devil’s advocatestanton college preparatory school

|devilsadvocatepaper.com

number 4 april 2016

One HourA look at how Stanton volunteers are changing Jacksonville and the world, one hour at a time.

at a Time

BY TRYSTAN LOUSTAU

april 2016 devil’s advocate | 3

volume xxxii number four

Zoë ReyesEditor-in-Chief

Editor’s LetterTo some, service hours are a burden

and the fact that they are mandated detracts from the value of the act. Shouldn’t volunteerism be voluntary and not compulsory? What good is helping when you are forced to do it, does it not strip away the integrity of the act? Despite these seemingly paradoxical standards, students still volunteer, not just to obtain the required hours, but because they truly want to better the world.

In this issue, we profile several students whose genuine acts of

for the teacher that best demonstrates the characteristics of a passionate and driven teacher, one who truly seeks to impact the lives of their students. This year Mr. Herbig and Mrs. Majova won, both of whom who have one the award in prior years.

We all sincerely hope you enjoy our fourth issue!

sailing and fencing. “Uncharted Territory” delves into the experiences students have as a result of their unique activities, sometimes getting to travel internationally because of their talents.

In Student Life, we chronicle the 22nd year of the Golden Apple Award and the 15th year of the Silver Star Award, a tradition that gives students the chance to nominate their favorite teacher and support staff administrator. The top nominees are then observed by our student officers. The officers vote

volunteerism reach not only the corners of the world, but far above typical volunteer activities. Students volunteer in hospitals, schools, homeless centers, they deliver vital health care, education and supplies necessary for survival. These students reveal the effects that volunteering has had on their lives.

In Sports, we profile students who do not participate in what are considered “traditional” sports. Instead, they’ve found passion in different aesthetics such as figure skating, ice-hockey,

Contributing Advocates: The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers and artists. Contact Editor-in-Chief Zoë Reyes at zoe.reyes@icloud.com or Technology and Media Editor Spencer Nachman at rosegate8@aol.comAds and Sponsorships: The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business. We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $35 (1/4 page), $60 (1/2 page), $75 (insert), $100 (full page b/w) or $150 (back page color). Contact Vanessa Han at vanessa.han21@gmail.com or Mr. Knight at knightl1@duvalschools.org

Adviser: Larry KnightEditor-in-Chief: Zoë ReyesManaging Editor: Vanessa HanLayout and Design Editor: Stewart GideonSenior Photography Editor: Amber WeitzelTechnology and Media Editor: Spencer NachmanFeatures Editor: Sarah PageOpinions Editor: Lily TehraniSports Editor: Hudson BackStudent Life Editor: Valerie StarksAssociate Media Editors: Shriya Gupta, Shruti Murali, Grace TrombleyReporters: Trystan Loustau. Walker Miller, Liam Ngo, Chisom UkohaPhotographers: Chloe Giroux, Mary Allison Kane, Maya Lee

Sports

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Please recycle this newspaper.

4 By Liam NgoUncharted Territory Highlighting some of Stanton’s student athletes who play for more than just a Varsity letter.

Photography7 By Mary Allison, Chloe Giroux, Maya Lee

Once Upon a Multi Stanton students express themselves through culture and the art of dance.

Student Life8 By Chisom UkohaLondon Calling: A Journey to Higher Education Senior Taylor Ogle discusses her hopes as she prepares to move to London.

Student Life9 By Walker MillerGolden Apple/Silver Star Stanton honors an outstanding teacher and faculty member through the Golden Apple and Silver Star awards.

Features10 By Trystan LoustauOne Hour at a Time A look into how Stanton’s volunteers are influencing not only Jacksonville, but people all around the world.

Opinions15 By the Editorial BoardEditorials Two editorials from the Devil’s Advocate Editorial Board and an editorial cartoon from Stanton artist Stewart Gideon.

Opinions16 By Meklit Daniel, Stewart Gideon, Christian Mortimer

Columns This issue features columns about self driving cars, reflections about Stanton and the loss of Multi’s focus.

Opinions17 By Wilhelm WillieThe Code to Success Senior Wilhelm Willie expresses how hispassion for computer programming has lead him down an exciting path.

Photography19 By Mary Allison, Chloe Giroux, Maya Lee

Flat Lays Capturing the essence of various activties through symbols.

devil’s advocateStanton College Preparatory School

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4 | devilsadvocatepaper.com vol. xxxii, no. 4

Sports

UNCHARTEDBy LIAM NGO, Sports Reporter

TERRITORY

WHEN STANDING in the rooting crowd of school pep rallies, Stanton College Preparatory School students look towards their athletic team captains in the middle of the gymnasium, offering praise to their peers. Many sports are represented: football, basketball, baseball, swimming, track. These are often sports most people think of in association with athletics. However, there are many people who attend Stanton who do not partake in these more easily recognizable sports, but rather play and compete in “unconventional sports.” These athletes work hard to perfect their skills, but often do not receive the same glory as their more popular counterparts, such as basketball or football. These are the athletes who play for the love of the game, not for the praise.

Highlighting some of Stanton College Preparatory School’s brightest—and often unrecognized—talent and their “unconventional” sports.

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Senior Johnny Fewell, commanding his vessel.

Freshman Georgia Klingensmith, third, and her martial arts group.

Junior Ariana Farid with her ice skates.

Senior Taylor Adams on her horse jumping a hurdle.

april 2016 devil’s advocate | 5

iiiiiWhen standing in the rooting crowd of school pep rallies, Stanton College Preparatory School students look towards their athletic team captains in the middle of the gymnasium, offering praise to their peers. Many sports are represented: football, basketball, baseball, swimming, track. These are often sports most people think of in association with typical athletic programs. However, there are many people who attend Stanton who do not partake in these more easily recognizable sports, but rather play and compete in “unconventional sports.” These athletes work hard to perfect their skills, but often do not receive the same glory as their more popular counterparts, such as basketball or football. These are the athletes who play for the love of the game, not for the praise.iiiiiThere are many unorthodox sports that Stanton students partake in, one being martial arts. martial arts has many competitions that draw people from local areas to compete in. These competitions have multiple different categories, including forms, weapons, and sparring, which is a head to head simulated fighting match. One of these outstanding Stanton students, freshman Georgia Klingensmith, has participated in martial arts for over 10 years.iiiii“I was first interested in training in martial arts because I heard of everybody doing soccer and basketball, but nobody doing karate,” said Klingensmith. “It seemed unique and I thought it would help make me stronger and more independent. It’s not a mainstream sport because nobody really goes around saying that they do karate, it’s more football and soccer.”iiiiiA myriad of sports have been played at a young age but not carried on into older ages. However, there are still a great amount of sports that children rarely approach. This does not mean they do not have appreciation for other sports, but they might not see them as a plausible ambition to take part in. Stanton senior Taylor Adams rides horseback, which is a fairly unique competitive sport.“I have been riding for 10, almost 11, years,” said Adams. “I have always loved horses, but I rode my first horse at a friend’s birthday party when I was about four-years-old. From that point on I was very interested in horses. When I was seven my parents finally let me take lessons, the rest is history.”iiiiiHorseback riding is similar to many sports in that it has competitions that give out awards for the riders. However, one of the biggest differences is the participants. The horses that participate in horseback riding clearly play a key role in the sport, as they have special bonds with the riders.iiiii“I think riding isn’t considered mainstream because it isn’t a sport that is ‘played’,” said Adams. “Being an equestrian isn’t all about beating another team or another rider, it is all about the relationship you have with your horse. ”iiiiiHorseback riders and other players in uncommon sports, are sometimes not considered athletes. This is usually because they are not associated with a common athletic standards, like throwing a ball or running 50 yards quickly. This however, does not make them not athletes.iiiii“I do consider myself an athlete,” said Adams. “Riding is not just sitting up on a horse and walking around in circles, it’s hard. There is a lot of knowledge and skill that goes into

DA: How long have you been playing your sport?AR: I’ve been fencing since August of 2014, so about a year and a half.

DA: What first interested you in this sport?AR: Watching the summer Olympics on television made fencing seem so sophisticated, but fun at the same time. I didn’t know anyone who actually fenced though, so it made it hard to get into the sport until I found out that there are many places that teach it.

DA: Why do you think fencing is not considered “mainstream”?AR: This isn’t a regular, “mainstream” sport probably because there is a stigma behind the weapons, but it really isn’t dangerous at all. Additionally, all the needed uniforms and equipment could be a barrier for some potential players.

DA: Have you ever played a more common sport?AR: “I was on a swim team for two years. I eventually quit, though, because I didn’t like being outside and I didn’t like the lack of human contact when it was just me in a swim lane. I found it kind of tedious.”

DA: Do you think fencing should be more common?AR: “I would love for fencing to be more common! Not only is it physically challenging, but mentally stimulating due to all the strategy work that gets put into a match, or “bout” as we call it. It’s a rewarding sport that anyone could benefit from.”

DA: Do you consider yourself an “athlete”? AR: “I’ve never really thought about it, but I guess I am an athlete. I put a lot of effort and time into fencing, and it seems to pay off. Fencing also helps in things like strength, precision, and balance, so it has helped me become more athletic.”

DA: Do you think fencing should be offered at school?AR: “It would be amazing for fencing to be offered at Stanton. I could see many people trying it because several of my friends have expressed interest in fencing. The only barrier would be to acquire the equipment and space to practice.”

DA: What would you tell people that are new to fencing?AR: “To all people first starting out in my sport, it may not be easy or fun at first, since you have to practice footwork and bladework a lot, as well as other drills, but it is so worth it. It is so rewarding to win a bout, as well as learn new techniques and make new friends.I’m still learning and improving too! We all are.”

it. If I make a mistake I could get my horse or myself hurt, so I always have to be aware of what I’m doing. It takes a lot of time and effort to be an equestrian, you really have to be devoted to it.”iiiiiWhile some sports may be more about the placements and competition, there are those that are more about the craft of the sport. Stanton junior Ariana Farid is a figure skater, a noteworthy feat due to the lack of facilities in Florida.iiiii“I started skating at a really young age, my mom put me in a bunch of sports to see which ones I liked and when it came down to it figure skating was the most fun,” said Farid. “I used to play tennis and swim.”iiiiiKeeping up playing three sports can be extremely difficult, so Farid had to choose one to stick with.iiiii“My mom asked me at one point which sport was my absolute favorite and it came down to skating, so I stuck with that and decided to just play the other sports for fun,” said Farid. “I think this sport is not considered mainstream because for something to be mainstream it is really common and figure skating in Florida isn’t common at all.”iiiiiWhile some of these sports are not traditionally athletic, they still require a lot of physical and intellectual skills.iiiii“I would consider myself an athlete,” said Farid. “Whenever I think of an athlete I think of someone who plays a sport and does it competitively and takes it seriously and strives to do their absolute best no matter how many times they fail, and I believe that I’m like that with figure skating.”iiiiiSports such as figure skating may be harder to accomplish in Florida, but some sports fall on the opposite end of the spectrum. Senior Johnny Fewell sails, which is made easier by his access to open water, with many open water ports all around the state. Sailing is still not a sport that is heard about as frequently as other sports, like baseball or soccer. Fewell, also a lacrosse player, has many different point of views to draw upon regarding this.iiiii“Sailing is cooler because there is a broader network of people across the nation,” said Fewell. “When I play lacrosse I just play against people in Jacksonville.”iiiiiIn sailing there is people from ports all over the state, country, and even the world. They all get together for the competitions, which provides a large network.iiiii“When I sail, I sail against people all over Florida. You get involved with a bigger area of people. Also, it’s an individual sport so it is more on you than when playing a team sport.”iiiiiFewell is experienced in the field of sailing, as he has been doing it since he was five years old. This allows him his connections from all around Florida and even internationally. This speaks volumes about the variety of

sailors that compete.iiiii“In general, I know probably over 1,000 people involved in sailing,” said Fewell. “It is a substantial sport it is just very spread out. There is a big fleet of people that sail out of Miami, St. Petersburg, South Florida. I also know kids in Italy that I sail with, so it is pretty cool.”iiiiiMany students do not have or take the opportunity to try these unique sports. From sailing to martial arts, many Stanton students are participants of these unorthodox games. They are not in the morning announcements or in boxes in the hallway, but they are athletes. They have passion for the things they do and they work hard to improve their skills as much as possible. Though often unseen, these students are worthy of recognition.

There is a big fleet of people that sail out of Miami, St. Petersburg, South Florida. I also know kids in Italy that I sail with.

Q & A

When I was seven my parents finally let me take [horse riding] lessons, the rest is history.

STUDENT FENCERANDREA RELOVA

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—Taylor Adams, 12

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—Johnny Fewell, 12

Sophomore Andrea Relova, on the left, is active in the age old sport of fencing. Despite the lack of attention she is passionate about the sport and hopes that more people will give it a chance.

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ONCE UPON A MULTI

8 | devilsadvocatepaper.com vol. xxxii, no. 4

Student LifeLondon Calling: A Journey to Higher Educationiiiii For many high school students, the preparation for and transition to college is a daunting and chaotic experience. The approximately 19 million students who enroll in higher education institutions in the United States every year have several things to worry about; from SAT scores to the application process—and thus, the almost purgatorial period of awaiting acceptance—several factors contribute to the disarray that is the high-school-to-college transition.iiiii Stanton College Preparatory School senior Taylor Ogle is familiar with this tumultuous time, although her case is distinct; not only does she have to tackle her ascension into higher education, she also intends to do so in another country, at King’s College in London, England.iiiii In October 2015, Ogle applied to Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., and was accepted in December. She received a scholarship from the school, visited the campus several times and had plans in place for a roommate.iiiii “I was practically fully committed to Agnes Scott College. I had even begun corresponding with another accepted student and we had planned to room together in the fall,” said Ogle. “Really, I had done everything except put down the deposit, luckily.”iiiii Two months after she submitted her application to Agnes Scott, Ogle applied to King’s College in London. Ogle developed an interest in universities in the United Kingdom as a sophomore and eventually decided to apply to King’s College. Considering the school’s 13 percent acceptance rate, she had no serious expectations of being accepted.

iiiii “I knew if I didn’t at least take the time to apply I might regret it later on, and if I was rejected then I would know I tried and could move on without having any ‘what-if’ thoughts,” said Ogle. “I was at lunch with a friend at the end of February after an early release day when I opened the email notifying me of my acceptance, and I was in absolute shock.”iiiii Having to choose between schools may be a lot of pressure for some students, but for Ogle, the choice was clear. King’s College was in the location of her dreams and the courses matched her interests exactly.iiiii “At the other colleges I had been accepted to, I was planning on studying Art History since many universities do not offer the exact program I was interested in,” said Ogle. “But growing up I had always loved museums, history and all those documentaries on the travel channel, and so I applied for the three-year Ancient History and Classical Archaeology program that King’s College offers.”iiiii With such a daunting opportunity ahead of Ogle, having teachers, guidance counselors and other adults available to her as resources is important. She cites English teacher Mrs. Matilda Bagby as the teacher who has given her the most help throughout the college application process.iiiii “I’ve written recommendation letters and just made myself available to her if she needed anything,” said Mrs. Bagby. “I am just so excited for Taylor and I can’t wait to hear from her about how she handles the challenge. It’s going to be hard, but I think she appreciates that.”iiiii According to Mrs. Bagby, Ogle’s interest in history and archaeology was evident when Ogle was a sophomore English student. She was intrigued by the various time periods present in the English literature read in the course.iiiii “She was always interested in something beyond the text

I was practically fully committed to Agnes Scott College. I had even begun corresponding with another accepted student and we had planned to room together in the fall.

—Taylor Ogle, 12

By CHISOM UKOHA, Student Life Reporter

I know that it will be an arduous journey, a long one in which she will be tested. But the goal she has in mind, and all of the wonderful roadside stops along the way, are entirely worth it. She will make it, we will make it, and it will be entirely worth that journey.

—Carlton Riley, 12

I am just so excited for Taylor and I can’t wait to hear from her about how she handles the challenge. It’s going to be hard, but I think she appreciates that.

—Mrs. Bagby

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Top: Ogle holding her acceptance letter from King’s College.

Center: Ogle waving the flag of her adopted country.

Bottom: Ogle standing in Parliament Square during a trip to London, England.

iiiii “Ideally, I’d love to work in a museum,” said Ogle. “That is the end goal right now. Maybe years from now even teach at a university level. I don’t really know, but working in museums has always been at the top of the list.”iiiii From an outsider’s perspective, Ogle’s situation may appear to be nothing but ideal; she overcame the odds with her acceptance into King’s College and gets to receive her education in a foreign country. Although this opportunity has positive attributes, there are drawbacks to studying overseas.iiiii Logistically speaking, attending college overseas is more complex than staying close to home. Passports, visas, housing and a completely different education system complicate the already hectic transition.iiiii “Thankfully, I already have a passport, but I will have to apply for a visa in June,” said Ogle. “I have to send the college my housing selection on April 4 and that is a terrifying decision to make.”iiiii Due to the intricacy of Ogle’s college plans, the route she has chosen relies heavily on maturity and independence.“Essentially, I’ll be in student housing without a roommate,” said Ogle. “It’s up to me to decide which kind, all the while weighing in the factors like commute time, rent and what kind of an area I want to live in. It definitely feels very adult, I guess.”iiiii After considering the complexities of an overseas education, it almost immediately leads one to question why Ogle would be so willing to pursue this route, forcing herself

iii and wondered ‘what was it like in this place’ or ‘did anyone ever think of doing this,’” said Mrs. Bagby. “She was always asking extension questions that made everything a bit more real.”iiiii Ogle is not entirely sure what she wants to do with the degree she will acquire. However, she hopes to work in a museum in either an educational program or historical preservation work.

to leave her friends, family and home behind. “London is a journey,” said senior Carlton Riley, Ogle’s boyfriend of two years. “It’s far from home, far from everything she knows, and, not to be too mushy, far from me.”iiiii The couple plans to maintain their relationship despite the distance and anticipate that a stronger bond will form through the trials. They don’t expect it to be easy, but Riley

and Ogle have faith in their relationship.iiiii “I know that it will be an arduous journey, a long one in which she will be tested,” said Riley. “But the goal she has in mind, and all of the wonderful roadside stops along the way, are entirely worth it. She will make it, we will make it, and it will be entirely worth that journey.”iiiii This critical period of decision-making serves to define the transition from youth to adulthood by highlighting what Ogle values as significant: education and independence.iiiii “I’ve had a lot of people tell me I was brave, but honestly, I don’t know if that’s the case,” said Ogle. “The choice to apply to King’s College definitely shows that I’m independent enough to be willing to be 3,000 miles from my closest friend and 5,000 from the rest of my family. I’m either very brave or too naive to realize what I’ve gotten myself into. I prefer to think the former.”

Silver St r Award Winner

april 2016 devil’s advocate | 9

iiiii 2016 marks the 22nd year since the creation of the Golden Apple Teaching Excellence Award. Each year, the Golden Apple is given to one outstanding Stanton College Preparatory School teacher. The honoree is selected through a two-part process conducted by the Devil’s Advocate. iiiii The first part of the decision involved a school-wide voting system. This year, the vote was available to students for two weeks through an online link. iiiii The polling results narrowed the field to four nominees:

biology teacher Mrs. Norah Betancourt, history teacher Mr. Ben Mackay, chemistry teacher Mr. Aaron Herbig and biology teacher Ms. Tamla Simmons. The finalists were then evaluated on April 4 in rotating shifts by a committee consisting of each of Stanton’s class presidents as well as the Student Government Association president. The committee carefully scored each teacher in areas such as respect for students, engagement and subject knowledge. iiiii The scores were averaged to reveal that the winner of the 22nd Annual Golden Apple Award is Mr. Aaron Herbig, who currently teaches Pre-IB Chemistry 1, Chemistry 1 Honors and IB Chemistry 1 at Stanton. iiiii Mr. Herbig also received Stanton’s annual Teacher of the Year award in 2014 and won the Golden Apple Award that same year, despite having only been at Stanton for four years. His tremendous popularity among his students is certainly a major factor in his cleanup of recent teaching awards.iiiii “Mr. Herbig is the whole reason why I’m interested in science. He knows how to make it interesting,” said sophomore Francis Gallardo, who created a satirical poster praising Mr. Herbig’s many classroom idiosyncrasies. Among those listed are Mr. Herbig’s iconic threats to students who are off-task in his classroom.iiiii Mr. Herbig hopes that his off-kilter teaching style motivates those in his classes to pursue a scientific career,

particularly in chemistry in medicine. However, he also concedes, “it’s human nature to like the things you’re good at,” and acknowledges his happiness when a former student encounters professional success in any chosen career.iiiii “I really hope that a lot of kids go on to become chemists or scientists or doctors,” said Mr. Herbig. “But one of the most rewarding things as a teacher is when you run into kids out in public and they’re in college and they tell you what’s going on in their lives.”iiiii Mr. Herbig says he wants his students to feel the same passion for the subject that he did growing up in rural Illinois. A biochemist by training, he freely encourages able pupils to further study chemistry at a higher level.iiiii “Mr. Herbig is the reason I’m pursuing a chemistry degree,” said junior Mia Gacutan. “The way he taught chemistry when I was a sophomore was just so fun. He can make the most boring topics interesting through interactions with the students.”iiiii Mr. Herbig maintains the key to his teaching success is a balance between learning and fun. He says this dynamic is made possible by keeping the classwork engaging.iiiii “I want people who have had my class to say that it was easy, but they learned a lot,” said Mr. Herbig. “When the kids nominate me for the Golden Apple, that’s what they’re saying—we learned a lot and we appreciate you as a teacher, but we also enjoyed it.”

iiiii 2016 also denotes the 15th anniversary of the Silver Star Award, which is also sponsored by the Devil’s Advocate and is given to one of Stanton College Preparatory School’s outstanding staff members. The winner was similarly selected through a school-wide vote. However, due to the difficulty of objectively observing school staff, the winner was decided through the poll results rather than evaluations. iiiii The votes determined that the winner of the 15th Annual Silver Star Award is Stanton principal Mrs. Nongongoma Majova-Seane. Although Mrs. Majova is considered a hallmark of the Stanton community, this is only her seventh year as principal. iiiii Prior to 2009, she was the principal of William M. Raines High School. Mrs. Majova is widely admired for her devotion to Stanton’s students (who she affectionately refers to as “my babies”) and educators (“my teachers”). She continually insists that this year’s Silver Star Award should go to anyone besides her.iiiii “I’m humbled; I was not expecting it,” said Mrs. Majova. “If I could take the award and name someone else, that would make me feel better. Am I allowed to do that?” iiiii After an explanation that she is the undisputed recipient of the 2016 Silver Star, Mrs. Majova reluctantly accepted the honor. Despite this, she repeatedly maintained there were others much more deserving of the award.iiiii “I have my teachers here that I can give the award to. I’d be delighted to do that because I have teachers who work so hard daily that I want to make all of them award winners,” said Mrs. Majova. iiiii Mrs. Majova was also undeterred by the fact that the

Silver Star cannot go to a teacher and proceeded to ask if she could give it to another staff member, instead.iiiii “It’s not about me. I put others first,” said Mrs. Majova. “It’s about the children first, and my teachers. I don’t look for an award for doing this ‘heart’ work. It pleases me to see people excelling and being successful.”

iiiii Mrs. Majova was inspired to become an educator by her father, who was the headmaster of a school in her native South Africa. This inspiration was magnified by a high school math teacher named Mr. Fulbright who was an American volunteering in the Peace Corps. Mrs. Majova has

photo by Chloe Giroux

By WALKER MILLER, Student Life Reporter

Ubuntu is the belief that you are who you are through other persons, the spirit of togetherness and including everyone, of embracing people for who they are. The legacy I want to leave at Stanton is that of Ubuntu.

—Mrs. Majova

incorporated certain ideas from South Africa while leading Stanton. A key example is the idea of Ubuntu, the Bantu philosophy of human kindness which has been Stanton’s official theme for the past two years.iiiii “Ubuntu is the belief that you are who you are through other persons, the spirit of togetherness and including everyone, of embracing people for who they are,” said Mrs. Majova. “The legacy I want to leave at Stanton is that of Ubuntu.”

photo by Chloe Giroux

By WALKER MILLER, Student Life Reporter

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Mrs. Majova is pictured inside of her office.

Mr. Herbig is seen inside of his chemistry classroom.

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merican volunteerism, a visible force in modern society, can be traced back to eighteenth century pioneerism, when togetherness proved essential to the survival of settlers who embarked on dangerous journeys to the West. Since

then, volunteerism has expanded to encompass full-fledged philanthropism; its prominence is evident in the thousands of service-based organizations and millions of people who work toward improving the welfare of others across the globe.

In today’s society, volunteers of every age and socioeconomic background donate their time to helping those around them. They work with a range of organizations in a variety of settings, from local soup kitchens to international

By TRYSTAN LOUSTAU

Stanton students are able to help many in need, whether they are local or international. Through their volunteering, the students are changing Jacksonville and the world, one hour at a time.

In Costa Rica,

junior Allie Robertson

works in Verbana, a

part of the town of Alajuelita, where

many squatters have made homes out of scrap metal.

In Jamaica, senior Patrick Broduer holds a boy during recess after spending the day tutoring at the local elementary school. In Ghana, senior Christian Hall

helps at the Chilanga Primary School, where a common

problem is girls are often late to school beacuse they have to do so

many chores.

In Jacksonville, Fla., freshman Yaoshar Acio volunteers for K9s for Warriors, an

organization that uses canine therapy to help relieve veterans’ suffering.

In Gonubie, South Africa, senior Alexis

Coelho works in an all girls class that teaches

sexual education and AIDS prevention.

charity programs. Many factors have contributed to the progression of community service in the United States, and it continues to grow as each new generation of volunteers comes of age. Altruism among young Americans has shown itself in many major concerns facing the 21st century, including global warming, human rights and discrimination. As many teenagers and young adults begin voicing their opinions on societal issues and taking the time to act on those problems, volunteering in the community has become natural and somewhat inherent.

As they approach adulthood, high school students can be seen taking more active roles in their communities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 26.4 percent of teenagers volunteered in 2015, which is consistent with previously high rates in recent years. This trend mimics the thriving service culture that dominates student life at Stanton College Preparatory School. Stanton students, similar to those at other high schools around the country, are prompted to donate their time for both material and sentimental reasons. Many, like Stanton sophomore Ellery Susa—who has spent over 80 hours volunteering for the children’s summer camp hosted by the Gail Baker Community Center—argue that the main benefits offered to volunteers are emotional.

“Volunteering gives me something to look forward to every summer,” said Susa. “It always puts a smile on my face helping out the kids. I love playing with them and getting to know them.”

One Hourat a Time A

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merican volunteerism, a visible force in modern society, can be traced back to eighteenth century pioneerism, when togetherness proved essential to the survival of settlers who embarked on dangerous journeys to the West. Since

then, volunteerism has expanded to encompass full-fledged philanthropism; its prominence is evident in the thousands of service-based organizations and millions of people who work toward improving the welfare of others across the globe.

In today’s society, volunteers of every age and socioeconomic background donate their time to helping those around them. They work with a range of organizations in a variety of settings, from local soup kitchens to international

By TRYSTAN LOUSTAU

Stanton students are able to help many in need, whether they are local or international. Through their volunteering, the students are changing Jacksonville and the world, one hour at a time.

In Costa Rica,

junior Allie Robertson

works in Verbana, a

part of the town of Alajuelita, where

many squatters have made homes out of scrap metal.

In Jamaica, senior Patrick Broduer holds a boy during recess after spending the day tutoring at the local elementary school. In Ghana, senior Christian Hall

helps at the Chilanga Primary School, where a common

problem is girls are often late to school beacuse they have to do so

many chores.

In Jacksonville, Fla., freshman Yaoshar Acio volunteers for K9s for Warriors, an

organization that uses canine therapy to help relieve veterans’ suffering.

In Gonubie, South Africa, senior Alexis

Coelho works in an all girls class that teaches

sexual education and AIDS prevention.

charity programs. Many factors have contributed to the progression of community service in the United States, and it continues to grow as each new generation of volunteers comes of age. Altruism among young Americans has shown itself in many major concerns facing the 21st century, including global warming, human rights and discrimination. As many teenagers and young adults begin voicing their opinions on societal issues and taking the time to act on those problems, volunteering in the community has become natural and somewhat inherent.

As they approach adulthood, high school students can be seen taking more active roles in their communities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 26.4 percent of teenagers volunteered in 2015, which is consistent with previously high rates in recent years. This trend mimics the thriving service culture that dominates student life at Stanton College Preparatory School. Stanton students, similar to those at other high schools around the country, are prompted to donate their time for both material and sentimental reasons. Many, like Stanton sophomore Ellery Susa—who has spent over 80 hours volunteering for the children’s summer camp hosted by the Gail Baker Community Center—argue that the main benefits offered to volunteers are emotional.

“Volunteering gives me something to look forward to every summer,” said Susa. “It always puts a smile on my face helping out the kids. I love playing with them and getting to know them.”

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Alongside emotional fulfillment, community service can also serve as a form of release. Such a benefit resonates soundly with Stanton students who, like Susa, are overwhelmed by school work and other responsibilities.

“Volunteering is a huge stress reliever,” said Susa. “I like spending time away from school and home to help those who truly need the help.”

In addition to being involved in domestic services, student volunteers are also spending an increasing amount of time volunteering abroad. Mission trips, one of the most popular ways students volunteer in other countries, offer rewards different from local volunteering opportunities. Those who volunteer in developing countries often describe their experiences as eye-opening and character-changing.

“Volunteering overseas was one of the most challenging life experiences I have ever had,” said senior Christian Hall. “By volunteering abroad, you put yourself in positions you’ve never been in before. In some cases, you will be working in a climate you’re not used to, trying to communicate in another language or working without resources to which you have grown accustomed.”

Hall, who describes his favorite service activity as volunteering overseas, spent a month in Zambia and Ghana in 2014, helping in secondary schools for native children. He believes volunteers have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of communities worldwide.

“I try to imagine what the world would be like if one day, all the volunteers just didn’t show up,” said Hall. “What would our cities look like? What basic needs would go unmet? What opportunities to grow, learn and thrive as a society would be lost?”

Many students, like Hall, have spent time in disadvantaged areas of the world, offering religious, educational, economic and health services. Often coming from relatively economically prosperous countries, these volunteers are frequently exposed to horrible living conditions and unimaginable difficulties, providing them with a greater understanding of global issues.

shows students how easy it is for them to make a difference.“Volunteering has taught me that just a couple of hours

of my time can really help a lot of people,” said freshman Yaoshar Acio. “It is important because not everything you do must be rewarded. Giving your own time to others shows who you really are inside and it shows that you care.”

Every week, Acio works with the Ponte Vedra based nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors, which offers canine therapy to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions as a result of military service

“I think that service helps you grow as a person through experiences that are not felt every day,” said senior Patrick Broudeur. “This helps to maintain your awareness of social, political and economic needs across the world.”

Every summer, Brouder travels with his youth group to volunteer in a different area. He has served on five mission trips since middle school, two overseas—to Costa Rica and Jamaica—and three within the United States—to New York, Tennessee and Louisiana. His service activities have ranged from bagging carrots at a food pantry to teaching children how to ride a bike for the first time. Using his extensive experience volunteering both abroad and in the United States, Brouder maintains that every type of community service is important.

“I have volunteered in a variety of ways, like playing soccer with kids in Costa Rica and pouring concrete in Jamaica,” said Brouder. “I have found that whether the work is backbreaking or fun, the help the people have received always makes them happy.”

By volunteering in multiple regions, Brouder has not only increased his global awareness, but has also encountered many different socioeconomic situations. This exposure has instilled in him a renewed sense of appreciation for his own living conditions.

“As Americans, we tend not to think about poverty on a third world level, in which people struggle with things that we take advantage of every day, like clean drinking water and a steady income,” said Brouder. “Volunteering has helped me to not take these things for granted.”

After observing the impact they can have on their environment, student volunteers gain a sense of the influence they can have on the world, which, in turn, can boost their self-confidence. Both low and high scale volunteerism

Not everything you do must be rewarded. Giving your own time to others shows who you really are inside and it shows that people care.

Senior Christian Hall, not pictured, helps at the Akokofe Roman Catholic School, a school in Zambia that was built by the community without any help from the government.

after 9/11. She describes her motivation for volunteering as stemming from both the communal nature of the organization and her ability to further its mission.

“Volunteering gives me the chance to meet and interact with others instead of seeing the same people everyday,” said Acio. “I love seeing the dogs that are being saved from the shelter help save warriors that are suffering, and I love that I can help in the healing process.”

However, the role personal and reputational gains play in persuading students to volunteer cannot be denied. With the competition of college admissions at an all-time high, the large amount of students involved in community service makes sense. Having volunteer hours looks good on paper

After spending the day playing will local children in Costa Rica, senior Patrick Brodeur helps a child ride the bike that he just recieved as a gift.

Sophomore Ellery Susa, left, works at the children’s camp hosted by the Gail Baker Community Center in Jacksonville doing activities like arts and crafts with campers like Bri.

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—Yaoshar Acio, 9

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and can help high schoolers seem more well rounded to colleges and employers seeking experienced applicants. For some, like senior Alexis Coelho, acquiring service hours to fulfill school requirements serves as an initial motivator for participation in volunteerism, upon which students discover they really enjoy helping others.

“My community service all started with my need for volunteer hours,” said Coelho. “But I loved the experience so much that I eventually got more involved and became the Director of Membership for Junior Civitans.”

Coelho is not only an officer of Junior Civitans, but also a member of Best Buddies, both of which are among Stanton’s numerous service-based clubs. For Coelho, and many other Stanton students, maintaining consistent involvement in community service has been about more

on local issues. Coelho faced this criticism before she left for her mission to the Eastern Cape.

“When I told my grandma I was going to South Africa, she told me there is poverty in Florida I should try to help instead,” said Coelho. “While it is true that there is poverty in Jacksonville, an international mission experience is very different. It gives you a view of different poverty extremes, which is important considering how our vision of poverty is

skewed here in America.”Junior Allie Robertson agrees.

Like Coelho, she began volunteering because of her need for community service hours, but discovered how much she actually enjoyed it on her first mission trip to Costa Rica.

“My experience in Costa Rica was one I will never forget,” said Robertson. “Seeing how thankful they were for how little they had opened my eyes to something I thought I understood, but never truly did. I never thought of myself as ungrateful until I joined this trip. The new mentality I developed was one of the best things I got out of going to Costa Rica.”

In addition to her annual trips to Costa Rica, Robertson dedicates her time to helping Jacksonville refugees once a month. She believes all teenagers should volunteer because of the impact she is certain it will have on them.

“As teenagers, we are all guilty of getting caught up in our own lives,” said Robertson. “We focus on little things, like relationships, clothing and being popular, instead of appreciating all the things we are blessed with. I think volunteering is a great way to gain this appreciation because it helps you to see how happy people are even though they have so much less than you.”

Coelho shares Robertson’s view of the importance of volunteering because of the value she claims it has in strengthening the community. She believes community service is key to ensuring society continues progressing towards a state in which such service is no longer necessary.

“Volunteering is important because it means doing your part,” said Coelho. “When you think about it, none of us would be where we are without the help of someone else. Everyone can help somebody.”

than meeting a quota. She accredits her deep appreciation for volunteering to an experience she had working at the Salvation Army Meal Ministry last year.

“I didn’t feel like I was valued because the guests would always snatch their food from me or make comments about how it wasn’t very good,” said Coelho. “That is when I learned that if you go into volunteering with some expectation to be praised or worshiped then you will almost

always be disappointed. Volunteering is about knowing that you did your best to help someone and that you have made yourself available to serve others.”

By looking at volunteering as an opportunity for selflessness rather than ego-boosting, Coelho has been able to love it even more. Now, she volunteers every month, and even got the chance to participate in a mission trip in March of 2015. The trip took her to the Eastern Cape, a province in South Africa, where she taught in schools and provided food to locals. Coelho claims the worst part of her experience was observing the lack of medical care available to native people.

“We provided health clinics to show the people in the township how to perform First Aid,” said Coelho. “Some did not even know how to clean and bandage a wound. It was heartbreaking.”

Many, like Coelho, agree that the exposure provided by mission trips is important in helping young adults realize international struggles. However, some argue that volunteers would be more useful if they focused their efforts

Volunteering teaches you so much about yourself and widens your perspective on the world around you. It’s all about finding something you like or being persistent. Everyone can help somebody.

In Alajuelita, a town in Costa Rica, Robertson holds a young Costa Rican girl as the girl examines Robertson’s necklace.

Broduer bags carrots for a kosher food pantry in Queens, New York.

Coelho volunteers for the Pink for Jon 5k, which raises money so that people can go to Camp Fuge.

At the Best Buddies and Capernaum winter dance, Coelho is with her friend Patrick.

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—Alexis Coelho, 12

Each entrant advanced to the County Level Judging.Congratulations to all!

Special congratulations to each of our students who were awarded at the County level judging.

Alex Slupski / Award of MeritEllery Susa / Award of Merit

Christina Taragjini/ Award of Excellence

Ready to be inspired again? The 2016-2017 Reflections theme is

“What is Your Story”

We look forward to more amazing works by the students of Stanton College Preparatory.

Christina Taragjini’s literature piece also advanced to the State Level Judging. Congratulations Christina!

These county level winners will be recognized at the Duval County Council Awards Ceremony on May 6th,

2016 at Atlantic Coast HS at 6:00 pm.

Opinions

The Devil’s Advocate serves as the official newspaper of Stanton College Preparatory School. It is produced monthly by members of the Journalism class. The editors reserve the right to edit any material submitted to the paper for content, grammar, length, and accuracy.

The Devil’s Advocate is a public forum for student expression, which encourages free exchanges of opinions concerning controversial and non-controversial community and school related issues. The ideas and advertisements expressed within the newspaper are not necessarily those of the newspaper adviser, school administration, or the Duval County Public School Board.

The Devil’s Advocate accepts advertisements from all businesses in the Stanton community. The ad format can be given to the staff or the adviser, Mr. Larry Knight.

Students, faculty, and parents may contact the staff and adviser at (904) 630-6760 ext. 143 or at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

Zoë Reyes Vanessa HanStewart GideonSpencer NachmanAmber WeitzelSarah PageLily TehraniHudson BäckValerie Starks

2015-2016 Editorial StaffEditor-in-ChiefManaging EditorLayout and Design EditorTechnology and Media EditorSenior Photo EditorFeatures EditorOpinions EditorSports EditorStudent Life Editor

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april 2016 devil’s advocate | 15

Forced Futures

Clean Water By STEWART GIDEON, Contributing Artist

Private Water

By purchasing water bottles, we not only harm ourselves, we also harm those without access with clean water.

iiiiiIn recent months, there has been extensive coverage on the Flint Water Crisis. Americans were shocked seeing the murky brown water spewing out of the sink where our clear drinking water flows from otherwise. While this is a shock for us Americans, this is not the case for people all over the world. Internationally, 780 million people do not have access to clean drinking water. Most Americans don’t question where their water comes from, the extent of our knowledge is what store we shop at or which room in our homes have sinks. For others, access to water may be all they think about, as they are forced to travel miles to get water that may not even be safe for consumption. We, the Devil’s Advocate, encourage everyone to become more knowledgeable about water consumption and how our actions affect others’ water supplies. iiiiiAccording to an evaluation done by the World Health Organization, clean water could be accessed by everyone all over the world, for approximately $11.3 billion dollars a year. However, our biggest problem is the willingness to work for it. This sounds like a substantial amount of money, but according to Business Insider, privileged nations spend over $100 billion on bottled water a year.iiiiiMany people argue that bottled water is “safer” and “worth the cost” in comparison to the water coming out of taps. However, this is not the case; all of our water is equally dirty, and bottled water could possibly be dirtier than tap. Most water bottle companies take water straight from the same source of our tap water, and often times, bottled water

iiiiiIf parents had their way, the majority of students would become doctors, engineers or lawyers. This is because these are careers that provide stability, security and most importantly, a high income. These factors are vital to success, especially in an economy where unemployment for new college graduates is at an alarming 7.2 percent, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The organization Generation Opportunity reports that the typical student is saddled with $33,000 in student loans after graduation. iiiiiThe pressure students face, especially those about to enter college, has the possibility to become overwhelming. A major that relates to those professions is no longer a joke, it is a serious suggestion from parents because they feel entitled. iiiiiThis entitlement stems from the fact they are contributing financially to one’s college education. Survey responses from Discover Financial’s 2015 Student Loans Survey indicate that 44 percent of parents said they were more likely to provide funds for college if their child was majoring in a high-demand field. This number has increased by over 10 percent just from 2014. iiiiiWith growing concern from parents over what their children major in, as well as the rising unemployment rate for college graduates, it wouldn’t be wise for a student to choose a major without any regard for their future. Yet, finding a balance between acknowledging parental input and still following a career path that will give one a sense of fulfillment is more easily said than done. iiiiiYoung children are always told they can become whatever they want to be when they “grow up.” No limitations are placed upon them, no mention of student loans that will need repaying or 401ks that need early planning, there is no worrying about the health insurance that will come with a certain career. Yet as soon as a child starts to mature and their parents begin to see a college future on the horizon, reality sets in. iiiiiA study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce revealed that 9 out of the Top 10 highest paying undergraduate degrees were all in engineering fields. The worst-paying fields are those related to the arts and education, in fact, a petroleum engineer is likely to earn $3.4 million more in their life than a kindergarten teacher. iiiiiYet there is an interesting disconnect when it comes to pay versus popularity. According to the Georgetown study, elementary education is among the Top 10 majors in terms of popularity, despite being one of the worst paying ones, and certain engineering majors rank in the bottom 10 percent despite being the highest ranked in terms of lifetime earnings. iiiiiThis disconnect sheds light on the importance of picking a major that will make you happy. It is important to find a balance between picking the major you love and one that will grant you a comfortable lifestyle. Those parents who have instilled values of hard work in their children should have nothing to worry about. Whatever one’s selected major may be, if one strives to find a practical job that is both fulfilling and stable, then they have succeeded. It is still important to realize the dangers of a major that has a low earning potential, but it should not be the only deciding factor. The ultimate decision should be up to the individual.

is cleaned less than tap. Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, where water bottle companies aren’t required to disclose information that the EPA (which regulates tap water) requires. On top of all of that, the plastic bottles, made from oil, only further harm ourselves and the environment, from the pollution created from the factories and the bottles in landfills. Even when it comes to more expensive water brands, such as Voss or Fiji, people aren’t paying for quality, rather brand name. iiiiiBy purchasing water bottles, we not only harm ourselves, we also harm those without access with clean water. Most private water companies, such as Veoila and Suez, take water from third world countries, often by tricking them into lengthy contracts or bribing the local government to give up access. Then, they turn around and charge the same individuals that “gave up” the right to fresh water. Unfortunately, most of these individuals are unable to afford the water and are forced to drink unclean water or die from dehydration.iiiiiWhile it seems difficult to stop drinking from water bottles—as they have become omnipresent in our lives—we can help by completing small tasks tasks that could make a huge difference. By drinking out of reusable water bottles or donating, we can work to fight the privatization of water.

By STEWART GIDEON, Layout and Design EditorBy MEKLIT DANIEL, Contributing WriterQuest for Identity Self-Driving Cars

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The Truth about MultiThis year, Stanton students

once again have the privilege of watching a multicultural extravaganza (more commonly known as “Multi”). Multi is a collection of dances from all around the world which allows students to look into a vast spectrum of different cultures and enjoy

performances by their peers. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that multi is deviating from its intended purpose and, to a certain degree, offensive.

Last year, during the West Indies showcase, flags of these countries were displayed upon the rears of the performers. Dr. Rodriguez-Reyes, a Stanton College Preparatory school teacher, whose country was being represented in West Indies, was appalled at this sight. Many American students are not taught the value of a country’s flag, and thus did not understand his reaction. A flag holds a much deeper meaning than most are aware of, and to showcase them in such a manner that is offensive is out right disrespectful. Being an event for the display of other cultures, I believe that participants should be much more aware of who they are performing for.

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drinking age being raised to 21 in 1984 for this very reason.

The history of these laws is similar to that of seatbelts. New York was the first to pass a law mandating seatbelts in the front seat in 1984, with most states following suite within ten years. In 1955 Ford offered the seat belt as an option, not standard. The modern three-point seat belt was invented in 1959 by Nils Bohlin, so it was only a mere 25 years before seat belts were moved from an option to a legal requirement.

Right now self driving is in its infancy, but most companies believe they will have marketable self driving cars on the road by 2020. If the safety technology of autonomous cars is comparable to that seat belts it will be around 2045 by the time legislation is pushed through. However, that ignores a variety of other factors that might delay it like fear of robots or backlash from an infringements on the “right” to drive a car.

That being said, a large amount of people will own self-driving cars by 2040 and by that time the regular cars will have been fading out of the market through a lack of production. The life expectancy of a car is 10 years or 200,000 miles, so by 2040, the regular cars will be past their lifespan and it will not be difficult to condemn them with legislation in particularly progressive states like New York who have already limited firearms and soda pop.

Despite the fascination and devotion to the automobile in the psyche of the American Dream, cars are already fading out as form of expression and more towards a tool. It is all about safety and gas mileage as the car has turned into a way to get from A to B in the most comfortable manner from the form of escape it was in the past.

Get ready for the robotic uprising, because it will be starting with our cars.

Additionally, the dancers themselves are potentially offensive to an extent. Choreographers disregard the traditional values of dances, such as Bollywood, and incorporate dance moves from popular culture, purely for comedic value. Being an actor, I understand the temptations that exist to showboat, but behaving like that takes away from the experience of the audience, which should be the what every performer wants not to do.

Also, I find this to be inappropriate and rather unnecessary. The purpose of Multi is to portray these dances in a way that displays true cultural values and to make such additions in these dances would be insulting to those being represented by the dance style.

In no way is my intention to belittle performers, or label

multi as some debacle. I think the concept of it is enriching and a unique way to look into one of the most beautiful aspects of other cultures. However, I also believe that those participating in multi should take greater care in the ways these cultures are being portrayed. I love multi, as do many other Stanton students. While I do not believe the dancers had any bad intention whatsoever, I think that there are some problems with the extravaganza that are in dire need of attention.

By CHRISTIAN MORTIMER, Contributing Writer

By 2040, a handful of state legislatures will pass bills banning cars that are driven by humans on public roads. In short, the robotic uprising is coming. This prediction, before self-driving cars are even legal without a human driver, is admittedly bold. However, looking at automobile laws concerning driving under the influence,

seatbelts, and standardization of braking systems it is not difficult to make the logical leap to mandated self-driving cars. Self-driving cars are just the next step in the safety policy of the United States.

Autonomous cars will be mandated for a simple reason: people die in car accidents. In 2014 over 32,000 people died in automobile accidents. According to the CDC, 31 percent of those are due to alcohol-impaired driving. Those 9,967 deaths were preventable, if they had not been drinking they would not have died. The next step in the political advocacy of groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will be to eliminate not only those 9,967 but all 32,000 by making it illegal to drive your own car.

However, can self-driving cars really prevent automobile deaths? Google, which is by far the leader at this point in time with over 1.5 million miles logged with their self driving cars, has only caused one accident. The accident was with a bus and there were zero injuries.

The legislation mandating autonomous cars will be difficult to pass, just look at other driving laws. In the case of driving while impaired, it took years for the nation to take serious notice. While New Jersey had the first drinking and driving law in 1910, it was not until the 1970s that national standards were passed with the

Reflecting on my past four years as a student at Stanton College Preparatory School, I am very fortunate to have been a part of such a unique community. As we all know, Stanton takes pride in its diverse student population, symbolically culminating in the highly anticipated Multicultural Extravaganza each spring. This distinct feature of our school has provided us opportunities to learn and better understand the traditions practiced by our peers firsthand, allowing us to

feel as if we are a part of their culture.Unfortunately, this type of environment - in the context of education

- will not always be around us outside of Stanton. When the Class of 2016 graduates and matriculates at their respective colleges and universities, there will be a culture shock. In certain lecture halls, there may only be one or a handful of students of color in attendance, or specific areas of study may be dominated by a few ethnic and racial groups while at Stanton, “minority” and “majority” no longer hold meaning.

Next fall, I will be attending Williams College in northwestern Massachusetts. Compared to Stanton’s 56 percent, about 36 percent of Williams’s students identify as people of color. At first, this was a bit shocking to me - how could a well-known institution have this type of demographic at a time when colleges and universities are trying to increase the diversity of their student population primarily in the areas of race and ethnicity? Then I realized that what this statistic may imply does not necessarily impact all students in the same manner.

When we enter college, it is our decision to create the type of social environment we prefer. It is possible to replicate, in part, the type of community here at Stanton on our universities’ campuses by joining racial and ethnic social organizations. However, we will not necessarily get to experience the full extent of diversity similar to Stanton. At our school, the multiculturalism of the student population is so thoroughly interwoven into our campus life that it is undeniable to ignore its impact on our friendships, conversations and classroom experiences.

But at university, there is a more polarized atmosphere. Even though the existence of racial and ethnic organizations as well as diversity committees provides opportunities for learning about various cultures, these clubs actually create a more discrete multicultural presence that lacks the link between all minority groups. For example, Williams, just like other colleges, has many student-run organizations that serve the Latino, Black and Asian communities on campus. With a small percentage of students identifying as people of color, there seems to be a tendency for them to associate more with peers that identify like them, creating a presence of division that clearly indicates a call for change.

Stanton has provided us a glimpse of a bigger world through its multicultural student population. As a senior, my advice to the underclassmen is to take advantage of the community that exists on our campus before you graduate. Embrace and learn from all of the different identities throughout our school, whether it be racial, ethnic, or religious, as this type of environment is rarely replicated at other institutions. As for my fellow seniors, it is not too late to grow from the benefits of being in a diverse community. College offers us more time to develop our social circles than high school and I encourage us to branch out into the complex student life on our universities’ campuses. Further develop your awareness and knowledge of others with an open mind. Although the college environment may not be as rich as that of Stanton’s, seize the many opportunities available - learn a new language or promote the full integration of various identities across campus. It is through these actions that we can better appreciate the beautiful differences that exist around us and become developed global citizens.

Stanton has provided us a glimpse of a bigger world through its multicultural student population.

The purpose of Multi is to portray these dances in a way that displays true cultural values.

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The Code to SuccessSenior Wilhelm Willie writes about his passion for technology and coding, as he began his journey by creating a twitter robot, commonly known as @WilburBot, which has gained popularity among students at Stanton College Preparatory School.

The possibilites are almost endless with coding so with enough research, willpower and resources, you can create some amazing things.

Many kids learn how to play an instrument at a young age. Whether it be the piano, violin, or the guitar, countless hours are spent improving their musical skills. Unlike most kids, however, I never learned nor was forced to pick up an instrument. Instead, at a young age, I picked up an interesting in coding. Rather than spending countless hours at rehearsals and recitals, I spent much of my childhood time writing and debugging code. As geeky as that may sound, learning to code at a young age has ultimately paid off. Knowing how to code has opened up many doors for me, has helped challenge my mind and is a practical skill that lets me be creative. It’s a fun and exciting skill to learn and so I greatly encourage others to give it a shot.

My first venture into programming was motivated by my desire to bring my creative ideas to reality. Like most elementary aged boys, I loved playing video games. However, instead of just playing them, I wanted to make my own. After several Google searches, I managed to teach myself how to code sometime in the second grade. I started off with small basic games but the more I was exposed to coding, the more I wanted to branch out. Over time, my interests expanded to other topics such as web and app development and artificial intelligence. Simply put, once I got started I was hooked.

Since then, I have developed an honest and true passion for coding and computer science. I have worked on several projects and developed a well-rounded resume. I was even able to use my programming skills to earn myself money over the summers when I dabbled into freelance website development. In addition, I strongly believe my displayed passion and love for coding helped me get into some great universities such as Brown, Johns Hopkins, and my dream school, the University of Southern California.

One way I was able to develop this passion for coding was through working on creative side projects in my free time. One project in particular had a significant impact on me personally and helped strengthen my love and passion for programming. Sometime during my junior year, I got bored and came up with @WilburBot, a friendly Twitter bot that could process various requests on command. Wilbur can process the average amount of interactions a user receives per tweet, find who a user interacts with the most and more. It became a popular hit among Stanton College Preparatory students and eventually, word of Wilbur spread to the rest of Jacksonville, Fla. and the United States.

The increased interest in Wilbur further sparked my interests and passions for computer programming. It was a creative and quirky project, one that I felt best reflected my personality. After Wilbur gained traction, many of my friends asked me for guidance so that they too could learn how to code. This was one of the most exciting things about Wilbur as I truly believe that coding is a valuable skill.

One of the biggest benefits of knowing how to code for me was how it opened up many opportunities for my future. In today’s computer dependent age, computing jobs are plentiful and potentially lucrative. According to code.org, 71 percent of all new jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are related to

computing. There are currently more than 500,000 open computing jobs in the United States and the jobs are projected to grow at twice the rate of all other jobs. In addition, according to Glassdoor.com, software developers are earning an average annual salary of $85,000, yet this can range up to the six figures. If you intend on getting a career in a STEM field, coding can be a valuable and lucrative skill to learn in the long run. Even if you don’t intend on getting a career in STEM, learning how to code can still be beneficial.

Like an instrument, coding can help one mentally develop. Steve

Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, once said “I think everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.”

Programming revolves around the idea of problem solving. By learning to code, one can shape their computational thinking and problem solving skills.

Coding isn’t necessarily easy, but the challenges you will face while learning can be beneficial as it can help make you a better problem solver.

Finally and most importantly, coding has its perks in that allows you to build and create extraordinary things. While you might not be developing the next Instagram or Facebook, if you work at it, you can make some exciting things such as your own website and mobile app. The possibilities are almost endless with coding so with enough research, willpower and resources, you can create some amazing things.

Fortunately, it has never been easier to learn how to code. There are many educational platforms and tools available designed to help beginners

get started. Websites like Codecademy and Udemy make learning to code easier and more

accessible. Alongside, many colleges, such as Stanford, have released basic computer

courses online that you can use.No matter what field you plan to get

into, I think coding is something cool that others should try at least once.

It’s a great skill and can be very rewarding. Whether you’re unsure

about what you want to study or are just looking for something new to try out, I encourage you to give coding a shot. It may or may not be for you, but if it is, it can be a valuable skill to have in the long run. Knowing how to code has done incredible great things for me, so perhaps it’ll be the same for you too.

By Wilhelm Willie, Contributing Writer

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CLASS OF 2017It is time to take your senior pictures!

Prestige Portraits Studio8933 Western Way, Suite 18

Jacksonville, FL 32256904-398-1050

www.prestigeportraits.com/jax

In order to be featured in the Senior section of next year’s yearbook, you must have your Senior Portrait scheduled by August 11, 2016 and have your picture

taken by August 31, 2016.

Also- as an incentive to get your pictures taken early, anyone who takes their picture in June will get $20 off

a Senior Advertisement in the 2017 Yearbook.

Anyone who has not taken their pictures by this time will be in the underclassmen section.

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