January 2017

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Winter Season Update: Highlights of Varsity Teams

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Chief

Vol. 65 – No. 3

January 19, 2017 www.thechiefonline.com

Massapequa High School’s Chief Source of News

The expectations of Donald Trump as he begins his presidency

BY LIAM HIGGINS COPY EDITOR

JEFF SINER// MCT CAMPUS

On December 19, 2016, the electors of the Electoral College voted to elect Donald Trump as the next President of the United States, ultimately accumulating 304 votes. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, accrued 227 votes, with seven electors voting for individuals other than the two main contenders.

Mr. Trump’s Electoral College victory means that he will be inaugurated on January 20, 2017. This begs the question: What will he do in office?

While no one can foresee the actions of a future president, Mr. Trump has given indications as to what his tenure in the Oval Office will be like.

One promise that the President-elect echoed throughout his campaign was the destruction of a free trade bill known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership or the TPP. The Obama administration believes this bill will promote American businesses, particularly in Asia. However, detractors of the proposed bill from both the left and right worry that the bill incentivizes the outsourcing of jobs from the United States.

After the election of Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that Mr. Trump’s opposition to the TPP effectively prevents the bill from passing during his tenure, a belief echoed by future Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

When it comes to illegal immigration, the President-elect likely will not be able to follow through with all of his promises. Though he may not be able to deport eleven million undocumented immigrants, as he has promised in the past, there is precedent for mass deportations.

His predecessor, President Obama, has deported over 2.5 million individuals, according to ABC News. Therefore, it is quite likely that Trump will deport a considerable amount of illegal immigrants from the country during his

Mr. Donald J. Trump | The president elect speaks to supporters about his future plans.

One of Mr. Trump’s camfour or eight years in office. free, whether they are immiTrump’s plan to build grants or natives. If he puts paign promises was to repeal a wall seems to have been up that wall he’s going against and replace the Affordable complicated in recent days. what America stands for.” Care Act. This has been a A staple of the Trump central goal of the RepubliThe Mexican government recampaign and transition is his can Party ever since the remained ardent in its conviction that it will not pay for use of tweets to communicate form’s inception. Paul Ryan any wall to be built along the with the public through social and other GOP leaders have Mexican-American border. media, specifically through gone even further, hoping to This puts Mr. Trump in an un- Twitter, and has inspired a de- privatize Medicare and Medcomfortable position; either gree of support amongst some icaid. One of Mr. Trump’s he taxes Americans to raise supporters and moderates. campaign promises, how“I like how he says his ever, was to save these two funds for the wall or he does not build the wall. Trump has mind and speaks about sub- programs, so he may not suggested that after the wall jects that others don’t like wish to enact such a change.

“I believe that Obamacare is built, the Mexican govern- to talk about,” junior James continues to detriment society ment would reimburse the McGarrity said, in reference United States for the costs. to Mr. Trump’s use of tweets. as more and more of the popHowever, many also ulation is becoming dependent “Personally I don’t think the government would allow see this as less professional upon services being given to him to go as far as building or a bit too unconventional. them. It is essential for Trump “I guess I’m a little to repeal the Affordable Care the [border] wall. However, old-fashioned in that I don’t Act because it is not at all afhe has gotten away with so much, not just in the time he think using tweets to com- fordable and rather is a burden was campaigning, but before municate to the nation is for the hard-working middle that also,” junior Veronica beneficial. It kind of loses its class families that pay for it,” Wetzel said. “The Constitu- purpose,” AP social studies junior Nicole Leonick said.

Mr. Trump selected Rex tion states that everyone is teacher Ms. Gail Hayes said.

Tillerson for Secretary of State, which raised significant controversy. Tillerson, for one, has no prior experience in the world of politics. Being the head of Exxon Mobil, a number of conflicts of interest could arise in diplomatic affairs. Moreover, Tillerson is considered to have close ties with Russia, further complicating the strained relations between the US and the Russians.

John Bolton, whom President-elect Trump will select for Deputy Secretary of State, is known as one of the leading advocates of neo-conservative foreign policy positions, meaning that the United States under President Trump will likely intervene more in Middle Eastern conflicts. Furthermore, it indicates that the United States is likely to more aggressively pursue war in the Middle East against ISIS. “I think under Trump’s leadership we definitely have a fighting chance against ISIS and to bring peace to the Middle East,” senior Brandon Frascino said.

Many are worried about the President-elect’s choice for the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Trump chose Scott Pruitt, an Oklahoma Republican who denies climate change and does not support environmental regulations. It is likely that the Trump administration will cut regulations for companies that pollute the air and water.

Mr. Trump also chose businesswoman Betsy DeVos as his Secretary of Education. She is an anti-public school activist who believes in a voucher program for parents who choose to send their kids to private schools. This likely foreshadows cuts in federal education spending.

It seems that the ways in which President Trump will govern will likely differ minimally from standard conservative doctrine. However, only time will tell what this new administration will bring.

LOCAL NEWS AP Capstone Program makes its debut at MHS

JANUARY 19, 2017

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It’s always exciting when a new class is introduced, especially when that class could potentially earn students college credit. Students at the main campus during this year have had the opportunity to enroll in AP Seminar, the first step in the AP Capstone series, followed by AP Research. But what exactly do these these pioneering students and teachers do on a daily basis in this class?

To begin, the course is a collaborative class taught by both an English and social studies teacher. The intent is to provide students with the skills they need to become intellectually aware global citizens. This endeavor includes, according to College Board, basing the class upon “concepts or issues from other AP classes, student interests, local and/or civic issues, academic problems or questions, and global or international topics.”

Students agree that the class is flexible and provides opportunities for varied intellectual investigation.

“We are able to choose the research we want to do, which gives us a lot of lee-

THE CHIEF

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way that we don’t have in usual assignments,” junior AP Seminar student MaryKatherine Cotter said.

Teachers instructing AP Seminar challenge their students to view topics through a variety of lenses, including cultural, social, philosophical, ethical, artistic, political, historical, environmental, economic, scientific, and futuristic. This course requires not one AP Exam, but three: one traditional AP Exam in either the first or second week of May and “two through-course performance assessment tasks.”

The assessment consists of a team project and presentation, an individual research-based essay and presentation, and an end of course exam.

Despite the plethora of subjects from which students can choose, a strong social studies and English platform can support and propel the work done in AP Seminar.

“In social studies, we’re so worried about content, and the formulas for the essays are not real writing. You know, it’s do this, do this, do this, to get the point. In English, I think again, their focus

is the literature aspect of it, especially in the pre-AP and the AP [classes]. This really allows them to hone in on research,” AP Seminar teacher Mrs. Janine Moretti said.

Students in this course utilize a framework known as Q.U.E.S.T. (questions and explore, understand and analyze, evaluate multiple perspectives, synthesize ideas, and team, transform, and transmit) to guide them in their journey to intellectual discovery and stay on track through the many steps of their year-long research.

A social studies foundation can be useful in beginning to use the Q.U.E.S.T. framework. “When we teach the essays, they’re very similar to the DBQs in terms of context, supporting with documents or research,” Mrs. Moretti said.

Preparing for the presentation components of the exams presents an invaluable opportunity for students to focus on their skills as effective verbal communicators.

“Seminar is a really unique experience because it’s more public speaking than other English courses,” Cotter said.

In addition to promot-

ing the development of traditional effective communication skills, AP Seminar allows students to communicate in a truly modern sense- by way of the internet.

“They are constantly working with one another, peer editing, helping one another,” Mrs. Moretti said.

“We have a blog that they can ask each other questions about their papers. They can really work with one another.”

Communication and research skills are vital for students to learn because of their real life application. “[Communication and research is] what you’re going to do at a real job, no matter what job you have. This is totally a real-life skills based class. Besides getting them through college, it’s going to get them through the real world,” Mrs. Moretti said.

The second course of the series is AP Research. This course likewise applies the Q.U.E.S.T framework to the exploration of complex real-world conversations or topics. The assessment for this course takes the form of a research paper and an oral presentation and defense. The paper

should be between 4,000 and 5,000 words and the presentation and defense should take between 15 and 20 minutes.

AP Capstone is a diploma program that intends to “equip students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges” according to the College Board. If a student obtains a three or higher on AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP exams, they are eligible to receive an AP Capstone Diploma. Students who earn a three or higher in only AP Seminar and AP Research should not fret, though, because they are still eligible to receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

On a final note, Mrs. Moretti adds that AP Seminar is “all about learning how to really succeed in college and I think every student can benefit from it.”

Students can add AP Seminar to their schedules for the 2017-2018 school year.

By all accounts, it should be a helpful course to aid students in college and beyond.

ly take into account how the lives of the individual are being affected by the toxicity of our environment,” senior leader Despina Giasemis said.

SOIL is another branch of ECHO with the goal of confronting “the need for clean soil and natural, organic gardens as alternative to GMO’s, etc.”

Cleaning up through these various projects provide obvious incentives to benefit the Earth. However, there are additional health benefits from an all-around cleaner environment. “We also address concern for species affected by toxicity…including children suffering from forms of cancer directly related to toxins in the environment.”

ECHO primarily intends “to be a catalyst for Massapequa Schools... but actively seeks partnerships, such as those with The Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Stony Brook’s Sustainability program, and Assemblyman Joseph Saladino” Mr. Hempel shared.

The schedule of events for ECHO changes as the seasons change, but the club always remains actively involved in making the community a better and healthier place to live, learn, and work.

During winter, this entails expanding the club’s website “by adding information from

scientific research about environmental causes for certain cancers in children,” and “run campaigns to tell people that they, or their businesses can make direct donations to Winthrop Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids, right on our website!” The site can be accessed at www.mhsecho.org.

Come springtime, the club’s “focus shifts back to tree plantings, a catch and release fishing trip, our annual MHS clean up, and organic soil and gardening,” Mr. Hempel said.

“As a senior leader, I am most thrilled by the handson environmental projects planned and I am excited that I can connect to other nature lovers like myself,” Whelan said.

“The reward stems from the purity of our mission, and the dedication of MHS students seeking to make a difference in what some might see as too daunting a task to address” Mr. Hempel said.

Mr. Hempel invites interested students to get involved in the club. “I hope there are sophomore and junior leaders out there reading this article. I hope they seek me out, or my partner in the sciences, Mrs. Friedman, for a conversation about joining with us.”

Students involved value the time they spend helping their community.

“The great thing about

ECHO is that we are a team and that we are all working towards a common goal: protect and conserve the local environment,” senior ECHO leader Alexandra Kanapes said.

As of January 4, the Massapequa Hall of Fame became the first official sponsors for the Winthrop Cancer Center for Kids ECHO fundraising project by donating $1,000 to continue the work with the cancer center and other objectives.

Mike Hannah of MHS -HOF and Robert Barrett, President of the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce were integral players in helping raise and confirm the generous donation.

This development took a substantial deal of effort.

“We have had meetings with important mem-

bers of the school board as well as members of MOH who agree that these issues are vital and demand attention,” Giasemis said.

ECHO encourages more members to join. “I enjoy creating teams where people can feel free to contribute their unique talents, as we need a very diverse skill set to grow ECHO. We are multidisciplinary in approach, so we are all teachers and learners to each other-- a collaborative--as we go forward.” Mr. Hempel said.

“We can’t change what our predecessors have done to our planet, but we sure can do our best to make it better for the future,” Whelan said about the main intent of the club. ECHO is expanding its capacity to contribute and invites everyone to help.

ECHOing change in the Massapequa community

BY ALEXANDRA DOULOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ILLUSTRATION BY FRANCESCA LAWLESS

Remember Aerify and its nascent yet powerful efforts from last year? This year, the club has expanded into a larger organization with an even greater capacity to help the environment and community, and they’ve changed the name to ECHO. ECHO stands for Environmental Conservation at Home Organization. The club is “looking to rebirth the earth into the new generation,” senior leader Sarah Whelan said. The name change can be attributed to the club’s desire “to expand [their] model to address toxicity not just affecting the air, but water, soil and species,” ECHO advisor and English teacher Mr. Robert Hempel said.

However, the club has certainly not abandoned their mission to cleanse the air.

“The hub of our wheel is “toxicity” so we’ve kept Aerify for developing field projects associated with cleaner air, and have added H2O as our moniker for addressing water pollution, whether drinking water or pollution in streams, ponds, or the bays,” Mr. Hempel explained.

This hub is a significant portion of the work ECHO does.

“My favorite part of ECHO is that we constant-

FEATURES Midterms: Coming to a high school near you

THE CHIEF

JANUARY 19, 2017

BY JACK GRAZIANO EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

them onto a piece of paper.

To maximize the amount of information absorbed, quick study sessions, lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes, with 15 minute breaks each night for several nights are the ideal method for retaining information and ace that test.

Studying and preparing for several different subjects at the same time is a tremendous task and extremely stressful.

With that said destressing is an important and healthy part of coping with the stress of finals and midterms week.

“I think taking breaks is probably the best thing for me to do. I personally need something else on while studying,

DANIELLE ANZELONE // THE CHIEF

It’s 3 AM. Five empty coffee cups surround you.

Index cards are scattered around, lining your bedroom floor with regret the night before your midterm exam.

You’re probably thinking a few things such as “How did I get here?” or “When will I ever even use calculus?”

Students are currently experiencing unprecedented amounts of stress from ages 11-18. A series of finals, midterms, and SATs can determine a student’s future college— and ultimately career— opportunities. Knowing that midterms and finals cause an egregious amount of stress, there are a few tips to prepare and manage your time and to destress in order to excel during midterms and finals weeks.

“Make sure you get enough sleep each night and are eating a good meal in the morning.

You’ll be much more alert to study after you’ve had eight hours of sleep and an omelet than you would on three hours and a [doughnut].” Bessie Mazur, a former college professor from UC-Berkeley said in her blog on Cengage Brainiac.

Getting proper fuel is essential to a steady and consistently motivated work ethic. Eating and sleeping properly rather than running solely on coffee, along with ample sleep, ensures no dips in your effort and no tiredness while studying.

Establishing what is of the utmost importance is the key to time management and success. For example, if a student struggles with Algebra and their Algebra midterm is Friday, each day leading up to that midterm should be spent studying in order to maximize the information retained.

The classes that you struggle with should be the ones that have the most allocated time.

Cramming the night before your AP Physics midterm puts you on a path where failure is the only foreseeable destination. The human brain is not built to simply take large sums of information, memorize it, and then spit

like music or a podcast, but that’s subjective to different people” Eli Shane, a freshman at Ames Campus, said.

Taking breaks and dividing your study time into small chunks is effective and limits how overwhelmed you may become. “My favorite way of destressing is meditation! Drinking tea, listening to music are also great ways for me to take my mind off of things.” junior Matthew Camisa saidl. Though midterms and finals can be extremely stressful hopefully there are ways that you find to efficiently prepare to not only score well but also manage your stress in a healthy way.

Stressed out | With upcoming midterms, students worry about preparation and grades.

Destressing tips to consider during midterms week

BY LEAH JOHNSTON LAURA FRANCAVILLA, AND ISABELLA ITALIANO STAFF WRITERS

Midterms week is coming soon, and everyone knows how stressful it can be to try and get as much studying done as possible. Here are some tips that can help you relax and relieve the anxiety of midterms.

Think positive. Instead of letting your anxiety get the best of you or thinking of worst case scenarios, focus on positive outcomes. Not only are optimists more likely to have better health and better relationships, but they also will be capable of thinking more clearly during exams.

Eat better. Having a healthier diet can actually enhance your brainpower and give you more energy. Conversely, junk food can give you stomach problems, which you definitely would not want to deal with during your midterms. So maybe take a break from the junk, whether it be doughnuts or Cheetos, and take a bite of an apple; it’ll help you more than you think.

Try not to procrastinate. Delaying your studying is the worst thing you can do. Instead of putting it off to the last minute, break up each subject and get your studying done as soon as possible. Once you are done, the weight will be lifted off your shoulders.

Pick the perfect study spot. Try to find a quiet place with minimal distractions to study. Consider the school library or a public library as opposed to your bed. It has been proven that studying in your bed can negatively affect the quality of your sleep Sleep. Sleep may be the most important tip. Studies show that if teens don’t get between 9 and 9 ½ hours of sleep, they are “sleep deprived”. Sleep deprivation ruins attention span and short term-memory, making it difficult to do well on your ex-

ams. Studying right before going to bed can help you remember more material if you “sleep on it.”

Forget the phone. We all know how hard this can be, but shutting your phone off, even for an hour, can be extremely beneficial when it comes to studying. Without constantly checking your texts, Instagram, and Snapchat, you will get more study time and understand the material better.

Join a study group. Getting together with classmates to work on a subject can help you and your partners understand the material better by helping each other. You can quiz each other with flashcards or make study guides together, but remember to stay on task.

Listen to music. Music has been proven to help reduce stress levels. It can even help you study. If you listen to a song you know well, listen to it while studying! It’s been seen that those who listen to a catchy song while studying and hum the song during the test perform better on their tests.

Don’t overdo it. It is extremely important to study for midterms, but too much studying isn’t good. If you study too much at one time, you will overwork yourself and you may mess up information while taking the test. So do yourself a favor and take small 5 to 10 minute breaks every so often. You will recuperate and be ready to study some more in no time!

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Talking about mental health

BY LINDSEY FORMES STAFF WRITER

Nearly everybody is affected by mental illness at some point in their lives, whether it be something with which they deal personally or something with which someone they know struggles. Mental illness inserts itself into the daily lives of millions. However, there are plenty of people still uncertain about what it is exactly and how prevalent it is.

“Mental illness” is an umbrella term that covers several things. There are countless types of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, OCD, schizophrenia, dementia, ADHD/ ADD, PTSD, various eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse/dependence, and bipolar disorders. The unfortunate part is that isn’t even close to all of them. While these are all very different in their own right, they each add a certain level of difficulty to someone’s daily life. They are often crippling to the sufferer.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, or NAMA, “approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year.”

That averages out to 18.5% of all U.S. adults. That may not sound like a whole lot, but that is 43.8 million people that deal with the struggle of a mental illness on a personal level.

Those statistics don’t even cover the amount of adolescents who have a mental illness. According to NAMA, “just over half (50.6%) of children aged 8-15 received mental health services in the previous year,” and “approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.”

“Shame and blame seem to be what most people believe about mental illness.

Education and awareness are the only ways to combat that.

If we take the time to do those two things, the dignity of every person suffering with mental illness will increase tenfold.

Take the time to listen and learn. Be the change, not the constant,” Mrs. Joanne Waters, Social Worker and co-adviser for Active Minds, said.

Mental illness is an incredibly relevant topic. As a society, we need to gain a better understanding of what it is and how we can better serve those who suffer from it and having accurate information about mental illness is the first step to helping sufferers.

FEATURES THE CHIEF Local teen equestrian expresses her unbridled enthusiasm

JANUARY 19, 2017

BY ALLANA POTASH STAFF WRITER

things that makes her the great rider she is. Hailey puts a lot of effort into her competitions.

She treats all of them equally by practicing as much as she can beforehand. Her overachieving attitude and strong spirit are what drive her. ¨Nothing beats the feeling you get when you can’t seem to do something and you finally get it right,¨ she said.

Hailey’s efforts have clearly paid off for her. Her passion and heart for riding sustains her humble personality and drives her to continue to work for greater and better things. ¨I try harder and practice more in order to grow stronger as a rider, ¨ she said.

There is no doubt that Hailey has the spirit to continue working with horses in her life and shall do so. Unsure of what she wants to do, she hopes “to continue to ride for as long as I can and hopefully make a name for myself in the equestrian world.¨

PROVIDED BY HAILEY CEGLINSKI

Winning the Junior Olympics in 2014 at the age pf 12, Massapequa native, Hailey Ceglinski, has a strong passion for horses and competing.

Hailey attends Massapequa High School where riding horses is not a common practice. She attends Sweet Hills Riding Center in Central Islip four days a week. There, she prepares and practices for many of the events she competes in, ranging in abilities and skills; her life is dedicated to her love of horseback riding.

At only 15 years old, Hailey has competed and won first place in over 25 competitions.

Her bedroom walls are filled with awards and ribbons from competitions and pictures of her own horse, Starlight.

Since a young age, Hailey has had a strong passion for horseback riding which dates back to when she was first introduced to horses by

her mother and aunt. Her aunt is the one who really instilled the love of horses in her and is one of her “main supporters,” Hailey said.

Hailey has achieved so many of her accomplishments because of her large support system which includes her parents who are ¨always there for her in practices and events.”

With so much support it’s no wonder she has found such success, but it wasn’t always like that for Hailey.

At one point, she was scared of riding horses and had stop after a terrifying experience of not being strong enough to stop a horse she was riding.

But not long after, she was back in the groove. ¨I vowed to never let anything get in my way of moving forward again,¨ she said. Her determination is the reason she moves forward and continues to be a diligent rider.

Her dedication to the sport and the animals is one of the

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A Junior Olympic Medalist | Hailey displays her many prizes.

Emily Chicoine: A kind-hearted bowling star

BY DANIELLE ANZELONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

County last year,” Emily said.

Aside from bowling, Emily excels academically and as a result she received the National Spanish Exam Junior Travel Award last year which entitled her to a free trip to Spain. “I visited Madrid, Segovia, Seville, and Granada,” she said. The whole experience was very culturally-enriching and exciting for her.

Emily Chicoine is really an extremely likeable person thanks to her kindness, hard-work, positive attitude, and exceptional personality; I have yet to meet a single person with anything but kind things to say about her.

solution to the problem. After getting a manmade beehive and plenty of bees, the bees went to work, gathering plenty of nectar, pollinating the local flora, and producing honey, which they need to survive.

“I have about ten thousand or so bees,” Mr. Quigley said, but he claims that the bees are actually a relatively small responsibility, and are “usually better off just minding their own business.” Though it may be seen as an irresponsible way of taking care of most pets, leaving the bees mostly autonomous is for their benefit. They are better off running the hive themselves; after all, not many natural hives ever needed human supervision.

His knowledge on how

bees function as a hive has come in handy at times. One day a few years back, Mrs. Donna Hopper, a teaching assistant, heard that her car was being swarmed by a hive in distress. Their queen was missing and they believed that she was in Mrs. Hopper’s car.

“Mr. Quigley knew just how to handle the situation a few years back” she said. He calmly got the area cleared and called a contact to help him safely remove the bees from the vehicle. Not many of the MHS staff members knew he was a beekeeper at the time, including Ms. Hopper, but from then on he was the hero of that one wacky day.

The low maintenance nature of owning the hives

Rolling to Victory | Emily Chicoine practicing for a strike!

Lord of the bees: MHS administrator has a unique hobby

BY SAMUEL MAHONEY STAFF WRITER

What sorts of animals do most people have? Dogs, cats, maybe a hamster or fish. Most would be surprised to learn that Assistant Principal Mr. Michael Quigley owns thousands of animals.

How, you may ask, does Mr. Quigley and his family support so many critters? Well, it’s because they do it themselves. Mr. Quigley is a proud beekeeper. “It’s a great hobby for anyone without a major allergy to get into,” he said.

“I was working with a student at the time who was very concerned about the current decrease in bee population,” Mr. Quigley said, so he decided to go and be a part of the

makes them easy for nearly anyone to pick up as a hobby because they are not as big of a commitment as they might seem to be. What might also turn people away from the prospect of beekeeping would be the potential to be stung.

However, honey bees, the type used in beekeeping, are very passive and almost never sting, especially because they die after stinging, so they only sting under extreme duress.

The declining population of wild bees worldwide, makes beekeeping not only a fun hobby, but one that the world desperately needs more people to take up in order to keep plants pollinated and healthy, according to sos-bees.org Beekeeping is easy to get

PROVIDED BY EMILY CHICOINE

Many know Emily Chicoine as an incredibly kind friend, but what most don’t know is her participation in a few of the high school’s many extra curricular activities.

Emily, a senior at MHS, is far from average. She bowls for the high school’s bowling team, one many may not even know exists; she’s president of the Chief’s Challenge club, the same club that puts sweet, positive post-it notes on your locker a couple times a year; and secretary of the Best Buddies club, a group where people get to make friends with peers with disabilities.

Emily has been a member of the bowling team since ninth grade when her teacher, coach of the boys’ bowling team, informed his students how fun the sport is and since joining, Emily can definitely agree with her former teacher’s opinion. “[My favorite part] is just all of the friendships I have made over the years and how close we’ve become,” Emily said.

Not only does Emily enjoy the fun and excitement of the team, but she, along with her teammates, works really hard and the team succeeds because of it. “The team went to the county tournament every year that I’ve been on it and Cameron Ahlers won All

and stay into. It is also not too dangerous, and is desperately needed for the environment to thrive. This often overlooked hobby is highly recommended by Mr. Quigley as it has been a great experience for him, his family, and the world around him. Every hive made is helpful and every person who tries the hobby will not only get to proudly call themselves a beekeeper like Mr. Quigley can, but also know that they are making a difference in fixing a major problem that affects the world.

FEATURES Young model at MHS travels the world

JANUARY 19, 2017

BY MICHELLE MIFSUD STAFF WRITER

any designer,” Grace said.

Grace now has various opportunities within modeling, including traveling the world and meeting new people. The shoes and clothing are also a plus.

Being a model has its challenges and requires a lot of dedication.

“I was apprehensive about the commitment and the vulnerability that my daughter would be exposed to,” Mrs. Detomasso said. But overall, it has given Grace confidence and improved her life.

“A major part of the effort comes from within someone; you have to wait for your turn at photo shoots, deal with rejection from designers, and be in pain from walking on the runway in heels,” Natalia Canibe, a fellow teen model, said. “However, it is extremely rewarding.”

While Grace still waits to

past as far as work?

O: I worked in an accounting department at two law firms prior to becoming a teacher.

G: What inspired you to work in education?

O: When my first child was born and realized I was able to succeed in school and career because of my strong reading and writing skills; while I was at home, I decided to go back to college to get a teaching degree.

G: What is your favorite part about your job?

O: The best part of my current job is providing teachers with information, materials, and support so they can best support the students in their classes.

G: What responsibilities come along with this new job?

O: I am responsible for the E L A curriculum and in-

struction for kindergarten-12th grade, along with supervising the teachers of ELA, which requires observation and evaluation of lessons.

G: How does this compare with your past tasks?

O: This is similar to the position I held in Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools; there, I was the Chairperson of ELA, Reading, and Library Media, P-12. However, that district is a bit smaller than Massapequa; there are only five schools there, here there are nine.

G: What are you most excited about with this new position?

O: There are many things about which I am excited. It has been great seeing the students I taught in 7th grade again who are now seniors.

Also, being able to work with such talented teachers; I am amazed at the technological

be signed by a designer, she continues to build her portfolio. “On my first day, I was so camera-shy and awkward,” Grace said. “Now, I am going back to D.C. for photo shoots

and couldn’t be more excited.”

All in all, Grace’s modelling experience thus far has been a tremendously beneficial and exciting experience that she hopes to pursue in the future.

PROVIDED BY GRACE DETOMASSO

From a shy teenage girl to a confident model traveling the world, Grace Detomasso proves that no matter how young you are, you can still pursue your dreams.

Two years ago, MHS junior Grace Detomasso took a chance and applied online to a modeling camp in New York City. After participating in the camp for the summer, she was invited back to continue modeling for the company.

Since she started, Grace has modeled in photo shoots in Miami, Orlando, Washington, D.C., and even Paris. “Paris is one of the leading modeling industries in the world so it was good for me to know that I have a lot of options in this industry,” Grace said.

Compared to her most frequent photoshoots in New York City, the Paris photo-

shoot was more difficult.

Standing outside in the rain without her hair or makeup done, Grace had to hide her vulnerabilities and act natural.

Some aspects of modeling come naturally, while others must be learned. Models have to meet certain requirements that include weight, height, size, as well as any unique or photogenic features. Yet, walking on the runway is not a natural talent and takes a lot of practice to perfect.

In the future, Grace hopes to move forward with her modeling career and to possibly go to a college in the city in order to be closer to her agents. Although she has not signed with any designers yet, it is her dream to work with any big name designer such Michael Kors or Calvin Klein.

“I just want to maintain a respectable ego in the modeling world with

5

THE CHIEF

Model Magic | Grace Detomasso preparing for a photoshoot.

Welcoming the new ELA Curriculum Associate to MHS

BY SARA GOWEN STAFF WRITER

Sara Gowen: How long have you been in the school district?

Mrs. O’Meara:I worked from 2000-2012 as an ELA teacher and English Department Chairperson in Berner.

G: How long have you been in education?

O: I have been in education for 17 years.

G:What have you done in the

SAMUEL MAHONEY// THE CHIEF PHOTO BY MRS. DONNA HOPPER

PROVIDED BY MR. MICHAEL QUIGLEY

The Bee Whisperer | Mr. Quigley quells the crisis.

SARAH LEFKOWITZ // THE CHIEF

Mrs. Mary O’Meara has been instated as the new English Language Arts Curriculum Associate following Mr. Kevin Harrington’s retirement earlier this year. With years of experience as a devoted teacher and supervisor, Mrs. O’Meara looks forward to ensuring the instruction of ELA education remains at its elevated level throughout the school district.

Mrs. O’Meara | Massapequa’s new ELA curriculum associate. advances that have occurred English Regents weeks away, in a relatively short period of our department is focusing on time since I left in 2012. There the practice Regents and last is great enthusiasm and energy year’s Regents’ results to tarbeing generated by these tech get instruction over the next two weeks so students can extools.

G: What are you most worried cel on this exam, and then on any AP exam they are taking about?

O: NYS Department of Edu- in May. cation over the past five years G: What advice would you has made many changes that like to share with incoming have affected the ELA curric- students? ulum and instruction; I worry O: I don’t know if my advice is that some children have been needed; it is clear from watchaffected by that and may not ing the principals, teachers, realize the power literacy will students, and other staff that have on their lives. With that Massapequa Schools are welsaid, there have been some coming and provide a myriad terrific changes in ELA that of supports and opportunities. have allowed students at the I encourage new students to elementary level to be reading take advantage of all the curmore books and writing more ricular and extracurricular acauthentic pieces. I know this tivities to build a high school will ensure students under- experience that will serve them well in the future, along stand the power of literacy.

G: What are your hopes for the with provide them with cherschool while you are the ELA ished, high school memories.

Mrs. O’Meara wants to exdCurriculum Associate?

O: I have been working close- tend an open invitation to any ly with principals and teach- student who has any questions ers to firm-up some long-term to send her an email. goals. Right now, with the Welcome back Mrs. O’Meara

JANUARY 19, 2017

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Doulos Danielle Anzelone LAYOUT MANAGER Michael Riggi COPY EDITOR Liam Higgins EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jack Graziano ADVISOR Elyn Coyle Massapequa High School 4925 Merrick Road Massapequa, NY 11758

Editorial Policy

The Chief, the student newspaper of Massapequa High School, is an open forum to discuss the student body’s issues and concerns.

Members of The Chief will make every effort to publish following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. Consistent with the first amendment of the United States Constitution, the staff also will refrain from printing material that may incite students, be a violation of MHS’ Student Code of Conduct or disrupt school operations.

The editorial board of The Chief welcomes and encourages submitted letters, stories, cartoons and any other feedback to the editor. Please send all submissions to mhsthechief@gmail.com. Letters sent by email may need to be verified by student signature before publishing.

• Although anonymous letters to the editor are not printed, names will be held upon request. The Chief has the right to deny publication of any editorial, column, review or comment.

• Grammatical and/or spelling corrections will be made; however, the content will not be altered.

• Corrections will be printed when mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff.

• Original stories will carry bylines, although stories rewritten by someone other than the original author will not receive a byline. Contributing writers will be listed at the end of an article. All bylined writers will be held accountable for their work.

• All columns, reviews, commentaries, or letters to the editor are strictly the opinion of the writer and may not represent opinions held by the school board, administration, sponsors, parents, student body or advertisers. However, all editorials reflect the viewpoint of The Chief editorial board.

Distribution: 1,700 copies 1,859 students, 194 teachers All papers are free

6

With February quickly approaching, and along with it the commemoration of Black History Month, many students do not feel that the occasion is properly recognized at Massapequa High School. To most of the Massapequa student body February is a month shrouded in chocolates, hearts, and Valentine’s Day cards. However, for a portion of the students, February is a time to celebrate their history and culture.

Black History Month was first conceptualized in 1964 when an American student, Carter G. Woodson, while sitting in his American History class, became bothered by the fact that the lessons did not accurately represent him or his community. The lessons were additionally being led with no cognizance of his presence. Later, Woodson and his colleague, Jesse E. Moorland, founded the Association for the Study of African Life and History in 1915.

Nine years later, Woodson and the ASALH launched “Negro History Week” which was the second week of February. This was inspired by Frederick Douglass’ birthday being February 14 and Abraham Lincoln’s being the February 12.

The celebration of black history spread rapidly across America and, 52 years after the first

Negro History Week, President Gerald Ford announced that February would be celebrated as Black History Month.

The establishment of Black History Month was meant to celebrate the accomplishments the black community has made and recognize the challenges African Americans still face today.

Massapequa High School is not known for its diversity. In fact, 95% of the student body is comprised of students who identify as white or caucasian, according to US News and World Report.

To put this in perspective, The Washington Post reports that the average white student attends a school that has a student body comprised of 72.5% white individuals.

The lack of racial variety in the Massapequa community is deeply rooted in history, particularly in the racism of former real estate developers on Long Island during its formative post-World War II years according to The New York Times. Particularly notable was Levittown. A clause in the original real estate contract strictly prohibitied minorities from purchasing homes there.

“I feel as if black history in general isn’t well commemorated in our school for several different reasons.

Black History Month for me

has always been something that I’ve dreaded because of the way my teachers and fellow students portray it,” Kaila Cooper, an African American sophomore said.

A common school of thought seems to be that black history month isn’t spoken about enough in school.

“I feel like, yea, it’s talked about but definitely not enough” Charles Marmo, a Caribbean sophomore said.

With black history month spanning over such a quick period of time it’s important to provide an environment in which students can feel prideful all 28 days of the month.

As a community, we can do several things to make our school a more accommodating place for black students.

Given that Massapequa does not receive a vivid glimpse into the tribulations of the African American community, perhaps it would be beneficial to make more of a stronger effort to acknowledge the history of race relations in the United States in the school’s social studies classes.

“I would imagine that most people are aware of the Civil Rights Movement during the 60’s but I think, for some, it’s merely recognized: not comprehended or understood,” junior Alexandra Valentine said.

As a school, we have

days to celebrate gender identity, sexual orientation, and mental health. Dedicating a specific day to the history of African-Americans in social studies classes could be beneficial in ensuring students can empathize with races other than their own.

However, creating a specific day could present problems.

“On principle, a race day sounds good. I have problems with it because it becomes sort of forced. There is a dedicated Constitution Day for social studies classes, which often minimizes the discussion on the subject,” AP United States Government teacher Mr. Bachman said. “I worry that the same problem would appear in a similar way for a designated racial day. It would be beneficial to create a more reasonable curriculum which allots more time for the study of African-American accomplishments such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Harlem Renaissance.”

Whether it be a specific day or something else, allowing more time for these important issues to be covered in classes could likely be beneficial for the community in understanding the difficulties that come with being a racial minority.

To the editor: As an alumnus of MHS and member of the Massapequa community, I read “The results are in: MHS weighs in on presidential election” (Nov. 6) with great interest. I was dismayed to find that 47.1% of the “nearly 900” students polled by The Chief this year identified Donald Trump as the candidate best suited for the job of president.

Donald Trump is not an average Republican, and my dismay regarding the widespread support he enjoys among MHS students is not about his conservative leanings. My concerns center on his being a candidate and now a president-elect with serious moral failings. Trump has been accused of sexually assaulting over ten women. He bragged about grabbing women by their genitals without their consent. He referred to Mexican immigrants as “rapists.”

He has called women a slew of deplorable names including “pig, dog, slob” and “disgusting animal.” He refused to release his tax returns, breaking a decades-old precedent, and a New York Times investiga-

tion revealed he avoided paying taxes for years. He incited violence at rallies and said his opponent should be jailed.

This year’s election was a referendum on the future of the United States and the values

we of voting age hope to instill in our country’s young people.

The fact that so many students support a man who has said and done all that I list above is concerning, to put it mildly.

It looks like Massapequa as a

community and Massapequa School District as our community’s educational institution have a long way to come on the issue of character education.

Joseph Zappa, MHS’13, former Chief editor-in-chief

Letter to the Editor

Editorial cartoon

KIERA PAGANO// THE CHIEF

Correction: The November 3 issue of The Chief incorrectly attributed “Mudlsinging; past presidents to future” to Dan Lewis and Samuel Maloney. The article was written by Dan Lewis and Samuel Mahoney.

THE CHIEF EDITORIAL Highlighting Black History Month at MHS

THE CHIEF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Getting to know the cast of the upcoming school musical

JANUARY 19, 2017

BY SAM CARROLL STAFF WRITER

The spring musical is an annual highlight at MHS and, following Mrs. Kathryn Tauches taking over as the play director, everyone is looking forward to the production of Mary Poppins on March 3 and 4. Three talented students, junior Alex Zografos, sophomore Renee Smestad, and sophomore Bridget Rogers, share all.

so much fun and I highly recommend everyone to give it a shot. The most important thing when doing the show is having confidence in yourself, and of course, having fun!

C: What is your favorite song in the show?

S: Ooh, this is a tough one, all the songs are so good! But my favorite is probably Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious simply because it’s such a fun song, and it’s what most people think of when they hear “Mary Poppins”. Plus, it’s super catchy and fun to say!

C: Who do you think would enjoy attending the musical?

S: Anyone who has seen the Mary Poppins movie would definitely enjoy the musical adaptation. On top of that, if you enjoy musicals, fun songs and dancing, and a story that’s enjoyable for all ages, I would definitely recommend coming to see the show. It’s so much fun to both be in and watch, and I think anyone who comes to see it will leave with a smile on their face.

C: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

S: I would like to thank everyone involved in this musical, especially Ms. Tauches. I can already tell how spectacular of a performance it’s going to be, and I hope everyone who comes to see it enjoys it!

Bridget Rodgers Role: Miss Andrews Samantha Carroll: What are you most looking forward to about working on the musical?

Bridget Rodgers: I am most looking forward to every part of putting together the musical. Performing in musicals brings me so much joy and I

just can’t wait!

C: What motivated you to try out for the musical?

R: I have always had a passion for music. My love for musicals is what prompted me to start performing in 4th grade and ever since then there was never a doubt in my mind of whether or not I should audition.

C: Do you have tips to younger kids interested in participating in the musical in the future?

R: If you want to audition for a show, do it! Even if you aren’t the best singer or dancer, performing in musicals is one

of the most fun things you can do in high school and you won’t regret it!

C: What is your favorite song in the show?

R: Well my favorite to sing is Brimstone and Treacle, but my favorite song to listen to is Step in Time.

C: Who do you think would enjoy attending the musical?

R: I think that everyone will love this musical. I believe it appeals to people of all ages.

C: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

R: I’d just like to tell everyone to come and see the show in March.

KIERA PAGANO // THE CHIEF

Alex Zografos Role: Mary Poppins Samantha Carroll: What are you most looking forward to about working on the musical?

Alex Zografos: I’m most looking forward to really growing as a performer. This is one of the biggest roles I’ve ever played and I’m very excited to learn and grow from this experience.

C: What motivated you to try out for the musical?

Z: It’s what I love to do. I’ve been performing since I was 7 and I want to continue to perform and entertain people for the rest of my life.

C: Do you have tips to younger kids interested in participating in the musical in the future?

Z: Be confident in yourself and you will go far, not only in theater, but in life.

C: What is your favorite song in the show?

Z: Jolly Holiday.

C: Who do you think would enjoy attending the musical?

Z: Anyone and everyone, this is a great show for people of all ages.

C: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Z: I’d just like to thank Ms. Tauches for giving me this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to work with this amazing cast of Mary Poppins, it’s going to be a great show.

Renee Smestad Role: Winifred Banks Samantha Carroll: What are you most looking forward to about working on the musical?

Renee Smestad: I’m most looking forward to spending time with the people involved in the musical and getting to know them better. The cast is amazing and everyone cares so much about giving their performances their all, and it’s a great feeling to be working among such talented individuals.

C: What motivated you to try out for the musical?

S: I love musical theater!

I also love performing in general, and I’ve made so many friends through doing the Massapequa High School productions, and continue to make more each year. Plus Mary Poppins is an awesome show that’s been with me since childhood.

C: Do you have tips to younger kids interested in participating in the musical in the future?

S: To everyone out there who is considering trying out for the musical: go for it!

Whether you want to be in the spotlight or just have fun in the background, there’s a spot for everyone in the MHS productions. If being on stage isn’t your thing, you can also be involved in other ways, such as being part of the stage crew or the pit orchestra if you play an instrument. It’s

7

Running on smartphones: A ‘Super Mario Run’ review

BY RYAN STAPLETON STAFF WRITER

killer and compels you to play more often. The game’s only faults are that the full story mode costs a significant amount of money and the fact

that you need tickets to play Toad Rally.

Super Mario Run lives up to its console predecessors and if you love Mario, you should

Toad-ally get this game. Super Mario Run is currently available on all iOS devices and will be released for Android devices in February or March.

RYAN STAPLETON // THE CHIEF

Super Mario has always been played and enjoyed on Nintendo consoles, from the arcade classics Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. to the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Mario Bros. to the more recent Wii with Super Mario Galaxy and the Wii U with Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Maker.

This time around, Mario has jumped into our phones and tablets in Nintendo’s new hit, Super Mario Run. In this game, Mario will run automatically and the player will tap on the screen to make him jump.

Mario can pull off some new moves, such as automatically vaulting over small enemies and grabbing edges. As usual, Bowser is up to his usual princess-kidnapping shenanigans.

The game lets you play three levels for free and then one payment of $9.99 is needed to get the rest. As you collect coins in the game, you can build up your kingdom with houses and decorations.

In the multiplayer mode titled Toad Rally, players face off against people and must collect as many coins as they can, all while utilizing Mario’s new moves to impress more Toads.

The highest score determines the winner. Having a certain amount of a certain color of Toads can unlock 3 of the 6 playable characters, which are Yoshi, Luigi, and Toadette. Beating all of the levels will unlock Princess Peach and linking a My Nintendo account will unlock Toad.

The game in and of itself is very fun. It is a good time

THE CHIEF 8 SPORTS Bundle up for the winter sports season: Highlights & updates

JANUARY 19, 2017

BY MICHAEL RIGGI AND SARAH LEFKOWITZ LAYOUT MANAGER & STAFF WRITER

into the playoffs in February.

“Overall, our main goal is to win our conference” junior varsity basketball team participant Connor Payne said. “We play Chief basketball and for each other, then we are very capable of reaching our goal.

As long as we execute and play to the best of our abilities we will be in good shape.”

Whether it’s scoring the

winning basket or placing first in a race, our athletes definitely have something to be proud of. For further information on where teams will compete, full schedules for each team can be accessed on the school website under the “Athletics” section.

Make sure to come chill with the Chiefs at an upcoming event.

Varsity Girls Track| Smiling through the pain as they shovel.

PROVIDED BY MARIA FEE

ship; I believe Massapequa will be represented in both.”

Girls Varsity Track: Running on the same path to success, the girls track team has found their footing so far this winter season with improvements in personal times. Practice after school and past trips to meets including St. Anthony crossovers and The Armory have prepared the team for the rest of the season, with hopes that the girls will qualify for the national championships to come in March. With an upcoming invitational to Ocean Breeze and continued meets at the Armory in late January and early February, the future of the team is looking to melt the competition.

“We all never give up and always have a goal to strive for,” junior track team participant Nicole Iannuzzi said.

“I’m looking forward to see how much my times have improved from the beginning of the season to the end.”

Boys Varsity Basketball: Hard training and dedication to the sport on the courts have led the team to overall success and a current steady record of 7-5 against previous competitors such as Uniondale, Freeport, and Farmingdale. Looking ahead to the future, the team will once again compete against Farmingdale on January 28 on the home courts, and will be playing against other towns to improve their records going

PROVIDED BY ERICA HENSLER

Whether it be in the snow or in below zero temperatures, students in the Massapequa athletic programs continue to excel and push forward through the frost.

With continuous impressive results from students on the courts and track, the high school sports programs have always shown the strength of Massapequa and its talented students.

The 2016 - 2017 winter season has been no exception to this tradition, as there are many highlights from recent and upcoming events that will have students talking.

Results from games, competitions, meets and more demonstrate the high ranks of Massapequa’s athletes and show how the Chiefs have been pushing through the ice.

Girls Varsity Basketball: Get your head in the game and come continue to support the girls basketball team and the talent they have devoted to the sport. With an impressive overall record so far of 9-2, the girls have shown an impressive amount of teamwork and skill against rival schools such as St. John’s, Freeport, and Sacred Heart. With upcoming home games against Freeport and Syosset in early February, the girls are shaping to be better than ever this season.

Girls Varsity Cheerleading: Tumbles, flips, and stunts...these girls do it all.

Even though the football season is over, the girls now cheer on the Chief basketball players. They had the opportunity to show off their skills up in the Pocono Mountains, where they qualified for nationals. The girls will be heading down to Disney later this spring. However you can see the cheerleaders in action on January 28 cheering in a home game at MHS. Boys Varsity Track: Training on the track and in the halls has led the members of the track team to new ranks of improvement and personal records compared to the start of the season in November. With many opportunities to showcase achievements in previous trips to Saint Anthony’s, The Armory, and Rhode Island, anyone from a freshman to senior has had the chance to work towards the gold. Upcoming meets for the team include the county champs and state qualifiers at St. Anthony’s in early February and state / national championships at The Armory and Ocean Breeze in early March.

“I feel like our team has greatly improved since November,” track throwing captain Stephen Urli said. “I am excited about the championship season including the county championship and state champion-

Cheerleading | The girls celebrate after getting a bid to Disney.

Loss or lost: the melancholy end to a beautiful season

BY JOEY MILANO CONTRIBUTOR

A second chance is rare to come by. A second chance, when it comes to sports, could be considered nearly impossible. The MHS boys soccer team had another shot to make it on the banner hanging high in the gymnasium. The potential to be a part of history was an honor in and of itself, but to actually have our names up there and show our worth was what the team desired most. Fueled by the painful loss in the exact same championship last year, we were ready to achieve the outcome we had waited a year for.

Time was the enemy as the second half ended with the score tied 0-0. A scoreless ninety minutes left the crowd going wild heading into overtime. Overtime is what I hated most. The anxiety and fear of not achieving what I wanted left a painful pit in my stomach. The team huddled up as we prepared to finish what we started.

“C’mon boys heads up.”

our coach of four years, Mr. Burke, tried his best to change fear into aggression as he continued, “This game is ours! You boys put in the effort for this.

You showed up to practice every day for this. You’re standing here with your brothers.

Don’t let the man you look at in the mirror down. This game will not be our last together.”

Without knowing it would be our final game, the team called out in unison, “Chiefs on three! Chiefs on three!

One, two, three Chiefs!”

The starting eleven walked on the field as a team but left as a family. In under a minute, our dreams were crushed.

It all happened so fast, I was unable to process it. I watched the season roll over the line after an undeserved goal was scored by the opposing team.

The referee called a penalty and the game was over.

My emotions quickly changed as if I were some type of indecisive baby. Frustration surrounding that one call, followed by the anger of the goal, led to jealousy while watch-

ing the other team celebrate.

The victors ran around with pure excitement like children wanting to show their parents what they had done. Distant cheers were quickly ignored.

My body fell to the floor. My mind went blank.

I was stunned. I am a twotime county finalist. Who wants to be just a finalist?

This loss was different from any other. My senses were forgetting to do their job. I couldn’t hear the crowd cheering. I couldn’t see anything. My eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t feel anything except the pain of the loss. I proceeded to untie my cleats for the last time. The simple task was challenging with shaky hands and blurred vision. I looked up and visually learned what had just occurred, seeing my team with their heads held low in their jerseys, each one of them more emotionless than the next.

The season was over.

Playing with my brothers quickly became a part of the past. My cleats were just worn

for the last time. My jersey was just a piece of clothing.

I just represented my school for the last time. The number on my back was soon to become just a memory. Most importantly, I just kicked a ball around for the last time. Not only was my season over, but my soccer career as a whole was over. That chapter in my life had ended so abruptly.

The bus ride home was silent except for the quiet sobs of each player. The last bus ride was not like the others.

No laughs this time. My life had just changed drastically and I couldn’t have been more astonished. This chapter in my life had finally closed.

Soccer had been a part of my life for so long and now it was completely over. It was now a childhood bundle of memories. I felt uncertain about the whole situation. My anxiety of finally becoming an adult and leaving behind passions of my youth left me empty.

I still feel the loss each and every day going home at 1:40 and not going to prac-

tice; sleeping in on Saturdays and not having to wake up for workouts. Soccer was no longer an everyday event in my life. I missed the practices every day and the games every weekend. I felt like something was missing in my life once we lost. I was lost.

Second chances are a blessing. I will never take a second chance for granted again because my soccer career can only be remembered as regretful. The only positive impact the county final game had on me would be learning the lesson that when you are given the opportunity to make things right, you should take it.

As disappointing as the game was to me, it helped me grow as a person. I learned to appreciate the opportunities given to me and most importantly to capitalize when I am given a second chance. Although I will most likely not play the sport again, soccer has molded the person I am today.