Chronicle 18.7

An aerial view of Shadow Lake Mobile Home Village, the neighborhood Emerik Moser lives in.

Design by Aadrija Biswas

2 Cover Story March 19, 2021

Luck of the Irish

Students find success in world of traditional Irish dance

Evan Ponstingle | Staff Writer dancing at the age of three. “You can have them custom made for Kara Carr
“My mom’s actually a teacher for my you [for over $2,000] by an Irish dance freshman
All things Irish are in the air. Lepre- dress making company or you can buy
chauns, Shamrock Shakes, and of course, dance school,” Carr said. “She’s been a used one,” Carr said “If you’re in the Irish dance is an important cornerstone
Irish dancing. For two Mason students, teaching since it started, so I was kind highest level [of dance classes/competi- of the dancers’ lives and requires serious
Irish dancing isn’t just for a certain of born into it.” tion] like me, you have to get a custom dedication, even to the occasional chagrin
time of year. For them, it’s a way of made dress as that’s the standard. Dresses of their friends.
life. While both Carr and Brutvan share usually last for about a year, or shorter if
a love of Irish dance, they are not you grow out of them. Getting a new dress “My friends outside of dance think that
Identifiable through its rigid simply practicing to put on perfor- each year means you can pick the colors it’s cool because it’s something they didn’t
upper body technique and elaborate mances; they are practicing in a and designs of how you want the dress know about before they met me, and they
costumes, Irish dancing has been highly competitive environment to to look, and the company makes them in see how hard I work and how it’s such a
a traditional staple of Irish culture take home awards that are reward- Ireland and then ships it to you.” part of my life,” Carr said. “They always
since the 18th century. Junior Maddie ing to both them, and the legacy say I’m at dance too much or miss hang-
Brutvan and freshman Kara Carr have of their schools. Carr and Brutvan MHS’s dancers have garnered many ing out with me because I have dance so
been Irish dancers since they were attend rival Cincinnati Irish dancing awards. Brutvan recalled at the Oireachtas much.”
young. Brutvan said that her interest schools; Carr attends the Erickson regional competition, meaning that she
was sparked in second grade with a St. Academy of Irish Dance while Brutvan placed in the top half--an achievement she Carr said that regardless of culture,
Patrick’s Day celebration. attends McGing Irish Dancers. Erick- wasn’t sure she was going to get as it is anyone interested can indulge in the
son’s practices run for three hours a night, “not one of the easiest things to do.” Two Irish dancing universe. It’s something
“My second grade music teacher was an Monday through Friday, plus a Saturday years ago, Brutvan was only two places
Irish dancer; she did a lesson on it around rehearsal. At McGing, Brutvan attends two away from being in the top half at the that’s even more athletically involved
St. Patrick’s Day and I thought it was re- hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sat- Worlds championship. At some smaller than what the average person thinks.
ally cool,” Brutvan said. “I wanted to try it, urdays. Oftentimes, the rehearsals involve competitions, she has received first place.
and she actually ended up becoming one more than just going over new steps. “You can be as young or as old
of my dance teachers when I started mov- “We have a personal trainer and Pilates Carr has also received awards that have as you want,” Carr said. “It’s a great
ing up levels.” teacher that comes in,” Carr said. “We also made her stand out. She has attended sports start, it’s such a great com-
have a bunch of different choreographers the prestigious World Championships munity of people, and it’s really
Carr on the other hand was born into to choreograph our steps.” five times, and has placed 12th in North athletic.”
an Irish dancing household and began For Carr, an additional level of pres- America and sixth in the Midwest.
sure beyond the competitions is that her Brutvan wants to dispel some
Maddie Brutvan mother is a teacher. Along with the rest of the world, Irish popular myths and hopes to popu-
Junior “I’m always pushed at a lot harder dur- dancers were also faced with new obsta- larize the art of the dance she loves.
ing practice as she knows when I’m danc- cles when COVID came onstage. During
ing my best or I could do better,” Carr the lockdown period, lessons were moved “It’s really fun and we’re not all
said. “There’s a higher amount of pressure online to Zoom, and the dancers had to leprechauns.”
I put on myself to do well because she’s learn a whole new perspective on the
my mom, but my teacher as well. Because dance. Brutvan said that regardless of the Graphic by Lexi Brown
she’s my teacher and mom, a lot of people difficulty the situation presented, there
recognize me easily in the Irish dance were also certain moments of enjoyment
world, like other dance teachers and that came from their challenges.
people in my competition. I’m thankful
to have my mom as one of my teachers “It was really weird because like we are
because she pushes me to become the best dancing and the music would just glitch
dancer I can be.” out, or [our teachers] thought we were
Both students participate in competi- [dancing] in time but we weren’t and it
tions all over the nation. For the dancers, would just be the music,” Brutvan said. “It
it is one of the most thrilling moments of was really funny.”
their hobby, a moment that even extends
to their preparation. Now that competitions are back in
“Competitions start usually early in person, Carr and Brutvan said that they
the morning, so I get up quite early to are more excited than ever for what 2021
do my makeup and hair,” Carr said. “We has in store.
wear Irish dance wigs that are specific
for our competitions which have to be “I just love the environment of com-
put on a certain way with lots of Bobby petitions and getting off stage and just
pins and hairspray. I warm up before my being so out of breath,” Brutvan said.
competition starts and put on my shoes “Waiting for awards and then hearing
and costume, which is a specific type of your name called is so rewarding. I
dress for Irish dance with embroidery and just love it.”
Swarovski crystals.”
The famous dresses are an iconic No matter what unforeseen events
-- and costly -- piece of the Irish dancing might happen in the future, Carr said
uniform. that she will keep coming back year
after year.

“It’s just my love for it,” Carr said.
“It’s the only sport I’ve done and I like
everything about it, [mainly] my friends
and the competitiveness.”

March 19, 2021 News 3

MHS solidifies COVID-safe Prom festivities for seniors

EDITOR’S NOTE: to. Seating will be reserved by students, which has not been an option during past Proms.
The protocols for 2021 Prom discussed in this article are as of March 15, 2021. As we have learned during “It’ll be a preset meal,” Fox Allen said. “We will ask students if they have special dietary
a pandemic, some details relating to safety protocols could be adjusted or changed as the Prom date gets
closer. The Mason High School administration in charge of the 2021 prom have been transparent in discuss- needs, and we’ll take care of those. Kids will be able to select who they want to be seated
ing details of this year’s Prom. Students planning on attending Prom be aware that parameters for group with. So we’ll have a place for them to reserve who they’re sitting with. We’ve never done
gatherings could be amended by the Ohio Department of Health, the Office of the Governor, the Warren that in the past.”
County Health Department, the City of Mason, Mason City School District, and the Manor House.
Tickets for Prom will go on sale on April 5th. Fox Allen was able to keep ticket prices
Scott Reckers | Staff Writer consistent with past years prices despite changing the venue from the Roberts Center to the
Manor House. “Ticket prices are not likely to change, they have been $60 in the years past,”
Through an unprecedented year, Prom is finally on the horizon. Fox Allen said “That $60 is generally the food. Obviously, there are some decorations that
With last year’s Prom being canceled and this year’s homecoming meeting the same go into the cost of that ticket, and we still want to keep the decorations and entertainment,
whatever that entertainment looks like.”
fate, students have been in a drought of high school dances.
Student Activities Director Lorri Fox Allen has been work- Fox Allen faces another challenge in the effort of decorating because in previous years,
ing hard to devise a plan for Prom that is safe and fun the Roberts Center provided and installed Prom decorations. With the change in venue,
for students. however, the Manor House does not provide that service, so some additional help was
On April 30, Prom will be held. Though it is tradi- phoned in.
tionally held at the Roberts Center, this year Prom will
be held at the Manor House in separate ballrooms to “We would give the Roberts Center our
comply with state safety regulations. There will be a theme and we have a group of kids and the
maximum of 600 students attending Roberts Center do all the elaborate decoration
the event, and the Manor House will for us,” Fox Allen said. “That doesn’t happen
ensure that students are following at the Manor House. So, we’re working with
basic safety protocols such as social After Prom, some parents and [Student Gov-
distancing and mask-wearing. ernment] to help us do that decorating.”
One of the factors that will be
different about this year’s Prom After Prom will be held at MHS, but
is only seniors will be allowed this year it will start at 8:00 pm and
to go. Typically, mostly up- end at 11:30 pm. There will be After
perclassmen go to Prom but Prom entertainment, a dodgeball
due to restrictions to keep tournament, a hypnotist, carica-
everyone as safe as possible turists, multiple decorated rooms
attendance will be limited to with activities, food and raffles.
Mason seniors only. The raffles will contain various
The biggest difference this prizes including televisions,
year is Prom JBL brand speakers, Apple
activities will be limited to AirPods, and college gear
dinner only as the Ohio guide- for Ohio State University,
lines do not allow for dancing. Miami University, Xavier
Fox Allen must adhere to the University, and University
policies put in place to ensure of Kentucky.
safety, even if they are not ideal.
But with so much about the MHS seniors can look
future of regulations unknown, forward to their first and
Prom plans may be subject to last high school Prom on
change. April 30. The pandemic
“As of right now that’s the way the posed a threat to the event,
Governor’s policy reads-- no danc- but due to thorough plan-
ing,” Fox Allen said. “If that changes, ning and help from After
we’re working on plans B, C, and D. I Prom, parent volunteer,
understand why some kids are upset and Student Government,
about the dancing policy but I think Fox Allen has been able to
it’s better to have a [modified] Prom organize a safe event.. She
than no Prom.” believes students are happy
Although many factors of Prom will to have the option to go to
be changed this year, some factors will Prom, even though it will
remain consistent with previous Proms. be a different experience
In addition to the dinner, there will be compared to years past.
a modified After Prom as well. Fox
Allen has been in communication “The only key differ-
with the Manor House to make ences are the no dancing
sure all students are accommodat- policy, no guest, and no
ed and COVID policies adhered juniors,” Fox Allen said. “I
think kids could have fun
Graphic by Riley Johansen with the masks, matching
them with their outfit. But
going back to the survey
the students seemed to
understand and they would
rather have a Prom than
none at all.”

4 News March 19, 2021

Teacher Academy creates guide to aid Mason students with disabilities

Raghav Raj | Staff Writer needs and disabilities as the “call to not having been made aware of a dance thought was to organize this infor-
action” that led her to the council in the
At Mason High School (MHS), aspir- first place. in time to make arrangements for their mation online, in a website that we’d
ing teachers are casting aside their
curriculum to make their school a more For Surace, this advocacy is personal, kids with disabilities to attend. update, that students and their parents
inclusive learning environment. and it emerges from a place of neces-
sity. Her daughter Mary, currently an “Basically, they were asking ‘hey, could refer to whenever they needed to.”
Over the past few months, students at eighth grader, has Down syndrome, and
MHS’s Teacher Academy have paused Surace is far too familiar with what she what if there was a way to know what (Blamer also has plans to turn infor-
their curriculum to work on a large- refers to as the “fear of being ‘that’ par-
scale project alongside the Mason City ent,” a fear that causes a lot of parents your kid’s entire school year would look mation from the website into a color
Schools’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and guardians to avoid or be apologetic
(DEI) council. The result is a compre- about speaking out and asking for ways like in advance,’ and that sounded like booklet for intervention specialists to
hensive “101” guide to MHS, compiling to accommodate their children in vari-
nearly all of the school’s countless ac- ous activities. an interesting approach to me,” said give to students and their families in the
tivities and traditions into a resource to
help students “It’s one of those things where, far Surace. “So, when I became a member future; Teacher Academy has applied
with disabili-
ties. too often, of the DEI council, I just wanted to take for a grant from the Mason Schools
these barriers
Built primar- keep us from that idea and run with it, see what we Foundation to fund the printing and
ily as a tool for advocating
parents and for our kids could do to make it a reality.” design of these booklets.)
guardians to to the fullest extent, and we’re not re-
support and ally able to see what opportunities our Surace did just that, working with As- Once Blamer and the DEI team set-
include their kids really have,” said Surace. “When I
children with thought about my kids, and especially sociate Principal Dr. Robyn Jordan and tled on creating a website, the students
disabilities in my daughter, who’s going to be one of
Mason’s cul- my two freshmen next year, I felt like eventually getting Marcie Blamer, the of Teacher Academy went to work.
ture, the Mason this was a good moment to take action
Decoded Guide and really try bridging that gap of com- “Almost immediately,
sees the dis- munication that’s often there between
trict’s Inclusive us parents and the school.” I put our curriculum on
Excellence
initiative at The idea that Surace settled on, in her pause, and I split the two
work, attempt- words, was one that she had gathered
ing to address from a community conversation she TA bells up into various
the significant had attended back in May 2018, where a
communica- group of parents were disappointed at groups that basically started
tion gap that
these caregiv- brainstorming on their parts
ers often face
when their kids move on to high school. of the website, whether that’s

With lots of in-depth information working on school traditions,
on clubs, events, groups, etc, the spirit
behind the guide is to capture the whole communicating with Student
experience at MHS so that parents
and guardians can help their kids feel Activities, or working with
connected to the student population
without feeling isolated, overwhelmed, administration,”
or exhausted.
said Blamer. “And,
In many ways, these efforts to support
students with disabilities have been for the most
deeply collaborative — the Decoded
Project is what it is thanks to adminis- part, the Teacher
tration, faculty, students, and caregivers
alike — but there are few who have Academy students
advocated for these students as in-
tensely as Jana Surace. Surace, a mother are really psyched
to three students at Mason, serves as a
member of the DEI council, and has about it, and that
explained her longstanding fight to
accommodate for students with special excitement has

created something

that I think is very

fulfilling for every-

one involved.”

That excite-

ment can be seen

in students like

junior Marissa

Riehm, who was

one of the Teacher

Graphic by Rachel Cai Academy students
that presented the

MHS Decoded guide

head of Mason High School’s Teacher to the DEI council this past February.

Academy, involved with the project. As Riehm says that her experience working

Blamer explains, it was in conversation with the Teacher Academy team on the

with Dr. Jordan that the idea of visual- Decoded Guide has confirmed her pas-

izing school events into one cohesive sion for teaching and educating.

project really began to take shape. “To see all these people come togeth-

“Dr. Jordan approached me and basi- er, and to build something that’ll hope-

cally said, ‘we’re looking for some kind fully have a really big impact, is such a

of way to create a connection for kids rewarding feeling for me,” said Riehm.

who may have disabilities or special “Seeing all these future educators

needs coming into the high school, creating something that’ll hopefully

and we want to make sure it’s not be maintained and used by the people

overwhelming and easily accessible for who need it for a long time? That’s just

parents,’” said Blamer. “And, especially something I’m so happy I get to do.”

given the year we’ve all had, my first

March 19, 2021 Feature 5

Mason family searches for bone marrow donor to help father fight leukemia

Ally Guo | Staff Writer

It was a seemingly normal day when Shruti Garg was told Photo contributed by Shruti Garg
her father had been rushed to the hospital. From left to right: Meena Kumari, Shruti Garg, Tanish Garg, and Rajesh Kumar. Since November, the family has been searching for a bone
marrow donor to help Kumar replenish his bone marrow after undergoing chemotherapy treatments for his Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Rajesh Kumar, the father of junior Shruti and 7th-grader
Tanish Garg, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic you can always be a match for someone else and save some- “If my dad sees that one of us is sad, then he gets stressed
Leukemia (ALL) in November of 2020. According to the one else’s life out there because there’s so many patients that about it, so we’re trying to stay positive around him,” Garg
American Cancer Society (ACS), leukemias are cancers of have leukemia that need a bone marrow transplant,” Garg said. “He knows we’re worried about him, but we just try to
the blood cells, and ALL is a type that progresses especially said. “And maybe that one person might be there.” stay positive and happy and tell him that everything’s gonna
quickly. Beginning in the bone marrow, where new blood be okay and [he’ll] find a match.”
cells are made, ALL develops from immature, or not fully Despite the fact that a match has not yet been found, Ku-
grown, lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell vital to the mar has fortunately been feeling better since he finished his Garg said she encouraged everyone to value each day and
immune system. last chemo session in January, able to go outside on walks not take it for granted because you never know what is going
more often. Garg said she values seeing him “get stronger to happen next.
Garg said that when her father was first diagnosed, it was day by day,” especially since he enjoys being in nature and
with pre-stage one ALL, and despite experiencing a loss of used to spend “almost all day outside.” “I was just living my life the day before,” Garg said. “I
appetite and diarrhea, he was not too concerned. It was not never expected -- we never expected any of this to happen
until after his first chemotherapy (chemo) treatment that Although Garg and her family know that “things can get actually. I never thought someone in our family would get
“everything hit really hard for [her] family.” scary” once Kumar receives a bone marrow transplant, they cancer and [that] this would affect us a lot. Then the next
are trying to remain optimistic in order to support her father, day, we realized that the next couple of months -- who knows
“He came home and he was really weak,” Garg said. “He whom she described as “very outgoing” and a person who how many years it’s going to be -- [are] not going to be a
could barely talk. He was in bed all day. Then we realized “always finds a way to make you happy” and “always puts normal time. We have to just be there for each other and try
that he needed four to five chemo sessions, so after each ses- others first.” to manage the family.”
sion he had, he kept getting weaker.”
Graphic by Aadrija Biswas
Ever since her father’s diagnosis, Garg said her family has
been “very ‘not normal.’” Her mother is often at the hospital
all day whenever her father goes through chemo and Garg,
although initially an in-person student, ended up switching
to remote learning the last three weeks of the first semester
to help take care of her younger brother, which took a toll on
her mental health.

“When my dad came home, we would constantly take care
of him and give him anything he wants,” Garg said. “He had
to be on a really strict diet too, so making food for him [was a
challenge]. It’s really busy and we never know what to do.”

The family soon realized that Kumar would need a bone
marrow transplant to continue chemo. The ACS describes
chemo as a type of treatment that utilizes drugs to kill
cancerous cells. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to
reach all throughout the body and target cells that are in the
process of dividing. However, higher doses of chemo drugs
for ALL can kill not just the cancer cells but “severely dam-
age the bone marrow” as a whole, leading to “life-threatening
infections, bleeding, and other problems due to low blood
cell counts.” Thus, a bone marrow transplant is often needed
after these treatments to restore the bone marrow.

Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find genetic
matches for minorities, people of mixed race, and ethnic
groups with a history of racial diversity. Even among family
members, a suitable donor is often rare, with about 70% of
patients not having a perfectly matching relative. In fact,
only about 1% of registered donors ever match with a patient.

“When you’re trying to find a matching donor, it’s not
their blood type, it’s stem cells, and it’s a really specific code,”
Garg said. “Finding a match is really hard, especially in
Asians.”

According to Garg, her family was “relying on the doc-
tors” to locate a donor at first. However, when they failed
to find a match in the registry, her parents began to post
on social media for help. Although they managed to find a
match in the UK, it didn’t end up working out last minute,
and they were forced to look elsewhere. While continuing
to use social media, they decided to also spread the word at
school, as the large Asian population increased the chances
of finding a match.

The only requirement for a bone marrow donor is to be
between 18 and 60 years old and be in good health. After
registration, a free kit and pre-paid return envelope will be
sent to the potential donor’s home within two to three weeks,
where they will need to collect and send back a cheek/saliva
swab -- a process that only takes about six minutes.

Garg said that even if students are unable to sign up as a
donor, they can still help just by spreading the word to get
more people registered.

“Even if you sign up and you are not a match for my dad,

6 News March 19, 2021

Science Olympiad to host first Mason invitational virtually

Alisha Soni | Staff Writer

Mason Science Olym- are the three main trial events serious competition.” first invite solely Mason run, Graphic by Rachel Cai
piad strives to make its first designed by Mason Science Apart from the trial events, [with] a lot of Mason pride
invitational as exciting and Olympiad members that will in it,” Sachdeva said. “We our feet wet, get our name out
unique as possible despite appear in the invite. the club plans to create cus- thought this would be a good there, and get started running
COVID restraints. tom merchandise and specific opportunity since we wanted a great virtual invitational,”
TurboTypers is a trial event prizes, along with activities to leave it to everyone to take Hansen said. “Honestly, CO-
During a typical invita- split into two parts; the first is beyond competing. Inspired part in writing some of the VID is causing the platform
tional, schools nationwide a written exam that assesses by Chemistry and AP Chem- events. We have a lot of our to be virtual, but we’re kind
bring multiple teams of 15 the knowledge of typing- istry teacher and club advisor current members writing and of used to it now since all
members to a chosen school related topics. The second part Aimee Hansen’s mole-making our advisors are a big part of the competitions have been
who then compete in pairs holds a typing test portion contest, Mason Science it too, but we also contacted virtual. I don’t see my captains
among the 23 set events and which measures speed and is Olympiad added it as part of some alumni that graduated as much, so communication is
additional trial events. With factored into the overall score. the invitational. Along with who excelled in their events to a little challenging, we have
their designated schedules, Nematology judges the un- the contest, Science Olympiad write.” to work a little harder to make
the participants compete derstanding of different types also intends to host a Discord sure that we’re checking in
throughout the day before of worms and astrology is a server (a digital distribution According to club advisor with each other.”
the award ceremony. written test about the stars and platform created for connect- Aimee Hansen, Mason Science
Solar System. ing with friends or communi- Olympiad members “have Although Mason Science
However, due to COVID, ties) open to all participants af- been pressing her to agree to Olympiad’s first invitational
Mason has been forced to “These are topics that some ter the competition to achieve host an invitational for some remains strictly virtual this
host what is typically an of our members are passionate an in-person feel. time.” Although getting in year, the club awaits in antici-
in-person invitational on about, so the [members] decid- touch with sponsorships and pation, with hopes of making
a virtual platform. With ed to make events for them,” In a typical invite, writ- other teams from across the Mason invites an annual event.
the hardships of COVID Sachdeva said. “However, the ers are hired from around nation has been a difficult
removing the usual fun of trials are so competitors can the nation to write the tests; factor, the benefits of the “We’re all pretty excited,”
in-person invitationals, ju- have a bit more fun if they are however, for Mason Science invite being online have made Arora. “This is our first Invita-
nior Kunal Arora and other interested in these fields at all, Olympiad’s first invitational, organization easier. tional so it’s kind of a big deal
members of the student- or just want to try them out. they plan to write the tests to us, regardless of whether
run club hope to create an That’s really what all of these themselves. “We thought this year it’s in person or not. It’s a good
enjoyable online invite. are about; it’s a break from would be a good way to get way to ease [us] into and help
“We wanted to make our us prepare for hopefully, a re-
“We’re trying to make curring invitation, next year.”
this invite as personal and
fun as possible,” Arora said.
“The season this year [has]
definitely been impacted a
lot by COVID. Usually what
makes it so special is that
we’re always hanging out
together from after-school bus
rides to competitions. Since
COVID has come around,
virtual competitions can get a
bit tiring because we’re just at
our desks, taking tests when
the tournament doesn’t do any
fun activities.”

With the modifications that
Science Olympiad members
are undergoing to host their
online invitational, members
of the club have been deter-
mined to create changes that
can make their first invite
exciting.

Mason has created new trial
events that members will run
during the invitational. Al-
though some are not directly
related to science, senior cap-
tain Yuv Sachdeva looks at it
as a fun opportunity “that stu-
dents have never had through-
out the season.” TurboTypers,
Nematology, and Astrology

March 19, 2021 News 7

A Year of Covid

Mason reflects and rebuilds upon anniversary of initial school closing

Shravani Page | Staff Writer Graphic by Aadrija Biswas sioned in a million years that when track athletes lost that junior season
Abby Waetcher | Staff Writer [he] said goodbye to them on March and colleges didn’t even have a
came common 11, that [he would] never see a lot of single time from me so it’s hard for
On March in order to prevent contact-traced them ever again.” Although Affata- me to show them that I can run the
13, 2020, quarantines, but have since been to saw a few seniors at the drive-by standards that they want.”
Mason High terminated after state protocols graduation hosted at the end of the
School closed changed. Vaccines are currently year, he missed many key moments Like many aspiring students,
its doors to available for the elderly, those with that the spring season typically Tang felt the complications of this
students and health risks and essential workers brings, from connecting with his setback as the light shining upon
teachers, promis- such as teachers, and it appears team to “seeing them finally turn her goals started to dim as the
ing a quick and safe as if there is hope for a “return to their uniforms in.” pandemic set in. Tang felt she had
return after Gover- normalcy.” missed numerous opportunities to
nor Mike DeWine an- On March 11, Senior Faith Tang showcase her full potential for her
nounced a state-wide Recalling the Last had just finished running Indoor future. But despite this, athletes
shutdown. What the Moments of Normalcy Championships and was looking remained hopeful thanks to the
community and most of forward to the start of the outdoor understanding of college coaches.
the world did not know, Guidance Counselor and Girls season. Like Affatato, Tang also Tang is thankful to her teammates
however, is that it would be the Track and Field Coach Tony Affa- thought lockdown would be more for their support and wishes she had
start to an ongoing pandemic that tato has a passion for “connecting of a minor setback, and she chose to gotten more time with the seniors
changed the way people would live with people outside,” a passion that train at home. last season.
and interact indefinitely. manifested itself in his decision
to come back to school this year. “We didn’t find out that the sea- “Track is more individual-based,
In the days that followed DeW- He recalls March 12 as being an son was going to happen until the but I’m sad that we missed out the
ine’s announcement, schools “extremely sad experience,” as the end of April,” Tang said. “My junior team aspect of track,” Tang said.
around the state began to halt Girls Track and Field Team was just season was going to be my first You don’t realize how much sports
in-person learning. However, as the a week away from the start of their season where I was going to run are based on your team because
COVID-19 pandemic progressed, it outdoor season when Affatato was throughout the entire season and I sometimes we get lost in individual
became evident that students would informed about the lockdown. was really disappointed to find out performance, especially with track.
not be returning until conditions that wasn’t going to happen.” But losing just a year with the
improved. Restaurants, gyms and “I’ll remember what I said to people that I love the most in high
businesses deemed “non-essential” them forever,” Affatato said. “On Like many students, athletes school is sad because I’m never
were closed in an attempt to flatten Thursday I said, ‘Well, I’ll probably were ready for the spring sports going to get to see some of them
the curve of cases, and the shelves see you Saturday, we just won’t season to start. Baseball, Softball, again.”
of grocery stores were left bare as practice tomorrow.’ Then the start Lacrosse, Boys Tennis and Boys Vol-
people rushed to stock up on toilet of our season got moved to April leyball anticipated their returns and Trending: Quarantined
paper and hand sanitizer. The 2019- 1, then May 1...and when we didn’t chances to represent Mason in the Behaviors
2020 school year ended virtually: come back then, I knew the season Greater Miami Conference (GMC)
classes were taught via Zoom, final was over.” and other post-season competitions. During the period of time that
exams were canceled, Advanced For athletes hoping to further their people spent confined to their
Placement (AP) exams were altered Affatato said he “never envi- careers in college, the spring season homes, a series of trends emerged.
to an online format, and seniors remained crucial to building their High schoolers, not being able to
received their diplomas at home profile as well as for completing the see their friends in person, flocked
through decorated school bus deliv- recruitment process. to social media, specifically the
eries. appTiktok, to spend their free time.
Tang admitted she hadn’t “consid-
As the 2020-2021 school year ap- ered running at the collegiate level continued on Page 8
proached, Mason administrators until [her] sophomore year.” Tang
released plans that would require had college offers coming in spring
students and staff to wear masks 2020 as she was hoping to meet the
throughout the school day and qualification times for the colle-
separate themselves via plexiglass giate level during her junior season.
at lunch. Remote Learning days be
“Junior year is typically the time
for prime performance for most stu-
dents,” Tang said. “The best times
and performance usually comes
from junior year. In my case, all the

8 News March 19, 2021

A Year of Covid

Mason reflects and rebuilds upon anniversary of initial school closing

continued from Page 7 or hand sanitizer and there would an entire building meeting,” Striker said. “For a long time, I didn’t even
still be nothing on the shelves.” said. “[Mr. Dodd] told us that we know the future of my job, I didn’t
Whipped Coffee, Zoom reunions, would be closed starting that Fri- know if I should look elsewhere
and COVID puppies became some A Levy Poses a Hurdle day, and that we would be getting or if I should just stick with it and
of the most popular trends that Amidst a Forthcoming updates throughout the week as to hope that Kings Island would open
emerged from the pandemic. what was happening. Ultimately, we again.”
Closure didn’t make it until Friday.”
Sophomore Ian Burke and his Similarly, newly hired summer
family saw the lockdown as the per- The week leading up to the quar- lifeguards were faced with un-
fect time to adopt the furry friend antine was essential to Mason City certainty of whether or not their
that they had been anticipating to summer jobs would be honored as
embrace. Burke said that the quar- Schools as a levy would public pools were a questionable
antine created an environment determine part of protocol. Junior Alison Fries
where his family could said that as a new hire at the Mason
watch, train, Community Center, she
and connect was

Graphic by Aadrija Biswas

with an addition that would re- the future of transportation, Unemployed and Unsure: concerned about whether or not she
quire a lot of attention. athletics and certain courses. The COVID-19 Protocol Affects would have a job.
administration strived to ensure
“Quarantine took away a lot of that the school stayed open through Thousands “For a long time, there weren’t
the stress that normally comes with the election so that the levy was not any plans on how to reopen a public
adopting a puppy,” Burke said. “If postponed. Nationwide closures of non-essen- pool, and my manager didn’t know
not for the quarantine, we wouldn’t tial establishments such as amuse- if we would even open,” Fries said.
have had the same amount of time As the week progressed, in-person ment parks, movie theaters and “Eventually a plan allowed us to
to train and connect with Finn.” parent teacher conferences were waterparks left hundreds of people reopen with limited capacities,
cancelled and administrators were unemployed. Due to COVID-19 but also new jobs arose within the
The pandemic created many called into meetings with school protocols released at the beginning company to be a ‘Gate Attendant’
scarcities including those of disin- and district officials in order to de- of May, amusement parks were to who would clean every two hours
fectant products such as wipes and termine if the doors to Mason City remain closed in order to enforce and keep track of or limit the at-
hand sanitizer, and other necessities schools could remain open. Banking social distancing. This protocol, tendants.”
like toilet paper. Kroger employee and Investments teacher Jennifer however, left many seasonal em-
and senior Emily Wolfe described Striker said that the week leading ployees at Kings Island and water- Ensuring A Safe Return
her experience as “hectic” when up to March 13 required teachers to parks unemployed and unsure of
hundreds of people rushed to the be flexible in their courses knowing how to make money. Senior Alison In June, the administration of
shelves of their nearby grocery that the school could be shut down Tobergate said that it was difficult
stores for these scarce items. at any time. for her to grasp the uncertainties of
her summer job.
“It was almost apocalyptic to see “I received an email from Bobby
empty shelves everyday,” Wolfe Dodd indicating that parent teacher “At first, it was really hard not be-
said. “Customers would come in conferences had been postponed ing able to make money and get the
daily to check if we had toilet paper and instead of that there would be hours that I was used to,” Tobergate

continued on Page 9

March 19, 2021 News 9

A Year of Covid

Mason reflects and rebuilds upon anniversary of initial school closing

conljtkineulkewdtfjlreowmjtkPealgwet8jkewtlekt- really didn’t know how that would Graphic by Aadrija Biswas dlksjfkldsjfkldsjflksdjfkdlfldkdld-
Mason City Schools had their first work until kids were here.” terial and catch up on concepts they
in-person meeting since the start Wednesday. didn’t understand.”
of the pandemic where they estab- Keeping the 2020-2021 “I thought that those were really
lished that the students who were School Year Flexible helpful when I was in school,” Bot- Vaccines Represent
willing could come back to school kin said. “Based on my experience A Hopeful Return to
in-person. Once the decision was This school year has been one of and what I’ve heard my friends talk
made, the administration knew that many twists and turns for junior about, that was a day in the middle Normalcy
an uneasy road laid ahead of them Bekah Botkin. With Botkin contract- of the week where they could just
and that a potential spike in cases ing COVID in late September and have a “breather.” Botkin, like many Although many students are still
or a statement from the Governor dealing with further quarantines other students, was disappointed to waiting in line to get the COVID-19
could shut down the schools before throughout the month of Novem- see RLE days removed toward the vaccine, one of Mason’s students
they were opened again. Despite ber, Botkin felt her “situation be- beginning of second semester. already got the opportunity to get
the risks, the administration moved coming very stressful” as she found “Students needed this day to catch hers.
forward with their plans and started difficulty catching up with work, up and take a moment to relax,”
researching and creating the proto- especially as it is her junior year. Botkin said. “I think most of the Senior Ananya Bhavanishankar
cols that would be needed to be set kids just utilize the remote learning went into the clinic with her
in place prior to opening again “I know the school is trying really day as a day to not be in a class- grandma who was get-
in August. Assistant Principal hard to make things work, but I room and super anxious, they use it ting the vaccine.
Brandon Rompies said that the still had trouble staying on track to just get back into the flow of life.” Bhavanishankar “didn’t
most challenging aspects they faced throughout the semester,” Botkin Similarly, as a teacher, Striker
when planning to reopen were said. “I know teachers are trying enjoyed the RLE days because it expect to get it at all” since her
lunches and class sizes. their best to give us a lot of grace allowed her to spend more time grandma had a fixed appointment.
and keep us together.” in class with her students to talk But Bhavanishankar was “shocked
“We didn’t know if some of the through material. Striker recalled to find out they had leftovers.”
classrooms could even fit enough Botkin said the school did a great “celebrating” after the institution of
students after everything was job to “keep everyone’s spirits up the online learning days because it “They asked me if I was interested
separated,” Rompies said. “I spent and keep continuing the year” as lessened the number of her stu- in getting one,” Bhavanishankar
a day walking around with a tape she, like many students, anticipated dents that were quarantined due to said. “So, since I was eighteen, I told
measure literally measuring out Mason schools closing down early contact traces. them I was okay with it. When I got
rooms to make sure we could just into the 20-21 school year. One of the “I really enjoyed the Remote my shot, I couldn’t feel anything
fit people in them.” ways Mason created a more positive Learning Days,” Striker said. “I because my excitement was over-
school environment for Botkin was could teach them what they needed whelming at that time.”
The plans for reopening were through the Remote Learning to know in class, but then the RLE
made with little direction from days allowed them to apply the ma Getting the vaccine gave “[Bha-
state officials as there were no other Experience (RLE) days every vanishankar] a hope that things
schools in-person at the time the could finally start getting back to
plans were created. On paper, the normal again.” As an online student,
plans to reopen looked promising, Bhavanishankar said she misses her
however, the administration did not friends, teacher, and school overall.
know if they would work since there It’s important to her that people get
was no prior data to schools re- the vaccine so “everyone can keep
turning since the beginning of the each other safe.”
pandemic. Assistant Principal Dan
Distel said that planning for an in- “It’s important to be self aware
person return was difficult because and look out for others,” Bhavan-
the administration had to consider ishankar said. “I chose to get the
all of the factors that would ensure vaccine so I could protect myself
a safe return for everyone in the and others as well. There are many
building. people prone to the virus due to
underlying conditions who have
“We didn’t know how plans were difficulty leading ‘normal lives.’ It’s
going to be implemented once kids important to look out for them as
were in the building,” Distel said. well.”
“Lunch where kids remove their
masks, the bell to bell transitions, Bhavanishankar remains hopeful
the adapt and adjust groups, we that things will start returning back
to normal. She is due for her second
dose on March 18 and “can’t wait for
everyone to get it and start seeing
everyone again.”

10 Feature March 19, 2021

Viewer attraction to true crime content on the rise

Della Johnson | Staff Writer has given Abdullaeva a new interest: started the class because of the “true serial killer in the 1800s. Hubbard
psychology. Whether it be doing her crime interest” at Mason and it has said that this involvement is normal,
While some cases may be chilling, own research into cases or fitting the since been a popular choice in sched- and he hopes to see it have a positive
student crime buffs aren’t letting them actual course into her high school uling among students. In his area impact outside of entertainment.
go cold. schedule, she has taken steps to ensure of teaching, Hubbard watches many
that her lifelong interest plays a role students get involved with research on “Unfortunately, the scary stories
The internet’s obsession with true in her future, and she recommends cases, watching TV shows, or listening that go along with true crime are very
crime has been prolific for years, others do as well. to podcasts. intriguing,” Hubbard said. “It's just
reflected in the extensive amount of human nature to be interested. I think
accessible content: shows, video chan- “I'm really interested in the psychol- Specific cases typically draw in that if students get interested in the
nels, and podcasts centered around ogy of it all,” Abdullaeva said. “I'm tak- certain people. For Abdullaeva, it’s right way, that maybe someday they
analyzing cases, solved and unsolved. ing AP psych right now. If someone's the Elisa Lam case that caught her will try to help a family that is looking
Infatuation with the most immoral into psychology, they should really eye, where a woman was found dead for answers to what happened to their
and violent acts is something that can look into true crime. Almost every in a water tank at a hotel. Wolfe, on loved one or that at least get an idea
be traced back hundreds of years, with true crime story has a psychology the other hand, was captured by the who is responsible.”
even 18th century novels sensationaliz- factor in it. Those two correlate really unsolved cases of Jon Benet Ramsey,
ing the behaviors of criminals. Today, well. And if someone was to get into the death of a little girl, and Jack the Graphic by Riley Johansen
real stories of villainy still grip the true crime, they should look into the Ripper, a London
world. psychological element. ”

Junior Jasmina Abdullaeva watches Another student who has incorpo-
a lot of YouTube videos discussing rated this passion into their academic
such stories. Her love for crime stories life is senior Emily Wolfe. Wolfe
originated in her childhood. As a kid, discovered true crime about two years
she watched the 2005 CBS show Crimi- ago, from a BuzzFeed YouTube
nal Minds, a series about a fictional series titled “BuzzFeed
team in the FBI solving gruesome Unsolved”. Since
crimes. Recently, the show has reached then, the expres-
a younger generation due to its avail- sion of her hobby in
ability on Netflix. “I don't really think her personal life has
that was the best for me,” Abdullaeva shifted from videos
said about watching the show during online to her major in
her key developmental ages. “But it college.
definitely got me into true crime.”
“It's funny how this
While the entertainment aspect interest has manifested
certainly plays a role in the popularity itself in my life because I
of such a topic, those interested delve actually want to major in
further into a more niche interest forensic science in college,”
regarding the psychology of criminals, Wolfe said. “I'm not sure if the
like serial killers. Documentaries like forensic science [hobby] came
these take deep dives into the minds first or the true crime. I take
and the behaviors of the most violent the forensic science class
offenders. Abdullaeva appreciates the and the cold case class.
modern emphasis on comprehending It's fun how the cold case
the brain and various motives, rather class is so much like
than dismissing them. true crime. We do a
lot of research with
“I think it's interesting how different podcasts and watch-
we see these cases [now],” Abdullaeva ing documentaries
said. “Back then, they would just call about the case
[criminals] crazy, they didn't know we're working
that much about mental health. It's on.”
interesting how, nowadays, people are
more invested in understanding why This cold case class
they did it, rather than just calling was started by forensic science
them a criminal and moving on.” teacher Randy Hubbard who has
been teaching for 20 years. He
This interest in the “why” and “how”

March 19, 2021 11

12 Fea

More almond- Who's
shaped eyes
A quick look at a few of the twins at MHS and

Owen is half an inch taller than Jack.

When they were young, Owen was a lot
bigger than Jack, so it was easy to tell

them apart.

Jack and Owen’s friends tell them apart
by their voice and hairstyle.

They have very different tastes in food.

JJaacckk RRiilleeyy OOwweenn RRiilleeyy

More of a feeler! Jessie would wear her h
a child to distingui
JJeessssiiee ZZhhaanngg
Jessie is the sho

Their friends often te
their hair, voice, or th

One time, Maggie and Je
switch classes for fun
able to tell them apar
cause of their contra

ties.

ature 13

Who?

d some of the traits that make them unique

When Brady and Jacob were younger, Eyes are
their dad would send them to school in slightly
the same outfit and they would respond further from
to each other’s name to confuse every- nose

one!

Growing up, Brady preferred the color
blue while Jacob preferred.

Brady and Jacob’s friends and family
tell them apart by their voices and per-

sonality.

BBrraaddyy MMeesssseerr JJaaccoobb MMeesssseerr

hair in pigtails as mmaaggggiiee ZZhhaanngg More of a thinker!
ish from Maggie.
Interview by Rilee Malloy
orter twin. Page Design by Aadrija Biswas

ell them apart by
he way they dress!

essie attempted to
n, but people were
rt immediately be-
asting personali-
.

14 Feature March 19, 2021

Seniors prepare to enter competitive career fields after graduation

Meghan Dincler | Staff Writer ented [applicants] going into the same major.” want to do something with writing research Photo contributed by Royal Theatre Company
For performance degrees like acting and papers, and creative writing helps open up Senior Claire Northcut, pictured above performing in a production of
As the Class of 2021 is preparing to gradu- a really good gateway to different things in Frozen Jr., plans to major in musical theater in college this fall. Northcut
ate, some seniors are planning to compete for musical theater, acceptance times can be advertising and marketing.” has been through many rounds of auditions during her college admis-
their future careers. Those who choose to en- delayed as well due to the unique nature of sions process.
ter competitive fields -- such as acting, music, the college application process. While many After realizing her love for history and
and writing -- must consider the difficulties seniors have already committed to college, research, she realized she found two fields
they will face both in and after college. Northcut is just getting started. that she could combine pretty easily. With
many possible career plans, including
Senior Claire Northcut plans to major in “The entire audition process for college is writing research papers on Nordic Studies
musical theater in college. Northcut grew up way different than everybody else’s,” Northcut or working and curating museums, Fuson
with the influence of her parents, who are said. “Most people just send in the regular most of all wants to be able to channel her
professional musicians. Seeing them perform application and get an acceptance. On top of creativity.
in the orchestra for Broadway shows such as applying, I have to do the first round of audi-
Wicked, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, and tions, and either get accepted or rejected from “Recently I’ve gotten into writing histori-
Beauty and the Beast exposed Northcut to that. Like, I’m still doing auditions right now, cal fiction because I like doing the research
musical theater from a young age. As a result, I have no clue where I’m going to school. It’s for it,” Fuson said. “It started as a fun
she has grown up taking an interest in the all up in the air.” pastime but I figured if I’m able to make a
field, and having the support of her parents career out of it, I’d want to.”
has allowed Northcut to tap into her competi- Northcut is not the only performer going
tive spirit. through the ups and downs of the audition Passion is the driving force behind many
process, however. Senior Olivia Dorer has had creative fields, and Dorer attested to that
“I grew up in a house of musicians, so I to deal with similar trials in her pursuit of a being the main reason she wanted to pur-
know how competitive [the field] is because degree in flute performance, a major that will sue orchestral music. She said that when
my parents have gone through it,” Northcut assist in her desire to join an orchestra when she visualizes her future, “that is the only
said. “We’re all driven by [competition], and she is older. thing [she] sees” and that “[she] feels like
we were taught from a young age to be the [she] wouldn’t be complete without music
best.’” “There’s just so much competition because in [her] life.” It’s passion and drive that
there’s so many music majors across the coun- keeps them moving forward, showing the
Even after preparing for the competition try,” Dorer said. “For my instrument, there students to see the hope even when faced
that comes with going into competitive in- are only three positions in each orchestra and with challenges.
dustries like acting, students still have a long there are only so many major orchestras. Plus,
uphill battle, even just to get into college. The most of those positions are filled right now. “I just love playing with other musi-
audition process can be extensive and trying. It’s stressful, but I’ve been able to not let that cians,” Dorer said. “I love how we’re all
After finishing over three rounds of auditions deter me from wanting to pursue it.” working towards one common goal - play-
in addition to her original application, North- ing this gorgeous piece - and I love that
cut knows firsthand that the process is not just Going into a competitive field may cause music is an expressive outlet that you can
lengthy, but cutthroat as well. a lot of stress for those who are trying to plan share your emotions with. You can display
for their future, and because of that, some so many emotions just for an instrument
“In each of the programs, there are 14 students are electing to strive for their dreams and a couple of marks on a page. Honestly,
people [auditioning] and they only accept half on a more predictable route. One example is I would rather end up being unsuccessful
of them,” Northcut said. “They normally only Senior Carolyn Fuson, who decided to tie both in the future than be living with regrets
accept one girl [with my features] so it’s like her passion for creative writing and her love of not pursuing this; I want to make it my
there’s only one of me they can put in the of historical research into her college decision. livelihood.”
program, but there’s like 5,000 equally as tal-
“I’m planning to major in creative writing
and minor in anthropology,” Fuson said. “I

March 19, 2021 Feature 15

Sophomore launches local vehicle detailing business

Avary Hutzelman | Staff Writer tell their friends and family as a way of Photos by Avary Hutzelman
advertising for us,” Hartsock said. “From that Nolan Hartsock, pictured below, launched All Star Student Detailing just nine months ago. As Hart-
When it comes to making money, Sopho- we received a lot of work, a lot of feedback. sock’s business grew, he hired Jared Stegman, pictured above, to help with the increasing demand.
more Nolan Hartsock has realized it is all Showing them before and after pictures of
about the details. what we can do helps a lot.”

Sophomore Nolan Hartsock has created Shortly after launching and building
a successful car detailing business from the up his new business, Hartsock had gained
ground up. After much trial and error, All enough revenue to consider hiring another
Star Student Detailing is finally thriving. employee, leading him to offer a job to a
Hartsock always had a passion and was told friend. Sophomore Jared Stegman enjoys
he was naturally gifted in sales. Starting working alongside his best friend and being
a business in high school is not the most a part of this new journey.
common, but Hartsock said that he knew he
could take his drive to a higher level. “I enjoy having this business that I get to
grow with a friend,” Stegman said. “It’s not
All Star Student Detailing features like I’m going into a business that’s already
multiple different detailing packages along well-developed. It’s fun to learn things as
with the convenience of doing it all at the you go.”
customer’s house. Hartsock performs mainly
cosmetic procedures such as cleaning, wax- Both have learned that with any business,
ing, polishing, and drying, that keep the there will be challenges. Hartsock said that
vehicle in the best condition possible. one of those challenges has been building
up a good reputation, as some customers are
The car detailing business wasn’t always reluctant to trust something as important
in the plan for Hartsock, and getting his and expensive as their cars to high schoolers.
business to a successful place was not easy. Hartsock said that he wants to try and dis-
Wanting some extra money while being solve that stigma with this company, regard-
unable to drive himself to a part-time job, less of any adversity he and Stegman face.
Hartsock decided to try out some odd jobs
over the summer of 2019 such as starting a “Every day probably isn’t going to be a
lemonade stand. Hoping he could earn more wonderful day for your company,” Stegman
money, he moved on from selling lemonade said. “You see that too with big businesses.
and attempted to mulch yards, but said he You have to know that in order to be suc-
quickly realized it was not his strong suit. cessful you have to go through the ups and
downs.”
In December of 2019, Hartsock went back
to the drawing board and realized the con- Working alongside a friend could poten-
stant need for car detailing created a unique tially alter a dynamic, but Hartsock and
business opportunity. Stegman make it work. They have a “mutual
trust” and whether they are tackling a messy
“There’s always gonna be a demand for it,” car or deal
Hartsock said. “People always have cars and ing with a canceling customer, they figure it
don’t know how to clean [them] properly or out together.
don’t have the time.”
“I know [Stegman] is going to do good so I
With his parents’ support he started his re- have trust in him,” Hartsock said. “He knows
search and watched YouTube videos to teach that I’m going to do my part so he has that
himself everything he would need to learn trust in me and collectively we can get [our
before offering this service to others. Right job] done fast and efficiently.”
before launching the business, COVID hit
and pushed everything back. It wasn’t until Balancing high school, homework, extra-
June 2020 when All Star Student Detailing curriculars, sports, and running your own
officially launched. business is not the easiest, but regardless,
Hartsock perseveres. He said that he takes
Hartsock’s very first customer came from pride in not only how far he’s come, but also
a social media post his mom had made, how far he plans to keep going.
within days of his first advertisement.
“Our customers have enough trust in us
“It was a great learning experience,” Hart- that they know we’re going to get the job
sock said. While creating flyers and social done,” Hartsock said.
media posts, he had to learn how to storytell
in an attempt to let his potential custom- This year holds a lot in store for All Star
ers know he wants to empower other high Student Detailing including more workers,
schoolers to get after their aspirations. paid advertising, a new website and even a
new detailing package.
“We make sure to tell people we want to
have [their] help,” Hartsock said. “But we also All Star Student Detailing will continue to
want to help others by doing what we do.” grow and while he plans to keep to spread-
ing the word about his business, Hartsock
Hartsock tries to stand out from other hopes that others will do the same.
companies by not only going to the cus-
tomer’s house, but also by leaving “personal Growth is not his only goal, however.
touches like writing a thank you note and Hartsock said that aside from his own suc-
leaving a towel to help keep their car clean.” cesses, he hopes that his business ventures
These deeds push customers to help spread inspire others his age to get out there and try
the word about All Star Student Detailing. for themselves.
Word of mouth lets future customers know
exactly what Hartsock has to offer, along “It’s uncertain to say what the future
with advertisements on platforms such as holds,” Hartsock said. “I’m looking to in-
NextDoor and Facebook. crease the size of the company and continue
building a premium detailing company at an
“We try to ask if [our customers] would affordable price that employs and empowers
high school students.”

16 Entertainment March 19, 2021

In an awards season flipped on its head The Parisian electronic music duo Daft Punk, who called it quits after nearly 30 years on February 22, looked about as larger than life
now that COVID-19 has left most movie as bands in this musical era usually get. Obviously, this was visible at first glance: both Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de-Homem-
theaters shuttered for a year, rendering the Christo donned metallic helmets, which were gleamingly futuristic and effortlessly iconic all at once. But they also projected that sheen
box office almost all but irrelevant, few films of undeniable cool past their appearance, onto dazzling live shows and interstellar visual experiences that accompanied their deeply
have received the amount of plaudits that exuberant, endlessly enthralling music. The end of their run feels stark because it’s the end of one of the greatest musical acts of all
Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland has. time, but it’s left us with a lot of truly fantastic music to play at house parties (or, for the time being, alone in our rooms) until the end of
time. Here are some of the duo’s greatest hits.
And, many might argue, for good reason.
Zhao’s third feature film is a visually “Da Funk” by Daft Punk
arresting feat, rendering the American
West in the sort of vividly detailed tracking When Daft Punk’s seminal debut, Homework, arrived in 1997, it felt worlds
shots that’d make John Ford stare in awe. apart from what was going on in not just the Parisian scene, but in electronic
Furthermore, it features a masterfully subtle music on a worldwide stage. While big-beat and other dance music fads ruled the
performance from two-time Oscar winner airwaves, Homework felt like a breath of fresh air, a clean slab of blocky, brutalist
Frances McDormand, one that’s well-worn house music. Though almost everything here is unimpeachable, from “Around The
and deeply, movingly human. World” and its hypnotic Michel Gondry video, to “Revolution 909,” a protest against
anti-rave laws in France, it’s “Da Funk” that bottles up the quintessential Daft Punk
Nomadland has also been hailed by sound into nearly six perfect minutes. With an iconic video of its own (directed by
many critics for its timely subject manner. the great Spike Jonze), “Da Funk” is remarkable, a stomping 4/4 rhythm with acid
It’s based on Jessica Bruder’s 2017 nonfic- textures and a synth line so hooky it sticks to you like glue; it’s as rudimentarily
tion book, centered around older Americans brilliant as dance music gets.
who adopted nomadic lifestyles in the wake
of the Great Recession. “One More Time” by Daft Punk

But, where Bruder’s book took a After Homework, Daft Punk’s artistic vision had sublimated into something cohesive.
genuinely enlightening look at the class In 2001, along with beginning to wear their now-iconic helmets (in the past they were
conditions that abandoned these people, simply obscuring their faces with various masks), they released Discovery, a record
Zhao’s Nomadland is strangely toothless. that distills a deep reverence of dance and pop music into something that’s truly
It could’ve easily taken a stance against euphoric. Nowhere does this feel more evident than on the opener, “One More Time,”
the exploitative and abusive practices of which kicks off with tinny fanfare (spliced from an old Eddie Johns song), and sounds
Amazon — currently browbeating workers like dopamine in musical form. With Romanthony’s autotuned affirmations riding the
away from forming a union — but the film sample into the galaxy, the song is an unmitigated delight, a head rush that’s breath-
never ventures to make a critique, with less in its delight.
McDormand’s character Fern instead say-
ing this: “you can make some good money “Television Rules the Nation/Crescendolls (Live)” by Daft Punk
at Amazon.”
In many ways, Daft Punk’s legendary set at Coachella 2006 brought them back to
Past that misstep, there are other blun- immortality. After their past album, 2005’s Human After All, saw the duo phone in some
ders that feel utterly perplexing. For exam- of their most uninspired music to date, the duo arrived in Indio with a glorious LED
ple, a nomadic friend of Fern’s goes in for pyramid and a purpose. The result was a fantastically sequenced live set of the duo
a major surgery, but the whole process is reinventing their past material, compiled into one of the greatest live albums of the
breezed over to a great extent, which is odd modern era and released as Alive 2007. The moments here are often euphoric, but no
given how broken our healthcare system is. high here is greater than when the titular refrain of their Human After All track, “Televi-
Furthermore, there’s a whole scene where sion Rules The Nation,” nosedives into the clinking, radiant bounce of Discovery deep
a nomad celebrates being born in the USA, cut “Crescendolls,” building momentum until it’s reached the stratosphere. It’s truly
especially incongruous when considering a delight, but it’s made even better by the joyful cheers from the audience, sounding
the fact that it was America’s broken social absolutely delighted to be experiencing every rollercoaster peak as the bass hits them.
safety net that led these people to adapt
nomadic lifestyles in the first place. “Giorgio by Moroder” by Daft Punk

Far too often, I’m left wishing that Zhao Arriving eight years after their last studio album, 2013’s Random Access Memories
told the authentic stories of the people was another brilliant reinvention in a career filled to the brim with them. It luxuriously
featured in Bruder’s book — stories that revamps 70’s and 80’s pop and dance music, rendering it in flawless detail, and record-
express a deep frustration at the capitalist ing it in high-end studios with some of the best gear and some of the finest musicians
system that led them to the lifestyle they’ve out there. What results are shimmering pop hits like “Get Lucky” with Pharell and Nile
adopted. Instead, she sandpapers all this Rodgers (a song that’s still genuinely as perfect as a pop song gets), and the Paul
away, and what’s left is a film that’s truly Williams-featuring “Touch,” a sonic odyssey that has ethereal whooshing, a swing-
gorgeous, but doesn’t really know what it disco interlude, and tops it all off with a few choirs. Still, nothing here matches “Giorgio
wants to say. by Moroder,” a massive tribute to the legendary dance music producer guided by this
utterly extraordinary snaking synth line, one that commands gleaming keys, orchestral
crashes, bombastic drum fills, and a guitar solo as unabashedly goofy as it is fantastic.
It is a fitting tribute to the father of electronic music himself, and it’s only right that a
group as truly legendary as Daft Punk follows in his hallowed footsteps.

March 19, 2021 Entertainment 17

Julien Baker’s Little Oblivions, is a heart-wrenching chronicle of substance abuse, her Disney’s newest princess film felt very familiar. As a strong female warrior with a sarcas-
struggle with faith, and her path to recovery. Her third solo album — and her first project tic dragon sidekick, Raya certainly mirrored Mulan, the other princess to hail from an Asian
since 2018’s collaborative Boygenius EP — is a self-produced, multi-instrumental affair, country, and her consistent travel by boat lent itself a bit to Moana. Still, the movie itself
one where most of the performances are by Baker herself. fostered plenty of individuality.

Most of the project consists of a rich full-band sound, contrasting her more sparse previ- Visually, it’s a fantastic watch. The animation is smooth and fluid, with the dragons
ous work. The opener, “Hardline,” displays Baker’s piercing vocals, a raw confessional and other animals as expressive as their human counterparts. The magic of the Druun
guided by strings. On “Favor,” which features soaring backing vocals from Boygenius — purple, ominous clouds that turn living beings to stone — is captivating and terrifying,
bandmates Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, Baker asks a piercing question amidst the acting almost like a being itself. Landscapes are turned into richly colored dreamscapes,
wave of bleary guitars: “How long do I have until/I’ve spent up everyone’s goodwill?” and the five different cities (divided in an almost Avatar: The Last Airbender-esque manner
with a map and everything) exemplify the biome diversity that the Disney animation team is
The following track “Song in E,” is a quieter moment on the album, reminiscent of capable of.
Baker’s previous projects as she sings over a stripped back piano accompaniment. It is
another moment in Little Oblivions where Baker taps into the self-aware vulnerability she’s Characteristically, the rivalry between the two intense female leads (Raya and Namari)
known for, a vulnerability that peaks at the album’s closer, “Ziptie.” is one of the key driving points of the plot, and also something we haven’t yet seen from a
princess movie. While the development between them may turn to cliché at its worst, it’s
Here, constantly questioning her fate, Baker’s lyrics are at their most poetic, filled important to remember the child audience that Disney caters to. Raya and the Last Dragon
with biblical allusion and sharply vivid imagery. Though most of Little Oblivions feels like may not be the biggest movie for those above adolescence, but it certainly provides a lot of
peering into Baker’s diary, “Ziptie” is as deeply personal as the record gets, painful and good for those who aren’t.
gorgeous all at once.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Right from the very beginning, the course of Minari is something ensemble cast marvelously) arrives
Minari feels utterly, unmistakably revelatory, a truly moving story where is utterly charming and downright
entrancing. It is shot in warm, gentle family and culture intersect with precious to watch play out.
hues by cinematographer Lachlan the prototypical American Dream,
Milne, who fills the screen with these embodied by Jacob and all his con- The interactions between the pair
muted oranges, lush greens, and tradictions, as a man who feels lost offer a profound sense of levity and
rich, earthy browns. These colors and free all at once. Jacob is given humor amidst the moments of heart-
are met with woozy, contemplative a more profound sense of depth by break, disconnect, and tragedy that
scoring from Emile Mosseri, whose the utterly exceptional Steven Yeun, often fill Minari, but what Chung is
strings and horns drift achingly whose presence is just so magnetic so great at doing here is keeping ev-
through the loping Arkansas plain, and subtly earnest that you can’t help erything cohesive in a way that feels
following the Yi family as they reach but root for him and his bullheaded deeply authentic. The film manages
their destination. It all moves in a dream, even if it comes in the way of to avoid the sort of aching sentimen-
gentle swirl, finally coming into focus his family. tality that lesser films would all too
at the sight of their new home in the eagerly mine for strong emotional re-
rural depths of the Ozarks. The family, it should be noted, isn’t actions, instead choosing to develop
without its own subtle interplaying patiently and earnestly through these
It is at this point that we begin to characters. Everyone here turns in stark, profoundly intense moments.
understand the layers of writer and a great performance, from Han Ye-ri
director Lee Isaac Chung’s semi-au- playing Monica with this remarkable The result of all this is something
tobiographical story, one that draws empathy, to Noel Kate Cho’s Anne that I genuinely can’t help but marvel
back to his childhood upbringing in serving as the more grounded foil at. Minari is just an utterly masterful
the 80’s as part of an Asian Ameri- to her free-spirited younger brother, work of cinematic realism, one that’s
can family in rural Arkansas. The Yi David. unflinching and beautifully poetic,
family patriarch, Jacob, has uprooted molded in the vein of predecessors
his family — a wife named Monica Much has been said about like Truffaut and Ozu while still feel-
and his two kids — from California little Alan Kim’s performance as the ing wholly, utterly remarkable. This is,
to rural Arkansas to follow his dream youngest member of the Yi family, quite simply, a masterwork of empa-
and make something of his own from but it just has to be stressed how thy, finding something extraordinary
a plot of land. His wife views this land remarkably authentic his actions feel. in redefining the ordinary American
with nothing short of resentment; her He is downright precious, but the dream.
kids see it as a playground to explore conflict and culture clash that ensue
and discover. when his freewheeling, cursing, and Page Design by Rachel Cai
card-dealing grandmother Soon-Ja
With this plot, what unfolds over (Youn Yuh-jung, who rounds out the

18 March 19, 2021

March 19, 2021 Feature 19

MHS students utilize their platforms to speak out

a s h lyn b h at t -sions about human traffick- to start my club because many of
freshman ing and spread awareness about it my friends and peers didn't know
through guest speakers, planning much about the topic, despite it
Tell Us about yourself! What kinds events, and fundraisers. I also am a being a factor and an overlying
of things do you like to do, Hobbies, Fun big advocate for breaking gender problem in our society. Gender
stereotypes on both sides of the stereotypes and mental health are
Facts, Etc? spectrum, and bringing light to important to me because I believe
mental health in students. that everyone deserves a voice, and
My name is Ashlyn, I'm a fresh- that no one should feel like they
man and I love running, writing, What do you hope to do through spread- aren't worthy or they have to fit into
and public speaking. Running is one ing the word and informing others about a certain role to be heard.
of the things that I use to make me
feel empowered and something to these topics? What would you like to see change or
clear my mind especially during improve within the world we live in?
Covid. I enjoy writing novels and I hope through advocating for That is, what do you want to change by
getting inspired by current world these issues to make students more advocating for the topics you're speaking
issues. I enjoy public speaking and aware, and be able to feel more
using my voice and have been included in the social spectrum, out on?
debating throughout middle school comfortable and confident in them-
and the past year in high school. selves. The change I would like to see is
more awareness to issues like hu-
What issues are you passionate about advocating How does your identity and the issues you man trafficking, gender stereotypes,
for? Are there any organizations or clubs you're support play a role in your outlook on and mental health. These topics
a part of that work to help spread the messages the world? are all connected because they are
things that do play a very high out-
that you're advocating for? My worldview changed when I look into our lives and how we view
entered high school because I start- ourselves, even if we don't realize it.
I´m very passionate about bringing ed talking to more people, educat-
awareness to global and even local ing myself about more global and If there's one thing you want people to
issues. In particular, human traffick- local issues, and learning how to take away from reading this, what would
ing awareness. I'm part of a global take action. I began to realize that
organization called AFRJ which tar- the world is what you make of it, it be?
gets human trafficking. On the local and it is up to you to take charge of
level, I founded a club called MHS your actions, and to seek to make One thing I would want people to
HTAC (Human Trafficking Aware- a change, rather than wait for it to take away from reading this would
ness Club,) in which I lead discus- happen. be that everyone deserves a voice
and you should never feel unworthy
Why are these topics meaningful to you? or like you need to change your-
self to fit in. If you are interested in
Human Trafficking is a big prob- learning more about Human Traf-
lem especially here in Ohio, which ficking, and prevalent issues, join
many people don´t know. I decided MHS HTAC´s Schoology group!

Interview by Risha Chada
Page Design by Aadrija Biswas

20 Sports March 19, 2021

Cody Allgor | Staff Writer compressed heart, aortic aneurysm, and a major Muff clearly remembers those 22 days she and her
head injury. 80% of people do not survive after suf- assistant coaches spent by Meier’s side in the ICU.
March 2, 2019. The day that Jenni Meier’s life fering the aneurysm -- let alone the rest.
changed. “[Bell] and I would go and sit with her family in
Despite the odds, Meier survived. the ICU waiting room every night after practice,”
On her way home at the end of that day, Meier’s It has been just over two years, and Meier has re- Muff said. “The first few times I saw Jen, she was
car was struck by a semi-truck. Taking four jaws of turned to her former position as an assistant coach unconscious and on a ventilator. It’s hard to explain
life to free her from the wreckage, she was eventual- for Mason softball. As she looks back on that Friday because while her body looked and was so broken,
ly air-carried to University Hospital and transferred evening, Meier said that she doesn’t remember you could still tell Jenni was in there fighting. We
to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. many details, and, for that matter, doesn’t want to. would tell her about practice and what we’re work-
“I feel like, by the grace of God, I don’t have a ing on. What was going well, where we were strug-
The list of injuries Meier incurred in the crash recollection of what or how things happened that gling, and why we needed her back so badly.”
included 20 broken bones, a ruptured diaphragm, night,” Meier said. “I do know that it was a Friday
ruptured spleen, a lacerated liver, collapsed lung, and I went to work and then later had dinner with a Meier never gave any clear indication that she
friend. I know that I was on my way home when the could hear those nightly conversations with the
accident happened, but I don’t remember anything coaches -- until she did.
hours prior to, or anything about the accident. I’ve
kind of moved on, and I don’t look behind and try “The first time I saw her awake, it was such a
to figure it out.” relief but also difficult because she was in so much
Meier was in the hospital for just over three weeks pain,” Muff said. “When I told her about practice
recovering from her life-threatening injuries. She that day she closed her eyes and a tear rolled down
said that the rest of the Mason softball coaching her face. I knew it meant a lot to her that we were
staff -- specifically Head Coach Liann Muff and As- there and that we needed her to get back to us. She
sistant Coaches Katie Wolf and Dave Bell played a didn’t have to tell me she would return. I knew she
large part in her recovery process, preparing meals would. It was something I told her every time I saw
for her and her family and relaying her health up- her in the hospital.”
dates to anxious players and concerned members of
the community who had come to know her as both Even after being released from the hospital, Meier
a coach and a friend. still had a long road to recovery. She had to

Continued on Page 21

Photo by Rilee Malloy Photo contributed by Jenni Meier Photo contributed by Jenni Meier

Meier watches at a practice after returning to the team from The car that Meier was driving during the accident. In order Meier lays in her hospital bed after being taken to the Sur-
her two year absence. to retrieve Meier, responders had to use the jaws of life. gical Intensive Care Unit.

March 19, 2021 Sports 21

Continued from Page 20 set my limits as far as taking care of myself,” Meier Despite a two-year absence, losing only one season
said. “I feel like this happened to me for a good due to the pandemic, Meier is grateful -- both for
start from scratch and relearn basic functions. purpose. I feel I wouldn’t be fulfilling part of my her health and the gift of another season. While
Meier, however, did not want to stop at the basics. purpose if I wasn’t still active and doing what my she hopes to help the Comets capture another GMC
strength is: to reach other people.” championship, Meier said that she is just grateful to
“I wanted to be able to return without too many be able to coach and inspire young athletes regard-
limitations,” Meier said. “I’ve done a lot of physi- Meier wasted no time returning to her purpose. less of the outcome.
cal therapy, occupational therapy, where I had to Her accident had granted her a platform, and she
relearn how to talk, walk, swallow, eat. Now I do was ready to take advantage of the opportunity. She “I am so excited this year,” Meier said. “If I had
have some limitations, I still have a fractured leg has already spoken in front of churches and groups to sum it up, I’m just grateful, grateful for the op-
actually, but I do my best. I just love coaching and of young athletes and said that she hopes that those portunity to continue to do what I love and to help
teaching. I like to demonstrate things, and I’ve opportunities keep coming. young athletes continue to grow. Grow their charac-
trained so players can see what I’m asking them to ter, grow to be stronger and learn how to overcome
do, at least partially.” “I am trying to get out there to utilize the plat- challenges. To always move forward, in whatever
form [of my accident] more,” Meier said. “I’ve you are doing.”
Senior Sydney Carter was playing on varsity as a prayed about it, and I know opportunities will
sophomore at the time of the accident. Carter said present themselves to share my message, continue
that she recalls the first game Meier attended post- sharing my story, and help other people.”
accident and could tell in that moment that Meier
was going to complete her comeback. Meier’s lessons have hit home, especially for Cart-
er this season, as the four-year Varsity standout and
“There was one game where she came to visit a Butler University softball commit will be sidelined
couple of months after her accident,” Carter said. due to an injury. Carter said that Meier connected
“She was in the wheelchair and she was all cut up. with her personally after learning that she would be
You could just see the fire in her eyes watching us unable to take the field this spring.
out on the field. And I think that’s when I knew. I
knew, ‘she’s going to come back.’ This is what she “Just a couple of days ago, I found out that I tore
loves. She loves coaching.” my labrum and I’m not gonna be able to play this
year,” Carter said. “Coach Meier is a coach that
Only two years after an accident that could’ve genuinely cares for all the players and not just for
ended her life, Meier has returned to the softball softball. The first thing she said to me was, ‘how are
field to help coach the Mason team. Even though you? I want to make sure you’re okay, how are you?’
she thinks sometimes about taking care of herself, And that speaks volumes about her character. The
she said that she believes that she is there for a big- first thing she is upset about is not ‘Oh, she can’t
ger purpose. play the softball season.’ She is worried about the
person.”
“I could easily, and in some cases, maybe should

Photo contributed by Jenni Meier Photo contributed by Jenni Meier Photo by Rilee Malloy

Meier sits in the hospital days after the accident, starting Once Meier was released from the hospital in 2019, she Two years after her accident, Coach Meier returned to
her long road to recovery. was able to attend a softball game in her wheelchair. coaching and is working with a player on swing mechanics.

22 Opinion March 19, 2021

Renovation gone wrong: the Staff Editorial

Cincinnati Museum Center Royal Tell-all reveals Meghan Markle’s

and Modernization hidden struggle and the power of media

Evan Ponstingle | Staff Writer It was only recently the Duchess of Sussex marriage and even Meghan’s pregnancy.
opened up about her mental health struggles in an Even after the interview, the press didn’t stop.
Modernization. It’s a buzzword interview with Oprah. British tabloids were quick to fire back with
floated around a lot right now.
Unfortunately, an increasingly com- This interview was the first the Sussexes had headlines arguing Markle’s inculpations. Headlines
mon trend right now is modernization being used given since officially breaking away from their claiming the interview to be “nauseating,” a “soap
as an excuse to rip the heart and soul out of everything royal duties last year. opera,” and even accusing Markle of costing Harry
you love. his reputation within the royal family.
The Cincinnati Museum Center is the new poster Meghan Markle opened up to contemplating
child for the wrongs of modernization. It’s been a staple thoughts of suicide and self-harm - a comment Even though the media was a source of conflict
of the Tristate Area since it opened in 1990 inside the which continued to introduce further concern and for Markle’s mental health problems and put a
historic and beautiful Union Terminal. My childhood is conversation regarding the palace. strain between the royal family and the couple, the
rife with memories of exploring the various museums true source, as the Sussexes revealed, came from
inside. Both Meghan and Harry went on to discuss their within the royal family itself.
With this attachment, I was so excited to venture back treatment by the royal family, treatment playing a
in January, my first time following a multi-million dol- disturbing role in Markle’s mental health and the The call was coming from inside the house.
lar renovation to the Museum Center that took longer health of her family. Rumors and gossip spread throughout the royal
than it took to build the Empire State Building. I was so family and eventually infiltrated the British media,
excited to see how they built off of and added modern With the royal family’s refusal to give their son leading to exaggeration, false emphasis, and mis-
elements to the exhibits I loved. Unfortunately, I was Archie a title and refusal to provide security for information. It is no surprise situations are twisted
shocked into near-unconsciousness by what I found! the couple and their child Markle’s mental health and shaped by the media.
Most of the favorite exhibits had been removed and began to further deplete and division between the Many of us today are familiar with misinforma-
replaced with absolutely nothing. Classics like the families grew. The Sussexes’ views on the royal tion in the media. The most successful publications
mummy and the World War II sections had just been family’s intentions began to change. today don’t seem to necessarily be the ones focused
removed and replaced with empty hallways. Lengthy on reporting the most accurate or correct informa-
hallways featuring the Ice Age walkthrough in the The couple discussed the conversations and tion. The most successful publications come from
Natural History Museum and log cabins and houseboats concerns that arose in the royal family regarding “bold”, “surprising”, and “unbelievable” headlines
in the Cincinnati History Museum were just closed and Markle’s pregnancy. Concerns ranging from secu- derived from a form of sensationalization.
locked up. rity to the couples’ son’s skin being too “dark.” This sensationalization is a mundane tactic used
Some areas remained, but had all of their charm today by many publications. The idea of reporting
stripped away. The water underneath the steamboat in This comment regarding the royal family’s and being a source of information to readers is one
the Public Landing area was drained and replaced with internalized racism opened further speculation in of the main goals of any publication.
a projection, and the light levels cranked up to elimi- the family. Is the royal family accepting of people Yes, the intention behind it varies, but the media
nate all sense of the previous nighttime atmosphere. of color, even if it’s unconscious rejection? Did they knows it’s powerful. It knows it has the power to
One of the most shocking sections of all was the corri- really accept Markle to begin with? shape the truth, so that’s what it does.
dor in the Natural History Museum that used to feature Stories revealing the full truth take time and can
vignettes of Native American villages and archeologi- Prince Harry’s relationship with his father, broth- get less attention while stories falling into sensa-
cal dig sites. The corridor remains, but painted white er, and grandmother had significantly reduced tionalism give quick, captivating information, even
(instead of the mysterious purple) and the vignettes are with his father, Prince Charles, not even taking his if it is not correct.
gone and replaced with--classrooms. You can’t make this calls. They were cut off from the royal family, even As a student newspaper, it’s natural we want oth-
stuff up!! financially. ers to see our work and spread our stories through-
All of this begs the question: why? Why go to all the out the community. But even as writers, artists, and
trouble of destroying everything that made the Museum The couple was quick to not only criticize the editors dedicated to the truth, this trap of sensa-
Center special? It boils down to one thing: moderniza- royal family, but also the British tabloids. tionalization is one even we can get stuck in.
tion. Clearly, the museum directors decided to modern-
ize the exhibit and make it “relevant” to families. In to- Throughout the interview, Meghan and Harry
day’s society, that increasingly means “take everything gave harsh remarks regarding their treatment by
out and paint all the walls white.” Yeah, it looks more the press with claims of the press acting in a racist
“modern” than what was there before. But it also elimi- manner toward Meghan. The press was quick to
nated all of the charm and atmosphere of the original conclude often throughout the beginning of their
iteration. Modernization can turn out well; just see the
2019 renovation of International Street at Kings Island
to prove how you can modernize something while en-
hancing and building off of what made it special. That’s
what the Museum Center needed.
What it did not need was a total gutting in the name
of modernization.

The Chronicle’s Policy Risha Chada
Evelina Gaivoronskaia
The Chronicle is the official student Call 398-5025 ext. 33103 for infor- The National Scholastic Press Asso- The Chronicle Staff Online Editor Ally Guo Connect with
newspaper of William Mason High mation regarding advertising in The ciation, Quill and Scroll International Editor-in-Chief Meghan Dincler Avary Hutzelman the Chronicle:
School. Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the Honorary Society for High School Jour- Riley Johansen Business Manager Della Johnson
right to refuse advertising it deems in- nalists and the Ohio Scholastic Media Managing Editors Anna Kinasewitz Rilee Malloy @mhschronicle
The Chronicle promises to report the appropriate for a high school publica- Association. Kaelyn Rodrigues Alexa Crociata Shravani Page facebook.com/
truth and adhere to the journalistic tion. Contact Information Ann Vettikkal Evan Ponstingle mhschronicle
code of ethics through online and print The Chronicle Sports Editor Staff Designers Raghav Raj @mhschronicle
mediums. As an open forum for students, let- William Mason High School Matthew Smith Lexi Brown Scott Reckers
ters to the editor are welcome, but are 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Visual Design Editor Rachel Cai Alisha Soni
The Chronicle is produced by students subject to be edited for length, libel, ob- Mason, Ohio 45040 Aadrija Biswas Staff Writers Abby Waechter
enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. scenity, clarity and poor taste. Letters to (513) 398-5025 Cody Allgor Adviser
the editor may be dropped off in room Divyana Bose Dale Conner
Editorials reflect the staff ’s opinion C103 and must be signed.
but do not necessarily reflect the opin-
ions of the school administration or the The Chronicle is a member of The
Mason City School District. Columbia Scholastic Press Association,

The Chronicle is published monthly.

March 19, 2021 Opinion 23

The Freshman Struggle: Editorial Cartoon some more reference, we have been living in a
my transition coming pandemic for a year.)
into high school Staying hopeful
despite the That last thought, for what it’s worth, still
Risha Chada | Staff Writer pandemic’s toll floors me.
It’s a sink or swim world. Or,
at least, that’s how freshman year felt. Raghav Raj | Staff Writer We have been in a pandemic for a year. We
Going from middle school, the peak time for have put on our masks, paused our gather-
coddling and complete unpreparedness for the Look, I’ll begin this column ings, seen our hospitals overflow, and watched
real world, to high school, where you’re told col- with an admission — no, wait — a conclu- our loved ones die, for a year. While the world
leges look at everything, is a huge transition, and sion that I’ve been trying to avoid, ignore, deny, around us has gradually built its way back to
one that I, as well as many others, were complete- or just flat out bury (for context, it is currently normal — Tame Impala just sold out two shows
ly unprepared for. 5:23 AM, my eyes are red, and I have just downed in Perth, Australia — we are still here, still
I had a lot on my plate last year, or at least “for my second can of lime La Croix): I have abso- stuck watching people around us continue to
a freshman.” I took all honors classes, had a rigor- lutely no idea what to write about. disappear as vaccinations gradually make their
ous tennis schedule, doubled up on biology and Usually, my process for writing these columns rounds across the population.
chemistry, and threw in an AP class for the fun of is relatively simple — I scroll aimlessly through
it. What I didn’t realize was that high school was Twitter or a variety of news sites, find something The realization often just hits me square in
the place where study guides died. Where retakes to get genuinely frustrated about, and stretch the chest like a pile of bricks. I’d feel tempted to
no longer existed. Where teachers plotted against that frustration out into a page’s worth of opin- write about it, to pick apart the relentless failure
you to ensure your demise. ion writing. Whether that has to do with some that led us here, to spend this column in utter,
Okay, the last one was a bit of an exaggeration, sort of cultural development I don’t understand, complete despair, but that is something I simply
but still, there was no transition and I was sinking. or it has to do with some political happening can’t bring myself to do. Not after a year of this
The tests themselves were harder in high that probably serves to harm people, doesn’t pandemic. Not anymore.
school. For one, there was no “if you don’t finish it really matter to me; I simply need to feel that
now you can finish it next time.” frustration, then put it to paper. Because, if I am to ever make it out of this
Yes, that’s right. And make no mistake: there’s a lot to be pandemic with my sanity intact, I think I need to
Believe it or not, in middle school, you could frustrated about right now. There are large, find the little slivers of hope that float around in
get longer than a class period for a test. Now, as I looming, existential issues, like the constant this ocean of despondency, and cling onto them
had just come from middle school, I was utterly threat of the climate crisis that threatens to for dear life. I need to remember what’s gotten
hopeless when it came to pacing. The other issue swallow our world whole. And there are smaller, me through a year of confusion and frustration,
was that I never quite knew what was going to be yet no less significant issues, directly impacting from my friends, to the hobbies I’ve picked up,
on the test. I mean, I paid attention in class and millions of people every second they go unat- to the movies I’ve watched and the records I’ve
did the problems, but in the past, test questions tended. Issues like our lack of healthcare in the listened to. And maybe you do too.
were virtually the exact same, just with different U.S. Our lack of a decent minimum wage. Our
numbers or scenarios. But, unbeknownst me, I lack of economic support, with barely a scrap Despair, as easy as it may be to fall back on,
was expected to actually understand the concept of stimulus money thrown our way. (For those truly gets us nowhere. It doesn’t help the people
and apply it to different situations. who consider $1,400 “enough”: a single month of who need help, and it surely doesn’t help us.
And, of course, AP classes are on another level rent in Mason averages out at around $1,333. For Instead, if we want to continue surviving amidst
entirely. I had to do hours of work per night, a no- a global event with an end that’s ever so slightly
tion that was completely foreign to me, someone in our view, we must rely on hope, on keeping
who had never found reason to actually study. our hearts open when we cannot be close.
Throughout elementary and middle school,
I glided through my classes. I never studied for
more than two hours and did nothing past the
bare minimum—a study guide, or even a teacher-
made Quizizz at the most.
So here I was, sitting in a classroom being told
I had to read a textbook and take a quiz on the
material. I was out of my depth. How can anyone
read straight facts from a textbook—on which
the light always seemed to glare right on the
words, might I add—and be expected to retain
the information? The trick, I eventually learned,
was a combination of painstaking notes, Khan
Academy videos, and Quizlets. But, as I hadn’t yet
made that discovery, I resorted to memorizing
facts instead of deriving information—a little dis-
tinction that makes a huge difference on AP tests.
The transition from high school to middle
school was a challenge, and it was mainly because
I had no clue how to study. It was a skill I had to
learn for myself, and I’m guessing many others
did as well.
But, if you’re anything like me, a course on how
to study would be the first thing to sign up for.

24 March 19, 2021