didn’t let me quit yet. The next practice proved to be a little too challenging for my liking and I ended up knocking all the cones over, instead of

Letter to the editor Teacher comments on column about tolerance Referring to an editorial column in the last edition of The Lion’s Tale, the author stated that “Tolerance is a golden virtue”. I respectfully disagree. Tolerance is not always a virtue, much less a golden virtue.

The definition of tolerance given by the author was “The ability or willingness to accept feelings, habits, of beliefs that are different from your own.

I recently attended a wedding reception where the father of the groom got up to toast the newly married couple. He began his toast by saying that “The world is an evil, evil place” and expressed the sinfulness of alcohol to all, including those in

avoiding them.

Since that didn’t work out, my mom signed me up for softball. I wasn’t so interested in that considering at practices and games, I ate grass and stared at the clouds.

Next on the list: swimming. I stuck with this for a while but my career ended when I bonked my head violently on the edge of the pool.

I tried volleyball but I was so bad they just considered me the bench warmer of the team.

I decided to lay off the sports for a while until high school. But in the beginning of sophomore year I started the golf team which is walk-on, of course.

On the first day of try-outs it felt at least 120 degrees outside and I forgot my water bottle at home. On the fifth hole, staring at the green all of a sudden black splotches appeared in my sight range and my body got all heavy and I began panting. I dropped my bag of golf clubs and fell

the room that were drinking. I got up and walked out. What an inappropriate thing to say to a couple starting out their married life and looking forward to bring children into this “Evil, evil place”, and to the invited guests who were drinking alcohol that was freely available.

Was I being intolerant? The argument could certainly be made that I was. Was the father being “intolerant”? The argument could be made that he was as well. Should we sacrifice our own integrity in the name of tolerance?

One could “accept” that George believes that blacks are inferior to whites, or Sally feels that gays are commiting sins, or that Brianna has the habit of praying before every meal. One could also accept that these beliefs, feelings, and habits are irrational or even detrimental to others. One does not need to condone, validate, or even tolerate the

to the floor. I almost passed out. If it weren’t for the countless people pouring water all over me, I probably would’ve blacked out. I thought that foreshadowed a terrible golf season with my fellow team mates and in a way I felt sorry for them that they had to call me a team mate.

Our team didn’t qualify for the district match unfortunately. We lost by two strokes. But I still had so much fun and for the first time in my life felt good about a sports team I was on and the sport I played.

My point is, trying something new can be worth it- even if you’re expecting nothing but failure. I never thought the athletic life was for me but I can finally say that I found a great team that makes me happy that I joined and pushed myself to try it out. Now I’m starting a new sportLacrosse. Hopefully lightning will strike twice.

alexw@thelionstale.com belief, feeling, or habit itself. I would even go so far as to say that speaking out is what helps our society grow and evolve.

As a science teacher am I expected to ignore and accept the opinions of someone who believes that the moon landing or evolution are conspiracies? As a citizen should I remain silent as others attempt to deny rights freely available to themselves through exclusionary laws based on their feelings?

Not all ideas are good, not all beliefs are valid, not all feelings are rational, and not all habits are worthwhile. There is a difference between tolerating the man and tolerating his opinion.

One should be careful not to feel pressured to “accept” all ideas in the name of tolerance.

- Kathy Savage

s I nervously step out of the car, hands sweaty and shaky, I asked myself ‘What got me to this situa-

tion?

Was it deciding to speed up to follow the speed limit?

Was it deciding to hang out with friends instead of staying at home doing nothing?’

When the Oviedo officer pulled me over for going “30 in a 25”, my mind began flash. I asked whether my friends Daniel Hernandez‘14 and I had imagined the 30 mph sign we just passed.

I must assume the officer was using his imagination, too, for he proceeded to ask us if we were intoxicated or under the influence.

After responding with a polite “no sir”, the officer repeated the question and asked me to step out of the car.

He asked me to spread my legs, and went on to pat me down from head to toe.

After finishing this demeaning act, the policeman then asked me if I had any “hand grenades, bazookas or firearms” and asked all of my friends to also step out of the car.

He continued to then frisk all of my friends, except for the only girl in the group, and called in for two fellow cops to join him in his crusade against these four teens.

One of my friends, comfortably seated in the passenger seat, minding his own business was asked if he had any weapons, to which my friend responded ‘No sir’.

So in the name of justice and caution, the officer then decided to flip up my friend’s shirt and began to give him his second pat down.

The three cops then began to search through my car, in hopes for finding a bazooka, all the while, interested civilians drove by going at a particularly slow speed, perhaps also trying to go under the speed limit.

One of the officers asked to call my mother to inform her that I was speeding.

My mother, the clever woman that she be, asked why my car was being searched for speeding, but the officer ignored her and handed me back the phone.

Shaking in fear, I waited for the cops to finish their pointless search to find a weapon or some sort of incriminating evidence. I began to doubt myself and wonder if I had perhaps handled the situation incorrectly.

But then I remembered, I did nothing wrong by following the speed limit or hanging out with friends.

After failing to find any hand grenades, bazookas, or hallucinogens, the officers gave me a warning and allowed my friends and I to go, leaving us shaking in fear.

danielh@thelionstale.com

08

THE LION’S TALE

| opinion | JANUARY 16, 2014

Should you date in high school?

Dating prepares teens for real world

Too many downsides to H.S. dating

by Brendan McCoy

by Cloe-Marie Mora

I

don’t see any reason for people to wait until after high school to start dating. High school is a time for teenagers to prepare for the real world, while they still have the support system that their parents or guardians and school provide.

In high school, young people learn how to approach and deal with others in social situations. Approaching someone in a classroom setting is easier and less scary than it is out in the world, so learning how to meet people while still in high school can be good practice for living alone.

Dr. Nancy Kalish for Psychology Today says, “Friends from our childhood or adolescence are special, no matter how much time has elapsed between visits. These compelling connections are the result of shared roots during the formative years. Our childhood friends and teenage sweethearts experienced with us all the wonderful, horrible, boring, and embarrassing moments that helped to make us who we are today.”

This means that these relationships help us to discover and shape who we are, as they leave a lasting impression even into adulthood.

Also, teens still have the guidance of older and more experience people like parents and school faculty to help them when a situation arrives that they don’t necessarily have the skills or experience to navigate.

If students encounter one of these situations in high school, they know that there are people at school whether they’re friends, teachers, or counselors, whom they can talk

to. There is even a school psychologist who can counsel students on relationships and issues that may arise in them. High school is one of the safest places for dating to begin because of all the support and resources it provides.

The most appealing reason however, is that dating can be fun. It’s always nice to have someone to go out with, or just to cuddle with.

High school is a time where teens finally get the freedom to drive and hang out with people on their own terms without having to provide for themselves, making it an opportune time to begin dating.

Many people opposed to teen dating use the argument that it’s a distraction for students, but after they’ve taken care of the responsibilities that they do have, a distraction is exactly what they need to keep their minds off of the pressure and frustration that can come with becoming an adult.

Also, according to studies done by Carnegie Mellon University’s Psychology department, distraction can aid in the brain’s decision-making process.

Basically dating in high school prepares teens for relationships in the real world which they’ll be living in soon, while they still have a safe and supportive environment. They can get advice or vent, or get help if they need it from readily accessible sources.

As long as teens are responsible and kind to each other, high school relationships are safe and enjoyable, and there’s no need to

brendanm@thelionstale.com

C

ommon adjectives used to describe the pleasantries of dating include appealing terms such as puppy love, true love, star-crossed, and fate. However, the other side- the side movies, TV shows, and the Internet work hard to hide- are not so cute.

This is the side of heartbreak. Of stress, gossip, unease, misery. In other words, high school dating is a popular form of self-destruction.

To be specific, there’s nothing wrong with teen dating in principle. Everyone wants to have fun in high school, to finally grow up and put themselves out there; it’s all a part of the experience. The danger looms in the unhealthy relationships.

These are too common- overly attached boyfriends/girlfriends, jealous types, unfaithful and violent relationships.

This is the kind of dating that parents imagine when their kids bring home boyfriends and girlfriends. This is the kind of dating that makes teachers cynical about students’ swooning over ‘the one.’ And this is the kind of dating that should not run rampant amongst high schoolers.

Being in a relationship can be extremely stressful, rather than being relaxed and freeing as most people would like. When teens are younger, they focus too much on saying the right things, wearing the right things, hanging out with the right people, and going to the right places, and amidst all of that the integrity of the relationship is lost, and it usually ends in tears, angst, and heartbreak.

This night on the town consists of: - two dozen roses or a fancy dinner - coffee - two movie tickets United States $169.73

Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) $151.95

The Price of a Date Around the World

Conversely, teens also tend to get too attached to the people they’re in a relationship with, to an unhealthy and almost scary extent.

The balance of teen happiness can at times hinge on the tiniest comment or action in the more sensitive relationships.

Taking things personally or dramatizing things can lead to jealous or hysterical reactions, and these inevitably lead to choosing sides, splitting up friend groups, and once again, heartbreak.

Finally, the most serious issue in teen dating is domestic violence. According to loveisrespect.org, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner every year.

Physical violence can sometimes be seen as the boy merely being a boy, and often goes unreported. But it is a real issue, and physical abuse is not the only angle- emotional abuse is just as dangerous, and just as common in high school.

One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner (loveisrespect. org). Emotional manipulation in relationships is dangerous, underhanded, and one of the biggest problems in high school dating.

Dating right now can seem like a fun, popular way to sail through school, but there are too many downsides. So, before you say yes to go out with the guy that has been staring at you all year in English, consider waiting until after high school to get involved.

cloemarie@thelionstale.com

Great Britain(London) $207.01

Italy(Rome) $129.28 info/ COURTESY OF BUSINESSINSIDER.COM

JANUARY 16, 2014

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THE LION’S TALE

09

10

(features sports )

THE LION’S TALE

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JANUARY 16, 2014

Peerless Pedigrees

Bob Marley’s distant relative roams campus along with daughter of pom pom inventor

family from Jamaica,” said Schwartz.

“He was a famous singer who also n Los Alamos, New Mexico, in the started the Rastafarian group. He was 1950’s nuclear physicist Forbes known for his acts of humanitarianism Preston plans top secret tests. and free way of living.”

Fast forward to today, senior Schwartz has mixed feelings about Cameron Preston learns that this the legacy of Bob Marley. is one of the many stories that his “I look up to him because he grandfather tells about his past. revolutionized Reggae but I don’t For decades Preston’s grandfather follow his ways and his weed use,” served as a Lieutenant Colonel said Schwartz. “He is an inspiration to Nuclear Physicist for the Air Force. people around the world.”

“I’m not sure what kinds of Despite being related to Bob medals he has but he was a pretty high Marley, Schwartz claims he is not up technical officer,” said Preston. “I talented at music, but he does care guess he worked his way up. He was about people in the same way Marley working at the Pentagon at one point did through peace and philosophy. designing propulsion systems for all Schwartz jokes about abusing his the intercontinental ballistic missiles.” relation.

His role in the world has had an “When I get pulled over by the everlasting effect on him and his cops,” said Schwartz, “I could get family. out of a speeding ticket by telling “My dad pursued a degree them I’m related to Bob Marley,” said in aeronautical engineering,” said Schwartz jokingly.

Preston, “and I’m pretty good at VINYL ON PARADE. AP world history teacher Karlin Gasthoff grew up with a father who created plastic materials for parade floats AP World History teacher Karlin physics like him.” and invented the vinyl pom poms. Wikipedia lists Fred Gasthoff as an inventor. Originally, pom pom were made out of paper.

Gasthoff’s father created the vinyl Not only Preston’s family but also pom pom and parade items. the movie industry was influenced by “My father was a manufacturer of events his grandfather took part in. parade materials,” said Gasthoff. “He

shipped materials all over the world.

“In 1974 a Russian sub went For example, the Orange Bowl parade, down in the Pacific, known as project Gasparilla parade’s, and the Macy’s Jennifer. He went to go investigate it Thanksgiving parade.” and there is a part of a James Bond “Eventually my dad began movie based off this event,” said to manufacture pom poms,” said Preston.

Gasthoff. “First the factory made the Preston only heard about these items out of tissue paper, later the events recently since many of his factory made the items out of vinyl.” grandfather’s assignments were Gasthoff’s father gave her a classified.

B. Marley Dectective Torres positive position in life.

K. Gastoff “He told me two years ago,” Said “My father made a good living promoted him to detective.”

Preston. “So every time I meet him he and afforded me the opportunity to Having an ex-detective in the family has affected Torres tells me something new. He told me last time that he was present travel with my parents around the world,” said Gasthoff. “My father “Some of the stuff that he’s seen has made him pretty paranoid,” was a creative individual and encouraged creativity in me.” for all the open air blastings in the French Polynesian bomb tests.”

Senior Sebastian Torres is related to two relevant people. said Torres. “He knows what’s out there and he lets people know. I Gasthoff stresses her important lineage.

His father is an ex-NYPD detective and he is distantly related to would say I’m more aware of criminal activity than others.”

“Knowing my personal history gives me something to be proud “I’m also related to Miguel Cotto who is a lightweight champion of, a compass,” said Gasthoff. lightweight boxer Miguel Cotto.

“My father is an ex-detective for the New York Police and he’s a pretty famous Puerto Rican boxer,” said Torres. “I was Gasthoff tells a story.

Department. He worked there for 21 years,” said Torres. “He has watching a fight of his a while back with some family over when I “ I didn’t know that when he sent me to a junior high school cutouts of himself in the paper. He was in the paper a lot. I believe first found out.” football game with a handful of “shakers” to sell for 50 cents each Although related, Torres never actually met the champion Cotto. that that would be the beginning of a new product call a pom pom.” his most famous case was the Pelham Parkway case.

“I look up to him,” said Torres. “I don’t know him personally but said Gasthoff. “He named one of the handles the K handle after my The Pelham Parkway case acted as an important milestone in in interviews he seems like a good guy.”

Torres’s father’s career. first name.”

Senior Benjamin Schwartz is related to one of the most influential “A corrections officer had gone rogue raping and robbing 10

women in 11 days,” said Torres. “ My dad had just gotten back musical figures of the 20th century, and a stark advocate for peace.

“I’m related to Bob Marley through my mom’s side of the brandonw@thelionstale.com from vacation and apprehended him the same day. This case also

I

by Brandon White

JANUARY 16, 2014

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features

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THE LION’S TALE

11

Cassandra Lackey

sports ) ///////////(DIDYOUKNOW?

Frederic Bauer designed the Pringles chip, and when he died his ashes were placed in a Pringles can.

Current Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel has a doctorate degree in chemistry.

Sophomore Artist Survivor

A human baby recognizes itself in the mirror at around 24 months.

Iguanadon became the first dinosaur to be discovered, but Megalosaurus was named before it.

Only female mosquitos drink blood.

The numbers on a roulette wheel add up to equal 666.

Alaska is the only state that can be spelled using one line of keys on a keyboard.

Skilled artist overcomes life trials

photo/ TIERNEY SALZMANN

by Lauren Hight

We spend so much of our lives walking.

We spend even more of it walking in crowds.

It is so easy to walk down the hall in Building 8 and look at your feet.

You shuffle along, only looking up to speak with friends or the occasional teacher, and you can so easily become oblivious to those around you.

If this is the case, maybe you missed Cassandra Lackey.

At a quick glance, she appears to be your average high school sophomore.

In fact, she is a strong, beautiful person who has overcome so much. Two of her family members, her mother and grandmother, won the battle against cancer.

“She’s been cancer free for almost nine

Dance Advice: by Lauren Hight

years now,” Lackey said about her mother.

Due to the family history, there is always a chance that she too may contract the disease in the future. However, Cassie knows that she would have plenty of support in that case, “I have one of the best people to help me through it if that ever does happen.”

Her mother now uses her talents as a hairstylist to help other cancer patients with styling their wigs.

Shortly after, her family’s home burned down, and they have had to rebuild everything.

“We moved into this little cottageworkshop thing that my uncle used to live in.

We’ve been working on that, and making it our house, and it’s finished now,” said Lackey.

Despite all of these trials, Lackey is as strong as ever.

Her art has been displayed in multiple art

shows, like Great Day in the Country and the Lake Mary Art Festival, as well as the Media Center.

Her painting style is realistic, and she uses a wide variety of techniques, such as white pencil on black paper, collage, and painting.

Without looking deeper, all of this would have remain hidden. Perhaps it would be a good idea to stop walking and start talking.

laurenh@thelionstale.com Editor’s Note

One by One features a selected student chosen at random whose story is told in only 300 words.

The largest bald eagle nest ever discovered weighed over 2.2 tons.

The sauropod Argentinosaurus Darth Vader never says “Luke, I am your father.” The line spoken is “No, I am your father”.

The largest bald eagle nest ever discovered weighed over 2.2 tons.

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert dated Oprah, and she credits him with convincing her to get her talk show syndicated.

President Lyndon Johnson won reelection in the election of 1964 with 61% of the popular vote, the highest percentage on record. info/COURTESY OF cmu.edu

12 THE LION’S TALE

| news | JANUARY 16 2014

The face of

T

Gene

by Clara Shine

P

sychologists, p accuse M between 1980 being too focused o see the rest of the w “Young people time staring into t days that you’d thin ugly aspect of their dangerous self-cent junior Allison Moss The population into generations ba Census birth cu characteristics to based off of the beha falls to psychologist For the Millenn self-centeredness a the prominent trait psychologists.

“I am not sure whole they are mo (Aren’t all teens?) they have lower s due to social media intrinsic happiness done without postin and getting ‘Likes’, teacher Kati Hanson According to a High Point Unive Carolina, narcissis update their Facebo along with craving f their need for app the study also said th generations makes f

info/COURTESY OF PEW RESEARCH CENTER

G E N E R AT I O N key

Millennials

born 1980-1999

Gen X

born 1965-1980

Boomer

born 1946-1964

Silent

born 1928-1945

The Greatest born before 1928 Generation

What makes your generation unique?

Millennials 1. Technology use 2. Music/pop culture 3. Liberal/tolerant 4. Smarter 5. Clothes

24% 11% 7% 6% 5%

Gen X 1. Technology use 2. Work ethic 3. Conservative 4. Smarter 5. Respectful

12% 11% 7% 6% 5%

Boomer 17% 1. Work ethic 14% 2. Respectful 7% 3. Values/Morals 4. “Baby Boomers” 6% 5% 5. Smarter

JANUARY16, 2014

|

news

TheMillennials

eration grapples with selfish label

e

parents and peers Millennials—born 0 and 1999—of on themselves to world. spend so much the mirror these nk they’d see this r personalities- a teredness,” said . n gets divided ased on the U.S. urve. Assigning the generations avior they exhibit ts. nial Generation, and laziness are ts, according to

if I think as a ore self centered but I do think self-actualization a. They don’t get for a job well ng it somewhere ,” said English II n. a study done at ersity in North sts tweet and ooks more often followers to meet roval. However, hat the Millennial fewer narcissistic

posts than previous generations. some Millennials fit this definition, “I find that the access to social but not all of them. media and the concept of posting “Before it seemed to be more one’s life online-be it Twitter, about helping others and sticking Instagram, Snapchat, etc- and people together and nowadays it seems like commenting on it, have lead a lot everybody’s out on their own. Maybe of people to validate themselves it’s because we’re growing up, but it through those comments,” said seems like a lot of people are pulling Hanson. away from others like ‘screw you, Senior Patrick O’Neill reflects I’m going to do what I want and you on how social can go die for media effects selfish all I care’,” Before it seemed to behavior. said Krillke. be more about helping “Expectations “Yet there might be too are other others and sticking high. We are the people like together and nowadays generation that posts me that do it seems like everybody’s the opposite. whenever we have a random thought They want out on their own. for no reason,” said to grow up David Krillke, ‘15 O’Neill. and help each In American other with Horror Story: Coven, the character things and be around each other. named Madison Montgomery said, They just don’t want to be alone.

“We are known for our entitlement They don’t want to rely on people and narcissism. Some say it’s but they want to do stuff as a group because we’re the first generation not just solo,” where every kid gets a trophy just Are Milliennials lazy? for showing up. Others think it’s “Most of [the] generation feel because social media allows us to everything should be handed to them post whenever we fart or have a and that they deserve it,” said junior sandwich for all the world to see.”

Hannah Thigpen.

“But it seems that our one “I think the main reason they’re defining trait is a numbness to the feeling that is technology. They world, an indifference to suffering. I have everything in the palm of their know that I did anything I could to hand.” not feel — sex, drugs, booze. Just A study done by the nonprofit take away the pain,” Families and Work Institute in 1992 Junior David Krillke agrees that said that eighty percent of people

“

”

under the age of 23 wanted to one day have a full-time job. In 2002, the same organization found that sixty percent did.

“I’d like to become an engineer, in order to contribute to the advancements necessary to correct the mistakes of my generation and the ones before it, and hopefully leave an improved world for the ones yet to be.” said Moss.

In regards to the laziness, bioscience teacher Kathy Savage doesn’t blame students. “[Students are] Not lazy really, but less inclined to participate in something they see no use for. And I’m not really sure that is a bad thing.

They are just stuck in a system that allows them to be aware of endless possibilities without the means to take advantage of them due to their youth,” said Savage.

“I think it must be like being in a glass cage. I don’t think the ‘fault’is this generation so much as the way they are being forced to fit into outdate paradigms,” Krillke offers his opinion on teaching.

“Honestly, I don’t study via textbook. I do an assignment, learn from that assignment and then do the test. I don’t want to just sit there and copy this down. What am I going to get from this? You tell me situations where I will use this in real life and I’ll learn it pretty fast.”

Being a good parent

mil·len·ni·al noun a person born in the 1980s or 1990s

How do you think your generation will affect the world?

“

I think we will be cool grandparents.

”

Brianna Suggs, ‘15

“

My generation will affect the world by making advances in the world of automechanics, computer technology, and media.

”

Liam Lynch, ‘16

“

I think my generation will go down the hall of infamy as the generation of entitled teens and terrible music.

”

Marshall Hallman, ‘17

“

21%

Owning a home

20%

Living a very religious life

15%

Having a high- paying career

15%

Having lots of free time

9% 1%

I think we will continue the strand of innovation set forth by previous generations.

”

Ben Harrison, ‘16

30%

Helping others in need

13

info/COURTESY OF MERRIAM-WEBSTER

52%

Having a successful marriage

Becoming famous

THE LION’S TALE

claras@thelionstale.com

Millennial’s Values Silent 1. WWII/Depression 14% 13% 2. Smarter 12% 3. Honest 10% 4. Work ethic 10% 5. Values/Morals

|

“

I believe our generation will have little to no impact on the world because machines will take over.

”

Morgan Picton, ‘16

14 THE LION’S TALE

| features | JANUARY 16, 2014

Campus Hero

Jarzynka

LEARNING THROUGH CARDS.

photo/MILES MINER

ESE teacher Beth Jarzynka works on an activity with her students.

photo/WILLOW MASON

BACK TO BACK. Shannon Turner rests after dance practice with teacher Beth Jarzynka.

ESE teacher named ‘Teacher of the Year’

by Stephanie Corrigan

E

lizabeth Jarzynka and her students bust out their best “Single Ladies” moves as they prepare for their upcoming Seminole High School preformance alongside Mane Attraction.

Jarzynka will now be entered into a competition for Seminole County Teacher of the Year.

“I’m still shocked,” said Jaryznka.

It’s an honor to just be nominated by your peers,especially when you might be overlooked because your kids aren’t taking the FCAT. I feel very honored and it’s exciting because it tells me that I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing and other people are noticing it. It feels good.”

The ESE program provides special attentive learning to those with disabilities.

Those eligible for the program include autistic and deaf students, those with traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, speech impairments, and more.

Coworker and dance instructor, Angela Koehler, works with both the ESE kids and Jarzynka.

“I nominated and voted for Mrs. Jarzynka as Teacher of the Year. I absolutely believe she deserves it. It takes a very loving and caring person to do all that she does for her students. She is such a genuine person and I thoroughly enjoy working with her,” said Koehler.

Koehler praises Jarzynka for her superb qualities.

“I am inspired by Mrs. Jarzynka’s patience and passion for teaching. I admire how encouraging and loving she is and it is truly a blessing to have her at OHS,” said Koehler.

Interest in special needs children happened can tell they all really love and respect her.” during her senior year of high school.

Jarzynka works every week learning “When I was at Lake Mary High School, dance steps for her students to present at pep they had peer counseling. What I really rallies and at Disney’s dance competition. wanted was the Welcome Wagon, and it was Jarzynka and her students performed an easy way to talk to your friends who were several times this past year. out of class and it was a simple A. But they “This year we performed a pep rally with didn’t want to put me at the Welcome Wagon. them and last year, the special education They wanted to put me in a class that I teach students even came with us to our Disney now,” said Jarzynka. dance competition and the crowd loved Though wary at first, Jarzynka found the them,” said Montcrieff.

ESE students impact on her as life-changing.

Senior Rahne Denny believes Jarzynka “When I was put into that classroom, received credit where it’s due.

I was nervous. I started working with them “[The] ESE teachers inspire me because [and eventually] I enjoyed working with I see all of the work they have to do to make them. I grew up in a family of educators, so sure all of their students I always wanted to are improving throughout be a teacher… They I definitely believe she was the the year. And trust me, just changed my right choice for Teacher of the it is just as much as a life,” said Jarzynka. regular teacher,” said Year.

Jarzynka and her Denny. students grow into a Rahne Denny ‘14 With a parent as an close-knit group.

ESE teacher too, Denny “Our class is witnesses both her mother like a family because my students come and Jarzynka express a love for their careers. to high school around fifteen and sixteen “Mrs. Jarzynka doesn’t just follow the [years old] and they can stay until the age of curriculum; she adds new activities to make it twenty-two… We’re together for a long time. fun for the kids to learn... People can actually You have to have good communication with see improvement in her students. I definitely the parents constantly, so it becomes like a believe she was the right choice for Teacher family,” said Jarzynka. of the Year,” said Denny, “Just last week she Colleagues and students alike admire had the kids make microwave s’mores, and Jarzynka’s persistent dedication. the week before they each had to do a science “Mrs. Jarzynka is a great teacher. She fair project to present to the class. She really really cares about the kids she works with, but goes above and beyond with the kids.” she doesn’t baby them,” said senior Sammie Jarznyka and her kids capture the hearts of Eifert. “A lot of people think they can’t do many student volunteers. anything for themselves and they should Sophomore Kaitlyn Montcrieff spent time always be watched, but she knows better. with the students every Friday last year.

[She] gives the tough love they need, and I

“

”

“They’re so happy, carefree, and compassionate beyond words. Each has a beautiful personality that I am so blessed to have seen. They’re like open books, because they always tell me what’s on their mind. I find myself baffled by how intelligent they are. It’s like looking with a whole new and brighter perspective of life,” said Montcrieff.

Montcrieff also complemented Jarzynka on her kindhearted personality.

“Mrs. Jarzynka treats her ESE students as equals and doesn’t speak to them as if they’re babies. In return, I notice that her students have a lot of respect for her and wish to please her by listening to her,” said Montcrieff.

Jarzynka’s teaching strategy affects her students by showing them ways to be successful and happy in life. according to Koehler.

Requirements of a special education teacher include unconditional love, patience, and acceptance according to Jarzynka.

“Not only do I come to school everyday teaching my students, but [also] I feel that they are always teaching me, [just] about life in general. I wish that everyone on campus would come by and get to know them a little,” said Jarzynka.

Though obstacles arise, Jarzynka wouldn’t trade her job for anything.

“You know, you do have your bad days and your good days…and when one of my students reaches one of their goals and smiles because they are so proud of themselves… I know I’m in the right spot,” said Jarzynka.

“There are bad days, but I don’t want to do anything else.”

stephaniec@thelionstale.com

JANUARY 16, 2014 |

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16 THE LION’S TALE

| features | JANUARY 16, 2014

NO

Save the

date

30%

Find out who is in a relationship and who is not

Young people put off dating during high school

by Alex White and Camilla Omar

T

o date or not to date. That is the question facing teens as they navigate the relationship scene.

“I think dating is an exciting thing that adds more comfort into one’s life, that is, if it’s a healthy and encouraging relationship. But, sometimes what you think would be a positive advancement can end up as a grueling anchor,” said senior Madi Slage.

Slage believes that it would be better to date after high school because managing a relationship with maturity is much easier. She says that her own experiences along with her own opinions contribute to whether or not she would date someone in high school.

“I’m not dating anyone presently due to no driven interest in pursuing anyone around me. I’m having an awesome time with my friends and getting on board with my future career and college life,” Slage said. “I am not really in need of a relationship and I surely wouldn’t want it to hinder my goals.”

Factors such as religion, past experiences, and personal choice can influence someone’s choice as to whether they want to be in a high school relationship or not.

Senior Lucy Wu explains her reasons for not dating presently.

“As a Christian, I believe living a pure life prior to marriage is vital. I want my first boyfriend to be my husband, and I want to make sure I meet the right guy before I decide to give my all to him. My parents do not forbid dating, but they do wish for me to focus more on my education than on romance right now,” said Wu. Junior Aminha Ullah, who is also Muslim, states that her religion doesn’t permit relationships in high school but she decided on her own that it’s not the best idea for her.

“In middle school I didn’t really care much. When I came to high school and I saw my friends doing it and I thought it wouldn’t get me anywhere in this point in time,” said Ullah.

“When people date in high school ‘just for fun’ I think that’s the biggest problem. They just do it just to have some fun and they don’t understand why I wouldn’t want that. Sometimes they don’t get that things can go wrong and not be beneficial for you in the long run. Bad experiences can come with dating someone.”

Ullah states that she thinks it’s acceptable to date in high school as long as you see a future with the person.

“If you really really do sincerely love someone I think it’s okay but it has to be a legit sincere feeling not

just lust. The point is don’t be distracted and preserve yourself until you find the person you want to be with,” said Ullah.

Senior Madi Slage gives insight on high school relationships from her perspective.

“Dating in high school varies with everyone generally.

Some people are in a fun and happy relationship where they go out on fun dates or spend memorable times together,” said Slage.

“Though I have seen many people who are stuck in a relationship that is just grueling and are the root issues of unnecessary stress, then my advice is to ditch the key source of that displeasure and move on. There are worse things in life than being alone.”

Slage states that she has experienced being in a regretful relationship.

“I have been in a relationship where it ended up not working out the way I intended it to, and ultimately the experience morphed into something that would just be a drag onto my self confidence,” said Slage.

“The guy I was with at the time wasn’t putting in that much effort to be with me. I was beginning to regret dating the guy and I decided to end it before either one of us dragged it out any further.”

Slage doesn’t believe in finding ‘the one’, especially not in high school, but she has a kaleidoscope of traits she prefers the person have.

“I search for someone who is down-to-earth with a great sense of humor, nice, mannerly, and someone who has knowledge on how to treat a girl right. I don’t want someone who does fifty percent of that,” said Slage.

“I want all those qualities in a handsome guy who I can get a long with and feel comfortable with at all times.

Personality brings out the inner beauty of the person.”

Sophomore Megan Hopkins believes students go into dating knowing there’s an expiration date. She also believes that when people date in high school and it comes to graduation and their future, many relationships end.

If you let the opportunity of a future spouse slip, Slage says that you would never know if your life could’ve changed for the better.

“There are many people in the world that can fit your personality and standards almost seamlessly,” said Slage.

“It’s just based on pure luck and coincidence if you meet them or not. If you do, my God, don’t let them slip away.”

alexw@thelionstale.com

YES

70%

Student poll taken in the Commons on 1/14/14 with 105 sutdents

Cupid’s playground Things you may or may not have known about dating

90%

ABOUT OF SINGLES SAY IT IS

OK TO BREAK UP OVER A TEXT

NOT

71% OF PEOPLE BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

APPEARANCE COUNTS FOR 55% OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS info/COURTESY OF match.com info/COURTESY OF facts.randomhistory.com info/COURTESY OF statistcbrain.com

JANUARY 16, 2014 | features | THE LION’S TALE 17

A dingo ate my friendship

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photo/COURTESY OF IMDB

THE CREW ASSEMBLES. Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) shares a laugh after a speech with Irving (Christian Bale), Sydney (Amy Adams), Richie (Bradley Cooper), and Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), clueless of their true intentions.

HOLLYWOOD’S HUSTLERS Slick crime film anchored by dynamic performances Length: 129 minutes Rating: R Score:

HHHH

: 93% positive

by Chris Moskal

D

avid O. Russell appears to be on a winning streak lately with the films he has directed.

His previous two films were The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, both of which were great. His latest film American Hustle I think might even be better than those two.

Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) is a fat, greasy con artist in the late 70s who achieves great success after teaming up with his lover Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) to scam investors. Unfortunately after a long period of lucrative success they are caught by FBI agent Richie Di Maso (Bradley Cooper), who agrees to release them if they use their skills to help him arrest four high-profile people.

There are quite a number of potential complications, such as Irving’s wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) being a loose cannon and the growing love triangle scenario between Irving, Sydney and Richie which threatens each of them. Needless to say, the

scenario does not end up the way any of them plan.

This is a film driven by the performances of the four leads as well as Jeremy Renner, who plays a corrupt but very likeable New Jersey mayor targeted by the trio. Bale, Adams, Cooper and Lawrence all deserve Academy Award nominations and Lawrence appears to be the frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress (ironic given how she won her first Academy Award just last year).

A while ago I went to see a movie with a friend who mine who is a big Christian Bale fan. He hadn’t heard of American Hustle and we saw the trailer for it during the previews.

My friend didn’t even realize who the lead actor was until his name appeared at the end of the trailer. He’s so unrecognizable that Robert De Niro (who has a great cameo in the film) didn’t realize he was talking to Christian Bale until David O. Russell told him.

Bale (who gained 50 pounds for the role) becomes completely immersed in his character. He’s an acting beast.

An aspect of the film that really surprised me involved Amy Adams’ performance, in that she felt truly sexy. I’ve always found Adams to be ridiculously pretty but she always has the good girl look. Her performance as Sydney will surprise fans of her: she carries a mysterious, seductive air throughout.

Combining that with her dual roles as Sydney and Sydney’s British disguise Lady Edith Greensley I’d say her role here is her most impressive performance yet.

While American Hustle feels a little bit too long, it contains great performances and characters, an interesting look at the 70s and a cool soundtrack. It also has some very funny moments. It won’t be at the top of my “Best of 2013” film list, but it will certainly be on it.

chrism@thelionstale.com Academy Award Nominees For Best Picture

12 Years a Slave American Hustle Captain Phillips Dallas Buyers Club The Wolf of Wall Street Gravity Nebraska Philomena Her

photo /COURTESY OF THEOSCARS.COM

Movie Information

eeing as how my previous two columns were about famous celebrities I decided to continue the trend and write about

myself.

I’ve known one of my best friends since elementary school but he lives in Australia currently.

I hadn’t seen him in over a year and over winter break he came back to the states to see some of his relatives. C. Moskal ‘14 The last time we met in person was about two years ago.

Upon our reunion I did what every best friend would. I bought two movie tickets and we went to see the uplifting romantic comedy 12 Years a Slave.

The two of us were easily the youngest people in the audience and everyone else seemed to be over the age of sixty. There wasn’t a single minority in the audience either which was odd.

Other than that, we had a jolly good time and came out of the theater with newfound love of our fellow man.

Later the two of us hung out at my house in an event that would make the parties seen in The Wolf of Wall Street seem like a cheap middle school play date. Fasten those seat belts, folks, as this is going to get intense.

I showed him two episodes of The Twilight Zone and then I introduced him the film The Prestige. He then introduced me to the great anime show Neon Genesis Evangelion. That was my first real anime show I’ve ever watched.

Thanks to our friendship I’ve lost my anime virginity.

To all male readers: when approaching a desirable female you want to ask to prom I strongly recommend using the pick-up line “Would you like to lose your anime virginity with me?”

We feasted on a giant buffet consisting of one plain cheese pizza. I had one coke and he had a glass of water. I also had a glass of organic chocolate milk and he made his own coffee.

Before he left we went on one last pilgrimage, a final step our journey needed to take before we could have fufillment. I drove him to Radioshack and we got a USB, which he used to download anime shows and films.

But now he’s gone back to Australia. I won’t see him again for a long time. Our next reunion probably won’t see happen for more than two years.

As I write this I’m listening to the Hans Zimmer masterpiece “Time” from the final scene in Inception and I’m thinking about our friendship. We’ve changed so little and yet so much. We talk almost every day yet oddly enough I think I felt further apart from him when he was standing next to me than when it’s just a Facebook message.

I’m going to graduate high school in the next four months. Soon I’ll be separated from most of my friends because we will be attending different colleges. I guess I’ll have to get used to this feeling.

chrism@thelionstale.com

18

THE LION’S TALE

| features | JANUARY 16, 2014

The One Page Low-down Instructables

by Alex White

From useful and entertaining how-tos and hacks, to delicious recipes and outrageous inventions, Instructables is the place to explore, document, and share your creations. With countless tutorials they have the largest collection of doit-yourself projects created by people just like you. From your phone, you can take pictures, organize your pictures into steps, add more information, publish, and enter contests. Making an account can allow you to begin a project and then save it to your Instructables account. You can even start an Instructable on your phone and finish it on your computer. This app has the potential to help you become more creative and original than ever before.

The Pixies “EP2”

Album Review

HHHH

by Brenden McCoy EP2 is the latest release in an ongoing series of EPs (Extended plays, recordings too short to be a studio album) by the American alternative group the Pixies.

This album contains four songs, the first of which is “Blue-Eyed Hexe”. Eerily reminiscent of an AC/DC piece in almost every way, from the beat to the opening riff and even at some points the vocals.

The next two songs on the album are lighter and more mellow in both pace and tonality. “Snakes”, the last song on the EP, conveys a more pop/rock feel than the rest of the album. The guitar parts in the song almost have a surf-music feel to them.

The album has a length of only 14 minutes but it still leaves the listener satisfied, as all the songs have a lot of depth to them.

Overall, EP2 fits in fairly well with the Pixies alternative repertoire though it is quite obvious that the band has evolved since forming in the late ‘80s. From this album and the previous, the band seems to be doing well since the departure of their original bassist in 2013.

I give this album 3½ stars because it was better than average, but not quite on the level of a classic. It’s a pretty typical-sounding alternative album but it’s done very well. EP2 will appeal both to longtime Pixies fans and fans of alterntive rock in general.

SUDOKU

Compare & Contrast

Warner Bros. vs. Paramount

What grinds my gear

By Chris Moskal CATEGORY

by Cloe Marie-Mora

When I’m buying jeans, I know what to look for. Most stores carry the usual sizes: 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and so on. The occasional store will work with 2, 4, 6, etc., but even then figuring out your size isn’t exactly rocket science.

What really grinds my gears is when stores bring in those European brands labeled with numbers in the 20s and 30s. I understand that it’s supposed to be the width of your waist, but I’m definitely willing to bet that most of us have never measured our waists… and we shouldn’t have to.

When the majority of stores across the United States use the usual odd-numbered system starting with zero, it’s a pain having to run the trial and error method on those 32s, 29s, and 27s for an hour when we’re just trying to get some decent jeans from H&M. Not to mention the sizing of the length of pants. Finding the right length in a traditional numbering system is difficult enough, especially with verticlly challenged people like myself without throwing entirely foreign sizing into the mix It may be more practical, but so is the metric system. Last time I checked, our highways have mile markers, not kilometer markers.

So it’s time to get with the system and change pant sizes to a language (okay, numerical range) we can all recognize and work with.

April 4th, 1923 20, including: Unforgiven LOTR:The Return of the King Harry Potter The Matrix Batman

Year Founded Best Picture Oscars

May 8th, 1912 12, including: The Godfather Forrest Gump Braveheart

Major Franchises

Star Trek Shrek Mission: Impossible

WINNER: Warner Bros.

Haiku Review

The Wolf of Wall Street

by Chris Moskal

HHH Great for all ages!

Clean, wholesome family fun.

Investments: Worth it.

GUYS GUIDE TO Hugging Other Guys

by Keenan Smith The bro hug is one of the most unaddressed and awkward phenomenon in the scope of male humanity. Men want the opportunity to show friendship but at the same time need to maintain their masculinity. Here are some ways you can show your respect to a bro without giving anyone the wrong idea.

• The pound hug is a great place to start if you are a man hug freshie. Duke University professor Mark Anthony Neal describes it in this way. “It’s the hip-hop hug: a handshake, you pull yourselves together, and you bump.” Other common names are the dude hug, bro hug, thug hug, hetero hug and daps.

• The back pat is a hug only for those with experience.

As you approach your friend, extend your arm in a manly fashion. Place one hand firmly on an upper shoulder blade while simultaneously patting their other shoulder with your free hand. Quickly release the huge and proceed to converse about manly things.

• If you are uncomfortable with these options, keep it simple with a powerful fist bump. This swift and sanitary action is hard to mess up and it gets the point across: we are very possibly buds and I would never steal your girlfriend.

all photos/COURTESY OF PUBLICITY SITES

1995 movie Jumanji created Remember The many nightmares and fantasies 90’s generation. Alan ParThis?forrishthe(Robin Williams) and Sarah

by Alex Browning

Whittle (Bonnie Hunt) stumble upon the game Jumanji as kids.

When they start to play the game Alan gets sucked inside it. He’s not seen again until Judy Shepherd (Kristen Dunst) and Peter Shepherd (Bradley Pierce) find the game in an abandon house.

When they open the game, Alan emerges and explains that he has been trapped in the game all his life. The trio must to search for Sarah so they can finish the game they started years before.

Video of the Month

by Brandon White

How to build a fictional world-Kate Messner

This is an informational video that teaches anyone willing to make their own fictional world. It provides a portrayal into how J.R.R. Tolkien famously created middle earth, and how people can do the same.

So Not Hot

by Amy Rodriguez 1) Fuzzy socks with sneakers 2) Platform sneakers 3) Duck face selfies 4) Cockiness 5) Shirtless profile pictures 6) Not saying what’s wrong when you have a bad day 7) Leonardo DiCaprio not winning an Oscar.

(sports sports )

JANUARY 16, 2014

THE LION’S TALE

19

Girls soccer feels pressure to win

by Jaimie Landers

T

TOTAL CONTROL. Allison Jacobs shows skill with the ball, keeping it from Winter Springs players.

|

he girls’ varsity soccer team is feeling the heat after last year’s soccer team brought home the state championship trophy.

“There’s always pressure to win states since we won last year, so we don’t want anything less,” senior Sarah Buckley said.

“There’s pressure on yourself and pressure from the fan base.

The parents just want what you want, and we want to win so that’s what they want, too,” said Buckley.

The team deals with the pressure by staying dedicated to training hard during practices.

“The pressure to win just gives us more nerves, so we work harder and train harder than ever before,” said senior Emily Kobryn.

Junior Reagan Funaro believes the team has the potential to win states if they play as a whole, not individually.

“There’s a lot of talent on the team. We just haven’t come together yet. We haven’t played a game yet as a team so we’re working on being consistent and improving our mistakes,” said Funaro.

Although they haven’t come together on the field, they’ve grown closer as a group through pre-game traditions.

“We’re very superstitious. We line up the same, odds on one side, evens on the other, and we pray before every game and during the national anthem we lock our pinkies together,” Buckley said.

Becoming state champions last year created

a feeling that the team hopes to experience again.

“Winning states last year was kind of unexpected. We were confident and hoping for a win but I don’t think we really expected a win so it was like a rush when it happened. We were really proud of each other because it was a team effort,” said Grewal.

Grewal thinks that the win from last year added more pressure that could benefit the girls.

“There’s more pressure to win now that we’ve already won. We had a team meeting where we talked about the pressure and how it could affect us in a positive way. We want to win for our school and for our team,” said Grewal.

The team is focusing on improving and learning from each game. They are taking the steps to make sure everyone is in good physical and mental health.

“We have talks at the end of every game and the next day at practice what we should have done better because how you practice is how you play,” said Buckley.

“We’re taking care of injuries early instead of playing through them and before they get bad,” said Grewal.

Coach Scott Waisanen’s goal for the girls is to advance as far as they can in the playoffs.

“Every year is different and if we are healthy and competitive we have a chance to make a playoff run. Our group is a tight group of girls with a common goal and bond,” said Waisanen. “They will work hard for each other and play with pride for their school.”

jaimiel@thelionstale.com The team’s current record is 14:4:2.

all photos/ALEX BROWNING

GOING FOR THE BALL. Oviedo attempts to get to the ball first against Bishop Moore ONE ON ONE. Two players fight for the ball PLAYING NICE. Allison Jacobs greets her opponents-players players on Jan. 9.

during the game against Winter Springs on Jan.13.

from Winter Springs.

THE LION’S TALE

| sports | JANUARY 16, 2014

Living for

BASKETBALL Junior learns perseverance pays off

by Amyliz Rodriguez

E

verything. That’s what basketball means to junior Matthew Milon.

“When I was little I played a lot of sports. I used to swim, I used to play soccer, stuff like that but I wasn’t very good at those so I started playing basketball and I ended up liking it the most,” Milon said.

Described by ESPN, or the Entertainment and Sports Network, as a tough, physical and very competitive shooting guard, Milon’s job is to score and rebound, but also to be a leader and to make sure that the team is constantly on the same page.

“It’s a big responsibility to be a captain. You have to make sure that everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do on the court at all times. Some things I do in order to get the team ready is that we all pray before a game,” Milon said.

“During the day I dedicate probably about three to four hours during the season practicing. So about two hours of practice, then after that about two hours or practicing on my own doing more conditioning or shooting more shots so that I can be prepared when I play during a game.”

Milon believes in working hard in order to be good at anything.

“You have to work hard. If you don’t work hard, you won’t be good at anything. I think that’s important.

It’s important to me because I’m not the most gifted athlete talent-wise, but I’ve worked really hard and I’ve gotten better at what I wasn’t blessed with,” Milon said.

Over the course of his high school career, Milon entertained offers from various colleges including Stanford University, Purdue, University of Central Florida, Virginia Tech, Georgia Southern and Davidson.

“I definitely plan on continuing basketball through college. It’s a free way to go to college and to get an education,” Milon said Milon feels no struggle between juggling academics and basketball, setting his goal on elite universities.

“For me it’s not really that hard [to maintain my grades].

I mean I’ve always had to. Both my parents are professors at UCF, so they make sure that I stay on top of everything,” Milon said.

Over the summer, Milon played for the Q6 All Star Elite team. Founded in 2005 by former Boston Celtic Marquis Daniels, the Q6 All Stars organization specifically recruits student-athletes and provides many avenues for them to continue their success on and off the court.

Milon says that it was a rewarding experience for him.

“We traveled to places like Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin. It’s fun because you meet kids from all around the nation that play and also play in front of college coaches. They’re right there watching you as you play unlike during the school year, where you have four or five coaches watching you, there are about 50 coaches at one game

there. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s also a lot of fun when you play well,” Milon said.

Milon enjoys going through the scouting process.

“It’s actually a lot of fun. They call me now. Back when I was a sophomore they weren’t allowed to call me so now after practice I’ll have text messages from coaches or missed calls.

It’s cool because they get to tell you how much they want you at their school but some of it’s a hoax. They like to pump you up. But it’s great to have a genuine conversation with a college coach,”Milon said.

Regarding this year’s varsity team, Milon believes it’s a strong one.

“I’m really close with my team. They’re really fun to be around. Our strong point is probably our chemistry. Between my team and I, we’ve all been playing three almost four years, which is a really long time,” Milon said.

Suffering an injury to his foot, Milon sat out from four games this season.

“It was hard to sit out when I was hurt. Emotionally, it was difficult not knowing when I would get healthy. I hurt my arch and my heel so I had to miss games but we’ve only played eight games and the season’s probably until February or March, so I still have a lot to go, it’s still early. Austin Lang filled in for me when I was absent and he’s been playing really well and the other guys have stepped up as well,” Milon said Milon accredits his success to his teammates, saying that he does what he does because of them and without him there are still great players on the court Overall, Milon believes his high school career to be a good one.

“My freshman year when I started, I personally don’t think was my greatest year. I averaged I think about 13 points. Freshman year I was also pushed around a lot and I just told myself one day that I wasn’t going to be pushed around anymore, so I amped up my workouts and hit the weight room harder.

Now I went from not even being honorable mention at the all conference last year, to being the unanimous first choice team at all conference,” Milon said.

Milon states his biggest supporters are his parents, his coaches and his trainers, but his father has always been there since day one. For Milon, his motto is his father’s advice “Before every game, like away games, my dad takes me and he always tells me to have fun,” Milon said.

“Sometimes when it’s a big game you get caught up and go to yourself, ‘This is a big game,’ and then you get all serious about it. But what he says is true, in the end and at the end of the day it’s just a game, so have fun and enjoy it.”

amylizr@thelionstale.com

Current record: 16 wins, 4 losses

photo/MILES MINER

20

The upcoming home games for boys varsity basketball are on the following dates at 7:30 1/21 against Seminole 1/24 against Winter Springs 1/27 against Lyman

JANUARY 16, 2014 |

sports

|

THE LION’S TALE

21

50% of diving fatalities happen with people who have dived less than 20 times.

Teen faces dangers while diving

by Lyndsey Taylor

E

Top three death causes are pre existing health concerns, poor bouyancy control, and rapid ascent.

4% of fatalaties occur when separated from a buddy.

A body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 significantly increases your risk of death while diving.

yes finding beautiful coral in pink, yellow and orange, Sophomore Melissa Gaertner sinks 60 feet down into the cool water off the shore of Key Largo.

On her first ‘real’ dive she stares in awe at vivid fish and strange lobster-like creatures shes never seen before. Swimming next to an elegant sea turtle Gaertner knows: she’s taken up a new pastime, and one that can be exceptionally dangerous.

With 150 fatalities a year within the United States, scuba diving is at the top of the list of the deadliest pastimes. According to www.scubadiving.com, the most common reason divers die are equipment problems, environmental issues, procedural errors, or poor diver health.

With all these dangers and many more it isn’t surprising that Gaertner sometimes finds herself scared while going on a dive.

“I get scared and stop breathing or hold my breath,” Gaertner said.

In fact, while training for her certification, Gaertner found herself having panic attacks.

“On my second dive I actually had a panic attack underwater. It was scary because you’re not allowed to go up right away you have to go up by measures but I shot up,” Gaertner said. Wildlife often poses a threat

underwater, and scuba divers must watch out for it but unlike a lot of people, Gaertner is not afraid of sharks.

“I’m actually not scared of sharks. I love sharks. I want to go shark feeding. I might go next year. But you do have to not get too close to sea life in the coral reefs,” Gaertner said.

“I would say watch out for barracudas.

They are attracted to shiny things and your tank is shiny. If you’re scared, you can also have a knife with you for protection from sea life.”

In order to minimize the chance of getting hurt, tons of preparations must be made before a dive.

“We’re planning to go [for a dive] in January. It takes a long time to plan for a dive. You have to prepare how much oxygen you need in between dives because whenever you go diving you take one dive, you have an interval in between and then you have another dive. You have to make sure you have enough air, but not too much- that could be bad,” Gaertner said.

“You have to check your equipment frequently to make sure everything is okay because you’re underwater and your tank goes bad you’re kind of done.”

Even with preparations, Gaertner has had

her fair share of scary moments.

“The scariest part of my first dive was when we were doing our routines and taking off our regulators. I took mine off and I guess I forgot how to breathe so that wasn’t good,” Gaertner said.

To make sure divers are completely ready and to minimize the risk of death even further, diver must get certified which for Gaertner was a long process.

“I had lessons every week starting at eight in the morning and it was four hours of class work and another four hours in the pool,” Gaertner said.

After she was certified by NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), Gaertner took baby steps before hitting the coral reefs in the Keys.

“My first dive was in a lake. I went 30 feet under too get used to it and I saw little shipwrecks and bikes under water. There was a trail that you follow in that lake. It was cool,” Gaertner said.

Despite the dangers and possible threats, Gaertner still finds scuba diving worth the risks.

“It’s not claustrophobic at all. It’s so open and peaceful. It feels like you’re in space honestly,” Gaertner said.

lyndseyt@thelionstale.com

Deadliest dive destination:

info/COURTESYOF WWW.ALERTDIVER.COM

the blue hole in the Red Sea -located in Egypt. It is a vertical cavern 130 meters deep.

- on average, 30 people die here each year.

-divers become impaired with nitrogen narcosis in this deep dive in which they feel ‘on top of the world’ and that leads to fatal decisions. info/COURTESYOF WWW.BOOKYOURDIVE.COM photo/ED GAERTNER

Learning the ropes. Melissa Gaertner practices diving in a pool before moving on to lakes and the ocean.

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THE LION’S TALE

| advertisements |

JANUARY 16, 2014

JANUARY 16, 2014 |

Roar Board

sports

//////

On Feb. 2, the boys varsity basketball team took on East River High School and won 74-63. The team is currently holding a record with 12 wins and eight losses. The boys moved on into districts on Feb. 8 with a game against Lake Howell High School. The boys walked THE the game. The boys out with a 73-72 victory. The boys made a comeback after being down by 12 points, two minutes before the end ofGETTING moved on to play Winter Springs High School on Feb. 10.

Girls Golf

REBOUND. Junior Amber Manis and Sophomore Morgan Wagner box out the opposing team and get the rebound.

photo/MILES MINER

Boys soccer prepares for districts

Girls gain strength by weightlifting This past season, girls weightlifting strived for one goalDevelopment. The girls used the time they spent in weightlifting to train for the sport that they are in. Specifically, some of the girls softball members, including sophomore Morgan Greco, used weightlifting to train for the softball season.

Other team mates such as junior Sarah Newman explain that the weightlifting team has allowed for her and some of the other softball players to improve their specific skills in softball like hitting and throwing.

With softball season around the corner, the players have started to notice significant changes in the way they play. In particular, junior Destinee Howard notices that weighlifting improves her pitching speed.

Howard says, “Before weightlifting I was consistently pitching 59 miles per hour. After weightlifting I now pitch 63 miles per hour.”

As the weightlifting season comes to a close, the girls are getting ready for the next season. Whether it be lacrosse or softball, they weightlifters say that they are ready to tackle their spring sports.

The boys varsity soccer team faces district competition very soon. If the boys beat Lake Brantley on Jan. 21, they will move on.

Junior George New doesn’t think that beating Lake Brantley will be a challenge because Oviedo is ranked higher. On the flipside, sophomore Nicholas Hinds thinks their toughest opponent will be Winter Springs because their district rankings are much closer.

In preparation, the team practices every day. So far this season the Lions have 17 wins 3 ties and 0 losses. Practices began in early Oct. The team’s strength this season is that they excel in workig together.

“We’re all good friends we work well together and we all play hard,” New said.

Girls basketball nears end of season The girls varsity basketball team, with an 8 to 11 record reaches the end of their season. In the next few weeks, the girls will have to win a majority of the upcoming games in order to move on to districts.

“We all need to take games a lot more serious, score more, and be ready for anything,” junior Kenya Alexander said.

Kenya Alexander On the sidelines...

1. If you were in a fight and the only weapon you With

could use is a food, what would you pick?

Any kind of fruit, like apples or oranges, because they’re hard.

2. Who is your basketball inspiration?

My grandmother because she played when she was younger, too.

3. What is your spirit animal?

An elephant.

4. What is your favorite song to sing in the shower?

“Sail” by Awolnation.

THE LION’S TALE

23

Columnist asks the question ‘Are sports too dangerous?’

by Lyndsey Taylor

D

oesn’t the school put our safety as students above all else?

In order to promote this all important safety students with weapons are expelled, we (the students) constantly learn about the dangers of drunk driving, the dangers of drugs, and a new one for me this year- the dangers of mixing prescription medications.

At the first signs of child abuse teachers must report their suspicions, and threats to the school have to be taken extremely seriously.

L. Taylor ‘15 It seems every week we have a fire drill, a code red drill; we practice some type of precautionary measure just to keep us, the students from getting hurt.

Keeping all this in mind, it almost seems some high school sports should be banned.

Before you avid sport fans and players come hunt me down, you must understand- I think sports are great and a crucial part of the overall high school experience.

Still, a dark question lingers in the back of my mind: Are high school sports too dangerous?

In America, high school athletes account for an estimated two million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations each year (www.stopsportsinjuries.org). Injuries may be an ordinary part of sports. Some may say that it’s bound to happen, but I don’t think that is the way it should be.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than half of injuries that occur at the high school level are overuse injuries. That means that coaches and student athletes are just being plain stupid.

If an athlete injures themselves, they should allow that injury to heal, no questions asked.

Continued stress on an already injured part of the body is what causes overuse injuries thus, these injuries are almost always preventable.

Sprained ankles and broken bones may be just a part of the game and a risk athletes are willing to take but there is a difference between these injuries and an injury that can affect you for the rest your life.

I implore you to disregard the motto “No pain, no gain”.

Be safe, be smart, rest when the doctor tells you to, listen to your body and sports will continue to be something we all can enjoy.

lyndseyt@thelionstale.com

5. If you could marry any famous actor who would you choose?

Tyrese Gibson from Fast and the Furious.

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photo//MILES MINER

24 THE LION’S TALE

Jade Deatherage Lauren Hayduk Niyati Shah Frankie Rivera Emma Pelfrey

| features | JANUARY 16, 2014

14 years of playing to sold-out crowds establishes Showcase as campus tradition

by Alex White

C

ountless hours of rehearsals, hundreds of students participating, packed auditoriums.

Showcase enters the realm of tradition bringing in $9,000+ in ticket sales this year. Band director Dennis Line spent the past 14 years directing showcase.

“Showcase hasn’t changed much over time. The songs have just become more current,” Line said.

Two of the three shows between Dec. 13-15 were sold out, with only 30 seats left for the Friday showing.

Line says that his favorite part of the show is being able to watch the audience’s reaction during performances. But this year, something unexpected took place.

“We had our percussion group use baby powder on their drums and we didn’t realize that it would make the floor really slippery for the dancers,” Line said. “So for the second night they put a lot of baby powder on so it made it kind of difficult. The third night they didn’t.”

Line said that all in all, it takes about 208 hours to put the show together, even with help from parents.

“The biggest help in making the show would be some of the band parents who came in and helped with the lighting. I had an alumni parent who actually ran the lights during the show. There’s a handful of parents who helped a lot behind the scenes as well,” Line said.

Sophomore Jacob Bushey says that his favorite part about showcase was freshman Niyati Shaw’s performance of her traditional dance from India.

“It was just different, just very interesting,” Bushey said. Bushey took part in the chorus performance of the song “O’ Magnum Mysterium”.

“All in all, I had a great time this year. The other chorus members were great to work with and it was definitely the highlight of my year,” Bushey said.

“I honestly can’t wait until next year’s showcase.”

Showcase

Kevin Laffick

Anthony Malara Teanna Lahens Victoria Robertson

Karla Orellano

All photos/MILES MINOR