The Highlander - Issue 2 - December 2021

Starting the Race a Mile Back Exploring the experiences of first-generation college applicants Issue 2 December 2021 Volume 66 McLean High school THEHIGHLANDERNEWS.COM @MHSHIGHLANDER

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Letter from the editors Dear McLean,

Happy holiday season, Highlanders! As college deadlines get closer, students are scrambling to get all of their applications in. This may seem easy to some, but to first-generation students, the college application process can be especially challenging. This issue’s in-depth focuses on personal stories of hardship faced by McLean students and their experiences with the college application and admission process.

This issue, read about students who make their mark on the world in unique ways. Olivia Zhang started a nonprofit to help children with cancer, Caden Hershberg spends his time learning to cook new cuisines and Eshan Parkash dazzles people with his musical talents.

Our opinions section debates several topics, including why we believe advisory is an unnecessary part of Highlander Time. Turn to our sports section to read about the McLean dance and cross country teams.

We would love to hear your feedback. Email thehighlanderstaff@gmail. com with your questions and concerns. We hope you enjoy this issue, and we look forward to bringing you more this school year. Thank you so much for your support!

Yours Truly, Aleena Gul, Josh Bass & Maya Amman

thehighlandernews.com|@MHSHighlander Editors-in-Chief: Maya Amman Josh Bass Aleena Gul Design Editors-in-Chief: Ariana Elahi Taylor Olson Managing Editors: Hanna Boughanem Ana Paula Ibarraran Laine Phillips Polina Zubarev Website Editor-in-Chief: Akash Balenalli Website Managing Editor: Mackenzie Chen Chief Marketing Manager: Saehee Perez Head Cartoonist: Jayne Ogilvie-Russell Cartoonist: Liz Nedelescu Photographers: Sandra Cheng Morgan Muntean Fact Checkers: Belén Ballard Saehee Perez

Designers: Akash Balenalli Makda Bekele Dania Reza Vanessa Popescu Natalie Vu News Editors: Arnav Gupta Nyla Marcott Philip Rotondo Features Editors: Belén Ballard Ivy Olson Madeleine Stigall A&E Editors: Noah Barnes Khushi Rana Grace Gould Opinions Editors: Emily Friedman Cc Palumbo Sports Editors: Andrew Christofferson Tanner Coerr Scott Shields Copy Editors: Tanner Coerr Arnav Gupta Philip Rotondo Madeleine Stigall

McLean High School 1633 Davidson Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Digital Media Producers: Layla Zaidi Polina Zubarev

Social Media Managers: Akash Balenalli Isabella DiPatri

Reporters: Melissa Allegretti Zachary Ammar Sandra Cheng Andy Chung Graham Courey Farah Eljazzar Madelyn Frederick Sydney Gleason Conaire Horgan Max Irish David Jerzak Omar Kayali

Christiana Ketema Kaan Kocabal Ghada Moussa James Murray Valerie Paredes Tara Pandey Josephine Phillips Ritika Rohatgi Paarth Soni Peter Shumway Dario Sutera Madie Turley

Adviser: Lindsay B. Benedict

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contents

The Highlander newsmagazine Volume 66 | Issue 2 December 2021

41

NEWS 4-5 7 8 9

COVID-19 testing begins at school

35

16-17

FCPS reinstates challenged books Boys petition for bathroom dividers Supply chain problems affect McLean

FEATURES 10-11 12-13 14 15 16-17 18 19

Highlander of the Issue: Olivia Zhang

Brooke Abraham brings her service dog 10 Questions with Cameron Keuning Chef Caden Hershberg Cool state parks nearby

IN-DEPTH

on the cover

22-29

Teachers’ holiday wishlists

A&E 20-21 30-31 32 33 34 35

39

Class of 1960 mirrors Class of 2022

22-29

Starting the race a mile back

Exploring the experiences of first-generation college applicants Cover portrait by Aleena Gul

opinions Artist Spotlight: Eshan Parkash Media popularizes Asian culture Vintage fashion trends are back Best bagels in the area Adele and Taylor Swift album reviews Satire: How to be a Soundcloud rapper

‘17, ‘20 Pacemaker Winner; ‘15, ‘19, ‘21 Pacemaker Finalist; ‘15, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19 AllAmerican; ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16 First Class; Hall of Fame

‘14, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20 George H. Gallup Award; ‘15 International First Place

‘18, ‘19, ‘21 Silver ‘00, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21 ‘14, ‘15, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18, Crown Winner; ‘19, ‘21 First Amendment ‘16, ‘17, ‘20 Gold Press Freedom Award VHSL Trophy Class; Crown Winner ‘11, ‘12 First Place ‘05, ‘07, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, Winner; VHSL Savedge Award ‘15, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20 CSPA Gold Medalist

36 37 38-39 40

Editorial: Advisory is unnecessary College application fees are a scam Crossfire: Are religious observance days beneficial to students?

Lockdown drills are ineffective

sports 41 42 43 44

Dance team steps up Cross country state championship runners Athlete of the Issue: Mia Fitzgerald Finish Line: winter sports

SWABS IN THE SILVER HALL

COVID-19 testing center opens inside school

FRONT OFFICE

TESTING CENTER

SILVER HALLWAY

Time to test — Staff from other schools are provided with signs to direct them to the COVID-19 testing center. The center is open during school hours and must be accessed by walking down the silver hallway.

S

NYLA MARCOTT NEWS EDITOR

tudents walking down the silver hallway will notice a string of white signs with directions to a COVID-19 testing center.

McLean High School no longer simply provides educational instruction during the school day; it now offers testing for the COVID-19 virus. On Nov. 1, FCPS began requiring unvaccinated staff members to get weekly COVID tests at one of nine locations throughout the county.

McLean High School’s testing site is staffed by LongView International Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS), a private company contracted to provide antigen and PCR COVID-19 tests. The company uses a conference room in the front office to administer the tests on Tuesdays from 12 to 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. FCPS staff members are typically administered antigen tests. If they have been in close contact with an infected person, or if their results come back positive, staff are required to take a PCR test.

“McLean was selected as a testing center location because of our proximity,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “They tried to centrally put [testing] where people live, so we are

4 | NEWS | DECEMBER 2021

probably hitting the Arlington group testing and student services, but if people pull up there, Covid-19 at McLean people who live that way.” they can’t circle around, so [LTS] said that McLean is currently one of only three they only wanted us to do indoor [testing].”

Staff schools with Students testing sites inside theStudent building. Athlete While teachers do not earn additional pay The school’s administration was originally for time spent being tested outside of work, Lorem led to believe that testing would take temporary hourly and contracted nonexempt employees are paid for the time they take during or after their work day to be tested.

“The overall additional time reported... must include travel time, waiting time and time to test,” FCPS policy states. “These activities related to required testing are compensatable.”

Staff members who come to McLean for testing do not check in at the front office.

Instead, they are directed to follow signs through the school to the room where the - RITA TENNESSEN tests are administered.

MEMBER OF THE LTS TESTING TEAM “We check badges, emails and explain the testing procedure,” said Rita Tennessen, a place outside of the building in a tent, but member of the LTS testing team at McLean.

McLean’s campus design made it difficult to FCPS employees have had a wide range establish a drive-through site. of reactions to the recent development.

“We didn’t get a drive-through because “It takes a lot of courage for people we have to close the gate on Westmoreland these days to stand up for the rights of Street, so there isn’t a place that you can loop people. Somebody like me can express an around,” Reilly said. “We were going to put opinion. Other people have to take the shot the testing center back by the outside of or be fired,” said an anonymous FCPS staff

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL TO GET A PCR TEST.”

Photos by Nyla Marcott | Graphics & page design by Ariana Elahi

member who used the McLean testing center on Nov. 16. “I tell my friends I went to bed one night, and I feel like I woke up in North Korea.”

The location of the testing center within the school building, combined with the open access offered to unvaccinated workers from across FCPS, poses potential dangers for students and staff. The risk for a schoolwide outbreak of COVID-19 is further amplified by overcrowded conditions at McLean.

“I am concerned with McLean’s overcapacity in terms of spreading COVID-19,” said senior Franny Stroik, copresident of McMed, a club focused on health-related professions. “While masks significantly diminish the rate at which COVID-19 can spread, the amount of people in small rooms [and] during passing periods does worry me.”

The testing center can be accessed through the main office, though it is typically reached through the silver hallway. The route to the testing center goes through studentfilled hallways rather than the office, where staff is sparse.

“I wasn’t really concerned about that at all because it’s really 15 minutes with continuous contact with somebody,” Reilly said. “They’re in and out and we don’t come in any contact with them, so [potential exposure] was very minimal if it’s going to happen.”

Staff who are tested in the centers do not immediately receive their test results.

If results show that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, they are asked to return to the school building to receive an additional test.

“If you test positive, you have to come back to the school to get a PCR test, which is sent to a lab,” Tennessen said.

The testing center has to be accessed

through a door that also leads to staff bathrooms, which do not have any source of air circulation. On Nov. 16, in a period of 1.5 hours, 11 McLean employees entered the same door used by four staff members arriving to receive testing. The shared door was never sanitized during this time.

SOMEBODY LIKE ME CAN EXPRESS AN OPINION. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE THE SHOT OR BE FIRED.” - ANONYMOUS FCPS STAFF MEMBER “I’m a little concerned about teachers returning to be tested because it is on school property, meaning they could risk infecting others,” said senior Amelia Badipour, copresident of McMed. “I think they should be tested off campus, as there are many other testing locations.”

FCPS plans to continue offering testing to both unvaccinated staff and students (see sidebar) until testing is no longer considered a mitigation strategy. It remains unclear how long testing will be offered and whether staff who remain unvaccinated will eventually be required to continue weekly testing through an independent company.

“I have health issues, and I don’t want to further challenge my needs [with] two different autoimmune diseases,” the anonymous teacher said. “If I were mandated to have to take the shot, I would quit. I’m grateful that I can be treated like an adult, and I still have a choice in terms of making that tough decision for myself.”

I

FCPS BEGINS STUDENT TESTING

n addition to testing staff, FCPS began testing unvaccinated students on Nov. 15 in the same conference room where teacher testing is conducted. Unvaccinated students must receive parental approval to be part of the random COVID-19 testing program.

“They’ll randomly select 10% of our population to come down and get screened.

So here, that would be about 230 people,” Reilly said. “I don’t know if 230 people are going to opt into it, so if we [end up] having 50 people who opted in, then they would be tested every week.”

Unvaccinated student testing is conducted on Mondays by LTS, the same company who conducts testing for unvaccinated teachers.

Students who are exposed to COVID-19 or test positive while at school are moved to a CARE room until they can be picked up by a parent.

“There’s two different rooms, and those are the two rooms that we have as the CARE center,” Reilly said. “It has to be away from the clinic and in an isolated area. [It is] the best that we could do.”

Testing in McLean’s center is currently only for a random sampling of the unvaccinated population and for student athletes who are unvaccinated, regardless of the presence of COVID-19 symptoms.

Students who have a close contact with someone who tests positive or who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms can be tested at LTS’s drive-through sites.

“This center [is] a great way to make our student body feel more comfortable around each other while learning,” senior Franny Stroik said.

Similar to other Unique groups: characteristics:

COVID-19 Testing for Unvaccinated People at McLean Staff

Students

Student Athletes

Receive rapid antigen test

10% of unvaccinated students tested if voluntarily opted in

Testing conducted by Aegis Sciences Corporation

Testing offered Tuesdays and Thursdays

Testing offered Mondays from 12-2:30 p.m.

Testing on Mondays from 10 -11:30 a.m.

Testing is conducted by LTS

Testing is conducted by LTS

Testing is mandatory

Testing is mandatory

Receive PCR Tests

Receive PCR Tests

Weekly testing

Weekly testing

Weekly testing

DECEMBER 2021 | NEWS | 5

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Books without Boundaries Books under review are reinstated in FCPS libraries

F

MADELEINE STIGALL FEATURES EDITOR | MAYA AMMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

or years, FCPS libraries have provided students with reading materials they can learn from and feel a connection to.

Recently, libraries have become the subject of controversy due to books some parents have deemed inappropriate for school.

“Our librarians try to find books that kids can see themselves in,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “That’s our goal for our library: that [students] can go in there, find the book that they enjoy and take it with them.”

Following parent complaints about sexual content in the graphic novels Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison at a school board meeting on Sept. 23, the books were temporarily removed from FCPS libraries. After a twomonth review period, both books were determined to be appropriate for high school readers and were reinstated. “[Lawn Boy] is an accessible examination of race, class, socioeconomic struggle and sexual identity,” wrote the FCPS committee that reviewed the book, which consisted of a high school administrator, two high school librarians, two parents of high school students, two high school students and a specialist from the Office of Equity and Family Engagement. “It is an uplifting and humanizing depiction of navigating through setbacks with resiliency to reach goals and will resonate with students.”

Although McLean’s library does not have either of these books in its collection due to a lack of requests for them, students can access them through the FCPS interlibrary loan system. McLean head librarian Joan McCarthy said she sees the value in offering students material they can identify with and learn from. “[Students] can read [Lawn Boy] and say, ‘I’m not alone,’” McCarthy said. “Or through the books, [students can] see what [other people] go through.”

Gender Queer: A Memoir offers students a unique perspective about the struggles some have with gender identity.

“I’m not going to deny that there’s graphic content,” English teacher Anna Caponetti said. “I’d say it’s not the majority

of the book. The majority of the book is beautiful panels about self-exploration and discovery.”

IF THEY WANT TO READ ANY BOOK, [I WANT THEM TO] FEEL THAT THEY CAN READ IT WITHOUT OUR COMMENTS.” - JOAN MCCARTHY MCLEAN HEAD LIBRARIAN Some students at McLean believe that the censorship is focused too much on silencing LGBTQ narratives.

“I don’t agree with the book ban movement. It makes no sense how hard some people try to hide any type of information relating the LGBTQ+ community to young people,” sophomore Valentina Sedan said.

“Hiding it from them won’t change anything because it’s a part of the world.”

Members of the community attended the Dec. 2 school board meeting to voice their opinions on the decision to reinstate Lawn Boy and Gender Queer: A Memoir into FCPS school libraries. Most community members

and school board members who commented on the issue at the meeting said they support the decision, but some dissenters continue to flag more books.

“We’ve received information from different parents or school administrators that people have expressed the intent to submit additional challenges,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Noel Klimenko, who makes the final decision on challenged books after being advised by a committee of staff and students. “We have not actually received any as of yet.”

FCPS’s lifting of the temporary ban on these books, announced Nov. 23, makes clear its support for diverse literature for students.

“I want students to be comfortable,” McCarthy said. “If they want to read any book, [I want them to] feel that they can read it without our comments.”

Even if the LGBTQ-focused books had been pulled from shelves permanently, Sedan points out the topics of these books would still very much be a part of life.

“The world is not gonna stop being themselves just so your child won’t know about it,” Sedan said. “It is important to educate people on these subjects from an early age so they understand that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving whoever you love or being yourself.”

FCPS Book Censorship Timeline Sept. 23

FCPS parent has a heated argument with school board regarding two graphic novels, Lawn Boy and Gender Queer: A Memoir

Nov. 23

FCPS decides to reinstate Lawn Boy and Gender Queer: A Memoir, the two books under review, back into all high school libraries

Sept. 24

Oct. 7 Two protests take place outside a school board meeting: one against the school board/the challenged books & one organized by the Pride Liberation to defend queer literature

Books are temporarily removed from school libraries until committees of staff, students & parents can review them to make a recommendation to the assistant superintendent of instructional services

Infographic by Jayne Ogilvie-Russell & Saehee Perez| Page design by Maya Amman

DECEMBER 2021 | NEWS | 7

BOYS PETITION FOR BATHROOM CHANGE Lack of dividers in bathrooms causes privacy concerns

T

CONAIRE HORGAN ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR | GRAHAM COUREY REPORTER

he bell rings and a horde of boys make their way to the bathroom. With no dividers to separate them, most urinals inside go untouched, with students instead opting for stalls in order to gain more privacy.

Some students at McLean High School have reached a breaking point.

“I can’t remember the last time I even used the bathrooms, mostly because they’re dirty all the time,” sophomore Zach Simon said. “I think if we added dividers, the stalls would also get cleaner as a result.”

Simon isn’t alone in his feelings about the boys’ bathrooms. After observing unsanitary bathroom conditions and long lines for stalls, junior Forrest Sun decided to start a petition on Change.org in support of installing dividers between urinals at McLean High School.

“I mostly started [the petition] because I felt like there were a lot of issues in the bathroom,” Sun said. “No one was ever using the urinals and there was [always] a long line to the stalls.”

The petition has gained considerable traction over the past two months, garnering over 180 signatures since Oct. 19. Sun intends to present it along with another survey about students’ comfort using the bathroom as part of an argument in favor of restroom updates at a school board meeting in mid-December.

“I’m just using [the petition] as evidence I’m going to present to the school board,” Sun said. “I [am also] most likely going to start a new survey...collect[ing] data on how many people actually use the restroom in comparison to using the urinals, [which] would show the public sentiment against not having dividers in the school.”

The cause of improving bathrooms has gained verbal support from school administrators. However, they have not yet

8 | NEWS | DECEMBER 2021

been able to convince the higher-ups in the county to spend on renovations.

I MOSTLY STARTED [THE PETITION BECAUSE] I FELT LIKE THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES IN THE BATHROOM.”

- FORREST SUN JUNIOR

“[The bathroom renovation] is something that I have been fighting for for 10 years now,” Principal Ellen Reilly said. “Fairfax County will tell you that it is on a queue as

to when renovations occur. I think that they have been the same bathrooms since 1999. I have asked them time and time again to do it.”

The main reason for the county’s lack of enthusiasm for renovating McLean’s bathroom facilities is the cost.

“The problem is that to renovate a bathroom, [it costs] about a million dollars,” Reilly said. “It’s not [cheap], so that’s part of why it hasn’t been done.”

Even the less expensive solution of simply adding dividers presents a logistical challenge: it would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which specifies that a shorter urinal must be accessible in all school bathrooms and requires a minimum amount of space between urinals. “[The administration] put in a request years ago to have dividers, but the request was denied due to ADA concerns,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “In order to put in dividers, we would have to put in new plumbing in the entire bathroom.”

While Sun and other proponents continue to face a number of logistical challenges regarding the installation of dividers, many hope that support for the issue will increase countywide.

“I think that boys across the county would also be interested in being a part of this as well, because there’s complaints that are starting to come up,” Reilly said. “It’s time for students to get out there and start saying, ‘This is what we want.’”

no privacy — Urinals in the blue hallway bathroom go untouched during a

lunch break. The absence of dividers causes students to use stalls instead, which can cause long wait times to use the bathroom.

Photo by Graham Courey | Page design by Taylor Olson

FALLING SHORT ON GOODS

Supply chain delays lead to empty shelves and slow shipping

T

MELISSA ALLEGRETTI REPORTER

he exchange of gifts on winter holidays is a cherished tradition that will be dramatically altered this season as a result of shipping and production delays. Businesses will have difficulty providing consumers with the same number of products as previous years.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS ALREADY A PROBLEM WITH BACKUP AND DISTRIBUTION, AND THEN YOU ADDED THE PANDEMIC INTO IT AND MADE IT A THOUSAND TIMES WORSE.” - CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS MARKETING TEACHER At the start of the pandemic, businesses cut production in response to a plummet in consumer demand. Months later, demand spiked but businesses are struggling to bring back workers to increase production. Experts observed that there is no single reason for the current delays.

“If you ask retail merchants, they’ll say it’s truckers or ports, and if you ask truckers, they’ll say it’s infrastructure,” marketing

teacher Christopher Phillips said. “Before the pandemic, there was already a problem with backup and distribution, and then you added the pandemic into it and made it a thousand times worse.”

Students and staff alike have observed the negative impacts of the pandemic on businesses and product availability and expect to have to alter their holiday shopping.

“I had some difficulty doing online shopping [because] the prices of groceries, clothes [and other things have] gone up and we might encounter this problem later on,” sophomore Sophia Belair-Bogdanova said.

The shortage affects the market as a whole, not just holiday gift items. The supply of most manufactured goods, from technology to clothing items, is insufficient for the market demand. In addition to impacting holiday gift shopping, the product delays have affected the McLean High School staff ’s ability to acquire school materials.

“Many of [our books] have been delayed [due to] supplies and shipment,” head librarian Joan McCarthy said. “By [midAugust], we should have gotten at least some of our June order, and we [did not start] getting those until October.”

Meanwhile, classrooms have been struck by a shortage of copy paper.

“We are using paper at a higher rate than we are getting in paper,” Principal Ellen Reilly said in an email to the staff on Nov. 30. “Fairly soon, we are likely to run out of paper. There are schools around the county

Shelf shortages — Empty shelves are a common sight everywhere, including

grocery stores like McLean’s Safeway. Agricultural shipment complications and worker shortages have affected the production of staple foods.

Photos & page design by Melissa Allegretti

toy Trouble — Child’s Play, a toy

store in McLean, is experiencing product shortages. The toy market is one of the most lucrative during the holiday season but retailers aren’t able to meet demand. who have been without paper for three weeks. Please be cognizant of your paper use and use only what is needed.”

Delivery companies have developed new methods of transporting goods to help compensate for shortages in labor and materials.

“Many of the transportation companies will limit how many goods they’re going to pick up and deliver for the customers,” supply chain management professional Irvin Varkonyi said. “What the companies are trying to do is that instead of promising something they can’t deliver, they’re trying to reduce how much they’ll commit to, and almost all [customers] will have a much happier outcome.”

Businesses have encouraged consumers to purchase holiday gifts well in advance.

Many popular gifts, like the PlayStation 5, will be stocked inconsistently, whether consumers look online or in stores.

“The holidays are when [people] make or break their business,” Phillips said, “so if we don’t fix this problem or [alleviate] the pressure, there’s going to be a serious problem.”

DECEMBER 2021 | NEWS | 9

highlander of the issue

junior starts nonprofit for kids with cancer

Olivia Zhang’s Cancer Kids First provides support for children fighting the disease TARA PANDEY REPORTER

W

hen she was 12 years old, junior Olivia Zhang lost two of the most important people in her life, her grandfather and her former teacher, to cancer. Zhang struggled heavily with the losses. Her grandfather was her role model, and she had a very close relationship with her teacher, visiting her regularly even after leaving elementary school.

When her grandfather received his diagnosis, Zhang and her family flew to China to take care of him.

During her visit she stayed by his side, using her talent for painting to comfort him. Once she arrived back in the U.S., Zhang decided to use her love for painting to raise money for her grandfather’s treatment. She sold her paintings through her Instagram page to fundraise, but it did not make as big of an impact as she had hoped.

“Both [my grandfather and my teacher] always motivated me to be better than who I was at that time,” Zhang said. “Losing both of them so close together, I realized that just selling artwork to raise money was not going to be enough. It opened my eyes to how many people were impacted by cancer.”

She decided to find a way to make an impact in the lives of future patients fighting cancer, specifically pediatric cancer patients.

“I had to watch my grandfather go through the unimaginable,” Zhang said. “I can’t even fathom little kids going through that.”

- OLIVIA ZHANG Thus, the nonprofit organization Cancer Kids First (CKF) was born JUNIOR in 2019.

According to their website, CKF aims to provide young children diagnosed with cancer with a more enjoyable childhood.

Zhang organizes toy and book drives, then sends the donations to pediatric hospitals to help patients pass the time. Volunteers

I HAD TO WATCH MY GRANDFATHER GO THROUGH THE UNIMAGINABLE. I CAN’T EVEN FATHOM LITTLE KIDS GOING THROUGH THAT.”

10 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2021

Photos courtesy of Olivia Zhang | Page design by Tara Pandey & Taylor Olson

FUN-Raising With Friends — Olivia Zhang and Thaïs Rolly raise money for pediatric cancer in September. This two-day fundraiser was done in partnership with Kendra Scott.

use CKF’s art program to design and donate inspirational cards to patients. The organization’s International Treatment Services Program provides products specifically for developing countries, such as hospital resource kits, as well as funding towards cancer treatment and specialized training for oncologists. Today, CKF has

COuRageous Cassidy — Cassidy Anne, a pediatric

cancer patient going through chemotherapy, plays with her new toys. Cancer Kids First holds toy and book donation drives to help children like Cassidy. reached over one million patients, has partnered with 55 hospitals and has had help from over 18,000 volunteers. Despite this success, the organization had humble beginnings.

Zhang started to grow the organization by reselling her clothes, creating a small tie-dye business to raise money for her cause.

Everything changed when her organization blew up on TikTok. After a TikTok she made amassed over a million views, the account quickly started gaining traction, reaching more than 20,000 followers at its peak. Volunteers came flooding in soon after, with a total of roughly 20,000 people applying to help with the organization’s mission.

“As a result [of social media], we have chapters across the world and are able to partner with large organizations and reach more audiences, and even help patients in third world countries,” said junior Thaïs Rolly, a chief financial officer of CKF. Even though this was a huge moment for CKF, it was also very stressful for Zhang. Once they reached a million views on TikTok, the amount of outreach they achieved was overwhelming. She was forced to pull multiple all-nighters to keep up with it and saw a significant drop in her grades.

“I felt really overwhelmed and my grades in school were not doing well,” Zhang said. “Math is a subject I especially struggle in, and my grades went from 70% on tests to 60% and downwards.”

This stress made her question her involvement in CKF. Her struggles with balancing work and school led her to wonder if it was even worth it, as she felt like she was sacrificing her education for the organization. Her mother was also worried about her faltering grades and how she would juggle her academic life, social life, physical health and CKF. “I tried to advise her. I said, ‘Olivia, you might want to cut some time from managing Cancer Kids First,’” Zhang’s mother, Xiaowei Zheng, said. “But she responded, ‘This is the most beautiful part of my high school life, so please, Mom, I will find a way to balance.’”

Despite the challenges she faced, everything began to fall back into place.

“Eventually I learned how to manage my time again,” Zhang said.

“I realized that if you truly care about something, you can’t let tiny obstacles like this stop you from helping others.”

Zhang continues to make progress on CKF. The organization formed partnerships with established businesses like Kendra Scott, a popular jewelry store. In September, CKF won the WEGO Health Award for Best Team Performance. They broke boundaries as the only youth-led organization to win an award out of the 21,000 associations nominated.

Zhang has big plans for the future of CKF. A specific goal of hers is to extend CKF’s international impact by helping increase the survival rate of pediatric cancer patients in developing countries.

Zhang said she is especially excited about the organization’s upcoming plans to work with Shoe4Africa, a nonprofit aimed at improving Africans’ lives, in order to fund and construct the first public pediatric cancer hospital in East Africa. Construction is projected to be completed by the summer of 2022.

Zhang plans to continue work on the organization throughout the rest of high school and even during college and beyond.

“A lot of people give up their passion projects [after graduating],” Zhang said. “However, Cancer Kids First is definitely something that I would want to extend until I physically cannot do it. I would 100 percent make it a career if I could.”

CARRYINg CKF — Olivia Zhang carries a

box full of toys and games. These donations were distributed to kids fighting cancer.

DECEMBER 2021 | FEATURES | 11

Class Class 1960 2022 of

Class of 1960’s spirit mirrors Highlanders today MAKDA BEKELE DESIGNeR | FARAH ELJAZZAR REPORTER | MADIE TURLEY REPORTER

F

rom 1960 to 2022, the Highlander spirit has never wavered, transcending decades from the first graduating class until now. In October, the first class to complete all four years at McLean held a reunion to reconnect and reflect on their years at McLean.

The graduates came from all parts of the country to celebrate their 60 years of being a part of the Highlander community. The alumni enjoyed a nice dinner together and toured the school the morning after.

Reminiscing on the changes the school has gone through, they reflected on their favorite memories, including how students used to drive the school buses and how the main office used to be the senior smoking lounge.

“We [used to] bring record players and hurry to finish lunch so we could dance in the hallways,” said Faye Brumback, named ‘Most Spirited Highlander’ in her class’s yearbook. “There was nothing pressuring you and it was such a unique community. It was just fun.”

DID YOU KNOW? The cafeteria courtyard used to be the bus dropoff, as the walls surrounding it didn’t exist at the time 12 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2021

Brumback’s experiences parallel the unforgettable memories that current McLean students have been able to make throughout their years.

THE SHORT PERIOD WHERE I WAS ABLE TO EXIST IS TRULY AMAZING. I GET TO TALK TO YOU, AND TO HER AND TO HIM, AND I’M REALLY GRATEFUL I GOT TO.” - ALAN COLE CLASS OF 1960 ALUM “The Paint Out earlier this year was really, really fun. The energy was just insane,” senior Atticus Gore said. “I remember [thinking], ‘Wow, I’m so happy I can be here with all these people.’ We were one huge McLean Highlander community, and it was so impactful and exciting to be a part of that on such a fun day.”

School spirit is not the only thing that has kept these classes connected. Similar to present-day McLean, the school had always been a place filled with academic achievements and success, pushing students to go above and beyond.

“We had different committees, dance clubs and assemblies where we would announce awards,” 1960’s class president Eddie Young said.

Similarly, the current senior class president, Andy Chung, has excelled within the McLean community, making every effort to boost Highlander morale.

“I throw myself in vulnerable situations all the time. I try to get to know people in a personal way,” Chung said. “I’m working on doing a lot of fun activities and fundraising ideas to make our senior class really memorable.”

Along with academics, the athletic department made a significant impact on the McLean community even then.

However, in the early years of McLean High School, there was one remarkable difference: no Langley High School.

“I miss winning the football games,” 1960 athlete David Dodrill said. “[Our rivalry] was with Fairfax and Falls Church.”

Other major athletic differences include female sports teams, or the lack thereof. But as McLean has developed, new activities have been introduced, such as gymnastics, girls volleyball and girls basketball.

“I play basketball and I run track for McLean,” senior varsity athlete Mia Fitzgerald said. “McLean sports are just so much more tight-knit than any other teams. Playing sports at McLean has taught me skills like time management and good communication.”

The Classes of 1960 and 2022 have shaped a legacy for years of McLean students to come. It is evident that no matter the generation, the diversity of passion at McLean is what connects the community.

“From the beginnings of the universe till now was such a long time, and when I’m dead till the end of time will be even longer,” 1960 alum Alan Cole said. “The short period where I was able to exist is truly amazing. I get to talk to you, and to him and to her, and I’m really grateful I got to.”

Page design by Makda Bekele

DID YOU KNOW?

SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENTS

McLean had a lot of farmland, and students were able to drive the buses because of their experience with heavy machinery — Class of 1960 president Eddie Young played baseball at McLean and spent a year in Germany on a foreign exchange trip. Class of 2022 president Andy Chung plays golf and writes for The Highlander.

Prez

SPIRITED HIGHLANDERS

DID YOU KNOW? Back in the ‘60s, the front entrance used to be the senior smoking lounge

Roll ‘Ders — Named the most spirited Highlanders,

Faye Brumback helped organize sock hops and the homecoming dance, while Atticus Gore participates in cheer and the Best Buddies club.

STUDENT ATHLETES

DID YOU KNOW?

For Sadie Hawkins dances in the ‘60s, students would make fruit and vegetable corsages for their dates

MVP — David Dodrill and Mia Fitzgerald are both

known for their accomplishments in varsity sports.

Dodrill played football and basketball, while Fitzgerald participates in basketball and track.

Photos courtesy of McLean’s 1960 yearbook & Andy Chung, Atticus Gore & Mia Fitzgerald

DECEMBER 2021 | FEATURES | 13

OTIS AT YOUR SERVICE

Senior Brooke Abraham brings her service dog to school ISABELLA DIPATRI SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER | JOSEPHINE PHILLIPS REPORTER

D

ecked out in his favorite bow tie collar, teal vest and four padded black booties, McLean students do a double take as a yellow labrador struts down the hallway.

Has someone’s pet gotten loose? No, that’s just Otis, senior Brooke Abraham’s furry companion and service dog.

“Otis is a medical alert and a mobility assistance dog,” Abraham said. “He does alert tasks, and he also responds if I’m having a medical episode.”

Although federal law allows service dogs in schools, Abraham felt as if she was under constant scrutiny from her peers.

“I was really nervous bringing him to school because I’ve had bad experiences in stores,” Abraham said. “I knew everyone would be staring at me, but it was sort of like business as usual.”

Otis started his training last year outside of school, where he adjusted to large crowds.

“He did most of his training in the mall around Christmastime, so I’ve gotten really used to negativity,” Abraham said. “Otis was trained by me, with some assistance from other service dog handlers in the area.”

Depending on the disability, service dogs are trained to perform different tasks. Otis supports Abraham in multiple ways.

“Deep pressure therapy is his most common task, and it’s when he lays on either my chest or my lap in order to provide sensory input and bring my heart rate down,” Abraham said. “He also helps me by pulling me forward and guiding me to classes.”

Since Abraham is able to bring Otis into her classes, her teachers have seen him in action.

“When Brooke gets a little nervous, she’ll start to shake her leg,” English teacher Mariya Chatha said. “Otis will literally sit on top of her and hold her down.”

Abraham’s classmates and friends have also taken notice of the ways Otis helps Abraham throughout the day.

“I see Otis performing tasks such as behavior interruption, forward momentum and counterbalance,” senior Linnea Abt said.

14 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2021

Although Abraham quickly adjusted to life with a service dog, the process of learning to deal with other students’ needs was more difficult.

“It was odd at first because wherever I go, I get stared at and asked invasive questions,” Abraham said.

HAVING OTIS MAKES IT A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO DO THINGS A NORMAL STUDENT WOULD.” - BROOKE ABRAHAM SENIOR While Otis is allowed to accompany Abraham to each of her classes and be present in classrooms, Principal Ellen Reilly was initially

On the lookout — Brooke Abraham and

her service dog, Otis, offer each other comfort after a day of task work. On average, Otis assists Abraham up to 3040 times a day.

concerned about people being afraid of dogs and potential allergies, but she concluded that Otis would not be a distraction.

“I didn’t think he was going to be aggressive towards anybody, but I was just mostly concerned about allergies of other people and reactions to having a dog [in school],” Reilly said. “However, you can tell when you meet him, he’s just kind and has a gentle spirit.”

Prior to Otis coming into classrooms, Reilly addressed his arrival via letters given to students in class.

“We talked to all the teachers beforehand to [find out about any issues with] allergies or fear,” Reilly said.

Chatha was initially overwhelmed with the idea of having Otis in her crowded classroom, but she was able to figure out how to accommodate him.

“It was actually pretty easy to adjust to Otis,” Chatha said. “We figured out a way to have him be in the back where we have a couch, so it’s a comfortable space.”

Otis is becoming a well-known member of the community, but Abraham still has to remind students to keep their distance, especially when it comes to petting.

“If [a person] were to distract him from his work, I could end up injured, which would be extremely frustrating,” Abraham said.

Abraham plans to have Otis continue to support her until she graduates in the spring, and she expects her classmates will continue to adjust in that time.

“I understand that this is different,” Abt said. “But people need to learn to respect other people’s wishes and boundaries.”

At the end of the day and despite the looks they may get, the two are inseparable. With Otis’s help, Abraham is able to cope with the challenges of her day.

“It’s easier for me to not be swallowed into the ‘what ifs’ [now],” Abraham said. “Having Otis makes it a lot easier for me to do things a normal student would.”

Photo courtesy of Brooke Abraham | Page design by Isabella DiPatri

10 Q s with

Cameron Keuning Latin teacher

Reporting & photo by Sandra Cheng Right photo courtesy of Cameron Keuning

1 2 3

What do you like to do outside of school?

I coach baseball. I really love baseball and watching sports in general. I’m actually a really avid bowler as well. I bowled a lot when I was in high school and I like to go now and then just to keep it up.

What is your favorite holiday activity?

Eating, not baking, Christmas cookies.

When and why did you become interested in teaching Latin?

I took it when I was a high schooler and I didn’t really like it. I was a really bad Latin student. When I got to college, I started to really like it and started to get better. I realized that I had a passion for it and wanted to teach it.

4 5 6

What is your favorite holiday movie?

Christmas Vacation.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Airpods are a big pet peeve of mine—even if nothing’s on, but if there’s one in one ear, it bothers me really badly.

8 9

What is your favorite book?

My favorite English book is Too Late the Phalarope

by Alan Paton. From Latin, my favorite book is Pro Archia Poeta by Cicero.

7

What do you like about teaching?

I’m a people person, so I really enjoy interacting with everybody, especially kids. I enjoy seeing the smiling (or very tired) faces.

10

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

What are your winter break plans?

For winter break, I go back to see my family. They all live in Detroit, so my wife and I will fly back to see them. Then we’re going to spend a few days in Florida as well, just relaxing and trying to get a little bit warm.

If you had to choose any other profession, what would it be?

A linguistics professor.

I’m really into language, linguistics, grammar, syntax and all that sort of stuff.

DECEMBER 2021 | FEATURES | 15

HERSHBERG’S HOME KITCHEN Senior Caden Hershberg turns an everyday task into an expressive hobby SYDNEY GLEASON REPORTER | CHRISTIANA KETEMA REPORTER

T

he rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board, the colorful array of ingredients spread across the counter waiting to be used and the beeping of the preheated oven. These are all familiar sights and sounds to senior Caden Hershberg as he comfortably makes his way around the kitchen.

For Hershberg, cooking has been an interest for as long as he can remember. What started out as an 8-year-old wanting to make baked goods turned into a long-lasting hobby that he has continued to advance his skills in.

“I started baking around nine years ago. I would make banana

POKE DELIGHT — Caden Hershberg plates ahi tuna poke

for his family on an average Tuesday night. His family adores the diverse selection of food he prepares.

(Photo courtesy of Caden Hershberg)

16 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2021

Check out Caden’s bread, brownies and cookies cooking Instagram because no one else in my family could do that,” account, Hershberg said. “It evolved @hersh_homecooking into cooking in middle school, and over time I got better and am now able to make more difficult and gourmet dishes.”

After getting past the boxed brownie phase and starting to experiment more in the kitchen, he began making dishes for himself and his family.

“For my birthday last year, Caden poached a pear with his sous vide and topped it with a homemade cardamom cream and riesling glaze,” Hershberg’s mother Komal Jain said. “In all honesty, it wasn’t the most difficult, but it was the most thoughtful because he captured all my favorites in one dish.”

Some people find inspiration for the dishes they create through family traditions and recipes, but for Hershberg, whose family shied away from the kitchen, cooking became a hobby that he was able to learn about independently.

“While his grandmother is a great cook, I don’t think she was much of an influence,” Jain said. “I really dislike cooking—always have and always will—but cooking is just something Caden found on his own, spurred on by some food sensitivities and his desire to find recipes that tasted good but still met his [gluten and dairy] restrictions.”

After lots of trial and error, Hershberg can now confidently navigate his way around the kitchen and has developed his own tastes and preferences in food.

“As of now, my favorite dishes are Mediterranean because it’s healthy and I love protein, like fish and poultry, so any dish that’s centered around one of those is always good,” Hershberg said.

“They have a lot of vibrant shellfish too, like langoustines, and they are amazing.”

Cooking is more than just putting ingredients together. Through years of practice, Hershberg has gained more of an appreciation for creating food himself, something that isn’t gained from just following the directions on a mac-n-cheese box.

“Overall, it’s definitely helped my time management and has improved my artistic ability because plating showed me a different way [to be artistic],” Hershberg said.

Seeing Hershberg’s success has begun to affect the people around him.

“He’s very creative and loves to experiment with food,” said Mary Nazarian, Hershberg’s close friend. “He definitely inspired me to Illustrations & page design by Taylor Olson

cook more for myself since watching him put together dishes makes me want to be able to do it too.”

How to Make the Perfect Steak: Cooking has helped Hershberg outside of the kitchen as well. With college just around the corner, Hershberg plans on incorporating his 1. Pull steak out of fridge around 30 love for food into his education. minutes before cooking “I want to major in food science [in college],” Hershberg said.

2. Cover in a light layer of avocado oil “You learn why certain things happen to specific foods and can also and season steak with salt and pepper go into how you can grow foods to be more eco-friendly like terrace farming.”

3. Heat oil in a frying pan until sizzling Food science is made up of various components, including chemistry, nutrition, Post Prep: physics, engineering, microbiology and food 4. Add garlic and allow to cook processing.

5. Place meat in pan facing away from “There’s a science you and sear on both sides behind it. Average 6.

Turn heat down and add butter, everyday cooking I wouldn’t say is a science, rosemary and thyme but as you go into elegant foods and up the ladder towards Michelin star level restaurants, Bon Appetit! everything from the quality of ingredients, the timing and making 7. Baste steak in butter, turning every sure that all flavors complement each other is so calculated that the precision and execution of dishes makes it a science,” Hershberg said.

30 seconds or so until fully cooked “As for my intended major, it overlaps agriculture and obviously food 8. If cooking a thick piece, such as a and science. It seems difficult but is beneficial in the long run for fillet, finish in the oven consumers and the food system.”

9. Let rest for about five minutes Not only has cooking led Hershberg to want to learn more about food, but it has also fostered a new appreciation for different cultures and this interest has influenced what he likes to cook.

“Western [European cuisines], like French, Italian and Spanish cuisines, have inspired me because you can elevate the flavors in foods that make it good,” Hershberg said. “A lot of well-known chefs have come from those regions so it’s easy to follow in their footsteps, create what they’ve made and twist little things on your own.”

Although Hershberg allows himself to be inspired by professional chefs, he doesn’t plan to make cooking more than a hobby because of the intensity of culinary school and his appreciation for the interpersonal connections he is able to create through the experience of cooking for others.

“Cooking is a very cut-throat profession, and I like it [more] as a hobby. I feel like if I do it as a profession in which I’m cooking for 10 hours a day and not for myself, I’m going to lose the love I have for it,” Hershberg said. “I love it because I like cooking for myself and someone next to me so that we can both enjoy it together and not for random people that are eating at my restaurant or one that I would work at.”

Though the thought of cooking professionally is off the table for Hershberg, the unlikely career path has not stopped his family from entertaining the idea.

START ‘EM YOUNG — Little Caden Hershberg devours a “The Culinary Institute of America reached out to Caden the vanilla cake, showing his zest for food years before other day, and we cannot figure out why, as Caden’s hobby is just that, he found his love of baking and cooking. (Photo a hobby,” Jain said. “But it was fun to consider a ‘Chef Caden.’” courtesy of Komal Jain)

DECEMBER 2021 | FEATURES | 17

THESE PARKS WERE MADE FOR HIKIN’ Area parks worth visiting this season DARIO SUTERA REPORTER

G.W. PARKWAY

SENECA CREEK state PARK

The George Washington Memorial Parkway, a 25-mile stretch of road located along the Potomac River, features views of D.C., monuments and historical places. With multiple parks to drive into, its main purpose is to educate, entertain and expose visitors to the natural beauty that exists in the area, which is especially spectacular when the leaves change colors.

Near Clopper Lake in Montgomery County, Maryland, Seneca Creek Park spans over 6,300 acres with 50 miles of trails, offering various ways to explore—its trails are open to horseback riding, biking and hiking. The lake is perfect for boating, and the park overall is great for picnicking and camping. Extra features worth checking out include a recently restored 19th century cabin and a tire playground.

LAKE FAIRFAX PARK Located in and around Lake Fairfax in Virginia, this park is a diverse area providing many opportunities for activites such as boating, hiking, camping and fishing. The scenery is beautiful throughout the day, from the morning sunrise to the breathtaking evening sunsets, when hues of orange and red reflect off the water.

18 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2021

Photos by Dario Sutera | Page design by Akash Balenalli & Taylor Olson | Illustrations by Liz Nedelescu

DEAR SANTA... HERE ARE TEACHERS’ WISHLISTS A few McLean teachers share what they want for the holidays BELEN BALLARD FEATURES EDITOR

STEVEN WALKER MATH TEACHER

1. Small smart projector 2. Air fryer 3. New jacket 4. Toolbox on wheels 5. Ooni Lump Coal Pizza Oven

MELISSA DULUC SPANISH TEACHER

1. Air fryer 2. Gift card to a spa 3. Scarves for winter 4. Winter candles 5. Unlimited supply of LaCroix

ANNA CAPONETTI ENGLISH TEACHER

1. An end to the pandemic 2. A vacation to New Zealand 3. A significant raise next school year 4. Nature jewelry by a small, independent artisan 5. The All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness 6. A Fair Isle sweater JOSPEH DWYER SOCIAL STUIDES TEACHER

Books: 1. The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution by Richard Wrangham 2. Electric Wizards: A Tapestry of Heavy Music, 1968 to the Present by JR Moores Vinyls: 1. R.E.M. - Murmur 2. Miles Davis - Big Fun

Graphics & page design by Ariana Elahi & Taylor Olson

DECEMBER 2021 | FEATURES | 19

Taking a bow: Senior Eshan Parkash showcases violin talent on national stage

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ARNAV GUPTA NEWS EDITOR | JOSH BASS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ew high school students could ever dream of playing at Stern Hall in Carnegie Hall, one of the most prestigious stages in the world. But in the face of an imposing audience at the opulent New York City icon, McLean’s star violinist was unfazed.

Eshan Parkash discovered his fascination for classical music at an early age. When most kids are learning to read, 5-year-old Eshan had picked up his first violin. His one-of-akind talent allowed him to breeze through introductory levels of violin. “[When he first started] Eshan only knew how to play on the E string, the highest pitched one,” Eshan’s mother, Connie Parkash, said. “After [six months], other parents began telling me that they were amazed Eshan finished Suzuki Book 1, a common introductory book for string instruments. It was typically expected that a

20 | A&E | DECEMBER 2021

student would spend in excess of one year to finish each book.”

ESHAN REALLY DOES IT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC – HE’S ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST MUSICIANS IN OUR STATE.” - STARLET SMITH MCLEAN ORCHESTRA TEACHER Eshan practiced every day throughout his childhood and joined countless youth orchestra groups. His passion would only

develop further after meeting his current instructor, Ko Sugiyama. “[Before meeting Mr. Sugiyama], it really felt as though my previous teachers found [instructing me] a chore. They would make sure I played the correct notes,” Eshan said. “Mr. Sugiyama emphasized phrasing to a huge extent, or the idea of making music interesting and enjoyable to listen to... it was a whole new world to discover, and it [heightened] my passion and interest in music greatly.”

Eshan’s talent propelled him to worldclass venues; he played in a string quartet at the Millennium Stage in the Kennedy Center and as principal second violinist for the Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Eshan found Carnegie Hall to be an especially stark contrast to other venues he’s performed at.

Photos by Akash Balenalli | Page design by Ariana Elahi

Stringing to success — Eshan Parkash leads the first violin section in the McLean Philharmonic orchestra.

The section is playing the melody in “Sleigh Ride,” a piece played annually in the holiday assembly hosted shortly before winter break.

“The architecture in Carnegie Hall was super impressive,” Eshan said. “The stage was extremely big, and I’d never played with such high ceilings before. The echoing was immense.”

His key to success on the stage relies on his sustained confidence in his music.

“Performing at huge stages like the Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center isn’t as nerve-wracking as it initially might seem, especially [because] it is an orchestra performance,” Eshan said. “During performances, I do my best to focus on emoting through the music rather than letting my brain slip to fear of messing up.”

Eshan is also a major contributor to McLean’s orchestra program, occupying a concertmaster position for the Philharmonic orchestra, the highest level offered.

“When I first met Eshan, I immediately knew he was a top notch musician from the first notes he played for me. [His] sound is extremely clean, articulate and expressive,” orchestra teacher Starlet Smith said. “Students know to look to Eshan as the role model for not only tempo, bowing and fingering suggestions, but also for the overarching musical style of each piece we play.”

Smith has noted Eshan’s unusual musical abilities, rarely seen in high school orchestras.

“Eshan really does it all when it comes to music—he’s arguably one of the best musicians in our state,” Smith said. “Eshan is also a great improviser, can learn passages by ear within seconds and has perfect pitch. He’s able to grasp onto music so quickly that he can often play something he hears someone else play, even on a different instrument, on the violin within a few seconds.”

Eshan has shown his dedication to music outside of the orchestra room; he teaches aspiring musicians through an extracurricular group.

“Eshan has been a leading member of

the Back to Bach Program for several years,” Smith said. “He travels to local elementary schools, libraries and other community venues as part of a string quartet with piano and gives presentations introducing stringed instruments to young students.”

Despite his noticeable drive, Eshan has had to find creative ways to fit his McLean class schedule with his rigorous practicing schedule—and must occasionally make sacrifices.

I LONG TO SHARE THE INDESCRIBABLE IMPACT MUSIC HAS HAD ON MY LIFE WITH OTHERS.” - ESHAN PARKASH SENIOR “During hectic times such as this year, I truthfully don’t have a great amount of time for violin practice,” Parkash said. “I try to maximize my time by playing the violin during lunch as much as possible, and during Highlander Time for orchestra.”

Eshan is his biggest critic, always looking to improve his technique and performances.

“As violinists, we constantly critique ourselves for every minor detail that can be improved, be it a note that is slightly out of tune, or even a barely audible squeak as a result of the bow losing contact with the string for a split second,” Eshan said. “When we hear recordings of ourselves, each of these details sticks out like a sore thumb... [even though] these details may seem trivial to ordinary listeners.”

Eshan doesn’t have plans to play the violin professionally but may join a collegiate orchestra program.

“I am considering majoring in music or performing arts in college, but it is not completely decided yet,” Eshan said. “One thing is for sure...I plan to join whatever orchestra my future college provides, and continue playing for leisure beyond that.”

Whatever the future holds for the talented violinist, Eshan is determined to explore his love for music as well as inspire those around him to pursue their own interests.

“I’ve never thought about a day where I don’t have the violin by my side,” Eshan said. “I long to share the indescribable impact music has had on my life with others, and I hope it can make the same positive difference [in their lives].”

A one of a kind Violin for a one of a kiind player — Eshan Parkash’s beloved violin has not left his side since its purchase five years ago. The antique was orignally made in France a century ago, and he bought it in Hong Kong.

DECEMBER 2021 | A&E | 21

Page design by Ariana Elahi

The race Exploring the Experiences of First-Generation College Applicants very August, the race begins. Like clockwork, high school seniors across the country tackle the college admissions process. For many, it is a challenge they have been preparing for since the beginning of high school.

Years of extensive extracurriculars, parental involvement and college counseling have led up to this moment, and students have spent most of their high school careers perfecting their resumes for thorough scrutiny from admissions committees across the country.

For others, this process isn’t just daunting, it’s completely foreign.

First-generation students, generally defined as students whose parents did not complete a degree in the U.S. or at all, have consistently trailed their peers in access to resources. They are forced to navigate

the complicated admissions process on their own, all while juggling standardized tests, supplemental essays, scholarships and financial aid.

First-generation students are often members of underrepresented populations in education, from those with financial disadvantages to non-native English speakers.

Recent data even suggests that first-generation status sets students at a disadvantage later on in life. According to a 2021 report from the Pew Research Center, only 20% of first-generation college students earn at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 82% of students with two college-educated parents. In a system that heavily favors those with knowledge of the college admissions process, students without any prior insight are at an inherent disadvantage.

DECEMBER 2021 | IN-DEPTH | 23

First-generation students in Northern Virginia

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- BROOK DALRYMPLE COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM CO-SPONSOR McLean’s Student Services has sought to resolve these inequities through “tier-one” services, which are available to all students regardless of income.

“We like to put on a lot of workshops,” Dalrymple said. “We have our Junior Focus Day, [and] we put on Parent University to provide more parent education and resources...We try to bring in people who are experts in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to help families complete it, and they sit side-by-side in a computer lab to complete [the application].”

Other barriers, however, mean McLean’s Student Services can’t always reach the intended audience.

“Parent University [only works] when parents are checking their Fairfax County email and can take time off during the day to...hear that information,” Dalrymple said. “We sit down with every single senior to check in on the college application process, [but] I still think, systematically, it’s a struggle for students.”

24 | IN-DEPTH | DECEMBER 2021

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I STILL THINK, SYSTEMATICALLY, IT’S A STRUGGLE FOR STUDENTS.”

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nequity in college admissions stems mostly from the lack of information families unfamiliar with the college system have compared to those who know how the system works.

“There’s so much background knowledge you have inherently from living in the U.S., as opposed to someone who’s coming [from] outside of the U.S.,” said counselor Brook Dalrymple, co-sponsor of the McLean College Partnership Program (CPP). “Students who had parents [attend] school in the U.S. [know] all the background information that they’re coming in with, just like a student who is going into a U.S. History class having lived in the U.S.” First-generation students’ demographics are largely divided along racial and socioeconomic lines. According to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), 35% of students in Fall 2017 who were the first in their family to attend a higher-learning institution were Pell Grant recipients.

By comparison, only 25% of non-first-generation students qualified for the financial aid grant. According to Dalrymple, NOVA is one of the most commonly attended schools by McLean graduates.

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AKASH BALENALLI ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Black/ Asian African American 16%

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Racial makeup of non-first-generation Racial students atmakeup Northernof Virginia non-first-generation Community College in Fall 2017 students at Northern Virginia Community College in Fall 2017 Infographic by Akash Balenalli

Axel Hernandez Esol Student reaches for success ARIANA ELAHI DESIGN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEENA GUL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF our years ago, 14-year-old Axel Hernandez and his family uprooted their lives, moving from Puerto Rico to the mainland U.S. after his stepfather earned a promising new job opportunity. It would change the course of his childhood— but when he first moved to McLean, immense challenges made assimilation difficult.

“It was really hard at first since I didn’t know any English,” Hernandez said. “I just knew some basic words. It was really hard making friends and talking to teachers. In my [freshman] year [at McLean], when a teacher talked to me, I couldn’t understand anything.”

On top of the language barrier, the mainland education system complicated his transition.

“The education here in the U.S. is more advanced, and at first it was really hard,” Hernandez said. “Like math, for example— in [Puerto Rico], we don’t have Geometry or Algebra 2. We just have Algebra 1 and that’s it.”

Those challenges made applying to college this year more stressful. Because Hernandez is still improving his English and the American university system is foreign to him—his mother studied nursing, but his father never attended a higher learning institution—finding specific information on the admissions process was a particularly complex obstacle.

“Getting information was really hard.

I couldn’t find anything,” Hernandez said.

“And so I just had to keep looking. I just feel like since I don’t know the teachers that much and I don’t really talk to them, [I can’t ask for their help].”

Hernandez has been struggling with the lengthy written portions required in undergraduate admissions applications.

“I’m almost finished with my [college]

essay,” Hernandez said. “[I worked on it] for an hour once every two days, but it still took me like four weeks to finish it.”

Hernandez is applying to NOVA, and he plans to transfer to George Mason University after completing his first two years of undergraduate studies. He hopes to follow in his older brother’s footsteps and become a real estate broker.

His mother is a driving force behind his decision to apply for college. In an effort to make her proud, Hernandez continues to persevere.

“Even if it’s really hard, [she tells me to] just go in and ask for help, and to not be nervous,” Hernandez said. “She always tells me to not give up on school.”

IT WAS REALLY HARD AT FIRST SINCE I DIDN’T KNOW ANY ENGLISH. I JUST KNEW SOME BASIC WORDS. IT WAS REALLY HARD MAKING FRIENDS AND TALKING TO TEACHERS. IN MY [FRESHMAN] YEAR [AT MCLEAN] WHEN A TEACHER TALKED TO ME, I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.” - AXEL HERNANDEZ SENIOR

Breaking Barriers — Axel Hernandez searches for books at the McLean library. To overcome the language barrier and expand his vocabulary, he enjoys reading English books. (Photo by Aleena Gul)

DECEMBER 2021 | IN-DEPTH | 25

FINDING MOTIVATION — Kiara Portillo reads a comic

sketchbook created by her older sister. She looks up to her sister, who is currently a student at Brigham Young University. (Photo by Aleena Gul)

Kiara Portillo First-Gen American Overcomes financial Burdens HANNA BOUGHANEM MANAGING EDITOR ARIANA ELAHI DESIGN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF hen junior Kiara Portillo’s parents first crossed the U.S.Mexico border on foot, they never could have imagined the challenges their daughter would face later on in life.

Raised by a single mother as a first-generation American, Portillo has faced more adversity in the past 16 years than most experience in their entire lives.

“My dad grew up [in El Salvador] and he didn’t even graduate high school; he stopped at sixth grade because he was poor, even though he was very smart,” she said. “And [because of financial reasons], my mom didn’t finish high school either.”

Portillo’s relationship with her family is complicated. Her parents are now divorced, and her father recently returned to El Salvador.

“My dad doesn’t really pay child support [because] he is very broke,” Portillo said.

“So [now my mother is] just a single mom, and she works as a janitor.”

Since immigrating, Portillo’s family has faced enormous financial burdens. As a result, Portillo often feels limited in her options for post-secondary education. “[I plan to pay for college] by going to a college that is cheaper,” she said. “Even if I don’t want to go to the college itself, it’s just more reliable [and realistic].”

Portillo has been applying for scholarships to make college a more attainable goal, but the applications themselves are timeconsuming. “[My parents] might try to help me, but I had to work very hard in school for those scholarships,” Portillo said. “I feel like I can’t relax or get a break. There is so much pressure to go to college and to do stuff that my mom or dad couldn’t do.”

At times, Portillo is resentful of her situation. In a country where success is often determined by socioeconomic status, she feels perpetually left behind and wishes she could afford the same opportunities as her peers.

“I am always at a disadvantage. If there’s a subject that I’m very bad at, I can’t get tutoring because I’m not privileged like that, and it’s very frustrating,” she said. “I feel jealous [because] I wish I had [what others have]. It’s really hard to stay positive.”

Currently, Portillo is part of the special education program at McLean. As a result, her core classes are preselected for her, and she doesn’t

have the opportunity to take any Advanced Placement (AP) courses. In McLean’s hypercompetitive academic atmosphere, Portillo feels incredibly overwhelmed.

“I [have] a very slow short-term memory, and I can’t retain information [easily],” she said. “Sometimes I do feel a little dumb, [especially when I see] people taking AP classes and [excelling] in them. Why can I not do that?”

Not only has Portillo’s first-generation status left her without access to vital information, it has prevented her from developing the same family ties as her peers.

“I feel very left out because I never had a special connection to my cousins [and extended family], and it’s kind of lonely,” she said. “My [immediate] family is kind of the only thing I have.”

For Portillo, college is the most direct path to success. She hopes to achieve what her parents never could.

“You can’t quit,” she said. “You have to finish school because you can’t quit.”

I FEEL LIKE I CAN’T RELAX GET A BREAK. THERE IS SO MU PRESSURE TO GO TO COLLEGE A TO DO STUFF THAT MY MOM DAD COULDN’T DO.” - KIARA PORTIL

JUNI A portrait to remember — Kiara Portillo carries 26 | IN-DEPTH | DECEMBER 2021

a portrait her father drew of her. During bad days, she looks at this drawing to reminisce about her childhood. (Photo by Aleena Gul)

AX OR MUCH GE AND OM OR

ORTILLO JUNIOR

Emeli Contreras-Torres JUNIOR HELPS FAMILY NAVIGATE LIFE IN U.S. HANNA BOUGHANEM MANAGING EDITOR or most McLean students, juggling school and extracurriculars is difficult in and of itself. For junior Emeli Contreras-Torres, it’s just one extra challenge on top of a mountain of responsibilities.

“I consider myself the leader in my house because [I have] to help my parents [in many ways], especially with important documents,” she said. “They send me papers, and I have to help them understand what they’re about.”

Born into a family of Mexican immigrants, Contreras is already a firstgeneration American and will soon be a first-generation college student. As the only fluent English speaker in her home, she has to devote much of her time to helping her parents navigate American life. With this role comes unimaginable pressure.

“Sometimes, I feel like I can’t do it,” Contreras said. “I [become] upset with myself when I don’t understand [something I need to translate] even though I can read it, and it’s very frustrating. And then it just feels like I have to get it faster so I can help my parents.”

Since the start of the pandemic, the Contreras family has faced repeated health scares, which has only increased her burden.

She had to fight hard to help her family find the support they needed.

“We all got COVID, and [my] mom was trying to find help,” Contreras said.

“I had to try to translate for her and explain our situation

[because] she couldn’t.

[I had to] ask for help and figure out ways to help our family.”

After watching her parents face these kinds of obstacles throughout her life, Contreras decided from a young age FIRST-YEAR Festivities — Emeli Contreras celebrates that she wanted to pursue her birthday with family and friends. She is a a college education. first-generation American born to Mexican Unfortunately, her path immigrants. (Photo courtesy of Emeli Contreras-Torres) to higher education has been riddled with obstacles. Without an myself down, I’m letting my family down.” inherent understanding of the American When faced with roadblocks, Contreras system, she often feels helpless and alone in has learned to make use of the resources the process. available at McLean, including the CPP and “[My parents] try to help me as much as weekly newsletters. they can, but they don’t know how,” she said. “[The CPP] really is [helpful] because “I want to go to college, and they [want me I get to learn about different colleges and to go too], but it’s just so much that it’s hard scholarships,” she said. “I’ve met some to figure [everything] out.” people through there that are also firstContreras has had to work through much generation, which is very helpful because I of the process on her own, from scholarship don’t feel like I’m the only one that doesn’t applications to financial aid papers. She often know these things.” wishes she had an adult at home to turn to Though she finds the help reassuring, for answers.

Contreras wishes the information was “I guess I feel a little jealous of [kids who extended to her family members as well. are not first-gen],” Contreras said. “They “I really want to study abroad, and I want have more knowledge because their parents my parents to be more informed about that. went through [higher education], and it’s I want them to feel included with the process going to be much easier for them to do all and have more knowledge about what I’m those applications or get help from their going to be doing and how long it takes,” she parents [when] filling it out.” said.

Sometimes, the pressure becomes so Resilience is a recurring theme in overwhelming that quitting seems like the Contreras’ life. In spite of her circumstances, only option. she has ambitious plans, starting with college.

“I do have those thoughts sometimes “[When] I learned that I can do two years when homework gets so overwhelming, or I [of community college] and then transfer just feel so stressed about everything that [to a public university], it became my plan,” I just [want] to stop this and Contreras said. “It’s going to be easier on not continue,” she said. my parents financially, and on me too. It’s “[But] I know if I do something I need to do, not just for myself, it, I’m not just letting but for my family.”

A MEANINGFUL MEMENTO — Emeli Contreras wears a necklace she

received from her father for her quinceañera, the traditional Mexican celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday. (Photo by Aleena Gul)

DECEMBER 2021 | IN-DEPTH | 27

Resilience from her roots

— Sofia Silva de Araújo admires a handmade bracelet that her Brazilian grandmother made for her. When faced with prejudice, her bracelet provides comfort. (Photo by Aleena Gul)

Sofia Silva de AraÚjo THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF DIVERSITY ALEENA GUL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF iversity is a buzzword for college admissions. But for junior Sofia Silva de Araújo, most talk about diversity and inclusion feels disingenuous.

“Most people didn’t know I was Brazilian,” Silva de Araújo said. “I was too afraid to tell them because people can be so judgmental sometimes. Hiding my own identity was the only way that I thought I could protect myself.”

Silva de Araújo moved from Brazil to the U.S. in 2019. She was unfamiliar with the U.S. college application process and turned to college fairs to seek answers. Her presence, however, was met with silence.

“I had a lot of questions for a college but the college neglected all [of them],” Silva de Araújo said. “[The admissions officer] was trying to get my [Asian] friend to come to the college, and [my friend] wasn’t interested, but I was. He wouldn’t answer my questions because he knew my background. He was like, ‘You’re just not fit for our college.’ That was really frustrating.”

Her experience at the fair made her question the long-standing rhetoric colleges use to attract new applicants.

“Adults that have been helping me with college have been saying, ‘No, they value diversity,’” Silva de Araújo said. “But when

28 | IN-DEPTH | DECEMBER 2021

that [college fair incident] happened to me, I thought, ‘Where’s the diversity here? Do you really value diversity?’ Because I didn’t feel like I was valued.”

The combination of prejudice and lack of resources make it difficult for Silva de Araújo to stay afloat in the process. She often feels judged by those around her.

“One barrier that I faced was just getting the courage to walk up to my counselor or talk to someone about college,” Silva de Araújo said. “I feel like every step of the way someone’s going to judge me because I don’t know this or it’s all my fault because I’m not from here. At the same time, it feels like an obligation. ‘You live in America now, you got to know how the system works.’”

Silva de Araújo, like many other minority students, is forced to face deep-rooted stereotypes against minority ethnic groups on a daily basis.

“I think there’s a stereotype going around with just Latina women in general,” Silva de Araújo said. “[People] think that we’re just not smart enough, we can’t achieve anything and we’re just going to get low-life jobs.

Some teachers and colleges have seen me as that kind of girl who doesn’t fight hard and doesn’t study, but I’m completely the opposite.”

SOME TEACHERS AND COLLEGES HAVE SEEN ME AS THAT KIND OF GIRL WHO DOESN’T FIGHT HARD AND DOESN’T STUDY, BUT I’M COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE.” - SOFIA SILVA DE ARAÚJO JUNIOR In 2020, Silva de Araújo visited her home in Brazil and found it to be an enlightening experience in her battle against racial stigma.

“After I traveled back to my country, I had a chance to reconnect with my origins and with my family,” Silva de Araújo said. “I realized that it doesn’t matter where I come from as long as I’m trying my best and as long as I know my worth as a woman and as a student.”

Many first-generation student immigrants try to assimilate into mainstream American society yet retain their racial identity and cultural roots. Today, Silva de Araújo values her ethnicity and hopes to become a developmental behavioral pediatrician in the future.

“I’ve come a long way and I’m really proud of myself,” Silva de Araújo said.

“Sometimes, I cannot help but to feel like I am nothing and to feel like it’s always going to be like this—a Latina woman is always going to be criticized and have stereotypical ideas around her.”

Peter Awabdeh Mclean Graduate begins college AS a first-gen student SAEHEE PEREZ CHIEF MARKETING MANAGER | OMAR KAYALI ONLINE OPINIONS EDITOR cLean Class of 2021 graduate Peter Awabdeh is proof that firstgeneration college applicants are capable of navigating the college admissions process.

“Both of my parents immigrated [to the U.S.] from Syria, so they were not familiar at all with the college applications process,” Awabdeh said. “I was kind of the experiment in my family because I was the oldest one.”

Awabdeh found applying for financial aid to be especially complicated.

“Navigating through FAFSA was a bit difficult, as I had difficulty answering the questions,” Awabdeh said. “I [felt lost] at a few points. Sometimes, I was really confused with a lot of the terminology.”

Awabdeh’s limiting financial situation

narrowed down his options because many schools didn’t offer the scholarships and aid packages he would need in order to pay for college.

“I had to find schools that fit my family’s income range. That was really difficult because I couldn’t really go anywhere out of state,” Awabdeh said. “I was also only considering local schools I can commute [to], in order to actually have something affordable.”

While resources were available for Awabdeh, finding those resources proved difficult. Often, he was the one doing most of the research.

“I really didn’t understand who would be the best person to ask for help in certain situations,” Awabdeh said. “I was the one contacting people [and] asking around... I really didn’t find that many resources that reached out directly to me.”

Awabdeh’s main points of contact in McLean were his guidance counselor, Amber Simpkins, and McLean’s college and career specialist, Laura Venos. He directed questions regarding the Common App and sending school credits to them.

“Ms. Simpkins provided me with a lot of resources, especially toward navigating the Common App and helping me develop a resume for my schools,” Awabdeh said. “Ms. Venos provided really quick help whenever I had questions regarding my AP credits, sending my SAT scores and issues I had with schools that didn’t use the Common App.” Despite all the challenges, Awabdeh never lost his motivation to get into college, and his efforts paid off. In March 2021, Awabdeh received news from the Posse Foundation that he was accepted to William & Mary with a full-

tuition scholarship. The foundation partners with colleges and universities to provide scholarships to those with extraordinary leadership potential.

“I received a call back from one of the staff members [after the finalist interview] and they told me they have one final question, which ended up being a surprise to tell me I received the scholarship,” Awabdeh said. “I was on the brink of tears when I found out the news and I was like, ‘No way.’”

In retrospect, Awabdeh is proud of his high school accomplishments and what they led to.

I WAS KIND OF THE EXPERIMENT IN MY FAMILY BECAUSE I WAS THE OLDEST ONE.” - PETER AWABDEH MCLEAN GRADUATE “Growing up and thinking about how I couldn’t attend the schools I wanted because of a lack of experience with the college admissions process as a first-generation college student made me discouraged,” Awabdeh said. “These past 13 years of hard work, sleepless nights and academic achievement finally [felt] validated as I received the news from Posse.”

Awabdeh thinks first-generation students should stay calm and persevere through the application season despite the extra obstacles they face.

“Definitely don’t stress out,” Awabdeh said. “There’s always a plan... It might be difficult to navigate, and you might feel at times that you’re not fit for it, but it’s really necessary to push through.”

IT’LL WORK OUT — Peter Awabdeh visits William & Mary in June after receiving a full tuition scholarship following a months-long application process. (Photo courtesy of Peter Awabdeh)

DECEMBER 2021 | IN-DEPTH | 29

spotlight on asian culture Media representation popularizes Asian culture NATALIE VU ONLINE NEWS EDITOR

A

t one point in time, the scariest place for an Asian American student was the cafeteria. As their lunches were met with confused stares and offhand comments, Asian Americans became conditioned to feel embarrassed of their culture.

Other Asian-associated interests, from K-pop to anime, have faced their fair share of ridicule. But as Asian culture has taken center-stage in various Western countries, Asian American students are finally able to share aspects of their identity after years of hiding them.

“I feel like there’s definitely been more Asian culture appreciation in Western culture, which has been really big for me,” said senior Songhan Pang, president of the Asian American Association (AAA).

“Growing up I didn’t really see that much representation of Asian culture.”

Last year, after continual association with the COVID-19 virus, Asians faced a wave of racism and hate crimes.

“For someone who has really

strong ties with her Chinese American heritage, it’s really disheartening to see,” Pang said. “I really hope that people grow to notice that the coronavirus is not race-based—it’s a public health concern for everybody.”

Recently, as a result of increased representation in the media, Asian culture is finally being celebrated and appreciated. The release of the hit series Squid Game, BTS shattering records, Asian-dominated casts in Hollywood movies, popular anime releases and Eastern films making their way into the U.S. are just a few examples of how Asian culture has grown.

“I feel like there was a sudden rise [in appreciation] with ‘Gangnam Style,’ then it kind of went down until BTS and Squid Game came along,” junior Kevin Lim said. “I feel extremely proud personally because mostly we see Asian culture, and it’s Korean right now, so it makes a Korean very proud.”

Representation for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) had been lacking in Hollywood until 1993 when The Joy Luck Club, the first all-Asian

mainstream film, was released, but this generation didn’t see that kind of representation until 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians.

“I have noticed a recent uptick of inquiries asking me about Asian American society in general and of requests wanting me to share insights of contemporary Asian culture, [especially] after Crazy Rich Asians debuted in 2018,” said Chinese language teacher Wendy Pearson, the AAA sponsor.

In 2020, the South Korean Film Parasite won an Oscar for best picture, making it the first non-English language film to win the award. Since then, the film industry has become noticeably more inclusive, especially with the 2021 release of Marvel’s Shang Chi, an Eastern-based film with an Asian-dominated cast. With all this content being produced, trends have started to revolve around them, including the use of Eastern beauty products, making dalgona candy from Squid Game and learning K-pop dances.

“While it may not be a surprise for the younger generation who have grown up with social media, knowing that Asian culture has become a ‘trend’ among them is quite a surprise for me,” Pearson said.

Representation has grown in all aspects of Asian culture, especially in the music industry. BTS, a well-known K-pop band, has gained massive popularity in the U.S. over the years.

“In eighth grade, I had just gotten into K-pop, but I wasn’t really sharing

School sQUID GAME — Natalie Ng and

Rosa Kwon try to cut out a shape in dalgona candy during the Asian American Association’s version of Squid Game after school on Nov. 10. The show exposed viewers to aspects of Korean culture.

30 | A&E | DECEMBER 2021

Photo by Natalie Vu | Page design by Vanessa Popescu & Natalie Vu

it with the people around me,” Pang said. “Then all of a sudden when BTS came to the American Music Awards, people started doing their dance and listening to them, and I was so excited because this was the first time I saw people really enjoying Asian culture in such an outgoing way.”

From first performing at the American Music Awards in 2017 to winning Artist of the Year in 2021, BTS is one example of the evergrowing appeal of Asian culture. Fans of all races are eagerly awaiting BTS’s next album.

“Asian culture is just part of a bigger globalization trend that’s been going on for a while now, and I think it’s just a natural progression,” senior Jackson Chadwick said.

Globalization and representation in the media have also led to an increase in the popularity of Asian food. What was once something to be embarrassed of is now starting to be appreciated.

“Growing up you see the typical thing, like I would bring some food that my mom made me, and then people would be like..., ‘Oh, what’s that? It smells funny,’” Pang said.

After years of being made fun of for their uncommon meals, people have learned to appreciate various Asian cuisines. Dishes such as pho, sushi and ramen are now casually enjoyed among all cultures. Boba tea, which originated in Taiwan, has become a staple.

For years, these forms of Asian culture have been enjoyed, but it is now that the spotlight is finally shining on them. Whether it is sharing an interest in K-pop, films or various Asian dishes, they have all brought together people of all cultural backgrounds.

“The Chinese have a saying, ‘物以 类聚.’ Roughly translated, this means, ‘Things of a kind come together,’” Pearson said. “The K-pop movement exemplifies this; it connects with people on a global scale through a shared love of music and cultural diversity.”

While K-pop and anime are major interests among the current generation, there are many more aspects to Asian culture. Along with the AAA, McLean

offers a variety of student-run cultural clubs. Some recently started clubs include the Vietnamese Student Association and the Japanese Cultural Club.

“There are instances where you can see how prominent Asian culture has become. Last year, the Japanese Club was not even a club—it was just a group of friends wanting to watch anime together,” senior Jay Shin said.

“This year a lot of people joined the club without prior knowledge of what it was. They just joined because they liked Japanese culture.”

THE CHINESE HAVE A SAYING, ‘物以类聚.’

ROUGHLY TRANSLATED, THIS MEANS, ‘THINGS OF A KIND COME TOGETHER.’” - WENDY PEARSON CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHER

With this rise in popularity, some students are concerned by the sudden growth of Asian culture. By viewing these media, misconceptions can be formed, as some may associate a certain country with what they see on the screen, without any other knowledge of the culture.

“I think that it’s really important to remember that cultural appropriation is never OK, and it’s really important to learn about a culture, as opposed to just enjoying it without any context,” Shin said.

In Western films and shows, many Asian characters have been portrayed in an offensive and false way. Watching these films growing up, many Asian Americans have not only felt insecure about not fitting in, but also angry about the misrepresentation of themselves.

“We have to keep in mind the

journey that Asian Americans have gone through to become more represented in America, and we shouldn’t forget all the struggles and all the trials that they went through,” Pang said.

For years, Asian Americans have faced stereotypes that have been ingrained into society and portrayed through the media. Despite not all being harmful, they still hold an impact on the way Asians are perceived.

“We’ve all heard, ‘Oh, Asians are good at math; Asians are doctors, lawyers, engineers,’” Pang said. “I’ve heard that growing up, and it’s really this one-sided narrative that has encapsulated Asian Americans, but they are a diverse group of people, each with their own aspirations and goals, and they should be recognized for that.”

Though these stereotypes may appear as compliments, they can actually be quite harmful.

“You should never stereotype anyone. Everyone is an individual with their own unique potential,” Pearson said. “Don’t blindly believe that dexterity in math or science belongs to Asian students—anyone can excel in these subjects.”

As representation continues to increase, the nuances of Asian culture will become more widely known and accepted, moving beyond the surface.

“It’s said that culture is the ways of life, including the arts, beliefs and institutions of a community that are passed down from generation to generation,” Pearson said. “Today, I retain the same basic Asian cultural principles as earlier generations of my family.”

After all these years of growing up afraid of sharing their culture because it was different, Asian culture will only continue to grow and reach people.

“The majority of non-Asians are coming from a point where they haven’t really been exposed to all this culture yet,” Pang said. “I just feel like keeping an open mind and also [being] willing to take in different perspectives is just my suggestion for people wanting to learn more about Asian culture.”

DECEMBER 2021 | A&E | 31

Vintage fashion trends resurface around McLean ANA PAULA IBARrarAN MANAGING EDITOR | TAYLOR OLSON DESIGN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“I get my fashion inspiration from characters I see in TV shows and movies. I also wear a lot of my mom’s clothes.

Long skirts are my go-to for most outfits.”

“For my outfits, I normally just throw different pieces together and see if they work. I get most of my clothes from Unique, and I love Target clothes too.”

“Two of my favorite fashion icons are Fiona Apple and Winona Ryder. I think both of their styles in the ‘90s were so cool.”

“I’m obsessed with leather jackets.

I think they’re an essential and can last you for years. I love my [Doc Martens]—I wear them all the time. I’m a big fan of high- and lowwaisted flare jeans.”

“I get my fashion inspiration from a lot of supermodels from the ‘90s and 2000s, like Cindy Crawford, and icons like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman.”

32 | A&E | DECEMBER 2021

“Most of [what I wear] is just my parents’ old clothes. The main staple item in my closet is a corduroy jacket.”

“A lot of my clothes come from people who leave [their clothes] at my house. I also thrift a lot of my clothes from stores in the McLean area.”

> Shop consciously; buy from boutiques, thrift stores or other second-hand businesses. > Ask your parents if you can raid their closet. > Arrange a clothing swap with your friends. > Get inspiration from Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram and other social media sites. > Layer and mix-and-match different clothing styles. > Experiment with unconventional pieces and combinations you wouldn’t think go together. > Never be afraid to try new things.

Conventionally “ugly” outfits are fashionable if you wear them with confidence.

Photos courtesy of sources | Page design by Taylor Olson

BAGE

za an

ON B L

Finding the best bagel in the McLean area

PANERA

BREAD FALLS CHURCH This was one of the worst bagels we’ve ever had. Not only was the cream cheese bland, but you had to spread it yourself. The bagel felt squished and wasn’t sliced evenly. If we could give this a zero out of five, we would.

MANHATTAN

BAGELS VIENNA This bagel was almost perfection. It was light as a feather, toasted to a golden brown and enlightened our taste buds. We only wish that there was more to enjoy. Four good bites could easily break any teenagers’ bank. Quanity or quality, that is the question.

LAINE PHILLIPS MANAGING EDITOR EMILY FRIEDMAN OPINIONS EDITOR

TYSONS BAGEL

MARKET TYSONS You definitely get what you pay for here. The price is low and so is the quality. The bread was chewy and dragged the entire bagel down.

The cream cheese was okay and very smooth, but overall, it lacked personality.

Overall, Manhattan Bagels is the best in the business if you’re willing to splurge a little. Panera’s bagel was extremely disappointing and we wouldn’t recommend it. We ordered the everything bagel with cream cheese at every place, so if you’re looking to explore other options, any of these are fair game.

Photos by Emily Friedman | Page design by Taylor Olson

CHESAPEAKE

BAGELS MCLEAN McLean students rave about this bagel spot, but it doesn’t live up to the hype. The crust of seasoning didn’t make up for the missing fluff factor. The tasty cream cheese should’ve elevated the bagel, but it wasn’t spread evenly.

EINSTEIN BROS

BAGELS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS This bagel was like eating a cloud. The cream cheese was scrumptious and evenly spread.

The only flaw was the lack of a down-the-middle slice, making it impossible to eat on the go.

We went to multiple locations and found the quality drastically differed at each.

DECEMBER 2021 | A&E | 33

THE RETURN OF SAD GIRL AUTUMN

Adele and Taylor Swift release new (and old) albums GRACE GOULD A&E EDITOR

T

aylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) gives new life to an album almost a decade old. Boasting 30 songs, including nine previously unreleased tracks, Swift has somehow managed to make a timeless album even better.

The first 21 tracks are a nearly perfect recreation of the original songs of the Red era. Swift’s attention to detail is evident as she replicates outros and spoken introductions exactly as they originally sounded. Any deviation from the parent album, from enhanced production to deeper vocals, only serve to strengthen Taylor’s Version.

However, the true jewels of the album are the previously unreleased “vault” tracks. These nine songs, which were cut from the original album for various reasons, serve as a time capsule to Swift’s 2012 heartache. Pop anthems, country twang and a Phoebe Bridgers feature

ADELE’S 30

Columbia Records

34 | A&E | DECEMBER 2021

make for a mosaic of songs sure to remain as iconic as the original album.

Perhaps most anticipated was the extended version of “All Too Well,” a song that is often regarded as Swift’s magnum opus. Featuring biting lyrics and powerful vocals, the song dives into a tale of love and loss, sure to bring many to tears.

Accompanied by a short film starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, “All Too Well (10-Minute Version)” is Swift at her best—an exceptional storyteller.

Red (Taylor’s Version) delivers old (and new-ish) heartbreak anthems perfectly, demonstrating Swift’s timelessness as an artist. After all, very few musicians could re-release a nearly decade-old album and still have it resonate with fans. Red (Taylor’s Version) proves that even after more than a decade in the music industry, Taylor Swift is still a powerful force to be reckoned with.

O

RED (TAYLOR’S VERSION)

nly once in a blue moon do the stars align to create a pop star as universally adored as Adele, whose albums are beloved by people from all walks of life. It feels as if the whole world has been buzzing in anticipation for her third studio album, 30.

Her first album since 2015, 30 chronicles the story of Adele’s divorce from longtime partner Simon Konecki.

Fans were prepared for bombastic vocals and tear-jerking ballads, which have been her signature throughout her career.

However, it is clear that Adele has reached a new level of excellence, be it from the ever-changing music industry or her recent struggles. Right from the opening track, “Strangers by Nature,” 30 showcases Adele’s softer vocals in a novel way.

Other songs see the singer experimenting in different ways. One such track, “Cry Your Heart Out,”

Republic Records

delivers a spunky jazz beat as she sings about navigating emotional selfsufficiency. Others such as “Oh My God” and “Can I Get It” are delivered in the form of pop-anthems with upbeat tempos that diverge from the slow ballads of albums past.

Although she is trying new things, 30 also provides songs reminiscent of the familiar deep cuts that made Adele a household name. The piano melody in the lead single, “Easy on Me,” is evocative of her previous albums, delivering a passionate, intensely vulnerable anthem.

Overall, this album is a beautiful experimentation that sees Adele branch out of her comfort zone and express complex emotions in ways she never has before. Though much of 30’s sound may have been unexpected for lifelong fans, its freshness proves once again why Adele endures as the universal “queen of heartbreak.”

Graphics & page design by Taylor Olson

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SOUNDCLOUD RAPPING Steps to thrive as a teen on the music sharing platform AKASH BALENALLI WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | MADIE TURLEY REPORTER | SAEHEE PEREZ CHIEF MARKETING MANAGER SET THE VIBE — A personal and intimate album cover can help you

establish a consistent theme across your work. Make sure the cover design is clear, and be sure to come up with a thought-provoking title.

To spice up your cover, add some grain and texture.

Step 3: Find your inspiration Make sure your work focuses on your struggles as a privileged, wealthy teenager who drives a $60,000 2021 BMW X5; writing lyrics that come from the heart builds a connection with listeners. Want more pizzazz? Fight with K-Pop stans on Twitter and make troubling comments on Instagram posts to add some more flair to your image.

Step 4: Write the lyrics

S(HE) BE(LIE)VE(D) YOURMOM420

It’s important to talk about female students like disposable objects. Are you annoyed by a girl in your math class? Write a hate-filled tirade and call her vulgar slurs to gain more streams! Colorful language is another skill necessary to develop sophisticated lyricism. For instance, describe your million-dollar McLean estate as “the hood” in a nod to your origins as a sheltered suburbanite who’s never had a job.

Step 5: Advertise Step 1: Create an original stage name Stage names are crucial for developing an audience that can attach your work to a face.

To be an authentic high school rapper, you’ll need to derive your name from outdated memes on Reddit pages being watched by the FBI for hate speech. For something mature and classic, try “YourMom420.”

For something more fun and playful, try “AmongusChungus82,” since 1 through 81 are already taken.

Step 2: Set up your recording studio If your socialite parents allow (they will), buy high-end recording equipment, subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud and buy a new $2,000 Macbook Pro. The key to the SoundCloud game is only knowing a quarter of these products’ functions and possessing little ambition to learn any more.

Budding influencers need to make sure their content reigns supreme. Have an edgy but tasteful bio to represent your difficulty grasping the brokenness of our system, like “uncovering the liberal pedophilia ring in our schools.” Underexposed, blurry photos of you in an overpriced hoodie add to the nightmare vibes, which you should make a central theme in your work.

Step 6: DO NOT LEARN MUSIC!!!

Music theory is for nerds and mainstream artists who want to keep the little guys (you) out of the industry. Defy them! Sing every note out of tune, add random noises in discordant rhythms and permanently damage your larynx by refusing to Google “how to sing.” Make sure every second of every song is a pots-and-pans cacophony for your listeners, because let’s face it—for most people, losing their hearing beats paying attention in class.

Step 7: Plan and host your first world tour Soon enough, it’ll be time to go on tour for your fans. Be sure to find venues that complement your style, like underfunded public parks and the closest Walmart parking lot. If you break a local noise ordinance, pray the police don’t find the dozens of Snapchat stories concertgoers posted, because according to Google and the narc neighborhood watch program, that’s illegal.

Step 8: Destroy all evidence of YourMom420 Uh oh—turns out colleges don’t like it when students use frowned-upon language and make vague threats, even in the name of art. Delete everything! Quick!

1:37 Photo illustration by Taylor Olson | Page design by Akash Balenalli

DECEMBER 2021 | A&E | 35

ADVISORY NEEDS TO CHANGE

Current structure doesn’t help McLean students The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board

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his school year, FCPS introduced advisory, a period where students receive social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons. For McLean students, the program is not doing anything other than wasting their time.

Advisory is run by Big Macs every couple of silver days, using up half of students’ Highlander Time. Instead of having time to work on homework or study, students sit through lessons that are neither productive nor engaging. Walking into an advisory period classroom, it is apparent that students are bored and struggling to see a point in their time being stolen. “[Advisory] teaches us these lessons that aren’t very groundbreaking,” sophomore Jackie Palmer said. “It [makes me wonder], ‘Why do we need to be here?’”

Since students are not engaged and do not want to sit through what is essentially a half-hour lecture, there is no reason to force them to do so. “[During regular Highlander Time] you can hang out with friends, do homework or just be productive in other ways that you can’t during advisory,” Palmer said.

The return to in-person school not only

36 | OPINIONS | DECEMBER 2021

revived many extracurricular activities but also removed most of last year’s lenient grading policies. With the rush of activity and higher expectations, Highlander Time provides students a valuable opportunity to talk to teachers, finish assignments or unwind a bit amid all the chaos.

[Advisory] teaches us these lessons that aren’t very groundbreaking. It [makes me wonder], ‘Why do we need to be here?’”

- JACKIE PALMER SOPHOMORE “We understand that students are overwhelmed,” said counselor Greg Olcott, the social-emotional liaison for McLean.

“We get that they might feel that they would rather work on [other things] during that time than sit and listen to potentially unenthusiastic students go over a lesson.”

Despite this acknowledgment, Big Macs are required to deliver presentations they

have no control over, which isn’t the role they signed up for.

“The Big Macs are the ones delivering the advisory lessons, but advisory isn’t really a part of McLeadership,” Olcott said.

McLeadership is intended to help newer students get acclimated to the school, not to deliver SEL lessons. Instead, Big Macs could use that time to build connections with students and aid them in their adjustment at McLean.

Letting Big Macs have complete control over how this time is spent would also give students more time to engage in activities they would rather do—exactly the kind of social and emotional learning they need after over a year of pandemic restrictions.

This shift would also give Big Macs back their own Highlander Time. If students were not required to be in advisory, then Big Macs would be better able to manage their own lives while still being available to help any students who may want mentorship.

Advisory could instead be an additional resource for any students who may be struggling with adjusting back to in-person learning. Personal mentorship is much closer to what McLeadership is meant for, so Big Macs would be more suited to this format.

Making changes to advisory is essential in order to help everyone at McLean manage the various stresses of the school year.

Reporting & page design by Omar Kayali | Comic by Liz Nedelescu

CUT THE COSTS College application fees are ridiculously expensive CC PALUMBO OPINIONS EDITOR

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s college application season takes over, students are forced to juggle supplemental essays, portfolios and, on top of all that, the financial burden that comes with applying. In addition to the costly tuition that ultimately follows, colleges charge a fee just to apply.

The average price to apply to each college is currently $43 but can climb as high as $90 dollars. The amount of money it takes to attend college is so high that this additional cost is unnecessary and needs to either be eradicated or reduced to a more affordable amount.

“People in low-income families don’t have the money to pay $90 to apply to a bunch of schools,” senior Zora Rodgers said. “If they applied to three schools, that’s 270 bucks just in application fees.”

The college application process seems to be built with the intent of weeding out those who aren’t financially stable enough to even start the process, giving an advantage to higher income families by putting up a barrier that holds back students who cannot afford to pay the added fees.

“The vast majority of Ivy League students complain about constant elitism because they’re all rich suburban kids,” Rodgers said. “Those are the only people who have access to quality SAT prep sources and can afford to spend thousands of dollars on the expensive application fees.”

Fee waivers are allocated to students whose families are low

income. However, this leaves out the lower middle class who don’t qualify but still can’t afford to cough up $1,000 for applications.

Furthermore, waivers are rarely offered by schools, and many students are not made aware of their availability.

THEY SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON MORE COST-EFFECTIVE RESOURCES FOR THEIR APPLICANTS.” - ZORA RODGERS SENIOR “Fee waivers not only should be more accessible but should also be more talked about,” Rodgers said. “[Schools and colleges alike] need to do a

Graphics & & page page design design by

by Ariana Ariana Elahi Elahi | | Comic Cartoon Jayne Ogilvie-Russell Graphics byby Jayne Ogilvie-Russell

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better job of making students’ options more accessible.”

Fee waivers are not the solution to the application fee issue. If the cost were reduced, it would be more affordable to the middle class to apply. Regardless, the cost should simply be eliminated due to the copious amounts of money schools make. “[Colleges] are a business, and the amount of money they charge for tuition alone is astronomical,” counselor Greg Olcott said.

McLean guidance counselors recommend choosing around seven to nine schools to apply to. If the average is $43, the total cost for a student applying to that many schools is around $301 to $387. The revenue schools get from one student at McLean applying to seven or nine schools is multiplied by millions of kids all across the nation. “[Colleges] make a ton of money. They don’t need to charge kids 90 bucks to apply to their school, especially when they know they’re about to get $90,000 for this,” Olcott said.

Schools use the money they pull in from students to pay for the resources they use to review applications.

“They have to cover many costs, such as contracts with Common App/Coalition App and paying their admissions staff,” College and Career Specialist Laura Venos said.

Schools rake in billions of dollars to run their institutions and pay their admissions staff even without the revenue produced from application costs. Their foundation is built more on privilege than providing education to those who are deserving of it. Eradicating certain fees is not going to reduce the ample amount of money in their pockets. It will be the first step in making education attainable for everyone.

“They should be focusing on more cost-effective resources for their applicants,” Rodgers said, “because it currently separates the application pool from, not necessarily who’s the best and the brightest, but who’s more financially well off to even apply.”

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DECEMBER DECEMBER 2021 2021 | OPINIONS | OPINIONS|| 35 37

FCPS observance days discriminate against beliefs

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JAMES MURRAY REPORTER

government-financed institution which supports some beliefs more than others? It seems that no public school system in the U.S. would ever allow this, but FCPS is actively favoring some religions over others.

The new religious observance day policy is a poor replacement for the previous one.

Currently, teachers are prohibited from introducing new material on county-wide observance days. Students who don’t observe these days are required to attend school, even with the knowledge that they will not be able to learn anything new. It is clear that such “observance days” breach the will of non-religious taxpayers, devalue religious

38 | OPINIONS | DECEMBER 2021

freedom in the county and alienate religions which do not have their own observance days. The county must find a better way to respect religions without excluding others.

Northern Virginia is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities. Located just outside of Washington D.C., Fairfax County has residents from a variety of backgrounds. Since the public school system is financed through local and federal funds, it is FCPS’s duty to represent their taxpayers.

“Here we are with taxpayers’ dollars, saying that we’ll give a break based on religion, [even though] it’s public education,” World Religions and Government teacher Ian Howell said. “If massive amounts of money were being spent for students not to progress, I’d be annoyed.”

With the great variety of religions that are

practiced in Fairfax County, only five have distinguished holidays on the FCPS calendar.

This new policy also ignores students at McLean who are not affiliated with any one religious group. FCPS is using taxpayers’ money for a way of thinking that those same taxpayers likely don’t support.

Another aspect of equality which is disregarded under the new observance days is the First Amendment of the Constitution, which essentially guarantees the separation of church and state.

Although multiple religions are included in this new observance day policy, it alienates many belief systems which do not receive the same governmental recognition as more mainstream religions.

Religion is simply a way of thought, and the school board continues to prioritize some people’s beliefs over others.

“If you want to promote religious days, you have to promote them all,” Howell said.

“The majority can’t rule in religion.”

Even though students and staff still have to come to school these 15 days of the year, there can be no advancement of curriculum.

This essentially means that students will be sitting in a class for an hour and a half, remaining stagnant in their progress.

“We are stopping the 29 [students] for two,” Howell said. “Our system is based on individual rights, not collective rights.”

Although McLean is a very diverse school, diversity varies heavily throughout the region. If nearby counties were to adopt this system, it is highly likely that the whole school would miss out on a day of instruction for a religion that isn’t even followed by anyone in the area.

The former method of religious observance was much more fair and equal than the one that is currently in place. A student in observance of a holy day calls into the school citing religion as their excuse for absence, after which they receive any necessary make-up work. This is incredibly more efficient than holding the entire school back in favor of a few select students.

Are new religious observance days beneficial to students?

Observance days promote diversity in schools

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FARAH ELJAZZAR REPORTER

ronounced the “melting pot” of the world, the U.S. has always taken pride in its diverse population, whether in ethnicity, race, gender or religion. With Northern Virginia’s ever-growing population, it is only right that FCPS maintains the pride of diversity it claims to have.

The assertion that FCPS’s adoption of religious observance days creates setbacks in education and does not fully address all observed religious holidays does not account for the real consequences of not including these holidays: students have to choose between excelling in classes or taking time off for worship.

Prior to the implementation of this new system, FCPS had a policy in which students who wanted to observe their religious holiday would take an excused absence and make up any work or exams on a later date.

“Every holiday that is religious is excused, without exception. And it’s the teacher’s job to plan around that,” World Religions and Government teacher Ian Howell said.

Although it is inclusive to allow excused absence observance days, something still in practice if one’s religious holiday is not included in the new FCPS calendar, this system is not productive as it adds more work for students who take time off to observe said holidays. Instead of taking the day to observe with family, students spend time worrying about the missed homework and exams that are piling up.

“The previous [policy] put me at a disadvantage because I missed content that was necessary for tests and other assignments I had to complete later,” said junior Lily Hudson, who observes Jewish holidays.

The “excused absence” policy felt like a back-handed second thought, whereas the new observance days recognize that FCPS must continue to expand their calendar to promote inclusivity for the growing diverse population in the area.

“FCPS acknowledging the holidays can help spread awareness on the religious diversity at McLean,” Hudson said. “We can always aim to promote inclusivity.”

While some assert that the introduction of observance days hinders the progression of the education process, a total of 15 days is not going to impact a student to that extent.

“There are so many grades given through the course of the year that one assignment is negligible, and taking the time to recognize a different culture is so much more important than a grade,” said junior Nandita Boddu, who observes Hindu holidays.

Instead, to ensure that students who take time off to observe holidays do not miss any material and students attending school do not “waste” a school day, students could learn about the contributions and effects of

Comics by Liz Nedelescu | Page design by James Murray & Farah Eljazzar

these religions today.

“In English classes, we’ll read literature [on] the [basis] of Hinduism. And in science, we’ll discuss contributions of the Hindu world,” Howell said.

Although FCPS has work to do when it comes to improving inclusivity, this new policy advocates for religious minorities without undermining academics or putting stress upon students. The truth is, no matter how non-affiliated our county claims to be when it comes to religion, our holidays and breaks will always revolve around Christian holidays, with winter break spanning two weeks for Christmas and spring break aligning with Easter.

We must do better to push for change and inclusion for religious minorities within FCPS, no matter how flexible we have to be.

DECEMBER 2021 | OPINIONS | 39

THE PROBLEM WITH LOCKDOWNS Focusing on taking cover instead of escaping does not protect students TANNER COERR SPORTS EDITOR

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urn off the lights. Close the blinds. Put that black paper over the window slit in your classroom door. Hide together in the corner. No talking. Will this protect you from oncoming bullets? Probably not, but there’s not much else you can do.

Several times a year, an ominous voice announces a lockdown drill over the PA system and each classroom shuts down.

Protocols are in place in case an intruder enters the school with the intent to kill.

While the protocols are well-intentioned, the reality is simple: they aren’t enough.

On Nov. 30, a 15-year-old Michigan student entered his high school with a gun, killing four students and injuring seven more.

Despite lockdown protocols in place, many of the students and teachers had no idea what to do. The lack of effective emergency plans is a nationwide problem, and improving those procedures could save lives.

Gun violence in schools has been a major issue in the U.S. ever since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, when a pair of 12th graders shot and killed 12 students and a teacher. This has become a recurring

40 | OPINIONS | DECEMBER 2021

event in schools, and teenagers often find themselves wondering if they could be next.

“It’s kind of scary, knowing how [gun violence] could be happening here at any time,” sophomore J.W. Harrington said.

“That’s always in the back of your head.”

Any conversation regarding gun violence in schools will always circle back to gun control laws, a subject which has been on the national stage ever since Columbine.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that anything will happen on that front for a while. The sad truth is that our government’s values reflect those of their Republican lobbyists and their NRA support money instead of the safety of their young constituents.

While the government struggles to get its act together, some students believe teachers and administration should take control.

“I think teachers should have escape plans,” Harrington said. “They [should] know the nearest exits and know if the windows open enough and all that. Why would someone want to be a sitting duck rather than trying to find a productive way to get out?”

Even with the police presence in McLean, current methods are in dire need of an update. A single police officer in the halls is not enough to keep students safe. One officer can only be in one place at any given time, and if a shooter were to come in the school far away from that officer, lives could be lost in those first few seconds.

As in the case of the Michigan shooting, many shooters have participated in lockdown drills as students. They know which procedures are in place and can easily work around them.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO BE A SITTING DUCK RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET OUT?” - J.W. HARRINGTON SOPHOMORE “There are other systems where the main plan isn’t just to hide in a corner,” history teacher Corinne Mazzotta said. “There are more active plans that other schools participate in.”

Several things can be done to improve escape plans. The windows in most classrooms do not open far enough to stick an arm through, much less an entire person.

Allowing them to open much further would give students another option to escape.

Teachers also receive very little communication during a lockdown, meaning they are blind to what is going on in the school. A communication system through walkie-talkies could be the difference between safety and tragedy.

The fact is that once a shooter gets into a school, there is no good option. The only real solution is to prevent the shooter from getting the gun in the first place.

As unfortunate as it is, there is nothing McLean can do to change the sale of automatic rifles. Knowing that, it is up to the administration and local government to do what they can to make sure their students are always safe. Students need to be given a way to escape instead of staying put with the current protocols, which are little more than thoughts and prayers. It sure is a shame that thoughts and prayers can’t stop bullets.

Page design by Tanner Coerr | Comic by Jayne Ogilvie-Russell

MCDANCE MAKES AN IMPACT

After strong fall season, dance team prepares for winter sports and competitions MADELYN FREDERICK REPORTER

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riday night football games are one of the most memorable experiences students take part in at McLean. The spirited atmosphere both in the stands and on the field contributes to a weekly event that everyone at McLean can enjoy.

Whether the football team pulls out a win or not, the McLean Highlandettes dance team is committed to putting on a good show. After all, when that whistle blows to signal the halftime intermission, it’s game time for them.

“On game days, we pack our bags the night before and then stay after school to run through our routine and clean it up, we stretch across the floor, and then we eat and get ready together,” sophomore Danielle Hunter said.

The dance team is one of the few McLean teams to compete year-round. They perform at football games in the fall, basketball games in the winter and in separate competitions with other schools in the region throughout the rest of the school year.

Like any sport, the team must work together to overcome issues throughout the season.

“One of the biggest challenges we have year to year is getting used to the traditional dance team style,” head coach Victoria Diez said. “Dance team style is all about precision, execution and uniformity, while studio style is more about emotion.”

Despite the difficulties, members of the team enjoy their experiences.

“When I first started performing, I was very nervous, but the adrenaline feels really good,” sophomore Camila Diaz said.

“Performing is probably the best feeling.

Even though it’s scary, it’s like my favorite thing.”

Each member’s unique skillset contributes to a strong and diverse group with high standards. Making the cut isn’t easy.

“The tryout process is definitely competitive, and last year we lost six seniors, so there were a couple spots to fill,” Hunter said. “Each person brings something new to

Halftime hustle — The dance team rushes the field to start off their halftime performance at the home game against Fairfax. The Highlandettes’ energy always excites the crowd. (Photo courtesy of Kent Arnold) Page design by Ariana Elahi | Additional reporting by Tanner Coerr

the team, and everyone has some level of experience, because you need to have some technique and be able to pick up a routine.”

The team features members from all grades levels, all with varying levels of experience. Most of the dancers have been on club dance teams, creating an exceptionally skilled group.

However, the intensity of the sport makes the dancers susceptible to injury.

“I have sciatic nerve damage in my back,” Hunter said. “I’ve rolled ankles and stuff like that. It’s very common—you walk into our practices and you’ll see everyone is taped up, specifically our joints because we put so much stress on them.”

The physical and mental fortitude that is needed to participate in the sport draws the dance team members into a tight-knit group.

THE ADRENALINE FEELS REALLY GOOD. PERFORMING IS PROBABLY THE BEST FEELING.” - CAMILA DIAZ SOPHOMORE “Our team has a really close bond with each other, even outside of dance. I mean, we spend so much time together,” Hunter said.

“When we are about to perform, we give each other pep talks and hugs, all that. Everyone is really supportive and encouraging. We make sure everyone feels okay.”

The team is off to a strong start, and they are constantly improving as a group.

“I feel really good about the team this year,” coach Diez said. “We have 18 super talented dancers this year who are super committed and hardworking.”

Dancing at games and in competitions throughout the school year gives the dancers a chance to create a sense of family among the team.

“Performing can be really nerve-wracking, but I just turn to my teammates and I’m fine,” Diaz said. “We are all so comfortable with each other, we spend so much time together, and we have all gone through so much as a team. It’s a really supportive environment.”

DECEMBER 2021 | SPORTS | 41

IT’S ABOUT DRIVE, IT’S ABOUT POWER

Cross country athletes run in state championship TANNER COERR SPORTS EDITOR | SCOTT SHIELDS SPORTS EDITOR

THAÏS ROLLY JUNIOR, 2nd place individual

KYLE JEMISON HEAD COACH, led girls team to 2nd place

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What do you think were the keys to success the team had?

How do you feel with how the team performed?

A key to success is the closeness of our team. We had over three months of running with each other almost every day.

Over the course of the season, we became a family. We are supportive and work together as a team.

It’s really hard to start training in June and keep that same level of momentum when school starts. You have to have that mental fortitude to stick with it, and these guys stepped up to the challenge again and again.

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How did the team mentally prepare for the race?

What goals do you have for next season?

Our team has a lot of traditions, and one of them is exchanging motivational letters before a race. This always helps us be more confident in ourselves since we see how much our teammates believe in us.

It would be nice to win states [and] bring one [trophy] home.

You come in second at states, and you’ve got all the girls returning. The hope is that you do one better and bring home that state trophy.

Xavier Jemison Senior, 3rd place individual

LEAH DURKEE FRESHMAN, top 15 in region

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How DID IT FEEL TO REPRESENT MCLEAN AT STATES?

What is the most important part of your routine?

It felt amazing. Even though our boys were strong this year, our x team was [initially] just shy of making it to states. Placing third allowed me to show people that our team isn’t a ‘nobody team’ like it has been in prior years.

The most important part of my routine is balance. Once I incorporated more [variety] rather than simply [increasing] the mileage, there was a clear improvement in my races, both in my [performance] and how I felt.

What’s your favorite part about competing?

What was your favorite memory from the season?

My favorite part is improving. Watching your times drop is one of the best feelings. Meets and competitions [also] allow me to meet new people and make more rivals. It’s a big morale boost, whether I win or lose, because I know this sport is hard and that I’ll continue to improve.

Having everyone cheer you on as you cross the line is a high you can’t get anywhere else. Jogging around with my friends as we do our cool down is the best part of every competition.

There’s always a lot happening at meets, and once all the nerves about running are behind me, I get to enjoy all of it.

42 | SPORTS | DECEMBER 2021

Photos by Tanner Coerr | Graphics by Ariana Elahi | Page design by Taylor Olson

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE MIA FITZGERALD Senior POINT GUARD

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING BASKETBALL AND WHY DID YOU START PLAYING? I’ve been playing basketball since fourth grade. I started playing because my mom wanted me involved in sports, so I was put into soccer, volleyball and basketball. I wasn’t really into playing all these sports at the time, but now I’m glad I stuck with basketball. It is my main sport and I do spring track on the side. Basketball gives my mind a break from everything else that is going on and I can focus simply on the sport for just two hours. When all my practice and hard work pays off on game day, it is extremely satisfying.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM BASKETBALL? My favorite memory was definitely when Coach Sobota started me my freshman year, which made me extremely excited for the season. Then closer to the end of the season, we won the [Liberty] District Championship, which had not been done in 42 years. I played with some amazing players like Mariane Auza and Elizabeth Dufrane, and both are playing basketball right now at the collegiate level.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS YEAR BEING THE LAST SEASON OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER? My feelings are mixed. I have committed to play in college, so missing the sport is not a huge concern. However, there is a big difference between college and high school, and I will miss [some] aspects, like the Langley and McLean rivalry games. Everyone in the whole school shows up to those games. It makes playing a bit nerve-wracking but way more fun.

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My love for the sport is my main drive to continue to play.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO PLAY ON VARSITY BASKETBALL FOR FOUR YEARS? I’m always honored to say that I’ve played on varsity for four years. It is somewhat uncommon to play varsity your freshman year, but knowing that you want to commit to the challenge of playing with and against great players that can be four years older than you is impressive. I had to stay confident and keep a determined mindset to be successful my freshman year.

WHAT IMPACT HAS PLAYING THIS SPORT HAD ON YOUR LIFE? Playing basketball impacts my life dramatically. It is a way I can take my mind away from what is going on in my life and just focus on basketball. When an inconvenience would pop up, I could always rely on going to the park and shooting hoops to help clear my mind.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO CONTINUE PLAYING BASKETBALL? My love for the sport is my main drive to continue to play. When times get hard, I reach out to my coaches, brothers and friends to help talk through the issues. My brother Sean is definitely someone I look up to when I struggle. There were numerous times that he hit bumps in the road, but he got through it because he had a love for the game, and I have the same drive.

Reporting by Kaan Kocabal | Photo by Tanner Coerr | Page design by Taylor Olson

DECEMBER 2021 | SPORTS | 43

THE

FINISH LINE

tell us YOUR...

SAWYER BARRETT

favorite holiday tradition?

#1 holiday MOVIE?

dream gift?

favorite athlete in your sport?

thanksgiving PARTY

home alone

kobe 6 grinch shoes

kobe bryant

cooking traditional ukrainian food

elf

trip to bora bora

laurie hernandez

extreme christmas cookie baking

elf

a vacation somewhere warm

lily king

rice pudding on christmas

arthur’s christmas

new laptop

eliud kipchoge

playing guesstures with extended family

die hard

trip to fiji

kassidy cook

FRESHMAN, BASKETBALL

ANNA NTEP SOPHOMORE, GYMNASTICS

KRISTEN SARGENT JUNIOR, SWIM

ROWAN FREW SENIOR, TRACK & FIELD

LEIGH ANNE METHLIE-STEPHENS DIVE COACH

44 | SPORTS | DECEMBER 2021

Photos & reporting by Andrew Christofferson & Andy Chung | Page design by Taylor Olson

Local Tutoring & Test Prep Georgetown Learning Centers offers private tutoring for academic subjects, high school entrance exams, SAT & ACT. We also run group SAT classes prior to each College Board test date.

Contact us today for additional information or a personalized consultation!

Online and in-person options available.

www.learnglc.com hannah.knerr@glclearn.com (703) 288-2808

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mylo’s grill 10% OFF WITH SCHOOL ID (DINE-IN ONLY) WWW.MYLOSGRILL.COM | 703-553-5880

6238 OLD DOMINION DR. MCLEAN, VA 22101