THE PANTHER PRESS The Voice of Career High School

November 2017 New Haven, CT careerpantherpress.weebly.com

Ceremony Celebrates Mr. Heller’s Legacy

Henry Smith IV

(Left: Reyes speaks at Mr. Heller’s memorial ceremony. Right: Members of Mr. Heller’s family attend the gym
dedication. (Photos/Henry Smith)
On Friday November 3rd, senior Azhaleia Reyes held an impactful and very emotional ceremony celebrating
the life of Hill Regional Career’s former volleyball coach and business teacher, Jon Heller. Family and friends
alike came to support and speak about their memories and experiences with beloved husband, father, teacher,
coach, and friend, Mr. Heller. The event began with a memorial celebration with speakers in the library before
moving to the gym, where a dedication ceremony took place for the gym to be officially renamed the Jonathan
Heller Gymnasium. The event finished with a “Hellerbration” celebration in the cafeteria.

One of those speakers at the ceremony, business teacher Lisa Bryson, said, “ Mr. Heller and I worked together
the whole time he worked here, I started few years before him, and because we were both business teachers,
we spent a lot of time together at department meetings and just helping each other out. I was even here when
he student taught...We were close colleagues and friends.”

It was a student who speared the event celebrating Mr. Heller’s memory. What started off as Azhaleia Reyes’
Capstone project turned into an event that will be remembered for many years to come and will go down in
Career history. This event was a perfect way to not only remember Mr. Heller, but also to support the students
he inspired. Azhaleia, one of Mr. Heller’s students and players on the volleyball team, said, “Jonathan Heller,
before being my volleyball coach, was my business teacher. He introduced me to marketing class and the mar-
keting concept, and then from there we became really close friends.”
Story continues on page 3 (Mr. Heller’s Legacy, Continued)
1
Puerto Rico Needs Help
Jordin Evans

Throughout the months of September and October this year, Puerto

Rico has been struggling due to the catastrophic Hurricane Ma-
ria. Homes and personal businesses have been destroyed, leaving peo-
ple with no food supplies, electricity shortages, and no income. Many
people in other countries have been doing everything they can do to
help, such as donating food, medicines, cots, baby supplies, towels,
soap, cases of water, etc. Since the horrific storm Maria hit, the island
is slowly prospering again, and everyone there is trying to get back on
their feet. Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital San
Juan, believes that the community needs to get up and become in-
volved in the help of making the once beautiful island beautiful again from the tragic (Photo/The Atlantic)
damages created by the recent storms. In an interview with Rachel Maddow, Cruz said, “The
red tape needs to be ripped off as if it were a band aid. There are boots on the ground...but those boots need to
start walking.”

Some people in Career have connections to Puerto Rico. Ms. Rodriguez, a Spanish teacher, recently spoke
about the tragedy. Rodriguez’s mother and other family members experienced the storm. Thankfully, they and
their homes and personal belongings weren't affected physically, but they did lose electricity and water supply.
Another Career teacher, Mrs. Quiñones, organized a supply drive with donation boxes at Career, allowing stu-
dents to donate supplies that are much needed in Puerto Rico.

Everyone in Career can agree that Hurricane Maria was a tragic storm, and as we think of Thanksgiving, we
should think of those who need our help. We would all like to see Puerto Rico’s beautiful features again.

The Panther Press: The Voice of Career High School

The Panther Press is a squad of students dedicated to getting the truth out to the public. We are determined to
give the people of Hill Regional Career High School a respectful voice.
2017-2018 Staff Writers:
Beatriz Cartagena Ronnie Echevarria Jordin Evans
Edilzar Mazariegos Solomon Bailey Gabby McWilliams Jon Melendez
Tajah Menafee Marlon Myers Jordan Nieves Yaira Roman
Alexandra Rosario Thais Saucedo Jadyn Sledge Henry Smith IV
Christian Soarez Carlos Tafoya Anthony Troche
Melanie Velez Josh Wallace Sidem Yilmaz
November Contributing Writers
Gabby Soriano Tywain Harris Maria Rodriguez
Faculty Advisor: Ms. Murphy
Visit us online at careerpantherpress.weebly.com. Contact us at careerpantherpress@gmail.com

2
Mr. Heller’s Legacy, Continued

(Continued from Page 1) At first the thinking of this event was a very indecisive process, but eventually Reyes
found the best way to honor Heller.” I thought of naming the school store after him, which he started, I thought
of doing other big events and nothing really seemed meaningful enough to me. His heart and soul was in the
gym, I thought that the gym would be the perfect place to name and be in his honor.”

The process had many steps involved and took a lot of planning. “ I had to of course generate the idea and the
proposal of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, how much money was going to be involved in doing
this, and I had to generate this to the principal at first,” said Reyes. “She [Dr. Parrish] then told me to speak to
the athletic director and the facilitator and get approval from them.” But the process didn’t end there, said
Reyes. “The athletic director told me that I had to speak to the superintendent. I scheduled meetings with the
superintendent, and he told me okay we’re going to get this done...Next I sat and spoke with a couple of board
members from the Board of Education.. The process, of course, took way longer than me just sitting down and
speaking with them personally. Lots of emails were exchanged, phone numbers, conversations, [and] fundrais-
ing in the process to be able to just buy the letters. Now having the ceremony, that also was a part of the budg-
eting.”

It was all worth it in the end, with the ceremony filled with heartwarming speeches by many of Mr. Heller’s
closest peers and comrades. Trivia, food, and even a cheer dedicated to his name by the cheer team brought the
event to a close. With the event coming to its conclusion, Cheryl Heller (Mr. Heller’s wife) said that “it was
amazing, everybody of course had such nice words to say about Heller, which I would expect nothing less. It
was amazing, so emotional. I think that for me and for Gracie, his daughter, to know that his legacy will live
on and on and on, seeing not just his plaque but seeing those words up there above the gymnasium, makes me
feel comforted and that he is not forgotten.”

Before the event was fully over, Reyes said that “the whole day was special, just having all his family here, his
daughter, his wife, and all his other family members as well really unified this moment.”

The dedication of the gym will be a reminder of Mr. Heller’s legacy, said Reyes. “People will question, who is
Jonathan Heller? What did Jonathan Heller contribute to the school? And I can just say that it will bring curi-
osity and people will speak of him on a daily basis. It will continue to be something that, in this school, lives
on.”

3
Career Senior Teaches Meditation
Ronnie Echevarria

On Tuesday, November 14th, Dyuthi

Mathews, a Career High School sen-
ior, gathered five Career students
(and one college student) into the
school library after class and conduct-
ed her Capstone project: a seminar on
meditation.

“I had heard people talking about

how meditation helped relieve their
stress and calm them down and I
wanted to experience whether it
would work for me,” said Dyuthi
when asked why she chose medita-
tion for a Capstone subject. The med- Mathews leads a meditation circle in the library.
itation session consisted of breathing exercises, (Photo/Ronnie Echevarria)
visualization techniques to help ground people to
their surroundings, ten minutes of guided meditation, culminating in unguided meditation.

Dyuthi’s goal that day—and her goal overall—is to spread awareness and mainstream use of meditation and
it’s curative methods.

Dyuthi claims the various meditation techniques she presented as stress-relieving and calming. “I didn’t even
realize how stressed I was until I went to a class and I realized that was the most relaxed I had been in
months,” Dyuthi expressed. “It helps relax me and helps me take a breather every so often.”

While a whole ten minutes of silence and introspection may seem insurmountable or droll, Dyuthi conveys
otherwise. During meditation, the mind wanders, and one can rediscover old memories. “There’s this tech-
nique called resourcing which is when you think back to a memory or comforting place. While I was doing
that, I started to remember things I thought I forgot from when I was little in India with family.”

Dyuthi also expresses that meditation helps with one’s daily life. “Lately, it helps me manage my day. By tak-
ing a breather, I have a moment of calm to determine what I’m going to do for the rest of the day.” Dyuthi
wants the people of Career High School to know that meditation “is simple and easy. It’s not about the tech-
nique, it’s about setting time aside for yourself and it really may actually work for you.”

What’s Your Favorite Thanksgiving Food?

Yaira Roman

“Turkey, cornbread, and macaroni & cheese.” -Senior Henry Smith

“Mashed potatoes.” -Junior José Yanes
“Turkey and Italian bread.” -Junior Jordan Nieves
“Mashed potatoes.” -Junior Lathda Chanthinith
“Mashed potatoes, tacos of cow tongue, and cactus.” -Sophomore
Arturo Muñoz

(Photo/4vector.com
4
Remembering Joanna Emily
Gabby Soriano

On October 31st, 2017, one of our beloved

sophomore classmates, Joanna Emily Salazar,
lamentably passed away, leaving Career heart-
broken. Joanna will be remembered for being a
cheerful and kind-hearted girl who deserved
nothing but the best. With a beautiful smile al-
ways on her face every day, it never occurred
to anyone that she was going through tough
times in her life. She always looked like the
happiest girl in the world; everyone loved her
cheerful vibes.

Towards the end of freshman year last year,

Joanna started to miss so much school. I no-
ticed it because she was never in my French
class anymore. It was apparent that something
serious was going on with her life.

This year, the start of sophomore year, as the

teachers took their attendances in their classes,
Joanna Salazar was never present. Later during
the year, I found out that she was never coming
back to school. Joanna was terribly sick; she had cancer. This was really unexpected and it made me really sad
to know that one of my friends was going through something that no human should ever go through. Some of
her closer friends started to visit her really often; her cancer was advanced and she didn't have much time left.

On Tuesday October 31st, Joanna passed away in the morning. It was a terrible shock for the entire school, for
no one knew that she had cancer all of this time. Even though it took a few days to process what had happened,
the Career student body and the staff supported her friends and family in every way that they could. A couple
of her friends and I started a few fundraisers selling chips and homemade purple ribbons. The color purple was
chosen because that was her favorite color. In addition to the purple ribbons, Career held a day in which the
students and staff wore purple to spread awareness of her cause.

It was astonishing to see how supportive the Career students and staff were at helping out. It touched our
hearts to realize that they really did care and were helping in every way that they could. The school ended up
raising a good amount of money alongside Joanna’s previous school, John S. Martinez.

Even though I really miss Joanna and wish for her to be here with us, it still doesn't feel like she's really gone.
Sometimes my mind still thinks that she’s going to walk into my French class, that she’ll bring us food and
we’ll have a small party between our French buddies just like the old times. I will never forget her generosity
with us. It makes us sad to know that her name is still in our French group chat like she’s still here. We will
never receive a text message from her anymore, but her name will be there for us to remember. In the same
way, we will never see her and hear her laugh anymore, for her body is no longer in this world, but her cheer-
ful spirit will forever remain with us in our hearts and in our memories forever to remember.

5
Provocation Between Trump, Kim Jong-un
Solomon Bailey

There's no question that there is tension between right now between North Korea and America, given the his-
tory we have and also and political climate at the moment. The tension started when the US took sides with
South Korea during the war with its opposing side (North Korea). July, 1953 was the time the cease fire hap-
pened, but the flame has been stoked recently. It is only being made worse as of a couple months ago when
Donald Trump started using offensive language and hate started being flung between Donald Trump and Kim
Jong-un on Twitter.

Things began escalating to threats of nuclear launch and destruction, with both leaders having an access to nu-
clear devices and North Korea working on Inter-Continental-Ballistic-Missiles. With weapons of mass de-
struction in the hands of the two leaders who are engaged in a juvenile name-calling match, it’s more than a bit
disheartening.

It's been a scary time for Americans,

especially those in the East Coast
near the White House, because
some people fear New York or the
White house being on a list of tar-
gets to be attacked by North Korea.

If there were to be an attack on

these locations, there would be im-
manent mass death, not to mention
the fallout that would affect the en-
tire East Coast and Midwest. As a
consequence, it's the tensions be-
tween the US and North Korea, and
especially the juvenile tensions be-
tween Trump and Kim Jong-un,
should be resolved quickly.

It’s Called THANKSgiving!

Jordin Evans

Thanksgiving has just passed, and most people celebrate the wonderful holiday. But here’s one thing that I no-
tice: people don’t really speak about what they’re thankful for.

 “I’m thankful for family, food, and blessings.” - Esther Cox

 “I am thankful for my children- my family overall as well, job, home, and being allowed to see another
day.” - Kenya Ezeanuna
 “Hmm, I’m thankful for my friends and family.” - Janeli Yepez
 “I’m thankful for education, family, friends, and food.” - Nidia Luis Moreno

Every person I asked talked about how thankful they are for friends and family. That’s the real meaning of
Thanksgiving.

6
Student Profile: Heaven Bradley
Marlon Q. Myers

Heaven Bradley, a senior at Career, is a young woman who is starting her dream career while she’s still in
high school. Heaven Bradley became interested in doing makeup when she was younger after watching her
grandmother putting on makeup. She decided she wanted to learn more about makeup, so Heaven did her re-
search and decided she wanted doing makeup to be a side job in
high school. Later, she found out that makeup is something she
wants to do past high school: she wants to make it a career. “In
high school, makeup became my passion and spark,” says Heav-
en.

Heaven started makeup after borrowing makeup from her grand-

mother when she was younger and tried on herself. As time went
on, Heaven learned more makeup techniques. In grades 7 and 8,
she learned to do lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara. From freshman
to sophomore year, Heaven started using highlighter, and senior
year she did concealer. After getting more serious about becom-
ing a makeup artist during her senior year, she learned even more
about the cosmetic business. “This year I started working with
another makeup artist and started learning how to do undertone,
skintone, sanitation, and customer courtesy-- for example, how
to talk to customers and making them comfortable to come back
to get makeup done.”

Heaven became really serious about cosmetics, so she created

her own brand, beatbymonroeee, and started expanding by mak-
ing business cards, a website, and social media accounts just for
her brand. Though Heaven is very self-motivated, other people
helped bring out her full potential and talent. “Jay Kemp saw the
potential in me, and the community also helped me want to put
myself and brand out there more.” Soon, Heaven started getting
booked by customers to do their makeup before pictures and Career student Briana Atkinson
events such as dances. models Heaven’s makeup skills.
(Contributed Photo)
Heaven is on her way to becoming a successful businesswoman,
but there still were challenges creating her brand. One challenge,
says Bradley, was overcoming criticism. “People made me scared to put myself and my brand out there. An-
other challenge was switching from the health to the business field [at Career].”

In the future, Heaven sees herself still doing makeup and following her passion. “I see myself owning my own
cosmetic line, giving back to my community, and helping the younger generation that is interested in
makeup.” Through the challenges Heaven faced she still came out stronger than ever and is continuing to have
a successful brand and business. With this dedication, she will overcome any future obstacles to follow her
passion.

7
College Bullying, Assault Leads to Arrest
Sidem Yilmaz

Brochu (left) was arrested for extended harassment of her roommate, Chennel Rowe (right).
(Photo/heavy.com)

Brianna Brochu, an 18-year-old white student at the University of Hartford, was arrested on November 1st for
third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace after an investigation began in October.
Brochu harassed her roommate, Chennel Rowe, trying to force her to leave the room. As stated in the New
York Times, Brochu was charged for bullying and intimidation due to reportedly “contaminating her room-
mate’s toothbrush, face lotion and other belongings.” Brochu confessed on an Instagram post later that month
and will not be returning to the University, though she remains out on bail.

The Panther Press (PP) interviewed Maria Silva (MS), clinical social worker for Yale New Haven Hospital,
about bullying and student relationships.

MS: “Obviously [bullying], it’s very wrong and it's very sad because bullying has a very long term effect on
people. It's almost the old emotional abuse which, back in the day, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but
words will last forever,’ and they really will. And the bullying is much more often emotional abuse that con-
tinues to go on and overlooked.”

PP: Have you seen adults overlooking students being bullied?

MS: “I think everyone has a different interpretation of what bullying is, and not everybody has the same defi-
nition of that, so sometimes I like to think that they overlook it because they don't know that that [bullying] is
really what is happening.”

8
PP: What do you think some of the definitions of bullying may be to some people?

MS: “Well you know, some people just call it name calling or singling people out, making fun of them or mak-
ing them not feel a part, excluding them from things. So bullying is not just a physical piece, like obviously
fighting or property destruction, but it's really a character destruction. These days, it's a lot more online than in
person, so you see a lot more cyber bullying going on. You know, when you upload fake images of people
calling them names, or exclude them from parties, exclude them from events, making them feel sad and worth-
less and a lot of the times suicidal. Adults don't realize the impact, the emotional piece of this on kids.”

PP: Do you think cyber bullying and physical bullying have different effects on the student or child?

MS: “I think cyber bullying might be worse because it can be seen by more people. Physical bullying; okay, so
if someone starts to fight or trips you in the hallway somewhere, who sees it? Maybe 5-10 kids walking by.
Now if someone recorded that and uploaded it online, how many people see that? Thousands, right? And then
that video gets shared. So now how does that kid tripped and laughed at feels? It's one thing being done in a
hallway of a school where only a few people see it. So, cyber bullying to me has much more detrimental affect.
It is much more hard to control because everyone has their cell phone out, everybody is recording everything.”

PP: If a student came to you about any type of bullying, how would you handle that situation?

MS: “By law, everything has to be reported to the school administration. If it's here in the school building it
has to be reported and there are protocols in place by the Board of Ed that they have to follow.”

If you-- or someone you know-- are being bullied or harassed, speak to Ms. Silva, your administrator, or a
trusted teacher or other adult at Career.

Making Beats, Making Music

Joshua Wallace

Many students at Career like to listen to different types of music, like rap, rock, and even country. Well, I listen to rap,
but I also create my own music. But I don’t add lyrics; I use a program to make beats. It’s a way of expressing myself.

One program I like to use is FL Studio. It’s one of the best programs out there. Many big-time producers use the program
such as Metro Boomin, Zaytoven and Cardo.

Some rappers produce their own beats. Rappers such as Chief Keef, Duwap Kaine and Kanye West all are involved in
production.

There are many ways to make beats. You can start off with any instrumental sound effects that you want. There are a lot.
As for me, I love to use the piano just because you can add bass to it and it will sound legendary--don’t forget your high
hats.

Timing can make the beat perfect; putting a lot of time into a beat can make it sound good. You might have to go back
into the beat and make a couple of edits, making sure everything is perfect and making sure it sounds professional. Beats
became popular around the 2000s, but there were different types of beats at that time. For example, you’ve got your drill,
then you’ve got your trap. Then you’ve got your “down South” beats which were crafted by 808 Mafia. He is a producer
who used to make beats for rappers who came from the South. Different states have different type of sounds and beats
themselves.

One Career student who enjoys making his own beats is junior Marquise Avery, who says, “what motivates me to make
music is myself! I challenge myself to think outside the box when making music.”

9
The Best Products for Natural Hair
Tajah Menafee

1. Shea Moisture - I use the shampoo, conditioner and the styling cream. The
Yucca & Plantain: Anti-Breakage Strengthening Conditioner is a great detan-
gler, reduces frizz, defines the curls, makes the hair feel very soft, is good for
wash n go’s, is very lightweight and it's very moisturizing.
The Shea Moisture website states the sulfate-free shampoo “gently cleanses hair
and scalp, removing impurities and product build-up. Smoothes hair cuticles to
reduce frizz and improve the appearance of split ends. Certified organic Shea
Butter, Plantain and Yucca combine in a strengthening formula that helps weak
hair resist breakage. Baobab Oil and Cilantro Extract help refresh and boost
shine.” The price for the Yucca and Plantain set is $21.98 for both the Shampoo
and Conditioner.
(Photo/istock)

2. Carol’s Daughter - The Black Vanilla Set: Leave In Conditioner is a lightweight mist spray that detangles,
refreshes, and restores dry brittle hair. Black Vanilla Set: Shampoo- Here’s a statement from the Carol’s
Daughter website. “When your hair has the right balance of moisture the rest just falls into place - manageabil-
ity, shine, softness - no matter how dry, dull or brittle the hair. So, fix it in an instant with help from this sul-
fate-free, color-safe shampoo that cleanses and restores your natural moisture without adding weight to your
hair. Aloe Leaf Juice hydrates your hair so it’s softer and more manageable, while Sweet Clover and Rose Ex-
tract give hair oodles of healthy shine.” The cost ranges from $11.00-$16.50.

3. Creme Of Nature: Argan Oil -Intensive Conditioning Treatment: The product is free of sulfate, moisturiz-
es damaged hair and gently cleans without any damaging moisturizing products. According to Creme of Na-
ture, This product helps to: “detangle, soften, and boost hair while optimizing the moisture balance of the hair
and scalp.” (

4. CURLS Blueberry Bliss: Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner restores damaged hair. It’s very
soft but very effective, it's not too thick or not too thin, it’s just right. The CURLS representative states that the
product “clinically proven to repair damaged hair, encourage hair growth, and prevent breakage.” The price for
the whole set is $164.00 and this includes the Blueberry Bliss Hair Wash, Hair Mask, Curl Moisturizer, Leave
in Conditioner, Coconut hair milk, Mint tea scalp treatment, Curl control jelly, Twist n Shout Cream, Curl con-
trol paste and Hair Growth Oil.

5. Jane Carter Solutions: Jane Carter Solutions has hair care products for different hair types such as Tightly
Coiled, Coiled, Curly, Wavy, Loose waves, and Wavy hair. On the website, they explain what you need to
know about your hair. They call frustrations about hair “hair challenges” and they also show products each
hair type would need .

10
Reflection: We Need Our Voices
Alexandra Rosario

Sometimes we don't quite realize how much power our voices contain, but imagine them uniting together and
creating colors as we speak while they cover our shadow-filled world, changing it into art. Voices aren't things
that are spoken, but expressed. Who would we be if we didn’t have a voice? Society will dismiss your voice,
completely changing you into someone you shouldn’t be. I, for one, have felt this way before; I spoke for
views that I knew were wrong but the criticism I received made me think I couldn’t express my own voice or
be my own light.

There were days I stood silent afraid of upsetting society. But simply watching from a window in complete
darkness-- what is that really doing? I was corrupted by the mistaken thought that I couldn’t be a hero. I had to
do something. I needed to make change. No more being afraid of society and its power to destroy me; I needed
to guide others to find their lights and their paths. What you may think of as a simple voice is really an open-
ing to something stronger, something we all need to find in our inner souls.

So forgive me, society, for trying to rise above you to start an amazing movement of voices. I used to wash off
my mask at the end of each day, feeling helpless. I made myself so blind to the world around me while staying
alone and awake in my own corner. Those were the days I lost touch with my own voice.

On the throne where society sits, it has tried to take control of me. Another enlightened voice saw my story
through my helpless eyes and spoke to me, told me to conquer my fears about expressing my true self. In my
opinion, if it wasn't for the person who empowered me, who awoke me, I wouldn't have the art that I consider
my voice to be contain today, I wouldn’t be here talking to you about how each individual needs their voice.

We each have a calling as to why we are in this world. The chapters in our lives contain paths to our futures.
You are reading my book, and in my chapter today I’m making my own change, awakening you, hoping to
show you that your voice is perfectly you. Once doing that I can truthfully complete the rest of my chapter in
the book of my voice. Be the start of a movement and mark your name on this world. Use your power…. Use
your voice. Be a hero.

A (Beauty) Standardized Society

Beatriz Cartagena

The definition of a standard person usually means someone who is “normal,” “usual,” or a “typical” person.
But what does being normal really mean? There are beauty standards in our society, and often, if women do
not reach that certain standard, they are seen or considered as a failure. Women feel as if they have to be skin-
ny, and that they have to wear makeup to cover their insecurities. Women are very often judged on their size,
how they look, what they wear, and how they choose to present or express themselves overall. Women think
they have to fit this idea of perfection and that they have to pretend to be a whole different person in order for
others to like them.

Girls shouldn’t have to walk out of their home and feel as if they don’t look good enough, or that there is
something wrong with the way they decided to dress. No female should feel like they can’t express themselves
how they want; everyone deserves to express themselves however they feel most comfortable. It’s called
“freedom of expression” for a reason. You shouldn’t act a certain way because someone is telling you to act
that way, or telling you how to be.

11
A lot of people classify someone as a beautiful girl or women by just their breast size and shape, how big their
butt is, how “perfect” their smile is, their style, their curves, and how they do their hair. You shouldn’t be de-
fined as someone who is beautiful because of the outside, because of your body. What happened to personali-
ties? What happened to bonds? What happened to the girls and the women that used bring each other up and
compliment each other instead of body shaming another girl or woman? Many of us girls have turned on each
other, when we are supposed to stick together and be all about girl power. We are supposed to show men that
we all feel comfortable in our own skin and that we encourage each other to love the way we are. We are sup-
posed to show them that we don’t care about their judgmental opinions, that we love ourselves and each other
just the way we are.

We girls and women need to learn how to accept our own flaws and insecurities. We need to learn how to ac-
cept ourselves. As my mom always said, “In order to love anyone, you have to love yourself first.” When we
do this, we’ll be able to build each other up in our journey to body acceptance-- free from the “standards” of
beauty society has forced upon us.

#Throwback: High School in Nigeria

Melanie Velez

This is the first installment in a series of articles in which reporter Melanie Velez interviews adults about their
own high school experiences.

Many people have had the opportunity

to experience high school New Haven s,
but in this new feature, we’ll be hearing
from a person who experienced high
school in a different time-- and even in a
different country.

Mrs. Ukah, a chemistry teacher at Ca-

reer, spoke about her own high school
experience. She went to a Catholic high
school in Nigeria which called Holy Ro-
sary College Uwani. Mrs. Ukah con- The gates of Ms. Ukah’s high school in Nigera. (Photo/
fesses that her high school years were hrcuwani.com)
“awesome” because she lived in a dorm and it
was an all-girls school. “I developed friends that have been very close to me since my high school years up till
now.”

Though Mrs. Ukah is now teaching in the United States, her years in Nigeria were very different, “The biggest
difference is the fact that Career is for [both] boys and girls. As a result, there are more different personalities
and there are different interests. In Nigeria, where I grew up, and in a Catholic high school, the instructions
were rigid and had to be followed. [During] my high school years, I had to do everything right--just like every
other student. But here, education comes with a lot of freedom. Some students tend to misuse that freedom and
then do what they are not supposed to do.”

Despite these differences, Mrs. Ukah enjoys teaching today’s students and watching them continue to grow
after they graduate.“I do love teaching high school in this generation...when I see students after they graduate
from high school, there is a big difference in the level of maturity and achievement. Some students who didn’t
make good use of their high school years usually confess, ‘I wish I had known,’ or ‘I wish I could come back
and talk to students who are in this school, tell them-- whatever you are being told in high school is real out-
side of high school.’”
12
Millennials Must Speak Up
Alexandria Rosario

“The millennial generation.” What does it really mean? Above all generations, millennials seem to be the ones
that are criticized the most. A lot of people define us as imbeciles because of the stereotypes our new genera-
tion carries.

At times, it doesn’t really seem that we millennials live up to our expectations. Baby Boomers (the generation
that is aging, born 1946-1964) claim we are to be the “new voices” of the world and that this generation specif-
ically is made to make a change. Yet with everything in the news, this generation is losing its hope.

According to PBS, about 40% of millennials seek out the news to learn more about the world. This means that
around 60% are not seeking out this information. This silences us. Some live in fear for their voices because of
our standardized society, which influences our lives and our opinions. These people aren't seen or even heard.
Why is this? Do millennials want to engage with the world around them? How do millennials view their own
generation?

Junior Maria Rodriguez says, “I dislike this generation and the word…’imbecile’ is definitely the way to de-
scribe us now.” Junior Melanie Velez says, “I consider myself [only] a somewhat ‘well-aware’ millennial, be-
cause of some the things that happen out in the world I don't really like paying attention to, because it saddens
me.”

Do we millennials really want change? Are we all aware of the situations surrounding us? Or do we just view
from windows that look out into the world and stay blind? If so, there’s a lot that needs to change. My fellow
millennials and I are willing to make it happen, but I need your voice—-we all need your voice. Stop being so
blind to the world around us and speak up—-we are the ones who must change the world.

Teacher of the Month: Mrs. Lavorgna

“She’s a great teacher and she cares about you passing her class
and getting the material she's teaching.”-Joshua Wallace

“I love her, she's so nice and always there for you and teaches in a
unique way.”-Beatriz Cartagena

“She’s a good teacher because she understands students needs and

she knows potential in student and helps us get to the next level.”-
Elijah Richardson

“She’s awesome!”-Aleece Myers

“She's the best teacher in the world, and also my favorite teacher”
-Marlon Myers

13
Opinion: Student and Staff Connections
Vital for Success
Ronnie Echevarria

“I think having someone you trust...everybody needs it,” says Amanda Mantegna of the senior class of Career
High School. I could not have said it any better. Connections with staff can make or break a student’s experi-
ence at Career. It seems nearly every other day I come across a peer in extreme distress over their connections
with staff. Personally, I think this might be the biggest social issue in Career. Positive connections between
staff and students are vital to a child’s success in the education system.

A teacher is supposed to be doing more than just enforcing rules and making sure information is memorized. A
meaningful bond (or at least a positive one) between the student and teacher is essential for a student to pros-
per. Career High School as a whole, all the way from administration to the average student, need to regard stu-
dent-staff connections with more gravity. In order to find out what other people at Career think about the im-
portance of substantial relations between both the authority and students of the school, I interviewed a student
and a teacher.

Mr. Brennan of Career High School’s history department says that “it’s important for any human being to have
people that they can trust. Adults hopefully provide more perspective; adults have lived through what teenag-
ers are living through, and if the teenager has an adult that they can trust, hopefully that just gives them a bet-
ter foundation to be bolder and be more assertive of what they want to do.” It’s true: when a child feels encour-
aged and supported by the adults in their life, they’re able to shoot for higher goals, give bigger obstacles a try,
and regard everything with a can-do attitude. That connection is crucial for students to be the best they can
possibly be.

Senior Mantegna explained that a lot of the time, students’ opinions, fears, and concerns are brushed over by
teachers. “Some teachers honestly don't want to hear it. They say that they’re preparing us for college and we
[...] have to learn to deal with things on our own.” While high school students in particular need to be taught
independence, a lack of human connection and decency is definitely not the image that comes to mind. Stu-
dents are human beings, and they will be adults soon-- but they’re not at the moment. At the moment, kids at
Career are just that: kids.

If staff would be more open to the emotions and needs of students, and students would try and open up more to
their teachers and administration, the connections between the two wouldn’t be so strained. Maybe this would
be the first step in the right direction of repairing and beginning the fundamental partnership that is so im-
portant to students at Career.

Want to see your name in print? Do you want to gain experience in

journalism?
Want to boost your resume?
Write for the Panther Press!
We need writers to help cover sports at Career, submit opinion articles, send in poetry and art, and anything
else you can think of.
Email careerpantherpress@gmail.com to get started.
14
Career Insight: Caitlin Bruni
Yaira Roman

Almost everyone has been to the nurse’s office at one point, but the person many of us never think about is the
unsung hero behind the desk: Nurse Caitlin Bruni.

Bruni loves her job as a school nurse at Hill Regional

Career High School. She states that “the kids keep me on
my toes, I really like how I can, even if it’s something
little like the kids needing a snack or just needing five
minutes to breathe, that I am able to help them and give
that to them, because I know that high school can be cha-
otic.”

Though she is passionate about her job, Nurse Bruni did

not originally go to school for nursing. She went to
school and got her Bachelor’s Degree in sociology. Bruni
did not really know what she wanted to do at first. She
thought of doing recreational therapy (therapy based on
engagement in activities), but at the time her grandmoth-
er had gotten really sick. That case made her decision
more clear in what she wanted to do as a career. Bruni
was inspired by the nurses she saw caring for her grand-
mother, stating that “my grandmother...was in the hospi-
tal for a while and when I would go and visit her, I saw
all the great things the nurses did and how much they im-
pacted her, wanting to help her in getting better.”

Every health care occupation has its difficulties. In this

case, Bruni’s hardest part of her job is identifying prob-
lems when students come in with something hurting but
they don't know what caused it. “ I think the hardest part
is when the kids come and say ‘oh, my legs hurts’ or something hurts and you ask them all the questions and
everything is ‘no I didn’t do this, I didn’t do that, nope, that’s not happening.’ So then you’re really at a loss
on what it can be. Not being able to always give a real answer is definitely the hardest part.”

If Bruni were to decide to work somewhere else, it would be in a hospital. She likes the idea of being able to
be involved in all parts of a patient’s care. “I think it would be cool to work in a hospital because it's more like
direct patient care; if somebody is in the hospital because they’re sick, you know you’re helping them to get
better and be able to go home”.

Our students need a committed nurse like Bruni, a nurse who works hard and does her absolute best to provide
us with help. It can be challenging to reach your professional goals, but you can overcome those obstacles and
turn them into a positive-- just like Bruni did when her grandmother got sick. She let her experience make her
decision more clear in what she wanted to do, and-- luckily for Career students-- that choice was to become a
registered nurse.

15
Opinion: Choose Your Own Future
Melanie Velez

There is always a time when someone in your life tells you

how to act or who to be, but my question to you is: are you
living your life the way you want to? Being at a young age,
many adults think we are too dense to guide our own lives
and choose what we love. In reality yes, some youths don’t
care about their futures or how they want to control their
lives, but many young adults are capable of choosing their
own paths.

One obstacle young people face is that often either their

parents or guardians deny it and choose for them. Parents often don’t let their children live the life they want to
because they feel as if they know what’s best for their children. In all honesty, this is sometimes true-- but this
can often prevent their children from experiencing the world and trying new things that are suitable for them.
Adults should help the youths figure out their future instead of holding them back from achieving it.

Another issue teens encounter is self-doubt. It leaves common questions like “Will I ever achieve this?” or “Is
it worth it?” While asking myself these questions repeatedly, I have learned that if I want to do what I have an
interest in, I have to try and get myself there instead of just hoping that I’ll make it. In order to get to the finish
line you have to trust in yourself, because no one can get you where you want to be. “You are your worst crit-
ic,” as one of my oldest friends has told me, so believe in yourself.

However, this is a two-way street. Teens must put effort into what they want their future to look like. You can-
not just simply wake up one day and think all that you want to do will be handed to you, a lot of dedication is
applied into these life styles. You can’t expect to be distracted or lazy all the time and suddenly have your
dreams come true. Junior Alexandra Rosario says, “Truthfully and honestly, I believe that teens don’t take
consideration for their futures. Teens are too busy on social media and worrying about the respect and fame
they gain from it rather than thinking about their career choices and education.” If I could leave you with one
piece of advice: you are your own anchor, you hold your own dreams.

Stopping Test Anxiety

Ronnie Echevarria

Test anxiety is a common struggle nearly every student will encounter at some point within their highschool
life. While the shaky hands and dread that come before a test may seem like insurmountable foes, the students
of Career High School have advice-- from us, for us. Here are what some Career seniors have to say about
conquering test anxiety:

“Remind yourself that this test will not define your life. 10 years down the line, you won’t remember.” -Dyuthi
Tharakan

“Focus on the questions at hand- not on the last song you listened to.” - Seth Dalmacio

“If you know you tried your best, that’s all that counts.” - Jiji Barrett

“Eat a big meal before the test.” - Samuel Rodriguez

16
Opinion: Dress Codes Target Girls Unfairly
Thais Saucedo

Most schools have dress codes, but these codes seem to especially stress over what girls choose to wear. Girls
are told that “we distract boys,” so we must dress in a way that doesn’t attract attention. Girls all over the
world are getting angry at how we girls are treated when it comes to dress codes.

In my opinion, dress codes limit the way you want to express yourself. I understand that some clothes may be
seen as “too much,” but it comes down to a personal choice. If that’s what someone wants to wear, then that’s
on them. We shouldn’t be criticized for what we wear. I take my clothing very seriously; I love picking out my
outfits every morning and being able to wear what I want. However, when that style is criticized, it can affect
the way I’m feeling.

Why should the rules be harder on girls? Shouldn’t we all be treated fairly? A girl from my school was asked,
“Where is the rest of your shirt?” just for wearing a shirt that was showing her shoulders. I feel like that’s very
rude and ignorant to say. I didn’t know showing shoulders was a bad thing. We shouldn’t be put in an uncom-
fortable situation with a question like that, which is only intended to shame a girl. Where’s the rest of my
shirt? It’s on my body. “Cover your shoulders” is not an issue of education or behavior, and it’s not something
we should have to hear from teachers or administrators.

Why shouldn’t girls get fed up about this? It’s a worldwide problem. Some girls are standing up to this situa-
tion by putting up signs in their school with important and empowering messages. I feel like it’s a good thing
that girls are standing up to this. We all have our own taste, style, and opinions about our clothes. I love that I
get to pick my clothes and wear what I want; it makes me feel good that I have that choice.

For some people, this isn’t an issue. Some people don’t care as much about clothes, and that’s fine. It’s a per-
sonal choice, but to me it’s a huge part of how I express myself. Nobody should be on students about their
clothes. High school students are old enough to know how to dress. It’s on them to learn how they want to
present themselves to others.

Opinion: Legalizing Marijuana Has Benefits

Jadyn Shaunnyce Sledge

When you hear the word “marijuana,” you might think of “Never Do Drugs” campaigns like DARE. However,
marijuana can have positive effects on your daily life. Most people think it's terribly bad, but it is less harmful
to the body than alcohol. Marijuana has been proven to help with medical problems. It can help with menstrual
cramps, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, lack of appetite, pain, and stress.

Marijuana has been has been effective for treating chronic pain for over thousands of years, without the harm-
ful side effects brought on by many prescription drugs. Marijuana has also been proven to calm the nerves. It
brings relaxation and decreases anxiety. It has the possibility of treating patients with seizures,. It also can treat
glaucoma. When marijuana is smoked by a patient with glaucoma, it lowers intraocular pressure to the eyeball.
It can actually be a source of relief for many health problems such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis,
Crohn’s disease, and more.

According to CBS News, 61% of Americans think Marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana is legalized in
nine states out of 50. In my opinion, legalizing weed will help society also. If it were legalized, it would reduce
harm. People wouldn’t get in trouble for having it on them, and it would reduce the number of people in legal
trouble. Legalizing marijuana would also increase jobs and promote economic opportunities.

17
Fashion Spotlight: Affordable Winter Style

Cozy Sweater Dress H&M Patterned H&M Cotton Twill H&M Sweatshirt with
Colors: White or Viscose Shirt Joggers Printed Design
Olive Green $12.99 $24.99 $24.99
$29.99, Venus.Com
—Sidem Yilmaz

Opinion: Dogs Over Cats

Jordin Evans

For years, there have been many debates about which animal makes a better pet: cats or dogs? Many people
have owned a cat or dog, either growing up with one, or purchasing one of their own in their adult life. In
my opinion, I think dogs are better. I say this because dogs make better companions, and will also make the
average person feel some type of happiness.

Dogs are easier to train. They love to work and get lots of exercise in. So when it comes to training, there is
no hassle. Dogs are easily motivated by treats, meaning that if you lure them into doing something like roll-
ing over or sitting down, they will do it for the treat they’ll soon receive afterwards. They may continue to
do the trick for more treats in return, or maybe just because they’re feeling a strong sense of pride.

Unlike dogs, cats are difficult to train. Most cats like to be left alone. If you try bothering them, you may get
scratched. It’s a known fact that cats who seem easier to train actually get tired of the training sessions after
a while and will walk away, or try to smack the treat out of your hand instead of earning it.

Dogs have way more potential. They have spirit, and will always find something to do with you. You may
see some blind people walk around with guide dogs for security and help. Guide dogs help blind people do
things, like cross the street or navigate situations and obstacles they normally would not be able to do on
their own. That’s just one kind of helping dog, but all dogs have a lot of potential. Dogs have been helping
people since they have been on earth.

18
Opinion: Gun Violence Needs a Solution
Christian Soarez

A suspect has been caught after two men and one woman were killed in a shooting at a Walmart in Thornton,
Colorado on November 2nd, police said. Recent shootings have caused an impact for everyone nationwide,
leaving families in distress and communities in fear.

These shootings are all too common across America. Connecticut has had its fair share of gun violence, nota-
bly Sandy Hook and the New Haven murder of Jericho Scott. A lot of people are becoming concerned of this
and wondering what should be done to fix this.

Firearms are overused in the communities of Connecticut; many teenagers are even getting ahold of such
weapons that should not be in their possession. If we can’t control every single person who has a gun, we have
to start by adding certain laws to prevent that in the future for most kids and young adults. In some ways, there
has been progress. The Hartford Courant reports that “there were 279 firearms deaths in Connecticut [in 1994]
and 170 in 2015, according to estimates from the Office of the State Medical Examiner — a decrease of slight-
ly more than 40 percent.” Though there has been a noticeable drop over the years in gun related crimes, there
is still a sickness in our country and in our state. Though Connecticut has the fifth lowest rate of gun deaths for
African-Americans, the leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 1-44 is firearm
homicide, reported by Connecticut Against Gun Violence. Clearly, something isn’t right and is corrupt within
the system.

These deaths will continue to rise if we don’t work on controlling the violence. Earlier this November, a mass
shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, took the lives of 26, excluding the perpetrator. Junior Franki Velasquez
said, “I know people who have been through [gun violence] and can’t recover. I feel like gun violence needs to
be controlled to prevent bad things happening in families. If a father dies, he leaves his kids behind without
him.”

These senseless deaths raise the question: shouldn’t we have more control over who has access to guns? “I
think we will have more control if people stand up against the fact and fight back against the issue,” says Ve-
lasquez. “People who have any criminal records that would make them having a gun suspicious should be de-
nied having one.”

Dear Freshmen: Advice from Seniors

Gabby McWilliams

“Don't fool around, always study, and be on time.” --Patrick Henri

“Do not take school as a joke, every year in high school counts.” --Imani Gonzalez
“Do not skip class.” --Tajah Menafee
“Keep track of your worth ethic.”--Henry Smith
“Take all years seriously, take advantage of sports teams we offer because you never know where they can
take you.”--Ky’Jae Hargrove
“Don't slack and manage your time wisely.”--Heaven Bradley
“Get to class on time, keep good attendance because it will catch up with you.” --Briana Atkinson
“Do not lower the effort you put in your work.” --DeAsia Ramos
“Be serious, and have fun” --Oliver Thomas
“Respect the teachers as you would want them to respect you.” --Kelsey Cariño

19
Opinion: New Superintendent, No New
Voices Heard
Beatriz Cartagena

The Board of Education recently made a decision to ap-

point a new superintendent for New Haven Public Schools,
electing Carol Birks. When this decision was made, many
parents and students were both frustrated and furious.
Many people in New Haven do not agree with Carol Birks
as the new superintendent; they do not agree with opinions
Carol Birks has about public schools.

Birks is a supporter of charter schools. She endorses taking

money from public funding to fund charter schools, which
are not true public schools. Charter schools (like Amistad/
Achievement First) are often privately run; they’re really
more like private schools, but they’re receiving public
funds. If Carol Birks is the new superintendent of New Ha-
ven Public Schools, why is she supporting charter schools
instead of supporting real public schools in our city? In a
lot of the parents’ and students’ opinions, Birks prefers
Career student Marc Gonzalez voices his opinion charter schools over public schools, and that is an act of
at the recent Board of Education meeting, shortly betrayal.
before Dr. Birks was appointed as the new NHPS
superintendent. (Photo/New Haven Independent) At the recent New Haven school board meeting, parents,
teachers, and students were voicing concerns regarding
Birks’ election. The video of the meeting was posted on WTNH.com. Parents were so upset that they started
protesting. Even students are getting involved, staging walkouts and protest as they stand up for their rights.

Career Junior Alexandra Rosario says that she does not agree with the decision that the Board of Education
made. She strongly feels as if Carol Birks is guilty of favoritism, and she also mentioned that she doesn’t un-
derstand why Birks would be the new superintendent of New Haven Public Schools if she is going to use pub-
lic money to fund charter schools. However, Rosario likes the fact that parents are getting involved, because it
shows that the parents of New Haven Public School students care.

Many students and members of the community feel as though the Board of Education should’ve listened to
what the parents thought and what they had to say about priorities for a new superintendent. If parents, teach-
ers, and students didn’t agree with electing Birks, then the Board should have taken their opinions into consid-
eration.

As a community, we’re all supposed to be on the same page. We’re supposed to listen to each other about deci-
sions like these, decisions that will affect most of us in the long run. You can’t expect people to help out in the
community if they can’t receive something in return, like their rights to talk about what they think and be lis-
tened to. As a community, we are all supposed to be working together, and discuss together what’s really right
for us. Kids First.

20
Call of Duty Tops Charts
Carlos Tafoya

This year’s Call of Duty release is probably one of the biggest

since 2015, when Call Of Duty Black Ops 3 made around $550
million dollars on launch day. This year, Call Of Duty WWII
made around $500 million dollars on release day. This is a
huge amount of money compared to other FPS games and it
brought the franchise back to the top.

Call of Duty: WWII is a victory for Activision. The past couple

of games have not been the greatest because of the movement
system, but the developers have finally removed it. This was
just a bump in the Call of Duty line. This shows that Call Of
Duty is one of the most well-made and best known first person shooting games; even if the game stumbles, it
could come back.

The best selling Call of Duty game is COD: Modern Warfare 3. According to statisticbrain.com, it made
around 31 million sales. This is the second highest sale for a FPS in the world, second to Halo 3. However, the
first and second Halo games have not made it past 9 million sales, and all together have made $5 billion dol-
lars. On the other hand, Call of Duty made $10 billion dollars. Although the main series of Call Of Duty has
not made many sales, it has continued to grow throughout the years. In my personal experience playing COD,
it’s a competitive but entertaining game, and even if I lose a match, it’s fun to play with friends.

Each time I play COD I feel like coming back, because the game always has new missions to accomplish to get
rewards for better gameplay. COD has perfected this system. There are only a handful of other franchises that
can compete with COD, and usually they only have a couple of good games that do well before their series
falls off, as was the case with Titanfall. True, COD has had obstacles, but the game eventually made a come-
back-- and not many games have done that.

Benefits to Gaming?
Jordan Nieves

Though gaming is often dubbed a worthless and a time-wasting hobby, there are many aspects of gaming that
hold benefits.

In childhood, most people are told that playing video games and sitting way too close to your TV would make
you go “blind.” However, studies conducted in 2009 by the University of Rochester showed that experienced
players who played Call of Duty were adapting to subtle changes in brightness in an image quickly. “Call of
Duty”also helps your eyesight by helping you analyze visual data and, looking for bad guys popping out of
nowhere which increases your instincts as well.

In February 2013, a scientist in Italy conducted a research group to test 7 to 13 year olds who were separated
into 2 groups. One group played a low-tempo game while the other played one with a faster pace. After play-
ing, the kids were tested by reading a few paragraphs. The group who played the fast-paced game read the par-
agraphs more quickly and accurately. It is suggested that action-packed fast-paced games can actually be use-
ful for kids who don't have a great attention span, which is a necessity for reading.

21
In August of 2013, British researchers put brain flexibility to the test and
tested 72 volunteers by putting them to play either The Sims or Starcraft
for 40 hours for a span of 6 to 8 weeks. They discovered that the volun-
teers who played “Starcraft” experienced more of a gain in performance
and were able to complete tasks more quickly and accurately than those
who played The Sims.

In my opinion, I do think that gaming is good for your health. From my

own experience and playing a lot of Call Of Duty, I’ve actually learned a
lot about WW1 and WW2. I learned about the conditions in the trenches
and how D-Day must have been from the perspective of an American
who survived. Gaming has also helped me with my stress, as I pretty
much play video games to as a relief from stressing over homework or
projects.

Though video gaming isn't so bad for your health, that doesn't mean that all games are great, and it definitely
doesn't mean you can just sit in front of your TV for 24 hours. There are still dangers to your physical and
mental health.

Gaming Systems: Xbox vs. Playstation

Yaira Roman

Xbox vs. Playstation: which system do you think is better?

The Xbox and the PS4 each two separate hardware versions that you can buy today. The Xbox has the Xbox
One S and Xbox One X. The PS4 has both a slim version and the 4k PS4 Pro.

The Xbox has improved its system to be even better than it was before. In their article for TechRadar maga-
zine, Matt Swider and Jon Porter state that “the Xbox one S has improved on the design of the original Xbox
One by cutting down a lot of the heft and removing the gigantic power brick which includes the 4K ultra-HD
Blu-ray player and can even upscale 1080p games to 4K.” The Xbox is much improved from its older version;
on the other hand, the PS4 does not include the 4K. In other words? The Xbox has a better system than the
PS4.

The Xbox has better graphics because of the 4K, which means the games will come out more clearly and run
better than they do on the PS4. Some of the best games that are sold exclusively on the Xbox would be Sunset
Overdrive, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, and Tomb Raider. These are
some of the games that are highly recommended and, in my opinion, worth your time. On the PS4 some of the
exclusive games that are sold would be Knack, Hardware: Rivals, Fluster Cluck, and God of War-- many of
which are not as good as the ones the Xbox sells.

In addition, the Xbox controller is different than the PS4 controller. The Xbox controller is easy to set up,
while the PS4 has a lot to handle. The Xbox has a heavier and a bigger controller that fits in your hand perfect-
ly, while the PS4 has a smaller controller which you have to grip well so that it won’t fall off your hands.

The Xbox is the better gaming system than the PS4. It sells better exclusives than the PS4, and even though it
sells in small quantities it’s bigger and better. Though the PS4 once seemed to be on top, the Xbox has risen to
its level.

22
 Sports @ Career
Accomplishments, Events, and Features

Boston Celtics are Back!

Joshua Wallace

The Boston Celtics have risen from their horrible 2013-2014 record. In 2013-2014,
their record was only 25-57 with the star player, Jeff Green, only putting up 16.9
points per game. Something had to be done. The following year, Boston came out
finishing with a 40-42 record. Boston had an upgrade to their roster, they added
player Isaiah Thomas who scored 19.0 Points per game outstanding.

In the 2015-2016 season, the Boston Celtics had a great season with their star
player scoring 22.2 points per game and 6.2 AST. They made the playoffs, but lost
to the Hawks in a 4-2 series. The next year was the best year Boston played, but
again failed in the playoffs. During 2016-2017, the Celtics entered the playoffs be-
ing the best team in the East, but sadly lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now, Boston has taken a turn over the summer of 2017, trading Isaiah Thomas to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving
and signing Gordon Hayward. Unfortunately, Hayward didn’t play the first game due to a tragic injury that
made people think that the Celtics were “over with”. But Kyrie made his team better along with some players
who stepped up their game, such as Jaylen Brown. Who scored 15.1 points per game. So you tell me-- what
do you think? Does Boston has a chance this year of taking the crown from Cleveland in the playoffs and mak-
ing it to the finals? We’ll have to see. GoooooGreennnnn!

NBA Standings: November (Week 6)

Western Conference Eastern Conference
1. Houston Rockets 15-4 1. Boston Celtics 18-3
2. Golden State Warriors 15-5 2. Detroit Pistons 12-6
3. San Antonio Spurs 12-7 3. Cleveland Cleveland 12-7
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 12-8 4. Toronto Raptors 12-7
5. Portland Trailblazers 12-8 5. Philadelphia 76ers 11-7
6. Denver Nuggets 11-8 6. Indiana Pacers 11-9
7. New Orleans Pelicans 11-9 7. Washington Wizards 10-9
8. Utah Jazz 9-11 8. Miami Heat 10-9
9. Los Angeles Lakers 8-11 9. New York Knicks 10-9
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-11 10. Milwaukee Bucks 9-9
11. Los Angeles Clippers 7-11 11. Charlotte Hornets 8-11
12. Memphis Grizzlies 7-12 12. Orlando Magic 8-12
13. Phoenix Suns 7-14 13. Brooklyn Nets 7-12
14. Sacramento Kings 5-14 14. Atlanta Hawks 4-16
15. Dallas Mavericks 5-15 15. Chicago Bulls 3-15

—Jonathan Melendez

23
FC Barcelona Leads La Liga
Edilzar Mazariegos

The best team in La Liga is FC Barcelona. They are even stronger than they were last year. So far, they have 9
wins and 0 losses-- that's even better than what Real Madrid are doing now. FC Barcelona are number 1 in La
Liga table with 31 points. In second place is Valencia with 27 points, and Real Madrid trails in third with 23
points.

Sophomore and Barca fan Oury Diane says,“Barca is the best team in the world...they know how to pass the
ball and know how to play with each other, and I mean their rivalry between Real Madrid is really interesting
and fun to watch. In this game, you never know who is the best and that's what I like the most about those ri-
valries.” Junior Madrid fan Jordan Nieves agrees, saying that Madrid’s “rivalry against Barca is an intense ri-
valry in football history.”

Cesar Castañon, a junior and another Barca fan, says simply that“FC Barcelona is the best team there is.” The
athletes are all “team players and not selfish. They share the ball and distribute it around… they play the game
how it should be played.”

Castañon also enjoys the rivalry with Madrid, saying, “I think their rivalry with Madrid is good because Ma-
drid is a statistically a better team, which means Barcelona has a rival who is very good and can keep them at a
very high level.”

Barcelona will face Madrid next on December 23.

NBA Highlights
Anthony Troche

Portland Trail Blazers Vs. Los Angeles Lakers: The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in
a heartbreaking defeat on November 3, 2017, followed by the injury of the Lakers starting five power forward,
Larry Nance Jr. Nance underwent an X-ray that revealed a fracture in his left hand. Damian Lillard was a star
in his own world Thursday night. Despite the Lakers coming back from an 18 point deficit, he was too much
for the Lakers to handle. He led the game in scoring with 32 points and 5 assists, also followed by a step-back
gamewinner over Brandon Ingram with 0.7 seconds left. The Trailblazers won the game 113-110.

Cavaliers: Bust for The Season? Ever since the biggest trade in the off-season took place between the Cavs and
the Boston Celtics involving two of the biggest point guards in the league, Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas, the
Cavs have been in the middle of a bumpy road. The team has lost their new star point guard, Isaiah Thomas,
due to a hip injury that was acquired during the beginning of the western conference finals. Thomas isn’t
scheduled to come back until the beginning of January. Ever since the start of the season, the Cavs haven’t
looked like their previous selves from the 2016-2017 season. A previous top western conference team is now
losing to teams like the Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and the Atlanta Hawks. Frustration from
the team has caused Dwayne Wade to call out the first unit for the Cavs saying, “It’s no secret in this locker
room, but our first unit, we need to start off better.” The team’s record is currently 5-6, getting ready to face
the Rockets on November 9th. They’ll have to bring their ‘A’ game to get this must-win.

Celtics Hot 14-0: After the Celtics terrible 0-2 start in the beginning of the season, there has been controversy
in the league regarding whether the Celtics were going to be a viable team heading into the rest of the season.
The team was not clicking until the game against the 76ers, which caused the spark of the 14-0 start. Kyrie has
gone out on a mission to prove that he can lead a pack of his own without his former teammate, LeBron James.
Kyrie Irving has been averaging 20.3PPG/5.3AST over the 14-0 winning streak.
24
Sports Spotlight: Coach Werth
Edilzar Mazariegos

Many students have had Mr. Werth for history or economics, but what
some don't know is that he also coaches the C-House (Career and
Hillhouse) soccer boys team.

Mr. Werth likes to play sports himself. When he played soccer, he

played as a goalkeeper. “I began playing when I was about 5 years
old, continued through high school and college, and currently play on
a few men’s league teams, when time permits.”

This love of soccer made Mr. Werth want to become a coach. “I start-
ed coaching soccer at Career three years ago, but I have coached youth
soccer at different levels for the past 6 years...Soccer has always been
a passion for me and I would love to continue to be involved in the
sport for as long as possible”.

Within the C-House team, Mr. Werth enjoys being the JV/assistant
coach. “As an assistant coach, I enjoy having the freedom and ability
to work with the younger players that are just on the cusp of realizing
their abilities,” says Mr. Werth. “I’m able to focus my attention on a
one on one basis and I feel that this allows me to individualize my
coaching. The best advice I can give to a JV player that is striving to make it onto the varsity roster is to re-
main dedicated.”

Mr. Werth believes in motivating players so they can give all they have to the game. “As a coach, most of my
focus centers on elevating my players to the next level. My coaching philosophy has always been to teach
teamwork, self-discipline, and self-improvement. In my opinion, these three qualities are what will better a
player both on and off the field. In the same regard, these qualities are also what a player must focus on in or-
der to propel themselves to the varsity level. It may not be something that will happen overnight, but if you
stay determined and give your all every day then you are the one that controls your future and how high you
will rise.”

Coach Werth feels that this year, the team improved drastically from last year. “Our team this year is some-
thing special. We have an incredible mixture of talent and dedication that doesn’t happen every year. The vet-
eran players have done a great job in taking on the responsibility of setting good examples for the younger
guys and this helps us mesh as a team. In my opinion, this is one of the best teams Career has seen in a long
time...Last year’s team took Career/Hillhouse to a new level. This year’s team has managed to surpass even
that. Hopefully we can continue this trend of improvement.”

Coach Werth also enjoys working with Coach G, Ms. Gawel. “She brings a dedication and knowledge to the
team that is necessary for us to achieve this level of success. She does so much for these guys behind the
scenes, and deserves a huge amount of credit for helping to grow this team into what we’ve become. I’m
proud to work alongside someone who exemplifies what it is to be a true leader.”

It is clear that Mr. Werth is a dedicated and enthusiastic coach, setting a great example for his players. And
who knows-- maybe there will be a new generation of Werths on the field someday. “It would be great if my
daughter wanted to play soccer. However, I would never push her into anything that she wasn’t passionate
about. I’ll be happy with whatever sports, activities, etc., that she chooses to pursue.”

25
Arts Corner

Featured Art: Tywain Harris, Senior

I Loved Myself More.

Within the years that I have stood Silent,

Afraid of my own words of wisdom,
It’s taught me to see the definition of inadequacy,
In the places it does not hold,
I will no longer swallow my tongue
To make you more comfortable.
I have left you to return to myself,
As I will always trust the moon,
She is far and always will be,
More human than you.

—A.R

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 “Beware,” Maria Rodriguez

Letting Go. “Chest Of Treasures”

I grab the rope, Your chest is empowering

Tightening it in any way I can, Your chest is beautiful
In the moment it’s silent, Your chest is strong
It’s just me and that rope, Let them see
The blisters that I see on my palms are red, They are yours
Paying no mind to the pain that's causing me to cry, They are not you
I still hold on to that one rope, Free the nipple
Figuring out a way to hold on tightly,
Suddenly all of these ropes grasp me,
Surrounding me,
Trapping my soul,
Holding onto me for dear life,
I yell stop!
In a blink of an eye,
The ropes are gone,
My palms are clean no longer red,
My tears are no longer running,
I am no longer held down,
I am no longer vulnerable,
Theses are lessons in life that teach you,
Sometimes letting go is the best option.

—A.R —Sidem Yilmaz

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Fun and Games
Crossword: Sports

Across
1. This sport is played with 11 players on a team with a ball that you kick
3. This sport is played with an orange ball that you dribble
4. This sport is played with a stick and a puck
7. This sport is similar to baseball
8. This sport is played with six people on a team and a ball that you hit across a net
9. This sport is played with a ball made of leather and cowhide
11. In this sport there are two people in a ring and they use a certain type of glove for the sport
12. This sport involves water

Down
2. This sport involves running long distance
5. This sport is played with a four bases in the shape of a diamond
6. This sport is played a huge field and with a small white ball
10. It is played with a net and one person on each side
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