Volume VIII, Issue 4, Senior Edition
May 2020
20 always Connected 20
The C&G Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30327 May 2020 Volume 8, Issue 4, Senior Edition thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com
The C&G Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30327 May 2020 Volume 8, Issue 4, Senior Edition thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com
The C&G staff aims to be honest, accurate and accountable as they convey news, ideas, events and opinions that are relevant to the Holy Innocents’ community, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, parents, administrators, and prospective families. C&G aspires to publish complete and accurate coverage through journalistically responsible, ethically reported and edited content that values diversity of perspectives.
FEATURES | 4 The Senior Map | 4 The Senior and College Surveys | 6 Seniors in Quarantine | 8
BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE | 10 Service | 12
STAFF JAYLEE DAVIS Editors-in-Chief MATTHEW RAESIDE
Athletics | 14
MAGGIE BELENKY
Arts | 16
Managing Editor
Hobbies | 18 MADDIE POCH Production Editor
Academics | 20
PEOPLE | 22
OMARI FOOTE Associate Editors ZAK KERR
Tassel Turner | 22
Signed Athletes | 24 PARKER MILES Staff Writers KATHERINE POCH
Artist Spotlight | 28 A Final Farewell | 32 Alpha Omega | 36
DANIELLE ELMS Adviser
Empty Nesters | 38
OPINION | 40 Staff & Senior Editorials | 40
cover design by MADDIE POCH
CONTENTS
CAPTAINS’ LOG . ALL OUR YESTERDAYS
W
e’re finally here. After four years, four hundred cups of burnt Keurig coffee, too many failures, and twice as many successes. Dozens of late nights, allnighters, and blurry-eyed mornings. It begs the question: was it all worth it? The simple and obvious answer is yes. Perhaps you recognize the writing above. It, in fact, is from our letter-in that we wrote as mere juniors. Both of us agreed that it still applied, as we’ve finally reached the finish line and are ready to do our victory lap. It’s hard to believe that only a year ago we were in New York at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Conference, experiencing the city for both of our first times with our fearless adviser, Mrs. Elms. Since then, we’ve been to Morocco and back, applied and been accepted to college, released volume VIII of the C&G, and braved a pandemic that neither of us could have anticipated. We said this last issue, and we’ll restate it. This issue is truly unique and reflects the tenacity of spirit that every C&G staff member has. Each of us challenged ourselves, rising in time to make it to a too early
morning Zoom, battling seniors ill with senioritis, and bringing together one final tribute to the Class of 2020. When given the option to give up, we rose to the challenge and persevered. Our time on staff has been one that we will constantly remember, both for the successes and failures that we’ve shared. Here’s what we’ll miss: driving our staff up the wall together, the euphoric feeling of placing the newest issue in the hands of the students, Mrs. Elms coming into class with her characteristic “you guys!!!” or telling us about John’s latest antics or illness, and quality time with our staff over a hot, steaming pizza. Here’s what we won’t miss: sleepless nights as we try to pull the latest issue together, pitch meeting anxiety, and transcription of hour long interviews. Before we sign off for our final time, we would like to recognize the individuals who will replace us after we’re gone. To Maddie Poch and Maggie Belenky, we’re proud. Your work ethic, kind hearts, and exceptional journalistic ability will surely change the C&G forever. To Mrs. Elms, we’re incredibly thankful
for all of the love and support you have shown us over the years. We will both, sincerely, miss you. Now, to sign off. Goodbyes are painful, yet rightfully so. We should never avoid a chance for closure because we fear the ache of loss. Rather, graciously accept and brave the pain it brings. Goodbyes are not restraining; they set you free to explore your next phase of life with confidence and an open heart and a loving spirit. So, to the school that has tested us, loved us, helped us grow, we say goodbye. Through it all, best and worst, we know deep in our hearts, we wouldn’t have had it any other way. █ Jaylee Davis and Matthew Raeside
Matthew Raeside Co-Editor-in-Chief
Jaylee Davis Co-Editor-in-Chief
CAPTAINS’ LOG . RETURN TO TOMORROW In this time of uncertainty, one thing we can both be sure of is our gratitude. We are immensely thankful for the community we have: our classmates and teachers at HIES, our friends, and our families. While we have not felt the physical embrace of this community in a couple of months, we are continuously reminded of the love HIES has for us. For the first time in the C&G’s history, we digitally distributed the spring edition of our magazine. When we weren’t there to give out physical copies of our magazine, the teachers, students, and parents of our community clicked through our issue online, and your continued support of our work means everything during this time. We are immensely thankful for the three years we have had with our staff. To our fearless adviser Mrs. Elms, thank you for your creative energy and relentless spirit. Our next year with you will surely hold adventure and excitement, and we know we can always count on you for guidance, support, and a podcast recommendation. To our current associate editor Omari and our co-editors-in-chief Matthew and Jaylee, your leadership and kindness have set an immeasurably high bar for us, and
you will be dearly missed. As you swap Jay-Matt’s Snack Budget for meal points on campus, we hope you never forget the love and curiosity you found as writers on staff. We have been through so many early mornings, late nights, and lunches together, and we look forward to seeing you bring the same leadership and enthusiasm to your next four years in college.
excitement for the moment we can be on campus together. We’re looking forward to setting up our table in the dining hall to lay out the newest issue of our magazine. We produce the C&G for you, the students, and we want this magazine to be yours. We have been through it all together and we couldn’t be more excited to be taking this next step together as co-editors-in-chief. █
We are immensely thankful for the times the two of us have had on staff together. We had each other for support during our first class in high school, our first pitch meeting, and our first hustle to meet deadlines. We navigated new software like InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop together to design the magazine. We’ve shared Uber Eats meals, laughs, and color palette ideas. Every single article, layout, picture, and caption has truly been a collaborative effort, and the advice we have exchanged over the years has been invaluable.
Maggie Belenky and Maddie Poch
We are immensely thankful for the promise the future holds. One more year. One more year of memories. While it has been difficult to finish the year on computer screens, we cannot contain our
Maggie Belenky Managing Editor
Maddie Poch Production Editor
The Class
4 | FEATURES
Alabama Auburn University Pete Correll Claudia De Fino Owen Dunn Connor Flournoy Jessie Grasing Charlie Hawk Erin Hill Madeleine Kirk Izzy McNamara Henry Ortman Erin Taft Caroline Theos Avery Williams Jordan Wissman
Samford University Elijah Carswell
University of Alabama Brooks Harrison Liza Millican Presley Payne Alex Symbas
California San Diedo State University Maggie Danhof Mila Eliaschev
Colorado
United States Air Force Academy Madigan Starr
University of Colorado Boulder Grayson Hix Charlie King Kat Wright
Connecticut Trinity College Lawton Wilkins
delaware University of Delaware Caroline Snyder
Florida Eckerd College Maddie Barnes
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Ryan Fierro
Florida State University Olivia Hix
University of Florida
University of North Georgia
University of Tampa
Louisiana
Blake Cherrington Ansley Diaz Bo Hilton Molly Corts
Georgia Agnes Scott College Kai Cameron
Brenau University Aeden Rowell
Georgia Institute of Technology Sam Aiken Lucy Brumbaugh
Michael Edoigiawerie Hamilton James Emily Kallis Christian Lee Kate Moore Ansley Nichols Matthew Raeside Reagan Sherk Tara Varzi Aidan Ziessner Georgia State University
Matt Davis James Williams
Louisiana State University Kedar Henry
Loyola University New Orleans Jada Farrell
Tulane University Franklin Stanley
Maine Colby College Lilly Rice
Massachusetts Babson College Jack Sapone
Smith College Nubia Udoh
Michigan University of Michigan
Catherine Shamanski
Haven Damewood Will Garvin Lee Hickman
Hall O’Neal
Mississippi
Kennesaw State University Spellman College Camryn Jones
University of Georgia Sammy Clark Jack Felton Livi Friedman Audrey Gruenhut Eliza Harman Eliza Herrington Caleb Ketchup Setareh Khani Maddie Lowe Caroline Lyles Jessica McNair Ann Radford Meshad Joseph Minotto Tucker Molloy Holland Mowry MaryCamille Quigley Drew Reeves Ruthie Reid Sarah Scothorn Will Sirotkin Mary Grace Tippett Elle Wright
University of Mississippi Moreland Bell
Missouri University of Missouri Michael Cox
New York The New School
Emma Schlatterer
North Carolina Appalachian State University Ava Mills Leigh Rolston
Duke University Nick Reddy
Elon University Heath Foster Dara Grocer Ella Pappas Maggie Penman
s of 2020 THE C&G | 5
MADDIE POCH, production editor
1 1
1
3 2
1
6
6 1
19
University of South Carolina
Taylor Guyton
Ellie Crosswell
North Carolina State University Maddy Hannan Abby Pilkenton
Wake Forest University Garrett McGraw Mackenzie Weir
Ohio
Miami University Grant Esler Katie King Griffin McKinnis
Ohio State University Peter Wandtke
Oregon University of Oregon Blake Dobbs
South Carolina Clemson University Matthew Keagle Andie Miles Andersson Niepoky Johnathan Sertl Sophie Swanson Miller Taylor
41
1 5 12 7
3
High Point University
Number of seniors
1
4
4
2
Tennessee Belmont University
1 2
0 1 2-3
4-6 7-10 11+
international
7
Canada - 1
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Spencer Goetz
Washington and Lee University
Alexa Marcontell Taylor Rand
Cannon Crane Hunter Hawk Greg Hays
Tyler White
Washington, D.C.
Maryville College Rhodes College Leighton Dickson Sewanee: The University of the South Patton Mooney Jean Williams
Texas
Southern Methodist University Sam Medeiros
Texas Christian University Ben Brown Colleen Henry Caroline Mitchem Sadye Sumter
University of Texas at Dallas Asia Harris
Virginia
University of Virginia Lexi Baker
The George Washington University Jaylee Davis
Georgetown University Ryan Schewe
Howard University Omari Foote Jade Hayes
West Virginia University of Charleston Freddie Reams
Canada McGill University Liam Hill
Undecided
Jake Hodgson
6 | FEATURES
senior other
other
i don’t know no
male
female
OMARI FOOTE, associate editor
prefer not to say
agnosticism atheism
yes
i don’t know
islam judaism
moderate
DD RR M M
christianity
WHAT IS YOUR GENDER?
OVERALL, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE?
questioning bisexual
straight
no
WHAT IS YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION? yes
WHAT IS YOUR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY? i don’t know
3-5
<10
NO RAGRETS
no yes
yes
5-10
DO YOU HAVE OR PLAN TO GET A TATTOO?
HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SHOWER A WEEK?
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
a sense of service to the world community
i don’t know 10:PM-1:AM
all night
no
yes
no
zz z
HAVE YOU GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO FILL YOUR WATER BOTTLE AT YOUR PREFFERED BUILDING? seniors
faith in God
32
3:AM-6:AM
more liberal
WHAT RELIGION DO YOU PRACTICE? >3
i don’t know
more conservative
1:AM-3:AM
WHAT IS THE LATEST YOU HAVE STAYED UP ON A SCHOOL NIGHT?
HAS A TEACHER LEFT AN IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?
H I
a love of learning
respect for self and others
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE MOST DEVELOPED AT HIES?
i don’t know no
freshman yes
yes
no
junior
sophomore
WHICH YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE HARDEST OVERALL?
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON TRIAL WITH HONOR COUNCIL?
*Data taken from 2020 Senior Demographics Survey (69 responses)
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
SURVEY
THE C&G | 7
i am living without a roommate on campus
COLLEGE
i am living with a chosen roommate on campus
no
health and medicine
yes no
i don’t know
undecided
O
yes
i am living with a randomly assigned roommate on campus
science, math, and technology
trades and personal
business
arts & humanities
other
ARE YOU PLANNING TO STUDY ABROAD?
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES YOUR HOUSING? 3 or less
12-15
yes
academics
social life
9-11
common app
WHAT IS YOUR INTENDED MAJOR?
ARE YOU PARTICPATING IN GREEK LIFE?
yes
other
4-5
STATE
STATE
SAT: PREP
STATE
cost
no
6-8
no
location
HOW MANY COLLEGES DID YOU APPLY TO?
WHICH FACTOR MOST INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION?
ARE YOU ATTENDING A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY THAT ONE OF YOUR PARENTS OR SIBLINGS ATTENDED?
DID YOU APPLY AS TEST OPTIONAL TO ANY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?
no
no i don’t know
yes
yes
no
yes
PhD
Congrats, you’re really smart and stuff.
i don’t know no
DO YOU PLAN ON PURSUING A DEGREE PAST A BACHELORS DEGREE?
DO YOU PLAN ON TAKING A GAP YEAR?
OVERALL, DO YOU FEEL PREPARED FOR COLLEGE?
IN YOUR OPINION IS THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS FAIR?
no
i don’t know
S
HOPE
yes
ARE YOU RECEIVING MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS?
SURVEY
*Data taken from 2020 Senior College Survey (69 responses)
8 | FEATURES
Songwriting reading listening to music
WHAT ARE SEN QUARAN
watching tiktoks Watching netflix
cleaning
ARTS + Crafts
Golfing
FISHIng
gardening
facetiming + texting friends
sleeping WRITING letters
Spending time with family
THE C&G | 9
NIORS DOING IN NTINE?
playing video games
KATHERINE POCH, staff writer design: MATTHEW RAESIDE, co-editor-in-chief
playing basketball WRITING letters tanning exercising Running + walking
doing puzzles studying watching youtube Baking
playing piano + guitar
*Data taken from 2020 Senior Demographics Survey (69 responses) image courtesy of iStock
dancing playing with pets
10 | BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE
20 balance of excellence 20
cover design: MADDIE POCH, managing editor
THE C&G | 11 design: MATTHEW RAESIDE, co-editor-in-chief
With highly accomplished athletes, artists, scholars, and stewards of service, this special class of 2020 truly embodies the motto â&#x20AC;&#x153;Balance of Excellence.â&#x20AC;? The following pages feature students who devote themselves to this balanced excellence in these five categories: service, athletics, arts, hobbies, and academics. Not only will the class of 2020 live in infamy for weathering a global pandemic, but also because of their diverse and exceptional repertoire of skills.
12 | BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE very HIES student hopes to leave their mark on their school community. Liam Hill took this literally. As part of his Eagle Scout Service Project, he planned and built HIES’ first cross country course on campus. As a cross country captain, Hill felt obligated to help his teammates and coaches train safely within 805.
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“I remember running a sort of hill route through that parking lot,” Hill said. “That’s not ideal for anybody––traffic flow or humans.” With fellow Eagle Scout Colin Peters, Hill began the planning phase of his project in October 2017. Preparing to construct the trail required talking with school administrators and contacting Sandy Springs for the necessary permits. After organizing a team of volunteers and purchasing supplies, the actual labor phase of the project began in March 2018. Hill estimates that the total work he put into the trails amounted to several hundred hours of planning and building. “Sophomore year was definitely difficult with that major project going on with all the schoolwork, track, and then having to be at school every weekend working on that for six hours a day in the sweltering heat,” Hill said.
LIAM HILL
Though the work was difficult, Hill finds it incredibly rewarding to be able to give back to his community and to leave a tangible legacy at HIES. “It’s an indelible mark on the ground, which is pretty cool,” Hill said. “I can go back in 10 years and see how I helped the community.”
SERV SER n primary school and lower school, many girls sell cookies and participate in retreats as members of their local Girl Scout Troop. Ruthie Reid, however, remains an active participant through her work in her troop. “Once you move up into high school, it’s really about serving your community,” Reid said.
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To earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, Reid created a culturally sustainable English curriculum for refugee children to use. Her curriculum is a printable PDF called the “Journey Journal,” and this format allows refugee children to improve their reading and writing skills while maintaining their culture. Prompts from the curriculum include questions such as, “What is your favorite meal at home?” so the children can become better writers and readers within the framework of their own unique culture. Refugees have always had a special place in Reid’s heart. “What they go through is like nothing in the world,” Reid said. “No one can relate to it except for them.” To bring a greater sense of cultural awareness to the HIES community, Reid founded the Culture Club. The main goal of the club is to facilitate dialogue surrounding unique cultures and traditions.“We talk a lot in that club,” Reid said. “We just talk about culture. We talk about different traditions, differences, similarities, and the importance of each.” Though unsure of her area of study, Reid will continue to foster her passions for different cultures and work towards a “people-oriented” career at the University of Georgia next fall.
RUTHIE REID
THE C&G | 13 mpathetic. Quirky. Caring. These three words that Catherine Shamanski uses to describe herself makes her an ideal servant leader at HIES. Her work with Path to Shine, which she explains is “a nonprofit organization that really focuses on helping Title 1 children in the Atlanta area,” has inspired a National English Honors Society book drive and has formed the basis of her global capstone project. “Every day at 20 locations, they give out free tutoring and different kinds of experiences for kids to have that they might not get in school or within their situation… a lot of them are immigrants, so they kind of just want to inspire children to actually finish high school. Because a lot of them don’t.” With her Global capstone project that she is collaborating on with Ansley Diaz, Shamanski hopes to inspire more student involvement in the program. She envisions that students at HIES could potentially serve as peer mentors that help the Path to Shine kids with more personal issues, and improve their mental wellbeing. “Our focus would be mental [health] in regard to these … children, these mentors would be someone they could talk to and get advice from with life, but also with school.” To Catherine, service “should be something you do for others, you don’t have to but makes it better… for them, for yourself when you get through it.” Although Shamaski is unsure about her plans for the future, at the moment, she will continue her education at Georgia State University.
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CATHERINE SHAMANSKI
VICE RVICE atthew Keagle is no stranger in the world of community service. From planting trees to volunteering on several church mission trips, Keagle has always loved community service because he feels, “there is no better way to spend time than doing something that will help others and benefit the world for years to come.” Of all of Keagle’s greatest accomplishments in the world of service, there was better one than leading donations of angel trees. Keagle mentions, “It seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but with a Christmas miracle, we ended up being able to support 44 families through our donations.”
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One other significant accomplishment was when he, along with his Eagle scout group, was involved in developing Mountain Way Common, a park in Buckhead. When he started working there, it was “extremely overgrown with invasive plant species like Chinese Privet and kudzu and there was limited access to the back of the park”. Along with his Eagle scout group, he cleared much of the land at the back of the park and constructed a trail system. Over the course of three years, Keagle had “removed 30 tons of invasive species and planted 144 trees and shrubs”. Throughout Keagle’s time in high school, he has completed an astonishing 650 service hours. In each grade of high school, the minimum requirement for service hours is only 15 hours, but Matthew Keagle takes the requirement to another level. While Keagle is graduating high school this year, he has no plans to stop impacting his community. Keagle concludes, “I plan on getting involved in different clubs and organizations in college,” One organization is Medlife, a “faith-based organization that enables college students to provide medical services to international impoverished communities”.
MATTHEW KEAGLE
14 | BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE
ince he was young, Sam Aiken has always been interested in football and baseball. “I was born into it. By the time I could stand, my older brothers Will and Sean were teaching me how to swing a bat and throw a football, and I couldn’t wait to play for real,” Aiken said.
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Throughout his high school career, Aiken has learned to balance football and baseball with his schoolwork. He mentions, “I look forward to sports after school every day because it is part of my routine”. He continues, “After practice, I usually get home around 9:00 P.M. and leave for school at roughly 6:15 A.M. Between driving to and from school, studying, and playing copious amounts of video games, baseball and football are one of my few healthy outlets for activity”. In his time at Holy Innocents’, Aiken has learned many lessons from both sports that might help him later in life. “In football, I learned how to work with authority”, Aiken said. He continues, “Until that final whistle blows, I am part of a unified team motivated by a common goal”. When talking about baseball, Aiken mentions, “It taught me to change the way I approach practice and competition”. He elaborates, “In baseball and in life, you can’t dwell on failure, you have to embrace it. You have to be excited to fail because then you know which parts are in further need of development”.
SAM AIKEN
Unfortunately, for Aiken, the 2019-2020 school year has been his last year playing both football and baseball in high school, and he doesn’t plan on continuing. Aiken concludes by referencing a quote from a film adaptation of the movie, Moneyball. It says, “we are all told at some point in time that we can no longer play the children’s game...we don’t know when that will be”.
ATHLE ince Jada Farrrell was three years old, she has tried all types of sports from dance, to soccer, to track and basketball. However, as many other sports began to slip away, basketball and track were the only two that stuck. Now, a two-time basketball state champion and defending shot-put state champion, it is clear that Farrell has grown and flourished in both sports. Farrell said, “Trusting the process, working hard, and believing in God’s chosen path for me,” when talking about how she reached all of her success. Next year, she will continue her basketball career on the collegiate level at Loyola University New Orleans. While athletics were a priority, it was Farrell’s opportunity to receive a wonderful education that ultimately drove her decision. “It’s a great school, and they gave me a great opportunity to better myself,” she said. She will be a Biology Pre-Med student, with the intention to be an opthamologist. As a member of Science National Honor Society, Farrell has already proved to have the same dedication in the classroom that she does on the court. She is constantly making the extra effort to go to tutorials and prepare for classes. Farrell is a great example of where hard work can take you, in and out of the classroom. “Give 110%, because if you’re not giving 110%, what are you doing it for?” she said.
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JADA FARRELL
THE C&G | 15 ara Grocer has been at HIES for four years and played tennis all through that time. She is going to Elon University in North Carolina next year and plans to find a career in communications. When asked what her dream job is, Grocer said, “I want to be doing something where I am working with people, possibly media-based, where it just doesn’t feel like a job.”
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Other than tennis, Grocer has been involved in the broadcast journalism program for four years and has been one of the executive producers for the past two years. She also has participated in Golden Bear Guides for three years and is the president of Jewish Student Union. In high school, her favorite teacher was Mr. Lewis. “AP World was literally the hardest class I had ever taken, and he believed that I could do it way more than I did,” Grocer said. Besides the team aspect, Grocer’s favorite part of tennis is when she gets to see all of her hard work that she has put into practicing pay off in a match. “When you just hit a really good ball after a really long point and you win it, it’s like the best feeling ever,” Grocer explained. One of her favorite memories of playing tennis was when she was in the first round of state in her sophomore year playing. “I started playing at 4:30 and didn’t end until 7:30,” Grocer said. “We had to go to a tiebreaker and ended up losing by three points after spraining my ankle.” Despite losing, the HIES tennis team still stormed the court for Grocer and congratulated her on her tough match.
DARA GROCER
“That sense of community that I felt that day was truly something that I will never forget because it really shows the true support of Holy Innocents’.”
ETICS his athlete’s story is one of tireless tenacity and determination, truly an underdog if there ever was one: Reagan Sherk. Sherk has been a wrestler since his start in sixth grade and has since risen amongst the upper echelon of wrestlers to place sixth in state this past season. He describes his sixth-place finish in state as “bittersweet,” because he placed yet did not place higher. In the sport of wrestling, it is evident that effort and practice prevail over natural-born talent. “Wrestling is the only sport where really your outside work defines how well you do,” Sherk said.
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Sherk is not a giant amongst men, in fact, his freshman year, Sherk weighed a mere 83 pounds when the lowest weight class was 106 pounds. Sherk recounts a moment from that season where “[the team] didn’t have anyone to wrestle the 113 weight-class and the other team did. I said, ‘Put me in, Coach.’ I went out [on the mat] and the kid was completely whopping on me and then I got to third period. I was about to lose by mercy rule but in the third period I pinned the guy.” Sherk’s strategy is never to win but rather to pin his opponent, winning the “Pin King” award both as a seventh and eighth grader. When on the mat, his mentality is to “pin this kid and get the hell off the mat. There’s a moment when you’re on the bottom. We kind of decide if you’re going to let yourself lose or try to make something happen.” Sherk is also aware of the image he sets for newer and underclassmen wrestlers. “It’s really important as an upperclassman that I never get pinned or give up because those younger kids are watching. If they see me [allow] myself to get pinned, that’s telling them that it’s okay to give up,” Sherk said. Next year, Sherk will be studying Business Administration with a focus in Finance at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
REAGAN SHERK
16 | BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE ello player, Lexi Baker, is an Alpha Omega who has been at HIES since she was three. She has been in orchestra for eight years. Next year, she will be going to the University of Virginia and is considering majoring in philosophy. She also wants to be a lawyer one day.
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Other than orchestra, Baker has participated in golf, the outdoors club, and the stop hunger club through HIES. Baker said that her favorite teacher in high school was Elizabeth Lamback. “She is always excited to see us in class and always seems like she really wants to help us learn the pieces in orchestra,” Baker said. The hardest class Baker says she has ever taken was AP Chemistry. “Just because it was a lot of information in a short amount of time and it seemed like the information was really difficult,” Baker explained. When asked what her favorite thing about orchestra was, Baker said, “Getting to learn the new pieces and then at the concert seeing how far we have come.” Her favorite concert is always the Spring concert since they get to play newer music. Baker’s favorite orchestra memory is when she went on a class trip to Disney in eighth grade.
LEXI BAKER
In reference to the current situation with the coronavirus, Baker said, “I think it’s had the biggest impact on orchestra because we have to work together to put the pieces together so when we are home we can learn the pieces but we can’t actually work on putting it together.”
AR n his Non-Valedictory address, Coach Dunn Neugebauer wrote this: “I’ll see you on TV soon, will brag to my college friends while ordering drink number two. No one will believe me when I tell them I know you.” Certainly, this is true of Ben Brown, a graduating senior with plans to study both business and journalism at Texas Christian University who just might anchor on national news as a broadcast journalist.
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Brown has been involved with broadcast journalism since a mere freshman and has climbed the so-called “corporate” ladder of the program to become the Executive Producer alongside fellow senior Dara Grocer. Unlike the print journalists of the C&G staff, Brown is comfortable in front of the camera and must look presentable in a suit and tie when in the studio. “I’m very crazy about my clothes, and I have to look very polished on camera,” Brown said. “When I’m in the studio anchoring, it’s the one place that I can be myself and use my knowledge on politics and journalism. It’s right in the studio room with all of the other reporters that is my favorite place to be.” Although his dream is to one day anchor on national television, Brown understands the challenges inherent with such a challenging profession. “Broadcast journalism has always been the dream. I would love to do that as my career. But eventually, it’s a hard road to get to a network and become a network news anchor,” Brown said. “It’s a very, very cheap road [where] you don’t make any money until you’ve made it.” By additionally majoring in business, Brown reasons he will have a “safety net” to fall back on in case his dream fails to materialize. But I would not bet against Brown’s eventual success as a journalist. “If you like being on camera and you have something to say – you have a message that you want to get across – then broadcast is the place to be,” Brown said. And he certainly has more stories to tell.
BEN BROWN
THE C&G | 17 or Alexa Marcontell, it’s the people involved that make HIES theater so special to her. “I love the connection that you make with everyone in the cast,” Marcontell said. Though “Pirates of Penzance” was her first show at HIES in fifth grade, Marcontell considers “Little Women” to be the show that sparked her theatre career at HIES. During her junior year, Alexa had the opportunity to play her dream role in her dream show: Morticia Addams in the Addams Family. “The Addams Family is my favorite show because I got so close with the cast and the crew and everyone involved and it really shows feeling like a theater family,” Marcontell said. One aspect of theater that Marcontell loves along with singing and acting is being able to become someone else just for a little bit. Though one would never know when watching Marcontell perform on stage, she actually really struggles with audition nerves. “For me personally, I get really nervous at auditions and stuff. I think something that I’ve had to work on a lot is preparing audition stuff beforehand so that I am not as nervous and I feel more comfortable,” Marcontell said. Marcontell plans to continue her career in the arts at Belmont University, majoring in music therapy. As she leaves HIES for a bigger stage, her final words for those interested in theater is this: “Don’t settle. Keep trying for your main goal and what you really want to do.”
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ALEXA MARCONTELL
RTS think anything you think of and make it; it’s art,” Emma Schlatterer, accomplished visual artist at HI said. Schlatterer attributes a good portion of her success to the art program at HI, “Our program is like your hype man. Anything you want to do. You will never hear no from our department. Their view on the world is, make anything you want.” Her love and enthusiasm for the art program branches out to all of HI, where she has made her fondest memories over the past four years. Among Schlatter’s favorite moments include, “any time our class did something as a whole.” Also in her memories is the Round Square trip abroad to India. “We did so much during the two weeks we were there. Every night, there was a gigantic rave. It was just everyone from all over the world.” Through it all, Schlatterer wants to be remembered as, by students as the one, “who threw the best parties. By the community, I definitely value myself as a student leader. The green team, that’s something I’m still working on and that I’m very serious about. So definitely I want to leave my mark in that way.” Despite her incredible talent, choosing her path was not easy. Schlatterer’s future lies in New York at the Parsons School of Design at The New School. “There’s no guaranteed anything. And especially … wanting to go to private art school and pursue that that it took a lot. It took a lot for me to … actually go and pursue it and commit every day.”
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EMMA SCHLATTERER
18 | BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE
hen hobbies come to mind, perhaps one finds himself imagining America’s pastime, baseball, or playing cards. Yet an unexpected and unique hobby is one that Sam Medeiros does habitually, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – stock market trading. Nearly two years ago, Medeiros began investing in the stock market with a little start-up money from his parents. “[I was] making decisions based on stimulus that I saw out on the market and [trading] is really interesting to me. It’s really addicting for me because it’s so fun to make money.” Medeiros continued, “That’s my quote of the day – ‘It’s just so fun to make money.’” Certainly, his quote resonates with any cash-strapped high schooler trying to make their own way in the world.
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Medeiros, president of the Business Club, used the club as a platform to share his wisdom and experience with other students wishing to invest. “I wanted to interest the underclassmen in business because it’s really one of my passions and I talked about the basics of business. We talked about interest rates and things that influence the economy.” The club also used Investr, a program that Medeiros described as the “fantasy-league” of stock market trading where students trade stock with fictional funds.
SAM MEDEIROS
Next year, he will be studying Business Administration at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “I’ve always had a real fascination with investing, and I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in finance.” Medeiros continued, “I wanted to stay in the world of, I guess, money.” His final advice for any attempting to gain their footing in the tumultuous waters of investing is to know in what you are investing. “Put your money in something that you know exactly what the company does, or don’t invest in anything,” Medeiros said.
HOB ll her life Maddie Barnes has dreamed of riding horses, but it wasn’t till a gymnastics injury that she finally got the chance in eighth grade. “And so my mom finally started to let me ride horses because I didn’t want to do gymnastics anymore after getting hurt,” Barnes said. “My first lesson was on this little pony named Zorro and I just fell in love with it right then.” Since then, Barnes has spent every day of the last three years at the Chastain Horse Park riding her horse, Duette, who passed away on February 18th. “I would be at the barn for anywhere between two to four hours everyday,” Barnes said. Duette was with Barnes through the beginner baby hunters to winning meter jumps and more. Barnes is part of a competitive show team at Chastain, traveling to shows in North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina. Barnes’ favorite memory is her first time showing at Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. “I was competing against some really well-known equestrians, like equestrians where if you hear their name you’ll recognize them,” Barnes said. Duette and Barnes placed 6th and won $60. She has been a part of the Holy Innocents’ Equestrian Team in five out of the seven years Barnes has been at HIES. Next fall, Barnes plans to attend Eckerd College in St. Petersberg, Florida and hopes to continue riding.
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MADDIE BARNES
THE C&G | 19 hat started with an unfortunate accident turned into a new passion that would never die for Maddy Hannan: CrossFit. “ I was doing gymnastics competitively and one of my old gymnastics coaches ran like a kids and teens program for CrossFit, and so I’d been like once or twice in my life just for fun,” Hannan said. “And then I broke my back and I wasn’t allowed to do gymnastics anymore.” During her recovery, Hannan tried CrossFit to regain her strength and fell in love with it. But CrossFit isn’t just about keeping in shape: it’s also about the competition. “Yeah, I do competitions like local ones and like national and international ones too,” Hannan said. Hannan’s favorite competition would be the CrossFit Open, an online competition where you record a video of you completing the challenges at your local CrossFit gym. “Last year there were like 2400 that were 16 to 17 year old girls,” Hannan said. “And I finished 24th. It was definitely my biggest accomplishment.” Hannan plans to continue CrossFit during her time at North Carolina State, where she received the Parks Scholarship, so she can remain furthering her skills and one day compete in The CrossFit Open. “I’m not quite that good yet, but it’s kind of like a life goal, you know, so I can maybe go once whether like on a team or when I’m 40.”
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MADDY HANNAN
BBIES ranklin Stanley started high school not knowing what an f-scale was but ended his four years being what some call the “Drumline Captain”. Stanley can play practically any instrument in the percussion category, from chimes to cymbals. Stanley can recall tapping away at his blinds since he was four to the rhythm of Earth, Wind, and Fire, so it is only right that he is a master with drums. However, percussion is not his only skill; he also produces his own music. He began making music in the ninth grade with a close friend. It started as something fun to do in a state of boredom, but blossomed into something that Stanley became really passionate about, he has even gone as far as to purchase another laptop strictly for music. Stanley most typically takes inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, and Logic when making his music. “I may not even be in the mood to write, but then I’ll hear something and I’ll automatically think of something I can do with that” he said. Stanley plans to take all of the skills that he has developed, with him to college. Stanley will study to be a recording engineer at Tulane University. As a recording engineer it is his job to capture the artists experience while recording a song in the studio. Like the perfectionist that he is, he will ensure that he has the best quality. Remember Franklin Stanley, he might be your favorite rapper’s, favorite engineer.
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FRANKLIN STANELY
20 | BALANCE OF EXCELLENCE um laude inductee, Greg Hays says, “I’ve always had a very strong work ethic. I like to get stuff done.” Coming to HIES as a fifth grader, when he looks back on his strongest memories he remembers the first convocation in Upper School. “There was something about that moment being in that convocation that everybody was chatting about afterwards that really, pushed into reality. The fact that... we’re growing up and we have four years of high school left where... we’re growing into our older selves,” Hays said. Now that those four years are over, he is endlessly appreciative of the opportunities and memories shared at “Holy Innocents’, the place where I grew up.” Hays recognizes his privilege, motivated by the desire to not waste his potential. “I want to take full advantage of the opportunities I’ve been presented with and use them for not only the benefit of myself, but my friends, my family and everyone around me,” Hays said. Despite his love for all things economics, the course he has found most valuable was AP Lang with Mrs. Simpson. “I was definitely -- my capabilities and abilities there. But it really pushed me. And, you know, I definitely learned. My struggles in that class set me up to learn the most for the future,” he said. Hays will be attending Washington and Lee, his first choice, in the fall, where he plans to study economics.
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GREG HAYS
ACADE nsley Diaz moved to Atlanta in the seventh grade, but her exemplary performance in the classroom started long before HIES. Diaz says that she has always been a stellar student, and her record shows that she’s also accomplished many things outside of the classroom. Diaz is within the top ten percent in the senior class, won a basketball state championship, and placed fifth in the state in discus. While some may struggle with balancing sports she finds it to help with her academics, “I think that playing a sport after school made me more motivated to finish my school work than when I wasn’t in season,” she said. “It put me into a strict routine and gave me a nice break in between the school day and homework.” Despite her dedication to success, Diaz does make mistakes. “My biggest obstacle is a lack of motivation,” she said. “Sometimes I forget the bigger picture and what I’m working towards in high school, and that’s when my academics become more challenging.” This is not unexpected. With the end of the year rapidly approaching, like all seniors, she can sometimes lose sight and begin to lose motivation. Although, it is when she thinks about her collegiate goals, or that subtle feeling of pride over getting a good grade that Diaz remembers what’s important. Diaz’s focus and drive are what led to her success at HIES, and will be what sets her apart wherever she goes.
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ANSLEY DIAZ
THE C&G | 21 hile many of us seniors have yet to find their calling, Haven Damewood certainly has found hers in the field of medicine. Damewood will be majoring in a branch of psychology at the University of Michigan in preparation to enter a physician assistant program. Since middle school, Damewood knew she wanted to work in medicine, yet had never narrowed down the specific path she wished to take. It was not until her third knee surgery that she discovered her true passion. “After my knee surgery, it was my physician assistant that actually comforted me the most because they get to spend more time with the patients.” In becoming a PA, Damewood knows that she will have a greater focus on patient care.
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Already, Damewood has kickstarted her career path by enrolling in online courses to earn a certificate as a medical assistant in order to get healthcare experience on the Michigan campus. The effort that she has put into becoming a physician assistant is similarly reflected in her school work, where she has excelled. But her academic ability is “not natural smarts. It’s definitely [my] work ethic. I don’t get things right away. I [just] try really hard on everything,” Damewood said.
HAVEN DAMEWOOD
This past year, Damewood was a member of an alphabet soup of honor societies including NHS, SNHS, ENHS, and Rho Kappa. She has additionally left her mark on the HIES community as a servant leader. Damewood founded the Junior Junior League, a service-oriented club for girls based off of the Junior League. “The Junior League is a society for girls over twenty-one that do charity and service. And my mom was in [the organization] so I was thinking that I should recreate the Junior League, but for people under twenty-one,” Damewood said. Cleary, her work ethic and commitment toward humanitarian-related service will allow Damewood to succeed as a physician’s assistant.
EMICS s an Alpha Omega, Nick Reddy has witnessed firsthand how education can create a unified community. During his 15 years at HIES, Reddy’s pursuit of knowledge has been bolstered by the relationships he has built. “Having friendships and being well-respected by most of my peers has set me up for success,” Reddy said.
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Through his role as leader of the Horizons Student Club, Reddy has shared his love of learning with the broader Atlanta area. Over the summer, Reddy serves as a volunteer during Horizon’s summer enrichment program at HIES in addition to planning Saturday schools and fundraisers during the school year. Like the educational community he has found at HIES, Reddy cherishes the opportunity to foster new relationships through learning with underprivileged children from Atlanta public schools. “Education can bring people together,” Reddy said. “It’s a group of students that I would have never come into contact with if it wasn’t for Horizons.” Reddy’s own educational journey has allowed him to form valuable relationships with teachers in addition to students. Reddy cites Meredith Many as his favorite teacher after taking Many’s Algebra 2 Honors and AP Statistics courses. Beyond high school, Reddy plans on studying computer science at Duke University. Reddy favors the “problem-solving through work” aspect of computer science he was able to discover in Dan Forrestal’s AP Computer Science class his junior year. “He’s really quick,” Dan Forrestal, HIES AP Computer Science and Data Structures teacher said. “He learns really fast, and he’s always got a sense of humor.”
NICK REDDY
TASSEL TURNer
22 | PEOPLE
A STORY OF MUSIC, HISTORY & BBQ
ZAK KERR, associate editor design: MAGGIE BELENKY, managing editor
image courtesy of Bill Dickey
THE C&G | 23
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n the eve of Winter Fest, he can be found manning the BBQ pit while dishing out some of the best chili around. On Thursdays during lunch, the sound of tambourines, guitars, singing students, and at times, saxophones resonate from his room all through the Senior hallway. And every day, he can be found in his history-poster filled room teaching his eager students -- accompanied by a backdrop of a daily album cover -- various facets of United States history with an inherent sense of enthusiasm and humor. In addition to being a world-class teacher, he also provides a “safe haven” in his classroom and “challenges [his students] to see the good in everything,” one of his former students stated. Despite his unmatched abilities as a teacher, the HIES Tassel Turner for the graduating class of 2020, Mr. Bill Dickey, remains humble. “There are far better teachers than I at HIES. They know how to teach using the latest ‘pedagogy’ and all that stuff -- I don’t even know how to pronounce that word,” said Dickey. “But the one thing that I try to do as a teacher is I try to show how much I really care about my students,” Dickey continued.
the award. The Zoom video even featured an appearance by Dickey’s son, James Dickey, and two former HIES students from the class of 2017. “From an emotional standpoint, as overwhelmed with emotion as I was watching it on the computer screen, I can only imagine watching it in the actual chapel with the entire school there and having to walk up to the podium and thank everyone. I don’t think I could have done it. I was holding back tears the whole time via computer!” Dickey said. “That type of recognition from your constituents, from your students who are your constituents -- I don’t work for Paul Barton or Manning Weir, I work for you guys. Y’all are my constituents,” continued Dickey.
Lead with love, do the things you love, love the people that you’re around. And if you do that, things are probably going to be okay. And at the very least, you’ll be happy.” - Bill Dickey
“He genuinely cares so much about each of his students and never, ever questions their potential,” said Ruthie Reid (a member of the 2020 graduating class). The honor of Tassel Turner means so much to Dickey because, in his words, “getting that kind of love back is validation that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.” Prior to becoming part of the HIES family, Dickey worked in the world of finance and business. Ultimately, he decided to give education a try and took a job as a teacher at North Atlanta High School before taking a job as a permanent substitute and, later, a history teacher at HIES. This year is the first time Dickey has been awarded the Honor of Tassel Turner.
Halfway through our interview, we were briefly interrupted by a large THUD sound coming from Dickey’s living room. His dog, Rosy, had attempted to jump up onto a couch but “almost didn’t make it.” With the dog safely perched upon a sofa, our interview continued.
The reason why Dickey loves teaching AP US History is not that he has a BA in History, but because he, “literally gets to teach three quarters or at least two-thirds of an entire class.” Since Dickey has been able to interact with most -- if not all of the graduating class -- he has been able to get to know them in a personal way. “They are a very enthusiastic class. They have a spirit about them, for sure,” Dickey said. “Their freshman year coincided with the year that I realized that I was going to be sticking around HIES. So I relate that class to my permanence; they are special for that reason as well,” Dickey said.
“It was an amazing feeling. It really was. And one that is so special and unique to Holy Innocents’ and the Holy Innocents’ experience. I mean, what a phenomenal tradition that I’ve never heard of or seen anywhere else. It’s really great and an honor to be a part of it,” Dickey said.
While his students depart the grounds of HIES for new adventures in college, Dickey will remain at HIES where he will meet the next wave of rising seniors and help them grow as empathetic, historically educated, and musically cultured individuals. He will help them learn the history of our great country, all while sharing frequent laughs and listening to his “awesome daily playlists.” He will provide or an environment in which it is safe to make mistakes and grow from such mistakes. Dickey will form relationships with each of his students, one at a time.
Because of the Coronavirus, the class of 2020 had to contrive a new and unprecedented way to present Dickey with the Tassel Turner award. Together, the entire Senior class invited Dickey to a Zoom video call in which they introduced
“Lead with love, do the things you love, love the people that you’re around. And if you do that, things are probably going to be okay. And at the very least, you’ll be happy,” Dickey saidy said. █
24 | PEOPLE
SIGNED ATHLETES [ [ MATTHEW RAESIDE, co-editor-in-chief
TYLER WHITE FOOTBALL MARYVILLE COLLEGE
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The most challenging part [of playing baseball] is definietly keeping a positive attitude. Baseball is a game of failure, so if you succeed three out of ten times you are a great player. So, keeping a positive attitude while you fail is probably the most challenging part of playing baseball.
“ KALEB KETCHUP
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BASEBALL UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
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Lacrosse being a team sport, the most rewarding part will always be the feeling after we successfully execute a play or transition as a cohesive unit. Lacrosse is an aggressive sport, but women’s lacrosse, specifically, can be really beautiful to watch. This can only be pulled off when we work as a team.
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“ PATTON MOONEY LACROSSE SEWANEE
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THE C&G | 25
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[ [ MICHAEL COX FOOTBALL UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
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The most rewarding aspect of playing football to me would simply be that: playing football. I genuinely love the sport. I don’t play to gain anything. Not for respect, not for accolades. While all of those are perks that I really appreciate, I play to play. The team camaraderie is necessary to win. It’s not a one-person sport. You need teammates and your teammates need you. There’s no greater feeling to me than to be under the Friday night lights in the heat of a football game, and look to your left and right and know that all of your brothers got your back. And you got theirs.
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LEIGHTON DICKSON LACROSSE RHODES COLLEGE
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I started playing lacrosse in 5th grade. It started off at the beach with one of my best friends. He had been playing for a few prior seasons, and he had an extra stick with him. Just for fun, we went out to a field and threw the ball around. He said, “Hey you’re pretty good for your first time. You should play.” So I decided to give it a try. I’ve stuck with it ever since that day. I love the speed, strategy, and physicality of the game. The most rewarding part of the game for me is assisting my teammates. Whenever I can set them up for an opportunity to score, it makes all of the effort into that play worth it. Scoring goals myself are fun, but setting up my teammates is even better in my opinion. The most challenging part of the game is definitely the endurance needed for my position (midfield). If you’re playing midfield, you’re constantly running. At one moment you’re playing offense, and then the next moment you’re sprinting down the field to play defense.
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[ [ RYAN SCHEWE SOCCER GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
26 | PEOPLE
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JADA FARRELL BASKETBALL LOYOLA UNIVERSITY
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[ [ MADIGAN STARR SWIMMING AIR FORCE ACADEMY
The most rewarding part of playing basketball for me is the connections I make with people on the court. From workouts to practices to game and tournaments, new people come into our lives and the connections we make with them are extraordinary. When you build a connection with good people who have the same goal as you, it affects your game, and the way we play together with a positive goal in mind, the way we play together becomes so eye-catching that people notice the bond. Basketball has given me a lot of great opportunities throughout my life and I am truly grateful to it. Now it has given me another greater opportunity as I am able to continue playing while again receiving a high-level education. Academics comes before athletics, but athletics have opened many doors for my academics.
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HUNTER HAWK FOOTBALL WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
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I don’t remember why I initially chose football but I don’t regret it. The most rewarding part about playing football is that it’s helped make me a better man, inside and out. I have become much stronger, tougher, and faster and showed me how tough I am capable of being mentally. The most challenging part is bouncing back from the losses. After every loss I typically don’t sleep the next night for a number of reasons, the biggest being that I always know there’s something I could’ve done better to prepare. I’ve been playing football for 13 years and by far the greatest memory is beating elca, the first ranked team in the state, at home, in overtime. Watching our fans storm the field was one of the most exhilarating feelings ever.
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[ [ HALL O’NEAL FOOTBALL KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
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The most rewarding part of football is having the chance to play it. Through my three separate hand surgeries as a sophomore, I learned that this sport can be taken from you in an instant, and that only the work you put in matters. I think just mentally being focussed and pushing limits is the most challenging part. Everyone loves winning in sports, but it’s different to me celebrating as a team with a win. But the most enjoyable thing to me about football is executing a play to perfection with an opposing player being on his back.
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ABBY PILKENTON SWIMMING NORTH CAROLINA STATE
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There are so many memories that I love from swimming, but probably my favorite memory from school swimming was sophomore year. The team had a really great bond and the season was a blast, and it was the year I won my first state title. I’ll never forget coming up after the 200 free and seeing Coach Morrison’s reaction, and once I got out of the pool the whole team and some of my Dynamo friends that were on different highschool teams were there and gave me hugs. For the longest time, I did not think I wanted to swim in college. Freshman year I became really good friends with a bunch of the seniors at Dynamo and learned a lot about swimming in college. Then, I started getting faster and faster and realized I could swim in college. It kind of just took its course and made sense to swim in college, but I didn’t really think that much about, I was just on that track.
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FREDDIE REAMS BASEBALL UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON
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As you get older there is an increasing mental aspect to [baseball] that starts to overtake your physical capability. It’s like one of Yogi Berra’s most famous quotes, “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” It’s something you almost can’t explain. You have to become a student of the game, and it’s something I think all great ball players have in common. The most challenging thing, for me, has been learning how to deal with how “failureheavy” this game is. There’s something very special in the fact that Hall of Fame hitters only succeed 3/10 times at the plate on average and these are the best of the best. You’d think if you’re THAT good at something that you would be able to succeed more than 30% of the time, right? And that’s just baseball for you - it’s very hard to deal with failure because it’s around every corner and the quicker you can learn to face that, the better off you’ll be.
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28 | PEOPLE
MADDIE POCH, production editor
THE C&G | 29
Tara Varzi
30 | PEOPLE
THE C&G | 31
artist statement No matter how much we artists think we can uncover through our work, every photo subject contains countless more mysteries waiting to be found. My processes involved empathizing and understanding peoples’ stories, which can be seen through their portraits. I capture a person’s hidden worlds, trying to discover the inner workings of their minds: worlds filled with elation, anxiety, hope, and fear. As my gaze intensifies, I wonder what else could be going on deep within the thoughts of those on the picture; what are they thinking that I cannot yet see. It’s in the smile that hides a million secrets, the eyes that show a painful upbringing, and the hands that show the calluses from pushing her wheelchair. Taking portraits of these people have broadened my horizons through the people I photograph: through them, I have become a storyteller. A picture has the unique ability to pique interest, often giving the viewer enough insight to see context, but not enough to truly understand the picture’s world. Through my photos, I bring to the forefront many issues that are at the forefront of my heart, and leave it to my audience to use their newfound interest to delve into previously unknown thoughts. █
tara varzi ‘20
A Farewell to our retirees Leaving the HIES family for new adventures in retirement. ZAK KERR, associate editor design: MAGGIE BELENKY, managing editor
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his This year marks the 43rd year of Mrs. Niki Simpson’s time at HIES. Simpson began working at HIES in 1972 and even met her husband at the school. In 1978, Simpson left the school to follow her husband who decided to join the Navy. After five years, Simpson returned to HIES and has remained a part of the HIES community ever since. Forty-three years is a long time in any respect. Naturally, Simpson has witnessed much change over her many years at the school. “When I first started, we only went to seventh grade. When students would register to go to Holy Innocents’, their parents would park in the school parking lot overnight and take numbers because there was no guarantee that if your
child went there already that they would be able to go there the next year,” Simpson said. “It was really a first-come, first-serve basis,” Simpson added. Simpson has also witnessed the changes of the campus such as the addition of new buildings, the transition to computers, and the changes made in education. Her decision to retire came simply from the fact that Simpson feels as though she is ready to, “do something different.” Simpson also feels that she has accomplished everything her vocation to education has demanded. At the age of 16, Simpson began working for her family’s retail business. She did
Mrs. Simpson
image courtesy of Niki Simpson
not necessarily enjoy working in the business world and started leaning towards education. Ultimately, Simpson moved from Louisiana to Atlanta where she attained the position as an Administrative Assistant at HIES. “When I first started, I sat where Ms. Kline sits in the front office. And I just remember immediately feeling a part of everything. People were very kind and then I found out that Ms. Buckalue taught there. She and I both grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the high school that I went to was a block away from where she lived. We never knew each other until we both got to Holy Innocents’,” Simpson said. Because Simpson had a major in Speech and Drama, she raised interest with the school administration about starting a theater department. Eventually, because of Simpson’s efforts, HIES established the drama program and Simpson began directing plays at the school. Once the drama program became part of the daily curriculum, Simpson left her job as a secretary and became a full-time teacher. Eventually, however, Simpson would make a transition from directing plays to teaching English. “When I came back to Holy Innocents’, after my husband got out of the Navy, they already had a drama teacher. And if I directed any more plays, I wanted it to be with high school instead of lower and middle school. So I taught English which I absolutely loved,” Simpson said. Simpson has taught thousands of students in her 43 years at HIES. In addition to instilling upon her numerous student’s new knowledge, she too has been able to learn from her students. “I’ve learned to be creative; I’ve learned to remember what it was like to be a student; I’ve learned to think outside the box; I’ve learned to listen, to appreciate my students, and to be creative and go beyond what I knew because I wanted to do more and because they did more,” Simpson said.
While Simpson has learned many positive lessons from her students, she has also learned difficult lessons that have helped her grow as a teacher. “I remember one day, early on in my career, going to Ms. Malcom just in tears because I couldn’t get to a student. And she looked at me and said, ‘You can’t save them all. You’re not the right person for that person. And you have to accept the fact that sometimes there is a better person for that person and it’s not you,’” Simpsons said. “That was probably the most difficult thing I had to learn,” Simpson added. Throughout her time as a teacher, Simpson has had many rewarding moments such as seeing her students improve, seeing them stand-up before the class and give a speech, and having the opportunity to preside over graduating ceremonies. Simpson also takes great pride in the fact that she had the opportunity to teach her former students (all of which she remembers) children. “I believed in my students and knew they could be the best. I wanted to help them get there,” Simpson declared. As Simpson quietly exits the HIES family, she reiterates the points of her Tassel Turner speech. “Go not like a quarry slave to the dungeon. But dance. I hope you dance every dance that life gives you. No matter how hard it is. There are going to be times that it’s difficult but you can make it. Don’t give up. If life isn’t going the way you want it to, maybe life is telling you that this is not the best way,” Simpson said. “The way I got to Holy Innocents’ is when I finally figured out that education was what I was supposed to do. Certainly not at all what I expected. But I absolutely loved it. Life is saying, ‘Let me guide you. I have a better plan,’” Simpson added. █
Ms. Cannon
image courtesy of Melody Cannon
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s. Melody Cannon has been a part of the HIES family since August of 2012. In her time at HIES, she has not only taught AP English Language and Composition, but he has also graced her students with her tenderness and passion for education. Despite the challenging nature of her class, Cannon’s students have a significant deal of respect for her as a person and as their teacher. “A student just recently wrote to me that some teachers are afraid to fail their students. And this student said, ‘But not you Ms. Cannon!’ What I learned from that student was how important struggle is and that not everybody should avoid the struggle,” Cannon said. “It’s the struggle that makes you strong; it’s the struggle that makes you proud; it’s the struggle that gives you the power and the solutions to be productive in the world,” Cannon continued. Cannon began her teaching career as a high school teacher in North Carolina where she taught theater, speech, and English. She also served as the swim coach. After her daughter moved to Atlanta, Cannon followed and became a teacher at HIES. “I have so many good memories of HIES. I really enjoyed the kite flying. Everybody would have kite wars out on the field. It became a disaster, but it was a fun disaster. I also have very funny memories of people doing scenes from Macbeth, particularly Hunter Hawk -- it was a bizarre video,” Cannon recalled. Cannon’s decision to retire has been particularly difficult. In fact, she feels as though there is a part of her that never really wants to leave. Despite not wanting to leave and that she will immensely miss everyone, Cannon knows that retiring is, “something she must do.”
“It was just the right time with the right class. I just was really blessed this year to have such an incredible class (‘21). And so I went to Mr. Rutledge (US assistant principal) and said, ‘This is the class I need to go out with,’” Cannon said. One of Cannon’s favorite parts about being a teacher is seeing the success her students have in the world. Some of her proudest moments have been reading of her student’s achievements in college and beyond. When Cannon’s students graduate, she feels as though she is a part of their growth. “I feel kind of like a carpenter that nails a nail into the building. And then when you drive by years later, you’re really kind of proud of that building because, ‘Hey! I put a nail in. I didn’t build the building; I wasn’t there when the building was finished. But to be a part of the experience is really magical,” Cannon said. In retirement, in addition to spending time with her “pretty darn incredible family,” Cannon hopes to continue painting and to make pottery -- two of her favorite hobbies. Cannon also hopes to stay connected to young people by tutoring in which she will help students with their college essays on an individualized basis. Since Cannon’s decision to retire from formalized teaching has been difficult, Cannon might not be making frequent visits back to the campus. “I think there’s probably a flaw in my personality, but I hate goodbyes. It’s very difficult for me. And so I have to say goodbye, I can’t keep coming back to do a little of this and that,” Cannon declared. As Cannon departs the HIES community and the class of 2020 leaves for college, Cannon has one last word of advice. “Be confident, have faith in yourselves. And know that it’ll be alright in the long run -- it will be alright. The world’s a good place. God’s in his heaven. And all is right with the world. It works out the way it’s meant to be,” Cannon said. █
Ms. WEAVER
image courtesy of LeAnne Weaver
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rs. LeAnne Weaver has been teaching at HIES for 19 years. Over the course of her 19 years at HIES, Weaver has witnessed the expansion of the football program and the “explosion of talent,” as Weaver stated, within the arts department. In addition to the expansion of HIES programs and additions to the campus, Weaver has also had the opportunity to watch two of her own children grow while attending HIES.
“She needed somebody to help. She was also doing preschool art and photography classes. I wanted to work more than part-time in the preschool so I began working on the yearbook and came to love it,” Weaver said.
“Mary went there through 9th grade, and Michael stayed the whole time. A friend of mine -- her mother was a teacher at Lovett -- recommended Holy Innocents’,” Weaver said.
Weaver has very much enjoyed watching her children graduate and seeing the growth of her students. But of all her years at Holy Innocents’, Weaver looks most proudly upon the connections she has made with her students.
“Where we lived at the time, there weren’t good public schools. So, we went the route of private school and we just liked it. The kids liked it and that’s where we ended up,” Weaver continued.
“I’ve had that connection with them and enjoyed sharing with them and enjoyed going through life with them. It’s not necessarily the yearbook -- I’ve liked every yearbook I’ve helped with. But it’s really the relationships with the students that I’m most proud of,” Weaver declared.
Weaver attended Oglethorpe University where she earned a BA in Early Childhood Education. After college, however, she fell into a job working with a sports agent in which she did financial planning and represented athletes. After working with the sports agent, she began working at a law firm and would meet her husband, a practicing litigator, through mutual friends. “Once we were married, there was a bit too much law going on in our house with me working in a law firm and him being a lawyer. So I ended up not working. I didn’t work for a long time before I started subbing at Holy Innocents’,” Weaver said. “I started subbing at Holy Innocents’ when our youngest was three. He was in the preschool too. And we both started pre-kindergarten in the same year,” Weaver continued. Around her fifth year at HIES, Weaver began helping Ms. Thompson with the school’s yearbook and, eventually, became the yearbook advisor.
“Obviously, I must have loved it because I stuck with it for a long time,” Weaver added.
As for her retirement, Weaver will continue to be a familiar face amongst the HIES community in the 2020 - 2021 academic year as she will be training the new yearbook advisor. After she has trained the new yearbook advisor, Weaver hopes to plan a trip to Canada in which she will visit family and take the train across Canada to Vancouver. Weaver values her students greatly. In fact, her yearbook staff were the first to learn of her decision to retire. She will greatly miss her students and the HIES community. “Just enjoy life; do your best. Find something positive in whatever you’re doing,” Weaver suggested. █
36 | PEOPLE
ALPHA Omega A story of growth, learning, and companionship at Holy Innocents’. PARKER MILES, staff writer
f there is one group of seniors at HIES who have the full experience of being a “Golden Bear”, it is of course, none other than the Alpha Omegas. Starting from the Primary school, they have attended HIES anywhere from 13-15 years. From academics to the new friendships tonew sports, the Alpha Omegas have grown in a vast number of ways in their time at HIES. But the question still remains: Why did they choose Holy Innocents’? What makes HIES stand out from the rest of the schools in the metro-Atlanta area? The Alpha Omegas of the class of 2020 give an insight into what makes Holy Innocents’ so special.
students’ best interest at heart. Students go above and beyond working hard to benefit their learning, develop a good work ethic, and build friendships in the process.”
“HI has become a second home to me” said Jean Williams, one of the 34 Alpha Omegas of the class of 2020. She continues, “I still keep in touch with most of my teachers from each division. It wasn’t the cute uniforms or food that made me come back every year. It was the people. It’s the teachers who smile at you in the hallways or eat lunch in their room so they can help you with homework or the students you’re with every day.”
Of course, being a student at HIES for a mere decade and a half can bring a plethora of great memories along the way, and the Alpha Omegas at Holy Innocents don’t disagree. As written by Cesare Pavese, “We do not remember days, we remember moments”. Here are some of the moments that some of the Alpha Omegas will never forget. The Alpha Omegas present some of their favorite memories at HIES over the course of the past decade and a half.
Williams, among other Alpha Omegas, have loved their experience at Holy Innocents’, but above all, the primary reason most of them stayed was because of the great community at HIES.
“Winning a state Championship in golf will always be a special moment for me”, said Reddy.
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“The community here is unlike any other”, according to MaryCamille Quigley, an Alpha Omega of this year’s senior class. She has attended Holy Innocents’ for 15 years since the three-year-old program. She continues, “The school has the
Nick Reddy, another member of the Alpha Omega group mentions, “We are so close as a class and school” When talking about his social experience at HIES, Reddy mentions, “Being able to grow up with some of the same kids creates constancy that allows me to be comfortable in my environment”.
Quigley mentions, “My favorite memory at HI was speaking at the all school assembly in August.” I was very nervous at the time, but everything that followed my angst was special. When I started speaking, all of my nerves went away because I recognized nearly everyone in the gym. The feeling I got from the
THE C&G | 37 student body, especially the seniors, was very kindhearted and genuine. It filled me with so much confidence and joy”. Sarah Scothorn, another member of the Alpha Omegas, mentions, “the homecoming game against Mount Vernon this year was definitely a moment to remember”. Scothorn has attended HIES for 14 years since she was in the early learners program. She continues, “to finally have a real home game my senior year was an amazing feeling. Everything that went into the game and homecoming week as a whole made our win even better”. One of the biggest parts of being an Alpha Omega is being able to experience change. Whether the change occurs within themselves or around them, an Alpha Omega has experienced it all. In their time at HIES, there are many things that have changed a lot and some, not at all. “For me, my involvement in the community has grown as I have developed as a person at HIES” said Reddy. “My involvement in community service, music, and clubs has added depth to my experience at HIES past the academics. Each year, more and more opportunities are available for me to get involved”.
Of course, being a student at Holy Innocents’ for a mere 13-15 years entails growth and change as a person. The Alpha Omegas have learned along the way, which have certainly helped them grow into the people they are today. “I think a lesson I have learned at HIES is that there is always someone willing to listen to you”, Williams mentions. “Whether it’s about being stressed or having an idea you want to see happen, the school has taught me I can be heard if I want to be heard”. Baker mentions, “I think one of the most important things I have learned is the importance of service to the community. Helping someone a little can go a long way”. Reddy adds a different perspective, saying, “HIES has taught me to be persistent and has helped develop my work ethic. Whether it’s through sports, music, or my academics, challenges arise that I will have to face, and I have learned to always be persistent in trying to be the best that I can be. That determination has formed my work ethic that I apply to many aspects of my life”.
“having been at HIES since I was three, walking through campus feels like walking down memory lane”. - MaryCamille Quigley “What’s changed the most for me has been going from being the participant to being the planner”, Quigley mentions. She continues, “I always love being in the loop on things and using other students’ suggestions to embrace HI traditions and start new ones. Being a part of clubs and student council has provided me with that opportunity”.
All this said, the Alpha Omega’s could not have gotten to where they are today without being the “annoying” Freshman or having to adapt to the different divisions of school. While school life can seem overwhelming and perhaps daunting at times, the seniors provide some advice to Freshman to their life a little bit easier.
Lexi Baker, another member of the class of 2020 Alpha Omegas, says, “What has changed the most would be me! 15 years is a long time and HIES has really made me into the person I am today.” Baker has also attended the school since she was in the three-year-old program. When talking about what’s changed the least, Baker emphasizes, “the community at HIES has changed the least because no matter no matter what age I have been, it has always been there.”
“Learn about your interests and be involved” says Quigley. She continues, “It’s so fun getting to know people in different grades and connecting with teachers that you may not have in class.” Williams adds to this statement by mentioning, “if it’s joining a random sport, a random club, or playing a new musical instrument, never be scared to just be yourself.”
Quigley mentions, “the faculty and the traditions make the campus feel like home. My siblings graduated back in ‘06 and ‘08, so being able to look forward to the experiences they had and make them my own has been special. As for the teachers, some of them have taught most of my family.” She concludes, “having been at HIES since I was three, walking through campus feels like walking down memory lane.”
“Pay attention in class and go to the teacher if you don’t understand the material. We all get confused at times, and the teachers are always welcoming and want to help.” Reddy Mentions. Baker concludes by emphasizing, “Enjoy every moment of being with your friends because it goes by so fast. Before you know it, you’re off to college.” █
38 | PEOPLE
EMPTY NESTERS
design: OMARI FOOTE, associate editor JAYLEE DAVIS, co-editor-in-chief
What happens when the last bird leaves the nest?
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hen seniors part for college, all eyes are often on them. And for good reason. They are approaching a new chapter in their lives, one that they have worked hard towards all throughout high school. But once the last tears are shed, the graduation parties quiet down, and the last planes take off to all the exciting places that will be the new homes of the class of 2020. But once every bird leaves the nest, what happens to those who are left behind? What do their parents do now? For 18 years, parents have been preparing for this moment when their bird leaves the nest. Does that mean the transition is always easy? Laura Foster, mother of Alpha Omega Heath Foster ‘20, said, “I don’t know if it’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be weird. You have no particular schedule. I’m going to have to reinvent that.”
While what she looks forward to comes with a spot of hesitation, what she will miss comes easily. “Well, obviously, it’s his fabulous sense of humor,” she almost immediately responded, “He has a very dry wit. He always has an interesting take on things. And that I will miss most. It’s a sense of humor and just his, you know, his general perspective on things. It’s always interesting and always well-thought out, quite frankly.” But along with Heath’s “fabulous humor” is the childhood memories that will grow fonder in his absence. Laura describes Heath as a “a great baby. He was. Easy, easy, easy, baby. He was just cute and sweet and fun. And we all adored him.”
THE C&G | 39
To characterize Heath’s easy-going nature, Laura said, “We used to call him Switzerland. He was our neutral country. Everybody wanted to be friends with Heath, even if they didn’t want to be friends with each other.”
Since Reese has been in high school this has been the longest time, “that they’ve... been in the same place. So that’s been really good to see the bright, the silver lining of a pandemic.”
Heath is the youngest of two siblings, Bryn Foster, who is the oldest and Reese, who followed her.
Recalling the memories, one of Laura and Heath’s favorite shared memories is a mother-son trip they took to Disney for his seventh birthday.
When asked about her other children, Heath answered first.
“I woke him up early in the morning and we -- the two of us -- flew to Disneyworld and spent two days touring, doing Disney,” she said, “He had only been there when he was super young. You know, with his siblings. And I just decided he needed to go by himself and do all of the Disney he wanted.”
“Reese is the big adventurer. He’s been to Nepal, Patagonia. He loves camping, snowboarding. Maybe not the greatest people person, but he likes to keep more of himself and has like a small group of friends. But I’d say he’s the bucket list kind of guy.” About Bryn Foster, Heath calls her “also outdoorsy,” and Laura cuts in to say, “She’s an academic.” “She’s the smartest out of us three by far. I’d say she’s studying for an exam right now.” Altogether as a family unit, Laura thinks their dynamic works well.
“I want him to be confident in the fact that he is loved and he is supported and that he is capable and that he will go on to do the great things he’s supposed to do.” - Laura Foster
When asked his personal definition of family Heath responded, “obviously the people. But I’d say it’s much more the traditions, the experiences. It’s what makes your family unique from any other family… I think it’s more of that. Just memories and those connections.” Laura continues, “I think it is the traditions, it’s the stories, it’s the funny little inside jokes and things that happen that nobody outside of your little nuclear family know about. But when you see something and everybody busts out laughing, you know, you all know you’re thinking the same thing.” While the current COVID crisis may put a strain on some families, Laura finds it has only helped her family stay in touch more. “I hope they all keep the three of them, keep those sorts of things going as they spread out and go their different ways that they remember to to stay in touch and hang out and be goofy. The pandemic was good for that,” Laura said.
Recalling his memories, Heath’s treasured memories from HIES as an Alpha Omega start early. “I remember [in] kindergarten, we had two Hot Wheels cars, and during recess, you would have to race to the back to get the Hot Wheels cars and like if you got it, it would be the most fun you’d have it the entire day and everyone one be jealous of you.” Another tender moment is the Halloween parade, participating first as a primary schooler and then again as a senior.
“Will and I were Harry and Ron from Harry Potter. And then we did that again. That was really fun to come full circle.” Now everything truly comes full circle as Heath, at HI since he was three, parting the school after a decade and a half. Before her last bird leaves the nest, off to Elon University, Laura wants Heath to know one thing. “I want him to be confident in the fact that he is loved and he is supported and that he is capable and that he will go on to do the great things he’s supposed to do. And just to be open to new opportunities and experiences when they present themselves, don’t automatically say no. Say yes to things you may be uncomfortable with,” she said, “OK. Within reason for this. But you know what? Just to go forth, kind of no strings attached and see what’s next.” █
20 S
40 | OPINION
enior
Words of wisdom and memories from members of the Class of 2020
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jaylee davis co-editor-in-chief 3 years as a C&G journalist
hen senior year started, I was desperately counting down the days. Now, in the final week -- as final projects and essays pile up, nostalgic posts flood my feeds, I only cling to the days and the memories. What I thought I was so ready to shed, like clothes that have grown too tight, has become my second skin. The honest thing about it is that, as cliche as it sounds, I never imagined feeling that way. There was no movie magic moment when I first walked through Groesbeck or tread upon Baker. It was quite the opposite. I didn’t feel like I belonged at HI, until I did. It didn’t feel like a second home, until it did. I didn’t know that I met my family, only until it was time to leave the nest. But maybe it was in sophomore year, hanging out around Mrs. Cruce’s office when there was no room in the commons -- our class the biggest yet. Or maybe it was on the first day of senior year when we ran out on the field, repping our house colors. Or hiking the mountains in Bolivia chewing on coca leaves and stevia -- and our reward at the end, gazing out on Lake Titicaca on the sleeping dragon. It’s not like everything was a scene out of High School Musical. High school was hard. Whether it was freshman year where I hid in the bathroom to call my mommy during Geometry Honors or the moment when shocked, Coach Cefferati caught me saying something inappropriate at lunch. Or that time where Mrs. Maxwell, gesturing with an expo marker, when it flew straight into my eye. Or that time when my phone rang during Mrs. Reiss’ Algebra II class… And I answered it. Yeah, things get awkward. And sad. But that’s what makes it so special. Because if everything was picture perfect, it wouldn’t be the same HI we know and love. Speaking of things I know and love, there is something special about the class of 2020. Our reputation as the rowdiest, most athletic, goofiest class ever -- although I may not be some of these things (especially athletic, sorry Coach Thomas. You tried your best)- these qualities are what make a house a home. We do have our questionable moments however. Like watching senior boys, literally grown adults, bruise their fingers by dropping hydroflasks on them from the top of STEM. I’m looking at you, Matthew. But there are also the most iconic moments, like switching uniforms and pissing the class of 2019 off with our mere existence. Through it all, I have never seen pure support and positive chaotic energy like I have with this class. I know we are destined for greatness and I am over excited to see what we become. But
this editorial wouldn’t be complete without a few shoutouts. I would first, above all, give a shoutout to my mom. My number one cheerleader. Although you may be scared, I promise, I will be fine in DC. My next shoutout goes to Mrs. Wright-Udoh, who took me to school almost everyday -- making my attendance at HI possible. I am not sure you will ever know how much those early morning naps meant to me. To my friends (you know who you are, if I named you all it would undoubtedly start a fight), thank you for being by my side, through my ugliest and my best. There is no me without y’all. Speaking of my ugliest, shoutout to Mrs. Cruce for getting me throughout all of high school. I literally wouldn’t have made it here without you. To Mrs. Elms, my second mom, thank you for investing in me. It’s going to be heart wrenching to never walk into another Journ class and hear, “hey, you guys!” And other special teachers include Mr. Jayaraj and Mr. Bevington for leading our weird and wacky homeroom; Dr. K for making Latin even more special to me (Gratias tibi ago); to Mrs. Reiss for teaching the only math class I will probably ever enjoy, Mr. Boltri for teaching the only science class I will probably ever enjoy; to Mr. Lewis for dealing with all of my questions during APUSH and being all around awesomesauce, Mrs. Rowe for being the best dean ever, Mr. Yarsawich and Mr. Vincent for being simply the best and endowing me with the most wisdom out of all my teachers. If I continued, this piece would be as long as Jane Eyre (I’m looking at you Dr. Swann). But if you ever taught me or tutored me, just know I am infinitely grateful for the ways in which you have molded my mind. We could have never expected it to end this way, but it is. And there’s nothing we can do about it. Corona may take away our classes, transform our school into Khan Academy. But it can never take away the memories. So to the school that has tested me, loved me, and helped me grow, I say good bye. Through it all, best and worst, I know, deep in my heart, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. █
42 | OPINION
1.
Give school your all from the beginning to the end. One thing this pandemic has taught us is that you don’t always have the time you think you do. Don’t want until you are in your final stretch to start giving school your best. It is much easier to get ahead, than it is to play catch up. Whether it’s working hard to get your grade from an 89 to a 90, or staying up the extra half an hour to proof-read that essay, go the extra mile now.
2. omari foote associate editor 2 years as a C&G journalist
Friends come and go. When I was a freshman, I remember it like it was yesterday, I said to myself, “I wonder how many of us are going to still be friends when this is all over?”. I am here to tell you that many of us did not remain friends. During this time you are going to grow into a young adult. Differing opinions and interests, will cause some of your friendships to slowly drift. Don’t worry, it’s natural and as long as you handle it like the mature young adults that you are growing to be, everything will go smoothly. Trust me when I say, ghosting the other person because you don’t know how to deal with confrontation is NOT a good idea. But, starting unnecessary arguments over miniscule issues isn’t the best idea either. Some friendships will last, others will come just as quickly as they go. That is okay and you should not feel ashamed about friendships ending. The only thing that should worry you, should be the way you handle the friendship. If you handle it poorly, that will be what leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
3.
Don’t sit at home for four years. I am definitely an introvert. I prefer to sit home and spend time with myself, because I am one of the best people I know. However, I have had my moments where I stepped out of my shell and spent a wonderful time with other people. Fellow introverts, I am not saying that you have to attend every party, but I am saying that it won’t hurt to say yes to hanging with friends. You and I both know that your mom didn’t tell you no, you told you no. You never know, you may make some of your most unforgettable moments.
4.
I know I just told you to branch out and make moments, but it would only be right that I tell you not to force it either. It is always okay to chill. Not every event has to be attended. Not every assignment will be perfect. Not everybody on your story needs to see what you think is funny now. If you spend too much time trying to make a moment, you will miss all that is sitting right in front of you. Our generation is highly competitive, so I know that it is easy to constantly compare, but sometimes it’s best to give yourself a second to just breathe. This time goes by fast, so it won’t do you any good stressing yourself through it all.
5.
Lastly, be yourself. I know it is really cliche, but it’s true. This is a wonderful time. Take this time to learn things about yourself. Learn what makes you tick, what makes you smile, and what makes you want to do better everyday. Then learn all that you can about the people around you. Take challenges on with an open mind. There are some problems you can’t avoid, but highschool has a lot to do with how you make it. You are going to cry, you’re going to face pain, life will not always be easy. But, I urge you to push on, I promise you won’t regret it. You are worth living for, despite all that may be going wrong. █
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eader, here goes my second attempt at writing a senior editorial after realizing that my first was not fit for such an occasion. In this time of relative isolation, now seems the perfect opportunity to reflect and perhaps discover. In the habitual chaos of our lives that preceded this pandemic shutdown, one often has little time to reflect on their life, too concerned with the petty trivialities that define us. So, I’ll use this platform to call you to reflect on your own life. Ask yourself this: who are you familiar with that is truly connected to their feelings? Who knows precisely their desires and ambitions in this life? I would argue that very few people experience this form of self-awareness. To be so in tune with oneself is not narcissistic, it’s liberating, as it helps us navigate the turbulent waters of life with confidence and a steady heart. The needless distractions surrounding us prevent self-awareness, or perhaps we intentionally distract ourselves from the difficult conversations we wish to have. The point I wish to make is that because of our lack of reflection, we often enter into a line of work or profession that is unfulfilling. We perhaps enter into a job to make ends meet, soothing ourselves by claiming it is only temporary, only to wake years later and realize that a life has been wasted. We never thrive in the monotony of an unfulfilled life, rather we merely survive. And is that not what distinguishes our species from others? The ability to thrive and not just survive? We are given only one life on this Earth and I am confident that if we do not perform what we love – what we are passionate for – then we will regret our choices because if we save happiness for later, it may never come. The heart wants what the heart wants – there is no denial of this universal fact. Suppression of our innermost desires only translates to pain. At the cusp of a new experience – college – us seniors have limitless opportunities before us, just out of our reach, ripe for the taking. I urge that we must not restrict ourselves, rather, take risks, live in the moment and thrill of change. Be a soldier, not a refugee, of this moment. Grasp your life by the hilt and battle forward. Never fail to take the road less traveled because those who allow fear to dictate their motives are cowards held hostage by the unpredictability of life. As a chemist would proclaim, “Experiment!”
L.M. Montgomery wrote in Anne of Green Gables, “Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive – it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination then, would there?” The universe is cleverly infinite, allowing humans to indefinitely discover themselves and their world. Biologist Richard Dawkins erroneously declared in The Blind Watchmaker, “[Our existence] once presented the greatest of mysteries [but] it is a mystery no longer, because it is solved.” Such a pessimistic view of the world is never helpful, for humans were built to enjoy mental stimulus. Thankfully, I argue that Dawkins’ argument is not of sound logic because here we stand, nearly three decades later, still discovering, still growing. Reader, take this time of isolation, and reflect. Are you living a life of fulfillment, or do you survive, day by day? There’s a reason we question young children about “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Certainly, we do this to inspire them, to deepen their passions. Their fascination is not a symptom of naivety, rather, it is evidence of a fire burning brightly within their being. As adults (or near-adults), that fire has not been smothered by the drudgery of life. It is merely obscured from view. Cormac McCarth wrote in The Road, in all of us, we must “keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.” If after reflection you find yourself trapped in the monotony of life, remember, roses do bloom again. Flowers are not characterized by their ephemeral charm but their relentless and reoccurring beauty. It is never too late to reflect, discover, and thrive. Change is a constant of our lives, and with tenacity, anything is possible. Rediscover that long-lost passion of yours and dig it up. Dust it off. Dreams don’t often come true. Wouldn’t it be nice if they did? █
matthew raeside co-editor-in-chief 3 years as a C&G journalist
44 | OPINION
A
couple weeks before corona-cation started senior advisories were asked to come up with 60 things everyone should do at Holy Innocents’ before they graduate. They ranged from silly to serious and were a mixture of things we had done and things we were planning to do in the 9 weeks before we graduated. 9 weeks. 9 weeks isn’t that much time, but to the class of 2020 it was everything. It was senior sports seasons, final performances, special chapels, lunches, and a myriad of other senior activities. 9 weeks of complaining about little things or wondering how many diseases resided in the couches in the senior commons. 9 weeks of senior pranks, college celebrations, and memories. 9 weeks of doing things for the first and last time.
lucy brumbaugh 4 years at HIES
Unfortunately, we didn’t get those 9 weeks. They were taken away by an act of God, an unforeseeable circumstance, and it hurt. It still hurts. It hurts how every other class will get those 9 weeks (God, I hope every other class gets those 9 weeks). It hurts that we worked so hard for so many years and the best part of high school didn’t happen. We feel cheated, disappointed, angry, and sad. Some of us have chosen to embrace the hurt. Others have buried it. No one can really pass judgement because no one else’s senior year has been cancelled due to a worldwide pandemic caused by someone eating a bat. How people grieve is a no judge zone. For me, I embraced the hurt. I cried. I lost myself in the “life’s not fair” and “why me” thoughts. I love high school and was so excited for the last 9 weeks; from the fun activities planned for us to the fun activities I got to help plan, I was ready to give everything the special class of 2020 twist. I grieved those activities, I grieved time with my friends, and I grieved time with my teachers. I wasn’t ready for my time at Holy Innocents’ to be over, but I didn’t have a choice. The thing is, although we haven’t been in person, Holy Innocents’ has continued to celebrate us. Although things have changed, the senior class has not been forgotten and the school has not simply moved on. That made me realize that I wasn’t just grieving because I was scared of the change that came with transitioning to college, or sad that I lost time I thought I had, I was grieving how happy Holy Innocents’ has made me. I would get to school at 7:40 not just to beat the traffic, but so I would have extra time to spend with
my favorite people. I would go into my teachers’ classrooms after school more to chat than for extra help. I normally was at school at least a couple weekend days a month because there was honestly no place I would rather be. Holy Innocents’ has always loved me and I loved it right back. But our time together got cut short, and while I will always be a Golden Bear, I have to move on to another stage of my life. I don’t know exactly what is going to happen to those 60 things that the senior class came up with 9 weeks ago, but here are my most important 4, one for each year in the best upper school ever. Get involved. Join a couple clubs. Run for Student Council or honor council, the worst thing that can happen is that you lose. Pop into a hootenanny or Donuts and Devos every once in a while. You’ll meet some of the best people that you wouldn’t know otherwise. Don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself. Earlier this year, I dressed up as a hotdog and MC’d a pep rally. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made and one of the most fun things I have done at Holy Innocents’. I know it’s easier said than done to not be afraid to embarrass yourself, and I was DEFINITELY nervous, but if I had let my fear control me, I would have missed out on a great opportunity. Ask people how they are doing and actually listen to their response. You will make a new friend, have a great conversation, and probably brighten their day. Act in a way that will get you a shout out in Coach Dunn’s sermon. Coach Dunn is everywhere, and although he loves each and every one of us, he knows exactly what is going on in the upper school. In his sermons, which usually happen twice a year, he talks about love and happiness and tends to give examples of upper school students who exude those qualities. Try to be one of those students. Hearing him say your name from the podium is one of the best experiences ever. █
THE C&G | 45
M
usic has been a part of human culture and development throughout the course of history, it is a factor of life that changes and grows the same way we do; music tells the story of our lives and our advancements in this world. Each generation has their own way of compiling their stories, for the 1960s it was records, for the 90s it was mixtapes and for the 2000s it has been playlist after playlist. Everyone has their favorite song, the one that makes them want to kick of their shows and dance around the house singing at the top of their lungs and everyone has their least favorite song, the one their skip when it comes on or causes them to flinch when their hear the opening notes. Memories work the same way, we have so many in our heads all compartmentalized under different names and categories, Lunches with Friends, Funny Memes and Jokes, Dog Stuff, Lyric Videos, that’s why we relate memories to music. Each one of us has our own personal memories and experiences that we can recall or “play” whenever we want, but we have to know how to take the good with the bad and ugly. I’m saying all of this because we are all trying to get through the audibly, emotionally, mentally challenging playlist that is 2020, desperately pressing the skip button to get through this terrible mashup of everyone’s least favorite genre of music. The year started off well, good background vocals, nice beat, promising lyrics, but began to sound like nails on a chalkboard combined with Styrofoam being rubbed together and quite frankly we’ve all had enough. However, as much as you may hate this song, I ask you to pause and listen. Although we may not like the circumstances, this quarantine may have been exactly what the world needed to restart. We’ve all been on fast-forward though our lives, so we never get a chance to stop and smell the roses, or rather listen to the music. I encourage you to take this time to pause and reflect on what is going on in the world around you, think about your
relationships, goals, dreams, anything that doesn’t involve the anxiety of what is currently happening. Yes, everything right now is frightening, but I urge you to not let the anxious control your life, now is not the time to cower, it’s the time to come together to make a change in our lives. Now is the time to listen to the background vocals of your life who have been telling you to take a break, to try a new hobby, to try and be the best version of you there is; I’m not saying that you need to be trying to cure cancer or end world hunger, I’m talking about just making a cup of coffee and taking a mental break on the couch, just take the time to reset. I understand the soundtrack of 2020 so far has been dark and foreboding, and it feels like we have no control over the situation, but you have to remember that we are all in control of our own lives. We are the ones who press play, pause, and rewind on our lives, we have the power to write our own song lyrics and to make our own music. I ask you to not dwell on the grim tones playing in the background, but instead play something happy; make memories with your family, dance and sing, sleep ‘till four in the afternoon, do whatever makes you happy and turn that into the soundtrack of your life. Life is like a playlist, there are songs and events we dislike, but there will always be the songs that make us grin from ear to ear with joy, I ask you to listen to those and turn them into wonderful memories. █
asia harris 4 years at HIES
46 | OPINION
I
’m going to be pretty vulnerable here: for my entire life, I’ve been terrified of being average. In elementary and middle school, I was always deemed one of the “the smart kids,” though I hardly ever felt like one. You would’ve thought that comparing myself to others was one of my biggest hobbies, I did it so much. “God, why couldn’t I get a 100?” “Why couldn’t I have made that insightful comment?” and so on and so forth. Like many other kids who aimed to get the best grades, I was a staunch perfectionist; so much so, that I would beat myself up every time I failed to get a perfect score on an assignment or test. Nothing was good enough for me. Scored well on a project? It was easy anyways. Received an award? It must have been favoritism. It was miserable, and suffering from severe test anxiety only hindered my ability to salvage the iota of self-worth I needed to keep myself somewhat sane. I felt that I was stupid, and thus, completely worthless.
nubia udoh 4 years at HIES
Even in my years at HIES, I have struggled with extreme perfectionism. I remember my sophomore year was when I had my first significant encounter with academic “failure” (or what I thought to be failure at the time). Determined to overcome my math anxiety in an effort to prepare myself for my dream career in physics and astronomy, I decided to take Geometry Honors. I did everything I thought I needed to do to perform well; I did all of my homework, studied for quizzes and tests, and sought help when I needed it. However, I still managed to struggle in the class, and I was devastated-- I had never struggled in a class before. That year was hard for me because I felt like I was an idiot, and suffering from severe depression didn’t help. I asked myself: “What kind of astrophysicist struggles in a Geometry class?” That year, I got my first B in an academic class. As I typed that last sentence, my mind was just screaming: “And what of it?” I’ve moved past thinking that perfection is success. I’m here to tell you that being smart isn’t what makes you a good person or a valuable adjunct of society. And making good grades isn’t what makes you smart. Of course, school makes it hard to believe this; as making good grades could determine what opportunities you’re afforded, or how capable others think you are of achieving great things (how smart you are). However, this is just society’s way of satisfying its obsession of categorizing people into quasi-manageable boxes, which happens to be, unsurprisingly enough, complete bullshit. This perfectionist model that lots of us impose upon ourselves and others reinforces the myth that
everyone takes to schooling the same way, or has the same chances to attain the same quality of schooling. Don’t make the same mistake that I did and obsess over fulfilling some flimsy philosophy about what intelligence is. The reason I was never good enough for myself was because there was always someone who made better grades than me or who I thought was more talented than I was. This will almost always be true for everyone, so there’s no point in striving to be perfect; it’s a moot point and you will drive yourself insane in the process. Smart does not always equal good, and it makes sense; it takes an intelligent person to be as cold, calculating, and manipulative as some of history’s cruelest figures. Intelligence is something you’ll find that’s way more fluid than society makes it out to be. No, you don’t have to be a math whiz or a programmer to be smart. Lots of people have genius that can’t be circumscribed by academic limits. For example, resolving a conflict with quick wits and tact, lacing words together in writing that describe profound ideas, and finding humor in the bleakest of situations. Nonetheless, during my sophomore year, while I was receiving help for my depression, I learned that being smart or being the best isn’t the only, or the most important, part of being a successful and influential human being. Traits like creativity, compassion, and empathy are essential ingredients, even more so than intelligence, to becoming a successful and happy person. Being the smartest or best at something pales in comparison to being satisfied and happy; and if you don’t believe me, it doesn’t take wits or (much) skill to make friends, love yourself and others, and develop a positive paradigm for your life that flouts misery and perfectionism. So, the gist, if you didn’t feel like reading all the way through, is that life is more than trying to get the best grades, get the most awards, and be the smartest person in the room. You are more than your accolades. Reject perfectionism, explore what makes you special, and strive to be a more wholesome, happy person! █
THE C&G | 47
M
y time at HIES has been amazing. The past 15 years have been better than I could have ever imagined. It is hard to pin down my favorite thing about Holy Innocents. I have loved all my years at HIES, but my favorite times were in high school. Freshmen year I slept at school for a night with the BBQ club. We cooked out all night, slept in the freshmen hallways, and then got up the next morning and served BBQ all day. I also started dressing up as HIGBY Freshmen year and have countless memories from that. Junior year I got the chance to help plan Holy Innocent’s first ever Silent Disco. The end of junior year I got chosen to be co-head of our schools Activities Committee. I have had to most amazing time being on student council this year and spending countless hours planning events for the school. I got to help plan our first ever homecoming parade this year and be a part of the schools 60th anniversary celebration. It is weird because I remember celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary when I was in second grade on grandparent’s day. It’s crazy how fast time has flown by. The school means so much to me, and it’s not only because all of our fun events. It’s the people you pass in the hallway. It is seeing Dunn in carpool every morning no matter the weather. It’s the smile on the campus shop ladies when you walk in for a chicken biscuit. It is walking through Groesbeck during lunch on a Friday and hearing the Hootenanny from down the hall. It’s seeing Ms. Shunarah’s smiling face when you are going to check out early. It’s seeing Mr. Cornwell walk into you class to sub. It’s watching Jareij (I know I spelled it wrong) dance during a pep rally. Its hearing Weir on the morning announcements talking about ice cream novelties. Its officer green
smiling at you in the hallways. Its Ms. Rowe telling you to be quite in chapel. Its Willie giving you a fist bump in the hallway. It is about always having someone to chat with in the hallways whether if it’s a teacher or a student. Holy Innocent’s has one of the best communities, and that is what makes it so special. From the students, to the teachers, and to all the other faculty members. We even have the best sage dining staff. Holy Innocents isn’t the best because of its soggy hallways, or amazing tests. It’s the best because of the people who are inside. As a senior this year, I saw this more than ever. Having spring semester of senior year online wasn’t ideal. However, the senior class didn’t have to go through it alone. We had the college counselors making an Instagram for us, we had student council and faculty members put together a farewell video for us, and we even had a final lap drive through planned for you. None of this would have happened without this amazing community, and without our wonderful dean of course. The zoom classrooms haven’t been ideal, but everyone has made the best out of the situation. I am not ready to let go of Holy Innocents yet and I don’t think I ever will. All I have to say now is, HI till I die. █
jean williams alpha omega
20
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